radicalducati Page 140
Page 140
For a time, Zhang Linghui's thinking was greatly changed, but he still did not think of betrayal and was still sticking to Guo Yaoshi's military orders to protect the flank. However, Jin Wuzhu's words were like a wedge, deeply driven into his heart.
But Jin Wuzhu wasn't just talking to one person; he was talking to all the leaders of the 100,000 Yan people!
These Liaodong people have usurped our territory, causing 300,000 Yan people to leave their homes and become displaced. Why should you Yan people fight for these Liaodong barbarians?
The Song Dynasty court completely disregards your lives. Why should you Yan people fight for the Song Dynasty?
Just as Jin Wuzhu's demonic whispers amplified all the negative emotions in the crowd, the Jin army's left flank also attacked. From the horizon came a booming sound unlike that of ordinary cavalry, heavier and with a strange rhythm. The sound was like countless heavy war drums and iron hammers simultaneously striking the earth, carrying a chilling, inhuman cadence.
"Western Xia! It's the royal banner of Western Xia!!!"
The Yan people were stunned. They saw Li Qianshun, the King of Western Xia, himself standing at the front lines. He was the most imposing and majestic centaur warrior of his tribe. His dark iron armor, covered in intricate cold-forged patterns, contrasted sharply with his bronze skin and flowing black mane. His massive, long-handled battle axe pointed diagonally to the sky, emitting a chilling neigh that pierced the battlefield—a sound a blend of the horse's roar and a human battle cry.
With that command, the silent steel forest behind him—the Iron Falcon Heavy Cavalry, the most powerful force of Western Xia—began its charge. It was a mountain of destruction, composed of muscle, steel, and a killing intent, that was accelerating forward!
Every centaur is a born war beast. Their lower bodies are the massive bodies of the strongest and most powerful horses, covered with heavy lamellar armor that extends all the way to their knees; their upper bodies are the muscular, robust human bodies, covered with fine breastplates and arm guards to protect their vitals, and even their hooves are shod with horseshoes, so that every stomp of their feet is enough to send mud flying and stones flying everywhere.
What is most disheartening is their physical structure; even nomadic children who grow up on horseback need decades to develop into excellent riders.
From the moment they are born, centaurs have already reached the most perfect state of all cavalry: man and horse as one. In terms of cavalry skills, no race can surpass them! Just look at the tens of thousands of Western Xia cavalry, who started as a slow trot, and then their speed increased wildly at a visible rate! The sound of their four hooves trampling the earth gathered into a terrifying rumble of thunder, growing louder and more intense, as if the entire earth was groaning and trembling under their iron hooves!
Ordinary cavalry cannot form dense formations, but thanks to their special physical structure, the charging formations of men and horses are incredibly dense, even denser than infantry formations! They even reach the point of being shoulder to shoulder, with spear tips pointing forward like a forest. From a distance, it looks like an infinitely wide, steel wave gleaming with the cold light of death, crushing over us with overwhelming force!
Faced with this inhuman charge, the thick spear formation formed by the Han infantry, which was originally a sharp weapon to restrain cavalry, now seemed so thin and fragile! Jin Wuzhu's previous words were like a nightmare, disturbing their minds.
"Hold your ground! Pikemen, hold the line! Archers, fire!"
The roars of the Han generals were barely audible amidst the thunderous clatter of hooves. Arrows rained down, but were deflected by the heavy, sloping armor of the Iron Falcons. Those that did manage to slip through gaps or penetrate the horses' bodies did nothing to slow these war behemoths! Their speed remained undiminished, their eyes filled only with ruthless killing intent and a desire for destruction! Like a giant hammer, they slammed into the Han army's ranks!
The Yan spearmen at the front line watched helplessly as one after another, two-and-a-half-meter-tall, heavily armored centaur monsters charged towards them! Some of their spears, thrusting with all their might, snapped instantly upon contact with the opponent's thick breastplate or specially designed breastplate! Even those that managed to pierce through gaps in the armor couldn't instantly kill the enormous creatures; instead, their immense momentum sent them flying and crushed along with their spears!
