Chapter 860: Entering the City

Zhang Haoran could never have imagined that the Liang Army would be this strong!

Moreover, the Supreme Divine Thunder is extremely well-suited for sieges.

This caused the original plan to collapse in an instant; the Liang Army only needs a few days to break any city, and their reputation for being skilled at sieges has shocked the world!

Today, only the final Daque Prefecture remains in the entire Xuzhou.

And the Liang Army has not decreased, but increased—there are still eighty thousand of them!

Although all the heads of the secret agents and spies were shouting that it was impossible, claiming there were no reinforcements from the south, appearing as if they were mad or suffering from hysteria, Zhang Haoran had already deemed them incompetent and had just executed one of them.

After all, if it wasn't reinforcements from the south, could it be that Xulingzi conjured them out of thin air?

Zhang Haoran had indeed ordered people to spread rumors that Xulingzi was a demonic Daoist who loved eating the hearts of infants and killed people to refine corpses into soldiers, but such rumors had no great effect.

Those cities that should surrender will surrender; after all, not surrendering means death!

Now, abandoned by his followers and kin, miserable and desolate, Zhang Haoran felt like weeping bitterly.

Lu Xiaoyi performed a salute first, then said: "I beg the teacher to be merciful and grant us a way to survive..."

"Good, good... Today is a double celebration; Zhan Da and the other generals have finally pacified the southern rebellion, although Hei Er unfortunately died in battle..."

The main army entered the city and proceeded all the way to the prefectural government office.

"So that is why the teacher mobilized the entire prefecture, wanting to break the momentum of the Liang King's rise?" Zhang Jushi realized.

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, upon hearing that the city had fallen, Zhang Haoran drank poisoned wine and died..." Lu Xiaoyi bowed and said: "Then, unruly commoners caused chaos, rushing into the Zhang residence to plunder wealth and women, killing many... It was with great difficulty that we suppressed them, but the Zhang Family has been almost completely wiped out."

He also roughly understood.

The one Zhang Haoran values most now is still his Disciple, Lu Xiaoyi.

"Of course, I am not some murderous demon; I naturally will not lay a hand on those who have rendered meritorious service..."

Although he has high hopes for Zhang Jushi, the boy is still young after all, and is only a closing-door disciple.

At a time like this, when one carries the might of a great victory and can kill at will, if one does not push through difficult decrees, should one wait until a peaceful time in the future?

Machiavelli said in *The Prince*—"Injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that they may be better relished."

"Good, this old man was truly blind back then, not seeing that you had this kind of character in you..."

Tang Xun let out a cold snort, and the personal guards around him had already drawn their swords.

Suddenly, he looked at the sky again and shook his head: "The Heavenly Mandate of the Great Song is completely severed; the future ownership of the Divine Land lies between the Jin and the Liang."

But before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Zhang Haoran: "I want you to preserve your useful body and defect to the Great Liang... Even if you cannot study the Four Books and Five Classics, you must endure it!"

Zhang Haoran sneered several times, then said: "Bring wine!"

Zhang Haoran smiled bitterly: "What terrifies me even more as a teacher is... that set of methods from the south can actually govern a country, and govern it very well... But if it succeeds, where does that leave our Confucian teachings?"

Furthermore, one of the Hu cavalry generals charged the camp alone and captured and killed the Kang King!

"Our Confucian teachings can stand firm because of the word 'loyalty'. You must remember: be loyal to the Liang King. Even if the Liang King tells you to die, you must be willing and go to the underworld with a smile!" Zhang Haoran said: "Daoists are selfish; how can they have the backbone of us scholars? The Liang King is young now, but he will surely understand in the future!"

And Zhang Jushi widened his eyes.

Looking at the white flag hanging above the prefectural city, even Aaron felt it was a bit dramatic.

A Daoist temple.

Not long after, the Kang King's army collapsed.

"Not just the teacher, but the entire Zhang Family... As a student, I intend to serve the Liang King in the future, so I must present a gift upon our first meeting."

