[Wuxia] The Duan Family Women Generals (Complete) - 14

Chapter 56 – Tao Xiuying Attacks Tianxuan Twice, He Yunpeng Wins Three Battles in Succession

. It is said that the Ma brothers selected Zhu Mei and Qi Lan, stripped them naked, and hung them barefoot on the flagpole for public display. He Yuanlong, seeing this, was furious and ordered his men to drag the corpses of Zhang Mudan and Wang Juhua to him.
Upon hearing this, the soldiers hurriedly went to find the bodies of the two female generals.
In fact, more than twenty female soldiers and generals, including the two female generals' personal guards, had already been stripped naked and played with by the soldiers for a long time. Now they lay there naked as well. The unclothed female generals were indistinguishable from their female guards. The soldiers had no choice but to drag all twenty-odd female corpses to the gate for He Yuanlong to identify.
He Yuanlong had personally fought Zhang Mudan and naturally recognized her appearance. Besides, there weren't many female corpses cut in half at the waist. He pieced the body parts together to form several complete bodies, and from among them, he found Zhang Mudan's corpse.
Pei Feng then found Wang Juhua's body, recognizing the appearance of the wound from his hammer.
So, Zhang Mudan and Wang Juhua's bodies were impaled through their genitals with thick wooden sticks, their bodies spread wide in an "X" shape, then tied with one hand and hung diagonally in mid-air. The bodies of the other female soldiers were also hung on different flagpoles as a show of force to the Ma brothers.
Several days later, both sides rested, redeployed, and resumed fighting.
Feng Qing was the first to attack; two of his three sub-formations had already been destroyed, leaving only the Tianxuan Formation. Feng Qing had previously ordered He Yuanlong to attack from the left, while he himself led his troops from the right, directly assaulting Ma Delong's Tianxuan Formation.
No one had expected that attacking a camp that had lost its Tianxuan Formation would be so difficult. Besides the seven siege towers, Hu Da had also constructed various fortifications in each of the garrison camps. In addition to deer fortifications, he had buried a large number of iron caltrops and poisoned spikes in the ground. As soon as Feng Qing's side started fighting, the enemy fired arrows from their formations, wounding countless soldiers. Without getting through the iron caltrop formations, it was impossible to break through the enemy's barrage of crossbow bolts. To get through the iron caltrop formations, these obstacles had to be cleared, which meant risking being shot by the enemy.
Feng Qing had no choice but to order his soldiers to use rattan shields to dig up the iron caltrops in the ground. The enemy, in turn, fired fire arrows, burning the rattan shield bearers and causing them to run around in disarray. As a result, after three days of fighting, they had only advanced five or six zhang (approximately 10-15 meters), but had lost thousands of men to arrows and wounds. Feng Qing had an absolute advantage in numbers, but was helpless.
That day, General Feng Qing was directing his men to dig through barbed wire amidst arrows and stones when suddenly two groups of soldiers attacked from the flanks and rear. One group rushed towards Feng Qing's camp to set it ablaze, while the other charged into his ranks from behind. Caught off guard, Feng Qing was thrown into chaos. Upon closer inspection, he saw Zhang Haitao, Liu Ziyu, Li Yueji, and Zhao Shuixian, the four of them charging like mad tigers, aiming straight for him.
Although Feng Qing was brave, he was no match for four generals. Moreover, although Tao Xiuying, who was beside him, could ride a horse, she was not skilled in martial arts. Feng Qing could only protect her as they retreated. By the time Yue Ling and others arrived, the ranks were already in disarray. Ma Delong and Ma Dehu from the camp then attacked from both sides, forcing Feng Qing to retreat for twenty miles before finally regaining his footing. He checked his troops and found that seven or eight thousand had been killed or wounded, and the central camp had been burned to the ground.
Feng Qing was so angry that his lips trembled. Only after his generals comforted him did he calm down.
Feng Qing temporarily stayed at Yue Ling's camp and sent scouts to gather information. They learned that Zhang Haitao and his four generals had left the Ma brothers with a considerable amount of weapons, including bows and arrows, as well as some provisions, and had already led their troops back to the Tianji Formation.
Feng Qing confirmed this and regrouped to attack the Tianxuan Formation again.
One day, Tao Xiuying, observing the battle from the front lines, suddenly had an idea. She ordered her soldiers to cut down many large trees, sawing them into thick planks five feet long and half a foot wide. She then wove these planks with thick rope into the shape of bamboo slips, lined them with raw flesh, rolled them up, and loaded them onto the large carts that had previously carried oil drums. Arranging them in double columns, she laid them down, instantly creating a path ten feet wide and over thirty paces long, which she placed directly on the caltrops, preventing men and horses from being injured.
Feng Qing was overjoyed and immediately ordered his soldiers to push a siege engine onto the plank-paved path, launching a direct attack on the enemy's formation.
The siege engine was two zhang high and one zhang wide, with wooden planks on the front covered with raw cowhide, making it fireproof. Soldiers could easily approach the city wall from behind, and this proved useful.
Seeing an opportunity, Feng Qing quickly mobilized a large force to wait behind, ready to follow as soon as the siege engine reached the enemy camp.
As the siege engine approached the front of the plank road, the large carts behind quickly pushed additional wooden planks onto it, but the siege engine blocked their path. Unable to continue, the soldiers had to brave the hail of arrows to circle around to the front of the engine and lay the plank. Just as they pushed the engine forward, suddenly there was a loud crash, and the massive siege engine sank into a crater, unleashing a hail of arrows. The soldiers, without cover and unable to escape, were riddled with arrows.
Feng Qing had to withdraw his men. A volley of fire arrows landed on the plank road, and although it was covered with raw cowhide, it couldn't withstand the repeated burning and finally caught fire.
Meanwhile, Tao Xiuying, seeing the effectiveness of her plank road design on the battlefield, realized that the siege engines were not very effective. She then began designing new equipment, but ultimately these were never used.
Just as things calmed down on Feng Qing's side, Wang Bingzheng on the east was attacked by Hu Da.
Initially, Guan Yuan and Zhou Quangong each held a position in the Kaiyang Formation, while Ke Liang and He Yunpeng each held a position in the Yuheng Formation, and then they withdrew their troops. Guan Yuan and Ke Liang had been eagerly preparing for a major battle to claim full credit, but the enemy attacked first.
It turned out that Zhou Quangong and He Yunpeng knew that Guan Yuan and Ke Liang would eventually attack them, and since they each only had one general and couldn't form a long snake formation, they decided to combine their forces and reorganize the long snake formation. They targeted Guan Yuan's camp because the Kaiyang Formation was far from the Tianquan Formation, and Wang Bingzheng wouldn't be able to come to his aid in time.
That night was the agreed-upon date. He Yunpeng ordered his men to rise quietly, leaving only a few soldiers in the camp as a show of force. He himself led the main force around to Kaiyang Formation, where they joined forces with Zhou Quangong and secretly marched towards Guanyuan's main camp.
Wang Bingzheng's side always considered themselves the attackers, so they didn't put enough effort into the defense of their camp. Unlike the government army's camp, which was surrounded by trenches, pits, and barbed wire, they relied solely on their soldiers' bows and arrows and palisades to stop the enemy's raiding troops. Therefore
, their camp was easily breached. He and Zhou each led their troops, along with a group of lieutenants, and upon arriving outside Guanyuan's camp, they shouted and charged in. The two generals took the lead, brandishing their weapons to deflect the feathered arrows. In no time, they reached the palisades, ordered their soldiers to pry them open, and then smashed them to pieces with their weapons before riding into the camp and scattering the archers.
At this moment, Guan Yuan had already heard the commotion. He hurriedly donned his armor, mounted his horse, and rushed to the front camp with his weapon. The camp gate had been breached, and enemy soldiers were attacking from all sides.
Guan Yuan brandished his broadsword and charged at the government troops, only to encounter He Yunpeng and Zhou Quangong. The two, one leading the charge and the other the attacking force, attacked together, surrounding Guan Yuan. In terms of martial arts, Guan Yuan was evenly matched with these two enemy generals, but he was far inferior in a two-on-one fight.
The two sides fought for more than thirty rounds, but Guan Yuan was ultimately no match for them. When he tried to escape, he was trapped by the enemy's formation, truly with no way out. He had no choice but to turn back and fight again.
After two more rounds, Guan Yuan's broadsword was caught by He Yunpeng with a large iron rake. Zhou Quangong rushed forward and struck Guan Yuan on the head with his whip, instantly causing a thousand peach blossoms to bloom, and he died a violent death.
