novelSusiti Chapter 47 Opening the Way
Chapter 47 Opening the Way
On the official road, the sound of horses' hooves thundered and banners fluttered as more than 10,000 imperial guards of the Song Dynasty marched in an orderly fashion toward Zezhou City.
In the distance, the majestic outline of the Taihang Mountains is faintly visible on the horizon, with layers upon layers of peaks, like a giant beast crouching, exuding a sense of vastness and peril that makes one's heart tremble.
Zhao Kuangyin, clad in bright armor, with a sword at his waist and a dragon-patterned staff on his back, rode his horse beneath the central army banner. Zhao Dezhao also rode a fine horse beside his father.
During this time, thanks to Zhao Kuangyin's teachings and the original owner's physical memories, Zhao Dezhao gradually learned the art of riding and archery.
Horseback riding is naturally no problem either.
The army marched swiftly, traveling day and night, and in just over ten days, they arrived at the foot of the Taihang Mountains.
Zhao Kuangyin reined in his horse, looked up at the rolling, precipitous mountains, and without the slightest hesitation, said in a deep voice:
"Pass down the order: the entire army must prepare, immediately cross the Taihang Mountains, take the Baijing Pass, and march straight towards Zezhou!"
Military orders are absolute, and the soldiers quickly prepared their equipment and got ready to enter the mountains.
However, just then, the scout who had gone to explore the area rode up at full speed, bringing bad news:
"Your Majesty, the Black Hair Gully plank road ahead has been completely blocked by falling rocks caused by the heavy rain; there is no way to pass!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin frowned, and Zhao Dezhao, who was standing beside him, also recalled the terrain of the Taihang Mountains.
They were currently at the entrance to the most dangerous section of the Baijing Pass in the Taihang Mountains, known as the "Hanging Ancient Road" by the local villagers.
The mountain path is winding and steep, with cliffs on both sides as if carved by a knife and axe, allowing only a sliver of skylight to peek through.
There was a reason why Zhao Kuangyin chose this path.
The Baixing Pass connects to Lingchuan in the east and leads directly to Zezhou in the north. This not only saves time by several times, but also allows for the occupation of the Shangdang Highlands, making its geographical location extremely advantageous.
Unfortunately, the weather turned bad. A few days ago, a heavy rain caused rocks to fall from the cliffs on both sides, leaving the road surface covered with jagged stones.
"Your Majesty, this mountain road is too treacherous; I'm afraid it will be difficult to cross," Li Chuyun said, frowning as well.
Zhao Kuangyin remained silent upon hearing this, only gazing at the distant natural barrier and steep mountain path with a furrowed brow.
The battle of Zezhou could not be delayed. Not long after he set out on the campaign, a man named Zhai Shouxun, a confidant of Li Chongjin, the military governor of Huainan, came to surrender.
Zhai Shouxun claimed that Li Chongjin "had no intention of surrendering," so he sent him to Zezhou to discuss with Li Jun the possibility of joining forces to form a pincer movement between the north and south.
If war breaks out on two fronts, the Song Dynasty will inevitably be put on the defensive.
Therefore, he made a solemn promise, instructing Zhai Shouxun to cooperate with Lu Duoxun, who was on a mission, to use every means possible to delay Li Chongjin's uprising.
Nobody knows how long it might drag on.
Therefore, this battle in Zezhou must be won quickly!
"If we take a detour, it will probably add another half month to our journey..." Zhao Kuangyin muttered to himself, his gaze sweeping over the generals accompanying him. "Do any of you have a good plan?"
The generals looked at each other, bowing their heads in silence.
The Baijing Pass and Heimao Gully are already natural barriers, and now they are filled with jagged rocks. Unless you have wings, there is no way to go.
Just then, Zhao Dezhao, who had been silent for a long time, hesitated for a moment and suddenly said, "Father, I may have a way."
"What method?" Zhao Kuangyin glanced at his son in surprise.
"Splitting rocks to make a road."
Zhao Dezhao spoke calmly, even with a hint of sadness: "Although this road is dangerous, it is only because of the heavy rain that the rocks are scattered everywhere. As long as the soldiers work together to break through the rocks blocking the way, the army can pass."
Zhao Dezhao was able to think of this because he recalled how firefighters and soldiers dealt with various natural disasters in his previous life.
The flood was raging, but wasn't it also thanks to countless firefighters and soldiers risking their lives to block it with sandbags?
Every time an earthquake strikes, the ruins are filled with rubble, but it doesn't stop those admirable people. They can use their bloodied hands to dig out a path to survival!
