Huo Qubing Rides Again: The Southern Tang Strikes Back

The Southern Tang is on the verge of collapse, with a Song army of 100,000 besieging Jinling. The court officials kneel, begging to open the city gates, while the bedridden ruler Li Yu awaits only the surrender document. But when he opens his eyes again, the body is no longer inhabited by the poet-king who writes lyrics, weeps, and surrenders. Instead, it is the Han dynasty's valiant general, Huo Qubing. When officials urge surrender, Huo Qubing tears up the surrender letter. When nobles collude with the enemy, he beheads them. When the Song army besieges the city, he launches night raids, cuts off supplies, burns camps, executes envoys, and seizes ships, slowly devouring the 100,000-strong army. Everyone thought the Southern Tang was just a lone city, but from that night on, the flag atop Jinling's walls changed, and so did its fate. Li Yu sleeps deep within, while Huo Qubing defends the kingdom. Later, the once-weak ruler awakens. One manages the military, the other governs. One is the conqueror of the Xiongnu, the other the eternal poet-emperor. Zhao Kuangyin stares at the battle reports in silence. 'When did Li Yu learn to fight?' In Jinling, Huo Qubing stands with his hand on his blade. 'The city hasn't fallen yet; who dares to kneel?'