Chapter 943: A Lavish Burial

Thanks to the Han army's efforts, the inner city of Yunzhong had become a colossal furnace, with raging flames mercilessly devouring the lives within, boiling away their flesh and blood, while fuel was constantly added to the fire. The piercing screams emanating from the city made even the Han soldiers outside its walls feel their scalps go numb.

The fire burned for nearly a full day before it finally subsided, and under the intense heat, cracks had begun to appear on the city walls. Upon learning of the situation, Liu Chengyou dispatched several thousand men, each carrying wooden buckets and containers, to fetch cold water and pour it over the walls, while also using catapults to hurl massive stones against the fortifications—and so the inner city collapsed.

However, as residual heat remained high, they merely kept a tight watch, with elite troops arrayed in formation, standing ready in strict preparedness, making preparations to strike. This great blaze had achieved the effect of breaching the city and burning the defending troops, but achieving total annihilation was still difficult.

Though the inner city was small, there were always places the flames could not reach. In the central area, Yelu Talie led his men in hastily clearing an open space, where several thousand people huddled together in fear.

While the surrounding area was being consumed by fire, this patch of ground was like an isolated island. In the struggle for the right to survive, the Liao army even broke into internal strife. By the time the assault and defense had reached this stage, having endured countless cruelties and torments, Yelu Talie had for the first time lost control of his army—had it not been for the tight protection of his trusted subordinates, he might well have perished amidst the chaos of his own men.

It was not until dawn of the second day that the Han army finally fought their way into the city. Even after a night of cooling, the residual warmth could still be felt within the inner city. As they pushed deeper, sweat involuntarily dripped down the foreheads of the officers and soldiers—one could well imagine what kind of scene the Liao troops in the city were facing.

Against the Han army's assault, the remaining Liao troops offered virtually no resistance. The moment they caught sight of the Han soldiers, they threw down their weapons and surrendered one after another. Covered in dust and grime, terrified and hopeless, parched and thirsty, their only plea was to be led out of the city, desperate to escape this human hell on earth.

Of course, among the Liao troops begging to surrender, there were still a few who stood out from the crowd—about seven hundred or so. Under the leadership of the Great King of the Southern Division, Yelu Talie, they put up a stubborn last-ditch resistance. To this, the Han army had nothing more to say and simply moved to wipe them out.

At the end of their rope, putting up a desperate fight served no purpose other than adding a few more casualties to the Han army's toll. The first to enter the city for mopping-up operations was the Baoning Army led by Zhe Deyi, and the commanders generally showed him considerable respect.

Facing the resistance of the remnant enemy, Zhe Deyi also offered them great respect—namely, by showing no mercy whatsoever, ordering them to be slaughtered to the last man. Yelu Talie, nearly sixty years old, was not skilled at close combat, yet he still personally took up his blade to supervise the battle, though his heart was filled with despondency. The flashing of blades and swords could hardly disturb his state of mind. For the sake of the Great Liao, he had truly given his all, sparing no effort until death.

Unfortunately, all his schemes could not ultimately withstand the crushing weight of absolute power. The external enemy was this formidable, and internally things were still unsettled. To die on the battlefield could be considered dying a worthy death.

In the end, after being struck by a stray arrow, Yelu Talie slit his own throat with his hengdao saber, unwilling to suffer the humiliation of capture. Clearly, after years of Sinicization, Han culture had already exerted an irreversible influence on the values of the Khitan ruling class—this was a change wrought by subtle, gradual transformation.

Even at the moment of death, he was still worrying about how the situation at home was faring, how the suppression of the rebellion was progressing. As his life ebbed away, all he could do was hope that the lone eagle circling in the sky above would carry his blessings to the Liao emperor.

For Yelu Talie, what was perhaps most regrettable was that the boast he had made before Yelu Jing could never be fulfilled. Killing forty thousand Han soldiers—even counting the wounded—would not have reached even half of that target.

The final battle ended very quickly. Under the slaughtering blades of the Baoning Army's officers and soldiers, the stubborn resistance only added a bit more bloodshed to the city of Yunzhong. And there were also more than two hundred additional prisoners taken.

Stepping forward over the bloodstains, standing before Yelu Talie's corpse, Zhe Deyi asked: "So this is that Yelu Talie?"

A captive being held under guard immediately answered in halting Chinese: "Reporting to the General, it is indeed the Great King of the Southern Division!"

Though spoken with a heavy regional accent, it was indeed Chinese. Having spent years garrisoning the northern frontier and dealing with the Hu barbarians, Zhe Deyi understood it well. In fact, a glance at his armor and ornaments made his identity clear enough.

