"Someone has come from Xieyangzhai and requests that the general come over for a meeting." Zhou Gu bowed and stood outside the door, knowing that the couple inside were deeply in love, but still braced herself and said, "They say it is an urgent military matter and that the general must come over, as it cannot be delayed."
This statement suggests that it is extremely urgent.
Fu Yu frowned, unable to suppress the fire within him. He lowered his gaze to look at the beautiful woman so close to him, when he heard You Tong urge, "Since it's urgent, husband, go quickly."
"Okay." Fu Yu frowned and stood up, pulling on his outer robe, which You Tong helped him put on.
Before leaving, he pulled her close and kissed her on the lips, saying, "Wait for me to come back."
Fu Yu felt hot and his blood was churning, and this heat hadn't subsided even after he left the South Tower, making his steps faster than usual. When he arrived at Xieyangzhai, he saw that the door to Fu Deqing's study was half open, and several young officers were standing outside. The atmosphere around them was also much more tense than usual.
Fu Yu, unaware of what had happened, quickly composed himself and stepped inside.
The room was brightly lit, with a map hanging on the wall. Besides Fu Deqing, two generals, Xu Kui and Zhu Xun, stood nearby.
Upon seeing him enter, Fu Deqing immediately said, "An urgent report just arrived: something has happened in Jingzhou."
Chapter 118 Arson
The urgent military situation in Jingzhou must be traced back to the Xiping Prince's Mansion in Suizhou.
Wei Jian had many children, but the one he valued most and who was granted the title of heir apparent in the royal palace was his eldest son, Wei Conggong, born to his first wife.
Unlike Wei Tianze, who was born to a concubine and was sent to Qizhou for training in his childhood, Wei Conggong benefited from being the eldest son and was especially favored from a young age. After the Wei family received the title of Prince of Xiping, Wei Jian spared no expense to hire famous scholars to teach him to read, and his experienced generals taught him riding, archery, horsemanship, and military strategy.
Logically speaking, with such a setup, even if it doesn't produce a world-class talent, it should at least help Wei Conggong achieve something great.
Unfortunately, the Wei family was corrupt. Although Wei Jian was brave and warlike, capable of commanding troops, he was also lustful and greedy. After gaining power, he became even more unscrupulous. Anyone he set his sights on, even if they were already engaged or married, he would use any means to seize them—for example, Wei Tianze's mother, Chu, was obtained by force. Over the years, his mansion was filled with concubines, from middle-aged women to young girls, a beautiful and charming place in his wealthy home.
When Wei Conggong was young, he was still willing to study hard. But when he reached the age of first love, how could he possibly hold back?
Even though he feared his father's authority and dared not touch the beautiful girls in his inner quarters, he would often wander into the backyard and, seeing the girls under the flowers and the beauties under the moonlight, his mind would be stirred and he would secretly covet them.
The young prince was surrounded by women eager to curry favor with him, hoping to use their beauty to advance their own careers. Seeing the young man's intentions, some would approach him, flaunting their looks and offering themselves as his concubines. Wei Conggong, having just tasted the intoxicating pleasures of youth, and with the robust physique nurtured by the prince's delicacies, became completely uncontrollably aroused.
From the age of fifteen or sixteen to his early twenties, he devoted most of his attention to women. He either kept concubines and beauties in his mansion or searched for beautiful young girls elsewhere. He didn't learn his father's fighting skills, but he did learn all the other bad habits.
Even Wei Jianzong's angry admonitions were to no avail.
It wasn't until the next four or five years, when his brothers gradually grew up and started to develop their own power, that Wei Conggong was jolted awake from his tender dream.
Fortunately, he had the status of a prince's heir and Wei Jian's favoritism, plus the foundation he had built up since childhood, so he could barely keep his brothers in check and win over a group of supporters. If nothing unexpected happened, after another four or five years of management, he might be able to win over his brothers and take up Wei Jian's banner.
Who knew that Wei Tianze would suddenly appear out of nowhere.
In terms of skill, apart from a few valiant generals under Dingjun, no one could match Wei Tianze. As for military strategy and achievements, Wei Tianze had served under the Fu family for over ten years, fighting countless battles, large and small, and clashing with Fu Yu on many tough challenges. He was a man who had crawled out of seas of blood and piles of corpses, making him extremely brave. Moreover, his ability to escape alone from Fu Yu's inescapable net demonstrated a level of alertness and resourcefulness that was unmatched even within Dingjun's ranks.
This person descended from the sky, instantly making Wei Conggong appear mediocre and incompetent.
