“Prince Huo Yuangui was the fourteenth son of Gaozu. In his youth he possessed many talents and skills, and Gaozu found him quite remarkable. In the sixth year of the Wude era, he was enfeoffed as Prince of Shu. In the eighth year, his title was changed to Prince of Wu. In the early Zhenguan period, Taizong once asked his ministers: ‘Among my brothers, who is worthy?'”
“Chancellor Wei Zheng replied: ‘This humble subject is foolish and ignorant, and does not fully know their capabilities. However, Prince Wu has spoken with me several times, and never once have I found myself at a loss.’ The Emperor said: ‘I also value him highly. In your view, to whom from previous dynasties might he compare?’ Zheng said: ‘In classical learning and refined culture, he is comparable to Han dynasty ministers Chen Ping and Zhou Bo.’ From this his favor and treatment grew ever more generous, and consequently the Emperor arranged for him to marry Zheng’s daughter.”
“When accompanying Taizong on a hunt, they encountered a herd of beasts. The Emperor commanded Yuangui to shoot them, and his arrows never missed their mark. Taizong patted his back saying: ‘Your martial skills surpass others, yet regrettably there is no place to employ them now. Had it been when the realm was yet unsettled, if I had obtained you, would that not have been wonderful!'”
Du Ruhui stood atop the camel city, slowly recounting this passage to Yun Ye. In summary, it conveyed that Prince Huo Li Yuangui was very formidable, greatly valued by the Emperor, and his father-in-law was Wei Zheng. If Yun Ye wanted to deal with him, he had better think thrice.
Yun Ye watched as his subordinates were rescued from the wooden stakes by cavalry—those giving water gave water, those providing aid provided aid. He shook his head and said to Du Ruhui: “We’ll talk after the battle. Since he dared treat my men this way, perhaps he has some means of dealing with the consequences. I intend to take Suiye City in one assault, kill for three days first and then assess the situation. Without establishing authority, they’ll think this Grand Protector of the Beiting Protectorate is made of clay.”
As Yun Ye issued command arrows one after another, cavalry slowly streamed forth from the camel city. The massive camel city itself rotated and reconfigured in place. After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the desolate horn sounded. As the core assault force, the steel-armored camel city at the very front, completely covered in gleaming steel armor, slowly approached Suiye City. The thick spear-points of the Eight-Ox Crossbows had already protruded from various small apertures. Once within standard range, they would immediately fire.
At this moment, a group of mounted riders suddenly emerged from Suiye City’s gates, waving flags and repeatedly requesting the camel city halt for dialogue. Liu Zhengwu looked back at Yun Ye. Seeing no new orders transmitted, he waved the flag in his hand. The Eight-Ox Crossbows on the left side immediately shot forth with a humming sound, flying through the long distance and viciously impaling this cavalry group. The powerful impact sent their corpses flying backward. Not only the people but their warhorses too were pierced through by the crossbow bolts, ultimately forming a small pile of corpses before the city gate.
The clamoring voices atop the city walls ceased, but the camel city did not stop, continuing its slow approach toward the fortification. At this moment, everyone understood one thing—the army had absolutely no intention of negotiating. They were preparing to use the Great Tang military’s customary method of dialogue: kill everyone first, then discuss who was right and who was wrong.
The Fire Phoenix Kingdom? Taken from the meaning of rebirth through fire. Unfortunately, after encountering Yun Ye, it could only become a wild chicken!
Liu Fang cheerfully watched the panicked city walls and said to Wu She: “An army should look like an army. Negotiation and talking—that’s work for civil officials. As for military men, without a bit of bloodiness, what kind of soldiers are they?”
Wu She tucked his hands into his sleeves and scraped his foot against the camel city’s deck, replying listlessly: “These princes are accustomed to arrogance in their daily lives. Now that they’ve arrived in the Western Regions, they think the heavens are high and the Emperor far away, so they lack restraint. Don’t they realize that a major reason Yun Ye remains in the Western Regions is to monitor them, to prevent them from acting recklessly? At this moment, provoking the killing star to fury—they’re asking for trouble.”
