Chapter 96

"Wah wah wah~~~"

The messenger who escaped from Jiankang City, having exhausted several horses to death along the way, finally arrived at Hui Ji Commandery and threw himself before the Xie brothers, sobbing loudly.

"Shut up!!"

Xie Yi flew into a great rage and kicked out with one foot, "What earth-shattering event has happened exactly? Speak it out!"

To the side, Xie An also had a black face, clenching his fists.

It was very obvious, something major had happened inside Jiankang City!

"Bandit army, the bandit army has breached Jiankang City~"

The messenger, tears and snot streaming down his face, "Breaking doors and ransacking homes, killing everyone they see~ Blood flowing like pestles in the city~ Like a human purgatory~"

Amidst the choked sobs, a piece of news the Xie brothers could not accept was conveyed.

"This is impossible."

Xie An panted heavily, bending at the waist and lowering his head, "The private soldiers of the various clans in Jiankang City alone number in the tens of thousands."

"Where would bandit soldiers come from that could breach Jiankang City?"

"Absolutely impossible!"

The messenger wiped his tears, "The private soldiers of the various clans all resisted to the death."

"But the bandit soldiers were too strong."

"Every man wore three-layer heavy armor, blades and spears could not harm them, bows and crossbows could not penetrate."

"The bandit army was fierce and unafraid of death, their combat skills proficient, all were elite troops from the army."

Hearing this, Xie Yi's heart gave a violent jump.

He hurriedly stood up and stepped forward two steps, asking urgently, "How was the city wall breached? Was there a giant beast comparable to a mountain that smashed the city wall?"

The messenger froze, his gaze toward Xie Yi seeming to say, how do you know?

"As expected."

Xie Yi retreated two steps, his body going limp as he sat down on the desk.

"It's the Qihuo Army!"

"Everyone wearing heavy armor, under heaven only Grand Commander Lin has the financial resources for this."

"A city-smashing giant object comparable to a mountain, even more so only Grand Commander Lin has it."

"Absolutely no mistake, to silently reach outside Jiankang City, it must be him!"

"Why?" Xie An's legs were trembling, "Why would he do this?"

"We Jiangzuo high clans have already reached a consensus, willing to assist him in imitating Cao Wei, carrying out the matter of abdication."

"Why still come attacking from a thousand li away, breaking Jiankang City and slaughtering at will?"

Standing from Xie An's perspective, he truly could not understand.

We were all prepared to surrender, quietly waiting for us to perform the grand ceremony, present gold, silver, wealth, and women — how good would that be.

Why would you bother expending manpower, material resources, and financial resources, traveling a thousand li to fight a war.

This is simply harming others without benefiting oneself~~~

He abruptly turned his head to look at Xie Yi, "Elder Brother, where is Lingjiang?"

Xie Daoyun is that Grand Commander's pillow-side person.

With such a major event, how could she not have gotten a shred of wind?

"No."

Xie Yi shook his head, as if recalling something, and gave a miserable laugh, "She said to me back then, since I am another family's wife, I am naturally another family's person."

"This..." Xie An shook his head helplessly, "Hopefully she can give birth to a son early."

Taking a deep breath, Xie An asked the messenger, "Any news of the clan members?"

The messenger was from the Chen Commandery Xie Clan, from the household of Xie Ju, the second son of Xie Yi and his brothers' branch.

"When this slave left the city, the Patriarch and the Sixth Lord led household soldiers escorting the female dependents out of the city, unknown if they escaped."

"The Fourth Lord and Fifth Lord's households both sent people to seek aid, their family gates have been breached."

The Chen Commandery Xie Clan is a vast clan.

The current heads of the clan are Xie Yi, Xie An, and their brothers' branch.

The eldest Xie Yi and the third Xie An are both in Hui Ji Commandery at this moment.

The second Xie Ju fled, his life or death unknown now.

The fourth Xie Wan is the Attendant Gentleman of Prince of Hui Ji Sima Yu, the fifth Xie Shi is the Secretary Lang, all inside Jiankang City.

As for the sixth Xie Tie, he is young and lived with the second.

