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Song Shidao urged, “Alliance Leader, please reconsider! The journey is long and the terrain is complex, making it extremely easy for enemy scouts to discover us. Even if we successfully cross the river, Luoyang is a fortified city, and Li Shimin will surely be prepared. If the surprise attack fails and we are surrounded, the consequences will be unimaginable! Alliance Leader, your life is of utmost importance; how can you lightly venture into such a dangerous place?”

Lu Miaozi stroked his beard and pondered: "The chosen route can indeed avoid the enemy's main force. I explored the path between Funiu Mountain and Xiong'er Mountain years ago; it's suitable for light troops. 'Shadow' has already given a detailed report on the situation of the garrison at Mengjin Ferry. The commander is mediocre, and the force is about five thousand. The key lies in the crossing equipment and the speed after crossing. Once discovered, the garrison in Luoyang will stay inside, or reinforcements will surround them from all sides, and then we will be in danger."

Yi Huawei calmly said, “What Master Dao said is reasonable, and Master Lu’s considerations are thorough. However, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. The fate of the Tang Dynasty is not yet over. Li Shimin and Li Jing are both powerful figures, and the Buddhist sect has a deep foundation. If we proceed step by step, even if we ultimately win, it will be a protracted war with countless lives lost. I will personally lead the ‘Xuanjia Camp’ (the most elite cavalry of the Heavenly Alliance, modeled after the Xuanjia elite cavalry of the Tang Dynasty, about three thousand men) and the ‘Tian Ce Guard’ (Yi Huawei’s personal guard, five hundred men, all elite among elites), along with three thousand Lingnan soldiers skilled in mountain marches. We will travel light, carrying only ten days’ worth of rations and necessary weapons. We will use ‘Shadows’ as our eyes and ears to eliminate scouts along the way. We will use sheepskin rafts and specially made pontoon bridge components to cross the river, striving for speed.”

He glanced at everyone and said, “My mind is made up. Master Lu, immediately prepare the necessary maps, guides, and river-crossing equipment. Shidao, you will be stationed in Xiangyang to oversee the rear operations, especially ensuring the logistics of Brother Song, Su Dingfang, and Xu Shiji’s units. Publicly declare that I am in seclusion for cultivation, and that all military affairs will be handled by you and Brother Song Zhi. This matter must be kept absolutely confidential.”

Seeing that Yi Huawei was determined and had thought things through carefully, Song Shidao knew he couldn't dissuade him, so he could only bow and say, "Shidao will obey the Alliance Leader's orders! I will ensure the safety of our rear!"

Lu Miaozi also solemnly replied, "I will take care of it immediately! I will ensure that the equipment is in perfect condition!"

………………

Ten days later, at the northern foot of Funiu Mountain, in a secluded valley.

The autumn wind is bleak, and the mountains and forests are ablaze with color.

A force of about 6,500 men was taking a short rest here. Each man was gagged, their horses' hooves were covered in dust, but their eyes were sharp and their discipline impeccable. This was the raiding force personally led by Yi Huawei. They moved by night and hid by day, taking only secluded paths. With the advance preparations and precise guidance of the "Shadow" experts, they had traversed hundreds of miles of complex terrain undetected, approaching the banks of the Yellow River.

Yi Huawei stood atop a giant rock, gazing northward. There, the Yellow River roared and surged like a golden python under the autumn sun. Further away, the outline of Luoyang city loomed faintly in the light mist.

"Alliance Leader, Mengjin Ferry is ten miles ahead. 'Shadow' reports that the garrison at the ferry is operating normally and no abnormalities have been detected. The crossing equipment has been secretly transported to the designated location."

The leader of the "Shadow" gang, dressed in all black, reported in a low voice.

Yi Huawei nodded slightly: "Order the entire army to rest until midnight. At 11:15, depart and seize Mengjin Ferry! The Xuanjia Battalion will be the vanguard, the Tiance Guard will follow me in the middle, and the Li soldiers will cover the rear and be responsible for building the pontoon bridge. The operation must be swift, leaving no one alive!"

"Yes!"

At midnight, at Mengjin Ferry.

The roar of the Yellow River drowned out any subtle movements. The camp at the ferry crossing was sparsely lit, most of the garrison had fallen asleep, and only a few sentries were lazily patrolling. They never dreamed that a deadly threat would come from the south bank—logically, the south bank was under the control of the Li Tang dynasty, and the threat could only come from Dou Jiande's direction on the north bank.

