Chapter 46: Leading the army in pursuit, day and night without stopping...
Emperor Zhongzong was not angry when he was scolded. He asked him: "Since the world is already in chaos, can't you see that?"
Shao Junzheng chuckled: "What's the difference between you and those guys from the south? I can't stand any of them. Come on! Even with swords and axes at my feet, I won't flinch. I have only one request: if you treat the people better, I'll have nothing more to say!"
King Jungjong wasn't angry at first, but he got angry too. "Are you implying that you're questioning my character and doubting my integrity?"
Seeing Shao Junzheng's completely unfazed expression, he waved his hand, locked Shao Junzheng up, and then forgot about him.
At this time, Shao Junzheng was only seventeen years old and still at an impulsive age.
He studied in Bingzhou and his grades were barely above average. He was a person who was public-spirited and hated evil.
Therefore, he is very popular.
Looking at the conversation on the screen, and recalling the premise that the screen said Emperor Zhongzong would "lead his troops south and not commit any offenses after capturing the city," his face flushed slightly.
When he fought his way to Suzhou and confronted He Siqi at Wuwei Xuanyang City, he finally remembered this person after taking time to deal with internal affairs.
He wants to use this person, but he's not prepared to use him directly.
As the saying goes, there's a special way to deal with people who value loyalty and rules. Since you, Shao Junzheng, think I'm plotting rebellion, acting improperly, improperly, and inappropriately, then go and see what's going on under other people's rule before you see what I'm like.
The truth comes from comparison. If someone really does it better, you can get lost.
The last sentence was a bit vulgar, but no one paid it any mind.
Now that everyone understands what kind of personality Emperor Jungjong has, let's not worry about these details.
To be honest, a leader who cares about talent is someone everyone is eagerly anticipating.
Except for Emperor Hong'an.
He couldn't take it anymore: "Once things are over here, you should go and study more. Such vulgarity is unacceptable—"
Emperor Hong'an stopped abruptly halfway through his speech and fell silent.
Zhou She, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince: "..."
Your Majesty, what is it that you are asking? Please finish speaking!
Shao Junzheng, carrying his luggage and cursing, was being driven to another city in Bingzhou: Jianhe.
Surprisingly, King Jungjong did not strip him of his military power. Instead, he generously handed over all the soldiers who had previously followed him, simply sending a message: "I've heard that the He family has a history of massacring cities, so I'm entrusting the military command to you."
What a calculated scheme!
This is clearly a trap set for Shao Junzheng. Since you don't want me to harm the local people, you certainly don't like the He family on the other side either.
Even if you don't want to follow Emperor Zhongzong, you still have to help defend the city.
[It sounds terrible, but Shao Junzheng is the kind of person who responds better to gentleness than force. He initially suspected that Emperor Zhongzong wanted to deliberately wear down his strength by killing all his soldiers.]
Then he discovered that supplies were always delivered on time, and his treatment was even better than before—which made sense, after all, his former boss was the Fifth Prince… those who know, know.
This is something that those who know, know.
Some military officers were so anxious upon hearing this that they practically wanted to rush forward and take his place. Such good treatment, how can you not be tempted? If you can't do it, I will!
"Treat talents well, and you can soften them, but you can't win their hearts."
Zhou She couldn't help but recall the TV dramas he used to watch. Different monkeys were tied up in different ways: those who loved money were given gold and silver, and those who loved power were given high-ranking positions and generous salaries.
Those who love the people must be of one mind with them. Those who value loyalty must be shown morality.
In short, there's no point in saying more; let the facts speak for themselves.
After the two sides faced each other and entered a state of war preparedness, Shao Junzheng could see the situation on the other side every day. In the end, he had to admit that Emperor Zhongzong was actually doing a good job, much better than those grandsons of the He family.
He meticulously studied each of King Jungjong's decrees, and always realized he had been judging others by his own petty standards. Time can drastically change one's attitude, and so it was with realizing his misunderstandings. Shao Junzheng's attitude gradually softened, and he even attempted to meet with King Jungjong several times, but was refused each time.
Shao Junzheng: "..."
He wanted Tianmu to come out and clarify whether his future self would really curse everyone he met.
Are you sure Tianmu isn't exaggerating or making things up?
He remembered clearly all the messy, unofficial history that Tianmu had told him before.
The government office of the prefect of Bingzhou became his territory after Emperor Zhongzong took over.
The inner hall was brightly lit, with several desks not far apart. King Jungjong's confidants were all working at their desks, and the only sound was the rustling of pens as they wrote.
Zhuang Yuanchu strode in, went straight to Emperor Zhongzong's desk, bent down to support himself on the long table, and said in a low voice, "Shao Junzheng requests an audience."
Emperor Zhongzong was not surprised at all, and did not even look up: "Did you tell him not to go to Xuanyang and to take over the defense patrols? I'm very busy, I don't have time."
The candlelight flickered slightly, and he was extremely focused, not paying any attention to anything else.