"Teacher, this disciple will definitely follow the Liang thief..." The youth's face turned flushed.

Zhang Haoran sighed in admiration.

"The Kang King inherited the remaining aura of the Great Song; this battle can only be won, not lost. Once lost, there will be no chance left at all."

Zhang Haoran said.

Zhang Haoran ordered someone to send out letters, then came to the backyard, outside a study.

Aaron said calmly, as if he did not feel much sorrow: "There is just one thing... there were great battles in the north before; the Jin King led his troops south, wanting to occupy the entire Zhongyuan, and is currently in a great battle with the Kang King."

For the local gentry of this city, although their relatives and friends might have died at the hands of the Liang Army, if they did not surrender, their entire families would die!

Weighing the options, they could only kneel!

The old Daoist sighed: "This person... is truly an anomaly!"

Lu Xiaoyi's expression changed slightly: "This is Zhang Haoran's closing-door disciple, and also a distant relative—Zhang Jushi."

Of course, Xuzhou has just been pacified, and there might still be some chaos.

However, what Aaron likes most is chaos; does anyone really think the blades of the Six Jia Divine Soldiers are not sharp?

The Zhang Family is a thousand-year-old aristocratic clan, and Zhang Haoran's residence is top-tier in luxury; although it might not look like it on the surface, any random ornament or hanging decoration might have been painstakingly crafted by some master artisan.

Yet he never expected that it would be the other party who led the troops to break into his own residence.

"So that's how it is, I understand!" Zhang Jushi nodded.

"Teacher?"

Aaron saw it and asked casually.

"Loyalty?"

"Good... Jushi, if this essay of yours were written in ordinary times, this old man would certainly find a pot of good wine to enjoy while reading it slowly; it would be enough to drink by."

Lu Xiaoyi did not hesitate and performed another grand salute, which made Tang Xun secretly feel disdain.

"You... you are actually planning to kill your teacher?" Zhang Haoran's fingers trembled, and Zhang Jushi, hiding in the secret room, could not help but cover his mouth.

"Send these letters to the north and deliver them according to the addresses on them."

As soon as these words were spoken, the people below all looked as if their parents had died.

But Aaron couldn't be bothered with these things.

Just at this moment, a commotion suddenly broke out ahead.

Zhang Haoran stamped his feet and sighed: "What a pity, what a pity..."

The northern plains.

"Yes..."

"Someone, come here!"

This gentle expression made Zhang Jushi's hair stand on end.

"No!"

The youth raised his head, his eyes pitch-black: "Where righteousness leads, I shall go, even if there are thousands upon thousands!"

"Daque Prefecture has actually surrendered?"

Just then, another young man was seen holding a straw mat, wrapping up a corpse.

An old Taoist was boiling tea and said slowly: "King Kang actually had an extraordinary destiny, the fate of an emperor, and his subordinates Yue Ming and Niu Yaojin were also top-tier generals... Alas, they lacked the advantage of the terrain! The Grandmaster of the Chongming Tao planned and laid out the layout meticulously, yet in the end, it fell apart like this. This Heavenly Intent is truly terrifying! Fortunately, we did not enter the game, otherwise, it would have been miserable!"

There have been many changes of dynasties, but no one dared to lay a hand on the Zhang Family; instead, they had to acknowledge the titles and land granted by the previous dynasty and even bestow additional rewards to appease them.

Zhang Haoran was incredulous, then looked at a scholar stepping inside and said coldly: "I am truly blind; I never expected that it would be you, my Disciple, who betrayed me first!"

Aaron deliberately frowned and asked a question.

Zhang Jushi widened his eyes; was this still the teacher who always kept "starving is a small matter, losing one's integrity is a great matter" on his lips?

"The Liang Army is brutal; our Zhang Family may be in danger of being overturned!"

King Kang was also a member of the Great Song imperial clan; he was not in Jingshi before, so he escaped a disaster and could be said to have inherited the orthodoxy of the Great Song.

