Chapter 111 "Don't kill, lead me to safety."...
After Emperor Xianping checked into the Yicheng Prefectural Governor's Mansion, he arranged for his two accompanying civil officials, Xiao Yu and Chen Ruliang, to stay in the guest rooms of the Prefectural Governor's Mansion as well.
Today, Emperor Xianping did not take him out, and Xiao Yu could not possibly be shameless, presumptuous, or audacious enough to secretly follow him. So he simply stayed in the guest room to write a letter home to his wife. The march was tedious, unlike the many interesting things to write about when they were at Loujiang. In addition, many things involved military secrets that could not be revealed, so Xiao Yu sent a letter home to the capital every two months.
The last letter home was sent in early March. This time, Xiao Yu mainly wrote about the scenery he had seen and the local customs and traditions he had heard about as he followed the army from the westernmost part of Liaozhou to its heartland. He dared not mention that he had offended Emperor Xianping several times with his remonstrances, nor did he dare to recount the hardships he had endured during the past few months of marching. If the letter fell into the wrong hands, it could easily become evidence of his resentment towards the emperor. However, fearing that writing too little would displease his wife, Xiao Yu praised the dutiful deeds of his second brother and Luo Song, as well as the unstoppable advance of the army eastward and the emperor's three military orders to appease the people of Liaozhou...
Finally, Xiao Yu carefully wrote "Missing Madam" three times in a row, and then added "Also Missing Man'er and Tuan'er" after the last sentence "Missing Madam".
After the letter, spanning more than a dozen pages, was dried and sealed in an envelope, Xiao Yu put it in a bundle, waiting for the emperor to send someone to the capital to deliver battle reports or reply to state affairs before entrusting a messenger to take it back to the capital.
Just as he finished his work, he heard a commotion ahead, mixed with Zhao Yi's loud and anxious shout: "Imperial Physician! Quickly, summon the Imperial Physician!"
Xiao Yu's heart tightened, and he ran towards the main courtyard where the emperor lived. When he arrived, he saw that the Imperial Guards had surrounded the gate tightly, and the security was so tight that not even a fly could get in.
Zhao Yi was inside protecting the emperor, while Xiao Lin was the one leading the command at the courtyard gate.
Xiao Yu asked anxiously, "What happened?"
Xiao Lin: "...No comment."
The Emperor's injury did not appear to be fatal. Before entering, he specifically instructed that no one was allowed to enter without his order, and at the same time ordered the 10,000 garrison soldiers guarding the city to keep the city gates tightly closed and not to let any news leak out.
Looking across the entire prefectural governor's mansion, besides his younger brother, Chen Ruliang, and the few commanders there, who else was qualified to come to see the emperor without an imperial edict or important business? Chen Ruliang went in directly with the emperor, and the emperor's words clearly indicated that he did not want to see his younger brother at this moment.
Xiao Lin could completely understand the emperor's feelings. If it were him, after repeatedly rejecting his younger brother's advice and suffering a great loss as a result, he would feel humiliated when facing his brother again.
Xiao Yu was turned away by his second brother. Not wanting to make things difficult for his brother and the Imperial Guards, he could only stand outside the courtyard gate and wait. While waiting, he observed the ground nearby and saw no obvious bloodstains, which proved that even if the emperor had been assassinated, he was not seriously injured. Xiao Yu felt somewhat relieved.
About 15 minutes later, an imperial physician came out and hurried towards the small courtyard that was temporarily serving as the imperial physician's office. Xiao Yu followed him directly. The Imperial Guards did not allow him to enter to meet the emperor, but they did not say that he was not allowed to follow the imperial physician.
While the imperial physicians were selecting medicinal herbs to prepare the medicine, Xiao Yu asked with concern, "How is His Majesty's injury?"
The four imperial physicians accompanying the army only had the opportunity to see Emperor Xianping when they took his pulse in the morning and evening. Unless Emperor Xianping was unwell and summoned them, the imperial physicians were usually far away from him. Therefore, the four imperial physicians were unaware that Xiao Yu had once again displeased Emperor Xianping and still regarded him as a favorite of the emperor. Besides, although the news of Emperor Xianping's assassination could not be spread outside the city, it could be easily found out by asking around within the city, so there was no need to hide it.
The imperial physician frowned and said, "His Majesty has received two needles in his chest and has developed chest pain. Fortunately, it is not serious. However, he will need to rest in bed for at least half a month and up to a month. During this period, he must avoid strenuous activity."
Xiao Yu asked in confusion, "Needles?"
The imperial physician sighed in a low voice, "They say it's a thick needle that old women use to sew shoe soles, and it's this long." He gestured with two fingers to indicate that the needle was about three inches long.
Xiao Yu remained silent. If the assassin was sent by Emperor Yin or a commoner who wanted to assassinate the emperor, the hidden weapon used would definitely be a dagger or similar item. The needle used for sewing shoe soles was probably just something the old woman carried with her for self-defense, and it just so happened that she encountered the opportunity to assassinate him.