The two men then mobilized their troops and set fire to Guan Yuan's camp. Suddenly, they heard cannon fire outside the camp. When they went out to see what was happening, they found that Ke Liang had come to their rescue.
He Yunpeng shouted, "Ke Liang, you're too late! Guan Yuan has already been beheaded! Dismount and face your death!"
Ke Liang, realizing he was outnumbered and facing two opponents, knew he was doomed. He turned to flee, but Zhou Quangong had already surrounded him from behind and trapped him in the enemy formation. Ke Liang had no choice but to fight back, and He Yunpeng joined the fray.
The three generals fought fiercely for over half an hour before Ke Liang was finally defeated. He Yunpeng struck him in the back with an iron rake, riddling him with nine bloody holes, and he fell from his horse, dead.
Having won two consecutive battles, He Yunpeng and Zhou Quangong's killing intent intensified. Zhou Quangong said, "The Yao Guang Formation is just beyond here. Wang Bingzheng's two daughters are currently confronting the Huo brothers. Why not take this opportunity to go there and join forces with the Huo brothers to defeat the Wang sisters?"
"Exactly! I've heard those two girls are extremely beautiful. If we capture them and bring them to our camp, we can enjoy them to our hearts' content."
As the saying goes, lust knows no bounds. The two, with this thought in mind, couldn't wait any longer. Ignoring their fatigue, they ordered their soldiers to eat some dry rations and drink some water. While sending men to meet the Huo brothers, they headed straight for Wang Yinping's camp.
Wang Yinping had already heard the deafening battle cries from the Kaiyang Formation. Her scouts reported that Guan Yuan had been killed. Knowing the situation was unfavorable, she hurriedly ordered her soldiers to be on high alert and guard against a surprise attack.
Just past noon, cannons roared outside the camp as government troops launched an attack from three directions simultaneously. Although Wang Yinping and Wang Xiaojiao were prepared, the incomplete fortifications made them unable to withstand the fierce onslaught. The enemy quickly stormed into the camp.
Wang Yinping knew that the enemy now outnumbered them, and if they were trapped, they would surely perish. Moreover, as a female general, falling into enemy hands would be worse than death. It was better to make plans early. So, before the enemy could reach them, the two of them ordered a retreat to the south.
At this time, the soldiers, like dogs with their tails between their legs, followed Wang Yinping out of the camp from the south and headed west, intending to reach Tianquan Formation to join Wang Bingzheng's army.
After traveling four or five miles, a cannon shot rang out, and He Yunpeng blocked their way. It turned out that the enemy had deliberately forced them out of the camp so that they could be surrounded and annihilated from the outside.
Knowing this was no place to linger, Wang Yinping and her sister rushed forward, hoping to kill He Yunpeng quickly and carve a bloody path. However, He Yunpeng was cunning; he didn't engage them in direct combat, but instead used his soldiers' formation to slow their movement while harassing them from both sides, relentlessly entangled them and preventing them from advancing.
The two sisters were frantic, but they couldn't shake off their pursuers. Just as they were fighting, they heard the sound of running behind them, followed by shouts and neighing horses. Turning around, they saw Zhou Quangong and the Huo brothers had caught up. Wang Yinping thought, "It's over. I never thought my sister and I would perish here."
What became of the Wang Yinping sisters? Find out in the next chapter.

Chapter Fifty-Seven—Wang Bingzheng's troops trapped in the Tianquan Formation, Xu Youliang's swift defeat of Hu Da.

It is said that the Wang Yinping sisters were forced out of their camp and, on the road, were surrounded by four generals: He Yunpeng, Zhou Quangong, and the Huo brothers. The two sisters fought bravely and fiercely against the four generals, facing imminent danger, but were ultimately defeated.
Wang Yinping thought to herself, "It's over, I'm doomed." With this thought, her movements became increasingly chaotic, and she was on the verge of capture.
Just then, a cannon blast rang out, followed by loud battle cries. A troop of men charged into the formation, and two generals on horseback shouted, "Sister, don't be afraid! Your foolish brother has arrived!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yinping and her brother felt as if they had encountered saviors, and their spirits immediately lifted. It was none other than the vanguard commanders, the brothers Wang Ke and Wang Jun.
It turned out that when Ke Liang led his troops to rescue Guan Yuan, he had sent a messenger to Wang Bingzheng beforehand. Upon receiving the message, Wang Ruowang knew things were going badly and hurriedly ordered Wang Bingzheng to send the Wang brothers to the rescue. He also notified Feng Qing to come to their aid, planning to have the entire army advance eastward to meet them once Feng Qing arrived. Just as
Wang Ke's troops left, a scout reported that Hu Da had also sent Li Yueji and Zhao Shuixian eastward.
Wang Bingzheng knew that if the two female generals arrived, the enemy would again have a numerical advantage. Therefore, disregarding the emptiness of the central camp, he hurriedly dispatched Pang Qi and Cao Yunlong to follow.
A scout reported that Hu Da had personally led his troops eastward. Wang Bingzheng, unable to worry about much else at this point, left a small force to guard the base and led his own troops eastward, only to be ambushed from behind by Hu Da.
It turned out that although Hu Da had personally led his troops eastward to reinforce, he had taken a detour and returned to the Tianquan Formation, just in time to find He Yuanlong and Pei Feng arriving to reinforce on Feng Qing's orders. Hu Da,
along with Zhang Haitao and Liu Ziyu, attacked together, intercepting He Yuanlong and Pei Feng.
Although He Yuanlong and Pei Feng were fierce generals with high martial arts skills, they could only manage a draw against Zhang Haitao and Pei Feng; they were no match for the sniper Hu Da, a master of martial arts.
After seven or eight rounds of fighting, Pei Feng's weapons were blocked by Zhang Haitao and Liu Ziyu. Hu Da rushed in and struck Pei Feng on the back of the head with a club, causing him to fall from his horse and die. Seeing the situation was bad, He Yuanlong hurriedly fled. Hu Da did not pursue him but instead led his army eastward again.
Thus, within a few dozen miles from the Tianquan Formation to the Yaoguang Formation, Hu Da and Wang Bingzheng's armies engaged in a chaotic battle.
First, the four Wang siblings fought against He Yunpeng, Zhou Quangong, and the Huo brothers. Then two female generals joined the fray, followed by Cao Yunlong and Pang Qi. Next came Wang Bingzheng and Han Sumei, followed by Hu Da, Zhang Haitao, and Liu Ziyu.
Although the two sides were evenly matched in numbers, Hu Da's government troops had mastered the Long Snake Formation, so Wang Bingzheng's army was constantly restrained and on the defensive.
As for Feng Qing, he was originally attacking the Tianxuan Formation when he heard news of the setback in the east. He hurriedly abandoned the Ma brothers, sending He Yuanlong and Pei Feng ahead first, while he himself led his troops to the Tianquan Formation. On the way, he encountered the defeated He Yuanlong, and they joined forces. Returning to the Tianquan Formation, they found Hu Da had already gone east, so Feng Qing followed and joined the battle.
The Ma brothers were wondering why Feng Qing wasn't attacking the camp today when they suddenly received orders from Hu Da that all troops had gathered at the Kaiyang Formation. They abandoned their own camp and rushed to the Kaiyang Formation battlefield.
It was a terrifying melee; both sides were evenly matched, and no one knew when or how the battle would end.
The battle raged for five days, with countless soldiers killed and wounded. Although no generals on either side had died, most were wounded. Now, no one could retreat; everyone knew that retreat meant defeat, and defeat meant death.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, a government army suddenly stormed in from the south. Leading them were two generals, one in his fifties wielding a spiked club, the other over forty years old, wielding a hook-and-sickle spear. Although their numbers were small, with both sides exhausted even of their reserves, the sudden intrusion of a force immediately disrupted the balance.
He Yuanlong was the first to suffer, as his battleground was on the main road coming from the south. His opponent was Zhang Haitao from Hu Da's camp. He saw the two generals attacking from behind, but he was too weak to run. One of the generals struck him in the back with a spiked club, causing him to fall from his horse. The other general followed and thrust a spear into his throat. Poor He Yuanlong, with his many battle achievements, died here.
Although He Yuanlong was dead, Zhang Haitao was also too weak to fight. Seeing reinforcements arrive, he lost all strength and fell from his horse, unable to stand.
The two generals quickly helped Zhang Haitao up and let him rest under a tree by the roadside.
The two generals who arrived were the garrison commander and deputy garrison commander of Nanling Pass, one named Ju Xin and the other Zhan Biao. How they got there will be explained later.
After a long while, Zhang Haitao finally got up, and the three of them mounted their horses and continued charging into the chaotic crowd.
