The Child Emperor
Chapter 280: The Imperial Uncle in Luoyang

The garrison troops on the city wall clearly recognized Fan Zhuangshan but refused to immediately exit the city to reinforce the army. Instead, they demanded proof, saying, “The Emperor wouldn’t come to rescue Luoyang with so few men. Commander Fan, we heard you were doing well in the Imperial Guard – you haven’t joined the rebels, have you?”

Fan Zhuangshan was furious. “His Majesty is right outside the city – you must have seen him!”

But those inside couldn’t see. Since being surrounded by the rebel army, they hadn’t sent any scouts outside the city. They had been hoping for an imperial army of 100,000, not a few thousand soldiers of unclear origin.

Fan Zhuangshan was not skilled with words. Unable to call for reinforcements but unwilling to return with his mission unfulfilled, he let out an angry roar and turned his horse, charging wherever he saw the largest concentration of enemies, not caring how many of his soldiers followed, swinging his axe at anyone in his path.

The Imperial Guard rebels’ camp had the highest concentration of people, with fierce fighting underway. Though the rebels numbered only a few hundred, they had managed to rally several thousand bandit troops to join forces. Chai Yue’s army had already charged through, but the remaining Chu forces were too few to gain an advantage and gradually became surrounded.

This was when Fan Zhuangshan arrived – literally “killed his way in” – his long axe dealing death to anyone in his path, not even sparing horses. Even the Chu soldiers had to keep their distance to avoid being accidentally killed.

“Death to anyone who blocks my way!” Fan Zhuangshan grew more enraged as he killed, and stronger with his rage.

Like the earlier battle at the northern gate of the Capital, since the fighting quickly devolved into close combat, both sides rarely used bows, mainly fighting with blades – perfect conditions for a fierce warrior like Fan Zhuangshan.

He soon charged into the enemy crowd and was surrounded by dozens of rebel troops. Even without hidden arrows, the obvious ones were hard to defend against. Though he struck down many enemies, his mount was repeatedly stabbed until it let out a cry of pain and collapsed sideways.

One of Fan Zhuangshan’s legs was pinned, but fortunately, the Chu forces behind him caught up in time to drive back the rebels. He pushed away the dead horse, picked up his long axe, and continued charging forward. Though slower now, he swung his axe with even greater force.

To say Fan Zhuangshan single-handedly turned the tide of battle would be an exaggeration, but his contribution was truly irreplaceable.

The rebel army, mainly composed of bandits, feared this kind of immensely strong, seemingly suicidal warrior the most. The campfires left from cooking made it worse, their flickering light making Fan Zhuangshan appear even more massive, his roars echoing across the battlefield like those of a berserk beast.

Seeing the Imperial Guard rebels in the center of the camp, Fan Zhuangshan grew even more enraged. These were the men who had ruined his reputation and prospects. He charged forward in great strides, and the rebel troops scattered, none daring to block his path.

The rebels recognized Fan Zhuangshan, and their hearts trembled at the mere sight of his silhouette. None dared to engage him in close combat. A few tried to shoot arrows, but their companions wouldn’t cooperate, instead turning to flee the camp.

The Imperial Guard rebels scattered first, and without leadership, the bandit troops began to flee as well – even faster and more desperately than the rebels, fighting among themselves for horses.

The Imperial Guard rebels escaped the camp and tried to rally the bandit troops, still having a chance to turn and fight, but at this moment, Luoyang’s garrison finally sortied from the city.

Though the Chu forces still didn’t have numerical superiority, the rebel army’s morale had collapsed, and they were eager to flee, no longer obeying the Imperial Guard rebels’ commands.

As the battle entered its final phase, the Chu forces were too few and it was too dark to surround the enemy. While the various bandit groups had been courteous to each other during the fighting, they now showed their true colors in retreat, taking any path available – charging into mountains or jumping into rivers. The several hundred Imperial Guard rebels suffered heavy casualties, with very few successfully escaping.

When the cavalry came to report to the Emperor, it was just as the rebel army began to scatter, before they saw Luoyang’s garrison exit the city. When Han Ruzi arrived at the battlefield, he saw a force rampaging through, rushing to collect heads and seize the goods left behind by the rebels.