In an instant, the sounds of bones shattering, armor twisting, desperate screams, and the horrifying thud of iron hooves crushing flesh replaced the war drums and commands! Rows of lances, like skewered candied hawthorns, pierced through the Yan soldiers, and each charge, like a battering ram, smashed through the ever-victorious army's formation. Once the charges transitioned into close combat, the heavy weapons in Iron Falcon's hands began to lash out wildly!
Each swing of the spiked club smashed infantrymen within range, armor and all, into twisted pulp; as the battle axe swept past, limbs and blood flew into the air! The Yan people's formation was not merely breached, but physically flattened and crushed!
The strength of the Western Xia Iron Falcons was comparable to that of the Great Jin Iron Pagoda.
However, Guo Yaoshi's Ever Victorious Army only numbered 50,000, all of whom had gone to attack Wanyan Zongwang in the central army. The 100,000 Yan soldiers on the flanks did not have the exaggerated fighting power of the Ever Victorious Army's main force in Liaodong. They were no match for the Iron Falcons and could only barely hold them off.
However, under Jin Wuzhu's devilish whispers, the Yan soldiers who barely managed to hold off the Iron Falcon's charge, and Zhang Linghui, the Silver Dragon who commanded the Yan people, were completely shaken—what exactly are we fighting here for?
Is it because of the local people who hate the people of Liaodong?
To doubt our Great Song Dynasty?
Because Cai Jing and Gao Qiu had seized power, we couldn't even squeeze into the central government of the Song Dynasty.
An Lushan, a border general of the current dynasty, was forced into rebellion by Yang Guozhong, who held great power in the court. If he continues to tolerate this, he might be killed by Yang Guozhong!
If we continue to endure this, even if we pay a huge price and defeat Wanyan Zongwang, won't we eventually be killed by Cai Jing, Gao Qiu, and their ilk?
What exactly are we fighting for?
Thinking of this, Zhang Linghui was disheartened. Under the bloody charge of the Western Xia cavalry, he led 100,000 Yan people in retreat and suffered a crushing defeat. The entire left army of the Song Dynasty was completely defeated, which made Jin Wuzhu nod with satisfaction.
King Li Qian of Western Xia ignored the defeated Yan army and led all of Western Xia's iron cavalry directly towards Guo Yaoshi in the central army! This left the main force of the 50,000 Liaodong army caught in a pincer attack by the main forces of the Jin and Western Xia.
Chapter 407: The Ever-Victorious Army's Merit Fails at the Last Moment
Seeing the 100,000 Yan people on the left being defeated by 20,000 Western Xia cavalry, Jin Wuzhu nodded in satisfaction. He then used the same persuasive tactics to talk to Liu Shunren, the commander of the right army, inciting him to betray the Song Dynasty while amplifying his negative emotions.
Moreover, the lower-ranking officers of the 100,000 Khitan soldiers in the Right Army also heard Jin Wuzhu's voice.
"Brothers and sisters, I know you joined Guo Yaoshi's ever-victorious army out of necessity or due to circumstances. Come back, come back to the Great Jin! All the Xiao and Yelü clans have surrendered to the Jin. Surrendering to the Great Jin is not shameful! The Great Jin will give you the same status! You lost honorably on the battlefield, while the Song were shameless cowards who launched a sneak attack and were defeated by you!!! Why did you serve the Song people? Your leader is waiting for you to come home."
Under Jin Wuzhu's brainwashing offensive, even the 100,000 Khitans on the right wing hesitated. Commander Liu Shunren, the Silver Dragon, also fell into deep thought, pondering the current world situation.
At this moment, the right wing of the Jin Dynasty, consisting of 30,000 cavalrymen mainly composed of surrendered ogres and cavalry from various steppe tribes, launched a ferocious charge like a tsunami. In just one wave, they crushed the 100,000 Khitan infantrymen who were full of doubts and had no will to fight! Many ogres even surrendered directly, seamlessly switching from the Song Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty!