Feng Qing, who was closest to He Yuanlong, saw the situation was unfavorable and hurriedly led his men to retreat towards Wang Bingzheng's forces. The newly arrived Ju Xin and Zhan Biao gave chase, and just as they were about to catch up, a female general, wielding a phoenix shovel, arrived on horseback, blocking Ju Xin and Zhan Biao's path. Seeing the female general's prowess, they hesitated. The female general caught up with Feng Qing; it turned out to be Feng Xiaoyu, who had escaped after a failed assassination attempt in the palace.
The battle had reached a stalemate. Although Wang Bingzheng had many generals, Hu Da alone was worth several. Moreover, the location was very close to the capital; if reinforcements were sent from the capital, the situation would deteriorate rapidly. Therefore, the situation was extremely unfavorable for Wang Bingzheng, forcing him to shrink his battle lines and concentrate all his forces within the original Tianquan Formation. He used the burned-out tunnels of the Tianquan Formation as fortifications and began a defensive campaign. Hu Da, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to surround Wang Bingzheng, preparing for a swift victory.
Hu Da dared not rest, ordering his men to launch continuous attacks. Wang Bingzheng was forced to hold his ground, his heart filled with anxiety.
The attack lasted seven days and seven nights. Wang Bingzheng's army suffered more than half its casualties, and Hu Da's troops were also nearly wiped out. However, they had already breached the Tianquan Formation, and the encirclement was slowly tightening; victory seemed within reach.
Suddenly, a deafening cannon boomed, and a force of over ten thousand men charged from the rear of Hu Da's southern camp. Leading them were two generals, Cao Hua and Shi Wenlong, the vanguard officers of the right flank, followed by Hua Feng. The three of them immediately routed Hu Da's troops. Wang Bingzheng was overjoyed and led his army out of the formation to join forces with Cao Hua and the others, quickly merging into one.
Hu Da, seeing this, hurriedly reorganized his troops, intending to encircle Cao Hua and Shi Wenlong. But another cannon boomed, and another force attacked from the west, led by the right flank marshal Xu Youliang and his two wives, Feng Ling and Zhao Fengzhu.
Both sides were exhausted from the previous battle; Xu Youliang's arrival was a vital boost, instantly reversing the tide of the war and making the situation unstoppable.
Seeing another enemy attack, Hu Da tried to continue the siege of the Tianquan Weapon Formation while simultaneously sending the Ma and Huo brothers to intercept Xu Youliang, but they were no match for him. Feng Ling and Zhao Fengzhu were already highly skilled in martial arts, and Xu Youliang could barely be considered a first-rate expert. While the Ma and Huo brothers were also skilled, and it was a four-on-three fight, they had been fighting continuously for over ten days. Even an iron man would be exhausted; what use were their martial arts skills then?
In less than ten rounds, Feng Ling slashed Ma Dehu down from his horse.
Seeing his brother dead, Ma Delong lost his focus and was impaled in the heart by Xu Youliang's spear. Since the start of his rebellion, Xu Youliang had never personally killed a general. Now, having impaled Ma Delong, he was overjoyed and eager to show off. He impaled Ma Delong on the tip of his spear, raised it high, and bypassed the Huo brothers who were fighting the Feng Ling sisters, charging straight towards Hu Da's group. The
Huo brothers caught a glimpse of this out of the corner of their eyes, and fear gripped them. Unable to concentrate, they were impaled by Zhao Fengzhu's spear, which struck Huo Zhengdao in the back of the heart, sending him flying two or three zhang away, where he died a violent death.
Seeing his brother dead, Huo Zhengliang lost all will to fight and turned to flee, only to be entangled by Fengling's twin swords. Zhao Fengzhu then thrust his spear at his abdomen, and as Huo Zhengliang tried to defend himself, Fengling struck again, splitting his head in two.
With four generals dead in a single battle, how could the government army not be thrown into chaos? Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Hu Da had no choice but to order a retreat into Fengcheng Pass.
Retreat? It wasn't that easy.
At this time, Xu Youliang's troops were fresh blood, and Wang Bingzheng and Feng Qing's men, seeing reinforcements arrive, were in high spirits and relentlessly pursued them. The generals, to protect Hu Da, had no choice but to fight desperately to hold off the pursuers, and the outcome was self-evident.
Nanling Pass's garrison commanders, Ju Xin and Zhan Biao, stayed behind to cover Wang Bingzheng's retreat. Wang Bingzheng ordered Feng Qing to lead his troops to fight Ju Xin and Zhan Biao, while he himself led his troops past them and continued the pursuit. Li Yueji and Zhao Shuixian then tried to stop them, but the Wang sisters, Yinping and Zhao, engaged them. Wang Bingzheng, however, continued his pursuit relentlessly.
He Yunpeng and Zhou Quangong also came to intercept them, but Wang Ke and Wang Jun intercepted them. Wang Bingzheng and Han Sumei continued the chase, reaching the pass. There, the gatekeepers He Zhiwu and Hu Kang came out to meet them, bringing Hu Da, Zhang Haitao, and Liu Ziyu into the pass.
When Hu Da climbed the gate and looked out, he saw that the area below had become a slaughterhouse. Of the hundreds of thousands, nearly a million, of the original army, fewer than ten thousand had entered the pass. He saw Wang Bingzheng, Xu Youliang, and Feng Qing's troops chasing and killing the defeated soldiers outside the pass, with countless surrendered soldiers being slaughtered.
Looking again, Wang Bingzheng, realizing he couldn't enter the pass immediately, left a deputy general to command the soldiers to surround the city, while he himself led Han Sumei back to aid the Wang brothers. From afar, they saw He Yunpeng and Zhou Quangong fighting and retreating, attempting to approach the city, but Wang Bingzheng intercepted them. A short while later, Wang Bingzheng struck He Yunpeng in the back with his iron halberd, causing him to vomit blood. Han Sumei
, seizing the opportunity, thrust her spear into his back, knocking him off his horse. Seeing the situation was dire, Zhou Quangong fled in panic, only to encounter Xu Youliang, who pierced his throat with his spear, killing him instantly.
Hu Da closed his eyes, returned to the city walls, and ordered his soldiers to prepare defensive equipment.
Meanwhile, Wang Bingzheng, having killed He Yunpeng and Zhou Quangong, came to aid the Wang sisters.
Li Yueji and Zhao Shuixian, knowing the situation was hopeless, could only do their best and accept their fate.
Seeing Wang Bingzheng leading the Wang brothers to attack, knowing that capture would mean humiliation, she attempted suicide, but was held back by Wang Yinping and Wang Xiaojiao.
Tears welled in her eyes, and she involuntarily stopped fighting, closing her eyes to await death. Wang Yinping and Wang Xiaojiao, unaware of her predicament, stopped their attack and tried to capture her alive.
Li Yueji pleaded, "You are also women. How can we bear this humiliation if it is done to you? Why not end our lives here? Even in the afterlife, we will never forget your kindness."
Wang Yinping finally understood and said, "In that case, you two can do as you please."
Li Yueji and Wang Shuixian, filled with gratitude, drew their swords, looked north, and shouted, "Long live the Emperor! We sisters will die here!" They then drew their swords and committed suicide on the spot.
When Wang Bingzheng arrived, he saw only two female generals sitting on their horses, covered in blood. Wang Bingzheng was about to use his halberd to strike when he saw the two men stagger and fall from their horses to the ground, curling up in a ball and making dying sounds. Their long legs thrashed about for a moment before they finally breathed their last.
Wang Bingzheng then turned back, intending to encircle and annihilate Ju Xin, but saw Feng Qing riding towards him, followed by his generals. Ju Xin and Zhan Biao's heads were hanging from the necks of Yue Ling and Feng Xiaoyu's horses. Knowing that the enemy generals had been completely wiped out, he ordered his soldiers to fight one more round before withdrawing.
At this time, the three families had gathered at Fengcheng Pass, set up camp, and completely surrounded the pass.
Wang Bingzheng raised his tent, and the generals came to report their achievements: in this battle, 200,000 enemies were killed and 300,000 were captured. Wang Bingzheng ordered them all recorded in the merit book and then ordered the slaughter of pigs and sheep to reward the army. He also inquired how Xu Youliang had arrived.
Xu Youliang said, "Nanling Pass is well-defended and refuses to engage in battle, so it has been difficult to capture for a long time. I followed my uncle's advice and had the Fengling sisters command the attack, while I personally led the main force eastward to take the three eastern passes, and then entered the pass from the east. The three eastern passes were originally Tao Long's territory, but now Tao Long and all the generals of the three eastern passes have been killed by my cannons at Baihua Mountain, so the defenses were poor and I easily took them. When I entered Dongyang Pass and my troops reached Nanling Pass, Ju Xin and Zhan Biao, who were guarding the pass, had already abandoned the pass, and Nanling Pass fell without a fight. So I led my troops to Fengcheng Pass to assist in the battle, and I didn't expect to arrive at the perfect time."
