home

search

Volume Twelve: War in the Western Regions Chapter Three Hundred and Fifty-One: Scholars Pride III

  Thousands of horses galloping, dust flying everywhere.

  Far away, the figures of 50,000 defeated soldiers and generals appeared outside Cangzhou City.

  Looking at the tightly closed city gate, Modu suppressed his anger and shouted: "How dare you, Zeng Zhihong! I will exterminate your entire clan."

  Hamidi's face didn't look good either, and he hesitated before saying: "Since Zeng Zhihong has already done something so depraved, his only way out is to leave with us. How could he possibly betray us again?"

  "Shanyu, wait for me to take a look," said Huo Yuhao in a low voice. "Perhaps the city's defenses have changed hands."

  They remembered Zeng Zhihong because he was the most thorough of all Han people who surrendered to the Xiongnu.

  Not only that, but his talent was also quite impressive. Under his governance, the two states of Cang and Bing were the most stable among all the large states.

  Zeng Zhihong's actions have indeed made them unbearable, but precisely because of this, they are also the most at ease when dealing with him.

  It's hard not to suspect whether someone has already replaced him.

  Modu turned his head and looked at the exhausted army, sighed, and said: "Go take a look too."

  Hami's face turned gloomy, and they did this out of helplessness.

  Fifty thousand troops on the march require a large amount of grain, supplies and medicine.

  In order to maintain their large army, they no longer cared about doing good deeds for the Han people along the way.

  Like a swarm of locusts, wherever they pass, it becomes a desolate land.

  But the things plundered were a drop in the bucket for this army of nearly 50,000, far from enough.

  Cangzhou City is the largest city nearby and the only place where all the necessities for 500,000 people can be gathered.

  So Modu and others, although they knew it was not good, still held a glimmer of hope.

  As long as it can open the city gate and allow troops to enter the city, it is enough.

  "Where is Lord Zeng...?" Bao Pu urged his horse forward, approaching the city wall. He looked up at the crowd of people standing on top of the wall and shouted loudly.

  "The official is here."

  On top of the city wall by the gate, several people suddenly parted to both sides, revealing Zeng Zhigang in the middle.

  "Mr. Zeng?"

  Kua Baiying had never seen this person before and felt a bit suspicious in his heart, so he asked.

  "Not bad, it's indeed Zeng Zhihong. Who comes next?"

  "This will be a surprise attack, General Zeng, please open the city gate."

  "Open the city gate?" Zeng Zhihong sneered: "Why open the city gate, unless you want to let you in?"

  Although Kuai was extremely angry in his heart, he smiled on his face: "Zeng sir, is it so easy to be a wall-to-wall grass? Do you think Xu Haifeng will let you go?"

  "Whether General Xu spares this official's life is none of your concern. However, I do have a personal gift that I'd like to ask the general to give to Emperor Modu."

  Having said that, Zeng Zhihong waved his hand.

  An archer beside him immediately strung an arrow and shot it out.

  This arrow was not particularly fast and fell down just a few meters in front of Bao Xiang.

  On top of the arrow shaft, a package was tied up, square in shape, and just by looking at it, one could already tell that inside was a box.

  Kua Baiying didn't even dismount his horse, stretched out his hand and grasped it, already holding a silver spear in his hand.

  He lightly flicked his gun tip, touched it to the package, and had already picked it up and caught it in his hand.

  He easily untied the package, and his face slightly changed color, he was not unfamiliar with the size of this thing.

  Although he didn't see it, he could already guess what was inside.

  How can this thing be brought before Modu Chanyu?

  He opened the box and inside was a human head that had been treated with nitric acid.

  "This is the noble defender general of Cangzhou, now said to have returned under your gate. Haha..."

  Zeng Zhihong burst out laughing, with an indescribable refreshing feeling. After a while, he stopped his laughter and shouted loudly: "General Kuatou has come, how can you not bring some gifts back?"

  "He waved his hand and said: 'Come on, bow and arrow are waiting.'"

  On the city wall, everyone responded in unison. Suddenly, thousands of bows were drawn at the same time, and arrows flew towards Bao Quan like raindrops.

  His anger was so great that his seven orifices were emitting smoke, but he knew this was not the time to show off his bravery.

  He is not a grandmaster, if he were under a hail of arrows, he would probably be unable to escape.

  Just as Zeng Zhihong had finished laughing, he immediately became aware of the danger and quickly turned his horse's head to retreat back to his own camp.

  Zeng Zhihong gazed at his back from afar, silently lamenting what a pity it was that this person had such quick reflexes.

  Modu and others saw from afar what was happening in front of them, without waiting for Jieyou's response, they guessed eight or nine out of ten.

  "Pass on the order to the entire army, I want them to attack the city." Modu's face was filled with rage as he gave the harsh command.

  Even a small city like Cangzhou has come to kick us while we're down.

  The generals beside him all had worried expressions, this was absolutely not the time for a strong attack, but Modu was obviously in a rage. Who would go to persuade him, fearing that the bad luck would fall on their own heads.

  "Chanyu, it's impossible..."

  Hamidi hastily dissuaded him, saying that perhaps he was the only one qualified to be here.