Looking at it now, the several brothers inside Jiankang City, more ill fortune than good.

This is only just their one branch.

The other various branches, offshoots, and lineages of the Chen Commandery Xie Clan, apart from those scattered outside, are mostly concentrated inside Jiankang City.

Without a doubt, the Chen Commandery Xie Clan is almost going to be struck from the rolls!

Xie An's complexion was extremely ugly.

He previously walked the path of a famous scholar, unmoved by honor or disgrace.

But now, anxious and panicked like ants on a hot pan, where is even half a trace of famous scholar bearing.

Rather, it is Xie Yi, who after passing through the initial panic, gradually calmed down.

He instructed the messenger, "You go immediately to Wudang Mountain, tell Daotong to quickly head south, go to Panyu in Nanhai Commandery."

Daotong is the courtesy name of Xie Yun, the eldest son of the second brother; he is a Daoist on Wudang Mountain.

This is to preserve the bloodline of the second brother's branch.

He then instructed Xie An, "Dispatch envoys to all places to notify the clan; all of them go to Panyu."

"Elder Brother, this is."

"I thought I could make a career in the new dynasty." Xie Yi shook his head and sighed, "Now it seems I was overthinking it."

"That Grand Commander never even considered taking us former dynasty ministers in!"

Xie An sat on the ground with a despondent look.

He had not yet truly emerged from seclusion to lead the Chen Commandery Xie Clan to greatness.

With the Qihuo Commander's sudden rise, he was to flee overseas just like that?

"Let's go." Xie Yi closed his eyes and let out a long sigh, "Being able to escape is already a stroke of luck from heaven."

Jiankang City, Jiankang Palace.

"It's already come to this, what more is there to say."

Rear General Wang Tian, brows tightly knit, eyes wide with rage: "Only a fight to the death!"

They had been besieged in the Imperial City for several days already.

The besieging Qihuo Army was not in a hurry to attack.

Instead, they first seized all key points inside and outside the city, while clearing out die-hard resisters and looters taking advantage of the chaos.

The people in the Imperial City attempted to break out several times, but were all beaten back.

At his side, Minister of Works Chi Jian shook his head and sighed, "If that's the case, then we all must die."

In recent years, the fierce figures of the various clans who crossed the river eastward back then, like Wang Dao, Wang Dun, Yu Liang, have all passed away.

Their successors like Wang Yunzhi also died early.

At this time, the one in charge of the Eastern Jin minor court was Huan Wen.

But Huan Wen was far away in Jingzhou; the future ruler Xie An had not yet entered the stage.

Inside Jiankang City, the dragons lacked a leader; the quarreling was fierce.

"The Imperial City is sturdy." Wang Tian's expression was agitated, his voice growing louder, "The various clans gathered here number over ten thousand; why can we not fight!"

After the Wang Dao and Wang Dun brothers died, the Langya Wang Clan was headed by Wang Yunzhi.

But Wang Yunzhi died early, leading to a lack of successors.

Wang Tian, though Wang Dao's son, lacked ability, causing the Langya Wang Clan's prestige to decline daily.

At this moment, the surrounding ministers also had no one to second him.

The reason is simple: if they could win, how would they have been forced to hide in the Imperial City.

"Let's talk."

Wang Shu of the Taiyuan Wang Clan voiced everyone's wish, "If we can surrender, we surrender; if not, we'll think of another way."

The great clans and royal relatives all agreed.

With a chance to live, who would be willing to die.

Now troops are at the city walls, and they are besieged in the Imperial Palace.

In this situation, still fight?

Brain-damaged, right.

Everyone unanimously recommended Minister Over the Masses Wang Shu as envoy to leave the palace and negotiate surrender terms.

In a residence outside Xihua Gate, Wang Shu met Lin Dao.

"Surrender?"

Lin Dao, sitting on a camp stool, seemed somewhat moved, "Are there any conditions?"

Hearing there was hope, Wang Shu immediately declared, "We are willing to assist the Grand Commander in the matter of abdication. Willing to serve the Grand Commander like a dog or horse~~~"

Back and forth, it's still these same rotten affairs.

