Song Xiu

Chapter 62 Hunting at the Foot of Taihang Mountain
The general guarding Huguan Pass is Li Li.

Li Li was able to become the garrison commander of Huguan not because of his own abilities, but because he was Li Jun's cousin.

Since becoming the garrison commander of Huguan, Li Li, feeling that he had a cushy job, did not put much thought into repairing the city's defenses. Instead, he focused all his attention on how to exploit the people.

When a large number of Song troops poured into the city, the city erupted in chaos, with shouts of battle rising and falling, causing the people of Huguan to cower in their homes, trembling with fear.

This sudden commotion, along with the spreading panic, eventually reached the county government.

Li Li, who was immersed in a sweet dream, was awakened by the commotion coming from outside.

Startled awake, Li Li shoved the naked girl lying on top of him away, a sense of impending doom washing over him.

After jumping off the bed, Li Li quickly dressed, and after simply putting on a thin layer of armor, he took his sword, pushed open the door, and went into the courtyard.

As soon as Li Li stepped out of the room, the shouts of battle around him suddenly increased several orders of magnitude.

The shouts of battle that surged from all directions bound Li Li firmly to the spot like a giant net, making his face pale.

Looking at the flames rising everywhere in the city, the fear in his heart made Li Li, whose body had long been ravaged by wine and women, tremble.

After Huyan Zan led his troops to open the city gates, he continued to lead the vanguard into the city.

Once inside the city, they no longer needed to hide their tracks.

Numerous torches were lit, their intense flames illuminating the figures of every enemy in Huyan Zan's path.

Hu Yanzan, who kept Zhao Dexiu's military orders firmly in mind, would pounce on any garrison that dared to resist with weapons in hand, giving the enemy no chance to fight back.

Blood splattered from time to time under Huyan Zan's sword flashes, spraying out and landing on Huyan Zan's body, staining his soft armor a bewitching red.

With this fierce general, who was like a god of war, leading the hundreds of vanguard soldiers, their morale remained high, and more and more enemy soldiers fell before them.

The bloody killings were effective.

When another batch of reinforcements arrived, they were defeated by hundreds of soldiers with murderous intent. The defenders inside the city, who had been waiting for their commander to arrive, finally could not hold on any longer.

The shouts of killing that echoed throughout the city were gradually replaced by increasingly loud pleas for mercy.

One by one, the guards trembled as they laid down their weapons and knelt on either side of the road.

Having been killed so many times, they dared not stop Huyan Zan's advance any longer.

With no one continuing to obstruct him, Huyan Zan finally arrived at the county government office without incident.

Following the hundreds of advance team members were thousands of well-trained crane control troops.

Following Zhao Dexiu's orders, officers of all ranks in the Crane Control Army, with their extensive experience, commanded their soldiers to control all the key roads in the city.

The surrendered soldiers who knelt on the ground were confiscated and then guarded by the Song army in various parts of the city to prevent them from gathering again and causing trouble.

When Zhao Dexiu, who was at the city gate, learned that the Song army had largely taken control of the city, he looked down at Lü Duan with a hint of helplessness and said:
"Yi Zhi, the battle is over, we can let go now."

Zhao Dexiu's words made Tian Chongjin, who was standing to the side, chuckle.

In Tian Chongjin's gaze, Lü Duanzheng gripped Zhao Dexiu's reins tightly with both hands, as if he were holding onto his own future.

Zhao Dexiu had heard shouts of battle upon entering the city and decided to personally lead his troops to capture the garrison commander of Huguan.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he revealed this intention, Lü Duan, who was already on guard, rushed forward. While reining in Zhao Dexiu's warhorse, Lü Duan also firmly advised him:

“Weapons are instruments of violence, and war is a dangerous affair. Now, the prefect relies on his strong and vigorous spirit, and disregards the dangers of disorderly troops. Can he be called brave?”

Although he may have killed generals and captured flags, this is the duty of a subordinate general. What benefit does it bring to the prefect?
"I hope that Your Excellency will restrain Ben's bravery, nurture his courage, and possess the strategic acumen of a general."