The surveillance hot air balloon had already ascended. The horn sounded once more. Officers on the camel city loudly commanded crossbowmen to switch to gunpowder arrows—this was standard siege behavior.
“Marquis Yun, spare Li Yuangui’s life, and leave yourself some room for maneuver as well,” Du Ruhui suddenly spoke up.
Yun Ye smiled slightly, pointing at Suiye City as he answered: “In three days, if he can survive, I’ll seal my sword.”
The commander’s will could not be altered. When Suiye City entered range, completely disregarding the crossbow bolts shot down from the walls, arrows bearing sparks rose from the camel city like an overwhelming tide, finally falling upon the walls. The explosive blast waves flipped over the Eight-Ox Crossbows atop the walls. Countless people were carried by the blast waves, flying up from the walls with flailing limbs, finally dropping beneath the walls without a sound.
Just one round of bombardment turned the walls into a blank zone. The battlements atop the walls were also swept clean. As the camel city slowly closed in, the gunpowder arrows began extending forward as well. Cheng Chumo’s cavalry, clustering around a large cart, raced at high speed beneath the city gate. The driver pulled a mechanism, and the gunpowder sacks on the wagon poured into the gate tunnel. He haphazardly ignited a gunpowder bomb, tossed it onto the gunpowder sacks, then clutching his head fled back swiftly. Before he had traveled thirty zhang, thunder exploded behind him. The driver quickly dove under the wagon. Debris rained down from above. The two horses pulling the cart had their bones and tendons broken by the falling stones…
Seeing that the city gate had vanished, Cheng Chumo let out a long whistle, spurring his warhorse toward the gate, absolutely unwilling to give those inside the city half a moment to react.
The vanguard of the camel city also heavily pressed against the city wall. Over a hundred scaling ladders had been set against the walls. Infantry from the camel city, with horizontal swords clenched in their teeth, climbed the ladders in two or three steps and vaulted into Suiye City.
From start to the troops entering the city, it hadn’t even taken the time to burn an incense stick. Over ten thousand infantry had all entered the fortification. The camel city withdrew its scaling ladders and slowly retreated, returning to its pre-charge position. Tian Yuanyi also followed into the city. He intended to seize control of the camel city’s main warehouse at the first opportunity. According to his subordinates, the warehouse should not yet have been captured. An officer led his brothers in bitter combat, having fought for over ten days without food or water.
Before long, Suiye City’s three gates were successively breached by Cheng Chumo, Chen Shu, and Guo Ping. The three each led five thousand cavalry into the city, each executing their respective missions. The commander had issued orders: seal the sword after three days!
Officer Han Degong, covered in wounds, upon seeing the commander, clutched the commander’s legs and wept bitterly. Of his thousand subordinates, they had not died on battlefields fighting foreign tribes—over six hundred had instead died at the hands of their own people. This made him wish for death.
“Enough. No matter who issued this order, he’s dead for certain. Now get back into the city and find all those bastards who attacked you. I’m going to flay their skin!” Yun Ye, upon learning the causes and consequences, flew into a towering rage.
As soon as Li Yuangui arrived at Suiye City, he demanded the officer hand over military supplies. When the officer refused, Li Yuangui cut off the grain and water supply to the garrison, attempting to force these men into submission. When officials in the city went to reason with Prince Huo, Li Yuangui had them bound and hung on frames. Had the army arrived two days later, these people would all have perished.
“Where is Li Yuangui?” Yun Ye asked Cheng Chumo, who had just returned.
“He’s difficult to capture. You don’t know—Egg Girl is guarding her family’s main gate, refusing to let us enter. She’s holding a blade against her throat saying if anyone dares enter, she’ll slit her throat. That troublesome woman is capable of doing such a thing.” Cheng Chumo appeared somewhat embarrassed.
