The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 459 The Overbearing Heavenly Way: Which is Superior? (Part Two)

Zhongnan Mountain, Hidden Soldiers Valley.

The north wind has subsided, and the world is covered in lush greenery.

Deep in the valley, a quiet room stands alone amidst the cold and silence. The window is half-open, and a few gnarled branches stubbornly reach into view, with tiny peach buds on the branches appearing particularly vibrant in the biting cold wind.

Holding the proclamation that had already stirred up a storm across the land, Yuan Tiangang stood quietly by the window with his hands behind his back. Every word and phrase on the proclamation, along with the overwhelming and unstoppable will to break free from the shackles of the old world, lingered in his mind for a long time.

The flames flickered in the charcoal brazier that heated the peach trees, but the warmth emanating from it could not dispel the desolation that permeated him. This was not a chill, but a kind of silence and vastness that came from seeing through the ways of the world. The words in the manifesto echoed silently in his heart, stirring up ripples before returning to a deep calm.

Each word on it, like a resounding bell, crashed open a colossal door he had never imagined. How many times in the past three hundred years had he witnessed such grandeur and magnificence?

However, it must be admitted that the lofty aspirations of this single manifesto are probably beyond what his insistence on "restoring the Tang Dynasty" within the framework of "hegemony" could contain.

The phrase "Dare to change the world," which was passed down by word of mouth and shook the world even more than the manifesto itself, was like a thunderclap, resounding endlessly in his steadfast beliefs, and its aftershocks lingered for a long time.

The symbol of the imperial throne, the mandate of heaven… these elements he regarded as the foundation of the game were so insignificant in his eyes. This was no longer an ordinary struggle for supremacy, but a complete subversion of the entire old power order and value foundation.

The room was silent, and Yuan Tiangang's gaze remained fixed on the few peach buds outside the window.

Beside him, a figure dressed in a plain white robe with wide sleeves and a broad belt, exuding an ethereal aura, appeared silently. Then, remaining silent, the figure simply bent slightly with hands behind his back, teasing the few peach buds.

Yuan Tiangang did not turn to look at him, his gaze remaining fixed on the peach bud. After a long while, a hoarse voice broke the silence: "A new chapter for all ages... The will of the people is the will of Heaven... Li Chunfeng, is the path beneath his feet the very Heavenly Way you so longed for back then?"

Li Chunfeng laughed heartily, lightly plucked a peach blossom with his fingertips, and then gently flicked his wide sleeve, causing the peach branch to tremble slightly.

"The ways of Heaven are unpredictable, adapting only to change. His ambition is to stop the fighting and chaos, and to create a happy land for the people. This heart is no different from what you and I sought when we traversed mountains and rivers and deduced the star charts. However..." He wrapped his sleeves around his waist, put his hands behind his back, and smiled, "The path he has chosen is more thorough than what you and I have deduced. What he wants to break is not only the appearance of chaos, but also the root of chaos."

"Break through the roots?" Yuan Tiangang's voice remained calm and even. "How easy is that? Three hundred years of deep-seated problems have already penetrated to the bone marrow and become deeply entrenched. Although the powerful clans have fallen, military families and powerful clans have risen up again, valuing military power as their life. The regional military governors and military commanders hold their troops like tigers, and the accumulated problems of military men in power are as heavy as mountains. How can they be cleansed by a mere surge of passion?"

He paused for a moment, then continued, “I used tyranny as a guide, making moves to balance the situation, attempting to turn the tide, rebuild the divine artifacts of the Tang Dynasty, and restore order to the world. Though my methods were ruthless, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. He denounced me as the source of disaster…” He paused for a rare moment, his mind flashing back to the countless pieces he had sacrificed in the name of the greater good over the past century, before returning to indifference, “Perhaps he is right.”

"However, if it weren't for my strategic moves over the past three hundred years, whether they escalated, delayed, or guided the situation, this world would have long since turned into a sea of ​​blood and carnage amidst the endless chaos after the fourteenth year of the Tianbao era. How could it have preserved this foundation and allowed it to resound with such renown today?"

Li Chunfeng's gaze returned to the peach buds outside the window, his gentle eyes reflecting the tenacious new green shoots. He then nodded slightly: "A domineering approach might quell the immediate chaos and eliminate the immediate enemy. However, deep-seated resentment breeds endless trouble, like trying to stop boiling water by adding more water—the boiling stops, but the fuel remains. His intention to remove the fuel from under the pot is commendable, but the path is arduous. In our struggle, which is superior, the domineering approach or the way of heaven? Judging from this young man's actions, perhaps..."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Yuan Tiangang, "Perhaps we are all too rigid. What the people of this world yearn for may never have been our domineering ways or the way of heaven, but simply... survival."