This was Xiao Yu's reason for advising Emperor Xianping to set up camp outside. The entire city of Yi was filled with people who hated the Great Zhou. Hatred easily leads to impulsive actions, and Emperor Xianping insisted on walking the streets, making it impossible to guard against.
While the army was still desperately crossing the river, Emperor Xianping was wounded. Xiao Yu felt no schadenfreude or sarcasm; he was only concerned that the news would affect the army's morale. Morale, if high, could turn a flock of lambs into wolves; if morale was lost, the wolves would scatter like monkeys falling from a tree.
"If I were to persuade Your Majesty to leave the city and set up camp, would Your Majesty be willing to move to the carriage to lie down and rest?" Xiao Yu asked.
The imperial physician thought for a moment and said, "The journey has been bumpy, and we must not take any risks within three days. We can try after three days, depending on how well His Majesty has recovered. However, for the sake of His Majesty's health, it is best for him to stay in the city and rest quietly."
Xiao Yu understood and bowed to the imperial physician in thanks.
In the main courtyard, Emperor Xianping left Xiao Yu waiting for most of the day before finally sending someone to summon him at dusk.
Seeing Emperor Xianping, who had personally beaten the drums to cheer on the army just a few days ago, now lying pale and on the bed, Xiao Yu's eyes welled up with tears. He knelt before the bed and said, "It is our dereliction of duty that we failed to protect Your Majesty!"
So what if no one supports him? So what if the emperor insists on his own way? If he stands in front of the emperor and refuses to give in, given the emperor's benevolence, he is very likely to accept his advice.
Emperor Xianping knew Xiao Yu all too well. He knew that every word and action of this man was spontaneous and genuine, unlike other ministers who would feign respect or try to curry favor with him. If during the day he had worried about seeing mockery in Xiao Yu's eyes, now, seeing the tears and self-reproach in Xiao Yu's eyes, Emperor Xianping felt a pang of sadness. He moved his finger and said, "Enough, Yuanzhi, there's no need to feel guilty. It was my carelessness."
Chen Ruliang then berated the blindly loyal old woman, using this to prove that Emperor Xianping was merely too benevolent and had done nothing wrong.
Emperor Xianping's recovery was of utmost importance, so Xiao Yu refrained from saying anything that might upset him.
After the minor misunderstanding between the emperor and his subject was resolved, Emperor Xianping began to give important instructions. He ordered Xiao Yu to take several cartloads of livestock to the military camp the next day to reward the army on his behalf, and to make sure that the soldiers at the front lines did not know that he had been injured. He said that his injury would heal in half a month with rest, and that the army would surely have surrounded the capital of Yin by then. At that time, he could personally go to the front lines to boost morale.
Xiao Yu was a favorite of the emperor, and his trip to reward the troops was almost as grand as Emperor Xianping's.
Xiao Yu solemnly agreed.
The next day, Xiao Yu led a cavalry unit and several carts of pigs and sheep procured from Liaozhou to the west bank camp, which greatly boosted morale. The following morning, April 27, with the successful construction of six pontoon bridges, Li Chong, Li Wei, and Liang Bizheng personally led the remaining army across the bridges. On the other side, Emperor Yin had only tens of thousands of troops and had already withdrawn his troops and headed towards the capital. Just like the two times he had been besieged by the previous emperor, he was about to begin a long period of defense.
It would take the Great Zhou army two days to reach the capital of Yin, and another three days to rest before attacking the city. Emperor Xianping would indeed not need to show his face during these five days.
Xiao Yu rode back to Yicheng at full speed and reported the news of the army's successful crossing of the river to Emperor Xianping.
After two nights of rest, Emperor Xianping looked much better than when he was first injured. Hearing the battle report was like taking a magic pill, and he wished he could go and cross the river immediately. Unfortunately, recuperation was the priority, and Emperor Xianping could not go anywhere. After Xiao Yu withdrew, Emperor Xianping said to Chen Ruliang: "Quickly spread the news of Emperor Yin's defeat and retreat from the capital throughout the entire city!"
He wanted to be a wise and benevolent ruler, so he couldn't vent his anger on the people of Yicheng. But he wanted the people of Yicheng to know how invincible the Great Zhou army was.
Chen Ruliang accepted the order and left.
Xiao Yu ignored all of that and waited until tomorrow, when Emperor Xianping had rested steadily for three full days and was ready to set off, before trying to persuade him to leave the city and set up camp.
That night, there was no moon in the sky, the Milky Way was dazzling, and the area outside the towering city walls of Yicheng was pitch black, except for a ring of torches burning around the walls. The more than two thousand households inside the city had all turned off their lights and gone to sleep early. Only the soldiers of the Great Zhou on night duty patrolled every street and alley with lanterns, and a few lanterns were lit around the prefectural governor's mansion.
