Chapter 553 Shouldn't he be executed on the spot?
The captain in charge of guarding King Fanyang looked at him coldly: "What are you yelling about! The envoy will see you when he wants to, it's not your turn to decide!"
King Fanyang was so tired that he said with uneven breathing, "I have something important to discuss with Envoy Chang Jie!"
The captain frowned and said two words: "Wait!"
Soon, a soldier came quickly, saluted and said, "The envoy has ordered us to go to Luoyang City immediately and take the father and son of King Fanyang back to Luoyang for punishment!"
Upon hearing that they were going to Luoyang, the captain was excited and immediately ordered the King of Fan Yang and his son to be arrested.
King Fanyang breathed a sigh of relief. He was not afraid of anything else, but he was afraid that these people would chop him to death here... He could go back to Luoyang. As long as he had a chance to see Chang Suining, he would still have a chance to survive! But soon, King Fanyang, who was being forced forward by the soldiers with knives, was no longer optimistic.
"This..." King Fanyang said with a sad face: "Is this how I'm going to go back to Luoyang?"
Seventy miles away. I’m afraid he hasn’t walked that far in the whole year!
"Nonsense!" The soldier raised his eyebrows and said, "You are a prisoner, and you have committed the crime of treason. You don't want us to carry you if you don't walk!"
Li Yun, who was also in a state of embarrassment, said nervously, "But what if my father died of exhaustion on the road? Wouldn't that be a disaster...wouldn't it delay the mission of the envoy?"
What if the envoys of Chang Jie took their anger out on him? The rebellion was his father's idea, so there was no reason for him to face the consequences alone! The soldiers who escorted him didn't take it seriously at first, but after walking only two miles, they saw that the King of Fanyang was about to die, so they didn't dare to take the risk and threw him onto the cart pulled by horses with disdain.
Seeing this, Li Yun fell down half-intentionally. The soldier thought it was troublesome, so he threw him up as well.
The father and son lay on a cart piled with marching supplies, breathing heavily, neither of them cared about each other.
The gates of Luoyang City were not opened today.
Although there was no major chaos in the city last night, the changes in the palace and Mei Yi's rush in and out made the soldiers guarding the city realize that something was wrong.
In the second half of the night, news came that there was an internal strife in the military camp outside the city. It was heard that Duan Shiang was dead, Mei Yi had betrayed King Fan Yang, and it was also heard that the Jiangdu army was coming to attack... The many confusing and difficult to make out the whole picture news made the soldiers in the city panic, so they closed the city gates and did not open them for a long time.
It was not until the traces of the Jiangdu cavalry appeared outside the city that everyone finally gave up.
For a moment, they were forced to be on guard, but they saw that the Jiangdu cavalry had no intention of attacking the city, but instead brought one person forward and asked them to open the city gate.
In order to escape smoothly, King Fan Yang left the city yesterday with little noise. He left quietly from the north of the city and did not leave through the city gate.
Therefore, after seeing the figure being held under the tower, the guard commander widened his eyes in surprise: "...Prince?!"
When did the prince fall into the hands of the Jiangdu army? Or... when did the prince leave the city?
So, the prince ran away secretly without telling them!
Then why are they still defending this city... The master has fled, but they are still defending it? The prince's move has completely redefined the empty city plan!
King Fanyang was forced to kneel down at the foot of the city, his face full of bitterness: "Open the city gate quickly, and stop resisting..."
He was now starving, his legs were worn out, and his face was humiliated... He just wanted to end it all quickly! On the top of the city wall, the guard commander struggled when he heard King Fanyang's words.
After a moment, he cupped his fists towards the heavy cavalrymen below the city, bowed his head and knelt on one knee: "I am Min Ankang, respectfully welcoming Envoy Chang Jie into the city!"
King Fanyang, who was about to persuade him again, silently withdrew his gaze.
He thought that the other party's struggle was a result of persistence, but he didn't expect that he was actually thinking about how to open the gate of Luoyang.
Min Ankang's face flushed slightly, but he thought about it and decided that even if he was embarrassed today, King Fan Yang would still be there to back him up... He was originally forcibly conscripted by the Fan Yang army, and now that the situation has reversed, as a man who knows the times, it is only natural for him to seize the opportunity and leave a good impression in front of Envoy Chang Jie!
Thinking of this, Min Ankang's expression became more determined, and he gave the order in a loud voice: "--Open the city gate!"
Upon seeing this, the other guards on the city wall put away their swords and guns and knelt down.
Duan Shiang died, King Fanyang was captured, and 170,000 Fanyang soldiers died or surrendered overnight. It was almost inevitable that the gates of Luoyang would be opened in the most peaceful way in front of Chang Suining.
