xymnovel Chapter 800 The Turmoil in Ruizhou: Zhu Di Confronts Ma Fujun!
Chapter 800 The Turmoil in Ruizhou: Zhu Di Confronts Ma Fujun!
"This...how is this possible?"
Zhu Di murmured to himself, his heart filled with indescribable shock.
He originally thought that the Great Qian Dynasty was beset by internal and external troubles, and Ruizhou was just one corner of its many battlefields, with weak defenses, making it easy to capture.
Unexpectedly, a Cheng Yaojin appeared out of nowhere. The Zhao family, a newly powerful clan that he had never taken seriously, quietly seized Ruizhou, catching him off guard.
Zhu Di took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.
Ruizhou is no longer his for the taking, and the Zhao family, who have replaced the Great Qian Dynasty as the new hegemon of Ruizhou, will undoubtedly become a stumbling block on his way north, and may even affect the implementation of his entire northern expedition plan.
However, Zhu Di was no ordinary man. He possessed the tenacity of Zhu Yuanzhang's son and an indomitable spirit.
"The Zhao family, humph! They're nothing but a newly risen powerful clan, daring to seize my Ruizhou! Once I, Zhu Di, have mustered my army and prepared for war, I will utterly wipe out the Zhao family to vent my hatred!"
Faced with the sudden change, he did not choose to back down. Instead, he snorted inwardly and scanned every detail on the city wall, trying to find a flaw.
"Young Commander, what kind of bastards are these Zhao family members? Where did they come from? They dare to steal our food!"
"They're really disrespecting our Great Xuan Yellow Turban Army! Let's charge in and teach them a lesson!"
Li Hu, standing beside him, also saw the Zhao family's banner flying high on the city wall and the soldiers standing ready for battle. He was also burning with anger, and his rough voice rang in Zhu Di's ears.
"General Li Hu, do not act rashly. The fact that the Zhao family was able to take Ruizhou so quickly shows that they are quite powerful. We must not underestimate them."
But at this moment, Zhu Di, who was the angrier, shook his head, a hint of calm flashing in his eyes.
As he spoke, Zhu Di raised his hand, signaling the army to stop. He then slowly rode forward until he was not far from the city wall before stopping.
"Is the Zhao family patriarch present? Zhu Di of the Great Xuan Yellow Turban Army is here and wishes to speak with the Zhao family!"
He looked up at the city wall, his voice loud and penetrating.
"Zhu Di, you brat! Ruizhou is now the territory of the Zhao family. You all should leave at once, lest you bring trouble upon yourselves!"
Upon hearing the sound atop the city wall, Zhao She smirked coldly. He stepped out of the ranks, looking down at Zhu Di below the city, his voice steady.
"How dare you! Your Zhao family is nothing but a newly risen powerful clan, yet you dare to attempt to block the northward march of my Great Xuan Yellow Turban Army? You are truly delusional!"
Upon hearing this, a flash of anger crossed Zhu Di's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and sneered.
After saying this, Zhu Di waved his hand, and the Yellow Turban soldiers behind him immediately got ready to fight, full of fighting spirit.
However, Zhu Di did not immediately order an attack on the city. Since the Zhao family was able to take Ruizhou so quickly, they must have something to rely on. A direct confrontation was not the best strategy.
Therefore, after staring at the Zhao family army and Zhao She who were waiting in full battle on the walls of Ruizhou, Zhu Di finally ordered the army to set up camp on the spot. He himself sat down with generals such as Li Hu, Li Lu, and Li Yang to discuss countermeasures.
As night deepened, the campfire roared, illuminating the solemn expressions on everyone's faces.
"Young Commander, the Zhao family army was able to capture Ruizhou City in such a short time and quickly set up defenses. They are clearly quite strong. We should not act rashly for now."
Li Lu said in a deep voice, his eyes clearly showing some contemplation, obviously thinking seriously about countermeasures.
"What's there to be afraid of! Our Great Xuan Yellow Turban Army has never been afraid of anyone! Let me lead the vanguard and fight first!"
Li Hu, on the other hand, seemed somewhat impatient.
"General Li Hu, our northward journey is to open up a new situation for the Yellow Turban Army in the northern Daqian Dynasty, so that we have a way out and will not have to fight to the death with Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang of Daxuan, in the northern border of Daxuan."
"Therefore, our primary task now is to establish a foothold in Ruizhou, rather than fighting the Zhao family to the death."
Zhu Di, who had begun to calm down, glanced at the impatient Li Hu and shook his head.
"Let's send a few teams of Taiping Guards to infiltrate Ruizhou City first, and find out the strength of the Zhao family before making any decisions."
"Meanwhile, our main force will launch a feint attack on the perimeter to create pressure, and then, when the time is right, we will launch a full-scale assault on the city. What do you think?"
As he spoke, Zhu Di looked into the distance, a profound look flashing in his eyes.
The generals had no better ideas and could only nod in agreement.
Seeing this, Zhu Di felt somewhat relieved. This battle was not only about the gain or loss of Ruizhou, but also about his own status and future in the Yellow Turban Army. Naturally, he cared about this matter more than anyone else.
As night fell, Zhu Di's tent remained brightly lit. He and his generals sat around a map, carefully discussing every detail.
Therefore, Zhao She was also making preparations in full swing, ordering the garrison to strengthen its defenses, and at the same time sending out spies to try to find out Zhu Di's movements.
The two armies faced each other, swords drawn and crossbows poised. Outside Ruizhou City, the camps of the Yellow Turban Army of the Great Xuan stretched endlessly.
...
While war raged outside, with people fighting to the death, Tianheng Prefecture, the capital of Hengzhou, remained peaceful.
On this day, in the governor's mansion of Tianheng Prefecture, sunlight streamed through the intricately carved windows, illuminating the floor covered with soft carpets. The golden glow complemented the luxurious interior decorations, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Su Ye sat around a low table made of precious sandalwood with four beauties: Wei Zifu, Xi Shi, and Changsun Wugou. On the table were various exquisite pastries, fresh fruits, and a pot of Longjing tea that exuded a faint fragrance.
Su Ye wore a brocade robe embroidered with gold and clouds, her hair was gently tied up with a jade hairpin inlaid with gemstones, making her look somewhat gentle and refined. She held an ivory fan and gently swayed it. Her eyes were full of doting and tenderness as she looked at the three beauties beside her, quietly enjoying this rare moment of peace and joy.
Beside her stood Wei Zifu, dressed in a light green silk dress, with a simple jade hairpin in her hair, exuding a gentle and virtuous air.
She was carefully peeling a grape for Su Ye, her fingertips moving gently and skillfully, as if the happiest thing in the world was being able to take care of him so closely.
On the other side, Xi Shi, dressed in a light gauze dress, danced gracefully, her skirt swaying gently in the wind, like a lotus flower blooming in a pond, pure and elegant.
She held a fan painted with landscape patterns, occasionally covering her lips with her hand, smiling as she looked at Su Ye, her eyes filled with both affection and a touch of playfulness.