“That makes sense. Last time in the Battle of Changwu Pass, we suffered because we didn’t know the enemy’s strength. The young general knows Fu Yu’s skills, fighting style and weaknesses best. Moreover, the young general is very intelligent and resourceful, so he must have a way to deal with him.”
Wei Jian found these few words of advice appropriate.
If things were stable in the rear, he would naturally want to take as many people as possible to the capital. However, things had already come to this point, and with trouble brewing in the backyard, someone had to go back. Therefore, disregarding Wei Tianze's objections, he ordered him to return with his troops to rescue the area.
Wei Tianze was furious, but he couldn't persuade Wei Jian. He could only suppress his anger and lead several generals back.
Not long after he left, Wei Jian was stopped – Fu Deqing personally set up an ambush at a place he had to pass through.
This area originally belonged to the garrison of the capital region, but due to Zheng Biao's surprise attack, it had been neglected in its defenses. Fu Deqing's sudden appearance was completely unexpected by Wei Jian. Without Wei Tianze, the Fu family generals were unsure of Fu Deqing's elusive fighting style, and with the darkness of night, Fu Deqing fought and retreated, entangled and obstructed them, effectively slowing down Wei Jian's advance.
Opportunities in war are fleeting, and the time that is created by this delay is enough to decide life or death.
...
As dawn approached, a light drizzle began to fall.
The capital city, which had been gloomy for several days, continued to drizzle since it started last night.
Zheng Biao was unstoppable all the way, breaking through the defenses of the capital's garrison and storming into the capital in the middle of the night. He rushed towards the palace, and with his arrogant and triumphant spirit of repeated victories, he decimated the imperial guards.
Fu Yu braved the rain and mustered his troops twenty miles away. The twenty thousand men who had openly entered the capital region to defend the emperor were lined up in neat rows, silent and still.
Scouts rushed back and forth, and as soon as news arrived that Zheng Biao had stormed into the palace and defeated the imperial guards, they immediately led their troops forward.
If it had been a moment earlier, there would have been no opportunity to use someone else to do the dirty work. It would be best if someone else bore the brunt of the blame for attacking the capital, murdering the emperor, and usurping the throne.
If they had been even a minute later, the rebel army would have gotten carried away with the fighting, and without the Imperial Guards to resist, they might have turned their blades on innocent civilians, which would have been contrary to their original intentions.
The drizzle soaked through our clothes, and the horses' hooves rolled over the soft mud like rumbling thunder. In the blink of an eye, it was like dark clouds pressing down on the capital.
Zheng Biao had just captured the palace, and in the midst of his immense joy and shock, before he could even celebrate, he heard news of the approaching army of loyalists. He had risen from humble beginnings in a bandit's den in Chuzhou, sweeping all before him, incorporating rebels and soldiers who had come to his aid. If he had initially harbored some fear, it had now transformed into arrogance and overconfidence. The government troops he encountered along the way, though numerous and powerful, were all easily defeated; even the capital's garrison and the imperial guards were no match for him. What did he have to fear from the others?
Fight! Go back to where you came from!
Zheng Biao was full of heroic spirit, and the chaotic soldiers were full of fighting spirit, but they were shattered when they encountered Fu Yu's sword.
In the sleepless capital, every household kept their doors and windows tightly shut, hiding and afraid to open them. In the streets and alleys, the rampaging rebels encountered the well-trained Fu family army and scattered in all directions. Fu Yu knew the map of the capital city like the back of his hand. Before entering the city, he had already assigned troops to lead a route, pressing in like a dense net and driving away the remaining rebels.
Fu Yu, clad in heavy armor, led Du He and twenty guards straight to the palace.
There, awaiting him, should be Zheng Biao, a man caught between ecstasy and panic, or Xu Chaozong, beheaded and killed on the throne.
—To ensure safety, before the rebel army entered the city, Fu Deming had already arranged for men to ambush at the various gates of the palace. If Xu Chaozong escaped, they could be killed in the chaos. He also planted men to infiltrate the palace during the commotion and take advantage of the situation. Besides, as the ruler of a country and of royal blood, Xu Chaozong would not be so cowardly as to abandon the palace and flee.
Isolated and besieged on all sides, the collapse of the imperial power held by the Xu family was an inevitable outcome.
Even if he were to die, he should die on the throne.
