Chapter 97: The Shock of Everyone Upon Learning What Had Happened in the East City

Within the western city of Jinyang.

In the mansion of the Guo family of Taiyuan, Old Master Guo knelt solemnly in the main hall. On either side below him, Jiang Baoyi, Wen Dayou, Zhang Pinggao, Pei Ji, Liu Wenjing, Wu Shixuan, and others all knelt behind wooden tables.

Representatives from the prominent Taiyuan clans—Wang, Tang, Di, Sun, Zhang, and more—had gathered here, all kneeling within the main hall.

At the rear sat the younger members of the Guo family: Guo Qiyan, Guo Qijing, Guo Shaozong, Guo Qizong, Guo Yizong, Guo Jingzong…

“Today, the rebel forces have already attacked the eastern city of Jinyang. Who knows how many days the east city can hold out!”

“What I fear most is that if the Captain Fu, surnamed Fu, betrays us by surrendering the city to the enemy…”

“Indeed! Before, officials, generals, and clansmen in both the east and west cities scoffed at him. Back then, even as a captain, he dared not show anger. Now, with the enemy army arriving, it’s only natural they’d seek revenge…”

Within the main hall, the heads of various clans whispered anxiously as they awaited news.

Wen Dayou, a cavalry officer, knelt behind the wooden table under the flickering lantern light, glancing at Old Master Guo above and then at the clan leaders below, listening to their murmurs with a helpless expression.

Those elder clan men who once mocked Fu Zihou—the young captain from the Fu family—had spared no criticism. Compared to officials and younger clan members, these older men were the harshest in their disdain for Fu Zihou.

The younger generation, much like the officials and generals of Jinyang, mocked Fu Zihou solely because of his actions.

Yet now, as these middle-aged clan men knelt in the hall, knowing Fu Zihou’s humble origins, their disdain was genuine and deep-seated.

In the past, Wen Dayou, himself from the Taiyuan Wen clan, had attempted to recommend Fu Zihou behind the scenes. But due to Fu’s low birth, these clan elders invariably found excuses to decline, never giving Fu Zihou a moment’s consideration.

This was why Fu Zihou had not met many clan members during his time in Jinyang.

Now, seeing the enemy’s army of over a hundred thousand besieging Jinyang, they all feared Fu Zihou might betray the city and aid the invaders to exact revenge.

Wen Dayou finally understood the words of his elder brother: these great families, these centuries-old clans with members scattered across the land, when truly examined, were filled only with arrogance and few with real ability.

By candlelight, hearing the clan leaders’ worries, Wen Dayou remained silent.

He asked himself inwardly: would Fu Zihou surrender?

Unable to predict the outcome, having had little contact with Fu Zihou, and knowing the youth’s age, Wen Dayou could not say for certain. Before, he had hoped Fu would not surrender—not just because officials and clansmen mocked him as a “rat officer,” but because surrendering would confirm that ridicule.

Even as the son-in-law of Old Master Li, Wen Dayou did not wish for Fu Zihou to capitulate. For if Fu, a military captain, surrendered to rebels, the Sui dynasty’s dignity would be utterly shattered. Old Master Li’s political enemies would surely seize upon this to humiliate him before Emperor Yang Guang.

Yet now, standing on the city wall, gazing across the Fen River at the eastern city of Jinyang, listening to the clear drumbeats of the besieging army, Wen Dayou’s thoughts shifted.

He secretly wished Fu Zihou would choose to abandon the city and surrender.

Wen Dayou knew well that compared to the western city’s terrain, the eastern city lacked a protective moat and was indefensible. Outside, the enemy’s over one hundred thousand troops were well-armed and supported by numerous siege engines. To defend the city was a death trap.

Fu Zihou was still young; choosing to surrender to save his life was not without merit.

What troubled Wen Dayou most was that he knew better than anyone else that even if Fu Zihou chose to fight to the death, those who mocked him would remain, and many would complain he had not held the city longer.

Given all this, facing an enemy of a hundred thousand, if Fu Zihou died defending the eastern city, it might all be in vain.

“Someone’s back!”

“They’re back!”

Voices around pulled Wen Dayou from his thoughts. News from outside the city had returned, and his expression immediately tensed.

Within the western city of Jinyang were Jiang Baoyi, Pei Ji, Liu Wenjing, Zhang Pinggao, and others. Wen Dayou had tried to plan a rescue for Fu Zihou, but had been blocked, which weighed on his conscience.

Now, he cared deeply about the situation in the east city, fearing news of Fu Zihou’s death.

“How is it?” Old Master Guo, seated above, asked hurriedly upon seeing Guo Qihan return from the Yangqu branch of the Guo family.

