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Chapter 53 - The Final Battle of Wu and Yue

In the past ten years, Goujian had strengthened his army. His soldiers had been trained by a formidable swordsman - Yue Maiden. A disciple of Ou Yezi forged swords for the soldiers. Food supply was also not a big deal for them. Indeed, in ten years, Goujian's power had tripled than before.

The armies of Yue were in high spirit. With Goujian in command, Yue engaged Wu in battle after battle, each time emerging victorious, and finally besieging Fuchai's forces in the western part of the Wu capital for the past two years. They knew that this time would be their last battle against Wu. They believed that this time, they would be able to eliminate Wu and wipe off their national humiliation forever.

That day, Yue's soldiers wanted to enter the Wu capital via the Xu Gate - the south city gate. As the Yue soldiers approached the gate, they saw the head of Wu Zixu with flashing eyes and hair hanging downward on all sides – hung on a pole. That bodiless head was incandescent that it could be seen from a distance of ten li.

"Wu Zixu…that's Wu Zixu's head!" said Fan Li to Wen Zhong, who were leading the soldiers.

"Aye, restless soul!" Wen Zhong said.

Wu's military commander was General Ji Nan. He was a subordinate of Xuanye and Wu Zixu. After Wu Zixu's death and Xuanye's retirement, Ji Nan became the military commander. It was Ji Nan who moved the head of Wu Zixu to the southern gate.

Yan Xuanye left the Wu State after his wife passed away. Before he left Wu State, he met Ji Nan for the last time. He told Ji Nan that Goujian was unstoppable since he was determined to win the war and because Goujian had many capable people supporting him. Fan Li, Wen Zhong, Yue Maiden, and other loyal ministers of Goujian.

Xuanye told Ji Nan to move Wu Zixu's head to the south gate - as that south gate was the strongest and might be the last stronghold of Wu State. Wu Zixu was wronged and died because of Fuchai. Yet he loved Wu State, and he would protect Wu even after he died. Therefore Wu Zixu's head had to be hung high on the city gate.

Wu Zixu's head created a terrifying effect on the Yue army. Terrified, the Yue armies stopped and camped for the night by the roadside.

At midnight a terrific storm suddenly struck, causing grave damage and

forcing the Yue troops to retreat to Songling.

Ji Nan used the moment to attack the Yue army. The dead bodies lay all about, and the Yue troops scattered in every direction, yet there was no way to bring the devastation to stop.

At this point, Fan Li and Wen Zhong came to realize that it's all because of Wu Zixu's curse. He was a righteous man, but Fan Li and Wen Zhong, using Xi Shi and Zheng Dan, had cause Wu Zixu's tragic death.

Fan Li and Wen Zhong knew that the devastation would continue if they didn't make a humble offering to Wu Zixu. Therefore, the two of them returned to the south gate. There, on the foot of the wall, they removed their upper garments and performed a kowtow, expressed their gratitude to Wu Zixu, and begged him to show them a way out of the disaster consuming the Yue force.

General Ji Nan of Wu saw how sincere Fan Li and Wen Zhong respecting the late Wu Zixu. Bo Pi and the other corrupt ministers; despised and looked down at Wu Zixu. Even many of the low ranks soldiers disrespect Wu Zixu's head. Yet, these two Yue ministers sincerely kowtowed in front of Wu Zixu's head.

Ying only watched them from afar. Deep inside her heart, she felt sorry for Xi Shi and Zheng Dan. At the same time, she's glad that she's not part of the beauty traps that caused the death of a righteous minister like Wu Zixu.

Wu Zixu then appeared to Fan Li and Wen Zhong in a dream.

Wu Zixu told them that he had long predicted that the Yue armies were certain to attack the Wu capital. Therefore, just before dying, he had requested that his head be placed atop the city's south wall as he wanted to witness Wu's destruction. His only thought at the time had been to put Fuchai in a difficult position.

But when the Yue force was on the point of entering the Wu capital, it was too painful for Wu Zixu to bear. Therefore he had created a horrific storm to frighten Yue soldiers into retreating.

However, Yue's punishment of Wu was Heaven's will and was not something he could stop. If the Yue army wished to enter the Wu capital, it should alter its plan and go in via the east gate, which he would open.

Fan Li and Wen Zhong followed their dream and led their army to enter the city through the east gate. A fierce battle broke. The last defender of the capital, General Ji Nan, died defending the city.

The Wu capital had fallen, and the remaining soldiers of Wu retreated to regroup with the last Wu army. Fan Li ordered Ying with three thousand troops to chase them.

Ying led three thousand of Yuè army marched forward against fifteen thousand of Wú army. These three thousand soldiers were the soldiers trained by Yue Maiden, and they were using swords forged by Ying.

They had anticipated that the swords they used were formidable. The Wu soldiers would have to face difficulties in dealing with them. Yet, they had never expected that the swords they used were more powerful than what they had expected.