However, Fu Yu, who had been almost flawless in his calculations over the years, only guessed half of it correctly this time.
Chapter 121 Victory and Defeat
The morning breeze was chilly, and the once majestic and solemn imperial palace, guarded by the Imperial Guards, was now a scene of utter devastation.
Beneath the towering city walls, the Danfeng Gate stood grandly open, as did the side gates on either side. Beside them lay the bodies of slain soldiers and rebels, their clothes soaked by the fine rain. The rainwater flowing into the moat stained a pale red, and a heavy stench of blood permeated the air. Royal dignity had been shattered; all rules and regulations had vanished. Fu Yu rode straight into the Danfeng Gate, rain streaming down his temples, washing away the bloodstains on his face. His features were sharp and cold.
Passing through Hanyuan Hall and various parts of the Southern Office, the area in front of Xuanzheng Hall was also covered in blood and littered with swords.
Upon hearing the shouts of battle outside, the rebel army that had stormed into the imperial city surged out like a tidal wave, leaving only the dead and wounded lying in the blood, with many pearls and jades, looted from some palace, scattered on the ground.
The palace maids and eunuchs had clearly been ransacked; looking around, they were nowhere to be seen.
Fu Yu glanced at the empty and deathly quiet Xuanzheng Hall, walked around it from the side, and only saw Zheng Biao covered in blood when he arrived in front of Linde Hall.
Most of the rebel army fled, leaving only Zheng Biao and a few dozen of his closest confidants to hold out.
The palace guards lay scattered about, blood flowing down the steps of the palace. On the jade steps in front of the palace were chaotic soldiers, their eyes bloodshot from the fighting.
Fu Yu dismounted, his black armor cold and hard. He pounced like a giant eagle, and as his sword fell, the bandit holding the knife at the front fell to the ground.
Zheng Biao, his eyes bloodshot from the fierce battle and still showing signs of wild joy, swung his knife at Fu Yu.
He fought his way out of the bandits' den, leading his brothers to a crushing victory over the government troops, invincible in every direction. Though lacking in strategy, he was fierce and powerful. A robust man in his forties, with extraordinary height and strong arms, his broadsword swung with tremendous force, aimed straight for the neck. In terms of skill alone, he was no less formidable than the fierce generals beside Xu Kui.
Unfortunately, he was brave but lacked strategy.
Fu Yu's expression remained unchanged as he sidestepped the cold, sharp blade, the sword severing the arm that held the knife.
Where is the Emperor?
"Ha! Haha!" Zheng Biao laughed loudly, his expression twisted horribly from the excruciating pain. "I've taken over the palace, I'm the emperor! That tyrannical ruler raised a bunch of useless fools, what kind of emperor is he!" At the end of his laughter, he couldn't bear the pain of his severed arm, and his voice became almost hoarse.
Fu Yu ignored him, letting the guards gather up the remaining soldiers, and carried him straight into the hall.
The Linde Hall was in complete disarray, with gold and jade furnishings overturned and memorials and documents scattered across the table. A thorough search, inside and out, yielded no trace of Xu Chaozong. They searched through the back door of the side hall, but still found no sign of him. His accompanying guards conducted a cursory search, but to no avail.
Fu Yu frowned, pursed his lips, and whispered a warning, summoning the spies who had infiltrated the palace, but they too had vanished without a trace.
When the order to defend the capital was issued, Xu Chaozong was still in the Linde Hall. He didn't leave the palace afterwards, spending sleepless nights waiting anxiously, even returning the food sent by palace servants untouched. At that time, the capital hadn't fallen, the imperial guards were still in force, and the agents carrying out the order didn't alert the enemy, only keeping a close watch on the situation. Who knew that last night, when Zheng Biao stormed into the city, Xu Chaozong, who hadn't left the Linde Hall, suddenly vanished. When Zheng Biao stormed into the palace, his men searched high and low, but still couldn't find Xu Chaozong.
Upon hearing this, Fu Yu frowned in surprise, but said nothing more, only instructing his men to keep a close watch on the search.
He then left the palace to meet with Du He.
As long as Xu Chaozong doesn't escape to that old scoundrel Wei Jian and join forces with him to cause trouble, nothing else is a threat. The most important thing right now is to quickly take control of the capital's defenses, incorporate the scattered soldiers from the capital's garrison, and then drive Wei Jian back to his stronghold. At that point, even if Xu Chaozong reappears safely, what then?
