Chapter 67, the story of Lu and Tao Yunzhou, is over.
When Gong Shiliang first saw the Zhenbei Army approaching the city, he was somewhat flustered, but now he felt that there was nothing to fear.
Looking down from the city wall, Tao Qingyang appeared isolated and vulnerable, his situation even worse than that of the unarmed commoners in the distance.
After all, the army dared not annihilate the civilians, but had a reason to execute the rebellious Zhenbei Army.
That is why Tao Qing's confident and self-assured demeanor is somewhat laughable.
"Tao Qingyang, as a subordinate, you have committed insubordination and disrespect, and your crime deserves punishment; as a general, you have led your troops to cause internal strife, and your crime deserves execution. The entire Zhenbei Army will have to pay for your death. Yet you still dare to speak so arrogantly. Then don't blame me for being impolite."
Gong Shiliang grew increasingly excited, unable to contain his desire to slaughter the Zhenbei Army. This mission must not be escalated; once the Zhenbei Army was eliminated, Yunzhou City would be powerless to resist.
The new poison has been released; when the time is right, burning Yunzhou down would save us a lot of trouble.
As for the explanations the people want, we can let them give whatever they want.
Tao Qingyang remained calm. He scoffed, "It seems even Commander Gong's hearing is failing. I've already captured Danzhou; now it's time to retake Yunzhou!"
Tao Qingyang was imposing and unyielding. Suddenly, Eunuch Gao interjected to ease the tension, saying, "Commander Gong, please wait. Since General Tao has already captured Danzhou, please let the Zhenbei Army enter the city first to report back."
To go into the city to report back? That makes sense. Gong Shiliang was promoted to military governor and was in charge of all military affairs. It would be appropriate for him to report on the war situation in Danzhou.
On the surface, there's nothing wrong with what he said, but everyone can see that it's a trap to lure the enemy into a snare.
It's inconvenient to kill the highly prestigious Zhenbei Army outside the city gates; once they enter the city, they're at the mercy of the enemy.
Seeing that Tao Qingyang was about to drive his horse into the city, Qin Song immediately stopped him, saying, "Stop."
As soon as she finished speaking, she stepped forward and stood by the city wall, her gaze fixed on the red-clad general below. "Tao Qingyang, it is the responsibility of the Zhenbei Army to guard the northern border. How can you lead your troops into the city and alarm the people?"
She gripped the blue brick city wall tightly with both hands, her eyes filled with obvious worry.
Lu Youchuan, who was standing to the side, had already handed Chen Yuan over to the guards to capture, and quietly stood guard beside Qin Song, watching her every move.
Realizing her concern for the people below the city, the gaze falling on her face couldn't help but be tinged with restrained yet complex emotions. Her gaze shifted, sweeping over the red-clad general outside the city gate, and her eyes turned icy, like a blade about to pierce the other's heart.
The red-clad general gazed at the woman on the city wall with a slight smile, his tone tinged with grievance: "Does Sister A-Song think I haven't done my duty enough? The Zhenbei Army fought hard for seven days and finally captured Danzhou. Doesn't Sister A-Song intend to reward me?"
“Tao Qingyang, you really don’t know what to say. The Zhenbei Army is a military force of the imperial court. No matter what their battle record is, how can they be rewarded or punished by a mere woman from the Qin family?” Gong Shiliang interrupted the two’s conversation from his superior position.
Under Tao Qingyang's unwavering gaze, Qin Song calmly averted his eyes and glanced sideways at Gong Shiliang, "What? The court doesn't value meritorious officials, but it doesn't allow the people to love and respect them?"
Gong Shiliang didn't even glance at Qin Song, and sneered, "I heard that Lord Qin spent a lot of money to hire the great scholar Shen to teach his beloved daughter, but she has raised such a rebellious and unruly woman."
Qin Daoji, who had remained silent until now, finally reacted. He turned his gaze from the distance and looked calmly at the arrogant and conceited Gong Shiliang.
The seasoned strategist, with his undeniable and powerful aura, caused Gong Shiliang to frown slightly with just a single, unfathomable glance.
"Alright, I'm tired. According to Eunuch Gao and Commander Gong, I have committed many evils and deserve divine punishment. So, please tell me, if I atone for my sins with my death, can I save Yunzhou?"
Qin Daoji had a leg injury and had stood still since climbing the city wall, without moving an inch. But his back was straight, his head held high, and his imposing manner never faltered.
"Father, what are you trying to do!" Qin Song was suddenly terrified and immediately helped Qin Daoji up.
Qin Daoji patted her hand reassuringly, then turned to the crowd outside the city and said, “Everyone, I, Qin, also believe in the gods. If the gods are angered, I will not argue and will willingly accept the punishment. If the gods are wrathful and I am executed, Yunzhou City will be safe and sound, and all industries will prosper.”