These fifteen thousand of Wu army, they knew that they were the last defender of Wu. They fought bravely with no fear.

But these three thousand soldiers were menacing. Once the sword flashed, many Wú soldiers turned into dead bodies.

The sword designed by Ying complements the sword skills from Yue Maiden. Yue Maiden was first using spear before she learned her swordsmanship. Therefore, sometimes she used the method of spear-stabbing in her swordsmanship. Ying could easily tell that Yue Maiden's sword skills need a longer sword. Accordingly, Ying designed and forged a longer double-edged sword instead of a one-edge sword like what the Yue soldiers used before.

Ying didn't even have to go to fight by herself. She just rode her horse and watched how's the battle going from afar. The three thousand expendables Yue swordsman were indeed mighty. The death rate was one for Yue compared to nine soldiers for Wu.

At first, Ying was so proud of herself when she saw how powerful those expendables soldiers who used swords she forged.

But after a while, when she saw the casualties, she became uneasy. She saw Wu's soldiers with their intestines spilled out, headless corpses, half detached heads, arms, and other scary things.

She recalled her conversation with Xuanye a few years ago before learning sword-forging from Ou Yezi.

"Mister Yao said, it was you who ward off King Goujian's campaign last time. It's too bad that you have retired now. Otherwise, the next war will be interesting!"

"Interesting? Nothing is interesting about war, little girl!" Xuanye said.

Ying unconsciously sighed, "Indeed, nothing is interesting about war! This war is so cruel! But then…this war is the only way to stop Wu from invading our country again! Once Wu is wiped off, then there will be no more war between Wu and Yue!" Ying said in her mind.

Suddenly she saw how the Wu army regrouped and retreated. Apparently, Fuchai ordered his troops to retreat to Yuhang Mountain.

The army of Yuè followed and chased Fuchai and his troupe. The second battle ensued. And the Wú army was again defeated.

Fuchai had no other option. He had to send a messenger to Goujian for a peace treaty.

"Mighty Yue King, your servant Fuchai sent this message to you," the messenger spoke in a loud voice when he was brought to see Goujian.

Goujian said nothing and just observed the messenger.

"King Goujian, my king said, that if you are willing to pardon him, he is prepared, along with his ministers, to enter a condition of servitude under you." The messenger shed his tears and continued, "Hope Your Majesty would grant our former King Fuchai's last wish!"

Taking pity on Fuchai, Goujian then discussed the with Fan Li and Wen Zhong.

Goujian said that he was willing to arrange for Fuchai and his wives to go to Yongdong to reside. He also would allow Fuchai to bring three hundred families to wait upon him for the rest of their days.

"My King, we should never spare Fuchai! He's a stupid, cruel king. Look at what he did to Wu Zixu, a man who helped his father establish and bring glory to Wu! We have to finish Fuchai! Once and for all!" Fan Li said calmly and firmly.

Goujian told Fan Li that he intended to follow his advice, but that he could not bear to respond to Fuchai's envoy in such a direct fashion. On learning this, Fan Li sounded the war drums and called in soldiers. He announced that Goujian had entrusted him with the matter and instructed the Wu envoy to leave at once or risk his displeasure. The envoy left in tears.

The message arrived at Fuchai, who took refuge at Guanwa Palace.

Hearing the envoy's word, Fuchai said, "The calamity that Heaven had unleashed on Wu had taken place while I was on the throne. My altars to the earth and grain gods and my ancestral temple have been destroyed. The Wu's land and people already incorporated into the state of Yue now!"

With a desperate low voice, Fuchai said, "That day…Wu Zixu told me that Goujian had started by drinking my urine, but he will end up eating my heart. Goujian had started by tasting my stool, but he will end up devouring my liver."

Wu Zixu's voice, face, and eyes, when he looked at Fuchai for the last time before committing suicide, haunted Fuchai.

Guanwa Palace was a palace Fuchai built for Xi Shi. Later on, he moved many of his wives, consorts, and little children to this palace.

Fuchai wives and consorts knew that if the Yue army entered the palace, they were all be doomed. Either they're all killed, raped, or taken captives and become slaves. Many of the women and the children in the palace gathered at the main hall. They could only cry, didn't know what to do. Some who were brave enough started to flee together with the guards and eunuchs who tried to save their lives.

Fuchai knew that they would surely lose. That's why he didn't even try to stop. Instead, he asked the court musicians to play music and the women to dance.

"Xi Shi, would you dance for me, for the last time?" Fuchai asked Xi Shi.

With a heavy heart, Xi Shi nodded. After twelve years, finally, she completed her mission. It's just a matter of time, today or tomorrow, and Wu will be forever wiped off the map. And she contributed a lot in this part.

Xi Shi didn't know if she should be happy or not. After all, Fuchai was her husband for twelve years, and he always treated her kindly.