"enemy……"

A sentry seemed to hear a strange noise and was about to raise an alarm when a dark figure swept past him like a ghost. He felt a chill on his throat and collapsed limply. Dozens of dark figures silently infiltrated the camp, blades flashing, and the stench of blood began to fill the night air.

"Enemy attack! From the south! Enemy is coming from the south!"

Finally, some of the garrison was awakened, and a piercing alarm sounded, but it was too late. Three thousand elite Xuanjia cavalry, like a black torrent of steel, crashed through the camp's flimsy wooden palisade in the sudden flash of torchlight! Iron hooves trampled, spears thrust, and the Tang army, hastily engaged in battle, was torn to shreds like paper.

Yi Huawei did not make a move, but simply watched the battle quietly from a high slope. Five hundred Tian Ce Guards stood guard around the area like an iron wall. The battle was almost a one-sided massacre; in less than half an hour, the five thousand defenders of Mengjin Ferry were either killed or surrendered, and the ferry crossing changed hands.

"Clear the battlefield, collect ships, and build a pontoon bridge! Quickly!"

The generals shouted loudly.

The specially prepared pontoon bridge components were quickly assembled, and combined with the existing boats at the ferry crossing, a simple pontoon bridge spanning the Yellow River was extended to the opposite bank at an astonishing speed under the operation of skilled engineers. Some of the Xuanjia Camp cavalry had already crossed the river first on the collected boats of various sizes, establishing a sentry post on the opposite bank.

As dawn broke, the 6,500-strong raiding force, along with some warhorses and mules carrying necessary equipment, had all crossed the Yellow River and set foot on the land north of Luoyang!
Without pausing, Yi Huawei pointed his whip towards Luoyang: "All troops, mount up! Target: Luoyang's north gate—Anxi Gate! Anyone who obstructs us along the way, kill them without mercy! I want to see the Luoyang city walls before Li Shimin and Li Jing can react!"

"Boom--!"

Six thousand five hundred iron cavalry, like a black arrow released from a bow, tore through the morning mist and charged wildly toward Luoyang, the eastern capital, which was so close at hand! The sound of hooves rolled across the earth like muffled thunder, causing chickens and dogs to fly and dogs to jump in the villages along the way. The people hid in their homes in fear, peeking through the cracks in their doors at the black torrent they had never seen before.

The news could no longer be concealed.

Luoyang, Ziwei City.

Li Shimin was discussing the allocation of supplies to the front lines with Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji, and others when suddenly a guard tumbled into the hall, his face ashen, his voice trembling so badly it was almost incoherent:

"Report! Your Highness, King Qin! Something terrible has happened! Urgent report from Mengjin Ferry! Last night at midnight, we were attacked by an unknown army from the south bank, and the entire army... the entire army was wiped out! This morning, a large contingent of black-clad, armored cavalry appeared from the north, broke through Mangshan Post Station, and is rushing towards the north gate of Luoyang! They are... they are carrying the banner of 'Heavenly Way'!"

"what?!"

Li Shimin abruptly stood up, his teacup shattering with a crash, his face showing disbelief and shock for the first time. "An attack from the south bank? Under the banner of Heaven? How is this possible?! Li Jing is in Zhixian, Song Que is in Tangzhou, where did the enemy come from on the south bank? Could it be…"

A terrible thought flashed through his mind, sending a chill down his spine.

Fang Xuanling exclaimed, “Unless…unless the main force of the Heavenly Alliance launches a long-distance raid from an unexpected direction, such as Xiangyang, bypassing the battlefields of Chief Steward Li and Song Que, and heading straight for Mengjin Ferry! But the Yellow River is a natural barrier…”

Du Ruhui's face turned ashen: "It's Wuming! Only he has the courage and ability to take such a risky move! He's come in person! His target is Luoyang!"

Changsun Wuji said urgently, "Your Highness! The garrison at the North Gate is small; reinforcements must be dispatched immediately! Close all city gates! Appoint General Qu Tutong to take full charge of the city's defense! At the same time, immediately order Li Jing to return and provide reinforcements!"

Li Shimin forced himself to calm down, his eyes bloodshot. He knew his worst fears had come true. That mysterious and unpredictable nameless man had actually used such a frenzied method to press a general's blade against his throat!

"Order: Martial law is hereby declared in Luoyang! All four gates are to be closed! All garrison troops are to be brought up the city walls! General Qu Tutong is ordered to defend the city walls at all costs, especially the north gate!"

