Chapter 491: Futile Struggles

On the twenty-second day of the first month in the fifth year of Qianyou of the Northern Han, after marching south to intercept the Southern Tang's western route relief army and annihilating both the Xu Wenzhen and Chen armies in succession, Emperor Liu Chengyou of the Han led his forces back to the Shouchun field headquarters. The Han army generals and commanders who had remained behind, led by Xiang Xun, paid their respects in reverence at the floating bridge over the Fei River.

"Your subordinates respectfully welcome Your Majesty back to camp in victory!" Before the floating bridge, Xiang Xun offered a bow.

"All of you, rise!" Liu Chengyou sat tall on his imperial horse, his expression calm, without the slightest trace of pride. The results achieved in intercepting the Southern Tang relief army seemed not to have stirred much ripple in his heart.

A great number of boats and vessels, escorted by the naval forces, came north from the south side of the Fei River. Each ship sat extremely deep in the water, nearly exhausting its full carrying capacity. Regarding the annihilation of the Chen and Xu armies, the Han army's spoils could be described as abundant.

Besides killing and wounding twenty thousand and capturing over forty thousand, there were also the grain, weapons, pack horses, and other supplies that had been transported north with their armies. Even accounting for over thirty percent consumed or destroyed due to the fighting, the remaining plunder still required Liu Chengyou to mobilize a full one hundred and fifty ships before it could all be loaded. By rough estimate, if used frugally, these spoils could supply the more than two hundred thousand Northern Han troops and civilians on campaign in Huainan for at least a month.

Therefore, Liu Chengyou nearly bestowed upon the captive Chen Jue the official title of "Huainan Field Headquarters Grain and Weapons Commissioner" to reward his contribution to transport. Of course, this was merely a bit of lingering mischief on Liu Chengyou's part. He did not deliberately humiliate Chen Jue, but instead released him, writing a letter by his own hand for Chen Jue to deliver as a messenger back to Jinling to Li Jing.

As the victorious army returned and the Son of Heaven re-entered camp, fierce cries of "Long live the Emperor" erupted from the several Han army stockades, rolling waves of sound like thunder from the nine heavens, shaking heaven and earth, lasting for a long while.

And those most affected by the Han army's cheers were, of course, the besieged Tang army in Shouchun. Hearing the cheers surging like tides, the soldiers and civilians within the city were all shaken with terror. Because after the cries of "Long live the Emperor" came wave after wave of announcements that "the relief army has been wiped out."

Upon hearing this, the principal Shouchun defenders—He Jingzhu, Zhang Quanyue, Xu Xiang, and others—came together to the northern city wall. On the ground outside the city, which had already been leveled by the Han army, were laid out large quantities of captured Tang army banners, armor, and uniforms, clearly proving what had happened.

"Lord He, the relief army has truly been destroyed?" Zhang Quanyue asked with a terrified expression, looking at He Jingzhu: "The Han emperor didn't lead many men south! How many days has it been?"

He Jingzhu stood motionless, the wound on his left hand far from healed. Fortunately, it was early spring and the weather was not yet hot. Now his hand trembled slightly, and his aged face faintly showed signs of illness. In truth, it was not only Shouchun city that was on the verge of collapse—as the commanding general, He Jingzhu was also nearing the end of his strength. The long months of commanding troops and enduring siege had been extraordinarily difficult for this general past sixty.

While Liu Chengyou was marching south to engage the Chen and Xu armies, He Jingzhu, who had been holding the city steadily and waiting for the right moment, had not simply sat by. Instead, he had led his troops out in a decisive sortie, hoping to launch a counterattack against the Han army while its field forces were depleted. Even if he could not completely break the siege, he wanted to impede and delay the Han army's encampment and siege operations, giving Shouchun breathing room and the Southern Tang court more time to prepare.

His objective was also very clear—he did not seek to inflict heavy casualties on the Han army, but aimed directly at their logistics camp to the northeast, which he had scouted out long before. To this end, He Jingzhu first played a trick: he had Zhang Quanyue lead troops to attack the Han army's western stockade and Xu Xiang lead troops to attack the northern stockade to draw attention, while he himself selected the five thousand most elite troops in Shouchun, prepared incendiary materials, and headed straight for the northeast supply camp.

He Jingzhu's maneuver did cause considerable trouble for the Han army. After all, with elite forces weakened, the Han army's rather risky strategy of besieging the city and establishing stockades inevitably left gaps in defense, unable to cover every aspect as thoroughly as before.

Had the Tang army truly succeeded in destroying the grain supply camp, then the Han army at Shouchun—even if not collapsing outright—would certainly have had its siege broken, and might even have been forced to retreat and regroup. After all, in marching and fighting, grain supply is the lifeline.

Unfortunately for He Jingzhu, his opponent was Xiang Xun. Ordered to defend the camp, Xiang Xun felt the weight of responsibility and understood the importance of the supply depot. When He Jingzhu bared his fangs, Xiang Xun decisively reinforced the garrison, strengthened defenses, and personally took command. To this end, he did not hesitate to draw troops from the other stockades.

He Jingzhu wanted to strike at the Han army's vital point, and Xiang Xun also understood the stakes. He had a very clear picture in his mind: even if all four other stockades fell, as long as the grain remained, they could be re-established in time. Moreover, the Tang army did not have the strength to break all the Han stockades anyway.

Under Xiang Xun's composed command and coordination, He Jingzhu's scheme ultimately came to nothing. With Sun Li, Li Chongjin, Wang Yansheng, Gao Huaide, and other generals leading troops in fierce combat, it ended with the Tang army defeated and retreating back into the city.

