Chapter 74: Taking Over Shuofeng, Show of Authority |
The Northern Liang valley—a seemingly insignificant place on the map, occupying less than a tenth of Liang Prefecture's territory.
Yet this place produced half of all the grain in Liang Prefecture.
Its population also accounted for roughly a third of the prefecture.
Both its strategic significance and economic importance were similar to Hanzhong.
The Northern Liang valley had only one commandery: Shuo Commandery.
The Chishui River, originating from beyond Western Liang, split the entire valley in two.
North of the Chishui River lay five counties. The largest—and the city closest to the State of Qi—was Wuwei, which also served as the commandery seat and was Liang Prefecture's second-largest city.
South of the Chishui River were four counties. The largest city was Shuofeng, located less than ten li from the river.
After Zhao Xiang's defeat, he retreated to defend Shuofeng, sealing the city gates tight, gathering his scattered troops, and allowing no one to leave the city while awaiting the court's orders.
But after the order to defend came down, he knew this was a life-or-death situation. He then began urgently constructing defenses: digging moats, installing double-layered gates, raising and thickening the city walls.
First, to increase his chances of survival when the time came; second, to offset his failure with merit, so he'd at least have something to show the Sixth Prince when he arrived.
After learning that His Highness's relief forces would soon arrive down the Chishui River, Zhao Xiang diligently led several thousand troops to the riverbank ahead of time, forming up in formation to welcome His Highness.
However, only he still had the leisure to engage in such flattery at this moment.
In the city, in the great hall of the Zhang Estate, over a dozen men dressed in silk robes gathered together. Most were elderly men over fifty or sixty, with only a few being middle-aged men in their forties.
Although Shuofeng wasn't the commandery seat and was only the prefecture's fourth-largest city, it had quite a number of powerful and wealthy clans.
The reason was simple: the Northern Liang valley was the core of all Liang Prefecture—the most prosperous flatlands. Meanwhile, Wuwei was too close to the State of Qi, with constant risk of war. Therefore, this county located at the valley's center with its dense population became an ideal place for Liang Prefecture's wealthy clans to settle.
But who could have imagined that Tongmen Pass would fall, Wuwei would be surrounded, and Shuofeng would directly become the next strategic location?
And before they could react or transfer their assets out of the city, Zhao Xiang imposed a ban—except for soldiers he specifically permitted, not a single person could leave the city on their own authority.
Just like that, they couldn't leave!
"This Zhao Xiang told us before that the court would order a withdrawal, and we'd all be able to move together when the time came, with the army helping us protect our wealth. But now the city moats are being dug, not a single fly is allowed to leave—does this look like they're planning to withdraw?" someone below asked.
"Exactly, exactly. Clearly they're planning to defend the city!"
"And I heard the relief forces are coming!"
"Master Zhang." At this point, someone addressed the most venerable-looking elder seated at the head. "Have you spoken with Zhao Xiang recently?"
Master Zhang stroked his beard somewhat awkwardly and said, "He said the court has no intention of abandoning Shuofeng, and has even dispatched a large army as reinforcements. Shuofeng can definitely be held."
"What large army?"
At this moment, someone stood up excitedly and told everyone: "I heard it's only a thousand men, and the commanding general is none other than the Sixth Prince, who's never led troops before!"
As soon as these words came out, an immediate uproar erupted.
After the city was sealed, most information couldn't reach ordinary people's ears.
So this critical intelligence instantly stunned everyone present.
"Is this really true?"
"A thousand men? How can we hold the city with only a thousand reinforcements? That Zhao Xiang lost tens of thousands of troops to Ji Yuan!"
"And how can the commanding general be the Sixth Prince? The Sixth Prince is just a child who's never experienced anything!"
"So the court sent the Sixth Prince to defend... does this mean they won't abandon it?" someone speculated. "If Shuofeng is certain to fall, then as the defending general, wouldn't the Sixth Prince also... but he's the Emperor's son."
"But the Emperor doesn't like the Sixth Prince—he even detests him. Otherwise, why hasn't he been enfeoffed as a prince even at twenty years old?"
Heaven is high and the Emperor is far away.
Especially at such a desperate time, all talk of execution-worthy words became taboo-free.
"If we don't get out, we're dead for sure."
Everyone became anxious.
Fear of the city's fall and their deaths was written all over their faces.
Even though these people could be considered super old bastards in ancient times.
But that's just how people are—the wealthier you are, the more you cherish your life.
"That bastard Zhao Xiang won't let us leave." An elder pounded the armrest heavily with his fist and cursed. "If he wants to defend the city, those commoners are enough—why make us defend it?"