Jiang Baoyi, Pei Ji, Liu Wenjing, and representatives of the Wang, Tang, Di, Sun, and Zhang clans all fell silent, turning their attention to the man in silk robes.

“This is the roster,” Guo Qihan said, nodding quickly as he pulled the list from his bosom and handed it to his grandfather.

Everyone kneeling behind the wooden tables in the main hall sighed with relief. Having the roster meant they had a starting point.

“There’s more,” Guo Qihan added, panting as he addressed his grandfather.

Meeting the curious gazes around him, and his grandfather’s eyes as he passed the roster to Jiang Baoyi, Guo Qihan’s face betrayed lingering fear.

“What is the situation in the east city?”

Wen Dayou rose, unable to wait for Guo Qihan to finish. His priority was to know what was happening in Jinyang’s eastern city.

“Two days ago, the rebel general Zhen Zhai’er ordered that once the east city falls, the city would be massacred for five days,” Guo Qihan said softly, meeting Wen Dayou’s eyes.

“What? A massacre!!”

“A massacre!”

The hall fell into stunned silence. Not only Jiang Baoyi, Pei Ji, Liu Wenjing, Zhang Pinggao, and the officials and generals but also the clan leaders were shocked by the rebels’ cruelty.

Wen Dayou’s eyes widened, his expression dazed. Hearing the word massacre drained his strength; he knelt behind the wooden table, feeling powerless.

He thought of the young man he had seen before.

With the rebels ordering a massacre, Wen Dayou almost saw the boy’s fate.

Shame filled his heart. Years ago, it was Old Master Li’s recommendation that had allowed Wen Dayou to become a cavalry officer. Now, when Old Master Li’s grandson-in-law came to him with a letter from Old Master Li, he could only watch helplessly as the young man was slain by rebels.

Wen Dayou asked himself: how would he ever face Old Master Li again?

“Why would the rebels order a massacre as soon as they arrive in Jinyang?”

Guo Qihan looked around at the panicked officials and clan elders, then turned to his grandfather, ignoring the others’ murmurs.

“The rebels ordered the massacre because the east city pressed them hard!”

His words caused confusion. Everyone looked at him in disbelief.

What did the east city’s defenders have to do with the rebels’ decision? Surrounded by over a hundred thousand enemy troops, how could the east city force the rebels’ hand?

“What exactly happened?”

“No one knows!”

The clan leaders whispered among themselves, even the Guo family’s younger members exchanged uncertain glances.

Wen Dayou frowned, looking at Guo Qihan.

“Qihan, tell us what happened!”

Old Master Guo and Jiang Baoyi exchanged a glance, then urgently looked at Guo Qihan.

“Do you remember the thick smoke rising over the east city some days ago?”

Guo Qihan began.

Pei Ji and Liu Wenjing exchanged looks, recalling their own confusion then. Everyone had wondered if the east city had already clashed with the rebels.

Now, hearing Guo Qihan mention this, they sensed he knew what had truly happened.

Guo Qihan continued after a brief pause.

“Everyone’s guess was right. The east city defenders did engage the rebels, but the results were beyond anything we expected!”

He shook his head, still dazed by what he had heard. He looked to the puzzled clan elders and officials.

“That day, it wasn’t the rebels attacking the east city first—the east city’s military captain Fu Zihou led two hundred cavalry out to meet them!”

“What? He went out on the offensive?”

“Why would he do that?”

Voices of disbelief erupted. Even the generals and officials like Zhang Pinggao, Jiang Baoyi, and Liu Wenjing exchanged bewildered glances. Against such overwhelming odds, how could Fu Zihou dare to sally forth?

Guo Qihan explained further.

The rebel general Zhen Zhai’er had sent men to seize peasants around Jinyang, driving them to the east city’s outskirts. Fu Zihou led troops out to rescue them.

Everyone finally understood the smoke they had seen rising across the river—it was cover for a rescue.

Jiang Baoyi, Zhang Pinggao, Xu Shixu, Pei Ji, and Liu Wenjing’s faces brightened with newfound respect. They hadn’t expected Fu Zihou to use smoke as a shield to save people.

Wu Shixuan, recalling the youth he had seen before, felt a pang of admiration for such boldness. Yet, listening to the discussions, he too thought it unwise to sally forth against an enemy of over a hundred thousand. Though compassionate, Fu Zihou’s actions were reckless; staying behind the walls would have been wiser.

“What happened next?”

Wu Shixuan asked Wen Dayou, noting his concern. Compared to other clans, the Taiyuan Wen family showed genuine loyalty. Wen Dayou had worried about the youth and often clashed with generals like Zhang Pinggao and officials like Jiang Baoyi and Liu Wenjing over plans to send troops.