It was Zheng Biao who breached the capital and massacred the palace. Xu Chaozong was unpopular and his actions led to a rebellion that brought disaster to the capital, as everyone knows.
All that remains is who will die at their hands.
...
From dawn to noon, Fu Yu rode his black shadow and patrolled all nine gates of the capital.
As the chaotic tide receded, those who were unwilling to accept their fate and were still scattered were all surrounded by Xu Kui. The others who had joined the rebellion to make a living escaped with their lives, and as long as they were not disturbed, they might not be able to cause any more trouble. After the situation stabilized, Fu Yu entrusted important matters to Fu Deming and Du He, leaving Xu Kui to guard the capital region, and then quickly led troops to reinforce Fu Deqing.
Originally, they were all ambitious, but now their morale is quite different.
The Fu family seized the capital first, driving away the mutinous troops. Most of the soldiers understood the implications, and their morale was high. In contrast, Wei Jian was entangled with Fu Deqing for a long time, missing the opportunity. He watched helplessly as the imperial palace, just a hundred miles away, fell into the Fu family's hands. How could he not be furious?
Anger breeds impatience, and the worst thing a military leader can do is to act rashly out of impatience.
Without Wei Tianze, a valiant general well-versed in the Fu family's inner workings, Wei Jian's last remaining advantage vanished. Moreover, in terms of strategic command, the bravery of his soldiers, and the strictness of military discipline, Wei Jian was slightly inferior to the well-trained Fu family. The difference in strength became immediately apparent in the two battles.
Having lost three veteran generals and with his formation crumbling and retreating under Fu Yu's iron cavalry charge, Wei Jian had no choice but to admit that he was destined to lose this battle. If the fight continued, not only would his dream of settling in the capital be shattered, but his soldiers would also likely fall into the hands of the Fu family father and son, who were pressing their advantage.
Since we can't win, we can only run away.
Victory and defeat are unpredictable in war; enduring shame and humiliation is the mark of a true man. The sons of Jiangdong are many talented and capable; their return to power is not impossible.
As long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about running out of firewood. What's there to be afraid of?
The following evening, at dusk on the Dragon Boat Festival, after a struggle filled with extreme reluctance, Wei Jian ordered a retreat.
Although some rebel soldiers remained in the capital, the situation had stabilized somewhat.
Jiang Kui and Fu Yu led 30,000 troops to guard outside the city. A group of elite soldiers originally responsible for garrisoning Qizhou also arrived in time to guard the area around the palace. Fu Yu's more than 1,000 cavalry lost nearly 200 men. After giving them generous compensation and rewards, the remaining 800 men were divided into more than ten teams to patrol the surrounding area and deter any potential villains.
Fearing trouble on the border, Fu Deqing returned to Qizhou with several followers on the same day he defeated Wei Jian.
Fu Yu and Fu Deming remained in the capital, one in charge of civil affairs and the other in charge of military affairs, using their powerful troops to maintain control of the capital.
However, since Xu Chaozong had not yet appeared and Fu Yu had not found his body, he could not say that the emperor had been killed by the mutinous army, lest the emperor suddenly appear and cause unnecessary trouble. In the past few days, in addition to taking charge of the capital and pacifying the palace, Fu Yu sent many people to search for Xu Chaozong's whereabouts, searching through the residences of several concubines and even the long-collapsed Xu family, but to no avail.
It wasn't until noon on the ninth day of the fifth lunar month that Xu Chaozong himself came to their door.
...
When Du He came to report that Xu Chaozong had appeared and caused the fall of Zhuque Changjie, Fu Yu was sitting in the Southern Office, listening to Xu Kui report on the military situation.
—Strike while the iron is hot, and seizing power also requires seizing the right opportunity. Zheng Biao's rebellion disrupted the original military and political structure south of the capital. The Fu family, bearing the reputation of being brave and loyal to the emperor and driving out the rebels, did not find the emperor, but it was not difficult to do some maneuvering and arrange manpower in the emperor's name.
The clues he had just pieced together came to an abrupt halt when he heard the name of Emperor Hui'an.
Fu Yu sat upright behind his desk, then suddenly raised an eyebrow. "He appeared?"