"Didn't you say you were going to recruit this person for your own use?" Zhuang Yuanchu asked, puzzled. "He came, but then you disappeared again. What if he got kidnapped by someone else...?"
Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Zhongzong looked up at him. He wearily propped his chin on his hand and said, "Could he possibly find another person in the entire world as magnanimous as me?"
"?" Zhuang Yuanchu was dumbfounded. "You..." How shameless.
“If he can find it, then let him go. Besides, I have many powerful generals under my command. He is useful, so there is no need for me to urge him three or four times.” His eyes only showed the fatigue from staying up all night reviewing documents, without any other thoughts. “Forced melons are not sweet. Since he doesn’t like me, after we take Suzhou, whether he stays or leaves will naturally be up to his own wishes.”
Zhuang Yuanchu stood in front of him, sighed helplessly, and was about to say something when a roll of white paper flew towards him.
Zhuang Yuanchu reached out and took it, only to see Fang Jingruo looking irritated, and she immediately started cursing: "This is an office, no idlers allowed, and keep quiet!"
Zhuang Shi: "..."
King Jungjong's thinking was simple: since you look down on me, there's no need for me to fawn over you. One day, you'll find out who is truly worthy of your loyalty.
The world is teeming with talented people, and Emperor Zhongzong had countless heroes under his command. Did he really need another one like you, Shao Junzheng?
That makes sense.
Emperor Hong'an nodded slightly.
Even if someone is truly talented, they wouldn't warrant being summoned to a feast multiple times. Unless they are truly an unparalleled genius, then that's another story.
Shao Junzheng returned to Jianhe. Although there was no major conflict, both sides continued to harass each other, looking for an opportunity. That winter, Bi Songde led his troops in a surprise attack on Jianhe. Shao Junzheng met the enemy and killed half of the enemy's army in one battle. However, on his way back, he was surrounded by enemy reinforcements.
After holding out for several days, when the soldiers and horses were exhausted, Shao Junzheng noticed a sudden disturbance on the enemy's side. A small gap had appeared in the tight encirclement!
A golden opportunity! He immediately raised his spear, mounted his horse, and broke through the encirclement. In an instant, a tall and imposing figure rode in on horseback.
So that's it! It was because Emperor Zhongzong received the news and led troops to the rescue, like a god descending to earth, leaving a deep and lasting impression on him.
The sky screen was full of passion, and the sound was melodious and rhythmic.
Shao Junzheng: "..."
Zhou She: "..."
It's so eerie, this feeling of déjà vu.
It's you, Fang Jingruo!
Under Shen Mingzhe's suspicious gaze, Fang Jingruo touched her neck and covered her face with her sleeve: "Hehe..."
Here, the uploader borrows from Fang Jingruo's classic collection of essays, "Imperial Ambition and Hegemony - The Road to Zhongzong's Conquest of the World," which vividly describes Zhongzong's experience of sweeping across the world. The only problem is that he writes with too much excitement and is sometimes a bit exaggerated... but that's not important.
All anyone needs to know is that at that moment, Shao Junzheng, who had been besieged for days, saw Emperor Zhongzong. Whether he was moved or not, he had to admit that Zhongzong was far more magnanimous than he was.
Shao Junzheng lowered his head in shame; in truth, he was quite moved.
The magnanimous King Jungjong himself: "..."
Actually, no, it's just the same old trick of playing hard to get, isn't it?
The knot in his heart that had been there for days suddenly shattered. Looking back on the past few months, even though he had refused to comply, he hadn't been given any hardship; on the contrary, he had been entrusted with important tasks on several occasions. The people under Bingzhou's rule were happy, and even on his way home, he saw many more smiles.
His wife also advised him: "It's rare to meet a wise ruler in one's lifetime. Apart from not being a legitimate member of the royal family, what's wrong with Lord Zhou? Just give in to him!"
Shao Junzheng was genuinely convinced and formally surrendered. Emperor Zhongzong then selected several thousand elite soldiers from the patrol army, appointing Shao Junzheng and another trusted confidant as commander and deputy commander, respectively, to train them together.
Everyone nodded vigorously.
For most people, the emperor's throne rotates, and it's never my family's turn anyway.
So does it really matter who becomes emperor?
As long as it's good enough for the people, they're willing to follow.
The new elite unit consisted of 5,000 people who lived and ate together and underwent intensive training for more than two months.
That same winter, the opportunity that Emperor Zhongzong had been waiting for arrived. Seeing that He's army was poorly defended and its forces greatly weakened, Zhao's army dispatched elite troops up the Yellow River to Xia Prefecture, where they launched a surprise attack from the rear. Caught off guard, He's army suffered repeated defeats and retreated, with large swathes of territory to the west falling into Zhao's hands.
The more experienced generals all perked up their ears.
Here come the fighter jets.
The Third Prince and the Fourth Prince both looked at Zhou She.
Isn't this guy a spoiled brat?! Why is what he's saying actually correct?
