Chong Heihu said, "There's no need to attack; it would be a waste of effort. We should just cut off their supply lines so that the people inside the city can't be fed. Then the city will fall without a fight. Elder brother, you can wait and see what happens when the Marquis of the West's troops arrive."
Chong Houhu also agreed, so he surrounded the city and waited for Ji Chang, the Duke of Xibo.
At this time, Su Hu was trapped in the city, realizing he had no strong generals within and no reinforcements without, and was essentially awaiting his doom. He was helpless. Just then, a soldier reported that Zheng Lun, the grain supply officer, was waiting outside the gate. Su Hu said, "Whether the grain comes or not is the same." But he still ordered Zheng Lun to come and see him.
Zheng Lun approached the eaves, bowed, and said, "I heard on my journey that Your Excellency had rebelled against the Shang, and that Marquis Chong had been ordered to lead an expedition against you. Therefore, I was anxious about both places and rushed back day and night. But I do not know how Your Excellency's victory or defeat will be?"
Su Hu sighed and said, "The other day, when I went to court, the tyrannical king listened to slander and wanted to take my daughter as his concubine. I remonstrated with him with righteous words, which offended the tyrannical king, and he wanted to punish me. Unexpectedly, Fei and You turned the tables on me and pardoned me, allowing me to return to my country and present my daughter to him. I was so angry that I wrote a poem against Shang. Today, the emperor ordered Chong Houhu to attack me. I won two or three battles against them, suffered heavy losses, and achieved a great victory."
"Unexpectedly, Cao Zhou's Chong Heihu came to aid his brother and captured my son, Quanzhong. I believe Heihu possesses extraordinary skills and unparalleled bravery in the army; I am no match for him. Today, there are eight hundred lords in the land; I, Su Hu, know not where to turn. I think of my four closest relatives; my eldest son has already been captured. It would be better to kill his wife and children first, and then commit suicide, so that the world and future generations will not laugh at me. You generals may pack your belongings and go elsewhere; let each of you make your own way." After Su Hu finished speaking, he wept bitterly.
General Zheng Lun
Upon hearing Su Hu's words, Zheng Lun exclaimed, "How could you utter such disheartening words, my lord? I have served you since childhood and have been honored by your kindness and support. I am willing to serve you with all my might."
Su Hu said, “It’s not that I’m discouraged, but that Chong Heihu once studied under a strange man and was taught Taoist arts. He amazed even gods and ghosts. He has unparalleled strategic skills. No one in Ji Province can rival him. What should we do?”
Zheng Lun said, "Your Excellency, I will not surrender Chong Heihu alive; I will present his head before all the generals!" Having said this, he disregarded orders, leaped out of the mansion, mounted his Fiery-Eyed Beast, and wielded two demon-subduing pestles. He opened the city gates, unleashing three thousand crow soldiers, like a dark cloud sweeping across the land. Upon reaching the camp, he shouted sternly, "Summon Chong Heihu to see me!"
Upon hearing the report that a general from Jizhou was challenging them to battle outside the camp gate, Chong Heihu immediately dispatched his three thousand Flying Tiger soldiers to meet them. Arriving at the battle line, they saw a group of troops beneath the city of Jizhou, their formation resembling a dark cloud, aligned with the northern Ren-Gui water element. The general had a face like a purple date, a beard like golden needles, wore a nine-cloud flaming crown, a crimson robe, golden chainmail, and a jade belt, rode a fiery-eyed golden-eyed beast, and wielded two demon-subduing pestles.
Chong Heihu did not recognize Zheng Lun, so he shouted, "General from Jizhou, state your name."
Zheng Lun shouted, "I am Zheng Lun, a general of Ji Province. I was not in the city the other day. You captured my commander's son and, relying on your strength, you have no choice but to hand over the young marquis today. If you utter even a single word of dissent, may you all become dead!"
Enraged by this, Chong Heihu shouted, "You arrogant fool! I'll come and get you!" With that, he spurred his golden-eyed beast and charged at Zheng Lun, brandishing a pair of golden axes. Zheng Lun, seeing this, also spurred his fiery-eyed golden-eyed beast to attack Chong Heihu.
Seeing Zheng Lun charging towards Chong Heihu from the city wall, Su Hu said to his men, "Zheng Lun's life is over."
Looking down at the city walls, Zheng Lun and the two beasts, Chong Heihu and Zheng Lun, were locked in a fierce battle, their clash creating a bloody, misty haze. They fought for dozens of rounds without a clear victor. Seeing that Zheng Lun was riding the Fiery-Eyed Golden-Pierced Beast, Chong Heihu knew that this man also possessed Taoist magic. He then intended to use the supernatural powers taught by his master to capture Zheng Lun first and then go to see Su Hu.
Thinking of this, Chong Heihu feinted, turned his mount around, and left, taking out a red gourd from his back, intending to use magic to injure his enemy. Zheng Lun was already suspicious when he saw Chong Heihu turn his mount around even though he hadn't been defeated. When he saw Chong Heihu take the red gourd off his back, he knew that Chong Heihu was about to use magic.
Zheng Lun sneered, brandishing the pestle in the air. Behind him, three thousand crow soldiers cried out, moving like a long snake, each wielding a grappling hook and dragging an iron chain, hurtling forward like lightning. Zheng Lun snorted, and a sound like a bell rang from his nostrils, from which two beams of white light shot out.
Hearing the voice, Chong Heihu's vision blurred, and he stumbled, his golden crown falling to the ground, his armor detaching from his saddle, his boots flying wildly through the air. The crow soldiers captured him alive, binding his arms with ropes. It took Heihu a while to regain consciousness, and when he looked around, he was already tied up.
It turns out that Zheng Lun had also studied under the True Man Du'e of West Kunlun, who taught him two types of energy that could absorb the souls of others. Whenever facing an enemy general, a single groan from this energy would cause the enemy general's soul to leave his body. Chong Heihu was unaware of this technique, and thus he was captured.
Su Hu was greatly surprised to see Zheng Lun defeat and capture Chong Heihu from the city wall.
He was busy preparing for the ceremony at Yin'an Palace and summoned Zheng Lun to meet him. After Zheng Lun arrived, he inquired about the situation on the battlefield.
Zheng Lun said, "Mo Jiang once studied under the Taoist master Du'e of West Kunlun and was taught the Taoist arts, which is why he was able to capture Chong Heihu."
Su Hu was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "With the general here, Ji Province has nothing to worry about."
As they were talking, the soldiers brought Chong Heihu to the front of the hall. Su Hu quickly dismissed the servants and stepped forward to personally tie him up. He said, "Zheng Lun is ignorant of the proper conduct and has offended the general. Please forgive him."
Chong Heihu replied, "Brother, we once served under the Grand Tutor and were sworn brothers. I have never forgotten our bond. Now, I have been captured by my subordinates and am filled with shame! Yet you have treated me with such kindness. I am deeply grateful!"
Su Hu ordered his men to seat Chong Heihu and then summoned Zheng Lun and his generals to meet him.
Black Tiger said, "General Zheng's Taoist arts are extraordinary. Now that I have captured him, I will be forever loyal to him."
Turning to Su Hu, he said, "I came here for two reasons: first, because of your defeat, and second, to help you out of your predicament. Unexpectedly, your son is young and arrogant, and refused to enter the city to ask you for a reply. Therefore, I captured him and brought him back to the rear camp. I am truly your brother."
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