Chapter 1020: Southern Yue, in Peril!

"Expedition Commissioner, it's been a while, hasn't it?" Looking at Xu Yanzhen, who was a mix of shock and fury, Chen Yanshou raised his head, his tone carrying pride and mockery.

"No wonder you urged me so hard to attack—so you'd already defected to the Han army! You traitor, how dare you betray your country!" Xu Yanzhen now put on a show of righteousness, eyes wide with rage as he glared viciously at Chen Yanshou, cursing: "You treacherous villain, so cruel and venomous, plunging our great army into certain death—do you have any conscience toward the state and the sovereign's deep favor toward you..."

Xu Yanzhen had a quick tongue, and once he started ranting he wouldn't stop—though from the way he carefully watched Pan Mei's expression, it was clear this man was not as "righteously indignant" as he appeared; it was all posturing.

Chen Yanshou naturally wouldn't let himself be cursed at. He sneered twice and shot back: "Commissioner Xu seems to have forgotten—it was you, in your arrogance, who ordered the attack! As for treachery and cruelty, perhaps you should ask those ministers you framed and slandered. As for me, Chen Yanshou, I long ago submitted to the Great Han, collecting Lingnan for the court to achieve unity under heaven—this follows the Mandate of Heaven and the tide of destiny. Unlike you treacherous villains and fawning ministers, who even in crisis still scheme for power and throw the army into chaos, harming the state and the people..."

If he had the time, Pan Mei would have liked to sit down and properly enjoy this exchange of insults between the two eunuchs. He swept his gaze over both of them, then waved a hand: "Enough. Since their identities are confirmed, deal with them!"

Hearing Pan Mei's cold words, before anyone else could react, Xu Yanzhen struggled and shouted: "General, this one is willing to surrender, to serve the court, to help the army persuade Shaozhou to capitulate, to fight our way into Xingwang Prefecture..."

"A petty man indeed!" Seeing him show his true colors, Pan Mei smiled faintly.

"Commander!" Seeing that Pan Mei looked somewhat interested, Chen Yanshou grew anxious and moved to dissuade him.

Pan Mei raised a hand to stop him, then turned to Xu Yanzhen, who was looking at him expectantly, his gaze turning sharp: "The captured Yue soldiers must deeply hate this villain. Take him away—tomorrow, before all the prisoners, behead him!"

"Commander Pan, spare my life!" At these words, Xu Yanzhen's face filled with terror, and he shrieked for mercy.

But Pan Mei merely waved his hand, and the burly soldiers dragged him off. Seeing this, Chen Yanshou relaxed, looking satisfied, and flattered Pan Mei: "The Commander is wise. This Xu Yanzhen threw his weight around all the way, and the Yue soldiers hate him deeply. Beheading him before the prisoners will win their hearts and bring the Yue army into our service..."

"You've read my intentions clearly enough!" Glancing at him, Pan Mei said: "If we are to bring the Yue army into our service, we'll need Eunuch Chen's efforts—on behalf of the court, persuade some of them to surrender!"

"As you command!" Chen Yanshou immediately replied, with eager enthusiasm. For him, this was exactly the time to prove himself—whatever he did, he had to demonstrate his usefulness, striving for his future position and treatment at court.

As for Pan Mei, his considerations were simpler: if this batch of Yue prisoners could be fully utilized, the campaign to pacify Yue would become much easier, and his flexibility in deploying troops would be greatly enhanced.

It wasn't until the next day that the battle's results were tallied: 2,100 enemies killed, 36,000 surrendered. The rest—armor and equipment—need not be detailed. As for the Han army's losses, they were negligible; this battle had been far too easy.

Of the nearly 50,000 Yue troops that had sallied forth, aside from those who had strayed or fled, fewer than 6,000 ultimately made it back safely to Qujiang City—and even that was only thanks to Zhi Tingxiao's capable command that so many were preserved.

On the morning of the tenth, Pan Mei gathered the prisoners together and had Xu Yanzhen brought before them to await his fate. Then the Yue soldiers erupted in fury, shouting for his death. The executioner's blade fell, and Xu Yanzhen's head parted from his body—having "worked tirelessly" for winning over the Yue army.

What followed proceeded smoothly. With Chen Yanshou's persuasion, the defection of some officers, and Pan Mei's promises of treatment on behalf of the court, nearly all the Yue soldiers submitted and expressed willingness to serve the court.

Morale quickly recovered and continued to climb. Often, when people change their circumstances and their identity, the energy they can unleash is astonishing. Thereafter, without giving the defenders of Qujiang any chance to catch their breath, Pan Mei led his army south and once again attacked the city.