“Strict adherence to rules…” Yuan Tiangang murmured these two words, falling into a long silence. Outside the window, a piece of snow, swept up by the wind, gently landed on a peach branch, melting at the touch, like a silent piece of chess.

This game of chess, played for three hundred years with the world as the board and all living beings as the pieces, now presented an unprecedentedly complex picture in his mind.

He, Li Chunfeng, and the man who used the people's hearts as his banner were all players, but now it seems that... they were all just pawns.

"A new chapter for all ages... What a grand vision." Yuan Tiangang's voice finally rang out, carrying an unprecedented weariness. But this was not an admission of defeat to Li Chunfeng, nor an submission to Xiao Yan. Rather, it was a response to the unavoidable contradiction between his three hundred years of perseverance and the surging tide of the times.

"Brother Li, tell me, this time... who will win, you or me? Or rather, in this vast and surging torrent, does the word 'win' still have any meaning for you or me?"

Li Chunfeng looked at him quietly without answering.

Outside the window, the peach buds, brimming with unknown life, trembled gently in the cold wind.

Yuan Tiangang slowly turned around and left the window. His back was still tall and aloof, as unshakable as a mountain, but the absolute belief that had supported him for three hundred years and made him look down on the world seemed to have melted away silently.

He did not give up making his move; the game in Jiangnan continued, and the winds of change in the northern deserts still needed to be stirred. However, his driving force may have quietly shifted from winning the game to seeing clearly what this 'new chapter for all ages' could ultimately take, and finding the answer to where he, who had existed for three hundred years, would ultimately belong amidst this earth-shattering transformation.

Outside the window, those few peach blossoms that were still in bud finally bloomed quietly in this early spring.

------

The northern desert, the royal court.

The world was still bitterly cold, but the tent maintained its steady warmth as always, filled with a faint scent of milk and leather.

The sand table had been removed, and Shuliduo leaned against the soft couch, a lingering weariness between her brows, yet it did not diminish her imposing presence.

Although still a boy, Yelü Yaoguang was already extremely tall and knelt beside her, holding a scroll of Chinese military text in his hands, and was quietly reading passages to Shuliduo. Several maids stood not far away with their hands at their sides, their heads bowed like shadows.

The tent flap was silently lifted, and Shili Qixiang led a palace guard in quickly. As soon as the guard entered, he knelt on one knee and whispered, "Your Majesty, the main force of Yelü Lage's rebel army has broken through the outer scouts of Songshan, and the vanguard is less than 160 li northwest of the royal court. General Zhao Siwen urgently reports and requests instructions on whether to return and attack from both sides as originally planned. In addition, General Yuan Xingqin has sent a messenger, saying that he has received a secret order from Khan Xiao to bring Shi Jingtang to the camp for interrogation."

Shuliduo didn't even lift her eyelids, only replying lightly, "Understood. Tell Zhao Siwen to keep his composure and hold back. As for Yuan Xingqin..." She paused for a moment, "...tell him that Shi Jingtang is an important witness, and that I will personally hand him over to Khan Xiao after the war. Ask him to remain calm."

The palace guards acknowledged the order and withdrew. Only then did Shiri Kika step forward, take out a scroll carefully wrapped in oilcloth from her sleeve, present it with both hands, and lower her voice to a very low tone: "Empress Dowager, this is a copy of Khan Xiao's 'Letter to All Subjects' that has just been sent from the south."

Shulido finally raised her eyes and took the scroll, which still carried the chill of the outside air. Her movements were unhurried, but before she could fully unroll it, her gaze had already sharply swept over the powerful and imposing words on it.

She paused briefly when she glanced at the opening statement, "Li, whose given name was Zuo; also Xiao, whose given name was Yan," but her expression remained calm, clearly indicating that she had already known everything. Then, when her gaze swept over the dramatic palace coup in Bianliang and the downfall of the Zhu family, she merely raised an eyebrow slightly. Until her gaze precisely locked onto a line of text: "Alone in the northern deserts, controlling the grasslands, protecting the northern frontier, this is how the Rong and Di tribes are brought under royal rule."

"Encompassing...the royal power..."

Those four words were truly domineering; only Li Jiulang would utter such words. Shuliduo unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, but even so, her temples still throbbed slightly uncontrollably.