Emperor Xianping had already fallen asleep after drinking the calming medicine, but Xiao Yu, preoccupied with his own thoughts, tossed and turned until almost midnight before finally falling asleep.
Xiao Lin was on night duty that night, patrolling the area around the prefectural governor's residence. When it was time to change shifts at midnight, he saw Luo Song, whom he didn't recognize very well. Xiao Lin gave a brief nod as a greeting. Xiao Lin felt somewhat disdainful of Luo Song, who was a male concubine of the eldest princess, but after all, they were relatives. In Liaodong, more than two thousand miles from the capital, having a familiar face was always a comfort.
Just as the two were about to pass each other, several black dogs that the Imperial Guards had specially led on night patrols suddenly began to bark wildly. First, the barking came from the east side of the Prefectural Governor's Mansion, and then the barking from the south, north, and west quickly merged into one!
Just as Xiao Lin and the Imperial Guards were loudly warning everyone to be on high alert, the sounds of clashing swords and shouts of battle came from all around the Prefect's Mansion, accompanied by volleys of flaming arrows shooting into the mansion from all directions!
In the chaos, with a "whoosh," a flint arrow pierced through Xiao Yu's window and fell to the ground.
Xiao Yu was already getting dressed. Qingchuan, holding a knife, stood in front of him. Hearing the sound of arrows piercing the air that echoed throughout the prefectural governor's mansion, Qingchuan removed half of the inner room door, holding the knife in one hand and raising the door panel high with the other, protecting Xiao Yu as they headed towards Emperor Xianping's main courtyard.
Zhao Yi had already led a group of imperial guards carrying shields to escort Emperor Xianping into the courtyard. Flames were already visible in the houses, so it was not advisable to stay any longer.
"Your Majesty!" Xiao Yu and Chen Ruliang arrived before Emperor Xianping almost simultaneously.
Emperor Xianping, lying on the back of an imperial guard, looked extremely grim. He told two civil officials to hide properly, and then they retreated towards the front courtyard.
At this moment, Xiao Lin and two Imperial Guard commanders rushed in and quickly reported: "Your Majesty, the Yin Kingdom has actually dug several tunnels under Yicheng. Those Yin soldiers all rushed out from the tunnels. We estimate that there are about four thousand of them. However, the Imperial Guard can hold them off. Once the ten thousand troops defending the city arrive, we will definitely annihilate the Yin soldiers!"
Emperor Xianping subconsciously looked at Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu's expression was solemn: "The method of digging tunnels existed as early as the Spring and Autumn Period, but armies of all dynasties usually dug tunnels temporarily when attacking a city. I did not expect that the Yin Emperor would have used tunnels to hide his ambush troops in advance." It could not have been dug on the spot. The digging noise underground would have alerted the black dogs in the Imperial Guard and the city defense army.
Chen Ruliang: "Four thousand men. Even if we set up camp outside, these four thousand Yin soldiers can launch a night attack on us, or even directly raid and cut off our supply lines."
Zhao Yi: "Emperor Yin is cunning. He deliberately waited until the main force of my army crossed the river and was unable to turn back to rescue him before ordering the ambush to launch a surprise attack!"
Once the emperor and his entourage were finally escorted by the Imperial Guards to the streets outside the prefectural governor's mansion, thus avoiding being trapped in the fire, a city garrison commander rode up on horseback and said urgently, "Your Majesty, the people in Yicheng have been incited by the ambush troops to run into the streets and block our way to rescue you. Unless our army takes action to kill them, it will be difficult to pass through. Please give us your instructions, Your Majesty!"
How dare those old, weak, women and children stop the elite troops of the Great Zhou?
Emperor Xianping choked, a surge of hot, metallic taste rising in his throat.
"Don't kill them, lead me to safety."
He had 5,000 elite Imperial Guards. Even if they couldn't kill the 4,000 Yin Kingdom ambush soldiers, they could still escort him to the city gate. Once they joined up with the 10,000 Jingying soldiers, they could then trap the Yin Kingdom ambush soldiers and not let a single one escape.
The Imperial Guards helped Emperor Xianping onto the carriage. Inside the carriage, there was a circle of shields, and Imperial Guards also surrounded the carriage with shields, making it look like an iron barrel.
Xiao Yu and Chen Ruliang ran behind them. One had practiced martial arts, and the other had just traveled a long way to Donghu. Both of these civil officials were able to keep up.
In front of and behind them, Imperial Guardsmen fell one after another, struck by arrows.
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The author notes: The setting is a tunnel leading from the wilderness outside the city to the inner city. Once inside, it branches into four tunnels surrounding the prefectural governor's residence. Four thousand soldiers hide during the day and can take turns getting some fresh air outdoors at night. The tunnel exits within the city are located in four trusted civilian homes, which are concealed by piling up some items on top. Any messages can be easily sent by simply dropping a note inside. The tunnels were dug several months in advance, and the work was done at night, so the civilians were unaware of it.
100 little red envelopes, see you at midnight tonight~
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