Chapter 367 The Princess, Humiliated, Jumps into the River and Commits Suicide
In mid-March of 1125 AD, Zhao Xuan ascended the throne in Lin'an Prefecture and established the reign title Jianxing.
Xiao Xuance was appointed Grand Marshal of the Army. He led 100,000 troops to attack Xiangyang from the northwest of Ezhou, and then continued north to capture Nanyang, Luoyang, and the capital.
The cities that had been occupied by the enemy were no longer as prosperous as they once were. Their wealth was plundered, and their people were killed or taken into slavery. Only a few people were lucky enough to survive.
The people cheered with joy upon the recapture of the city.
Wanyan Zonglie's main force retreated to Dingzhou and other important military towns, which were easy to defend and difficult to attack.
After recapturing these cities, the Zhenbei Army did not engage in battle with the main force trained by Wanyan Zonglie.
These cities are guarded by the swimming paratroopers under the Second Prince and some soldiers who surrendered to the Great Zhou.
The generals of Dajing came from the barren land to the bustling capital. They were dazzled and unrestrained, and spent their days drinking, singing, and indulging in a life of debauchery.
Before the disciplined Zhenbei Army led by Xiao Xuance, they were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, utterly vulnerable.
There are three main reasons why the main force of the army withdrew.
First, the battle lines were stretched too thin, supplies were running low, and the troops were struggling to adapt to the new environment.
Secondly, the terrain is flat, making it difficult to defend but easy to attack, and therefore unsuitable for warfare.
Thirdly, and most importantly, the Emperor of Dajing was getting old, and his princes, nephews, and ministers were busy vying for power, trying every means to divide up more of the treasures and beauties plundered from Dazhou.
The news of his protection spread throughout the continent. People who had fled to the north heard this good news on their way and then packed their things and turned back.
The Xiao family army guarded Beiping for decades, protecting the lights of every household. Only when they left did the enemy have an opportunity to take advantage.
Xiao Jiajun is back.
What is Dajing?
Wanyan Zonglie in Dingzhou received the news.
Knowing that Xiao Xuance would eventually attack, they had to prepare in advance.
Prepare provisions and strengthen soldier training.
Seeing his furrowed brows, He Shilie brought up the past, "Your Highness, I suggested long ago that we should eliminate him completely, but you didn't listen. Now that he has regained control of the Xiao family army, he will definitely become the biggest obstacle to our attack on the Central Plains."
When Xiao Xuance was imprisoned, he suggested sending spies to assassinate him in the prison.
Wanyan Zonglie rejected the idea, believing the other party to be a useless person and not worth fearing.
Looking back now, it was like raising a tiger that would cause trouble.
“Things are different now. The Xiao family army of today is not the same as the Xiao family army of the past. We have their emperor, treasures, and provisions in our hands. We are a strong and well-equipped army. They have just established a new dynasty. They have no money and no provisions. What can they use to fight us?”
Wanyan Zonglie believed he had long seen through the hearts of the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He thought their court was corrupt and incompetent, with the emperor and ministers all being spineless.
He told them to kneel, and Wanyan Zonglie took the intelligence from the south to the front hall to discuss countermeasures with the Second Prince, Wanyan Zongqin.
As soon as I stepped outside, a woman screamed and ran toward me.
"Ah! Don't come any closer, don't grab me..."
A man was chasing after them, pulling up his pants. Upon closer inspection, it was clear he was covering his groin with one hand.
Seeing this scene, I can guess what just happened.
"Stop! You ungrateful wretch, it's your good fortune that I, the general, have favored you." The man jumped over the fence, leaped down into the yard, grabbed the woman from behind, and bent down to carry her on his shoulder.
"You beast, let me go..."
"ah!"
The woman grabbed his arm, bit it hard, then broke free and ran forward.
Terrified, she ran towards Wanyan Zonglie without thinking, and was about to crash into him.
He Shilie quickly stepped forward and kicked the man to the ground.
"ah!"
"I am a princess, and I would rather die than serve you barbaric beasts." Zhao Furou rubbed her stomach, which was hurt from being kicked, as she got up. She looked at the large group of people in front of her, and then glanced at the beasts behind her who were about to catch up and wanted to devour her alive.
He scrambled to his feet and rushed to the lotus pond beside him, jumping in without hesitation with a splash.
The moment she jumped, a clear image flashed through Wanyan Zonglie's mind. He rushed over after her, only managing to grab the hem of her clothes, unable to grasp anything else.
Their eyes look very similar.
He instinctively uttered two words, "Save people."
He Shilie doubted that he had heard correctly.
Wanyan Zonglie repeated, "Save them!"
He heard clearly this time and ordered his men, "Quickly, save them!"
Zhao Furou couldn't swim, and after struggling in the lake for a while, she ran out of strength and gradually sank.
A soldier jumped into the river, pulled the man out, and threw him onto the bank.
The man who had been chasing her earlier was embarrassed by her actions and being seen by so many people. Feeling ashamed, he kicked Zhao Furou on the ground in a fit of rage, yelling, "You bitch! You bitch, if you dare to bite this general again, I'll kill you, tear you apart by five horses, and chop you into eight pieces!"
Wanyan Zonglie: "Wuyan, what's going on?"
Wuyan was a general under the second prince, Wanyan Zongqin.
"Reporting to the Fourth Prince, she is the Seventh Princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty. She was assigned to serve the Second Prince. She has a fiery temper. She bit the Second Prince's arm and was slapped and fell to the ground. Then she picked up a shard of porcelain and slashed her cheek, leaving her face covered in blood. The Second Prince then gave her to his subordinates, but she went mad and ran away. This woman is a madwoman. She ruined her perfectly good face like this. It's disgusting."
Today is the birthday of the Second Prince Wanyan Zongqin. A banquet was held early in the morning, and all the generals were invited to gather together to drink.
Of course, drinking requires women to serve, so noble ladies captured from the Great Zhou were arranged to serve, and Zhao Furou was one of them.
"Since the Fourth Prince likes it, why don't you take it back and train it properly?"
With so many women to choose from, he didn't want a blood-soaked, insane woman.
Wanyan Zonglie cares about her quite a bit, so why not do her a favor?
The Fourth Prince is ruthless; if this woman falls into his hands, she will surely die a more miserable death.
Wanyan Zonglie: "Take her back."
Zhao Furou was kicked until she vomited blood. She whispered, "No, I don't want to go back. I'd rather die than serve you. Kill me, kill me."
Wanyan Zonglie thought she looked somewhat like Yun Zhaoxue, and her fierce and unyielding nature was equally interesting.
He leaned down slightly and pinched Zhao Furou's chin. "Want to die? Not so easy. Take her back and get her treated. Let the military doctor fix her face."
He Shilie gave a look to the soldier next to him, and the soldier stepped forward and dragged the man away.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com