“He just came out of the Duke of Yan’s residence.” Du He cupped his hands, looking embarrassed. “I searched many places where he might be hiding, but I never expected it to be the Duke of Yan’s residence. Now that the Duke of Yan is with him and has made a public appearance, we must bring him back to the palace.”
Fu Yu paused slightly, then waved his hand, "It's none of your business."
The Duke of Yan is already sixty years old. Although he holds a title, he has almost no influence in the capital. That title was bestowed by the previous emperor through marriage and has no merit whatsoever. The old Duke is not in court and lives a life of seclusion. His two sons, born in his early years, died in unforeseen circumstances, leaving him with no heir. All that remains is for the Duke to pass away, and for his title to be buried in the dust.
Who would have thought that this usually quiet and reserved Duke, who rarely attended banquets and had almost severed ties with the court, would take in Xu Chaozong? And when he hid him, he didn't leave a single trace.
Fu Yu's eyes narrowed slightly, and after a moment of surprise, he regained his composure.
"Please invite him into the palace. Once he reaches the palace gate, report back to me." After saying this, he lowered his eyes and said no more.
Du He understood and was in no hurry to greet him, letting the emperor, who was above all others, ride in an open carriage to the palace gate, accompanied by the Duke of Yan.
The bloodstains in front of Danfeng Gate had not yet been washed away, and the city walls still bore the marks of swords and spears. Even the two gates, which Fu Yu had not repaired, hung precariously. The guards temporarily stationed at the palace gates, unaware of Xu Chaozong's identity, immediately stopped the carriage upon seeing it. Hearing the Duke of Yan say that the emperor was inside, the guard solemnly said with a hint of sarcasm, "There have been many people impersonating you these past two days. Please wait a moment, sir, while I report to General Fu."
Having said that, they stood guard like gatekeepers, not allowing anyone to pass.
Only after receiving word from inside that they could let Chaozong in did they allow him to enter, leaving the white-haired and bearded Duke of Yan outside the palace gates.
The carriage passed through the Southern Government Offices and slowly came to a stop in front of the Hanyuan Hall. The slightly dazzling midsummer sunlight shone on the magnificent buildings, which were imposing and majestic. However, there were still mottled bloodstains on the blue bricks of the paved road. Fu Yu stood where the bloodstains were the thickest, his figure tall and imposing, his expression resolute. Behind him were heavily armored guards who stood guard with swords at their sides.
The palace gates behind him creaked shut, cutting off outsiders. Only Fu family soldiers remained to guard the palace.
Xu Chaozong was dressed in ordinary brocade clothes, but his face was haggard and ashen, and his eyes were sunken, completely lacking his former gentle demeanor.
A moment of silence followed; no one spoke, only the wind rustled across the ground.
Xu Chaozong felt a little embarrassed, but this embarrassment was fleeting—as Zheng Biao swept northwards, besieging the capital and breaching the Forbidden City, his imperial authority had long been shattered. With the rebel army surrounding the city and no one offering reinforcements, he also saw through the plans of the Fu and Wei families. He considered defending Hanyuan Hall to the death, even if it meant sacrificing his life, at least to do his best to protect the legacy passed down from his ancestors.
But Xu Chaozong was unwilling to fall into the trap set by the Fu family, with no room for struggle.
So he hesitated and struggled, then changed his clothes and quietly left the palace when no one was looking, hiding in the inconspicuous Duke of Yan's mansion.
However, this only saved their lives. For several days and nights, news kept coming in. Fu Yu rallied the remaining troops, took over the palace, and deployed defenses around the capital. Fu Deming, on the other hand, led the officials back to their offices and reorganized the court. In the chaotic post-war capital, there was no emperor, but the country remained the same, and the people remained the same.
If Xu Chaozong hides his true colors and waits until the storm passes, he will surely die suddenly, and this life of survival will be meaningless; if he wants to escape the capital, under the close watch of the Fu family, it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven.
The only thing he could do was to show himself back in the palace and let people know that he, the emperor, was not dead.
As for what will happen next, Xu Chaozong was completely at a loss.
The pride of being a descendant of the emperor and a prince was completely worn away when he became the ruler of a fallen kingdom. So much so that now, with Fu Yu looking down at him with no intention of kneeling, Xu Chaozong couldn't even muster up any anger.
In the end, Fu Yu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Welcome back to the palace, Your Majesty."
His tone was indifferent, showing not a trace of respect.