CHAPTER 322: CHAPTER 319 CAPTURED ALIVE

In the Royal Palace of Taiyuan Prefecture.

The concubines were all huddled in the grand hall, crying together.

Before Gao Yu arrived at the Eight States, all his offspring had perished in the chaos of war. After settling in Taiyuan Prefecture, he only had one son, now just twelve years old.

When Gao Yu personally led the campaign, he instructed the high officials to assist the Crown Prince, but the young prince, both tender and timid, fell into panic upon hearing of the turmoil in the Imperial City, unable to helm the situation in a crisis.

It was only when Gao Yu returned to the city that the Crown Prince saw his father’s bedraggled state, leaving only fear on his young face.

Gao Yu, meeting his son’s gaze, realized that no member of the Gao family could support him anymore; if he fell, the last flicker of the Gao Dynasty would also extinguish.

He then ordered all the concubines and princes to be gathered into a grand hall, so if the Qi people broke through the city, they would all go to their deaths together, denying the Qi people the chance to humiliate them.

Gao Yu tilted his head back and drained the wine cup.

Song Xian and Du Zhuo’s troops attacked the city day and night, leaving them no respite.

Gao Yu had thought these two might guard against each other in their scramble for credit, allowing him to exploit it, but he didn’t expect that not until they reached the Taiyuan Prefecture city walls...

They were eager to claim his head.

"Your Majesty," an eunuch hurriedly entered the hall, saying, "The Qi people have begun battering the city gates, please take the Empress and the Crown Prince and leave the palace..."

Thinking of the battle outside, Gao Yu seemed to hear the deafening sound of pounding: "What can be done after leaving the palace?"

The eunuch whispered: "Disguise yourself, blend into the crowd, and try to leave Taiyuan Prefecture through the West Gate. As long as there are mountains, there will be firewood later!"

Gao Yu suddenly laughed: "Hahaha, mountains? What mountains are left? Long exhausted. Nineteen years, lingering here, saying it was to gather strength against the Qi people... but I’ve known all along, and you’ve already decided in your hearts that the Qi people would invade here, and the Gao Dynasty would soon perish."

With such hearts, what mountains are we speaking of?

Even if by luck I escape, I’ll be pursued and caught by the Qi, and face more humiliation and torment.

Gao Yu adjusted his dragon robe, holding the treasure sword passed down from the former emperor, sat upright on the dragon throne.

"I’m not going anywhere, I’ll wait here for them."

...

The heavy pounding continued for a long time.

The massive city gate finally couldn’t hold and swung open.

"Enter the city, capture the Pseudo King to avenge Prince Guangyang."

"Kill."

The soldiers pushed through the barricades and poured into Taiyuan Prefecture through the city gates.

After more than a day of effort, they finally broke through the Pseudo King’s last barrier.

Outside the city.

Du Zhuo looked at Song Xian unexpectedly; Song Xian did not rush to lead his troops into the city, but instead stopped.

Du Zhuo said: "There aren’t many troops left inside the city. Even if the Pseudo King wants to hide, he’ll be found quickly."

Song Xian nodded: "Don’t let him escape."

Du Zhuo was surprised; why did Song Xian’s words sound somewhat strange?

Song Xian said: "Taiyuan Prefecture is entrusted to Du Jiedu. I’ll take the troops and leave now."

Du Zhuo’s premonition was confirmed; he pointed at the city gate: "It’s been breached. Aren’t you going to capture the Pseudo King? It won’t take much time, at most one or two hours, to arrange the entire Taiyuan Prefecture properly, and after half a day you can..."

"I can’t wait," Song Xian said, "we’ve already spent too much effort."

Du Zhuo’s resentment surged; this battle, even if not life and death, he had put all his strength into it, thinking it was quite satisfying. How could Song Xian find it so unworthy?

Song Xian said: "I’ll leave immediately with the cavalry." As he thought of Liangchen facing Xiao Xingzong, he became anxious. A half-day more, even a moment longer, he couldn’t wait.

Du Zhuo said: "You’re sure you won’t enter the city to capture the king?"

Song Xian shook his head, decisively turned and instructed Chang An: "We depart at once."

Chang An went to give the order, and in no time Song Xian was riding northward with his cavalry.

Du Zhuo watched Song Xian’s back, unable to help but shake his head. Seeing the way the battle unfolded, one would think this man was unscrupulously coveting great merit, but truly... he had secretly inquired, and knew Song Xian was in a hurry to head to Dai State for fear of the Liao people causing trouble there.

Leaving the hardest fight to himself, yet so easily handing over the credit.

Well, Du Zhuo decided not to curse Song Xian anymore; if he were in his place, he certainly couldn’t have done it.

"Brother," Du Jian was also stunned, "What is going on? Capturing the Pseudo King isn’t what matters most?" Song Xian just handed it over to them.

Du Jian couldn’t help but feel ashamed; he had others guarding against Song Xian, instructing his men to enter the Imperial Palace before the Song Family Army, but who knew... Song Xian had no intention to compete, no wonder his brother trusted Song Xian’s arrangements, his brother’s judgment was indeed correct, not his own petty mind.

"Even if they capture the Pseudo King, the battle’s credit is still Song Xian’s," Du Zhuo said, "Don’t entertain other thoughts."

"Brother understands now." Du Jian spoke with sincerity this time.

Du Zhuo nodded, beginning to somewhat understand why Song Qizheng was not as good as his son; it wasn’t hard to comprehend, who in the world doesn’t recognize a phoenix tree?

Du Zhuo continued: "The one to capture the Pseudo King can only be Old General Zhang."

Letting Prince Guangyang complete this last step is the best result.

...

After a burst of killing outside the hall, the hall door opened.

Gao Yu, sitting on the throne, squinted as he looked past; to his surprise, it wasn’t Song Xian, nor was it Du Zhuo who entered.

The man was clad in armor, removing the helmet from his head, the gray hair immediately catching Gao Yu’s eyes.

Gao Yu said: "Zhang Weihe."

Zhang Weihe, with Zhuang Xing and others, stepped in step by step, his eyes fixed on Gao Yu’s face. When he was merely a few steps away, Zhang Weihe’s eyes turned even colder: "Haven’t you been catching the party of Prince Guangyang? Now we are here."

Gao Yu clutched the long sword, the blade unsheathed, his eyes on Zhang Weihe: "Come, even if I die, I will at least get rid of you..."

Before Gao Yu finished his words, he saw several people rush in. Zhang Weihe stepped aside, and those immediately unfolded a huge net and threw it over Gao Yu.

Gao Yu was astonished, brandishing his sharp blade to cut the net but was given no chance. Several men pounced on him and held him down.

"You... I am the Emperor... how dare you... humiliate me..."

Gao Yu’s words were cut off as his mouth was plugged with a hemp core.

"You invaded the Eight States, letting the troops slaughter the people, and extorted heavy taxes over the years, oppressing the locals of Eight States," Zhang Weihe said, "Now you want to keep some dignity? You don’t deserve it."

Gao Yu kept struggling, a muffled "mmm-mmm" noise coming from his mouth. Amidst the chaos, he saw his twelve-year-old son kneeling, presenting himself in a guilty manner, incessantly kowtowing.

The concubines in the harem were also kneeling and weeping.

Were they not supposed to take their own lives?

Gao Yu’s temples throbbed violently, his eyes wide with bloodshot. After a long while, he realized he wasn’t seeing things wrong; his concubines and son were begging for mercy.

Tears or blood blurred Gao Yu’s vision, and he faintly saw a figure standing under the sunlight, looking down at him.

Even dying by his hand, he remained as proud as ever.

Prince Guangyang.

He had returned.