Zhao Song: My father was Emperor Taizu of Song

Chapter 58 Self-Immolation

"We can't hold them off! The Song army is attacking!"

As Song soldiers surged onto the city walls like a tidal wave, the rebels' defenses, already on the verge of collapse, were broken by this cry of alarm, which was like the last straw, causing the defenses to crumble completely in an instant.

"Run! Running away might save your life!"

The rebels had no will to resist anymore. They dropped their weapons and turned to flee down the city walls, pushing and shoving each other. Some even fell off the walls, their screams echoing everywhere.

Li Jun looked at the routed Zhaoyi army, but his expression gradually calmed down.

He knew that from the moment Zhao Kuangyin appeared at the gates of Zezhou, defeat was only a matter of time.

But what he didn't expect was that Li Chongjin and his few cowardly military governors were so timid that they remained motionless throughout the entire process, not daring to make the slightest move!

Even more unexpectedly, the Northern Han was so useless, sending only a few thousand cavalrymen, who were held back by Murong Yanzhao at Taipingyi and could not help at all!

"My lord, let's go! It'll be too late if we don't leave now!"

Several guards stumbled up and, without saying a word, grabbed Li Jun and dragged him toward the state government office below the city.

Li Jun did not struggle, but only glanced back at Zhao Kuangyin, who was getting closer and closer, a trace of resentment and despair flashing in his eyes.

I am irreconcilably opposed to the usurper Zhao!

The battle on the city walls was drawing to a close. The remaining rebels either surrendered or were killed by the Song army and could no longer pose a threat.

"Those who surrender will not be killed; those who wield weapons will all be executed!"

Zhao Kuangyin's roar completely shattered the rebels' psychological defenses. They all laid down their weapons, and the rebels behind the city gate had already vanished without a trace. Several Song soldiers quickly moved the wooden bar blocking the gate.

The heavy city gates slowly opened, and the main force of the Song army outside the city poured into the city like a flood.

Zezhou has fallen!

"Chase him! Don't let Li Jun get away!"

Seeing that the battle situation had been completely stabilized, Zhao Kuangyin gave a low shout and led Zhao Dezhao and others to chase after the state government office.

At this moment, inside the state government office.

Li Jun, who had escaped earlier, did not rush to pack up his valuables, nor did he plan to escape from Zezhou and retreat to Shangdang.

He knew that once Zezhou fell, his chances of turning the tide were completely gone, and there would be no possibility of a comeback.

He dismissed everyone and went into the inner room alone. He took out a rolled-up scroll from a box, carefully unrolled it, and hung it on the wall.

Gazing at the figures in the painting, he suddenly let out a bitter laugh, the sound echoing in the empty room, particularly desolate.

The person in the painting is Guo Wei.

Looking at the man in the painting, he thought of his own life.

Back then, he was famous throughout the Tang, Jin, and Han dynasties for his ability to draw a heavy bow weighing over 100 jin, which few could pull. However, he was not given important positions until he met this man named Guo Wei.

The saying "I wish we had met sooner" is probably quite apt.

From then on, he became a fierce general of the Great Zhou Dynasty, guarding Luzhou for ten years with the title of Zhaoyi Jiedushi, and the Liao people dared not invade!

"But why did you die... why did you die?!"

Li Jun gave a bitter laugh, slumped into a chair, and muttered, "I thought that as long as I guarded my Luzhou well, I would have fulfilled your trust. But who knew that Zhao traitor would be so audacious!"

"Emperor Taizu, if you were still alive... how could Zhao Kuangyin dare, how could he possibly dare?!"

He was truly unwilling to accept it.

He could tolerate not being that person's descendant in inheriting the Great Zhou's foundation, as long as the Great Zhou remained peaceful. But the Guo family's rule was taken away, and he could not tolerate that!

So he raised the banner of "restoring the Zhou dynasty," joined forces with the Northern Han, and launched an uprising against the Song dynasty.

He had thought he could command a large following and bring down the usurper, but he never imagined that in just two months he would end up in such a state.

"Man is the butcher, I am the fish..." Li Jun murmured to himself, a resolute glint in his eyes.

Even if Li Jun dies!

They would never accept humiliation, much less become subjects of the Song Dynasty!

Then, he stood up shakily, bowed three times respectfully to Guo Wei's portrait, and two lines of tears streamed down his face.