"Exactly, exactly. We've never defended a city before. Every time there's a battle, don't they always evacuate us first before fighting?"
"This Zhao Xiang is both incompetent and disrespectful."
"We'll have to see what this Sixth Prince is like."
As everyone cursed and spat, after contemplating, Master Zhang said, "Although Zhao Xiang is incompetent, he's at least held high office for many years. But this prince is, after all, just a child."
This one statement gained deep approval from everyone present.
After all—
As long as he's a child, he can be bullied.
………
After all the warships docked, all the soldiers and horses disembarked one after another.
Song Shi'an and Xinyue also quickly met up with Wei Wusheng.
All three mounted their horses.
Song Shi'an and Wei Wusheng rode side by side.
"Your Highness, we still need to follow the original schedule," Song Shi'an said.
"I know." Wei Wusheng nodded and said, "Everything waits until all the supplies and troops enter the city and we have complete control of the army. Only then do we proceed."
The two of them indeed had a comprehensive plan.
But the most important thing right now was to consolidate all the troops and fully integrate the thousand Forbidden Army soldiers into various command positions.
That's right—all thousand of these men were trusted confidants.
From the moment of the "Langya Declaration," they naturally became different from everyone else.
If Wei Wusheng gradually seized power, these thousand men with rebellion in their bloodline would advance far faster than anyone else.
To put it in currently unrealistic terms: if Wei Wusheng became Emperor, no one from Langya would rank below captain.
"Can Zhu Qing and Qin Kuo handle it?" Wei Wusheng asked.
"Your Highness, this requires you to 'treat worthy men with courtesy,'" Song Shi'an said.
"Then I understand."
Wei Wusheng nodded in comprehension, then brought up that rather special person and asked, "What about Zhao Xiang?"
Zhao Xiang's noble bloodline was too pure.
His ancestor had been close buddies with the Founding Emperor, carousing and listening to songs in the pleasure quarters together.
Even though he'd now been demoted to centurion, his status was what it was. How to deal with him would affect the subsequent governance of all Shuofeng.
"Your Highness."
Speaking of this person, Song Shi'an said directly: "If you want to implement iron-blooded military discipline, you cannot sit by and watch certain people act as rotten apples that spoil the barrel. After Zhao Xiang's defeat, he claimed he wanted to preserve troops for the court and would commit suicide after retreating south—nothing but an attempt to gain His Majesty's sympathy and flee the battlefield. After withdrawing to Shuofeng and before the court's orders returned, he neither constructed city defenses nor comforted the people's hearts, wasting this precious preparation time."
"That bastard Zhao Xiang truly is detestable to the extreme." Wei Wusheng strongly agreed.
He was also filled with contempt for this person.
Watching the angry Wei Wusheng, Song Shi'an spoke in a grave tone, slowly saying: "Your Highness, as a young general, it's not enough to win soldiers' affection through benevolence alone. You must be ruthless."
"I understand."
Wei Wusheng's eyes gradually became fiercer.
The army continued forward.
Soon, they encountered Zhao Xiang, who had formed up in advance to welcome them.
A general whose armor gleamed brightly, whose exposed red under-robe was spotless, looking refined and noble—upon seeing the Sixth Prince, he enthusiastically stepped forward with a cupped-fist salute and smiled: "Your Highness, it's been so long. You truly have the bearing of a famous general now."
However, this pleasantry was met with cold contempt from Wei Wusheng sitting atop his horse.
"This... this is the tiger tally and seal. I now transfer them to Your Highness."
Sensing the other party's displeasure, Zhao Xiang also restrained his emotions. He took the wooden tray holding the tiger tally and seal, knelt on one knee, lowered his head, and raised both hands to present them to Wei Wusheng.
Xinyue dismounted to receive the most important seal and tally.
Zhao Xiang slowly began to rise.
"Did I tell you to stand?"
Suddenly, Wei Wusheng asked back.
Zhao Xiang's half-bent knees knelt back down.
The expression of deliberate friendliness on his face was forcibly stripped away, leaving only stiff embarrassment.
"The Qi bandits approach, yet during this precious preparation time, you had the army form up here and wait. Zhao Xiang, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Without any emotion, Wei Wusheng interrogated him again.
The officers and officials behind him all held their breath nervously, filled with fear and unease.
Slowly, Zhao Xiang raised his head: "Replying to Your Highness..."
Before he could finish, Wei Wusheng's riding crop lashed across Zhao Xiang's face, blood covering half his face.
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