Chapter 494: Shouchun Finally Falls

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month of the fifth year of Qianyou, at the beginning of the Chen hour, outside the walls of Shouchun, following the battle order issued by the Son of Heaven Liu Chengyou himself, the Northern Han army's expedition against Huai formally launched its general assault on Shouchun, which had been under siege for over eighty days.

With this move, the Han army struck with full force, attacking simultaneously from the north, west, and south. The main imperial army, the supplemented Huaide Army, and the camp laborers directly committed to siege operations numbered seventy thousand men. Thunderclap cannons, bed crossbows, cloud ladders, and other siege weapons were all deployed without regard for losses. In short, the Son of Heaven's will was to be carried out: break the city!

Sun Li led the main attack in the south, Wang Jun directed operations in the west, Murong Yanzhao supervised the battle in the north, while Liu Chengyou sat comfortably in the northern camp observing, watching the defense and attack at the north wall, where the Longqi Army was the main force.

The spring sun hung high, its radiance shining brilliantly upon the city walls and beyond, amid the glint of blades and flash of swords. Beneath the walls of Shouchun, the slaughter was fierce, the attack and defense at their height. Liu Chengyou sat steadily upon the high platform, enjoying the gentle breeze and warm sun, listening to the clamor of drums and horns, watching the bloody carnage. The cries of battle lasted a full one and a half hours without showing any sign of weakening, and reports of the fighting at the three gates continuously reached Liu Chengyou.

"The Tang army on the south wall has repelled our third wave of assault! Chief Commander Sun has already committed his fourth wave of wall-storming troops!"

"Chief Commander Wang has personally led men onto the barbican and is engaged in close combat with the defenders!"

"The south barbican has been breached by Chief Commander Sun! The Tang general He Jingzhu has concentrated his forces and is desperately holding the gate tower!"

Amid the flood of battle reports, the Xiaodi and Husheng armies, the main assault forces, continued to achieve results—only the north remained lukewarm.

"I never imagined that at this stage, the defenders in the city would still have such strength!" Liu Chengyou remarked.

Tao Gu and other close ministers had also accompanied the sovereign to observe the battle. Tao Gu said: "This is but a desperate last stand, the struggle of a cornered beast. Our soldiers have already breached the barbicans one after another—how long can the gate tower hold? Once their morale is spent, Shouchun will fall!"

Li Shaoyou added: "That He Jingzhu truly does not recognize the might of Heaven, knows neither advance nor retreat, and intends to resist the heavenly army! Were it not for this man, Shouchun would have fallen long ago!"

"But their resistance ends here!" Liu Chengyou said. After brief consideration, he instructed Li Shaoyou: "Send the signal. Have that Xu Xiang make his move!"

Outside the north wall, fireworks burst into the sky—though in daylight, they could not be as splendid as under the cover of night. But upon receiving the signal, the previously lukewarm fighting at the north gate immediately intensified, and within the city, the Commander of the Shenwei Army, Xu Xiang, who had been waiting with growing impatience, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

What he was nervous about was not that his defection might go wrong, but that the Han army might break the city before he could act—in which case, the merit of turning his coat on the battlefield and surrendering the city would be diminished.

And even with an insider in place, Liu Chengyou still chose this method of warfare—first, to test Shouchun's final defenses, and second, as a matter of caution. Of Xu Xiang's submission, Liu Chengyou believed eighty percent; the remaining twenty percent was the necessary suspicion and precaution befitting a sovereign and commander.

For this reason, he had even rejected Xu Xiang's suggestion to launch a night assault and open the gates, precisely to guard against unforeseen circumstances in the dark. Delaying by a day, he let Xu Xiang erupt while the Han army was in full assault—thus, at least on the Han side, everything could be secured, with no fear of whatever schemes or tricks the defenders might employ.

As Xu Xiang launched his move at the north wall, striking the rear of He Jingzhu's personal guard, the defenders collapsed at once. With the Shenwei Army's cooperation, the Han troops smoothly climbed the battlements and swept into the city.