The heavy main gate of Luoyang slowly opened, and the wind from outside the city blew in.
Today is the winter solstice, and there is already a chill in the wind.
Although it is the season when all things wither in winter, the frost covering the corners of the green tile eaves in Luoyang City is quietly melting.
Chang Suining led two thousand cavalrymen and slowly entered the city.
The guards in Luoyang city all knelt on both sides and surrendered. When a country's secondary capital changed hands, there should have been a lot of noise, but at this moment, the surroundings were relatively quiet.
When the world was quiet and peaceful, a long bell sounded suddenly in the city.
Before the last sound faded away, the second bell rang.
That is the sound of the temple bells.
There are dozens of temples of various sizes in Luoyang City.
Nowadays, most temples have the habit of ringing the bell three times a day, once in the morning, noon and evening, thirty-six times each time, for a total of one hundred and eight times a day.
One hundred and eight is the sum of twelve months in a year, twenty-four solar terms, and seventy-two phenological periods, symbolizing the constancy and cycle of heaven and earth.
Since the Fanyang army captured Luoyang, people's livelihood fell into chaos, and there were many thefts and looting incidents in the city of Luoyang. Temples were often not spared - many temples nowadays also engaged in "longevity money" lending and borrowing, and there was a lot of silver stored in the temples, which made it easy for them to be coveted.
Therefore, many small temples have kept their doors tightly closed and have not rung their bells for many days, for fear of causing trouble.
The only temple that rings its bell every day is the White Horse Temple in Luoyang.
The bell sound at this time came from the White Horse Temple.
The thirty-six bells of the White Horse Temple just disappeared, and then another bell rang.
The bells overlapped and became more and more numerous.
With the ringing of bells, many temples reopened their doors.
In an unknown small temple, a young monk ran back from outside and said happily to the old abbot who was meditating: "...The Jiangdu army has entered the city, and it is the Chang Jieshi who came!"
The old abbot held the Buddhist beads in his hand, stood up tremblingly and looked outside the temple gate.
He was nearly eighty years old and had seen a lot of ups and downs in life. Naturally, he knew very well what it meant for Luoyang City to change its owner overnight.
This means that there has not been a major war, that strategies are more effective than killing, and that the people are taken care of.
A trace of relief appeared in the old monk's eyes. He clasped his hands together in front of him and said in a hoarse and slow voice: "Amitabha, this is great compassion..."
At this time, there is no chaos or crying in the city, only the ringing of Zen bells. Isn't this a symbol of compassion?
The old monk turned around and told the young monk to go and ring the bell together.
The old bronze bell in their temple had a chip on the edge, and when it was struck, the sound it produced was deep and simple.
The sound of bells dispelled the tiny dust particles in the air. Countless dust particles swirled in the sunlight, flashing tiny lights and dancing with the energy of heaven and earth.
Chang Suining arrived at the Luoyang Palace amid the endless sound of bells.
Chang Suining only brought two thousand cavalrymen into the city. Most of the rest of the people were stationed outside Luoyang City, and some had gone to take over the defense and guarding matters of Luoyang City, so they did not disturb the people of Luoyang too much.
Chang Suining drove his horse straight into the Luoyang Palace and dismounted in front of the inner palace gate.
The chief eunuch of the Luoyang Palace was waiting here with the palace servants. When they saw Chang Suining dismount, they hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down to salute him, saying in a joyful and respectful tone: "We have been waiting for Envoy Chang Jie for a long time!"
Chang Suining nodded to them, threw the reins to his subordinates, and stepped over the inner palace gate.
The eunuch chief hurriedly bowed and followed, looking back at the father and son of the King of Fanyang who were being escorted to follow, and said to Chang Suining: "... Envoy Chang Jie quelled the rebellion of the Fanyang army overnight, recovered Luoyang City, and captured the traitor Li Fu alive. How brave he is!"
King Fanyang wanted to curse but didn't have the strength to do so - this eunuch was still serving him at his feet yesterday, but today he called him a traitor! What kind of Luoyang Palace should we just turn into an inn... These eunuchs are just people who can do whatever they want! King Fanyang cursed in his heart, and he had no strength left in his body. His eyes went dark and he was almost dragged to the front of the main hall.
Chang Suining came along and the people he brought with him quickly went to various parts of the palace and soon took control of the palace inside and outside.
The eunuch chief steward saw this swift action and broke out in a cold sweat. Seeing that Chang Suining had said very little along the way, he couldn't help but think of the rumors about his evil ambitions. Feeling uneasy, he asked for something to talk about: "...I wonder how Envoy Chang intends to deal with the traitor Li Fu. Should he be taken to the capital immediately?"
When King Fanyang heard this, his eyelids twitched suddenly.