"Forget it, forget it... I will spare your life."

Lu Xiaoyi said indifferently, then ordered the soldiers beside him to bring white silk and poison...

Lu Xiaoyi led the officials to kneel and welcome him: "The sinner pays respects to the Prime Minister; may the Prime Minister be blessed with ten thousand fortunes and peace!"

"What?"

In the end, a steward of the Zhang Family had one hand severed and was kicked inside: "Master... something terrible has happened... Lu Xiaoyi has rebelled! He has also gathered the wealthy families in the city and led troops to surround our mansion!"

Aaron smiled: "Anyway... in the future, the tax collectors will naturally teach them how to be human again!"

"The student shall personally see the teacher off."

Lu Xiaoyi personally held the pot, poured wine for Zhang Haoran, and watched the other party drink it all in one gulp.

"Let's not talk about this anymore; let the main army enter the city."

Over a hundred thousand troops were fiercely slaughtering each other.

Chirp!

Just at this moment, a falcon descended from the sky and landed on the arm of a personal guard nearby.

"You were able to kill Zhang Haoran; you have merit, not fault."

Looking at the handsome and elegant youth, he felt even more affection in his heart, but at this moment, he could only grit his teeth: "Jushi, kneel down!"

Aaron looked at the other officials again: "It just so happens... Xuzhou has just been taken, and I must immediately promulgate the decrees of the Liang King... impose religious taxes, commercial taxes, and immediately begin the Land Measurement!"

Aaron waved his hand, suddenly feeling a bit dispirited.

This Zhang Jushi was quick-witted, had a photographic memory, and possessed the talent to draw inferences about other cases from one instance.

"Since that is the case, distribute all the Land Deeds of the Zhang Family to their tenant farmers; it can be considered a final act of benevolence."

"Why are there so many dead people?"

Tang Xun's face still retained the shock from just receiving the letter of surrender: "It is said that the Lu Family took the lead in the uprising, united with the wealthy families in the city, and attacked and destroyed the Zhang Family together, only begging our army to show mercy..."

But at this moment, Zhang Haoran no longer had any mind for appreciation and wrote several letters in succession at his desk.

This is, of course, different.

Aaron laughed: "I see you are a talent worth molding; are you willing to join my Supreme Tao and study the Scientific Dao Method together? You must know that in the future, selecting officials and clerks in Xuzhou will require passing the public examinations, and the questions will all come from the Scientific Dao."

"Audacious!"

At that time, I will see who jumps out, and I will cut them down.

This is actually the difference between killing with a sharp knife and cutting flesh with a slow knife.

"You all? The wealthy families in the mansion have all defected?" Zhang Haoran sneered: "Many of their relatives died under the butcher's knife of the Liang Army! And you call yourselves scholars!"

Zhang Haoran had always regarded him as his mantle-inheriting Disciple and even believed that this person would be the one to revive the Zhang Family.

One side was King Kang, mostly with infantry, and the other side was the Jin King, bringing tens of thousands of cavalry.

"Now that the main army is surrounding the city, the fate of our Zhang Family is uncertain..."

But the dog-butcher types would do it once their blood boiled.

"Zhang Jushi pays respects to the Prime Minister."

Aaron laughed and disposed of the matter casually, making the group of landlords following him feel cold in their hearts.

"The Lu Family is where Zhang Haoran's Disciple's family is, and they actually did this..." Tang Xun smacked his lips: "When scholars get ruthless, it is truly terrifying..."

His brush moved like a dragon or snake, and in a moment, an article was written; Zhang Haoran only had to look at it to feel that the whole piece was like clouds and mist, with an endless aftertaste.

"Who is this person?"

Lu Xiaoyi said softly.

"Jushi, with this article, your skill has reached maturity; if the Great Song were still here, passing the exam to become a Presented Scholar would be as easy as turning over one's hand..."

The personal guard hurriedly untied the intelligence report and handed it to Aaron to read.

