0p0 Chapter 244 Yue Peng Disguised as Song Army Soldiers Occupies Hebi City
Chapter 244 Yue Peng Disguised as Song Army Soldiers Occupies Hebi City
Luo Mingkui, once a formidable Song general clad in heavy armor, now lay stripped of all defenses, bound hand and foot by Li's soldiers, kneeling on the dust. His posture was a stark contrast to his former arrogance. Li Zhen stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping over his defeated opponent, a playful smile creeping onto his lips.
"I suppose it was that brat Zhao Gou who sent you? He still can't forget my old father-in-law. It's ridiculous. The old man faked his death and went into seclusion to live in peace, but my brother-in-law is still so suspicious and won't let it go."
Li Zhen's words carried a hint of contempt and helplessness, as if he were mocking the endless power struggles and human suspicion in this world.
Luo Mingkui, with his neck stiff, shouted loudly, "Shameless scoundrel! Now that I have been defeated, you may kill me or torture me as you please, but do not humiliate me again."
Li Zhen ignored Luo Mingkui, who was still shouting loudly. His gaze shifted to Yue Peng, and his tone was decisive and unquestionable: "While the Song army has just suffered a defeat and the news of the defeat has not yet reached Hebi, you must immediately lead an elite force, disguised as Song soldiers, and quickly retake Hebi City."
As for Luo Mingkui and the captured Song soldiers under his command, Li Zhen already had a plan in mind. Currently, his power was at its zenith, and he urgently needed to expand his manpower. Even those stubborn individuals who were determined not to submit had ways to deal with him—he would send them to iron and copper mines, letting them wear down their spirits through forced labor. In short, in this chaotic world, resources were precious and could not be wasted in the slightest, much less allow idlers to freeload.
Tangyin City, once a prosperous and bustling place, has been ravaged by war and is now a scene of devastation. The city, which had been painstakingly built up over the years, has been reduced to ruins almost overnight. This sight caused Li Zhen immense pain and made him unable to contain himself.
Li Zhen said in a deep voice, "Not good. Quickly send people to appease the people in the city. All those who have been injured or killed in this battle shall be given compensation in accordance with the precedent set by the Li family army, to comfort the souls of the dead and soothe the pain. As for those whose houses were burned down and whose homes were destroyed, they shall rebuild their homes on the original site so that the people can return home and regain hope for life."
Just as Li Zhen was devoting himself to healing the wounds of the people in Tangyin City and rekindling the flames of hope on the ruins, outside the north gate of Hebi, a troop of Song soldiers, their armor disheveled, slowly made their way towards the city gate. The Song soldiers guarding the gate, seeing this scene, already knew in their hearts that the battlefield ahead was surely engulfed in flames, and defeat was inevitable.
A burly Song general with a resolute face looked up at the city gate, his voice tinged with weariness and urgency: "Open the gate quickly! We have just returned from the front lines, having narrowly escaped death in Tangyin. We urgently need to enter the city to rest and prepare for the next battle."
The Song soldiers standing atop the towering city walls lowered their eyes and carefully surveyed the area below. They were certain that the approaching troops were indeed their own men. Their clothing, their demeanor, and even the unique blend of nonchalance and resilience they exuded all bore the distinct mark of the Song army.
With a heavy creaking sound, the north gate of Hebi slowly opened inward, as if the floodgates of history had been gently pushed open, welcoming the group of Song soldiers, whose clothes were slightly disheveled and whose armor was in disarray, into the embrace of this ancient city.
The Song soldier who had previously stood atop the city wall, his voice tinged with wariness and inquiry, had now stepped to the side of the city gate. His eyes, filled with curiosity and scrutiny, asked the general who had just entered the gate, "May I ask this general? Your face is quite unfamiliar. Are you new here? Where is our General Luo? Why didn't we see him return with us?"
Yue Peng, disguised as a Song army general, with a sly smile on his face, strolled up to a Song soldier and said in a feignedly friendly manner, "We're the vanguard, and there's a large force behind us. Since you're so eager to see General Luo, I'll do you a favor and personally escort you."
Before he could finish speaking, a sharp dagger in his hand plunged into the Song soldier's chest. Blood gushed out like a released spring, staining his clothes crimson. The Song soldier stared in astonishment at the fatal blow, his eyes filled with confusion and resentment. He struggled to speak, but his eyelids grew heavy and eventually closed slowly, and all fell silent.
Seeing this, Yue Peng shouted loudly, "Go! Signal the brothers behind you, be quick, don't delay the important matter!"
The Song army, which had been listless just moments before, seemed to be awakened by some mysterious force and instantly rejuvenated. They gripped their weapons tightly and surged towards the walls of Hebi like a tide, quickly taking control of the north gate.
Several Song soldiers who attempted to escape into the city to spread the news were mercilessly shot down by a hail of bullets as soon as they took a few steps, their figures disappearing into the dust and smoke.
Just then, a dazzling signal flare streaked across the sky, like the most brilliant shooting star in the night, foreshadowing the approaching storm. Immediately afterward, a dozen trucks roared in, kicking up clouds of dust, and charged in like wild horses. In no time, they had rushed into the city, raising dust storms.
As Li's army soldiers poured in like tigers descending a mountain, the Song army's camps inside the city were suddenly filled with gunfire, sounding like thunder.
One of Luo Mingjing's lieutenants was currently indulging in the most luxurious brothel in Hebi City, enjoying a moment of decadent pleasure. However, this tranquility was abruptly shattered by a sudden commotion—the chaotic footsteps and gunshots mingled together on the street, like a sudden clap of thunder in the night.
The lieutenant's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood everything before him: the city had fallen. The deafening, clanging sounds were not something that could be produced by the crude weapons of the Song army; it was the announcement that the enemy's iron hooves had trampled into the city.
Just as the adjutant was hurriedly putting on his clothes, the door was suddenly opened from the outside, and a Song soldier said in a panic, "General, it's bad! The Li family army has entered the city, and now the north and west gates are under their control."
The belt, which would normally be easily tightened in a moment, now seemed to be deliberately defying him, refusing to obey his fingertips. Finally, the lieutenant decided to go all in, neatly tying a tight knot around his waist, and with a hint of helplessness and nonchalance, strode straight out the door.
Just then, a troop of Song cavalry swept in like a whirlwind. Leading them was the commander of the deputy general's personal guard, a dashing figure with an imposing aura. The deputy general, disregarding everything in his tent, leaped onto a magnificent warhorse and galloped anxiously toward the south gate of Hebi.
He knew full well that the Li family army was exceptionally powerful and not to be underestimated. Their entry into the city was undoubtedly a barometer of the situation at the front—General Luo was probably in grave danger. With this in mind, the deputy general secretly decided that preserving his own life was the most important thing. So, he spurred his horse and rode off into the distance, leaving only a series of rapid hoofbeats echoing in the empty military camp.