Han Chongyun, the Commander of the Longqi Army's lower camp, led his men up the wall first, breaking through the city ramparts, mounting the battlements, cutting down the Tang banners, and planting the Han flag. With excitement on their faces, the Xiaodi and Husheng armies had been fighting tooth and nail for the merit of breaching the city—yet these men had walked right in with ease.

"You are Xu Xiang?" Han Chongyun halted his men and asked, looking at Xu Xiang, who had voluntarily sheathed his weapon and approached alone.

Though he felt a slight sense of offense at the young Han general's swaggering demeanor, Xu Xiang dared not show any disrespect and hastily replied: "This humble general, at your service!"

Scanning him twice, Han Chongyun said directly: "Chief Inspector Murong has ordered that you lead your men together with our army to the west wall, to assist the main assault force in breaking the city! Also leave a few men familiar with the city's layout to guide the main army in seizing the key offices!"

"At your command!" Xu Xiang responded promptly, rallying his men and taking the lead.

The Longqi Army that entered the city then split into two waves—one following Xu Xiang westward, the other, guided by local guides, moving to seize the commander's headquarters, government offices, granaries, treasuries, and other military and administrative institutions.

At the west wall of Shouchun, atop the gate tower, the fighting had reached its most intense moment. Under the command of Zhang Quanyue, Chief Commander of the Baoxin Army, the defenders held the key points along the wall, desperately resisting the Han army's ferocious assault. Wang Yansheng had personally led several charges, all repelled, and was burning with rage. Locked in close-quarters city combat, the Han army's catapults and heavy crossbows could no longer be employed—otherwise they would harm friend and foe alike. On the wall, what was being tested was the raw courage and blood of both sides' soldiers.

Even so, the Tang army was on the verge of collapse. Amid the bloody wind and rain of slaughter, Zhang Quanyue, as the commander, felt nothing but helplessness in his heart, struggling on with nothing but a single breath of will.

When Xu Xiang led his men up to "assist in the battle," Zhang Quanyue did not react at first. As Xu Xiang climbed onto the gate tower, Zhang asked distractedly: "Xu Xiang, why aren't you coordinating the defense in the north? What business do you have at the west wall?"

"By order of Lord Xu, I have come to assist the Governor!" Xu Xiang drew his blade, quickened his pace with several dozen trusted men at his back, and replied loudly.

Hearing this, Zhang Quanyue first breathed a sigh of relief—but then, on second thought, he noticed the hurried footsteps and the white cloth strips tied around the arms of Xu Xiang's men. Realizing something was wrong, his face changed drastically. Stumbling backward, he ordered his men: "Stop them!"

Seeing this, a junior officer behind Xu Xiang burst forward, closing the distance in three great strides, cutting Zhang Quanyue down with a single stroke of his blade, then swiftly severing his head.

The sudden turn of events left the Tang troops on the west wall at a loss. Xu Xiang seized the opportunity, shouted a single word—"Kill!"—and led his men in mercilessly cutting down their former comrades-in-arms. At the base of the wall, the Shenwei Army also launched their attack, followed closely by the Longqi Army.

After this upheaval, the west wall fell at once. Wang Yansheng led his guard troops in a sweep from outside in, and when he encountered Xu Xiang, he charged at him with his blade raised—he had already been driven to a killing frenzy.

Wang Yansheng's blood-stained sword, carrying a fierce edge, slashed toward Xu Xiang. Startled, Xu Xiang instinctively blocked the blow. With a "Clang!" Xu Xiang retreated in panic—Wang Yansheng's strength was astonishing, and the single strike nearly sent the blade flying from Xu Xiang's hand.

Seeing Wang Yansheng's murderous expression, Xu Xiang hastily called out: "General, stay your hand! We are on the same side! We have already submitted to the Great Han and have come under orders to assist you in breaking the city!"

Hearing this, Wang Yansheng finally withdrew his attack. He scanned Xu Xiang twice, then suddenly barked in anger: "Who told you to come help? I could have broken the city on my own!"

Xu Xiang's mouth twitched. So this was the arrogance and ferocity of the Han army—he had now witnessed it firsthand. He had risked his life with his personal guards to trick and kill Zhang Quanyue, helping this man take the city, and the fellow didn't even appreciate it. But as a surrendered general, he knew his place, and hastily put on a fawning expression to explain.

