Chapter 1164 That Jade Pendant
By the end of September, the grass was withering and the branches were turning slightly yellow.
However, the bleak and desolate feeling of autumn does not only come from these natural landscapes, but more from the heavy city gates covered with knife and sword marks, and the bloodstains on the city walls on both sides.
Luoyang, once the eastern capital city painstakingly built by Chu Yang, was like the most dazzling pearl on the Central Plains. Now, it had become an isolated island in a vast ocean. Apart from the team that was sent ten days ago to retrieve grain from Huiluo Granary and returned, almost no one had entered or left. It was also frequently attacked by Sheng's army, making it seem so lonely, desolate, tragic, and helpless.
But today, Luoyang is bustling with a kind of last-ditch vibrancy.
Before dawn, a commotion arose on the city wall. People poured bucket after bucket of water down the wall to wash away the bloodstains that still reeked of blood. Even if they weren't completely clean, it didn't matter, because immediately, someone hung a bright red ribbon down from the city wall to cover the walls, which were ravaged by several battles. The bright red ribbon, illuminated by the rising sun, was dazzling, making the whole city seem to be burning in flames, revealing a final, glorious splendor on the verge of collapse.
Outside the city gate, the area had long been cleared of trees and shrubs, but a three-story earthen platform had appeared on the flat wasteland to the east.
That was the altar where Liang Shide was to offer sacrifices to Heaven.
Several days in advance, he had people go out of the city to build this earthen platform, and last night he had people move the altar, offerings, bronze tripods and other items onto it. After being exposed to the night dew, these things were all quietly waiting on the altar for today.
In contrast to the quiet altar, the city was bustling with noise.
Before the city gates were even opened, a large contingent of people was already lined up neatly at the city gate, with banners fluttering and drums and music playing. On one of the golden carriages sat a middle-aged man with a robust build, wearing a dragon robe, with a flowing beard and a self-satisfied expression. This was Liang Shide, who had occupied Luoyang for several years. He was leading his entourage and "civil and military officials" from the Ziwei Palace, preparing to go out of the city to offer sacrifices.
The city, which had been quiet for a long time, saw its residents craning their necks to watch this scene.
These past few months have been another period of devastation for the people of Luoyang, since the devastating war when Chu Yang left the Eastern Capital. They never imagined that Luoyang would be ravaged by war again, and that the city would be attacked for days without being captured. The people in the city were filled with fear and panic. However, Liang Shide refused to open the city gates regardless of victory or defeat, so they could only huddle in the city and listen to the deafening sounds of the city gates being rammed every few days or even several times a day.
And this is still just psychological fear.
What truly made their lives a living hell was that Liang Shide hadn't prepared enough food before this major battle. Although Yuwen Cheng hadn't completely sealed off the passages around Luoyang, making an escape difficult, the city's food supplies were already exhausted. Yet, Liang Shide himself had sealed the city gates, forbidding any civilians from leaving. Now, a single grain of rice in Luoyang was more expensive than a golden melon seed. Even the nobles could only survive on coarse grains, while the common people suffered the most, sometimes forced to eat rice bran mixed with loose soil.
Now, they were all so hungry that they had no strength left, and even with such a lively scene, few people came out to watch.
But Liang Shide couldn't care less about these things.
He was sitting in a golden carriage at this moment—one of the imperial utensils he had found in the Ziwei Palace after he entered Luoyang. Of course, there were others, which he had already enjoyed in recent days. This golden carriage, as well as the utensils on the altar outside the city, were things he had wanted to use for a long time, but had been dissuaded by those around him. Until today, he finally got his wish.
A true man should act this way!
Thinking of this, Liang Shide, sitting in the golden carriage, couldn't help but stroke his beard and laugh smugly. However, amidst this somewhat stiff smile, his gaze couldn't help but sweep from the colorful flags fluttering in the air ahead to the two sides of the city gate—
There, he had already had gunpowder prepared.
He had also made preparations for several other places in the city. From the day he occupied the city, Liang Shide had no intention of leaving. Even though Xiao Yuansui was now trapped in Hulao Pass and might not be able to rescue him, and if the siege continued, he and the people of Luoyang would only be trapped and die here, it didn't matter.
He will die in Luoyang!
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
The guards standing on both sides of the golden carriage couldn't help but show surprised expressions when they heard his laughter. These days, Liang Shide's temper had become increasingly strange. Sometimes he was very excited, feeling that he had the world under his control. Other times he was extremely panicked, fearing that Yuwen Cheng would attack the city at any moment. Once he fell into this mood, he would suddenly fly into a rage, whipping the people around him and making them go to the city wall to fight and resist the enemy's invasion.
After several rounds of turmoil, even his trusted confidants dared not approach him, and the guards were all extremely cautious.