Zhe Deyi snorted twice, and said with contempt: "What Great King of the Southern Division? Nothing but a bandit chieftain!"

Yet after sizing up Yelu Talie's corpse a few times, the contemptuous expression on his face receded. He nodded toward the body as a gesture of respect, then decisively drew the war saber from his waist—a flash of light, and blood splattered three feet.

A trusted officer eagerly wrapped up Yelu Talie's head. An elated smile spread across Zhe Deyi's aged face as he said to the Baoning Army officers and soldiers around him: "Continue searching the entire city, see if any fish have slipped through the net. Today we have taken the bandit chieftain's head—you lads have fought with great vigor, letting this old man keep his face before the Son of Heaven and the commanders. I will certainly petition His Majesty for merits on your behalf and secure rewards and honors..."

These words brought beaming smiles to the faces of his subordinates, all wearing relaxed expressions. With the death of Yelu Talie, the city of Yunzhong was completely taken, which meant that this northern expedition had achieved its objectives and the war was essentially over.

According to established practice, when a war ended, aside from escaping the perilous battlefield and gaining rest, there was the matter of rewarding merits according to contributions. For the Han army's officers and soldiers, risking their lives in combat could only be repaid with the most tangible things—honors, salaries, and benefits—and in this regard, the court had always handled matters very properly and thoroughly.

As news of victory spread, cries of jubilation began to emanate from within the city and spread outward. Great numbers of officers and soldiers raised their weapons high, shouting in unison for victory. The battle for Yunzhong had been fought cleanly and decisively, but that did not conceal the nature of its bitter struggle—the Han army's casualties and losses were by no means small. Now that the city had fallen and success was achieved, the pent-up emotions naturally burst forth.

Even more relieved were the civilian laborers accompanying the army. They were the lowest-ranked group on the battlefield, doing the bitter, dirty, and exhausting work, and amid the bloody storms, their safety was the least guaranteed.

Thus, the end of the war was for them like surviving a tribulation and gaining a second life. The dead would receive compensation for their families, the living would receive rewards, and most could return to their hometowns—perhaps even in time to hastily plant some grain...

Upon learning that the inner city had been successfully taken, Liu Chengyou remained quite calm in the main camp, only instructing the commanders to handle the aftermath properly. He himself was studying a military map intently, carefully deliberating and pondering.

With Yunzhou taken, the Great Han's defensive depth in the north had been greatly expanded. Relying on the terrain and natural features, a more trustworthy defense system that cost less could be constructed at leisure. How to arrange it was something he needed to conceive first.

At the same time, how to conclude matters next, the status arrangements for the various prefectures of Yun and Shuo, who would serve as the civil and military chiefs of this region—all such matters were under Liu Chengyou's consideration.

Zhe Deyi returned to camp and requested an audience, and Liu Chengyou immediately summoned him in.

"Your Majesty!" The old father-in-law entered the tent with laughter, carrying a blood-wrapped bundle in his hand, presenting it: "This is that Yelu Talie's head. Your servant has not broken his promise—I present it here in offering!"

Zhang Dejun received it on his behalf, carefully opened it, and displayed it to Liu Chengyou. After a brief glance, Liu Chengyou naturally did not stint on praise for Zhe Deyi. However, after a moment's thought, he said: "I have heard that this Yelu Talie was steady and wise, fair in rewards and punishments, and quite popular with the people. During his tenure, he equalized taxes and corvée, encouraged farming and sericulture, and the people of Yun and Shuo benefited greatly from him. Though he was an enemy chieftain, he is nonetheless worthy of respect. Since the man is already dead, there is no need to subject him to further humiliation. Have someone gather up his remains and give him a lavish burial!"

"Yes!"

In truth, while Liu Chengyou did hold a measure of respect for Yelu Talie, he did not value him all that highly. The reason for treating him with courtesy was also partly to soothe the hearts of the people.

This Yelu Talie had been in charge of Liao's southern affairs for eight years and had accomplished much, enjoying high prestige in the eyes of both Hu and Han commoners. At the same time, the Han people of Yun and Shuo had suffered grievously from the ravages of war during this northern expedition, enduring great calamity. Now that they had returned to Han rule, they could not help but feel fear.

After all, they had been obedient subjects of the Khitan for a full twenty years. If the Han emperor could treat even a stubborn chieftain with leniency and a ceremonial burial, then how much more so for these common folk? On the other hand, as the emperor of the Great Han, he truly had no need to make any display of his authority over the man's corpse.