gnovel Chapter 48 Attacked?
Chapter 48 Attacked?
Shen Ce believed that as long as the delegation revealed their identities, made their stance clear, and presented the imperial edict, the local officials would submit obediently, provided they did not rebel, or at the very least, they would be willing to negotiate.
When the delegation blocked the road, they found that people habitually looked for clauses in documents that suited them and followed them, while ignoring or refusing to comply with clauses that were unfavorable to them.
Wei Zheng stood on the carriage, holding the imperial edict in one hand and the staff on the carriage in the other. Looking down at Liu Sima in front of him, he said in a deep voice, "Liu Sima, the imperial order has been issued. You shall release the people according to the law. In the future, I will write down the merits of the officials in Cizhou in this incident in my memorial to the Crown Prince, especially Governor Hu and you, Liu Sima."
Liu Sima, who had been bowing respectfully, straightened his back when he heard that the people were to be released. His expression turned cold, and he said solemnly, "Li Sixing, the Protector of the Prince of Qi, and Li Zhian, the Imperial Guard of the Crown Prince, are remnants of the former Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi. They have recently been pressuring and even oppressing the Crown Prince. How can they be released so easily?"
Upon hearing their commander's words, the surrounding soldiers immediately tensed up, and the loose ranks instantly rallied, surrounding all the prisoners being escorted.
Upon seeing this, Wei Zheng snorted coldly and retorted loudly, "The imperial decree is to release him. Regardless of his previous status or who he served, from now on he is an official of the Li Tang dynasty, and all past transgressions will be forgiven."
Liu Sima, unfazed by Wei Zheng's rebuttal, circled the entourage twice before approaching Wei Zheng and whispering, "Your Excellency, the Crown Prince's words are meant for the world; they're just words. Why take them so seriously?"
After rolling his eyes a few times, Liu Sima tilted his head and said, "What kind of treatment is this for a former political enemy?"
Wei Zheng, indignant, immediately jumped off the carriage and approached Liu Sima step by step. With each step he took, Liu Sima retreated. Finally, Wei Zheng pointed his finger at Liu Sima's nose and shouted:
"I was once the Crown Prince's advisor, instructing Li Jiancheng to suppress His Highness when he was still the Prince of Qin, and even suggesting to Li Jiancheng that His Highness should be killed. Now I am the Junior Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince's Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and also the Chief Envoy to Pacify Shandong. Do you think there is anyone like me in the world?"
Upon hearing Wei Zheng's rebuttal, Liu Sima couldn't find a reason to delay. He could only retreat while pondering a countermeasure. Some of these people were captured by themselves, while others were bought from other prefectures and counties. Releasing them so easily would not only result in financial loss, but also in the loss of promotion and prestige among his subordinates—this was the most fatal blow. Once his officials saw that he had lost power in this matter, many more unexpected things would arise...
Having made up his mind, Liu Sima bowed to Wei Zheng and said, "What you say makes sense. I still need to discuss this matter with Governor Hu. I cannot make this decision alone."
This was clearly an excuse; he himself held a low-ranking position and couldn't withstand Wei Zheng's pressure, so he naturally thought of going back to get reinforcements.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Shen Ce immediately spurred his horse forward and rode alone to block their route back to the city.
Since the envoy has spoken, there is absolutely no reason to let them go back.
If they were released now, it would be difficult to find them in the vast Cizhou region later. Besides, their group couldn't afford to waste any more time.
Seeing Shen Ce's actions, Sima's anger was palpable. He said sternly, "Oh, it seems the Second Vice-Premier also disagrees with the official's statement?"
Shen Ce shook the reins, lowered his eyes to look at Liu Sima ahead, and said calmly, "I don't think Liu Sima listened to a single word the envoy just said. You can disregard the imperial decree and even go back to ask your governor for his opinion. Does your governor know how powerful you are in front of the imperial envoy?"
"Stop talking nonsense!" Seeing that the situation was not right, Liu Sima immediately changed his tone, flicked his sleeves, and said sternly, "The people I am escorting today are not only subordinates of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, but they have also damaged crops and destroyed property. Even if the Crown Prince is so benevolent that he does not investigate their identities, he has not granted a general amnesty. Therefore, I will never release them."
If you want to find fault, you can always find a pretext. If they can delay their release with such a charge now, they will be implicated in countless cases once they return to the city. At that point, getting them to release them will be as difficult as climbing to heaven.
Ask Li Er for help? What a joke! Only children call their parents when they're fighting.
Shen Ce looked up at Wei Zheng, and after receiving tacit approval, he suddenly roared, "Form the formation!"
The guards, who had been sharpening their swords for a long time, rushed out instantly. Four swordsmen and shieldmen were in front, four spearmen were in the middle, and two archers were at the rear, surrounding Shen Ce.
"Are you going to storm the government officials?" Liu Sima shouted in a panic when he saw that Shen Ce was really about to make a move.
Shen Ce ignored him and simply ordered his men to advance step by step.
I've already drawn my knife; if I'm just trying to scare you, wouldn't that be a waste of my time?
The soldiers escorting Li Sixing, though carrying knives, held them shakily, their grips swaying from side to side. One of the soldiers, a man in his early twenties, asked an older soldier beside him, "Brother Shuan, should we go in?"
The old soldier squinted, looking the guards in front of him up and down, and whispered, "Are you stupid? These guys are armored. I have a son to support, I don't want to go up there and die."
"What should be done if a conflict arises?"
"Just watch what I do then, and you can just follow along."
Just as the two were discussing, a scream came from behind. Everyone looked back in the direction of the sound.
Originally at the end of the delegation, Wen Wuyin somehow ended up at the front. While the soldiers were confronting Shen Ce, he suddenly slammed his arm into the long sword in the hand of a Cizhou soldier, causing blood to gush out.
When everyone saw it, Wen Wuyin had already fallen to the ground, rolling around on the ground while clutching his blood-soaked arm.
"The officials of Cizhou attacked the angel; their crime is unforgivable!"
Seeing this, Shen Ce immediately roared and drew his sword: "Brothers, follow me!"
Unaware of the situation, the guards' eyes turned red, and they maintained their formation as they charged forward.
The swordsmen and shieldmen in the front row blocked the feeble slashes with their round shields, then swung their swords in a wide arc, ready to strike. Shen Ce shouted from behind, "Use the back of your blade!"
The swordsmen deftly switched their blades to the back of their swords and slammed them down. The spearmen in the back followed suit, switching their spear shafts and unleashing their full power with the butts of their spears.
Seeing that the guards of the delegation were so lenient, the soldiers of Cizhou lost their will to fight and retreated one after another.
When they reached the middle of the prisoner line, Shen Ce cleaved the ropes connecting them with a single stroke, shielding all the former crown prince and Prince Qi's subordinates behind him.
As the formation gradually advanced, the soldiers of Cizhou fell one after another until they reached Li Sixing's prison cart. Shen Ce stepped onto the cart.
The exquisite chains could not withstand Shen Ce's frenzied hacking. He smashed the chains in a few blows, grabbed Li Sixing, and was about to pull him off the prison cart.
Li Sixing, who had remained silent until now, stopped in his tracks and asked in confusion, "Are you all acting, playing games with us?"