As if being Emperor is the only pursuit.

As long as they can help someone become Emperor, the clan's glory can continue.

Lin Dao sighed, then curiously asked, "There's one thing I've never been able to figure out, wanted to ask you."

"Yes." Wang Shu lowered his head, "Listening respectfully."

"Your ancestor Wang Xiang, the matter of lying on ice to seek carp — is it true or false?"

At these words, Wang Shu's face immediately showed embarrassment.

From the perspective of biology and physics, lying on ice to seek carp is impossible to be true.

If it were true, Wang Xiang absolutely would not have lived to over eighty.

And from the perspective of history.

At that time there was no imperial examination system; to become an official one had to rely on recommendation.

And the condition for recommendation was reputation.

Filial piety was the simplest and most effective way to grind reputation.

Wang Shu coughed once, his words all being, "Grand Commander, Wang is of the Taiyuan Wang Clan."

"That Wang Xiang was of the Langya Wang Clan."

Though both surnamed Wang, they are not the same family.

The Taiyuan Wang Clan's ancestors also had those who entered office by grinding filial piety.

But such an exaggerated thing as lying on ice to seek carp, they certainly did not do.

That was all done by the Langya Wang Clan!

Lin Dao appeared slightly regretful.

He was truly curious about the truth of this story.

This is simply an example of breaking the limits of the human body.

Under the freezing cold of Tianhan Difu, relying on body heat to melt the ice-sealed river surface, the cold air would at least soak through the five viscera and six bowels.

In this situation, Wang Xiang actually managed to live to over eighty years old~

A miracle, an undeniable miracle of life!

"Unfortunately."

Lin Dao shook his head, returning to the subject: "The matter you spoke of, I can consider."

"However."

He shifted the topic: "I have heard that the Ying Chuan Yu Clan colluded with the Hu captives to bring disaster to one region."

"If you can punish them first, I may consider accepting the remaining families."

"You go back first, discuss it well with everyone, and then come back with a reply."

Wang Shu left with a heavy expression.

As for Lin Dao, he did not care at all.

He picked up the thick ledger beside him and carefully flipped through it.

Within Jiankang City, a large amount of wealth and supplies was concentrated.

Although there was not a little damage during wartime, the seized goods were still extremely abundant.

"Food and grain, used to comfort the hearts of the people."

"Tools and livestock, distributed to the common people for farming."

"Spices Bolí. Ai~ all bestowed as rewards."

"Fine wine and fragrant leaves. All bestowed as rewards!"

"Gold, silver, pearls, precious medicine, and timber—these are good, exchange them with the soldiers."

"The women."

Previously, to encourage military morale, Lin Dao promised that after the city was breached, the soldiers could divide half of the seized goods.

This was also unavoidable.

The soldiers had little resolve and faith; generous rewards were the reason they fought desperately.

Lin Dao certainly would not go back on his word, but exchanging supplies was no problem.

That night, fierce internal strife broke out within the Imperial City, and the sounds of slaughter echoed for half the night.

The next day after noon, Wang Shu, looking somewhat embarrassed, came before Lin Dao again as Shishi.

"The Ying Chuan Yu Clan's crimes are immense; by imperial decree, they have already been exterminated."

In Wang Shu's view, this was Lin Dao establishing his authority.

However, as long as the unlucky ones were not his own clan, it didn't matter.

"Good."

Meeting Wang Shu's expectant gaze, Lin Dao laughed heartily.

"The matter of accepting you all, I can seriously consider."

"Just~~~"

"I have heard that those accepting the Qiang Tribe are the Qiao Commandery Huan clan?"

"You should know, those Qiang are the great enemies of the Begging-for-Food Army~~~"

"If the Qiao Commandery Huan clan can be punished, then I will certainly seriously consider accepting your surrender~"

Wang Shu glared with wide eyes, suddenly stood up and overturned the table before him.

"Great Commander, why are you toying with us?!"

"We wish to surrender, yet it cannot be obtained?!"

End of Chapter