In fact, Xu Youliang followed Zhang Gui's plan and did not use too many forces at Nanling Pass. Instead, he took the three eastern passes, which on the one hand, could buy time for Wang Bingzheng and others to be exhausted at Fengcheng Pass, and on the other hand, could gain territory in the east. They had actually entered the pass long ago, but deliberately advanced slowly. By the time they arrived at Nanling Pass, Wang Bingzheng's side had already been fighting for a long time. Wang Bingzheng was fully aware of this, but he simply kept quiet.
How the three armies would unite and advance into the capital remains to be seen; we'll find out in the next chapter.

Chapter Fifty-Eight – Grand Tutor Hu Dies at Fengcheng, Emperor Zhenwen Passes Away at the Imperial Ancestral Temple

. Wang Bingzheng, while rewarding his troops and preparing for battle, also ordered the display of the slain enemy soldiers and generals throughout the camp. He also wrote a letter to Hu Dahou, urging him to surrender.
In an instant, flagpoles lined the area around Fengcheng Pass, with over two hundred thousand heads hanging like beads on a string.
Although Li Yueji and Zhao Shuixian had committed suicide, they were still stripped of their armor, their genitals pierced and displayed on flagpoles. The bodies of over a hundred female guards were similarly stripped naked and hung in different camps. Although the Wang Yinping sisters were unwilling, the world was ultimately a man's domain, and they would one day become men's playthings—only a few men's playthings, after all. Who would care about their feelings?
After resting for several days, Wang Bingzheng led his entire army to the pass and summoned Hu Da to speak.
Hu Da knew that Fengcheng Pass was merely a pass on a plain; once the Seven Star Dragon Formation was broken, the enemy could easily bypass the city, making his defense in the pass pointless. He also knew that Duan Qi was becoming increasingly outrageous in the capital, and even if he won this time, the Great Zhen dynasty would ultimately be lost, so he completely lost confidence in victory.
At this point, fighting would only result in the loss of soldiers' lives, yet he was unwilling to surrender. Hearing calls for battle outside, and with a junior officer reporting that Xu Youliang had positioned dozens of iron cavalry towers beneath the city walls, threatening to open fire if they did not engage in battle, he...
Helpless, Hu Da gathered his generals together and said, "The situation is now settled, the fate of the Great Zhen Dynasty is sealed, and further fighting will be futile. However, I have received the Emperor's favor for generations, and I cannot betray the late Emperor's trust. I have no choice but to die to repay the late Emperor. After my death, you may fight or surrender as you wish; I will not interfere."
Upon hearing this, the generals wept and tried to comfort him, but Hu Da was determined to die. He ordered his soldiers not to leave the pass and charged out alone on horseback, heading straight for Wang Bingzheng.
Upon seeing this, Wang Bingzheng knew that the old man was coming to fight to the death and dared not fight alone. So, he, Xu Youliang, and Feng Qing rode out together to fight Hu Da.
This was a contest between top masters, and it was naturally very different. Hu Da indeed lived up to his reputation as the number one hero in the world, and even against three opponents, he still had the upper hand.
Wang Ke and Wang Jun, seeing this, also brandished their weapons and charged forward. Then Feng Ling, Zhao Fengzhu, the Wang sisters, Cao Hua, Shi Wenlong, Yue Ling, and Zheng Xiaoyu took turns joining the fray, engaging in a relentless battle.
Hu Da, displaying his might and using every skill imaginable, hoped to take someone down with him before he died.
However, there were too many opponents. Even if Hu Da were made of iron, how many nails could he hammer?!
After a hundred or so rounds, Hu Da finally succumbed to the combined attack. He was wounded in the shoulder and back, bleeding profusely. After a few more rounds, he had lost too much blood and was utterly exhausted.
Unwilling to be captured and humiliated, Hu Da, after another round, did not turn back. Instead, he dismounted, knelt facing north, kowtowed three times, and then committed suicide by cutting his own throat with his sword.
Wang Bingzheng and the others shook their heads in admiration.
Wang Bingzheng ordered Hu Da's body to be collected and given a proper burial.
After Hu Da's death, Zhang Haitao and Liu Ziyu descended from the pass, opened the gates wide, and rode out of the city side by side to stand before Wang Bingzheng.
Wang Bingzheng asked, "Will you two fight or surrender?"
"Marshal Wang, we are subjects of the Great Zhen Dynasty and cannot surrender."
"Then will you fight?"
"The Great Zhen Dynasty's fate is sealed; there is no way to reverse it. Fighting will only result in the loss of our soldiers. "
"I don't understand. You two refuse to fight or surrender; what are you trying to achieve?"
"We beg Marshal Wang to allow us to retire from the military and return to our fields, never to return to the world, to avoid further loss of life. If Marshal Wang grants our request, we will immediately abandon our troops and live in seclusion. If you force us to surrender, we will face death."
Before Wang Bingzheng could answer, the female generals Wang Yinping and Wang Xiaojiao behind him protested: "That sounds nice, but you two raped and murdered our female generals Qi Qiaoyun and Hua Mingyu. Are you just going to let it go like this?"
“On the battlefield, casualties are inevitable. At that time, we are enemies, and it is a matter of life and death
, not a matter of personal choice. If you two ladies hold grudges, you are welcome to come and fight. We two will take your place.” Wang Bingzheng said, “You don’t need to waste your breath. Since ancient times, war has been a dangerous affair, and life and death are preordained. We raised our troops to stop the killing, not to kill. We will disregard everything from before. Since you two generals are unwilling to surrender, as long as you do not become our enemy, you are free to do as you please. Pass down the order to let you two generals leave the camp without any trouble.”
“Thank you very much.” The two threw their weapons on the ground, turned around, and rode away. After the two had passed through his camp and disappeared without a trace, Wang Bingzheng led his troops into the pass, where all the soldiers surrendered.
With this victory, the major events were settled. The three armies joined forces and marched towards the capital. Along the way, the prefectures and counties surrendered at the mere sight of them, and the people lined the streets to welcome them. They arrived at the gates of the capital without bloodshed.
News of Hu Da's defeat and death had already reached the capital, and everyone knew except Duan Qi. With Wang Bingzheng's army pressing in, and no capable generals left in the capital, Zhao Jian and Wang Feilian began searching for a way out.
One day, Wang Bingzheng's army reached the city walls. The two treacherous officials, carrying the Imperial Seal of the State, came to Wang Bingzheng's central camp to request an audience.
Upon hearing that the Imperial Seal had arrived, Wang Bingzheng was overjoyed and quickly welcomed the two men into his tent, offering them words of comfort. The other generals, seeing this, felt deeply indignant. Wang Ke couldn't help but say, "Marshal, the emperor is a tyrannical ruler, and I fear these two treacherous officials are responsible. The whole country knows this. If we forgive them, who will be willing to be a loyal subject?"
Wang Bingzheng retorted, "What do you know? The emperor's tyranny is his own doing. What does it have to do with Zhao Jian and Wang Feilian? They deserve a reward for presenting the Imperial Seal. Enough talk, leave!"
Wang Ke, scolded, left angrily.
Even Zhao Jian and Wang Feilian had fled, and the court was full of his treacherous cronies. Who would protect the capital? Furthermore, the people eagerly awaited the arrival of Wang Bingzheng's army. So, early the next morning, the four gates of Yecheng were opened wide, and the people poured out of the city to Wang Bingzheng's camp, urging his army to enter.
Wang Bingzheng, smug and triumphant, led his troops into the capital in a grand procession. Xu Youliang and Feng Qing, however, heeding the advice of Zhang Gui and Tao Xiuying, left their troops outside the city, each taking only a few attendants into the capital.
Wang Bingzheng's soldiers, mostly from small western regions, had never seen the luxury of the capital and looted the streets, causing chaos and disorder. The people of the capital, who had initially regarded Wang Bingzheng as their savior, began to regret their actions; it was truly a case of driving away wolves at the front door only to let tigers in through the back.
Meanwhile, with Zhao Jian and Wang Feilian surrendering to Wang Bingzheng, officials of all ranks in the city followed suit, some fleeing, others surrendering.
Upon seeing this, the palace guards knew the Great Zhen Dynasty was finished. They stormed into the palace, stealing and looting. Some captured palace maids and Duan Qi's concubines, raping them on the spot. Countless naked female corpses were found in the palace. Fearing for their lives, some palace maids fled the palace, while others hanged themselves or drowned themselves. The once bustling palace became desolate and deserted.