A group of Chu soldiers escorted Fan Zhuangshan before the Emperor’s horse. Fan Zhuangshan was covered in blood, and his long axe had been replaced at some point. He dropped it, fell to his knees, and said, “This guilty subject is incompetent…”

Han Ruzi dismounted and helped Fan Zhuangshan up, declaring loudly, “The greatest merit in this battle undoubtedly belongs to General Fan.”

The Chu soldiers cheered loudly, as they had all witnessed it and had no doubt about this fact.

Fan Zhuangshan stood up and chuckled twice, looking puzzled at Luoyang’s garrison, “When did they come out?”

Han Ruzi ignored the Luoyang garrison and ordered his troops to assemble and march in formation toward Luoyang city.

The city gates were wide open, and even the gate guards had run out to grab war spoils. They had “strictly” followed the Emperor’s orders: the entire army was to exit the city to join the battle, leaving no one behind.

No one was there to receive the Emperor. Fan Zhuangshan mounted a fresh horse and led the way directly to the Prefect of Henan’s mansion.

Unlike other local officials, the Prefect of Henan didn’t reside in the government office but in a separate mansion. It was formerly the Prince of Henan’s residence, now the Marquis of Luoyang’s mansion. The grounds were extensive, with an entrance even more magnificent than the government office, outshining all other princely mansions in the Capital.

Prince Donghai looked up to admire it, nodding continuously.

Someone had announced their arrival in advance. Colorful lanterns hung at the mansion’s entrance, making it as bright as day. Many officials stood in formation, but Prefect Han Chou himself was absent.

Fan Zhuangshan dismounted and stood there looking fierce, startling many of the officials who recognized him.

“Why aren’t you kneeling before His Majesty?” Fan Zhuangshan shouted.

Several people knelt, not of their own volition but because their legs had gone weak from fright. Other officials gradually knelt as well, but they hesitated to kowtow, instead looking up at the young rider behind Fan Zhuangshan.

Han Ruzi was in military attire with only a few guards, lacking the most conspicuous ceremonial guards and well-known court ministers. The dozens of banners behind him seemed too modest for an emperor.

No wonder people were skeptical that this was the Emperor.

Cui Teng also dismounted and approached an official, “Old Song, don’t you recognize me?”

Old Song, as Deputy Prefect of the prefecture, held the second highest position in Luoyang after the Prefect of Henan. Having met the second son of Grand Tutor Cui before, he quickly replied, “Yes, yes, Second Young Master Cui…”

Cui Teng raised his leg and delivered a kick, “You recognize me but not the Emperor? Do you want your entire family executed?”

The kick wasn’t hard, but Deputy Prefect Song trembled all over. He quickly kowtowed, “This humble servant was ignorant and did not recognize the imperial visage. I beg for forgiveness, I beg for forgiveness…”

Dozens of officials joined in kowtowing, though some couldn’t help but sneak glances.

Cui Teng was about to reprimand these disrespectful fellows when Prince Donghai also dismounted and walked over, asking, “Has Luoyang not received any imperial edicts?”

Deputy Prefect Song kowtowed several times and replied, “Luoyang hasn’t received an edict for several months. We just heard that there were changes in the imperial court, but then we were besieged by rebel forces. Therefore… we didn’t know Your Majesty was arriving.”

Prince Donghai turned and said, “It’s not entirely their fault for being disrespectful; they truly didn’t know.”

Han Ruzi nodded, understanding that Prince Donghai was giving both sides a way out. Luoyang was a major city, not too far from the Capital, and Hangu Pass wasn’t the only route. The officials here had no reason to be completely unaware of major court affairs.

But he didn’t want to point this out.

Prince Donghai continued, “Where is Han Chou, the Prefect of Henan? Why isn’t he coming out to greet His Majesty?”

“Yes, yes.” Deputy Prefect Song kneeled and backed away, then stood up a few steps later and hurried into the mansion.

Soon, a group of people emerged from the mansion. Most of them knelt as soon as they stepped outside, but one fat man rushed to the front of the Emperor’s horse, prostrated himself, and began to wail, “It’s truly His Majesty! Truly His Majesty! Great Chu has hope again; Heaven has eyes, the ancestors are watching over us, the people are blessed, and the royal family is saved…”

This was Han Chou, the Prefect of Henan, and an uncle to both Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai.