He paused, then raised Qin Song's hand and raised his voice, "I am insignificant, but my daughter Qin Song is indeed a goddess reincarnated. I hope you all—"
"Shut up!" Before Qin Daoji could finish speaking, Eunuch Gao sternly stopped him. He remembered all too well the scene when Qin Song arrived from outside the city claiming to be the reincarnation of a goddess.
They incited public opinion, allowing them to hold them back, and yet they still wanted to continue their charade.
"If Lord Qin is unwilling to confess his guilt, he can await divine punishment, and the truth will come out in his own time. Why pretend to confess while deceiving the divine?"
Despite the persistent pressure from Eunuch Gao, Qin Daoji remained calm and composed. He pulled out a stack of yellowed papers from his pocket, on which were drawn various rare farming tools, crops, and crafting techniques.
"What do you mean by deceiving God? This is a divine gift brought by my daughter, which benefits agriculture and the people, and will bring blessings to all generations. If it weren't for the goddess, where would such an advanced thing come from?"
After speaking, Qin Daoji raised his hand and scattered countless papers into the air, like falling leaves, which drifted to the city gates and attracted the people to pick them up.
These are all advanced techniques that Xianniang obtained through the system. He could not fully understand the materials and words mentioned in many of the techniques. Even with these illustrations, he could not successfully replicate them. Therefore, after Xianniang left, these papers were gradually shelved and waited for a new tasker to appear and put them to use.
After learning that his daughter's body had been possessed, he had someone make countless copies of the inscription, partly to create a stir, and partly to keep for Qin Song to study and develop.
After reading the paper that had fallen from the sky, many people inside and outside the city knelt down in unison.
"Lady Qin is the reincarnation of Lady Shan, who brings blessings to us for thousands of generations. Please accept our bow."
"Please accept our bow."
The voices of the people were powerful and the scene was spectacular. Soldiers on and off the city walls, both friend and foe, were all slightly stunned.
Just then, a long arrow pierced the air from outside the city, grazing the heads of the Zhenbei Army and flying straight toward Qin Daoji's heart.
The sound of the arrow flying was drowned out by the worship of the crowd. Even as alert as Lu Youchuan was, he still failed to block the arrow at the right moment. The arrow only grazed Qin Daoji's knife when it was close to his chest, which slightly reduced the force of the arrow, but the arrowhead still pierced Qin Daoji's chest cavity.
"Father!" Qin Song's eyes widened, and he grabbed Qin Daoji's arm to steady him.
Blood gushed from Qin Daoji's chest, and Qin Song's eyes instantly turned bloodshot. He raised his hand to cover the bleeding wound, but was afraid of touching the arrow that was deeply embedded in his chest. He was flustered and at a loss, and stammered, "Father, how are you?"
The change happened so fast that everyone around was stunned for a moment, as if no one had expected someone to fire an arrow from the shadows.
Lu Youchuan, who was keeping a close eye on the direction from which the arrow was coming, quickly noticed something amiss.
He snatched the bow and arrow from the guard beside him, aimed at the throng of people in the distance, but the distance was too far and the scene was chaotic. Even though his archery skills were not bad, he ultimately failed to hit the target.
He frowned, then suddenly put down his bow and arrows, drew his long sword, and resolutely pressed it against Gong Shiliang's throat. "Governor Gong, do you want to kill me to silence me?"
Gong Shiliang was still stunned, but Lu Youchuan's questioning brought him back to his senses. "What do you mean by that, Imperial Censor Lu? The arrow came suspiciously, and I was unaware of it myself."
"Really? That was your soldiers acting on their own? So, it means Commander Gong is incompetent in managing his troops." He had personally witnessed the direction from which the hidden arrows came, and the soldiers in Gong Shiliang's army quietly lowered their bows and concealed themselves.
Gong Shiliang angrily explained, but could not shake off the suspicion, and was caught in a dilemma.
On the city wall, Lu Youchuan and his men protected Qin Song and his daughter, brandishing their swords and questioning several people on the other side. Below the city wall, Tao Qingyang and his men were already embroiled in a melee and quickly attacked the city gate.
Amidst the chaos, Qin Song disregarded everything else and hurriedly helped Qin Daoji sit down on the ground, focusing all his attention on protecting his seriously injured father. "Father, don't move. I've already sent someone to fetch a doctor."
Qin Daoji, pale from his leg injury and wounded by an arrow, was breathing slowly and weakly, his voice also much weaker. “Song’er, listen to me, the imperial family’s intentions are not just directed at the Qin clan. There is a bigger conspiracy behind it. Since they want to use divine punishment to seal off Yunzhou, then I will accept divine punishment and remove the pretense of sealing off Yunzhou. The crisis in Yunzhou will naturally be broken.”
Qin Song could certainly see the crux of the problem, but this was not a good solution. Looking at Qin Daoji's helpless state, tears welled up in her eyes: "But Father, you don't have to die. I, I have made all the preparations. We can get out."