Egg Girl was Wei Zheng’s daughter. In childhood they had all attended the same school together. Because she had an oval face, everyone called her Egg Girl. Later she married Li Yuangui. Setting aside this current matter, Egg Girl’s friendship with both Yun Ye and Cheng Chumo was very good, unchanged by her marriage.
Yun Ye had always been someone who valued personal feelings above state law. Hearing this matter, he too scratched his head in vexation. Whether Li Yuangui lived or died, he didn’t care. Those sent by Li Er to the Western Regions were all fellows who posed a threat to Li Chengqian. Even if he hacked him to death himself, Li Er would at most rage for a while. Moreover, Li Yuangui’s actions had violated a great taboo—was the expeditionary army’s storehouse something he could touch?
“Enter the city!” Yun Ye intended to see for himself. Without capturing Li Yuangui, this matter wasn’t finished. When performing an opera, one must perform the complete set. What kind of sense does performing half make?
Throughout the city, killing was taking place. Whether barbarians or the Tang people Li Yuangui had brought, all were on the list for this indiscriminate retaliation. Walking through streets filled with corpses, they arrived at Li Yuangui’s front gate.
A woman dressed in a noblewoman’s gown stood at the main entrance, a horizontal sword against her throat. Cavalry surrounded her completely but dared not rush forward. The woman’s throat had already bled profusely. If the blade pulled in just a bit more, her throat would be cut.
“Stand back!” Liu Jinbao roared. Yun Ye, his face dark, walked through the parting crowd.
Seeing Yun Ye approach, Princess Huo immediately pleaded mournfully: “Brother Ye, please spare my husband. He was merely confused for a moment, which led to this grave error. Please forgive him. We’ll return to the Central Plains immediately and never come to the Western Regions again. We don’t want the princely title or the fief. We only wish to return and become simple farmers. Please spare him, won’t you?”
“Egg Girl, you are an extremely intelligent woman. Knowing full well that your husband’s actions would bring the disaster of execution, why did you not advise against it? With matters having reached this point, how can you ask me to spare him? The spirits of over six hundred soldiers are watching. Don’t you understand what crime it is to arbitrarily kill Imperial soldiers? Hou Junji lost his head for this very thing. How can Li Yuangui be an exception? You people, one after another wanting to become kings and queens—have you gone mad with desire?”
“I did advise him! Yuangui said that as long as he gave you sufficient benefits, you wouldn’t pursue this matter. I was still afraid, so I sent word to your subordinates telling them to flee quickly. But they didn’t run—I had no choice! Ah Ye, please spare Yuangui this once. He’ll never dare again.”
Yun Ye turned to look at Han Degong. Han Degong immediately stepped forward saying: “Reporting to the Commander, the Princess did indeed warn this humble officer, and secretly sent us some grain and water. Otherwise this humble officer couldn’t have held on until the Commander’s return.”
Yun Ye rubbed his temples painfully: “You should have asked—which commanding general who leads troops in battle would dare trade with his subordinates’ lives? Your father has been upright and incorruptible his entire life. When you return to Chang’an, he’ll be the first to hack you to death.”
“Put down the blade. In consideration that you at least knew those guarding the warehouse were your own people, I won’t kill anyone. I’ll put Li Yuangui in a prison cart and transport him to Chang’an. How to deal with him is His Majesty’s business.”
Princess Huo’s complexion immediately turned ashen gray. Returning to the capital would still mean death just the same. Steeling her heart, she was about to drag the blade across her throat.
Wu She, watching the spectacle, flicked out a pebble that struck precisely on Princess Huo’s wrist. With a clang, the blade fell to the ground.
“Apprehend Li Yuangui. Do not disturb the inner residence!” Having said this, Yun Ye turned and departed. No matter who had done such things, it could not be passed over with a simple apology.