Chapter 230: I Will Show You Despair (4)
With Wanyan Hui and the Five Dragon Generals dead, the Hui army had no way to hold their ground.
The Allied commanders, left without opponents, were like fish in water.
“Slaughter them all!”
“Let none escape!”
Their morale shattered, the enemy soldiers could do nothing but flee.
Had Division Commander Ma Xu not issued the retreat order in time, they might have been wiped out entirely.
Above all, the cavalry of So was their greatest headache. Although they numbered only two thousand, they inflicted the heaviest casualties.
To the fleeing enemy, the cavalry pursuing them at great speed was a source of terror.
“Whew. This is driving me mad.”
Fleeing at the very front, Ma Xu was in agony.
His force had numbered over thirty thousand when they began their retreat. Yet, the force that reached the gates of Luoyang Fortress was barely five thousand.
His deputy rode up beside him, maintaining his speed.
“Luoyang Fortress is in sight, General! We are saved.”
“Is our survival the issue now? Things have gone terribly wrong due to the Grand General’s stubbornness.”
For a man who had spent his life on the battlefield, it was a humiliating defeat. He wished he could simply die.
“What do you plan to do now?” asked his deputy, Yan Jiang, a loyal officer.
“If we shut the gates and hold out, His Majesty will bring reinforcements.”
“Will His Majesty move in person?”
Nodding, Ma Xu looked at the approaching walls of Luoyang.
“It has been ten days since I sent the messenger, so he might have already set out. We must enter first and devise a plan.”
He had no time to think deeply.
Upon reaching their destination, Yan Jiang rode to the front and shouted to the walls, “What are you doing? Open the gates immediately!”
But Ma Xu’s expression stiffened. He saw no defenders on the walls.
“Come back, Yan Jiang!”
Standing in front of the gate, Yan Jiang turned around in confusion.
With the Allied army pursuing them, they had no time, and he couldn’t understand the command.
Soon, the gates began to open with a loud screech.
Screeech—!
Yan Jiang called out to Ma Xu with a bright face, “Do not worry, General! Let us enter…”
He could not finish his sentence.
Something flashed from the gap in the gates, grazing past him.
Slash—!
With a dull sound, Yan Jiang’s head flew into the air. It was a clean, perfect strike that left no room for defense.
Unbelievably, the attacker was dressed in the armor of So.
“I am Admiral Ze Yun of So. Judging by your appearance, you must be Ma Xu.”
Ma Xu stood in shock.
Behind Ze Yun, the elders of the Martial Alliance emerged one by one. They were the pillars of the righteous Murim.
Over half of the ten greatest masters of the Murim were present.
Behind the wide-open gates, the imperial soldiers and Martial Alliance warriors stood ready to charge. Archers also appeared on the walls, aiming their bows.
Recovering his composure, Ma Xu gripped his sword, his face tightening.
“So it was a diversion. Having lost on all fronts, I must accept defeat. But I will not die quietly.”
“So you choose a futile resistance.”
Behind Ma Xu were the defeated soldiers who had fled all the way here. Consumed by despair, they heard Ma Xu’s final command.
“Raise your weapons! Die honorably as soldiers of the Hui!”
But the soldiers cried out in anger. Who could face death calmly?
A few soldiers, their minds pushed to the brink, shouted back.
“You bastard! We were conscripted and dragged here! What honor is there in this?”
“Do you think we ran all this way just to die a dog’s death?”
“You piece of garbage!”
Ma Xu’s brows furrowed. He had never imagined that the low-ranking soldiers, who wouldn’t even dare meet his gaze, would rebel in this manner.
Just then, the ground vibrated, and a deep voice echoed.
“Throw down your weapons. Those who surrender today will not die.”
It was So-mu, the Allied commander.
Unbelievably, he was walking among the Hui soldiers. He strolled casually with his hands behind his back. The soldiers, overwhelmed by his aura, stood in confusion.
A few soldiers approached him, pleading.
“Is… is that true?”
“Will you truly spare us?”
With Luoyang Fortress in front and the Allied army behind, they were surrounded.
The five thousand defeated soldiers clung to this final hope.
So-mu nodded, walking slowly toward Ma Xu. The soldiers quickly stepped aside to clear a path.
“Those who surrender will undergo interrogation, and their fates will be decided individually.”
So-mu spoke honestly.
If he wished, wiping out these soldiers would be trivial. The defeated soldiers knew this well.
Clatter—!
Someone threw his sword down.
“Isn’t saving our lives the priority?”
“I cannot die here; my mother is waiting at home!”
That was the trigger. The soldiers threw down their weapons one after another.
Clatter—!
Soon, So-mu stopped in front of Ma Xu.
“Your men have surrendered. What of you?”
Ma Xu gripped his sword, refusing firmly.
“I have no desire to live in disgrace.”
“I see.”
So-mu did not urge him further. He merely turned his gaze to the right.
There stood Il-gwang, covered in the blood of his enemies, stretching his neck as he approached.
“Thank you. For not surrendering.”
“…”
Il-gwang had been waiting for this moment.
Exchanging glances, So-mu nodded and walked toward the gates. As he passed Ma Xu, he murmured quietly.
“May you rest in peace.”
Ma Xu, who was a strategist rather than a warrior, was no match for Il-gwang. Thus, there was no need to watch the outcome.
Soon, the sound of clashing weapons echoed behind him. By then, So-mu had met Admiral Ze Yun and the elders of the Martial Alliance.
“Good job, Admiral Ze Yun.”