Zhou She shrugged inwardly: There's nothing he can do; the old emperor always wants to take action against him. People mature quickly in times of crisis.
The news reached Suzhou, and He Siqi was ordered to head south to reinforce Xiazhou. However, despite his best efforts to conceal the army's movements, he could not escape Emperor Zhongzong's notice.
Discovering that He Siqi's army was retreating and its morale was wavering, this was a golden opportunity! Opportunities in battle are rare, and now one had been presented to him; how could he let it slip by? Emperor Zhongzong immediately made a decision, personally leading his army in pursuit, day and night. After chasing for over a hundred li, they finally caught up with He Siqi's forces.
Ren Heng's proud expression twisted slightly.
To chase for over a hundred miles in one go, what kind of body is that? Is it made of iron?
Fang Jingruo didn't understand military affairs, but he understood humanity, and he worriedly said, "Such a march might strain the body, and in the future..."
Shen Mingzhe also frowned deeply.
Tianmu didn't care about their thoughts; she only felt admiration for them.
Amidst the chaos, He Siqi sought refuge within the city, only to find that Emperor Zhongzong's troops had completely surrounded it. He Siqi heard fear and lingering apprehension in his left ear, and the veteran general Bi Songde's admonition in his right.
An aged voice then rang out.
"Your Highness!" Bi Songde said earnestly, "Although Xia Prefecture is in chaos, it is not to the point of being fundamentally affected. It would be wrong to retreat hastily at this time! In my opinion, it is better to hold the city!"
Before him stood He Siqi, dressed in military uniform, his face pale, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back.
Bi Songde, despite his advanced age, saw things very clearly.
This prince is panicking!
He was being chased by Zhou Xingyuan all the way, like a stray dog. At this moment, he was filled with hatred and fear, so how could he give the right instructions?
Despite thinking this, he still said, "Your Highness!"
He Siqi suddenly turned around and took a few steps forward urgently: "General Bi, you once told me to confront Zhou She in Wuwei, and how could I not have listened to you? But what we got was not my opportunity!"
A gust of cold wind swept by, and He Siqi turned away indignantly, hiding inside the house.
Bi Songde chased after him into the room: "If Your Highness goes out of the city to fight, who will come to your aid?"
“I know that Zhou Xingyuan is only good at defending cities, not attacking them,” He Siqi said through gritted teeth. “General Bi, there’s no need to say anything more. Listen to me and go out of the city to meet the enemy!”
Bisongde: "..."
He took a deep breath, eager to ask where His Highness had heard the rumor that Zhou Xingyuan was not good at attacking cities.
However, He Siqi didn't wait for his reply and had already impatiently walked out, muttering to himself, "If we lose this battle, how can I face my father?"
Bi Songde felt a chill in his heart. He only wanted a quick victory and military exploits.
How foolish!
He Siqi rejected Bi Songde's suggestion to defend the city. He no longer trusted Bi. After all, Bi had said that "we would wait for the opportunity to fight," but in the end, we became the opportunity to fight.
Young Master He couldn't stand this humiliation. Clinging to the last vestiges of his "advantage is in our hands," he personally oversaw the battle. Oh, and I forgot to mention, although He Siqi was the highest leader, he himself didn't fight. His role was that of an amateur directing professionals, acting as a mascot atop the city walls, showing that the He family was still there, and encouraging everyone to charge!
Although the uploader thinks it might also make it easier for him to escape at the first sign of trouble—being on high ground allows for a clearer view, making it very convenient to run away as soon as defeat is seen.
Tianmu's daily taunts nearly made Zhuang Yuan Chu spit out his water.
In fact, in his shallow understanding, He Siqi's behavior was no different from what Tianmu said about the Third Prince.
"Occupying the toilet without doing anything..." Oh no, that's too vulgar. Zhuang Yuanchu is going to be a great general in the future, how can he talk like that?
But that's the gist of it. Who can completely prevent patronage? It's just patronage during a crisis, and then trying to interfere with veterans with their own opinions…
Zhuang Yuanchu felt he should give He Siqi a thumbs up and praise his fearless spirit.
King Jungjong divided his forces in two. The majority of his troops engaged the He army in battle, while he himself led his recently trained elite troops to flank and launch a surprise attack from the rear.
Bi Songde still didn't know enough about Emperor Zhongzong's troops. When the two armies clashed, He's entire army was deployed. Then Bi Songde sensed something was amiss.
Because he discovered that Zhou Xingyuan, the legendary figure who loved to lead the charge, was nowhere to be found. If you were talking about someone like He Siqi, his appearance would be a horror story, but the disappearance of Emperor Zhongzong… is also a horror story.
Bi Songde realized what was happening, but it was too late. Emperor Zhongzong, leading elite cavalry, pressed in from the rear, attacking from both sides. The He army suffered a crushing defeat and retreated. Zhongzong continued the pursuit, killing over ten thousand He infantrymen in a single battle, and beheading Bi Songde before returning to the walls of He Siqi.
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