Wei Conggong, fearing for his position, began to openly and secretly ostracize Wei Tianze after his return, hoping to suppress him as soon as possible while Wei Tianze's foothold was still unstable. Originally, with the advantage of location and popular support, he and his supporters could have subdued Wei Tianze. However, things took an unexpected turn when Wei Tianze became entangled with the Jiang siblings!
With Wei Tianze's abilities, once he has the help of Jiang Shao's troops, it would be no difficult for him to be on par with the Crown Prince.
Wei Conggong panicked and tried his best to guard against any confrontation.
How could Wei Tianze not see it?
For over a decade, he had been lying in wait, far from home, separated from his mother and son, constantly on guard against revealing any flaws, and constantly tormented by his conscience. How he spent the year in prison, how difficult the journey from Qizhou to Suizhou was, and how heavy the burden of his grudges with the Fu family was—no one but him knew.
Having already shouldered the burden, how could I willingly remain subservient to others and do the work for their benefit?
Moreover, Wei Conggong's abilities were far from enough to win his heartfelt admiration.
Based on the information Yongning had gathered over the years, Wei Tianze knew the general situation in the mansion, and his plan for this escape was also very clear: to replace Wei Conggong.
Arranging a marriage alliance with the Jiang family is one strategy, as is the matter of Jingzhou.
Wei Jian, acting on imperial orders, has already deployed many troops to Jingzhou. Unfortunately, Zhao Yanzhi is holding the strategic pass firmly, determined to defend it to the death. The Wei family has launched several attacks but has failed to capture it. They initially thought this small territory would be easy to take, but after this prolonged stalemate, everyone knows it's a tough nut to crack, with little hope of victory. If they were to lose, they would be punished, so they dare not even touch it.
Wei Jian was furious and jumped up and down. Wei Tianze seized the opportunity and volunteered to lead troops to attack Zhao Yanzhi.
The father was naturally delighted and promised a generous reward if they won the battle!
Fearing that Zhao Yanzhi might actually steal the credit, and that he could then establish a marriage alliance with the Jiang family in the south while simultaneously securing the strategic passes of Jingzhou in the north, thus creating a mutually supportive alliance, Wei Conggong couldn't sit still any longer. He steeled his heart and insisted on leading the troops. He then used every means at his disposal to persuade Wei Jian to send more soldiers and trusted veteran generals, giving them three times the strength of Zhao Yanzhi's forces to launch a northern expedition.
On the day the army set out, Wei Jian personally saw them off, full of anticipation.
Wei Tianze followed behind, his brows furrowed and a cold smile on his face.
As winter drew to a close and spring was approaching, all things withered and desolate. Zhao Yanzhi had desperately held off several rounds of fierce attacks from the Wei family, but he was already at his limit. Faced with a powerful army pressing in, how could he possibly resist? After three days and three nights of fierce fighting, Changwu Pass was finally breached, and he retreated to Huyang City.
Changwu Pass is the gateway to Jingzhou. Now that it has been lost, Zhao Yanzhi has no chance of retaking it. Previously, Zhao Yanzhi guarded Jingzhou with the help of the Fu family, relying mainly on his wisdom and strategy, but he dared not let the Fu family army enter the territory. Now that the gates are wide open, if he still clings to the territory and refuses to relinquish it, he will likely be unable to resist when Wei Jian reinforces his troops and marches in. At that time, all the people of Jingzhou will fall into Wei Jian's hands. Even if Wei Jian does not massacre the city to vent his anger, how can there be peace when these people who helped resist fall into the hands of corrupt officials?
Left with no other choice, Zhao Yanzhi looked back at the soldiers and civilians behind him and sent someone to Qizhou to ask for reinforcements.
To persuade the Fu family, a secret handwritten letter was also attached.
...
At this moment, in the Xieyangzhai, Fu Deqing explained the matter of Changwu Pass clearly, his expression solemn.
“This time, Wei Jian has sent his trusted and fierce generals Li Sheng and Zhou Wei, who are practically the backbone of Dingjun’s army. They’re not easy to deal with. Since Zhao Yanzhi has already surrendered, Xiu Ping still needs to go there personally.” He stood beside the map, his brows furrowed. “What do you think?”
“Jingzhou is far away. In order to avoid missing the opportunity, we should send troops to the nearest location,” Fu Yu said in a deep voice.
Having served as the Deputy Military Commissioner for several years, Fu Yu had inspected all the prefectures under Yongning's command several times. He knew the terrain, troop numbers, combat strength, equipment, and even food reserves of each place like the back of his hand. After hearing Fu Deqing's description of the Wei family's military strength, he stepped forward, pointed out several troop deployment locations, reported the number of troops he could draw upon, and then said, "The garrison commanders must not move lightly. We must transfer men from Qizhou to accompany me."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Zhu Xun.