When the Jin right army broke through the Song right army, they also chose to ignore it and charged towards Guo Yaoshi in the center like madmen, fiercely attacking the right flank of the Ever Victorious Army!
At this moment, the situation was terrifying for Guo Yaoshi. He led 50,000 Ever Victorious Army soldiers and fought against 50,000 Jin central army soldiers for nearly two hours, gaining a clear advantage, winning the upper hand, and even suppressing the Iron Pagoda's devastating charge! At the most successful moment of the offensive, Wanyan Zongwang's command flag was less than 200 meters away from Guo Yaoshi. A breath of dragon's breath could splash ice shards onto Wanyan Zongwang's face. Victory seemed to be within reach!
But now, their 50,000 ever-victorious troops are exhausted. They not only have to fight a bloody battle with the 50,000 main force of the Great Jin in front, but also have to fight a bloody battle with the 20,000 elite Western Xia cavalry, 30,000 cannibals and steppe cavalry allied forces coming from the left and right flanks!
Caught in a pincer movement, the Ever Victorious Army was thrown into a panic. The victory that was within their grasp now seemed like a mirage, elusive and fleeting, like sand slipping through Guo Yaoshi's fingers.
"Everyone! Don't panic! Listen to me!!!"
Faced with this desperate situation, Pharmacist Guo immediately came up with a solution.
"Zhen Wuchen, take five thousand men to the left and block the King of Western Xia! Zhao Heshou, lead five thousand men to the right and block the Khitan army! Half an hour! I only need you to hold them off for half an hour!!!"
Guo the Pharmacist wiped the blood from his face and roared hoarsely.
"I swear to you all! In half an hour, I will advance two hundred meters, kill Wanyan Zongwang, and seize his command flag! At that time, the 100,000 Jin troops will surely collapse, and the victory and honor of the Battle of Baihe will belong to the Ever-Victorious Army!!!"
Guo Yaoshi raised his arm and gave a call to action, but the scene he had imagined—where the generals rose up in response and the soldiers fought a bloody battle—did not materialize.
Jin Wuzhu's demonic whispers, along with the retreat of the left and right armies, had spread to the central army.
“We are all from Liaodong, we are brothers and sisters of the same ancestry. When the Great Jin took over Liaodong, it was the first time that we Jurchens became the true masters of the Northeast! Everyone is going to live a good life and no longer have to suffer the cruel exploitation of the Great Liao. Why do you mature women really want to run away? Is it because you are used to being the dogs of the Liao Kingdom?”
"Even if you've gotten used to life in the Liao Dynasty, now that all the Xiao and Yelü clans have surrendered, the Liao royal family feels quite comfortable living in the Jin Dynasty. Why are you mature women running away? Isn't the Song Dynasty your home?"
"What's more, you're now in a dead end! The Emperor doesn't trust you! He's already forming a second army in Taiyuan, preparing to replace you with the surrendered general Tian Hu! You fought so desperately at Baihe, but even if you won, what good would it do? You'd only suffer heavy losses, and your achievements would threaten the Emperor's position. The Song Dynasty's next step would be to eliminate you! They'd use Tian Hu's soldiers to seize your land! Your houses! Your glory! Everything you have! You're completely cornered in the Song Dynasty!!!"
For a time, the entire Ever Victorious Army fell into a state of negativity.
Yes, the Song Dynasty's emphasis on civil officials and suppression of military officials was truly impressive. These past few months, we've been driven crazy by Gao Qiu, Cai Jing, and their ilk. Civil officials are impeaching us every day and interfering in our affairs daily.
Yes, why are we fighting so hard? Will we get anything good after the war ends? Tian Hu from Hebei is about to replace us.
