After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 820 - 810: Passing Off the Fake as Real

When the personal soldiers finally dragged an Imperial Physician over, Liu Yuan was already dead, though his body still held some residual warmth.

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to feel his breath and silently rose, looking up at the Han Kingdom ministers and generals who had lowered their heads in tears.

She pressed her lips together, still saying: "Inform everyone inside and outside the palace, Xiongnu Emperor Liu Yuan is deceased. All who serve under Xiongnu, whether Han people or barbarians, surrender your weapons without killing. Order the three armies sternly: do not infringe upon the lives of commoners, regardless of whether they are Han people or barbarians, civilians or slaves!"

The soldiers responded in unison, "Yes!"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Ring the bell."

She glanced at Xuan Yuxiu, who was crying on the ground, noting his official attire, and asked, "What is your name, and what position did you hold?"

Xuan Yuxiu did not want to answer, but an official beside him responded for him, "Reporting to Governor Zhao, this is Xuan Yuxiu, the Imperial Censor."

Another spoke up, "I am Tao Qi, a Han person, formerly a Jin Minister."

Zhao Hanzhang cast him a quick glance and then turned her attention to Xuan Yuxiu, "The funeral of Emperor Liu will be handed over to you. Conduct it according to imperial standards."

Xuan Yuxiu, raising his tear-stained face, glanced at Zhao Hanzhang, broke free from the soldiers pressing him down, and bowed deeply to her, saying, "As you command!"

Even Liu Qin stopped struggling and was quietly escorted away. Seeing this, the other Xiongnu ministers also obediently allowed themselves to be taken.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang order, "Gather all palace maids, eunuchs, and guards from the Imperial Palace, tally their numbers and belongings, do not harm or disgrace anyone."

The generals acknowledged her command, and then, like wolves and tigers, pounced on various parts of the palace.

The bell rang nine times in succession, causing those desperately fleeing inside and outside the palace to pause and halt their actions.

Upon hearing the nine tolls, some immediately fell to the ground and cried bitterly, while others dazedly dropped their weapons and were pressed down by Zhao Family Army captors. More hesitated but then stopped fleeing, squatting down to await capture by Zhao Family Army.

In Pingyang City, only one person could ring the funeral bell nine times; their emperor was dead...

Some felt grief, yet inside the palace, the panicked palace maids, eunuchs, and Han ministers suddenly felt reassured. If Zhao Hanzhang was willing to ring the bell for the deceased Xiongnu emperor, then her promise not to kill surrendering captives should also be genuine, right?

One individual stopped moving and successfully surrendered to Zhao Family Army without being slashed or insulted, prompting more to stop and stand still, waiting for Zhao Family Army to arrive and escort them away.

Chen Wu stormed into the main hall, and under Zhao Hanzhang’s orders, began counting the captives, as well as those outside the palace who had not yet surrendered and were resisting fiercely scattered throughout the city; they needed to either be vanquished or pacified.

Pingyang City contained an army of one hundred thousand. Earlier, when Fu Tinghan and the others attacked, the confrontation resulted in only a few thousand losses for the enemy.

This time, counting those who surrendered, amounted to merely around thirty thousand, leaving nearly sixty thousand more.

Soon, personal soldiers reported, "Two Xiongnu units are heading north towards the city, while one is moving east. The Little General and General Zeng are dividing forces to pursue; the Prince of Xiongnu is highly likely in the unit heading east."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Why?"

"Someone saw him within the troops."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded her head, saying, "Send reinforcements north, communicate with the forces outside the city and have them enter immediately to support the North City Gate."

The soldier stiffened and responded promptly.

Ting He asked urgently, "Lady, could the Crown Prince be among the two units in the north?"

"I don’t know," Zhao Hanzhang replied, "but there are more people there, so sending extra support wouldn’t be wrong. What’s the use of capturing just one Crown Prince? Better to capture all of Liu Yuan’s Princes, so Liu Cong has no choice but to exchange hostages with me."

However, the setup Liu Yuan arranged before dying was clearly not easy to break, with most of the Xiongnu court fleeing alongside the Crown Prince.

Sixty thousand imperial guards were divided into three units, among which were numerous capable officials and generals, along with their family members and servant guards, amounting to a massive group of ten thousand people.

Attacking the city from the outside was tough, but escaping from the inside out was much easier; their army charged out of the city, running directly into Ming Yu’s army, immediately charging forward as if crazed.

Ji Yuan initially intended to allow a gap for them to escape, and upon witnessing their high morale, ordered the opening of the gap while keeping a keen eye on heavily defended carriages, aiming to organize cavalry to attack.

Yet, their defenses were tight, and attempts to break through ended in heavy losses.

After two rounds, the Xiongnu army was on the verge of breaking through the North Gate. Their reinforcements arrived, and before the two armies clashed, the bell rang. The Xiongnu army hesitated momentarily before fervently charging outward. Seeing this, Ji Yuan had no choice but to reconsider, ordering someone to stop Zeng Yue, "An army fighting in mourning always prevails. Continuing will merely waste the lives of soldiers; let them pass."

Zeng Yue was unwilling, "No, the Governor ordered that Liu Family Princes must be captured. We must catch them."

With that, he led troops in pursuit from behind.

Despite the Xiongnu army’s grief and anger, knowing the Xiongnu roots remained intact meant that as long as Liu Cong stood undefeated, their resurgence was possible.

Losing Pingyang City was merely temporary; they believed they could reclaim it, but had not anticipated the emperor’s demise.

Realizing this, numerous soldiers shed tears, crying as they fought their way out. The carriages rocked like floating duckweed in water; the Crown Prince inside almost thrown out.

At a distance from the North Gate, Liu Yi also heard the bell from the East Gate, tears streaming down immediately.

He cried while desperately running toward the city limits, but he only commanded an army of ten thousand without accompanying family, although their combat power was high, they understood they were the abandoned group.

Similar to eunuchs, palace maids, and imperial guards left in the palace, they were without hope, so upon confirming Zhao Hanzhang’s leniency for surrendering captives, their sword swings lacked decisiveness.

The two armies at the North Gate included family members; halting there risked the loss of loved ones, but the unit at the East Gate was different, meant to impersonate the Crown Prince as bait, diverting forces.

Even Liu Yi, upon hearing the ninth bell, lost his momentum and lethargically slowed down until he ultimately stopped.

He wanted to return, to go back to the palace—it was pitiful for Father Emperor to lie alone in the cold palace.

As a son, failing to attend to the Father Emperor during his death was profoundly sinful, even more to allow him to lack a son to send him off after passing.

Liu Yi halted while Zhao Erlang charged ahead, riding up to face him. Upon recognizing Liu Yi’s Crown Prince attire, he blinked, "Liu Yi, when did Xiongnu change the Crown Prince?"

Liu Yi dropped his sword, looking at him angrily, "Do whatever you wish to me, why mock me?"

Zhao Erlang muttered, he hadn’t mocked him?

He turned to his personal soldiers, "Go back and tell my sister I captured the Xiongnu Crown Prince."

His personal soldiers: "...Little General, he is not the Crown Prince; he’s a fake, impersonating the Crown Prince!"

Instantly realizing, Zhao Erlang grew furious, thrusting his spear close to Liu Yi’s neck, "Oh you, trying a diversion on me, huh? Am I so easily fooled? Men, take him back; I’m off to support the North Gate!"