Chapter 1346 - 1281: Crushing Defeat
Isn’t Tuoba Yilu doing all these things now just to secure the rule and succession of the Dai Country?
Originally, she planned to handle this matter in a few years. She kept Tuoba Liuxiu and got along with him well to prevent any northern surprises when she seized power.
However, she didn’t expect things to go so smoothly, with the Little Emperor being so cooperative, so she didn’t plan to ignite the Tuoba Liuxiu bomb.
Moreover, after three years of getting along, she hasn’t developed much affection for her adoptive brother Tuoba Yilu, but she has formed a friendship with her nephew Tuoba Liuxiu through their interactions.
He’s loyal and willing to be advised to treat ordinary farmers and herdsmen kindly, and he admires her, so naturally, she doesn’t want to use his life to scheme against the Dai Country.
That’s why she had been suppressing the official letter from Tuoba Yilu requesting to appoint Tuoba Biyan as the Princely Heir. She thought once she ascends the throne, with her as Tuoba Liuxiu’s backing, Tuoba Yilu would not dare to plot against Liuxiu again.
And Tuoba Liuxiu, with her admonitions, would not fight his father to the death either.
Even if there was conflict, it would be within a controllable range. By the time the Dai Country was passed on to Tuoba Liuxiu, it would gradually shift from an independently governed vassal state to a Vassal King only having garrison power and no governing power.
She had already planned the best transition for the Dai Country, even ensuring the smooth succession of the Tuoba Xianbei Tribe’s throne, but Tuoba Yilu insisted she go and destroy the Dai Country.
The meat is right at her lips; does he really expect her to resist temptation and not take a bite?
Does this adoptive brother of hers think she’s too kind, or too timid?
Based on her understanding of this adoptive brother, it’s probably the latter?
Zhao Hanzhang returned to the room, wanting to lie down on the couch outside without disturbing Fu Tinghan, but the creaking sound of the door woke Fu Tinghan up.
He was now wide awake and realized he was hungry, so he came out looking for food, "Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"
Already lying on the couch, Zhao Hanzhang immediately got up, "What’s there to eat at this hour?"
The two of them quietly made their way to the tearoom.
Hanging from the beam in the tearoom were two baskets. Fu Tinghan took down a basket and opened it. Each basket had two layers. The bottom of one contained fried fish, with each fish only as big as a palm, and the top had a few flatbreads.
Fu Tinghan took them all out.
Zhao Hanzhang checked the other basket, which had a plate of pastries on top and six round eggs below.
She took them all out too.
On the stove, hot water was kept warm because both of them often worked late and drank water, sometimes even strong tea, so the tearoom always had warm water.
Fu Tinghan poked the coals in the stove, added a few more pieces to get the fire going, and then put the eggs into the boiling kettle, "How many do you want to eat?"
"Two, I guess."
"Then why did you take out all six?"
Zhao Hanzhang: "I thought you were going to make poached eggs..." Then she could eat three, or even more. Who knew he was making boiled eggs?
Fu Tinghan silently didn’t say anything. After a while of heating, he took down the kettle and used tongs to start grilling the flatbreads on the stove, which soon emitted a wheat fragrance.
Ting He, who was in the side room, either heard the commotion or smelled the food, came over carrying a lantern.
Zhao Hanzhang heard the footsteps, glanced back, and waved her hand at her, so Ting He quietly retreated.
Fu Tinghan was completely focused on grilling the flatbreads and didn’t notice her movements. He handed her a grilled flatbread, only then had the time to ask, "Where did something happen?"
"In the Dai Country," she told him what happened in the Dai Country and calculated on her fingers, "There’s still sixteen days until the enthronement ceremony, no, the sky is about to brighten, fifteen days left. I’m not sure if the Dai Country will be stable when I ascend the throne. If not, the first thing after the enthronement will be to deploy troops to the Dai Country."
Fu Tinghan couldn’t quite understand, "Isn’t Tuoba Liuxiu the biological son of Tuoba Yilu? Why must he force Tuoba Liuxiu onto a path of death?"
"They’re not normal people. You can’t deduce them with the ethics of normal people," Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "However, behaviors that exceed normal ethics are bound to be condemned and scorned, so I must stop Tuoba Liuxiu from killing his father, otherwise, he won’t survive either."
If Tuoba Liuxiu truly killed Tuoba Yilu as in history, even if she sympathized with him, she couldn’t let him go unpunished.
Otherwise, the moral order would further collapse.
Therefore, Tuoba Yilu can die at anyone’s hands, just not Tuoba Liuxiu’s.
"I already sent Yuan Li to Dai Country; he should be able to persuade Tuoba Liuxiu."
Historically, Tuoba Liuxiu killed Tuoba Yilu because he had no other choice. If he didn’t kill Tuoba Yilu, his other forces would counterattack once they reacted; Tuoba Liuxiu, with only Xinping City, would lose.
If he killed Tuoba Yilu, he could replace his father.
But now, he has Zhao Hanzhang as a second choice.
Zhao Hanzhang felt there was still enough time, and Yuan Li believed he could make it in time, riding fast from Luoyang to the Dai Country, changing horses along the way; he could arrive in three days.
To dispatch troops from Ping City to Xinping City would take a day, and no matter what, the battle would be fought for several days, right?
Yuan Li thought that Tuoba Liuxiu should be able to defend the city for a few days before being breached so soon;
Zhao Hanzhang thought that Tuoba Yilu should be able to hold for a few days before being defeated so soon.
Who knew the battle would start suddenly and end quickly.
Tuoba Liuxiu originally wanted to send out troops but was dissuaded by confidants and then sought Wu Sheng for an invitation.
Wu Sheng, meanwhile, contacted Beigong Chun, passed messages to Luoyang, and gathered news about Ping City.
This probing was critical when they heard of a major change in the Imperial Palace of Ping City, and it seemed Tuoba Biyan had died.
If Wu Sheng could hear the news, how could Tuoba Liuxiu not know?
He almost immediately gathered his subordinate generals upon hearing the news, telling them, "Biyian is dead. Father will definitely not spare me and will dispatch soldiers against me. We need to prepare in advance."
So he began digging traps, preparing provisions, summoning troops, and setting ambushes along the way.
What kind of city is Xinping City?
Back then, Tuoba Yilu ascended a highland outside Ping City to spot two mountains in the distance with a narrow plain in between and said, this place’s terrain is perilous and a strategic location. He drew a circle there, named it Xinping City, and assigned Tuoba Liuxiu to garrison it.
Xinping City is right in the middle of that narrow plain.
To reach Xinping City from Ping City, one must cross a river and then face two high mountains, with Xinping City nestled between them.
These two mountains restricted Xinping City’s development while offering it considerable defensive strength. The river and city entrance were natural barriers and excellent ambush sites.
Tuoba Yilu, filled with hatred, had nowhere to vent and was unwilling to wait any longer.
The next day, he mobilized troops and set off for Xinping City, and no amount of persuasion from Wei Xiong could change his mind, thus he followed.
Ji Dan was left to supervise state affairs. As soon as they left, he began contacting people to prepare to relocate the populace to Bingzhou.
Only two days passed when he received news of Tuoba Yilu’s massive defeat.
Tuoba Liuxiu set an ambush, killing a wave when the enemy’s army crossed the river, then feigned retreat, and ambushed again using the two mountains when Tuoba Yilu led his troops up.
The father and son didn’t even meet but had already clashed twice. Tuoba Yilu was severely defeated both times, his army scattered, and he fled to the countryside.
Knowing he had struck, Tuoba Liuxiu couldn’t let him go, so he sent people to search everywhere.