Yes, we're all originally from Liaodong. Since the Song Dynasty treated us badly, let's go back to Liaodong. The Zhao family isn't human, and neither is the Wanyan family? I heard that the Liao Dynasty's surrendered officials are doing quite well.
For a moment, the battlefield was awkwardly quiet. When Pharmacist Guo raised his arm to call out, few responded.
They weren't particularly keen on fighting before, but Guo the Pharmacist's prestige was too high, and regardless of the circumstances, the battlefield strength was 350,000 to 100,000, giving them the advantage. They might even have room to maneuver after winning.
However, now, the 200,000 Yan and Khitan troops on the left and right sides have been defeated, and the 100,000 troops covering the rear of the central army are still nowhere to be seen. Our 50,000 men are surrounded by the 100,000, which is already a huge disadvantage and a situation of being at a disadvantage. At this point, from Guo Yaoshi down, the four generals of the Ever Victorious Army, and even all the soldiers, no longer want to fight.
It's pointless; it's truly meaningless to risk one's life for the Song Dynasty.
Seeing this, Guo Yaoshi was so angry that he vomited blood. He was so anxious that he was in a fit of rage, but he was helpless. He could only sound the horn and retreat quickly before the Western Xia and Khitan steppe cavalry could completely encircle the two flanks. He fled back to the south bank of the Baihe River and then retreated all the way back to Youzhou. The Jin people were wary of the terrifying fighting power of the Ever Victorious Army and did not press them. They just kept them at a distance and drove the Ever Victorious Army back to Youzhou in one wave.
The setting sun, like blood, illuminated the tattered banners atop Youzhou city walls and the weary faces of the defeated army. The atmosphere inside the army tent was heavy. Several blood-soaked generals of the Ever Victorious Army abruptly pushed aside their guards and rushed to their commander, Guo Yaoshi. The leading lieutenant ripped open his blood-soaked breastplate and roared furiously, pointing at the endless campfires of the Jin army outside the city.
"Guo! We've all been through thick and thin in Liaodong! We elected you as commander because we believe you can lead our brothers and sisters in Liaodong to find a way out in this chaotic world!"
But look at this now! What a piece of trash the Song Dynasty you chose is! The local Yan people and Khitans don't cooperate with us at all. A slight blow and both our armies are wiped out! And how ferocious are the Jin's Iron Pagodas! How many Liaodong soldiers have died in vain on the battlefield today? You'd rather lead your brothers to their deaths for the Song Dynasty, which doesn't trust us at all, than surrender to the Jin?!
The generals in the tent were breathing heavily, and countless gazes were fixed on Guo Yaoshi's face like knives. These Liaodong people were originally Liaodong people, and had no loyalty to the Song Dynasty. They no longer held back in their words.
Guo Yaoshi was no longer in dragon form, but in human form. He watched as the Grand Commander slowly rose, the still-wet bloodstains on his armor gleaming darkly in the candlelight. He suddenly let out a cold laugh, his voice like the clash of cold iron:
"What a joke! You short-sighted fools! If I surrender to the Jin at Baihe, I'd be nothing more than a groveling dog! The Jin could dismember our Ever-Victorious Army on the spot, scatter our brothers and sisters among the Jin army ranks all over the country, never to be seen again! At that point, surrendering would be the real end!!!"
Guo the Pharmacist slammed his hand on the map on the table and pointed his finger heavily at Youzhou.
"If you're going to surrender, surrender now! I've retreated back to Youzhou with the elite of the Ever Victorious Army, and after counting our numbers, we still have 40,000 left. And the entire Youzhou is under our control! Fine! Since you're so arrogant, go negotiate with the Jin camp now! Tell them that I, Guo Yaoshi, am leading the entire Ever Victorious Army and the entire Youyan region to surrender to the Jin! I want to see what kind of bargaining chips Wanyan Zongwang can offer us in order to devour the entire Youyan region!"
Guo Yaoshi surveyed the assembled generals, a chilling glint in his eyes:
"This is the bargaining chip that can buy us a lifetime of wealth and honor! Will you all be defeated generals who beg for surrender, or meritorious officials who surrender the city?!"