At this point, the situation in Qujiang City was especially dire. Though there were still nearly 10,000 defenders, compared to the state of affairs before Xu Yanzhen marched north, it was like heaven and earth. Initially, relying on Lu Guangtu's prestige and Zhi Tingxiao's courage and strategy, they had managed to combine civil and military strengths, unite soldiers and civilians, and hold the city against the Han army.

But now, the original chemistry within the city had been completely destroyed. The impact of a great defeat was profound and fatal, and it punctured the previous illusion—given the current state of the Southern Yue state, how could any city truly be willing to hold out and be buried with it?

Lu Guangtu, bound by personal integrity and conviction, wanted to resist to the end, but the others could no longer follow him through fire and water—not just because of interests and safety, but also whether it was worth it. Among them was Zhi Tingxiao, who had previously supported Lu Guangtu with all his might.

"Lord Lu, our army has just been defeated, losing seven or eight of every ten men. Now morale in the city is low, hearts are anxious, defeat is certain, and Shaozhou cannot be held. Will you still insist?" On the city wall, gazing at the overwhelming Han army outside, Zhi Tingxiao asked Lu Guangtu, who stood beside him observing the enemy, in a heavy tone.

Lu Guangtu at this moment seemed to have aged several more years, his expression marked by gloom and exhaustion. Hearing the question, he did not answer directly. He looked around and saw that most of the defenders on the wall wore fearful expressions.

A flicker of confusion passed through his old eyes. Lu Guangtu turned his head and said to Zhi Tingxiao with melancholy: "Langbo, I know your heart is not here. That you have held fast with me is mostly out of regard for my meager face. I thank you for your tireless efforts and full support—I bow to you in gratitude..."

"Lord Lu!" Hearing this, Zhi Tingxiao felt somewhat embarrassed and called out softly.

"That Lingnan is hard to hold—how could I not know? With such a benighted sovereign and cruel ruler, a tyrant and enemy of the people, even if Zhuge Liang were reborn, he could not save it—let alone this humble Lu Guangtu? To drag the soldiers and people of Shaozhou into death and sacrifice for my personal conviction would not be a righteous act!" Lu Guangtu spoke calmly, with an open and unburdened manner.

A few "whish-whish" sounds came—light cavalry beneath the city wall galloped by, drew their bows, and loosed several arrows up, then retreated without hesitation. Just a few arrows, yet they threw the defenders on the wall into panic, even some disorder.

After order was restored, Zhi Tingxiao took a plain silk cloth and handed it to Lu Guangtu: "Lord Lu, this was tied to the arrows—the Han army's letter urging surrender!"

Lu Guangtu took it and read it, then turned calmly to Zhi Tingxiao: "What does Langbo think?"

Meeting Lu Guangtu's gaze, Zhi Tingxiao lowered his head. Though he said nothing, it was already a clear answer. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Lu Guangtu shook his head and said: "Going against the tide leads only to death. The soldiers and people of Shaozhou should not be buried with such a state. To preserve the safety of the entire city, Langbo may lead the troops to open the gates and surrender. The Han army is a righteous host and will not mistreat the people. Langbo has long been known for courage and strategy—truly the stuff of a general. Stooping to serve Southern Yue and attend a benighted master has left your talents unused. Once you return to the court, with your abilities, you are sure to be given a post..."

Having spoken, Lu Guangtu slowly walked away. Watching his desolate retreating figure, Zhi Tingxiao could not help calling out: "Lord Lu!"

But there was no reply. Soon, Zhi Tingxiao shook himself free of that melancholy feeling. When he once again faced the Han army pressing the pass, his expression became resolute, and he immediately sent men out of the city to arrange the surrender with Pan Mei.

Pan Mei immediately expressed his welcome and promised kind treatment.

On the eleventh, the defenders of Shaozhou opened the gates and surrendered. Pan Mei's great army entered the city without shedding a drop of blood, rolling up their armor as they marched in. Everything went smoothly, and the only incident was that Prefect Lu Guangtu, at the moment the Han army entered the city, took his own life at his official residence, martyring himself for Southern Yue. This world never seems to lack martyrs whose sacrifices are hard for others to understand.

With Shaozhou taken, the gateway to Lingnan lay wide open. After two days of rest, Pan Mei led the army southward, breaking through Wengyuan and Yingzhou in succession. By the seventeenth, they had reached Qingyuan, with their spearhead pointed straight at Panyu.