Hearing his laughter, everyone held their breath, unsure if he was about to erupt again, afraid that the slightest noise would draw his attention to them. But Liang Shide paid no attention to them. After laughing, he suddenly said, "Guan Chiying."
Upon hearing the name, the guards around him all showed disdain on their faces.
Someone lazily called out, "Guan Chiying."
The name spread in waves, and soon a thin figure rushed up from behind; it was Guan Chiying.
He was dressed in court robes, which looked like they'd been rummaged through some storeroom; even the hems were wrinkled and crumpled. He looked rather shabby. He stopped and bowed beside the golden carriage: "King Xia..."
Xia was the name of the country proposed by Liang Shide himself.
After the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven is completed, he will call himself King of Xia. However, several days before that, his confidants, including his civil and military officials, have already been calling him that.
Liang Shide glanced at him, then looked at the street, and said, "Where are the people?"
Guan Chiying paused for a moment, glanced around, and immediately said, "Today, King Xia is ascending the altar to offer sacrifices. This is such an important event that we cannot allow these common people to come out and disrupt the order. Therefore, I have ordered my men to keep them under control and prevent them from coming out."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a sharp voice came from the other side of the golden carriage: "The Xia King's sacrifice is such a momentous event, how can the people not offer their congratulations?"
Guan Chiying frowned and looked up. The speaker was none other than Wei Yu, the eunuch supervisor.
This man was a lowly fourth-rank eunuch who stayed behind at the Ziwei Palace when Chu Yang left the Eastern Capital. After Liang Shide captured Luoyang, he surrendered without any resistance and served Liang Shide ever since, just like the former emperor. At first, Liang Shide was not used to having such a person by his side, but Wei Yu was a master of flattery and opportunism. Before long, he served him comfortably, and later, Liang Shide even became somewhat dependent on this man.
Upon hearing this, Liang Shide's face also showed displeasure, and he looked coldly at Guan Chiying.
At this, Guan Chiying's scalp tingled.
He and Shang Ruyi had agreed on this time. As long as they could achieve a great victory at Hulao Pass, Yuwen Ye could lead his troops to attack Luoyang. Once Liang Shide left the city to perform the sacrificial ceremony, it would give them an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. However, at this time, ordinary people should not get involved, since swords have no eyes.
Besides, after eating tree leaves and loose soil for so many days, what ordinary person would have the energy to come out and watch this spectacle?
Guan Chiying smiled obsequiously, about to explain something, when Wei Yu coldly said, "Lord Guan, the King of Xia sent you here not to explain, but to do something."
Guan Chiying's gaze turned cold, and she glared at him fiercely.
Wei Yu was not intimidated either—similarly, he looked down on Guan Chiying, both of them were spineless sycophants who insisted on putting on the act of a loyal minister and general. Besides, he himself was useless; he had only served as a foot soldier to accompany Chen Cai to Huiluo Granary. Chen Cai died, and he didn't even bring back an extra bag of grain. He became a meritorious official simply because he persuaded his family and several other stubborn old families to finally submit to the Xia King and submit congratulatory memorials for this sacrificial ceremony.
The two men faced off for a moment, each trying to outdo the other.
Just as the atmosphere became somewhat tense, a clear and solemn voice rang out behind Guan Chiying: "King Xia."
Upon hearing this, Liang Shide had no choice but to turn slightly from his golden carriage. He saw Guan Ao, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, standing behind Guan Chiying, his cousin. Compared to the thin and somewhat flustered Guan Chiying, Guan Ao possessed a calm demeanor and composed gaze, giving him a more trustworthy air. He spoke slowly and deliberately, "The auspicious time is approaching. If we drive all the people out—while it would certainly be to congratulate the King of Xia—the chaos would inevitably cause us to miss the appointed time."
"..."
"If King Xia doesn't care, then we'll do it immediately."
Upon hearing this, Liang Shide's expression changed slightly—he absolutely could not miss his auspicious time, which he had had calculated for a long time; besides, after today, there might never be another chance...
He immediately replied, "No need."
After saying that, Guan Ao waved his hand lightly and led Guan Chiying back into the ranks of officials. Only Wei Yu gave them a cold glare.
Only after returning to the group did Guan Chiying breathe a sigh of relief, and then turned to Guan Ao and said, "Thank you, brother."
Guan Ao's face was solemn as he stared at the still tightly closed gate ahead—the opening of the city gate also had an auspicious time, and it was now. Although his face was expressionless, those who came close could still see that his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He lowered his voice and asked, "None of us trust you, but that jade tablet."
As he spoke, he gave Guan Chiying a sharp look.
"Are you sure that the King and Queen of Qin will arrive before the auspicious hour today?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com