Chapter 408: Tokyo City on the Brink of Collapse
In the winter of 1125, the situation in the Song Dynasty was rapidly deteriorating.
When Wanyan Zongwang heard that Guo Yaoshi was willing to surrender with his entire Ever Victorious Army and the entire Youyan region, he was overjoyed and immediately declared that Jin Wuzhu was the greatest contributor, bestowing upon him great rewards.
After Guo Yaoshi surrendered to the Jin dynasty, Wanyan Aguda appointed him as the garrison commander of Yanjing, bestowed upon him a gold medal, granted him the surname Wanyan, and adopted him as his son, making him Wanyan Yaoshi. His four generals, Zhang Linghui, Liu Shunren, Zhen Wuchen, and Zhao Heshou, each received titles and rewards. He was then ordered to serve under Wanyan Zongwang as the vanguard in the campaign against the Song dynasty.
Emperor Huizong of Song only realized his mistake at this moment, filled with regret. He hurriedly issued an imperial edict, vowing not to replace Guo Yaoshi with Tian Hu. Suddenly, he had a stroke of good fortune and remembered Liu Hong's statement about wanting the Prince of Qi. He immediately made an exception and bestowed the title of Prince of Yan upon Guo Yaoshi! But it was too late. The entire Changsheng Army and the entire Youyan region had already been hailed by the Jin dynasty.
Because Wanyan Yaoshi was very familiar with the Song army, Wanyan Zongwang talked with his new younger brother for two more days to get a clear picture of the Song army's strength. He learned that the Ever Victorious Army was actually the last field army of the Song Dynasty in the north, and that the entire Song Dynasty was on the verge of collapse. So he immediately marched south from Yanjing to attack the Song Dynasty! He ordered Wanyan Yaoshi to lead the remaining 40,000 Ever Victorious Army soldiers as the vanguard to clear the way, and forbade the prefectures and counties along the way to kill civilians at will.
When Emperor Huizong heard that the northern region of Youyan had been completely ruined by his own mismanagement and that the Jurchens were about to march south, he saw the terrible hand he had dealt and decided to give up, abdicate, and pass the throne to his son, Emperor Qinzong. He also immediately summoned Tian Hu back to the capital to provide relief! This Hebei rebel army unexpectedly became the last straw for the Song Dynasty.
When this news reached Wanyan Zongwang's camp, Wanyan Zongwang feared that the Song Dynasty had made preparations and wanted to withdraw his troops.
But Pharmacist Wanyan waved his hand and declared that this was the most chaotic and vulnerable moment for the Song Dynasty.
Thus, Zongwang followed his advice and marched straight down!
On January 7, 1126, the 40,000-strong Ever Victorious Army swept through Hebei Province, crossed the unguarded Yellow River, and marched all the way to the walls of Bianjing (Kaifeng). Their advance was unstoppable, and they encamped at Mutuo Hill in the northwest of the city. Because Wanyan Yaoshi was familiar with Bianjing, he also seized the 20,000 horses and mountains of fodder stored at the Imperial Stables, further exacerbating the already horse-deficient Song Dynasty's situation.
Three days later, Wanyan Zongwang's army of 100,000 also arrived in Tokyo and surrounded the Song capital, thus beginning the siege of Tokyo.
Banners blotted out the sky like dark clouds pressing down on the city, and countless tents stretched to the horizon! The Jin army's formation unfolded in layers, centered on Bianliang (Kaifeng). The black armor of the Jurchen cavalry and the black-tasseled banners of the Bohai infantry formed an endless dark sea, and the camp gates pierced the horizon like a jungle. Countless cowhide tents surrounded siege towers and artillery pieces, like a crouching herd of steel behemoths, completely locking Kaifeng in a death trap.