All the sliver of hope she held onto regarding cooperation, strategy, or even a humiliating marriage vanished at this moment. Although she had long understood that her relationship with Xiao Yan was not one of allies working side by side, the condescending declaration of a conqueror and the final judgment on the independence and future fate of the entire grassland still left her breathless for a moment.

The brief betrayal at the foot of Yinshan Mountain, the humiliation of having to send a hostage to restore the old relationship, Xiao Yan's absolute control over the situation in the northern desert, the grand ambition in the manifesto to reshape the world, and those intimate encounters filled with countless calculations... countless images intertwined and collided in her mind, finally converging into a torrent that completely overwhelmed her.

Faced with this absolute power and grand strategy, the old dreams of independence and self-reliance in the northern deserts, dominating the grasslands, and even conquering the Central Plains appear so pale and laughable, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, instantly reduced to dust. The integration of the grasslands and the Central Plains is clearly an irreversible iron law of Xiao Yan's will. Any force that attempts to stop it will be crushed by this surging torrent.

The warm air inside the tent seemed to freeze instantly. Shiri Kika keenly sensed the invisible chill emanating from the Empress Dowager and instinctively held her breath. Xiao Yaoguang also stopped reciting, raised his head in confusion, and looked at his mother's profile, which had suddenly turned cold and sharp.

A sense of loss, bitterness, and resentment spread through my heart. However, just a few breaths later, these intense emotions were suppressed by an even stronger sense of powerlessness and a clear understanding of the situation.

Shulido took a deep breath, her expression returning to calm.

She was no longer the Queen of the Northern Desert who sought to seize power amidst chaos, but a leader responsible for the future survival of the entire grasslands. Her task was no longer to futilely resist this irreversible trend, but to find a way to minimize the costs of integration for the Northern Desert, to ensure a smoother assimilation process, and to secure as much living space, dignity, and a voice as possible for the grasslands, or rather, for herself, in the coming new era. "Mother?" Xiao Yaoguang put down his book, his clear eyes filled with concern and confusion. "Is this the Central Plains proclamation you often speak of? Father Khan… what did it say? 'Royal Transformation'… is it like the book says, that all grassland people should learn Han etiquette, wear Han clothing, and become Han subjects?"

Shuliduo turned her gaze to her son, her eyes filled with complex emotions. But she simply reached out and gently yet firmly stroked Yaoguang's head.

“My Yaoguang,” her voice was steady, “remember what your mother said today. The hardest truths in this world are not found in books, but in the cold glint of a blade, under the trampling of iron hooves. Royal rule… that is the future picture painted by the victors, who hold power, for the losers to accept.”

She pressed her fingertips lightly on Xiao Yaoguang's head, as if trying to instill this understanding into his mind. "But you must remember, if the weak want to survive, or even thrive, within the rules set by the strong, they must understand the rules better than the strong, and learn to... utilize the rules."

"Using the rules?" Yelü Yaoguang seemed to understand, but not quite. His clear eyes reflected his mother's deep face, flickering with a confused yet earnest light of thought. And this enlightenment was destined to accompany him for the rest of his life.

Shuliduo withdrew her hand, her gaze turning to Shili Qixiang, her eyes devoid of any hesitation: "Send word to Zhao Siwen. Since the rebels are already in our trap, there's no need to stop them. Let Yelü Lage cross Songshan. Let his men penetrate deeper, getting closer to the outskirts of the royal court. The goal is to annihilate their entire force in one battle, leaving no future troubles."

She paused, then continued, "As for General Yuan Xingqin... does he want Shi Jingtang? Give him to him, and send him over with dignity. Tell General Yuan that I will remember his contribution in this battle. After the battle, I will personally write a letter to Khan Xiao, detailing the process of suppressing the rebellion in the northern desert, and requesting commendation for General Yuan."

"And, issue an order to all commanders. In this battle, no prisoner, regardless of rank, shall be killed without authorization. In particular, the sons of officers and soldiers in the Jin army shall be treated well. The wounded must be given medical treatment, and food and water must not be lacking." Her gaze swept over Shili Qixiang, "These people may one day become the bridge between my northern desert and the new dynasty in the Central Plains... Their lives are very valuable now."

"Yes." Shiri Kika didn't dare to be careless and quickly replied.

"Wait," Shuliduo called out to her, instructing her clearly and deliberately, "Qixiang, you must personally handle two matters, without delegating them to others. First, immediately select twenty of the most intelligent, healthy, and studious noble youths, aged between five and ten, from my queen's clan and various tribes. Prepare the most precious furs, fine horses, and jewels from the northern deserts as gifts for their audience, along with a sincere letter of recommendation. Once the war here has subsided and the roads are clear, immediately escort them to Bianliang. Plead with Great Khan Xiao to grant them permission to study Han classics, laws, and military strategy at the Imperial Academy or the Military Academy in Bianliang. These people will be of use sooner or later once Great Khan Xiao's queen gives birth to an heir."

