Chapter 1173 Taking Over Luoyang
Liang Shide subconsciously held his breath.
Guan Ao and Guan Chiying were overjoyed and hurried over. Because they were not paying attention to their footing, they almost fell off the altar.
But at this moment, it doesn't matter if you fall!
Because the one who dismounted from the horse and stepped onto the altar step by step on that straight path was none other than the Qin Princess, Shang Ruyi, whom they had longed for and anticipated for who knows how long!
She was dressed in plain clothes, with no makeup, and although she was not particularly beautiful, she possessed an imposing and majestic presence.
In fact, at this moment, she didn't need any clothes to adorn herself, and she didn't even have a bodyguard by her side. Yet, by simply stepping onto the altar, she had already caused Liang Shide to lose his soul and stop breathing.
"king--"
Guan Chiying opened her mouth as if to say something, but her throat suddenly became sore, and she couldn't utter a single word.
Shang Ruyi looked at him and said, "You've worked hard."
Seeing this situation, she knew they were "too late." According to her agreement with Guan Chiying, their troops should have arrived in Luoyang before Liang Shide stepped onto the altar, capturing him and preventing him from destroying the city. Unfortunately, Yuwen Cheng delayed their journey, and they only arrived now. If Yuwen Ye hadn't had a backup plan, the situation would be very different now.
Even with hidden pieces, this period was still a life-or-death situation for them.
At this moment, she felt somewhat guilty, especially seeing that both of them were injured and looked particularly disheveled. However, with the important matter at hand, she simply nodded to Guan Ao and, after receiving Guan Ao's response, immediately looked at Pei Xingyuan and Liang Youying.
Since seeing her, Pei Xingyuan's expression had been one of excitement and joy, while Liang Youying, who stood beside him, had a somewhat solemn expression and a complicated look in her eyes. At this moment, the two women looked at each other and remained silent.
Shang Ruyi simply nodded slightly to her, and finally, her gaze fell on Liang Shide, whom she had taken hostage.
I finally met this person.
Speaking of which, he had long been famous, and to be able to establish a hegemony in such a chaotic world, and to stand in opposition to Yuwen Yuan's Great Sheng Dynasty, this soon-to-be-established "King of Xia" was naturally no simple man. But when Shang Ruyi met him now, she felt that he was somewhat different from what she had imagined. Although he was indeed in his forties as rumored, with a broad face, a heavy chin, and a flowing beard, and with the upright posture and robust physique of someone who had come from a military background, he was somewhat overweight compared to the brave Liang Shide she had imagined. Moreover, his features were prominent, especially his thick eyebrows and large eyes, which were once sharp and fierce, but now they were bloodshot and even somewhat unfocused when facing her.
After thinking for a while, Shang Ruyi realized that these discrepancies with her imagination were the result of a person being corrupted by wealth and power.
She bowed to him and said, "Lord Liang."
Seeing her lead a large group of people, Liang Shide's face was once again shrouded in gloom. When he heard Shang Ruyi say those words to Guan Chiying, his soul seemed to have been crushed by the heavy hooves, leaving only a cold shell standing there. Only when he heard Shang Ruyi call him did his shell barely respond and sway slightly.
"You are—"
"My name is Shang Ruyi."
"Shang Ruyi, Princess Consort of Qin?"
"yes."
"..."
Liang Shide stared at Shang Ruyi with bloodshot eyes for a while, then suddenly his gaze darkened, and he sneered, "Xiao Yuansui has mentioned you more than once."
Shang Ruyi narrowed her eyes slightly.
Of course she knew that a person who could dominate a region in a chaotic world could not be a stupid or dull person. Since Liang Shide said that Xiao Yuansui had mentioned her, he probably already knew what the other party was thinking. At this time, he said this, which was nothing more than wanting to use this matter to attack her, or to smear her.
Sure enough, the eyes of the surrounding men became hesitant.
But Shang Ruyi smiled nonchalantly and said, "He is currently a guest at Hulao Pass. If Lord Liang is willing to submit, you will have plenty of opportunities to talk again in the future."
Upon hearing this, Liang Shide's heart sank.
He opened his mouth, but after a long pause, he finally managed to say in a hoarse voice, "What...what did you say?"
Shang Ruyi smiled faintly, "I've already brought my men here. Doesn't Lord Liang understand the situation of the battle outside?"
As she spoke, she raised her voice and said, "A month ago, my men relieved the siege of Xia Prefecture and forced back the Turkic army led by Ashina Zhuxie at the border of Sui Prefecture; and just two days ago, Xiao Yuansui's 100,000-strong army was also defeated by the Prince of Qin at Hulao Pass and has now surrendered. By the way, the surrendered people also include the tens of thousands of troops he brought from Hebei, and Shi Yuxin and Shi Yutao have also submitted."
She didn't waste any words. A few numbers and names were enough for Liang Shide to understand what had happened at Hulao Pass and the reality at this moment—this Princess Qin was not a demure young lady with her mind full of cosmetics. Her command of the heroes was not just empty talk. She had forced back the Turkic army and, riding the momentum of the great victory at Hulao Pass, had come to take over Luoyang.