"The north wall has fallen?" Wang Yansheng asked.

"Reporting to the General, yes! The heavenly troops have entered the city and are attacking the government offices!"

"You!" Wang Yansheng grew anxious, pointing at Xu Xiang: "Take your men and clear the way for me—to the Military Governor's headquarters!"

"Yes!" Faced with Wang Yansheng's imperious manner, Xu Xiang had not the slightest thought of resistance. If he angered this Han general and got himself killed on a whim, there would be no one to appeal to. He quickly gathered his subordinates and turned to lead the way.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the north wall has fallen!"

"... The west wall has fallen!"

Good news came one after another, and the Han army's northern camp was naturally jubilant. Tao Gu offered his congratulations: "This stubborn stone fortress of Shouchun has finally been broken by Your Majesty!"

At this, Liu Chengyou's expression shifted only slightly before returning to calm, as if the fall of Shouchun were a matter of no consequence. Raising a finger, he ordered: "Transmit my command to Wang Jun and Murong Yanzhao—swiftly mop up the remaining enemy, seize the city defenses and government offices, and stabilize the situation within the city!"

"Yes!"

Liu Chengyou himself returned to the imperial tent at headquarters, drinking water and eating, contemplating his next strategic move.

Atop the south gate tower of Shouchun, the cries of battle had gradually faded. With both the north and west gates breached, how could the south city stand alone? The defenders were either dead or surrendered. If one spoke of the fiercest resistance, it was still here at the south wall—the Han army's main assault was here, and He Jingzhu's main defense was also here.

At the base of the city gate, several dozen soldiers still guarded He Jingzhu, surrounded by the Han army at the foot of the wall. Sun Li and Gao Huaide had climbed into the city one after another. Chief Commander Sun wore a displeased expression, having already learned that the merit of being first to breach Shouchun had been snatched by someone else.

In light of this, upon learning that He Jingzhu was surrounded, he immediately rushed over—the merit of slaying a general and capturing a commander was one that could not escape him.

Seeing Sun and Gao arrive, a Commander of one of the units immediately reported: "Chief General, these few dozen men are putting up stubborn resistance and refuse to surrender even when urged!"

Stepping forward to survey the scene, they found that the few dozen Tang soldiers, facing the Han army's encirclement, each wore an expression of heroic resolve, showing not a trace of fear. Gao Huaide said: "These men have all embraced death!"

Sun Li waved his hand and ordered: "Then grant them their wish—kill them all!"

After another brief and brutal slaughter, there was no more sound of battle beneath the south gate of Shouchun. Stepping through pools of blood and over the corpses of Tang soldiers, they found the old general He Jingzhu quietly leaning against a round timber, his face sickly, a sword wound across his neck—clearly he had taken his own life.

After observing for a moment, they reached the conclusion: those few dozen Tang soldiers had been guarding He Jingzhu's corpse.

Gao Huaide could not help but sigh: "Jianghuai does not lack heroes!"

Sun Li approached, looked him over, his gaze lingering on He Jingzhu's lifeless, ugly face, and said: "So it was this ugly wretch who held off our great army for so long?"

"It should be him!" Gao Huaide said. Along with He Jingzhu's reputation for loyalty and valor, his "ugly name" had also spread far and wide.

"Why bother?" Sun Li shook his head and said: "To die for the mediocre lord of the false Tang—how unworthy! Had he heeded advice earlier and surrendered to the Great Han, wealth and honor would not have been lacking, and he could have enjoyed his remaining years in peace..."

From Sun Li's words, one could see that although he was obedient and submissive to Liu Chengyou, at his core he was still a military man deeply shaped by the era.

It was Gao Huaide who said: "Though he was an enemy, the old general's loyalty and valor deserve our respect!"

The corner of Sun Li's mouth curled slightly. He offered a small bow toward He Jingzhu's corpse, then drew his battle blade and struck it across the man's neck in a single stroke. Holding up the bloody head, Sun Li laughed: "Report to His Majesty that the Xiaodi Army has beheaded the rebel leader He Jingzhu!"

Gao Huaide opened his mouth at Sun Li's actions, but in the end, he said nothing more.