Only then did Duan Qi learn of what had happened outside. He cursed Zhao Jian and Wang Feilian, but when he turned around, even Zhao Chan was gone. He realized that this woman's heart was unpredictable. Now that everything was lost, he was all alone, filled with regret and remorse. He went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, knelt before the ancestral tablets, and wept bitterly. Then, he hanged himself with a white silk ribbon, at least maintaining the dignity of an emperor.
Wang Bing, along with Xu Youliang, Feng Qing, and others, arrived at the Forbidden Palace. The place was already deserted, leaving only corpses scattered everywhere. Apart from a few eunuchs, the only man was Duan Qi, who was also already dead.
The three men sighed, ordering the body to be collected and Duan Qi's
coffin placed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple with imperial honors. The palace had already been looted, and Wang Bingzheng, seeing this, felt a pang of heartache. Just then, a woman gracefully approached, offering a gentle curtsy: "This humble concubine, Zhao, greets Marshal Wang."
Upon seeing the woman, Wang Bingzheng's eyes widened, and his legs seemed to freeze. He hurriedly asked, "Who are you?" "This
humble concubine is Zhao Chan, the empress of Emperor Zhenwen. I have come here to welcome Marshal Wang. I have often heard that Marshal Wang is a hero of the world; seeing him today, I can confirm that no one can compare."
Hearing her praise, Wang Bingzheng was instantly captivated, completely forgetting that she was the treacherous concubine who had brought ruin to the country. He asked kindly, "What do you have to say to me today?"
“People say a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and a good minister chooses a good lord to serve. Marshal Wang is a hero of the world, and I wish to always be by your side, serving you tea and water.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Youliang, who was standing beside him, cursed, “Who do you think you are? It’s that treacherous concubine who has ruined the country! First you flattered Duan Qiao, then Duan Qi, and now you’re trying to seduce Marshal Wang. How can this be tolerated?” With that, he drew his sword and was about to kill Zhao Chan. Zhao Chan hurriedly hid behind Wang Bingzheng, crying out, “Marshal, save me!”
Wang Bingzheng quickly stopped Youliang, saying, “Vice Marshal Xu, you mustn’t. She’s just a weak woman. The tyrant wants her to serve him; how dare a mere woman refuse? Besides, it’s the tyrant Duan Qi who has ruined the Great Zhen Dynasty. What does it have to do with her? Why kill her?”
“Marshal, which of the tyrant’s evil deeds wasn’t her idea? How can you say it has nothing to do with her?”
“Which idea was hers? These are all the idle people who blame women to exonerate the tyrant. Don’t take them seriously.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Chan knelt down with a thud, saying, "My parents gave me life, but the Marshal understands me. I have no regrets in this life for knowing the Marshal; I would die willingly. Please grant me death, Marshal, to spare me from the gossip of others."
Wang Bingzheng quickly grabbed Zhao Chan's hand and pulled her up. Zhao Chan's jade-like hand was soft and boneless, incredibly beautiful, and Wang Bingzheng immediately felt a sense of comfort throughout his body.
Xu Youliang saw the light in his eyes and knew he was bewitched by the vixen. He was about to speak again when Zhang Gui pulled him back, and he quickly fell silent, making an excuse to leave.
Feng Qing also tried to persuade him, but Tao Xiuying pulled him back, and he too excused himself and left.
As soon as the two deputy commanders left, Wang Bingzheng pulled Zhao Chan towards the harem where she used to reside. Upon seeing this, Han Sumei hurriedly said, "Marshal, throughout history, it is women who have brought chaos to the world. Deputy Commander Xu's words are not without reason. Even if you spare this vixen, she is still the empress of a tyrannical emperor. As a minister of the Great Zhen, how can you accept an empress as your concubine? Please reconsider, Marshal."
Wang Bingzheng's mind was entirely on the woman; he wouldn't listen, only speaking for the vixen. Han Sumei followed behind and said a few more words, which angered Wang Bingzheng, who snapped, "If you have something to do, just go! Stop nagging me! You're so impatient!"
Helpless, tears streaming down Han Sumei's face, she turned to find Wang Ruowang and the brothers Wang Ke and Wang Jun, hoping they could persuade Wang Bingzheng.
Whether Wang Bingzheng will heed their good advice remains to be seen; let's find out in the next chapter.

Chapter 59 – Zhao Chan Seduces Wang Bingzheng Again, Three Families Discuss Establishing a New Emperor.

As mentioned earlier, the seductive Zhao Chan bewitched Wang Bingzheng, offering to serve him tea and water—though everyone knew the tea and water were meant to be served to him naked in bed.
Xu Youliang tried to dissuade him, but to no avail. He was stopped by Zhang Gui when he tried to say more, and Feng Qing was also stopped by Tao Xiuying when he tried to speak. The two then excused themselves and returned to their respective military camps.
Back in camp, Youliang asked, "Why didn't you let me speak, Uncle?"
Zhang Gui replied, "This Zhao Chan is the most alluring woman in the world, harboring treacherous intentions. The foolish emperor squandered a great empire because of this vixen.
Our three families have joined forces in rebellion. Wang Bingzheng has many soldiers and generals under his command, and he already controls 60% of the empire. It's difficult to take it now. With Zhao Chan by his side, we can wear down his fighting spirit and profit from it. Why not take advantage of such a great opportunity?"
Youliang suddenly understood and secretly sent someone to bribe Wang Bingzheng's soldiers to gather information about him.
Tao Xiuying's thoughts coincided with Zhang Gui's.
Meanwhile, Han Sumei, having left Wang Bingzheng, hurriedly went to discuss the matter with Wang Ruowang and the four siblings, Wang Ke. Upon hearing the news, they were frantic and abandoned their own affairs, rushing to the inner palace to find Wang Bingzheng. Wang Bingzheng
, upon arriving at the inner palace with Zhao Chan, personally served him tea and water, flattering him obsequiously. Wang Bingzheng's wives and concubines were all ladies of noble birth, never shaking their heads or showing their teeth when they smiled, always behaving with impeccable propriety. Even during their intimate moments, they wouldn't allow lamps to be lit. Having never experienced such pleasure, he completely forgot about the kingdom, his heart solely focused on Zhao Chan.
Zhao Chan gracefully approached, holding a cup of tea, and offered it to Wang Bingzheng, her alluring eyes fixed on his face. Wang Bingzheng was so captivated that he forgot to accept the tea.
Zhao Chan said, "Marshal, please have some tea."
"Alright, alright," Wang Bingzheng replied, snapping out of his daze. He hurriedly took the tea, only to find Zhao Chan's hands as white as freshly peeled scallions, shaped like orchids. He was immediately moved. As he took the tea, he gently touched her soft hands; indeed, they were as smooth as pearls and as soft as cream.
Zhao Chan deliberately pulled her hand away, blushing and saying, "Men and women shouldn't touch each other. Marshal, you've touched my hand." Her face flushed, making her even more alluring. Wang Bingzheng couldn't control himself and pulled Zhao Chan into his arms, pressing his large mouth tightly against her lips.
Zhao Chan pushed her hand away, saying, "You can't do this without the Marshal's permission. If the other generals find out, they'll say I'm seducing the Marshal, and I'll die at their hands sooner or later."
Wang Bingzheng said, "With me as your advisor, who dares to touch a hair on your head? I'll chop off their head."
"With the Marshal's words, I'd be willing to be your slave." After saying this, Zhao Chan twisted her body and fell into Wang Bingzheng's arms. She opened her alluring eyes and glanced at him, making him lose his mind. He grabbed her, lifted her up, and placed her on the table. He ripped off her palace dress, then her bodice, shoes, socks, and undergarments, stripping her naked, like a big white sheep, and laid her on the table for him to look at. As Wang Bingzheng watched and played with her, his lust surged. He parted her pink legs, revealing her deep vulva, and thrust himself inside, pounding wildly.
Zhao Chan narrowed her eyes, her lips slightly parted, and a soft, seductive cry escaped her throat, her moans rising. Encouraged, Wang Bingzheng became even more vigorous, thrusting until Zhao Chan trembled all over, moaning incessantly. Wang Bingzheng vented
his lust on Zhao Chan, and after a while, the passion subsided. Yet, Wang Bingzheng was still not satisfied. He carried Zhao Chan to the bedside, had her sit on his lap, and continued to play with her.