Ze Yun bowed and said quietly, “Since the garrison was small, it was not difficult.”
Nodding, So-mu looked at the elders of the Martial Alliance standing behind him. Without their help, this strategy would not have succeeded.
He offered a fist salute to Abbot Zheng Ming, the leader of the Martial Alliance.
“The state of So will not forget the Martial Alliance’s help. Thank you.”
“We merely did what was necessary. To repel the foreign invaders, we must all join hands. If you need our help, we will cooperate at any time.”
Although his words were noble, So-mu didn’t take them at face value.
Had the Martial Alliance not stood aside throughout the war? This was their first official participation. It was only possible because the interests of the military and the Murim aligned.
However, he did not voice his thoughts.
“I hope our cooperative relationship continues. What does the Martial Alliance plan to do now?”
Zheng Ming clasped his hands in prayer, looking regretful.
“Amitabha. Many of our members have been injured. Since they need time to recover, we plan to remain here for the time being to regroup.”
Since the Po army and the volunteer army would return home soon after achieving their objective, having the Martial Alliance garrison here was welcome.
“That is well. Let us head inside.”
The Allied commanders and the Martial Alliance elders followed So-mu into the fortress.
Everyone wore bright expressions.
Capturing Luoyang Fortress with minimal casualties was a miraculous achievement.
General Jin Guang of Po asked in confusion, “Aren’t you pleased? Why is your expression so dark, General?”
“I expected it, but it is worse than I thought.”
Luoyang. Although it had been a capital city for many dynasties, no trace of its former glory remained.
Only starving residents lined the streets, staring blankly.
Traces of their lives as slaves under harsh exploitation were visible everywhere.
Although So-mu had witnessed it when he visited for reconnaissance in the past, the situation had grown even worse.
So-mu sighed, turning to look back.
The Allied soldiers were entering the city, followed by the supply wagons. Since the battle had ended early, they had not even consumed half of their grain.
“The relief squad and supplies from Chang’an will arrive soon. Distribute the grain to the people immediately!”
“Yes, General!”
He intended to distribute the military grain to ease the residents’ hunger.
Realizing this, the residents’ faces filled with joy. Only now did they realize that the ruler of the city had changed.
They held hands in delight.
“We are finally free!”
“We are now citizens of the state of So!”
“Woahhh!!!”
His mind easing slightly, So-mu’s steps grew lighter.
As he walked at the front of the column.
“Mister…”
It was a quiet murmur from the crowd. Although it was a whisper that could barely be heard, So-mu did not miss it.
There stood a familiar boy.
He looked like a beggar, dirty and thin. He was about So-so’s age.
Approaching the boy, So-mu lifted him into his arms.
“You survived. Good job.”
It was a boy he had met during his reconnaissance mission last year. He remembered giving the boy beef jerky when they parted.
“You said you would come to rescue us, Mister. I believed you and waited.”
“Do not worry now. You can rest and eat your fill.”
“Really?”
“Of course. A new world will open here soon.”
The boy smiled innocently, his mood bright.
“Hehe. I look forward to seeing it.”
So-mu set the boy down and patted his head.
“Watch and see. If I keep my promise this time as well.”
“Yes!”
So-mu proceeded to the palace with the commanders.
They had a mountain of work to handle, including relief efforts, prisoner interrogations, and establishing defenses.
Two days passed in this busy manner.
The Grand Military Conference Room of Luoyang.
Dozens of Allied commanders sat around the table.
“Now that things are settled, we will return to our country,” said General Jin Guang of Po.
It was expected, so no one was surprised. The volunteer army had also announced their return.
Sitting in the seat of honor, So-mu offered a fist salute to everyone.
“You have all worked hard. If we join hands as we did this time, we can repel any foreign invasion.”
Yue Fei smiled in satisfaction, addressing the commanders.
“It was an honor to fight alongside you. Call upon us if you need help. I am always prepared to die to protect the common people.”
Everyone showed respect for his genuine words.
Just as the meeting was concluding in a warm atmosphere.
An officer rushed into the room, looking panic-stricken.
“Lieutenant Hu Zhen of the Song Dynasty has arrived. He says it is urgent.”
The commanders looked at one another in confusion.
“I know Lieutenant Hu Zhen to be the most powerful commander under General Han Shi-zhong.”
“But why is he here…?”
Han Shi-zhong was supposed to block reinforcements from Kaifeng.
Why had his capable deputy arrived at this moment? They couldn’t guess.
So-mu ordered the officer, “Send him in.”
Soon, a battered commander entered, limping.
Everyone gasped at the sight.
His armor was in tatters, his hair was disheveled, and his body was covered in countless wounds.
Yet, paying no heed to his injuries, Hu Zhen’s expression was stiff.
He surveyed the room and burst into tears. Simultaneously, a shocking announcement escaped his lips.
“General Han Shi-zhong… sob… the General has fallen in battle.”
Bam—!
Yue Fei slammed his hand on the table and stood up. He and Han Shi-zhong were known to be close friends.
“What nonsense is this! General Han has fallen? Where did you learn such a lie!”
Han Shi-zhong was the greatest warrior of the Song Dynasty, capable of matching ten thousand men alone. It was unbelievable.
But kneeling and weeping, Hu Zhen’s posture showed no lie.
Sitting in the seat of honor, So-mu clasped his hands and asked solemnly, “How did such a man fall in battle?”
The reply was exactly as So-mu had feared.
“He fought the Emperor of the Hui Dynasty… sob…”