Liang Shide's face suddenly turned deathly pale, as if all the blood in his body had been drained the moment this reality appeared.
Shang Ruyi turned around and glanced at the panicked and uneasy officials and soldiers below the altar. They had obviously heard her words, and their panicked faces were filled with despair and defeat.
The Turkic army was forced to retreat, and Xiao Yuansui surrendered, meaning that Luoyang had no more external support.
At this moment, she had already led her men to the outskirts of Luoyang City, and even if these people wanted to resist, they had no chance to do so.
Seeing them all dumbfounded, even those still holding swords had lost the strength to resist, Shang Ruyi walked to the edge of the altar and said to everyone below: "Whether you are officials or commoners of Luoyang, as long as you surrender, His Highness the Prince of Qin will guarantee your lives and will not harm you in the slightest after you enter the city."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a clanging sound was heard.
A group of soldiers immediately dropped their swords. These were locals from Luoyang. They had only joined Liang Shide's ranks after he entered the city and had nowhere else to go. Now that they saw him about to lose power, they naturally switched sides immediately and knelt down before Shang Ruyi, saying, "Your Highness, Your Highness, we were forced to join the army by them. Please forgive us, Your Highness and His Highness Prince Qin!"
"Yes, we were all forced into it."
"Please investigate thoroughly, Your Highness!"
At this moment, what Shang Ruyi needed most, and what Liang Shide feared most, was for someone to take the lead. Once someone took the lead, the people around immediately abandoned their hesitation and insistence, and all rushed to throw down their weapons at those mighty and fierce heavy cavalry. The common people also kowtowed and knelt down in front of Shang Ruyi on the altar, saying, "Your Highness, spare our lives!"
Among them, the one who shouted the loudest was actually Wei Yu, the eunuch supervisor standing below the altar.
He knelt on the ground and hurriedly made his way to the altar on his knees, crying out in a shrill voice, "Your Highness, please see the truth! We were all coerced into submission by this traitor Liang Shide. We have always been hoping for the Duke of Sheng's return—"
Realizing his slip of the tongue, he immediately bit it, causing blood to spill from the corner of his mouth. With his bloodied tongue, he continued, "I long for the Emperor of Dasheng to come and save the Eastern Capital!"
Seeing his obsequious and servile demeanor, Guan Ao and Guan Chiying both frowned and turned their faces away in disgust.
But at this moment, such a person was exactly what was needed. Upon seeing him, they all knelt down. Those officials who had been hesitant looked at each other, their knees bending even more, until finally they all knelt and kowtowed to Shang Ruyi, bowing and paying their respects: "Your Highness..."
Seeing this, Shang Ruyi's eyes lit up with joy.
But her face showed no obvious joy or anger. She simply turned back to look at Liang Shide with a calm and unwavering expression. This situation was certainly a good thing for Shang Ruyi, but for him, it was as if he had already stepped into hell, and his whole body felt cold.
He raised his hand, pointing tremblingly at Wei Yu, then looked at the officials and soldiers around him who usually bowed and scraped before him.
Finally, the hand fell limply to its side.
Shang Ruyi said, "Lord Liang, why not go with the flow?"
Liang Shide lowered his head, looking like a puppet without strings. This action almost caused Liang Youying to slit his throat with the knife she had placed at his neck. She immediately pulled her hand away and looked at the "father" she had resented for many years with a complicated expression.
Although Pei Xingyuan disliked him, he stepped forward at this moment and said, "Liang Shide, the situation is hopeless. You should quit while you're ahead."
Liang Shide seemed oblivious to the voices around him and the pain from the numerous knife wounds on his neck. He simply hung his head, like a lifeless puppet held there by an invisible hand, swaying and whispering, "You think that by taking me down, you've taken Luoyang?"
He sneered, "And after entering the city, we will not commit the slightest offense."
Upon hearing this, everyone tensed up.
Pei Xingyuan also hurried to Shang Ruyi's side and said nervously, "Just now, over at Huian Gate—"
Shang Ruyi said, "I know."
Hearing those three confident words, everyone was somewhat surprised. Even Liang Shide's heart skipped a beat. He suddenly looked up at her and saw Shang Ruyi calmly saying with a hint of arrogance, as if she had everything under control, "Can't you even tell the difference between the sound of a door being blown open and the sound of a door being rammed?"
"Blow up the door? Smash the door?!"
Upon hearing this, Liang Shide suddenly seemed to understand something, his eyes widening in surprise. Shang Ruyi looked up at the sky and murmured, "Judging by the time, they should already be—"
As she spoke, she turned her head and looked at the East Gate behind her.
All eyes on the altar were focused on her. At this moment, they all turned to look at the East Gate, following her gaze. Suddenly, a thunderous sound of hooves came from inside, as if a thousand troops were galloping in. The once quiet city became noisy and chaotic.
What happened there?
Just as everyone was on edge, a rider charged out of the city gate like a sharp arrow!
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