Not only that, the incessant sound of the great drums, day and night, shook the ground, and cavalry scouts patrolled the outskirts of Kaifeng like crows. Every nightfall, tens of thousands of campfires illuminated the night sky with an eerie orange-red hue, as if the entire city were placed at the very center of a fiery furnace!
The soldiers on the city wall looked up and saw a forest of spears and halberds gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and arrow slits and watchtowers growing like thorns—this was no ordinary siege, but an absolute suffocation like a net of heaven and earth.
At dawn the following day, Wanyan Yaoshi and other surrendered generals from the Song and Liao dynasties pushed the captured Liao hand-pushed cannons and Song trebuchets to the front lines, their dark muzzles like the fangs of giant beasts aimed at the walls of Bianjing (Kaifeng). As the wolf-tooth flag was waved, countless torches simultaneously lit their fuses, and a continuous roar suddenly erupted across the sky! The first cannonball was fired, blasting towards Bianjing.
One after another, iron cannonballs tore through the air, and burning fireballs exploded on the city wall in a dazzling yet deadly display of flames. The entire city wall seemed to be repeatedly struck by Thor's hammer, and even the imperial palace could feel a slight tremor!
Under the terrifying firepower of the Jin dynasty, rammed earth and bricks flew like crumbs in the explosions, and the defenders were blasted, their ears and noses bleeding. Even more terrifying were the Liao dynasty's remnants of the divine fire crows, whistling as they swept over the city walls, igniting an unquenchable giant fire! A deluge of lead bullets and shrapnel rained down, tearing the Song soldiers behind the crenellations to shreds, armor and all. Through the thick smoke, only the outer layers of the city walls could be seen crumbling and peeling away, revealing the pale rammed earth core beneath—this colossal city, a symbol of the glory of the Central Plains, was trembling in agony at the very firepower it had once protected.
Even more critically, the newly enthroned Emperor Qinzong of Song was shocked to discover that he had no rescue force to send to Kaifeng.
The regions of Henan and Shandong were depleted of supplies and their troops exhausted from the battles against Liangshan.
The Youyan and Hebei regions have already been breached by the Jin dynasty.
Shanxi and the Guanzhong region were also unreliable, because the Jin army's western route was advancing from there, making it impossible for Tian Hu to move. His Taiyuan was already locked in a fierce battle with Wanyan Zonghan of the western route army under the Jin army's sharp edge. He was powerless to stop Wanyan Zongwang of the eastern route army from advancing all the way to the gates of Kaifeng.
In the south, Huai Xi Wang Qing, one of the four major bandits, occupied the Nanyang Basin in the middle of the Han River, Huai River, and Yangtze River. If the armies of Sichuan and Hubei wanted to come over, they would have to first defeat Huai Xi Wang Qing, whose scale was as large as Liangshan.
As for the Jiangnan region—Han Shizhong is currently fighting Fang La.
In short, the entire situation of the Song Dynasty can be summed up in two words: collapse.
"Your Majesty, since you're already willing to bestow the title of Prince of Yan upon Guo Yaoshi, why not just agree to Liu Hong of Liangshan's request and bestow upon him the title of Prince of Qi? What does it matter if he's the military governor of Shandong? As long as he can repel the Jin army, it doesn't matter."
At this moment, Grand Commandant Su sighed and once again proposed to grant amnesty to Liu Hong, and volunteered to go on a second mission to Liangshan.
Chapter 409: Conferring the Title of Prince of Qi and Granting Amnesty to Liangshan
Song Qinzong was already wavering at this moment, but he still couldn't get over that hurdle - it was really a last resort to enfeoff Guo Yaoshi as the Prince of Yan, because if he surrendered, not only would the entire Youyan region be lost, but the entire Hebei region would be overrun in one fell swoop!
However, granting Liu Hong the title of King of Qi is appropriate. The current situation is indeed extremely dangerous, but the capital city of Dongjing is impregnable and may not fall, and Shandong is not in danger of being captured. Therefore, granting Liu Hong the title of King of Qi is appropriate.