"Secondly," she continued, "we will gather the most learned sages and scribes fluent in Chinese from the royal court, with Han Zhigu in charge, to compile the customs, sacrifices, products, geography, and tribal origins of the eight tribes of the northern desert throughout history. This must be done in great detail and accuracy. We will draw maps and compile them into a book. It must also be beautifully made and well-prepared, and sent to Bianliang with the young people."

Shiri Kikyo bowed respectfully: "This servant understands."

Shuliduo nodded slightly, her gaze returning to the scroll of proclamation, then slowly shifting to her son beside her who was trying to understand his mother's words. After a moment of contemplation, she stood up and walked towards the tent door. Shiliqixiang followed silently without a second thought.

She lifted the heavy felt curtain, and a gust of biting wind immediately rushed in. Shuliduo stood outside the tent, gazing at the gray horizon and the distant, snow-covered mountain silhouettes, the royal banners fluttering in the cold wind. After a long silence, she spoke in an almost indifferent, yet remarkably calm voice:
"When the late king passed away, all those who had served him personally and knew the inside story... were all executed without exception. Make it clean, erase all traces." She paused, her voice completely calm. "Let the past be the past. Bury it forever beneath this earth."

Shili Qixiang's body trembled almost imperceptibly, and then she instantly understood Shuliduo's deeper meaning. She simply responded in a low voice, and then cautiously asked, "Then... what about General Yelü Helu and General Xiao Dilu... the late king was also present at that time."

“My brother,” Shuliduo interrupted her, “I will teach him a lesson, make him understand what to say and what to keep quiet about forever. He is Yaoguang’s uncle, he knows what to do.”

Her gaze drifted towards the distant military camp, her voice growing increasingly indifferent, "As for Yelü Helu… as a member of the Yelü clan, he followed the late king for many years with unwavering loyalty, and it is time for him to join him. This battle will be the place where he serves his country with utmost loyalty and dies on the battlefield. Let him die on the front lines fighting the rebels, preserving his honor. And… those stubborn old members of the clan who have always been critical of sending away Aogu and the Queen and their close ties with the Central Plains, you know what to do. Make sure they don't survive this battle, and that in the future, no rumors will affect the King."

"Yes." Shiri Kika bowed deeply and retreated.

Shuliduo stood alone in front of the tent, her hands behind her back. The cold wind whipped at the hem of her clothes, making a rustling sound, yet it was silent.

------

The royal court is located a hundred miles northwest of Songshan Mountain.

Although it was already March, the cold winds of the northern desert were still biting, but much milder than the harsh end of winter. The fatigue of days of forced marching was etched on everyone's faces, but the camp was not entirely desolate. The large and small tribes that had been conquered and plundered along the way provided extra tents, fur robes, dried meat, and even some strong horses, allowing these tens of thousands of soldiers to still maintain their skeletal frame.

In the sprawling camps, the Hu soldiers huddled around campfires of all sizes, chewing on dried meat and mending their leather armor. The air was thick with the smells of sweat, leather, and roasted meat, along with the tense atmosphere of an impending battle.

Inside Li Maozhen's tent, he sat alone on a low couch covered with fur in the corner, his face bearing the marks of hardship. At this moment, he was simply staring at the map of the northern desert unfolded before him, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of his sword, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

The imposter called out twice from outside, then lifted the curtain and entered, bringing in a blast of cold air. He immediately pulled the curtain shut again. He rubbed his hands together and warmed himself by the charcoal brazier. "Brother Li, it's rare for you to observe the pre-battle arrangements so closely. Do you have some plans in mind?"

Li Maozhen didn't even look up: "Get to the point."

Fake Li coughed lightly and strolled to the map. "The snowstorm has subsided, but the soldiers have been traveling for months and are exhausted. Yelü Lige is blinded by greed and only knows how to urge the eastward advance, regarding the royal court as an empty shell. If this continues, I'm afraid it's not a long-term solution."

He pointed his fingertip at the dot representing the royal court, then traced it across the mark symbolizing Zhao Siwen and Yuan Xingqin.

"Zhao Siwen's main force has been 'transferred' towards the Chu Te tribe, leaving the royal court vulnerable. This is a calculated move to lure the enemy deep into our territory. That woman, Shuliduo, must have set up an ambush on the way back or outside the royal court. Yelü Lage, that fool, has walked right into it, playing right into their hands, facing a near-death experience." But then he pointed to the point representing Yuan Xingqin, "But we might not be unable to turn the tables on them."