"Your Majesty, I am incompetent... I failed to protect the Great Zhou Dynasty for you, and I am ashamed before you..."

He took a tinderbox from his pocket and blew on it with trembling hands.

Looking at the flickering flames, his face showed no resentment or despair, only calm.

Hearing the increasingly loud shouts of battle outside the window, he smiled and walked toward the curtain beside him.

"boom……"

The fire fold fell, and the curtains instantly burst into flames, which quickly spread.

Standing in the sea of ​​fire, Li Jun looked at Guo Wei's portrait, a relieved smile on his face.

"Emperor Taizu, I am loyal to the Zhou dynasty and dare not risk my life to serve the Song dynasty..."

"Your subject... has come to keep you company..."

A raging fire quickly engulfed the entire state government office.

……

The raging fire engulfed the entire state government office, and thick smoke billowed straight into the sky.

When Zhao Kuangyin and his entourage caught up with the group outside the state government office, this was the scene they witnessed.

He gazed at the sea of ​​fire, remaining silent for a long time before finally letting out a soft sigh: "So be it, so be it..."

Li Jun's self-immolation was entirely expected.

Those who lived through that era know that Li Jun was only loyal to Guo Wei and didn't even submit to Chai Rong, so how could he possibly serve him?

Zhao Kuangyin took a deep breath, suppressed his thoughts, turned to the soldiers behind him, and said loudly, "Zezhou has fallen, and Li Jun has committed suicide by fire! Issue my decree to appease the people, assess the spoils of war, and allow for a temporary rest!"

"As you command!"

The soldiers responded in unison.

Zhao Kuangyin waved his hand listlessly, glanced at the raging flames of the state government office, his face showing no joy of victory, but rather an indescribable complexity.

He only slowly turned and left after the flames engulfed the last plaque.

……

Inside the tent, the candlelight flickered. Zhao Kuangyin casually placed his dragon-patterned staff on the table, without removing his armor. He simply stood with his back to the tent door, staring blankly at the pitch-black night outside.

Zhao Dezhao stood silently by his side.

He could vaguely guess what Zhao Kuangyin was thinking at that moment.

In fact, my father's feelings for Guo Rong were extremely deep and complex. If it weren't for Guo Rong's appreciation when he joined the army in his early years, my father would not have reached the position he is in today.

Similarly, Zhao Kuangyin, who valued loyalty and affection, inevitably felt some guilt towards Guo Rong.

But in chaotic times, many things are beyond one's control.

Once a person reaches a certain level, many things are no longer in their control. The court is suspicious of them, and their subordinates support them. Anyone would know what to choose in that situation.

History, in the end, judges by its results.

Once you ascend the throne, great scholars will surely debate the classics for you!

"Report! Deputy Commander Shi and other generals request an audience!"

The sound of a personal guard announcing the arrival of the emperor rang out from outside the tent. Zhao Kuangyin snapped out of his reverie, sat back in his seat, and said in a deep voice, "Summon them!"

Generals Shi Shouxin, Gao Huaide, and Li Chuyun entered the tent in turn, all bowing with clasped hands.

Shi Shouxin was the first to volunteer for the mission:

"Your Majesty! Now that Li Jun has been executed, only Shangdang remains unconquered in Luzhou! I am willing to lead three thousand troops as Your Majesty's vanguard to seize Shangdang!"

When it came to serious matters, Zhao Kuangyin also composed himself. Just as he was about to agree to Shi Shouxin's request, his gaze suddenly swept over Zhao Dezhao beside him, and he remembered something.

Now that Zezhou has fallen, the situation in Luzhou is clear, with only Shangdang remaining as an isolated city stubbornly resisting.

The one guarding Shangdang was Li Jun's son, Li Shoujie.

In March, Li Jun sent Li Shoujie to Kaifeng to serve as the Imperial City Guard in order to delay the timing of the uprising. In order to make an example of Li Shoujie, he jokingly referred to him as the "Crown Prince" when he met him.

Thinking of this, Zhao Kuangyin suddenly smiled, his gaze first falling on Li Chuyun:

"In this battle, Li Chuyun will lead the vanguard."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned to look at Zhao Dezhao, his eyes filled with a deep meaning and expectation:

"Prince Zhao Dezhao, accompany the vanguard!"

Lao Tzu has already solved Lao Tzu.

The "Crown Prince" should naturally be the one to resolve this issue!