Just as the newly arrived young emperor was at his wit's end, suddenly, a group of blue dragons from the Zhao Kuangyin era stepped forward and whispered in the young emperor's ear, telling him the secret that had almost spread throughout the blue dragon circle. They told him why the four blue dragons had chosen to be loyal to Liangshan and were unwilling to return, because the last dragon egg of Emperor Taizu and Empress Dowager Song had not yet hatched after his death, and Emperor Taizu's youngest daughter was now at Liangshan Marsh.
Emperor Qinzong suddenly realized what was happening and, without further ado, immediately issued an edict ordering Grand Commandant Su to issue a second edict to grant amnesty to Liangshan!
Liangshan Marsh - Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness
Inside the hall, torches flickered, casting long and short shadows that danced like ghosts. Grand Commandant Su's court boots echoed hollowly on the flagstones, each sound striking his own heart. This was the second time he had stood here, yet he felt an even greater chill than the first.
A mixed smell filled the air—the metallic tang of old wood and fresh weapons, along with a faint hint of blood. He looked up and saw three chairs lined up side by side at the head of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, like three deities looking down upon him.
To his left, Chao Gai stood like a mountain, his eyes flashing with what seemed like lightning. One rough hand unconsciously caressed the broadsword at his waist, veins bulging like a dragon soaring through the sky. Grand Commandant Su could almost see her tearing tigers and leopards apart with her bare hands, and his throat bobbed involuntarily.
The man who struck him sent a chill down Liu Hong's spine. Liu Hong was not wearing armor, only a dark black robe, yet he was more suffocating than all the other soldiers in the palace. His face was deathly pale, as if he had never seen the sun in a long time. His fingers were long and thin, and most terrifying of all were his wings, which had grown larger and taller, even when folded, they reached the top of the wall, covering an entire wall like some kind of terrifying totem with a gilded luster.
To the right, half of Song Jiang's face was hidden in shadow. His round face revealed no emotion, only his eyes held a sharp, restrained glint. His fingers tapped lightly on the arm of the chair, producing a very regular, soft sound, as if measuring the increasingly rapid heartbeat of Grand Commandant Su.
The heroes standing below were as silent as iron. The cold glint of Li Kui's giant axe, the chilling glow of Lu Zhisheng's monk's staff, the slight tremor of Hua Rong's carved bowstring—every silence seemed to scream a threat. Grand Commandant Su could even hear the sound of cold sweat dripping from beneath his official robes.
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty's great favor..." His voice cracked like a broken gong as he began, then he quickly cleared his throat, the sound particularly jarring in the deathly silence, "A special favor...a special favor of amnesty..."
"You surnamed Su! Here to offer amnesty again? Are you perhaps here to make fun of me?"
Lu Zhisheng interrupted Grand Commandant Su without any politeness.
"My brother has made his intentions perfectly clear before! If you're still trying to fool me with some minor official position, you might as well get lost now! Otherwise, we might get angry and give you three hundred blows with our staffs!!!"
Grand Commandant Su unfolded the imperial edict with trembling hands, almost unable to hold the silk. The bright yellow scroll rustled. At this moment, she could not afford to offend him, much less Lu Zhisheng, so she quickly smiled apologetically.
"The emperor bestows upon Liu Hong the title of King of Qi... and grants titles and rewards to his generals at his discretion."
The last two words were almost squeezed out, barely audible. At that moment, he clearly saw a mocking smile curl at the corner of Chao Gai's mouth, and Song Jiang's fingers, which were tapping the arm of his chair, suddenly stopped. And Liu Hong—Liu Hong didn't even blink.
Only someone in the hall gasped sharply, then fell into a deathly silence. The gasp only made the silence heavier, so heavy it felt like it would break Grand Commandant Su's spine.
"What, so generous this time? Finally willing to bestow the title of Prince of Qi?"
Liu Hong looked at Grand Commandant Su with amusement, while Grand Commandant Su was almost in tears.