Now it's just a plank road piled with some fallen rocks, what's so difficult about splitting it open?
However, upon hearing this, one of the generals immediately shook his head with a wry smile.
"Your Highness is joking. This Black Stone Gully stretches for ten miles, filled with countless boulders. When will it ever be cleared? Besides, the soldiers have been marching for days and are already exhausted..."
Zhao Dezhao seemed not to hear these words, and just stubbornly looked at Zhao Kuangyin: "Father, I believe that this matter is not difficult."
"My father once taught me that Sun Tzu's Art of War says: 'Those who are united in purpose will prevail.'"
"As the saying goes, what the superiors do, the inferiors will follow. If Father Emperor is willing to take the lead and personally cut through the mountains to open up roads, then the soldiers will naturally strive to be the first to act. With many people working together, why worry about not being able to open the mountain road?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin was startled and froze on the spot, a complex light flashing in his eyes.
Zhao Dezhao's words instantly unlocked his long-buried memories, reminding him of a person and a battle that changed the fate of countless people.
—The Battle of Gaoping!
I still remember that year, when the Northern Han and Khitan allied forces launched a large-scale invasion. The Zhou army defended against the enemy at Gaoping. In the midst of the fierce battle, the Zhou right army suddenly collapsed, and the entire battle line instantly crumbled, plunging them into a desperate situation.
At this critical moment of life and death, a man suddenly spurred his horse and led only fifty cavalrymen, charging headlong into the central camp of tens of thousands of Northern Han troops!
He was one of those 50 riders.
50 to tens of thousands.
At that time, even he thought the man had gone mad. He thought that since he was going to die anyway, he might as well go crazy with the man!
But no one expected that the man's fierce and courageous spirit would create a legendary battle!
These 50 horsemen actually cleaved through an entire army of 10,000! They turned the impossible into reality!
Emperor Liu Chong of the Northern Han Dynasty was terrified. Faced with an enemy force of less than fifty riders, he disregarded his main army and fled in panic!
With their commander fleeing, the morale of the Northern Han army collapsed instantly, and their fighting spirit plummeted.
The Battle of Gaoping was won!
It was this battle that allowed a man to firmly secure his throne as emperor, begin conquering all sides, and create an immortal legend in the chaotic world!
It was during this battle that he caught the eye of that man, and from then on, the two were not only ruler and subject, but also brothers.
That man's name is Guo Rong!
"What a brilliant example of leading by example! What a powerful demonstration of unity of purpose leading to victory!"
Zhao Kuangyin snapped out of his daze, a hint of relief and delight flashing in his eyes. He patted Zhao Dezhao's shoulder heavily, but said nothing more. Instead, he dismounted and went straight to the foot of the cliff.
Under the watchful eyes of countless people, Zhao Kuangyin stepped heavily onto the waterlogged stone steps. As his military boots ascended the steps, layers of water splashed out beneath his feet.
Li Chuyun, who was standing nearby, noticed Zhao Kuangyin's intention and quickly tried to step forward to dissuade him: "Your Majesty is of inestimable value, how can you take such a risk? I am willing to do it in your stead!"
However, just after Li Chuyun spoke, Zhao Kuangyin had already used the momentum to climb up a cliff about ten feet high.
This is the starting point of the rock pile on the plank road.
Just after Zhao Kuangyin leaped onto the cliff, some stone fragments fell from it, causing the expressions of all the more than 10,000 imperial guards who witnessed it to change drastically.
While Li Chuyun and several other generals were still trying to persuade Zhao Kuangyin to step down, Zhao Kuangyin casually remarked:
"Bring me a rope!"
Li Chuyun was slightly taken aback. With the imperial order before him, he instinctively reached for the rope.
However, a slender boy beat him to it, carrying a rope, and quickly brushed past him.
Upon recognizing the person, Li Chuyun was immediately alarmed: "Your Highness, this is absolutely forbidden!"
"His Highness is not in the army!"
After leaving those words, Zhao Dezhao came to the bottom of the rock where his father was. He looked up at his father's tall figure and, imitating Zhao Kuangyin, climbed up the cliff with both hands and feet to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
After several months of special training from Zhao Kuangyin, achieving this was not difficult for Zhao Dezhao.
Zhao Dezhao wiped the water off his face and grinned at Zhao Kuangyin:
"Father, your son is here to help you!"
"Good! Good! Good!"
Zhao Kuangyin said "good" three times in a row, his eyes filled with satisfaction and joy. He laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the valley.
"Today, my son and I will personally pave a heavenly path for our army!"