He couldn't go to the capital. If he went there, he would have no chance of survival! "Envoy Chang!" King Fanyang panicked and said to Chang Suining, "You can't kill me!"
Chang Suining turned slightly and looked at him: "Why not?"
“Cui Liulang…!” King Fanyang brought out the hostage and didn’t care about any rhetoric: “I am the only one who knows the whereabouts of Cui Liulang. If I die, he will not be able to survive!”
Chang Suining raised his eyebrows slightly: "Really?"
King Fanyang nodded his head and said, "Envoy Changjie, this matter can be discussed. Please..."
Before he finished speaking, the woman in silver armor turned her head and said, "Don't be sleepy—"
"I will be here in the end."
Chang Suining: "Take the traitor Li Fu and his son away and execute them immediately to serve as a warning to others."
King Fanyang was horrified: "Chang...Chang Jieshi!"
Li Yun was almost going crazy: "Envoy Chang! Cui Liulang and I are close friends!"
Chang Suining didn't even look at him again. He walked up the stairs and headed towards the main hall.
The King of Fanyang and his son struggled and screamed, their voices sounding like pigs being slaughtered.
King Fanyang wanted to cry but had no tears - damn Cui Liulang, he had treated it as a life-saving treasure and hid it away, but now no one wants it!
Seeing the father and son being dragged away, the eunuch chief was also terrified. He followed Chang Suining and whispered, "Envoy Chang, should Li Fu be taken to the capital for punishment? If he is executed like this, isn't it a bit..."
"He is guilty of treason, yet he dares to threaten and provoke me with his words without fear—" Chang Suining paused and turned to look at him: "Shouldn't he be killed on the spot?"
Her eyes were calm, but the eunuch immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He bowed his head and said, "Yes... I will have someone inform the capital and report to the emperor the great achievement of the envoy in conquering Luoyang and killing the rebels!"
He continued to bow and salute, but did not hear a single word from Chang Suining. After a moment, he saw her lift her foot and leave from the corner of his eye.
At this time, the shrill screams of King Fan Yang and his son were heard from the side of the palace.
The chief eunuch shuddered, and soon he saw a group of soldiers carrying out two lifeless bodies. The chief eunuch took a look from a distance and saw the drooping arms and robes of King Fanyang, as well as bloodstains on the ground.
The eunuch chief steward had no time to sigh for anyone, and hurriedly said, "Quick... clean up the bloodstains quickly! Don't let it get in the way of Envoy Chang Jie!"
After giving instructions, he hurriedly followed Chang Suining, and even his flattery was full of special caution: "Envoy Chang has worked hard on the way. I have asked someone to prepare a bath for him to wash away his fatigue, and the meals are also being prepared..."
Chang Suining did not refuse. After bathing and changing clothes in the palace, he had his meal and then fell asleep.
The eunuch chief steward had someone prepare a palace for Chang Suining in the inner palace in advance, which was second only to the main palace where the emperor lived. Even so, the eunuch chief steward was still a little uneasy in private, but when he heard that Chang Suining didn't say anything and lived very casually, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
When Chang Suining woke up, it was already dark outside the palace.
When he opened his eyes and sat up with his hair loose, he suddenly saw many standard furnishings in the bedroom that only belonged to the royal palace. Chang Suining was in a trance for a moment, his mind wandering for a moment before he returned to the present moment.
"The festival woke you up."
A female soldier in a regular robe came forward, handed Chang Suining a cup of tea, and said, "An hour ago, General Hao and Captain Kang entered the city. In the afternoon, Mr. Qian and his men also arrived... Would you like to see them, sir?"
Chang Suining sat by the couch and drank half a cup of tea, then shook his head and said, "No hurry."
What She Cai and A Ni must have brought back were the prisoners of war from the Fan Yang army camp outside the city, as well as the amount of food and military pay confiscated. And since Mr. Luo and his men had arrived, they would take the initiative to hand over the matter to She Cai and arrange the subsequent trivial matters, so she didn't need to take the initiative to inquire about everything.
Chang Suining put down the teacup, yawned, stood up and casually pulled off a new silk garment from the screen that some palace servant had brought, and said, "Go ask General Tang if the matter has been completed. If it has been completed, please send someone to see me."
The female soldier agreed and retreated.
Soon, a disheveled young man in brocade clothes was brought over.
The young man limped into the hall and saw Chang Suining, who was wearing a loose moon-white robe and had her black hair tied up with a ribbon. She was sitting cross-legged behind a low table in a casual posture. He felt that the person in front of him had changed a lot because he had not seen her for a long time. He was stunned for a moment, then his eyes turned red, his mouth drooped, and he raised his hand to salute, with a crying tone in his voice -
"I knew Master wouldn't ignore me!"
Good night everyone~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