Just as he was engrossed in his play, he suddenly heard a commotion outside. It seemed that Wang Ke was arguing angrily with his personal guards. Wang Bingzheng quickly threw Zhao Chan onto the bed, got up, and began to dress. Before he was fully dressed, the palace gates were flung open, and Wang Ke stormed into the palace, followed by Wang Ruowang, Wang Jun, Wang Yinping, Wang Xiaojiao, and Han Sumei.
Seeing Zhao Chan lying naked on the bed, Wang Ke didn't flinch. He drew his sword and charged at her, shouting, "You vixen, you cheated on your husband and married your son, ruining the Great Zhen's empire, and now you're trying to seduce my Marshal! How can I tolerate this? Take this!"
Wang Bingzheng, seeing this, stepped in to block her way, shouting, "You audacious wretch! Your father is here! How dare you be so disrespectful?!"
Wang Ke said, "Father, what use is such a lewd and vile woman?"
Wang Bingzheng said, "I want to keep her, what's it to you? Get out of here!"
Wang Ke said, "This vile woman was originally Duan Qiao's wife, but she married the illegitimate son Duan Qi, violating human ethics. She also encouraged Duan Qi to commit countless crimes, ultimately surrendering the great empire to others. She deserves to be executed by slow slicing to expose her evil. Father, don't you know all this? How can you consort with this vile woman? Won't you become a laughingstock to the world?"
"Nonsense! The tyrannical ruler's incompetence is his fault, what does it have to do with a woman? I, the Marshal, now overlook the world. Anyone who dares to laugh at me, I will exterminate their entire clan."
Wang Ruowang hurriedly said, "Marshal, you are mistaken. Although we have deposed the tyrannical ruler, the people of the world still regard the Great Zhen as the legitimate dynasty. It is too early to say that we have conquered the world. Besides, our three families have raised an army together. Feng Qing and Xu Youliang are both ambitious. How can they allow the Marshal to easily declare himself emperor? At this time, instead of killing the demoness to win people's hearts, the Marshal wants to take her as a concubine. How can the people of the world be convinced? I hope the Marshal will think twice."
"Marshal!" Upon hearing this, Zhao Chan jumped off the bed, naked, and knelt down with a thud, saying, "Marshal, Chan'er is truly unfortunate. Since the tyrannical Emperor Duan Qi ascended the throne, he forcibly took me as his concubine. How could I, a weak woman, dare to disobey? All the evil deeds Duan Qi committed were his own doing; who has pinned them on me? Very well, Marshal, please kill Chan'er to silence the gossip."
"My beauty, get up. Don't worry, with me here, no one will dare to be disrespectful to you."
This enraged Wang Ke and Wang Jun, their sword-like eyebrows furrowed and their tiger-like eyes wide. Wang Ke, straightforward by nature, drew his sword to kill Zhao Chan again, but Wang Bing hurriedly shielded her with his body, angrily saying, "You wretched child, you won't even listen to your father?"
"Father, this harlot cannot be allowed to live!" Wang Ke said.
"What do you mean she can't be kept? I insist on keeping her to serve me. Say another word, and I'll execute her!"
"Father, are you really going to disregard our blood ties for this vixen?"
"Marshal, please kill Chan'er quickly, lest people say I'm sowing discord between you and your son?" Zhao Chan said again, seizing the opportunity.
"You wretched child, now that I've taken her as my concubine, she's your stepmother. If you dare to disobey, I will execute you without mercy!"
“Even if you kill me, I will not let this vile woman destroy the fruits of our bloodshed over the past few months. Father, it’s either her or me, you choose.”
“How dare you threaten me with death! Fine! Men, take Wang Ke out and execute him!”
The soldiers came in, bound Wang Ke, and pushed him out. Wang Jun and the others hurriedly knelt down, pleading for Wang Ke’s life.
Seeing everyone pleading, Wang Bingzheng ordered Wang Ke to be pushed back.
Wang Ke did not thank them, but cried out, “Father, you are so cruel! I fear the world will soon no longer belong to the Wang family!”
Wang Bingzheng was furious again and ordered Wang Ke to be taken out and executed. When the people pleaded again, Wang Bingzheng simply did not respond.
Zhao Chan knelt down again, pleading, "Marshal, please calm your anger. Wang Ke is, after all, your own flesh and blood. He was only momentarily confused; how could I truly kill him?
Please, Marshal, spare him this time for my sake!" Seeing that Zhao Chan was pleading for him, Wang Bingzheng ordered Wang Ke pushed back, saying, "You wretched child! If it weren't for Chan'er's plea, I would have chopped off your dog's head! Axemen, throw him out!" Upon hearing this, the guards grabbed clubs and beat Wang Ke out of the palace gate.
Wang Ruowang and the others, seeing that Wang Bingzheng was determined to keep Zhao Chan, had no choice but to leave.
Seeing that Wang Bingzheng was indeed an incompetent ruler, Wang Ruowang made an excuse to leave the camp that very night, disappearing without a trace.
After everyone left, Zhao Chan busied herself with various ways of pleasing Wang Bingzheng.
After three days of playing, a soldier reported that Vice Commanders Xu and Feng had sent messengers, urgently requesting the Marshal's return to the command tent to discuss important matters. Wang Bingzheng, impatient, left the palace and headed towards the main camp.
Upon arriving at the command tent, he found Xu Youliang and Feng Qing waiting inside. Wang Bingzheng forced a smile and asked, "What urgent matter do you two vice commanders have?"
Xu Youliang replied, "Marshal, as the saying goes, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day. With the death of a tyrannical ruler, there is no one to govern, the world is in chaos, and the people are uneasy. Therefore, we have invited the Marshal here to discuss the establishment of a new ruler as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Wang Bingzheng nodded repeatedly, saying, "What you two say is very true. What ideas do you two have?"
"When our three families raised their army, we clearly stated that we would come to the capital to oversee the country. Now that the tyrannical ruler has passed away, the Duan family has many heirs. We can choose a good one from among them to be the new ruler," Feng Qing said.
Wang Bingzheng had hoped that these two would support him as ruler, and upon hearing this, he was greatly disappointed. But their reasons were perfectly valid and dignified, leaving no room for argument. He could only smile and say, "You two are right. Who should be chosen as the new ruler?"
"Vice Commander Xu and I have already discussed it and believe that Prince Zhao, Duan Lin, is the most virtuous and worthy of being chosen."
"Your choice is well-considered and certainly correct. Let Prince Zhao be the new ruler then."
"If the Marshal agrees, we should act without delay. Tomorrow is an auspicious day. Order the soldiers to prepare and help the new ruler ascend the throne."
"As you two agree."
Wang Bingzheng left the main tent and returned to the palace. He told Zhao Chan about the matter. Zhao Chan also wholeheartedly hoped that Wang Bingzheng would succeed to the throne so she could become empress again. If Prince Zhao were to succeed, she would have to move out of the palace. Therefore, she cursed Feng Qing and Xu Youliang inwardly, but didn't show it on her face.
Immediately, Wang Bingzheng took Zhao Chan out of the palace and stayed at Zhao Jian's residence.
Zhao Jian, Wang Feilian, and Zhao Chan were originally a group, and now, with Prince De joining them, they had reunited.
Zhao Chan said to Wang Bingzheng, "Marshal, King Zhao is only sixteen years old, not yet twenty-one, the reigning emperor. Feng Qing and Xu Youliang intend to become Grand Tutors, and these two are now on par with you in terms of power. Would you really be willing to divide this great empire into three?"
Wang Bingzheng replied, "I have been thinking about this very thing. What are your thoughts, Chan'er?"
"In my opinion, at tomorrow's coronation ceremony, we must reward the meritorious officials. It is certain that you will be appointed Grand Tutors, Marshal. As for the others who should be rewarded, you should decide on their behalf. Why not appoint Xu and Feng as vassal kings, far away from the capital? At that time, you can use the emperor to command the princes, wouldn't that be better?"
"What Chan'er says is absolutely right. We will follow your suggestion."

Chapter Sixty - Emperor Wu's Enthronement and Rewards of Meritorious Officials, the Source of War and Disorder

The next morning, the coronation ceremony began. King Zhao, Duan Lin, ascended the throne in the Golden Phoenix Hall, establishing the title of Emperor Wu, and receiving the homage of the ministers.