—This is the prisoner he rescued from the capital's prison and then placed in Qizhou to lead troops.
Zhu Xun immediately clasped his hands and said, "Before returning to the capital, I fought alongside these two men and know their background."
"Very well, then General Zhu will accompany me. General Xu, who else is suitable to attack such a strategic pass?"
Xu Kui had spent his entire life under Yongning's command and was well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of his generals. He immediately named four people.
After discussing it, Fu Yu and his son felt it was appropriate, and immediately ordered someone to invite them over under the pretext of urgent military affairs. They then quickly discussed the details of troop deployment and supplies. Afterwards, they sent Du He personally to arrange for cavalry reinforcements.
By the time everything was settled, it was already past midnight.
The military situation was urgent and could not be delayed. You Tong in the South Tower should be resting by now. Fu Yu did not disturb him. He hurriedly changed his clothes at the Two Books Pavilion and led his men out of the city under the cover of night, heading towards Huyang City.
...
In Huyang City, Zhao Yanzhi had not slept for two days and two nights.
The fall of Changwu Pass and the impending crisis in Jingzhou were welcome news for Wei Jian, who was overjoyed and immediately rewarded Wei Conggong and Li Zhou. Because of the heavy losses suffered in the Battle of Changwu Pass, tens of thousands more troops were reinforced, with the intention of pressing the attack, pursuing the victory, killing Zhao Yan, and then taking control of the entire Jingzhou.
Unlike Changwu Pass, which was impregnable by a single man, Huyang City was like a dark cloud pressing down on the city when tens of thousands of soldiers rushed in.
Zhao Yanzhi was able to defend Jingzhou because of the advantageous terrain and his unyielding integrity; his troops and supplies were even inferior to those of Jiang Shao.
The previous fierce battles had already cost them many soldiers. He led the charge to defend the city, his body covered with both old and new wounds. The enemy's attacks came wave after wave, like a surging tide. Zhao Yanzhi gritted his teeth and endured it. His wounds healed and then burst open again. He relied entirely on his unyielding spirit to hold on, determined to drag the battle out until the Fu family's reinforcements arrived.
When Zhao Yanzhi received the message delivered by Fu Yu on horseback, and learned that Fu's troops would arrive soon, he was almost moved to tears.
When his troops learned of this, they were all greatly encouraged.
At this moment, Fu Yu, after mobilizing his troops, did not head straight for Huyang City. Instead, following a message from his informants, he rode lightly on horseback towards the supply lines of the attacking army. Behind him were twenty elite soldiers, lightly armed and moving swiftly like tigers, galloping across the dark official road, their robes fluttering in the wind.
These people had followed Fu Yu for years, fought bloody battles on the battlefield, and were capable of taking on a hundred men single-handedly, making them invincible.
For them, breaking through the guards at Weijiatun's grain depot was not too difficult.
Early winter in Jingzhou is dry, making it the most dangerous time to be wary of fire. It was dawn, and the Wei family soldiers, who had patrolled all night, were so tired that their eyelids were drooping and their vigilance was almost gone. When that troop of iron hooves galloped in under the cover of darkness, no one noticed until Fu Yu drew his sword and killed the guards at the gate. Only then did the sleeping camp seem to awaken from its dream, and the sharp alarm blared.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
The swift horses moved like the wind, and Fu Yu, having spent a long time in the army, could tell at a glance where the grain and fodder were stored.
More than twenty men rode in, their swords flashing and their blades clashing, as if they were in an empty field. In what seemed like an instant, as their figures passed by, flames leaped up from the piles of grain. The dry, cold wind of the early morning, carrying the flames, quickly licked them upwards. Fu Yu led his men in a rampage, setting fires everywhere. Once the fires were ignited, he gave a low whistle, broke through the encirclement, and rode away triumphantly.
The soldiers guarding the camp were trapped in the fire. Some fled, some fought the fire, and even those who were thinking of killing him could not catch up with Fu Yu.
The fire raged, spreading and leaping, illuminating the cold, dark night before dawn, and like a sharp arrow piercing the heart, causing the Wei family soldiers, who had just tasted victory and were in high spirits, to feel uneasy.
Wei Conggong, who was waiting for good news at Changwu Pass, was completely unaware of the situation, while Zhou Wei, who was leading the troops to attack the city, was greatly alarmed.