Han Ruzi, still inexperienced, had not expected such a scene. He dismounted and said, “Imperial Uncle, there’s no need for such formality. Please rise.”

Han Chou twisted his obese body, crawling like a giant insect to the Emperor’s feet, and kowtowed repeatedly. “Failing to welcome Your Majesty is a grave sin. I dare not plead for mercy. Please, Your Majesty, punish me.”

Han Ruzi had no choice but to bend down to help. Han Chou was too heavy for him to lift alone, so three guards came forward to assist, and together they managed to get the Prefect of Henan to his feet.

Han Chou was of average height but extremely fat, with a face flushed red and eyes brimming with tears. He extended his hands as if to touch the Emperor but pulled back halfway, speaking in a voice filled with reverence and fear, “Your Majesty looks exactly like the Martial Emperor!”

Most of the court ministers had seen the Martial Emperor, and no one had ever said such a thing.

But Han Ruzi couldn’t contradict him, so he responded with a smile.

Han Chou could no longer contain himself and grasped one of the Emperor’s hands, holding it to his chest as if it were a fragile, priceless treasure. “When Your Majesty ascended the throne, I went to pay my respects. I never thought it would be years before we met again.”

Turning to Prince Donghai, Han Chou, smiling through his tears, said, “Prince Donghai, tell me, doesn’t His Majesty look exactly like the Martial Emperor?”

Prince Donghai smiled and affirmed with a hum.

Han Ruzi couldn’t let his royal uncle continue to ramble. “The Luoyang garrison is still outside the city…”

“They’re a useless bunch!” Han Chou fumed. “They only know how to draw rations but are utterly unreliable in times of need. Now that Your Majesty is here, what use are they? Kill them all, kill them all.”

“That won’t be necessary. I intend to enlist this army.”

“Yes, yes, Your Majesty graciously allows them to redeem themselves through service. You are too merciful. They are Your Majesty’s army. All of Luoyang belongs to Your Majesty, including myself. Though I can’t wield a sword, I can carry a few sacks of grain. If nothing else, I can serve as a mounting block for Your Majesty.”

Han Chou immediately knelt, as if to let the Emperor test whether he made a suitable mounting block.

The guards stepped forward to support him.

Han Ruzi was about to speak when Han Chou turned to the officials and shouted, “Why are you still kneeling? Prepare a banquet to welcome His Majesty! Luoyang may not be the capital, but we can surely offer something decent.”

The officials scrambled into action. Some went to prepare the banquet, while others, according to their ranks, clustered around the Emperor, following closely.

Han Ruzi hadn’t yet understood what was happening before he was ushered into the mansion by the crowd.

Although the deployment of troops in Luoyang was slow, the serving of dishes was fast. Despite it being the middle of the night, steaming hot wine and delicacies were brought out like a whirlwind.

Han Chou’s excitement was uncontrollable. He barely gave the Emperor a chance to catch his breath, quickly calling out groups of his descendants to pay respects to the Emperor. Finally, he even summoned his wife, concubines, daughters, daughters-in-law, and other female relatives, introducing each one as if the Emperor were a family member rather than an outsider.

Han Chou personally offered wine, each time kneeling on the ground, holding the cup with both hands, and raising it above his head.

After a few cups of wine, seeing the eager officials of Luoyang lined up to offer drinks, Han Ruzi knew he couldn’t wait any longer. Using the excuse of needing to relieve himself, he signaled Prince Donghai and Cui Teng to follow him outside.

Outside the hall, Han Ruzi said to Cui Teng, “You want to earn merit, don’t you?”

“Of course, are you sending me to Ao Granary?” Cui Teng was delighted.

“No, I want you to go back in and get Han Chou drunk, so he won’t hinder me for a while.”

“That’s it?” Cui Teng was greatly disappointed.

“If you succeed, your merit will be second only to General Fan.”

“No problem, if there’s even one official in Luoyang who can still stand, I’ll consider myself a failure.” Cui Teng, full of fighting spirit, returned to the hall.

Han Ruzi then said to Prince Donghai, “Come with me.”

Prince Donghai glanced longingly back at the hall and said, “Just let me live this kind of life.”

“Don’t worry, wait until the world is at peace.” Han Ruzi found Qu Zixi and instructed him to keep an eye on Cui Teng, then he took Prince Donghai and his guards out of the mansion. For him, the battle was not yet over.

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