"What is going on?"

"Yes, I truly do not understand military affairs, which led to repeated defeats, and now there is no need to say more... but you, you shoulder the heavy responsibility of reviving our school of thought!" Zhang Haoran said: "Since Xuzhou has been taken, the Liang King has gained a foothold in the north; the Jin King and King Kang may not be able to compete with him, so it is very likely that the Liang King will win the world! You must remember, once you go to the Liang State, you must be loyal!"

The group of people toured the city boisterously and then arrived near Zhang Haoran's mansion.

"The student is willing to learn, greetings to the Dao Lord!"

Aaron quickly cast a hexagram in his heart and ordered: "At long last, Xuzhou is pacified within this year; how joyous, how joyous."

Unfortunately, in the end, it still failed.

A Female Daoist beside him, with peach-blossom cheeks and almond eyes, merely smiled upon hearing this: "This time, the Contending for the Dragon in the world... those who entered the game all ended miserably. Not to mention the north, the Five Evenings Sect and Long Gold Temple in the south... didn't they all suffer losses?"

"You don't understand... that Xulingzi is different; he is a monster! He even cleaned up the Taoism sect he originated from, so how could he be soft-hearted toward Fan Ming?"

He did not believe it.

As Zhang Haoran spoke, his insides burned like fire.

"Teacher!"

Zhang Haoran's expression changed; he suddenly grabbed Zhang Jushi, hid him in a secret compartment nearby, and then sat calmly, awaiting the final judgment.

"Teacher... the Prime Minister of Great Liang has hated you for a long time; I beg you, Teacher, to set off on your journey quickly."

The youth writing the essay was a kinsman of his, intelligent in his youth, who had been taken in as a student and was named Zhang Jushi.

Zhang Jushi seemed to understand something.

Furthermore, after the imperial family was captured, he gained the support of the northern populace, and a large number of soldiers and Civil Officials flocked to him, raising a force of tens of thousands in a short time.

In any case, there was ultimately not much difference!

The heartless are mostly scholars!

Because the more books one reads, the more one knows, and the more one experiences, the more one likes to think things over when encountering matters, and then seek advantages and avoid harm.

The youth stood up, dressed in plain white, as elegant as an orchid or a jade tree, and performed a salute.

He descended the city wall and returned to the mansion.

In the study, a youth wearing a moon-white long robe, with an appearance as refined as jade, was holding a brush and writing.

The sounds of shouting and killing gradually drew closer.

He turned around, ignoring his teacher who was twisting in pain on the ground, and said to someone nearby: "You may send the signal outside; we await the arrival of the King's army to enter the city!"

Another group consisted of light cavalry who could shoot from horseback; they did not engage the Song soldiers directly at all, but fired a round of arrows and then veered far away, only to approach again and fire another round—much like a pack of wolves hunting, or a kite tactic.

"You dare to collect the remains of a sinner; are you not afraid of my military law?" Aaron laughed heartily and suddenly asked.

"Xulingzi has great ambition; he wishes to overthrow the Three Teachings and establish the Scientific Dao, placing it above our Three Teachings!"

Faintly, it seemed as if the sound of weapons clashing could be heard!

At this moment, the cavalry divided into two groups; one group equipped with heavy armor suddenly began a charge, resembling Psionic Tanks, crashing through everything.

Unfortunately, the south has already been occupied by the Liang King, blocking the Kang King in the north. Unless this person can quickly defeat the Jin King, there might still be a chance to contend with the south, but the hope is slim...

Zhang Jushi was startled, then immediately knelt before the portrait of the Sage: "Teacher, please give your instructions..."

"Master!"

"What about the Chongming Dao then?" the Female Daoist suddenly asked.

"As for the Chongming Dao, the various Disciples and Perfected Ones all suffered Backlash and died the moment the Jin King breached Jingshi, and their mountain gate and blessed land have also turned into an evil place... tragic, too tragic to look at!"

(End of this chapter)