Wu Shixuan admitted he could not do as Wen Dayou did; he could only admire from afar. Since arriving in Jinyang, though the west and east cities were separated only by a river, Wu Shixuan had never sought to meet the youth again.

One must understand the bigger picture and know when to advance or retreat.

Still, Wu Shixuan was curious how it ended.

“Outside the city, the rebel forces said the rescue failed. Seeing the smoke, the rebel general ordered his archers to shoot all the peasants guarding the area.”

Guo Qihan relayed what he had heard.

In the main hall, everyone drew a breath, shaking their heads at the rebels’ cruelty while sighing at Fu Zihou’s recklessness.

“Cunning or not, one cannot match the ruthlessness of the enemy! To rescue people amid an army of a hundred thousand—how difficult!”

“Yes! That captain underestimated the enemy’s generals! To command over a hundred thousand rebels and ambush Pan Jian’s troops with double the numbers—these rebel generals are no fools!”

“He shouldn’t have gone out…”

By candlelight, those kneeling murmured their agreement, convinced Fu Zihou was too young and naive to face such an overwhelming force. For them, Fu Zihou’s courage to hold out and perhaps surrender was already commendable; to attempt to rescue others was fanciful.

Guo Qihan, hearing their chatter, felt uneasy. Why couldn’t they wait for him to finish?

Looking at Old Master Sun, Uncle Zhang, and Uncle Di, all ready to judge Fu Zihou, Guo Qihan hesitated. Should he reveal what happened next?

If he did, and told the elders that Fu Zihou had not only seen through the rebel general’s stratagem amidst the smoke but had also, at a critical moment, led his troops to surround the rebel general by the moat, would their harsh judgments turn to shame?

“Brother Guo! What has this to do with the rebels’ massacre order? Could it be that Zhen Zhai’er used the massacre to maintain control over his troops?”

Xu Shixu asked, considering the murmurs.

Zhang Pinggao, Jiang Baoyi, and Liu Wenjing nodded silently. Though rebels, they knew such brutal acts were not without their own concerns. Perhaps Zhen Zhai’er’s order was a way to quell unrest among his forces.

“Qihan! If that’s so, say it quickly!”

Seeing Guo Qihan hesitate, the others grew impatient. Even Old Master Guo pressed him anxiously.

“Yes, yes…” Guo Qihan glanced at the other elders kneeling nearby, then steeled himself to continue.

“Fu Zihou single-handedly pursued the rebel general Tu Ye and, under the gaze of the rebel army of over a hundred thousand, personally beheaded him!”

Guo Qihan’s voice rang out.

The hall fell utterly silent; beneath the many flickering candles, those kneeling—Wen Dayou, Jiang Baoyi, Liu Wenjing, Pei Ji, Zhang Pinggao, Xu Shixu, and the clan elders—all stared at Guo Qihan in shock and disbelief.

“That day, Zhen Zhai’er sent General Tu Ye with a thousand cavalry to attack. Tu Ye ordered five hundred cavalry to shoot arrows into the thick fog, then personally led five hundred to circle north, aiming to ambush the east city defenders from behind. Yet…”

Guo Qihan recounted the entire event in detail.

As he finished, he looked at those who had been chattering moments before, now stunned and incredulous.

A defenseless eastern city of Jinyang, a young military captain, and under the eyes of an enemy army over one hundred thousand strong, personally slaying a rebel general.

Who could hear this and not be astonished?

“So the rebels lost face and, in fury, ordered the massacre!”

Di Dao muttered quietly.

Though his voice was low, the hall was so still all could hear him.

Zhang Pinggao and Xu Shixu exchanged looks, recalling their intimate knowledge of the east city’s walls and surrounding plains. They wondered if they could have achieved such a feat in the thick smoke—single-handedly pursuing and killing a rebel general under such overwhelming odds.

“That was days ago!” Guo Qihan quickly interrupted Di Dao, worried the others might speak before he finished.

Facing the expectant gazes, Guo Qihan turned to his grandfather.

“The real reason Zhen Zhai’er ordered the massacre was because two days ago, Fu Zihou led a night raid from the city, captured a rebel general, and caused the rebels to lose one of their commanders!”

Guo Qihan’s words struck Old Master Guo’s face, who showed a tremor of emotion.

Everyone in the hall, kneeling behind their tables, slightly parted their lips, shocked beyond belief.

“Zi… Zihou!”

Wen Dayou’s expression was dazed, unable to believe the words from Guo Qihan’s mouth or the events unfolding across the river.

He recalled the youth’s image, the letter from Old Master Li, the fact that surrounded by over one hundred thousand rebels, he had taken down two rebel generals in succession.

In that instant, an idea surfaced in Wen Dayou’s heart.

This was… Old Master Li’s grandson-in-law!