He took a deep breath, his voice hoarse: "Immediately send a message by carrier pigeon to Li Jing of Zhi County, telling him that Yi Huawei has personally led a surprise force across the Yellow River and is at the gates of Luoyang! Order him... to decide, depending on the situation, whether to return to rescue the city or... continue to confront Song Que!" He knew what a cruel dilemma this order meant for Li Jing.

"Furthermore," a ruthless glint flashed in Li Shimin's eyes, "I have summoned Zen Master Kong, the Four Vajras, and four holy monks to proceed to the North City immediately! Ning Sanren is in Zhi County... I hope he can return in time. Tell them that the Demon Lord... has arrived at the city walls!"

The entire city of Luoyang instantly shifted from a tense calm to extreme panic and turmoil. Alarm bells rang incessantly, and the streets were filled with the sounds of soldiers running, officers shouting, and civilians crying. This massive city, which had just been besieged by Wang Shichong, was once again completely shrouded in the shadow of war.

At this moment, in the open fields north of Luoyang, the black torrent led by Yi Huawei was clearly visible. The tall and majestic city walls of Luoyang were already in sight.

On the city tower of Anxi Gate, the old general Qu Tutong, his hair white as snow, stood with his hand on his sword, gazing at the billowing dust in the distance and the increasingly clear black banner bearing the inscription "Heavenly Way." His old eyes were filled with solemnity and determination. He knew that a battle even more brutal and desperate than the one Wang Shichong had fought when defending the city was about to begin.

This time, not only elite troops have arrived, but also the legendary Heavenly Dao Alliance Leader, who is practically a god or demon!
Yi Huawei reined in his horse, gazing at the forest of banners and dense ranks of defenders atop Luoyang's city walls, his expression remaining calm. He slowly raised his hand, and the surging tide behind him gradually subsided, a chilling aura rising to the sky, clashing with the panicked atmosphere on Luoyang's city walls.

Luoyang,

Yi Huawei murmured to himself, but his voice seemed to carry all the way to the city walls: "I've arrived."

………………

Northern suburbs of Luoyang, outside Anxi Gate.

The morning light of late autumn, which should have been a clear golden yellow, was now tinged with a dim yellow by the swirling dust and the chilling atmosphere.

On the vast plains, 6,500 elite Xuanjia Tiance warriors stood silently like a forest forged from black iron. Their warhorses puffed out white steam, their hooves pawing the earth restlessly. The knights' eyes, hidden beneath their visors, were as cold as iron, awaiting only the command to unleash a devastating charge.

There was no clamor, no commotion, only the low, mournful sound of the autumn wind rustling through the spears and banners, and the faint, frantic shouts and urgent alarm bells echoing from the distant walls of Luoyang. This extreme silence was more oppressive than any shout, like the air frozen before a storm, heavy and suffocating.

Yi Huawei led the charge, standing at the forefront of the formation. Clad in a moon-white robe, he stood out starkly amidst the thousands of soldiers in black armor. His long hair was tied back with a wooden hairpin, a few strands fluttering gently in the wind. His face was calm and expressionless, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if the majestic, impregnable city before him was merely a chess piece on a sand table. He simply gazed silently, his eyes sweeping over the towering city walls of Anxi Gate, the dense crenellations, the forest of garrison banners, and… the several figures on the city walls whose auras were exceptionally heavy.

Behind him, the "Heavenly Way" banner and his royal banner fluttered in the autumn wind, the mysterious star and sword patterns on the banners seeming to flow with a dark golden luster in the morning light.

"end."

Yi Huawei gently raised his hand, his voice low but clear, carrying throughout the entire army as if whispering in everyone's ear. The 6,500 cavalrymen immediately halted, their movements perfectly synchronized, demonstrating the extreme rigor and discipline of their training.

The atmosphere atop the city wall had reached an extreme level of tension.

The veteran general Qu Tutong's beard and hair bristled, and the veins on the back of his hand, which was gripping his sword, bulged. He had been on the battlefield for many years and had experienced countless fierce battles, but he had never felt such strange pressure.

The number of enemy troops below the city was not large, far less than when Wang Shichong or Li Mi besieged Luoyang in the past. However, the condensed and tangible killing intent, the destructive will contained in the silence, and the unfathomable aura of the white-robed commander made his heart feel heavy, as if a mountain was pressing down on it.

He roared orders to the defenders: "Archers! Nock your crossbows! Aim at the enemy commander! Prepare the rolling logs and stones! Heat the molten gold and hot oil! Quick! Don't panic!"