  Facing the furious gaze of Mobei, Hami stabbed: "In front of us is a strong city, behind us are pursuing troops, we have insufficient food and grass, low morale, and cannot start a war."

  Meng Tao was taken aback, let out a deep sigh, and stopped talking.

  This logic he naturally understood very well, as a general with a military background like Modu, if he didn't even know this common sense, then he wouldn't be qualified to inherit the position of Chanyu either.

  It's just that in the twenty years since he ascended to the throne, there have been very few people who would openly defy him.

  Zeng Zhihong didn't take him seriously, so how could he not make him furious?

  But he was still a magnanimous hero, after a moment of contemplation, he reluctantly said: "Go around the city and leave..."

  He spurred his horse on for a few steps, then suddenly reined it in and turned back to face Zeng Zhihong on the city wall, muttering: "Just watch, you'll see what kind of end you'll come to."

  ※※※※

  Fierce horses neigh loudly, military formation is magnificent.

  A similarly boundless army lined up in front of Cangzhou City.

  Above the middle camp of this army, fluttering high and wide, is the blood-red great banner of the Black Flag Army.

  On the city wall, Zeng Zhihong's expression was calm and he said to a young man beside him: "Kuiwei, have you remembered all the words your father entrusted me with?"

  Zeng Ke Wei lifted his head, under the gaze of his old father, he nodded heavily again and again. His eyes had a deep affection, it was an unwillingness to part with kinship that could not be cut off.

  Understanding the implication in Zeng Kewei's eyes, Zeng Zhihong let out a soft sigh and patted his eldest son on the shoulder, saying: "Kewei, from now on, the Zeng family will be relying on you, don't disappoint your father."

  Choking with emotion, Zeng Kewei could only nod heavily.

  The city gate opened wide, and a lone horseman rode out slowly, heading in the direction of the Black Flag Army's camp.

  "It's him..."

  Xu Haifeng suddenly let out an exclamation of surprise.

  The Lin family crest on his chest responded with a sentence: "Master, do you know him?"

  "He is Zeng Zhihong, the county magistrate of Cangzhou City."

  "It's this beast..." Li Guanying suddenly burst into rage, gripping the hilt of his knife tightly, and was about to charge forward.

  "General Liu, what are you going to do?"

  The discontented tone reached his ears, Li Guanying reluctantly reined in his horse and turned back to say: "Your Excellency, this man betrayed us on the battlefield and slaughtered loyal officials. How can such a person be spared?"

  "I know, but I've already said it before - those who abandon darkness and turn to light will be forgiven for their past mistakes."

  Li Guanying fiercely whipped the reins of his horse, although he was still indignant at this time, but he no longer had any intention of disobeying Xu Haifeng.

  "Master Zeng..." Xi Haifeng stepped forward and paid his respects.

  "General Xu, I never thought it would be you who would receive this city."

  "It's been a long time, unfortunately... General Chen Xinhong is no longer with us." said Xu Haifeng calmly.

  However, what surprised him was that Zeng Zhihong's face did not show any fluctuations, his eyes were clear and his heart was open.

  Zeng Zhihong slightly cupped his fists and said: "Commander Xu, the city gate of Cangzhou has been opened wide, please take over."

  He burst out laughing and his eyes swept across the faces of the crowd, looking at the neat rows. He seemed to have put down a worry and turned around to pat the horse and leave.

  ※※※※

  Zeng's backyard, an inconspicuous small house, Zeng Zhihong carried a jar of turbid wine and stepped in.

  In the small hut, there was only a spiritual table and a chair.

  On the altar, there were two memorial tablets.

  Zeng Zhihong stepped forward and gently stroked one of them, sighing: "Chen Old Brother, Chen Old Brother, we've finally won."

  He raised his head, and a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes: "Xu Haifeng, well... He was always a Han Chinese, as long as he was a Han Chinese, that's all."

  He poured himself a glass of wine and glanced at the murky liquid.

  "I promised to give an account to the ancestors of the Zeng family and to all the people in the city."

  He raised his glass and drained it in one gulp.

  He took another sign with nothing written on it, only a small, crooked and twisted tomb character.

  Zeng Zhihong's body shook, as if he had lost the strength to support himself. He leaned against the altar table and moved with difficulty, his footsteps laborious, until he came to the only chair beside it.

  He used up all his last strength and heavily threw himself into the chair.

  His eyes had already begun to glaze over, and his pupils could no longer find a point of focus.

  However, his hands still held that small spirit tablet in his arms.

  Just like holding onto a precious jade, with utmost care and caution, for fear of being remiss.

  A small face full of astonishment appeared before his eyes once again.

  He stretched out his hand, grasped the trembling small hand and pulled him into his arms...

  The fear on his face gradually faded away, leaving behind a look of attachment and innocence.

  "I'm here with you..."

  A drop of water slowly fell and landed on the ground, shattering into countless pieces...

  ()

  The latest chapter of this book Baidu search: 78 free, please collect the address: 【】.【7】【8】【x】【s】.【】, no ads, free download TXT, updated quickly!

Recommended Popular Novels