With the support of Changwu Pass, the loss of this amount of grain was not a big deal. However, the enemy rushed in, set fire to the place, and then left without a trace. Their swiftness in coming and going and their ease in setting fires were alarming.
Zhou Wei, a seasoned soldier, had never been so humiliated. Enraged, he immediately ordered his troops to prepare and rest before attacking the city at dawn. Although the two-day siege had left Zhao Yanzhi stretched thin, his soldiers were also exhausted. However, before he could even muster his forces, at daybreak, Fu Yu's thousand-plus cavalry arrived, heading straight for his central camp, catching him completely off guard.
Chapter 119 Preparations
Fu Yu's iron cavalry has always been feared by all.
The reason they were able to defeat over ten thousand Tatar troops and sweep across the battlefield in the south to quell the rebellion was because of these soldiers—soldier after soldier, skilled in archery and horsemanship, brave and valiant in battle; their warhorses were also carefully selected, attacking like tigers and wolves pouncing on sheep, charging with swift swords and superb horsemanship; retreating as swiftly as the wind, quickly galloping away before the enemy could pursue. Moreover, they were divided into groups of three, five groups per team, and the leaders were all personally selected by Fu Yu, ensuring seamless coordination.
Wherever the iron cavalry went, they had yet to encounter an enemy.
The same applies this time.
A cold wind chilled the air in the dawn, and the thunderous sound of hooves jolted the Wei family soldiers, who were slowly preparing their armor. By the time the warning horn sounded, Fu Yu had already led his men into the center of the army, their iron hooves thundering, routing the enemy and leaving them in disarray. After a fierce charge, by the time Zhou Wei learned of the attack on the center and turned to its aid, Fu Yu had already led his men out from the flank with a sharp whistle, disappearing like a dark cloud into the distance, leaving only wounded soldiers scattered and their ranks in disarray.
Zhou Wei was furious and it took him half a day to clean up the mess, changing the date of the attack to noon.
Before noon, the Fu family cavalry attacked again, catching them off guard and moving with lightning speed. Zhou Wei was not one to be bullied, and in a fit of rage, he personally led his troops in pursuit. However, Fu Yu, who was retreating on horseback, fired a shot back with his bow, and the iron arrow nearly struck Zhou Wei in the forehead.
Zhou Wei's formation was unstable and he was attacked repeatedly. He had not come up with a way to deal with the cavalry, so how could he concentrate on attacking the city?
As the delay continued for a day, it was midnight that day when Du He finally led the rearguard of 8,000 infantrymen to arrive.
With reinforcements arriving, Fu Yu felt even more confident. Zhao Yanzhi, having rested for a whole day under Fu Yu's onslaught, immediately reorganized his troops after recovering his strength. However, he had been fighting for a long time and was covered in wounds. Defending the city while wounded was already a struggle, and it was not advisable for him to lead troops into battle. Therefore, he stayed in the city to guard it, leaving behind the personnel to set up defenses, and handed over the rest of his troops to Fu Yu's command.
At dawn that night, before daybreak, Fu Yu led his troops to attack Zhou Wei.
The cavalry detachment charged into Wei's army, breaking their formation, and the infantry followed suit, their battle cries deafening.
The Wei family army had just lost its supplies and had been attacked several times during the day, only able to take the blows and watch helplessly as their enemies drove away without being able to retaliate. Their morale was quite low. Startled awake by the cavalry in the middle of the night, and hearing the deafening shouts and torches covering the mountains, they panicked even more. In the ensuing battles, because Fu Yu had deployed elite troops, the Wei family soldiers were outmatched, and some, terrified, turned and fled. This sentiment spread like a plague; in less than the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, tens of thousands of soldiers had scattered and fled in all directions.
Zhou Wei was furious, but how could he stop the fleeing soldiers like a tide? Knowing he was no match for them, he hastily sounded the horn and retreated.
Fu Yu pressed his advantage, his iron arrow flying swiftly, sending Zhou Wei sprawling from his horse.
However, Zhou Wei was an old general with a reputation, and he had many loyal guards by his side who risked their lives to save him.
By daybreak, the valley floor, once home to tens of thousands of soldiers, was now littered with wounded and dead remnants, a scene of utter devastation. The siege of Huyang was temporarily lifted.
Fu Yu left troops to guard the city, only taking Du He and a few generals into the city. Zhao Yanzhi personally greeted them at the city gate, paid his respects and expressed his gratitude. After entering the city, he invited them into the government office. In accordance with the promise made in the secret letter pleading for help, in front of his generals and officers, he handed over the military and political power of the military governor to Fu Yu on the grounds that the Fu family was brave and benevolent and had helped people in urgent need.