In that engagement, the Han army suffered nearly three thousand casualties among troops and civilians, while the Tang troops who had sallied out lost more than half their number. In field combat and siege assault, the Tang army was far from a match for the Han army. And after this battle, the Shouchun defenders lost more of their vitality, with no remaining strength for another active sortie.

At this moment, He Jingzhu felt for the first time that this early spring breeze was so bleak and desolate, chilling both body and heart. He could sense the doubt and fear among the officers around him.

Without directly answering Zhang Quanyue's question, He Jingzhu said with extraordinary calm: "Everyone, prepare yourselves. The final battle is coming—the time to give our all for the state has arrived..."

Having said this, he turned and slowly walked down the city wall, step by step. He Jingzhu was clearly well aware in his heart that Shouchun could not be held. Given the current situation in the city, it was utterly impossible to hold out until the next wave of relief arrived. Moreover, whether the Southern Tang court could even organize another relief army—He Jingzhu himself had no confidence in that.

He did not even bother telling his subordinate officers words like "hold the city." Old in years but not dim-witted, he knew it was debatable how many of the army commanders and officers under him shared his resolve, and He Jingzhu no longer cared. But regardless,

for himself personally, he had already prepared his mind for anything—at worst, he would die for his country. Surrender never crossed He Jingzhu's mind. It was not that he was particularly loyal to the Southern Tang; before the Northern Han's invasion, the Southern Tang court had not treated him especially well. But having lived through chaotic times and reached sixty years of age, he had his own convictions. To be buried in the green hills, or to die wrapped in horsehide on the battlefield—either would be a fitting end.

Watching He Jingzhu's desolate yet resolute back, the several military officers exchanged glances but had nothing to say to one another. Each harboring their own thoughts, they dispersed.

Xu Xiang, Commander of the Left Shenwei Army, returned to his quarters in the northern section of the city with a heavy heart, brows deeply furrowed. A sound of footsteps approached. He looked up—it was a commander of a battalion under the Shenwei Army, his own trusted subordinate.

"Chief General, the relief army is destroyed, and Shouchun has nothing left to rely on. The Han army's general assault is imminent. With morale in the city wavering, it can never be held. Must we truly be buried with this city?" The young officer's lowered voice carried a hint of agitation.

Xu Xiang composed himself and asked him: "What do you think I should do?"

Hearing this, the young officer moved closer to Xu Xiang and said: "Given the Han army's strength and offensive power, once they launch their general assault, the city will fall within a day. Since the Northern Han's southern campaign began, the court has employed the wrong people and made indecisive judgments. The emperor merely sits on the dragon throne while commanding great armies, leading to our continuous defeats. At this point, the prefectures of Huainan cannot be held, and even the dynasty's very existence is in jeopardy.

In your subordinate's view, it would be better to surrender the city and defect, preserving our lives. After several battles, our Shenwei Army numbers fewer than three thousand. If we can offer them to the Han emperor, we might even gain official rank and honor!"

"You want me to betray my sovereign and rebel against my state!" Xu Xiang said angrily, his sharp gaze fixed on the young officer.

"Chief General, which sovereign, which state?" Seeing this, the young officer also spoke freely: "The Xu family were originally subjects of the Wu king. They usurped the throne, replacing their lord, and presumptuously claimed the name of Li Tang. Illegally seizing Jianghuai, they are in truth nothing more than a separatist warlord. If we speak of legitimate succession, it belongs to the mighty Han of the Central Plains! The strength of the Han army—we have all witnessed it this time. It is absolutely no match for the Southern Tang. Our defection is submission to the orthodox imperial dynasty—how is that betrayal?"

Had Liu Chengyou known that an obscure young commander in the Tang army possessed such insight and eloquence, he might well have developed a fondness for talent.

Hearing these words, Xu Xiang's eyes flickered, and he said: "You and I, and the officers and men of the Shenwei Army, are all men of Jiangdong. If we turn our coats on the battlefield, our families will be harmed—what then?"

Noticing the look in Xu Xiang's eyes, the young officer knew that this Chief Commander Xu had already been swayed. He said: "The Tang sovereign has always presented himself as benevolent and virtuous. Would he implicate the families over a mere three thousand soldiers?"

"Moreover!" As he spoke, a hint of ruthlessness appeared in the young officer's eyes: "If the Tang sovereign does implicate our families, then we can defect with even greater peace of mind, and the Han emperor can rest assured as well. A true man need not worry about finding a wife, so long as fame and rank are his. When the time comes and the Northern Han destroys the Tang, we can follow in the counteroffensive, break Jinling, and avenge our families—comforting their spirits in the nine springs!"

Xu Xiang could not help but look at this subordinate who had followed him for many years. He had never realized the man possessed such "magnanimity," and it sent a chill through his heart.

Yet upon reflection, he could not help but be tempted. Xu Xiang was only in his early thirties, in the prime of life, and had no desire to perish together with Shouchun, to end his days here. As for betraying the Southern Tang, he truly felt no psychological burden. The severance of the bond between sovereign and subject had long been the norm in this era, and carried no moral condemnation. At most, if his family suffered harm as a result, he would feel some guilt.

"Ah, this truly puts me in a difficult position!" After pondering for a moment, Xu Xiang could not help but sigh, then suddenly turned to look at his subordinate: "Would you be willing to act as my envoy, to contact the Han camp and convey my intention to defect?"

The young officer answered directly: "Your subordinate is willing to go!"

"Tonight, I will arrange for you to be lowered by rope from the north gate. The lives of the Shenwei Army's officers and men are entrusted to you!"