Most of the defending soldiers were veterans who had experienced Wang Shichong's siege and were quite brave, but at this moment, facing the eerie silence below the city and the invisible pressure emanating from the white-clad commander, many of them had sweaty palms, pale faces, and their hands were trembling slightly as they nocked their bows.

Behind Qu Tutong stood Chan Master Liaokong, the Four Vajras, and the Four Patriarchs of Chan Buddhism—Jiaxiang, Daoxin, Dixin, and Zhihui—standing side by side. They were not wearing armor, but only ordinary monks' robes, yet they possessed an imposing presence, like rocks in a raging storm.

The Zen Master Liaokong stopped turning the ebony prayer beads in his hand, his clear eyes gazing at the moon-white figure below the city. Even his usually calm heart was slightly disturbed. He softly uttered a Buddhist chant: "Amitabha. The killing intent fills the fields, the demonic flames rage to the heavens. Is this 'Nameless'?"

Emperor Heart Venerable's gaze was like lightning, as if piercing through the void and looking directly into Yi Huawei's heart. He said in a deep voice, "His blood and qi are like a furnace, his spirit like an abyss. He seems peaceful, but in reality, he contains great terror. It is no accident that Ning Daoqi was defeated by this man."

Master Jiaxiang's withered face shrank even more as he slowly said, "Its momentum has been established, like the sky tilting to the northwest and the earth sinking to the southeast. I'm afraid we alone will find it difficult to confront its power head-on."

Master Daoxin still wore that seemingly easygoing smile, but there was no smile in his eyes: "He seems to be waiting for something."

The wise master's fingers moved rapidly, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper: "Variables... Heavenly secrets are in chaos, a calamity has begun."

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached. Li Shimin, surrounded by Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and a large number of Xuanjia guards, ascended the Anxi Gate tower.

Li Shimin, clad in gleaming armor and a scarlet cloak, with a long sword at his waist, had a calm and composed expression, yet his eyes burned with a fierce flame of resentment and determination. He pushed aside the guards blocking his way, strode to the battlements, and fixed his gaze on the pale figure below the city walls.

Their gazes, separated by hundreds of steps, collided violently in mid-air!
There were no words, but an invisible, kingly aura clashed fiercely. On one side was the unfathomable, mountain-like starry sky; on the other, the blazing fire, sharp as a sword and unyielding in its resolve.

"'nameless'……"

Li Shimin gritted his teeth and uttered the name slowly and deliberately. He had finally seen with his own eyes this terrifying opponent who had stirred up the world and driven him to the brink of despair. Younger, calmer, and more... terrifying than he had imagined.

Yi Huawei's gaze also fell on Li Shimin, and the corners of his mouth curved upwards very slightly, as if he were greeting him, or as if... looking down at him.

"Li Shimin".

Yi Huawei's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through hundreds of steps, as if it were ringing directly in the ears of everyone on the city wall. It was calm, yet carried an undeniable penetrating power: "Luoyang, I've arrived."

These six simple words struck like a heavy hammer into the hearts of every soldier.

Li Shimin took a deep breath, gathered his inner strength, and responded in a loud voice: "Nameless! You have presumptuously started a war, invaded my territory, and slaughtered countless lives, arousing the wrath of the world! Today you dare to venture deep into the country alone, bringing your army to the gates of my eastern capital. Do you really think that my Tang Dynasty has no one to rely on, or that the sword in my hand, Li Shimin, is not sharp enough?!"

Yi Huawei shook his head slightly, his voice still calm: "The world does not belong to the Li Tang family alone. After the Sui Dynasty lost its power, many heroes vied for it. Li Yuan's uprising in Jinyang was a struggle, Wang Shichong's occupation of Luoyang was a struggle, and Dou Jiande's occupation of Hebei was also a struggle. Why should our Heavenly Alliance's acquisition of it be considered an act of reckless war? And even to the point of slaughtering countless lives..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the tense defenders on the city wall: "Lay down your weapons, open the gates and surrender, and I will guarantee the safety of the people and soldiers of Luoyang, and will not harm them in the slightest. If you resist stubbornly, when I breach the city, I will punish the ringleaders according to the law, and the rest may be spared. Whether to fight or surrender is up to you. Li Jing is far away in Zhixian, Dou Jiande is wavering, and Guanzhong is too busy to help itself. You have no reinforcements."

These words, spoken calmly, starkly revealed the desperate situation Li Shimin faced, directly shaking the already panicked morale of the defending troops. (End of Chapter)