After the ceremony, Emperor Wu ordered the eunuchs to bestow titles and rewards upon the generals according to the decree prepared for him by Wang Bingzheng: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: His Majesty's decree is hereby issued: Wang
Bingzheng is hereby granted the title of Duke of Ye, appointed Grand Tutor to the State, Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince, concurrently serving as a Palace Attendant, Minister of War, and Grand Commander-in-Chief of the Empire, and Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces, to remain in the capital and assist in the administration of state affairs; Xu Youliang is hereby granted the title of Prince of the First Rank, hereditary Duke of Anguo, concurrently serving as Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince, concurrently serving as a Palace Attendant, and Grand Commander of the Southern Three Garrisons, to lead his troops to his post within three days; Feng Qing is hereby granted the title of Prince of the First Rank, hereditary Duke of Dingguo." The Duke is hereby granted the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, concurrently serving as a Palace Attendant and Governor of the Western Four Garrisons, and shall lead his troops to assume his post within three days; He Li is hereby granted the title of Hereditary King of Nanling, concurrently serving as Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, and shall lead his troops back to Nanling to assume his post within three days; Wu Dehai is hereby granted the title of Hereditary King of Xirong, concurrently serving as Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, and shall lead his troops back to Xirong to assume his post within three days; Zhang Gui is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Yu, concurrently serving as Military Advisor to the Governor of the Southern Three Garrisons; Wang Ke is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Yecheng, concurrently serving as General of the Mighty Expansion, concurrently serving as Vice Minister of War, Commander of the Five Cities Military Command, and Commander of the Nine Gates; Wang Jun is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Beigucheng, concurrently serving as General of the Pacification Expansion, concurrently serving as Vice Minister of the Rear Department; Wang Yinping is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Xiting, Grand General of Brilliance; Wang Xiaojiao is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Nanling, Grand General of Might; Feng Ling is hereby granted the title of Lady of Courage and Virtue; Zhao Fengzhu is hereby granted the title of Lady of Courage and Virtue; Han Sumei is hereby granted the title of Lady of Virtue; Cao Hua is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Zhuque, Grand General of Might and Virtue; Shi Wenlong is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Nanyang, Grand General of Pacifying Virtue; Hua Feng is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Zhennan, Grand General of Virtue; Yue Ling is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Baihu, Grand General of Courage and Virtue; Liu Zhu is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Daxiong, Grand General of Civil Virtue; Qin Ju is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Xiaoxiong, Grand General of Martial Virtue; Feng... Xiaoyu is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Dacheng and General of Rende; Pang Qi is hereby granted the title of General of Zhongyi and Commander-in-Chief of Xuanwu Pass; Gua Cao Yunlong is hereby granted the title of General of Zhongyong and Commander-in-Chief of Dongyang Pass; Zhao Jian and Wang Feilian are hereby reinstated to their original positions for their meritorious service in presenting the Imperial Seal, and will remain as Left and Right Chancellors respectively. ... "All the generals who have rendered meritorious service have been rewarded, and even those who died in battle have been given titles. Hu Da was granted the title of King, and the three female generals of the Feng family were granted the title of Lady. Only two people were not rewarded for their merits. The first was Tao Xiuying, because she had not made any contribution, and the second was Hua Rong, because Wang Yinping had taken all the credit for her.
Tao Xiuying was actually the one who made the greatest contribution in breaking the Seven Star Weapon Formation, but to avoid jealousy, she deliberately did not reveal her true identity, so no one noticed her. She was content with this, because she could see that the world would ultimately not belong to the Wang family.
Hua Rong, however, was furious. In terms of both martial arts and strategy, Wang Yinping was inferior, and her contributions were considerable, yet she received no reward. How could she not be angry? So, three days later, when Wang Yinping went to Xiting Pass to take up her post, Hua Rong left without saying goodbye. Later, persuaded by Tao Xiuying, she joined Feng Qing's forces.
Now, regarding the rewards, there's something quite puzzling. Wang Bingzheng was the marshal, and Xu Youliang and Feng Qing were deputy marshals. Yet, Wang Bingzheng was granted the title of Duke, while Xu Youliang and Feng Qing were granted the title of Prince—wasn't that an inversion? Wait a minute
, although they were princes, they were sent far away to the South Three Passes and the West Four Passes, and each of them was given an additional title of Prince in their respective territories.
The first of these princes was He Li, who was granted the title of Prince of Nanling. The King of Nanling was originally Feng Tong, Xu Youliang's father-in-law. After Feng Tong's death, Xu Youliang became the King of Nanling. Now, Xu Youliang has been enfeoffed at the Southern Three Passes, while Nanling itself has been given to He Li. This is because Wang Bingzheng saw that He Li had always harbored ambitions to annex the eighty-one caves of Nanling, so he deliberately made He Li the king, driving Xu Youliang out of Nanling, which he had once relied on. Now that He Li has been enfeoffed as the King of Nanling, he fears the former King Xu Youliang the most, making him Xu Youliang's natural enemy. Thus, with Wang Xiaojiao at Nanling Pass in front and He Li at Nanling behind, Xu Youliang is caught in the middle, unable to attend to both ends and finding it difficult to wage war.
The second was Wu Dehai, who was enfeoffed as the King of the Western Rong. Feng Qing's stronghold was originally outside Xuanwu Pass in the north, but now Wang Bingzheng transferred him to the Western Four Passes, which he had painstakingly built up, stripping him of his geographical foundation. Moreover, Wang Bingzheng had been on very good terms with Wu Dehai when he was in the Western Four Passes, so Wang Bingzheng believed that Wu Dehai would not be of one mind with Feng Qing. Thus, Feng Qing was also caught in a pincer movement.
Two major threats were placed on the edge of a cliff, unable to move, and could be swallowed up at any time. This was Wang Bingzheng's wishful thinking.
From then on, although it was still nominally the Great Zhen Dynasty, in reality, real power was divided among three military governors, and another phase of warlordism began.

Chapter 61 - Warlords Seize Power and the World is in Chaos, Bingzheng Holds the Emperor Hostage to Command the Lords.

It is said that Wang Bingzheng, Xu Youliang, and Feng Qing, the three families, jointly raised an army to attack the tyrannical Duan Qi. After several battles, both sides suffered heavy casualties. Finally, they entered the capital, forced Duan Qi to commit suicide, and supported Zhao Wang Duan Lin to ascend the throne, who became Emperor Wu.
The three families, having distinguished themselves with their troops, were all rewarded and led their armies to their fiefdoms, seemingly bringing peace to the land. However, this was merely the beginning of chaos. Although the Duan dynasty still existed, it was now powerless, a mere puppet . The realm was effectively in the hands of the three kings.
While the initial uprising was a united front, each family harbored its own ambitions. Now, with the realm somewhat stabilized, the generals went their separate ways, each establishing their own armies and creating a warlord era. The Great Zhen dynasty existed in name only.
Duan Lin, though nominally the Martial Emperor, was in reality a weak and feeble child, unable to draw a bow, ride a horse, or even kill a chicken. He possessed no literary or military prowess, and real power remained in the hands of Wang Bingzheng, Zhao Jian, Wang Feilian
, and Prince De's faction. The seductive concubine Zhao Chan was a clever woman, knowing when and how to seduce men. Her goal was to become empress. Now, while she was with Wang Bingzheng as a duchess, she still considered herself empress. Therefore, helping Wang Bingzheng seize power was her top priority. Therefore, on the one hand, she skillfully manipulated Wang Bingzheng, showering him with seductive charms every night; on the other hand, she advised him, helping him use Emperor Wu to command the world.
At that time, there were five major warlords, more than a dozen medium-sized warlords, and countless minor warlords. These warlords were constantly annexing each other, all wanting to expand their territory and power as quickly as possible, hoping to one day rule the world. As a result, wars raged, and the people suffered greatly.
Among them, the most powerful were Xu Youliang and Feng Qing. Relying on their prestigious titles of "One-Word King" and "One-Word King," they quickly annexed the surrounding minor warlords under the guise of the imperial court.
At this time, Wang Bingzheng was not idle either. On the one hand, he publicly criticized the actions of Xu and Feng in the name of the emperor; on the other hand, he tacitly approved of their actions, constantly expanding their authority and endorsing their annexation.
So why didn't he send troops to punish them? Because his own strength was not yet guaranteed to win, so he also needed to expand his sphere of influence and strengthen his power, leaving him no time to worry about anything else.
By the third year of Emperor Wu's reign, the empire had essentially been divided into five parts. Among them, Wang Bingzheng undoubtedly held the most power. Using his position as regent in the capital, he manipulated the emperor to command the other lords, frequently launching military campaigns in the emperor's name. Coupled with his unauthorized bestowal of titles and rewards, and through a combination of annexation and bribery, he once again established the largest military group in the Central Plains.
With this formidable military force, Wang Bingzheng
's path to conquering the empire was clear; it was only a matter of when to act. His first act was to use Emperor Wu's name to issue an edict to the four kings, claiming that the empire was now at peace and ordering each vassal to disband their armies and govern the empire through civil administration. The real purpose, of course, was to disarm them without a fight; without troops, what would become of them?