After giving his advice, Lü Duan held onto the reins tightly, refusing to let go no matter what.

Those around Zhao Dexiu could see the courage and military strategy he displayed after going on the expedition.

When "wishing to emulate Emperor Taizong of Tang" became not just a slogan for Zhao Dexiu, but a potentially achievable ambition, Lü Duan felt that he might very well become the next Wei Zheng.

When Zhao Dexiu climbed the rock face, Lü Duan did not stop him, which shows that Lü Duan supported him taking risks when necessary.

As for other times, for the sake of the country and for his own future, Lü Duan would do what he should to stop it.

After being stopped by Lü Duan, Zhao Dexiu was not angry; otherwise, Lü Duan would have been pulled away by the soldiers at his command. He was only somewhat tempted to leave.

Lü Duan could also hear the soldiers' reports.

Seeing that the battle was over, Lü Duan finally let go of his hands and stood aside.

"Congratulations to the Marquis of Taiyuan on his entry into the city!"

Lu Duan bowed deeply to Zhao Dexiu, who was sitting on his horse, and offered his congratulations loudly.

Lu Duan's congratulations made Zhao Dexiu burst into hearty laughter, and as the laughter subsided, his riding whip fell.

The horse, which had been poised for a moment, raised its hooves high, and as the hooves touched the bluestone pavement again, Zhao Dexiu's figure leaped out.

"Congratulations!"

The horse's hooves, carrying the lingering echo of the young man's voice, gradually faded into the distance.

Several imperial guards generals followed suit on horseback, chasing after the sound like shadows.

After traversing the long street, the blood-stained hooves finally came to a stop outside the county government building.

Upon seeing Zhao Dexiu arrive, Huyan Zanlian escorted Li Li, who was bound hand and foot, out of the county government building.

With a loud thud, as the hundred-pound piece of fat landed heavily on the ground, Huyan Zan stood in front of his horse, pointing at Li Li and saying:
"My lord, this man is the garrison commander of Huguan Pass."

Upon hearing Huyan Zan's report, Zhao Dexiu used the firelight to examine Li Li, who was groaning in pain under the horse's hooves.

While considering how to deal with Li Li, Hu Yanzan also recounted what he had just witnessed inside the county government building.

"Many girls were locked in the cellar."

This report made Zhao Dexiu stop thinking about it.

"Drag him out and behead him."

Zhao Dexiu's cold command startled Li Li so much that he instantly lost control of his bladder.

Overwhelmed by fear, he momentarily forgot to beg for mercy, and by the time he came to his senses, he had already been dragged away by several fierce soldiers from Chanzhou.

Soon after, a bloody human head was presented to Zhao Dexiu.

As the severed head was presented, the first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the mountains and fell directly on Zhao Dexiu's shoulder.

In summer, it always gets light earlier.

"My lord, many of the garrison troops have taken advantage of the chaos to escape from the city."

Tian Chongjin's report did not surprise Zhao Dexiu.

No matter how fast the Song army moved, it was inevitable that some would escape during the melee.

Tian Chongjin's words meant that the Song army would no longer be able to maintain its advantage of surprise.

Tian Chongjin was waiting for Zhao Dexiu's next plan.

Noticing Tian Chongjin's questioning gaze, Zhao Dexiu pointed at Li Li's head and said:
"The head of the deceased is sent to all the counties, and a letter is enclosed as a gift to Li Shoujie:"
The Military Commissioner of Chanzhou of the Great Song Dynasty wishes to hunt with you at the foot of the Taihang Mountains.

Three thousand against three thousand, to determine the fate of Taihang!

Zhao Dexiu's words greatly encouraged Tian Chongjin.

This is no letter; it's a declaration of war.

"This subordinate will arrange for someone to do it immediately."

After saying this, Tian Chongjin turned and left.

After Tian Chongjin left, Zhao Dexiu's gaze was drawn to the Song Dynasty battle flag that had just been planted on the city wall of Huguan.

"The army of Chanzhou has sounded its first fierce roar in the world!"

(End of this chapter)