Thousands of eyes were watching from outside the city, the Qin family clan had already approached the city, and the Zhenbei Army was also eyeing them covetously. Since the other side had decided on the pretext of divine punishment, they would not rashly massacre the city, but would only slowly wear down the poisoned people.
So even when Gong Shiliang and Eunuch Gao publicly executed her and her daughter by slow slicing on the city wall, she did not panic. She knew it was just a bluff, and he would not actually kill them.
As long as the medicine is brought from our family outside the city to cure the disease that plagues both inside and outside the city, the so-called divine punishment will naturally be resolved.
Qin Daoji shook his head slightly. “Song’er, now is the best opportunity. Even if… cough, the Heavenly Punishment of Yunzhou is broken and 300,000 troops are pressing in, such a large-scale mobilization means that Eunuch Gao’s mission must have a follow-up. Your father will surely die. Rather than missing this opportunity and being attacked from both sides, it is better to use this time to pave the way for you. It will not be in vain that I have been planning this all this time.”
Qin Song finally regained some clarity from her grief. She stared blankly at her father, "Could it be...could it all be part of Father's plan?"
Qin Daoji was almost out of breath, but he smiled as if he had died a worthy death. Looking at her tearful face, he comforted her gently, "Don't be sad. It's strange, but now I feel somewhat relieved. The road ahead is long, and you will carry a heavy burden. Fortunately, it's you, not, not my Song'er."
Qin Song's tears instantly burst forth. She wasn't the real Qin Song, but she had just begun to feel the warmth of her family.
She lowered her head and sobbed, unable to bear looking directly at the person in front of her.
Qin Daoji continued, "I originally planned to return to the capital to promote you, but unexpectedly, you went south and ended up being called the reincarnation of the Mountain Goddess. That's fine too, so I don't have to return to the capital to put you in a position of being supported by the people."
"Don't cry, Song'er. Your father told you you don't need to rebel. You have the title of a goddess reincarnated. After the Crown Prince ascends the throne, you can rule from behind the curtain, proceeding cautiously step by step, and then rightfully enter the palace, thus avoiding leaving a bad name."
"Father, please stop talking. Get well first, and then we can discuss this further, okay?"
Qin Song couldn't listen anymore. She realized that Qin Daoji was giving her his last words. She choked up as she said things she could hardly believe herself, praying again and again that her father, who had been so thoughtful and far-sighted, could stand up again and become her right-hand man.
Qin Daoji's voice grew even weaker, and his movements became extremely difficult. He struggled to pull a letter from his sleeve. "Don't talk nonsense. I've already interrogated Xue Ci. There's an even bigger secret behind the trouble in Yunzhou. Father... Father is dying. I've written Xue Ci's confession and the Crown Prince's hiding place in this letter. You must, you must..."
Before he could finish speaking, Qin Daoji suddenly stopped breathing, his expectant eyes lost focus, and he slowly closed his eyes. The hand holding the letter slipped down and slammed heavily onto the hard bricks.
Qin Song's tears fell in large drops, soaking the letter filled with Qin Daoji's boundless expectations.
The softness in my heart, once enveloped in warmth, hardened, while the heavy burden of confusion on my shoulders became even clearer.
She cried silently for a long time before slowly reaching out to take the letter from Qin Daoji's hand. After a brief glance, she carefully tucked it into her heart.
By the time Qin Song recovered from the shock of her father's death, the city gates had been breached, and fighting was raging outside the city. Chaos reigned on the city walls, but fortunately, Lu Youchuan stayed by her side and no one could get close.
"Ah Song." With many soldiers of the Zhenbei Army crowding onto the city wall, Lu Youchuan was able to turn to Qin Song.
Her eyes were red and swollen, and her thin shoulders were still trembling slightly from sobbing. He had never seen her so grief-stricken.
Lu Youchuan raised his hand to wipe away Qin Song's tears, his heart breaking as he did so. He didn't know what he could do for her, so he could only stay by her side and whisper her name.
After a long silence, Qin Song finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "Lu Youchuan, take me back."
She helped Qin Daoji's body to sit up; it was less like sending her back and more like sending her father's remains back.
“Okay.” Lu Youchuan immediately responded, switched the knife in his hand, and bent down to help her up.
However, just as he reached out, another hand reached out from the side and grabbed Qin Song's arm first, saying, "Get out of my way, I'll do it."
Lu Youchuan frowned, his face darkening as he looked at the newcomer. His hostile gaze instantly swept over Tao Qingyang, who was breaking through the city walls.
Tao Qingyang was not afraid of his malice at all. He bent down to help Qin Song up, and then ordered two soldiers to lift up Qin Daoji's body.
This was the only thing that made him look at the furious Lu Youchuan with disdain: "Imperial Censor Lu is nothing special."
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Author's Note: It's finally over! We've finally overcome the mountain of the Yunzhou plot! Now, let's move on to the happy romance and travel chapters. Tao is finally going to be on the table! [Dog head with rose in hand]
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