Li Maozhen raised his eyelids, gave him a cold glance, and remained silent.

Fake Li didn't care and continued, "Yuan Xingqin's troops number only two thousand cavalry. Even if they are elite, they are exhausted in this harsh and cold place. Shuliduo must have sent him out with an important mission, or at the very least, to cut off our army's retreat."

"Therefore, I have advised Yelü Lage that if our army could feign weakness and pretend to be launching a full-scale attack on the royal court, thus drawing Zhao Siwen south, then Yuan Xingqin would inevitably break away from Zhao Siwen's main force and open up other battlefields... At this time, Brother Li can personally lead his most elite troops, using the terrain of the ravines on the southern slope of Songshan Mountain for concealed and rapid advance, waiting for them to cut off our retreat. As long as they become entangled with our rear guard, their formation stretched out, and they are unable to defend both ends, Brother Li can strike them directly in the heart of the enemy like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath. At the same time..." "I can persuade Yelü Lige to detach several thousand cavalry from the Yishi tribe to relentlessly pursue Yuan Xingqin's vanguard from the front. Together with Brother Li, we can launch a pincer attack, a thunderous strike, not aiming for total annihilation, but only for severely crippling their main force. Even if we could kill Yuan Xingqin in battle… such a monumental achievement would be enough to intimidate Shuliduo and prove our worth to the Grand Marshal and the Jin Kingdom. At that time, whether we take advantage of the chaos to plunder and replenish our supplies outside the royal court, or force back the pursuing troops and retreat calmly into the depths of the Yudujin Mountains, we will have room for maneuver."

Li Maozhen narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing within them. But before he could speak, the tent flap was suddenly flung open, and a travel-worn guard from the Prince of Qi rushed in, his face bearing an unusual expression: "Prince Qi, a shocking proclamation has been sent from the Central Plains... from the Central Plains. It is... it is the response from Prince Qin, Xiao Yan, to Jiangnan. A copy is here."

The fake Li's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he snatched the item away first, quickly unfolding it. Li Maozhen also stood up, his gaze fixed intently on him.

The fake Li's gaze swept quickly across the proclamation, his expression remaining unchanged as he skimmed over phrases like "Li family, taboo name Zuo," "ending the chaos," and "opening a new chapter for all ages." But when he saw the line "The wicked commander Yuan Tiangang is the source of three hundred years of chaos and the culprit of the turmoil in the nine provinces," his pupils suddenly contracted, and a surge of rage welled up within him. His fingers tightened abruptly, and with a tearing sound, he ripped the copy in two.

"Arrogant! The game isn't over yet, how can we know who will make the move?! You want to overturn the chessboard? Not so easy!"

Fake Li's voice cracked slightly, filled with undisguised anger and frustration. He hurled the torn-up proclamation onto the dying embers; a few sparks struggled briefly before being swallowed by the rapidly spreading charcoal.

Li Maozhen ignored the fake Li's inexplicable loss of control. His gaze lingered on the fragment of the manifesto that was rapidly turning to ash on the charcoal fire. The firelight reflected off his angular face, casting flickering shadows.

His pursuit of hegemony over the Qi Kingdom, his unwavering ambition for the throne... all seemed as insignificant as dust before the grand aspirations he had just glimpsed.

He stared at the ashes of the burning manifesto on the ground, remaining silent for a long time.

The imposter Li watched this scene, his eyes twitching slightly, his inward sneer deepening. But outwardly he remained impassive, staring intently at Li Maozhen: "Brother Li, regarding the plan just now..."

Li Maozhen slowly raised his head, not even glancing at the fake Li, and said to the guard of the Qi King: "Order all armies to prepare their weapons and horses, and be ready to be dispatched at any time."

A glint flashed in the fake Li's eyes. He forcibly suppressed his rage and immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Brother Li is straightforward. I entrust this important task to you."

He turned and lifted the curtain to leave, his steps hurried, but in his mind he was already calculating how to ensure that Li Maozhen would not return in the upcoming surprise attack.

Inside the tent, Li Maozhen stood alone. A cold wind slipped in through the gaps in the curtain, swirling up ashes from the ground. Outside the tent, the soldiers' rough shouts, the neighing of horses, and the crackling of the campfire intertwined to create a desolate prelude to the battlefield. His tall figure appeared particularly lonely in the swaying shadows of the tent.

(End of this chapter)