Posted 22 October 2011 - 12:56 AM
The Xia officers had been hopeful that the newly arrived Guanxi troops would engage the White Riders, providing some relief for Luo Yang, but there was only light skirmishing between the foreign factions. Seeing no other option, Shen Pei called for his remaining forces to form up at the north gate ready for battle with the White Riders. Lü Kuang said "We cannot engage the enemy, my lord, while our troops are still fatigued and impaired." "We have neither grain to feed them nor medicine to cure them. Our only hope is to win an impossible victory with surprise initiative and kill Zhao Yun; that'll give the foreigners a good scare!"
Shen Pei emerged, vigorous and fearless, appointed with sword and armour. As he rode, he inspired confidence in the Xia soldiers who saw him. He brought the army out of the city and called out his challenge: "Zhao Yun, where are you!" Where banners parted at the entrance to the White Riders' camp, Zhao Yun rode forth. He bowed deeply, then he took on Shen Pei in direct combat, his silver spear whirling. In a fury Shen Pei met him with circling blade. After some eighty bouts, SHen Pei felt his right arm beginning to weaken. Fearful for the prime minister, Lü Xiang hastily sounded the gongs, and Shen Pei rode back to the army by the walls.
Zhao Yun rode back to his side shouting "A thousand pieces of gold to the man who takes his head!" As word spread a defeaning clamor rose up surrounding the Xia forces as the White Riders charged in a disorganized mob. Shen Pei and the Lü brothers lead a counter-charge, resulting in a chaotic melee a bow's shot from Luo Yang's walls. Zhao Yun's sub-commanders lead a mounted charge into the Xia soldiers nearest the walls, surrounding Shen Pei's force. Amid earth-shaking yells and drums and horns that filled the sky with noise, they closed in. Shen Pei's lieutenants were slowly being eliminated as the fighting wore on into the sunset. Together with the Lü brothers and a core force of three hundred followers, they tried to fight their way to Zhao Yun. Once they were near, Shen Pei's commanders let out earth-shaking cries and charged in for the kill. After three clashes Zhao Yun fled in defeat; but Shen Pei could not afford to continue fighting, and headed out toward the eastern hills. A lieutenant reported that Lü Xiang had falled in the melee.
Shen Pei came to a place called Breach in the Rocks where the hills squeezed the road. The fifth watch had nearly ended. Suddenly a voice cried out, springing an ambush. Spear-length hooks and loops reached out and yanked Shen Pei from his feet. Zhao Yun's sub-commander took him prisoner. Lü Kuang rushed to his aid and slew the sub-commander, but Zhao Yun arrived, mounted, and rode past while slashing a sword down into Lü Kuang's neck. Kuang fell to the ground, lifeless, and Shen Pei's remaining followers surrendered.
The prime minister of Xia was brought before Gongsun Zan, who pondered for some time what to do with him. Frustrated with having had little personal involvement in the battle so far, Gongsun Zan opted to indulge his bloodlust and had Shen Pei beheaded in his tent. And so Shen Pei, the last of the generals with whom Yuan Shao conquered most of the empire, died in the twlfth month of the sixth year of Qing Long (by the Xia calendar).
Kessobahn (Obdigore) is dead. He was Shen Pei, King of Zhong, Prime Minister of the Xia Dynasty.
Only someone with this much power could make this many frittatas without breaking any eggs.
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Karosis, on 22 October 2011 - 12:28 AM, said:
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