However, the four kings were not fools. They knew that without troops, they would become easy prey, destined for nothing more than a boiling pot. Therefore, they used various excuses and delaying tactics, refusing to withdraw their vassal states.
Wang Bingzheng knew they wouldn't be so easily fooled, so he issued another edict, specifically ordering Xu Youliang's family to disband their troops.
Why did he do this? Because before this, Feng Qing had done something very prescient: he married one of his adopted daughters to the son of Wu Dehai, the king of the Western Rong. The two families became in-laws, which thwarted Wang Bingzheng's plan to use Wu Dehai to counterbalance Feng Qing. Although Wu Dehai and Wang Bingzheng had a good old friendship, everyone can see things clearly. Wu Dehai knew very well that even if Wang Bingzheng destroyed the other three kings, he wouldn't let him live in peace. Sooner or later, wouldn't he be devoured by them? Therefore, he preferred to ally with Feng Qing first. With Feng Qing standing between him and Wang Bingzheng, he could sit back and watch them fight. Once they were both weakened, he might still have a chance to seize the world. Besides, Feng Qing seemed more likely to eventually rule the Central Plains than Wang Bingzheng. Why should he bet on Wang Bingzheng? But this made Wang Bingzheng hesitant to attack Feng Qing easily, so he had to pick on the weaker target first.
In terms of strength alone, Xu Youliang ranked second only to Wang Bingzheng. Moreover, Xu Youliang had Zhang Gui as his strategist, his administration was clean, and he implemented a series of policies to encourage agriculture, making him very popular in the Southern Three Passes. However, behind him was He Li, the King of Nanling, who feared that Xu Youliang, the former chieftain of Nanling, would seize his power. Therefore, he most desired Xu Youliang's downfall. Thus, Wang Bingzheng set his sights on Xu Youliang.
He first issued several imperial edicts urging Xu Youliang to bring his army, and on the other hand, he secretly sent envoys to Nanling to join forces with He Li to attack Xu Youliang from both sides. After the success, they would divide Xu Youliang's territory equally. He Li was ambitious, but the land in Nanling was barren and sparsely populated. This was a perfect opportunity, so he agreed to Wang Bingzheng's envoy and decided to launch a pincer attack on Xu Youliang.
At this time, Wang Ke, along with generals such as Wang Yinping, Han Sumei, and Pang Qi, led an army of 500,000 out of Nanling Pass. They split into two routes: the left route, led by Wang Ke, advanced towards Zhuque Pass, while the right route, led by the female general Han Sumei, advanced towards Nanyang Pass.
Seeing the strength of the Wang family's army, Marquis Cao Hua of Zhuque, fearing the fortifications, dared not easily engage in battle and sent messengers to Zhennan Pass for help. Marquis Shi Wenlong of Nanyang also received the report. He simultaneously dispatched men to Hulangyu to slow Han Sumei's advance using the existing formation, while strengthening the defenses of Nanyang Pass and sending messengers to Zhennan Pass for reinforcements.
Xu Youliang, fully aware of the danger, dispatched Feng Ling and Zhao Fengzhu to lead troops to reinforce Nanyang and Zhuque respectively, while also urgently summoning Zhang Gui for consultation.
Zhang Gui believed that although the Southern Three Passes were strong and well-disciplined, their strength was ultimately insufficient to contend with Wang Bingzheng. Moreover, Wang Bingzheng held the emperor hostage, thus his power was legitimate. Therefore, the best course of action was to ally with Feng Qing in the west to counter Wang Bingzheng.
Xu Youliang readily agreed and immediately dispatched Zhang Gui as an envoy to the Western Four Passes to persuade Feng Qing to form an alliance.
Feng Qing had already appointed Tao Xiuying as his strategist, and Hua Rong, the former colonel who had defected to Wang Yinping, had also risen to the rank of marshal through merit.
Upon hearing of Zhang Gui's arrival, Feng Qing hurriedly asked Tao Xiuying for her opinion.
Xiuying said, "Wang Bingzheng is currently powerful, holding the emperor hostage and commanding the other lords. Xu Youliang is second in power. Whichever side wins, the world will be at peace."
"What should we do?"
"Wang Bingzheng is strong. If we do not intervene, Xu Youliang will find it difficult to resist. If we openly ally with Xu Youliang, Wang Bingzheng will not dare to use force."
"What do you think?"
"Why don't we act as mediators? First, we can persuade Xu Youliang to reduce his army by 200,000. Then, we can send people to negotiate with both sides.
If Xu Youliang agrees to reduce his troops, we can agree to help him force Wang Bingzheng to withdraw. If Wang Bingzheng insists on using force, we will have a pretext to attack him. If Wang Bingzheng withdraws, Xu Youliang will have lost 200,000 troops, and we can take him down first, leaving Wang Bingzheng disappointed. If Xu Youliang refuses to reduce his troops, Wang Bingzheng will definitely attack. In that case, we can hold back and wait until both sides are exhausted before sending troops to help. At that time, they will have exhausted their strength, and Xu Youliang will also be grateful to us. Wouldn't that be better?"
Feng Qing thought this was indeed a good plan, so he followed Tao Xiuying's suggestion and went to see Zhang Gui.
Zhang Gui readily agreed, which surprised Feng Qing. Because with a major battle imminent, who would be willing to wipe out their entire strength?
However, since Zhang Gui agreed to reduce the army, Feng Qing had no choice but to send his eloquent strategist Hu Ji to Yecheng to persuade him.
Why did Zhang Gui agree so readily? He had his reasons. First, the army was already pressing in. Since Feng Qing was unwilling to participate in the war, the strength of the Southern Three Passes was no match for Wang Bingzheng. If they didn't agree to Feng Qing's mediation, how could they resist Wang Bingzheng's attack? Second, although 200,000 troops were a considerable number, Xu Youliang, with nearly a million soldiers, could easily manage them. Furthermore, quality is more important than quantity in warfare. These 200,000 men might not be very effective in battle, but providing them with food and drink every day was a significant undertaking. Therefore, Zhang Gui decided to simply send the old, weak, and disabled soldiers home.
Upon returning to the Southern Three Passes, Zhang Gui immediately began his large-scale reduction of troops, and Feng Qing also sent envoys to negotiate. And what about Wang Bingzheng?
Upon Hu Ji's arrival, Wang Bingzheng hurriedly summoned his subordinates to discuss the matter. Some suggested accepting the mediation, while others argued for seizing the opportunity presented by Xu Youliang's troop reduction and weakened strength to launch a swift attack. Each had their own rationale.
Wang Jun proposed a third option: accept the mediation, secretly amass troops, and lure Feng Qing to attack Xu Youliang, thus profiting from both sides. Wang Jun's idea was initially quite good, and Wang Bingzheng accepted it at first, but ultimately did not adopt it.
This was because Wang Bingzheng was already intoxicated by Zhao Chan's charms and his mind was no longer clear. Upon returning to his residence, he first climbed onto the bed, pinned Zhao Chan down, fondled her breasts, and penetrated her, engaging in passionate lovemaking before finally embracing her and addressing the issues that everyone had been arguing about.
Zhao Chan said, "Jun'er's idea is good, but Xu Youliang is currently disbanding his troops, which is a time of chaos. If we don't seize this opportunity now, we'll miss it once things settle down. It would be fine if Feng Qing attacks Xu Youliang before us, but what if he's smart enough to remain inactive? If he never attacks, are we supposed to wait forever? How much feed will our nearly million-strong army consume every day?"
"Then what do you think?"
"First, agree to Hu Ji's mediation to give Feng Qing a delaying tactic, then suddenly intervene. Xu Youliang will be caught off guard, and by the time Feng Qing comes to his aid, we'll have already succeeded."
"Good idea, let's do as you say, my beauty." Wang Bingzheng said, his excitement rising again. He pressed Zhao Chan face down beneath him, spread her legs, and slapped his jade stem against her two snow-white buttocks. Getting carried away, he pressed the glans down with his hand and inserted it between her buttocks, thrusting it into her vagina with a single stroke, and began to pump it in and out.
The following day, Wang Bingzheng returned to his command tent and summoned Hu Ji, explaining his agreement to Hu Ji and requesting that he quickly return to Xisiguan to inform Prince Feng.
As soon as Hu Ji left the capital, Wang Bingzheng immediately dispatched a fast horse on an urgent journey of 800 li to the southern camp, instructing Wang Ke to do the following. He also sent Wang Jun and Wang Xiaojiao out of Xitingguan to garrison in Tongzhen to support the main army at the front.

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