At the end of the second year of Yonglong in the Tang Dynasty, Li Xian's crown prince Zhao Yinyue successfully gave birth to a son. Emperor Gaozong was overjoyed when he heard the news and named him Chongfu. He also issued an edict to confer Li Chongfu as the grandson of the emperor, changed his name to Yongchun, and ordered an amnesty.
When the news came to the world, Empress Wu was also shocked, because it was a heavy blow to Empress Wu's plan to depose the crown prince Li Xian and support Li Dan, the king of Henan. So the officials urged that there was no precedent in history for naming the emperor's grandson, and they could not do this without permission.
For example, however, Gaozong ignored these words and insisted on canonizing the emperor's grandson and changing his reign.
In April of the first year of Yongchun, Baixiang County, Zhaozhou.
At the time of wheat harvest, there should have been tens of thousands of people here harvesting wheat and celebrating the harvest. However, the place is indeed in depression and desolation. Dead bodies and the mournful voices of the families of the deceased are scattered all over the place. Scenes of tragedies are staged here.
.
Investigating the reason, the main reason was that Wu Yizong, the general who had been ordered to attack the Khitan, fled and abandoned Zhaozhou. As a result, this fortified city with a population of more than 100,000 was captured by the Khitan soldiers without bloodshed. After that, the Khitan general Li Jinzhong attacked him again and again.
Through a trick, they defeated the Tang army Cao Renshi, Zhang Xuanyu and others who came to attack, and finally established a foothold in Zhaozhou, and massacred the people who dared to resist, which led to scenes of tragedy.
"Haha, now the Tang Dynasty is incompetent. It has lost troops and territory one after another. Your people are even more abandoned. The officers and soldiers are huddled in Luoyang and no longer dare to fight with our army. You and other people are in despair. If you are obedient
You agree to build iron tools, plant land, and pay taxes for me, the Khitan. I, the Khitan, can guarantee your safety. If you don't comply, you will only die. Where to go, but it is up to you to choose." By a river outside the city, a man
A Khitan general with a murderous face held a bloody sword in his hand, laughing loudly and shouting at the trembling people.
This general's name was He Axiao, who was cruel and easy to kill. He was the general known as "Er He" together with Wu Yizong. After he came to Zhaozhou, he killed nearly 100,000 soldiers and civilians who disobeyed him.
, and among these 100,000 people, nearly 80% were innocently implicated and died.
"Is it true that there will be no more people from the Tang Dynasty?" After hearing He Axiao's words, the hearts of the people were filled with disappointment, and a sad mood gradually spread, because as people of the Tang Dynasty, they
I originally hoped that the Tang Dynasty would protect them, but after such a long time, no official troops came.
As for the former Wu Yizong, in fact, it would be better for him not to come, because after Wu Yizong came, apart from massacring people and plundering wealth, he did nothing good at all, and he didn't even make any preparations for war.
, as soon as he heard the news of the Khitan invasion, he immediately fled, ignoring the people, and allowed this strong city to be easily captured by the enemy.
Among this team of soldiers and civilians of the Tang Dynasty, there was a young man who was silent. Although he was very disappointed, he did not lose his last hope for the Tang Dynasty. He thought silently: "Is it true that there is no one in the Tang Dynasty?"
?Is there really no one who can defeat these hateful Khitans? No, our Tang Dynasty is full of talents, and there is no shortage of generals who are accustomed to fighting. There are passionate warriors everywhere, and your majesty, the prince, is benevolent. We believe it.
, our officers and soldiers of the Tang Dynasty will definitely come to save us, maybe they are already on the way by now, Khitan people, you won’t be able to wait for much longer.”
In fact, although this group of soldiers and civilians of the Tang Dynasty did not have the same hope for the Tang Dynasty as this young man did, they also resented the cruelty and unkindness of the Khitan. Many of their family members had been brutally killed. Now those who
The Khitans actually wanted them to be slaves and seek wealth for them. Such humiliation was really unbearable. However, if they refused explicitly, they would be killed on the spot, so they all chose to remain silent and did not object clearly.
He didn't even open his mouth to agree.
When He Axiao saw this, he could naturally guess the intentions of these people. He was furious and shouted loudly: "Don't think that if you don't speak, I don't know your intentions. Today's matter must be clear.
The Dharma says that those who are willing to follow me, the Khitan, can live, but those who are unwilling to follow me will only die. You must make a decision quickly, because the sword in my hand is hungry and thirsty."
After He A finished speaking, he saw another silence among the group. He couldn't help but feel furious. He immediately stepped forward, grabbed an old man and asked, "You old man, tell me, do you want to die or live?"
"
The old man originally closed his eyes tightly and ignored He Axiao's questions. But at the end, when he saw that the other party had drawn out the steel knife and was really going to take action, he said: "No one wants to die, but if I am like a
If you live as humbly as a dog and become your slave, I would rather die than be a slave to the subjugation of my country! Humph, old man, I have lived for more than seventy years, even if I die, it doesn't matter, but I can't do it
A slave who subjugates his country, pays taxes for the enemy country, lets their people eat our food, use our wealth, and then grows up to attack our own people. If I really do this, what shame will I have to see my ancestors after I die? So,
You Khitan villain, just rest assured. Even if I die, I will not be your subjugated slave. You just need to remember that the heads of the people of the Tang Dynasty can be cut off, the blood can be shed, and the integrity cannot be lost. If you die today, you will die.
It’s nothing, eighteen years later, I’m a good man again!”
"Hey, since you want to die, the general will help you!" He Axiao laughed evilly, waved the steel knife in his hand, and said loudly: "How dare a useless old waste like you dare to speak out?
What integrity?"
After saying that, He Axiao swung his knife and chopped off the old man's head.
"Stop!" At this moment, the young man who had been meditating before shouted sternly: "He Axiao, don't kill innocent people indiscriminately, wait until our Tang Dynasty army comes, you may still be able to save your life, otherwise
, I can guarantee that you will never leave Zhaozhou alive."
"Haha, another arrogant person! What bothers me the most is the so-called righteous men like you. Huh, the Tang Dynasty officers and soldiers? Where are they? I don't believe they dare to come. Even if they come, they are just like Wu Yizong.
, this time I can guarantee that I will kill one of you, and I will kill a pair of two! Hum, but even if I kill them all, I am afraid it has nothing to do with you, because you will definitely die first today, and I will never see you again.
Until this happens, boy, how dare you be so rude to me, the general. Even if the king of heaven comes today, I will definitely kill you."
He Axiao sneered, brandished the steel knife, and slashed straight at the young man.
But at this moment, a rumbling sound was heard from behind, and then a voice from behind shouted: "Khitan thieves, please don't be so presumptuous, we have the Tang Dynasty army coming." (To be continued.) This chapter has been completed!