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

Chapter 462 Let's see who the hero is today (Part 3)
Morning light filtered through the carved window lattice, casting faint patches of light on the bed covered with bright red brocade.

Li Xingyun had a splitting headache. He rubbed his forehead and opened his eyes, only to see an unfamiliar brocade canopy hanging in front of him. He sniffed the air and smelled the fragrance of cosmetics, some light and some heavy.

His expression changed as he suddenly recalled those fragmented memories from last night, especially the face of Princess Shangrao, who was shocked, angry, and struggling, and the phoenix coronet and jewels scattered all over the ground—they were all too vivid in his mind.

He suddenly sat up, looking around helplessly for his clothes.

Just then, a cold laugh came from the window, startling Li Xingyun so much that he looked up in alarm. He saw Princess Shangrao with her back to him, being dressed by two palace maids in front of a bronze mirror. The cold laugh from Princess Shangrao made the two maids somewhat frightened.

"You may all leave." Shangrao was even more annoyed upon seeing this and waved the palace maids away.

At this moment, Li Xingyun, clutching his trousers, swallowed hard and managed a weak laugh, which looked more like a grimace: "Princess, last night... last night, I was drunk and out of my mind, and that's when I made such a terrible mistake..."

Upon hearing this, Shangrao turned around abruptly, but unexpectedly, there was no anger on his face, nor much intense emotion. Only a scrutinizing gaze swept over Li Xingyun's disheveled appearance. After looking at him for a long time, he rolled his eyes.

"Hmph! What's the use of knowing you're wrong now? Can you turn me back into a virgin?" She stood up and walked step by step towards the bed, but when she saw Li Xingyun's embarrassed and ashamed expression, she just waved her hand in annoyance.

"Forget it, forget it. My father married me to you, so I am yours now. Whether he is the Emperor of Tang or a good-for-nothing, what's done is done. The husband I, the Princess of Shangrao, have accepted is like water spilled; there's no going back."

She stopped by the bed, leaned down slightly, and almost poked Li Xingyun's nose with her finger. "But Li Xingyun, you better remember this: from now on, the one lying on this bed is me, Shangrao, not your junior sister. If you dare treat me like anyone else again, be careful, or I'll castrate you!"

Li Xingyun subconsciously felt a chill in his crotch, but he was speechless for a moment and could not refute it.

Before Shangrao could react, he abruptly changed the subject, sat down next to Li Xingyun, and said with a glint in his eyes, "Hey, you good-for-nothing... oh no, Your Majesty!"

She subconsciously changed her words, then lowered her voice, with an urgency to share a secret, "Do you remember what I told you last night? Join forces! In this Wu Kingdom, we'll do it ourselves. Xu Xiang and Zhang Hao are using you as a figurehead and me as a pawn. Why should they? The bloodline of the Wu royal family isn't extinct yet! As long as you agree, I can find a way to contact some loyal former officials and relatives of the royal family. Let's first establish a foothold in Yangzhou, build our own base and forces, and rescue Father. That way, we can do what we want to do and save whoever we want to save, instead of being led by the nose like puppets!"

Join forces? Li Xingyun's chaotic thoughts finally began to clear.

Last night, in his drunken confusion, Shangrao did seem to have said something similar, but at the time he was completely immersed in the pain and the confusion of misinterpretation. Listening to it now, I can hardly believe that these words came from Shangrao's mouth.

He instinctively wanted to refuse, but as soon as he looked up, he saw the burning light in Princess Shangrao's eyes. Looking into those eyes, Li Xingyun felt a strange sense of guilt mixed with a feeling of unease.

So he thought about it carefully and realized that cultivating a force belonging to the "Emperor and Empress" within the Wu Kingdom was indeed a feasible way to break the complete control of the Bad People, Xu Wen and others.

“What the princess said…” Li Xingyun’s voice was still hoarse, but it also showed a bit more thought. “It makes sense. However, Xu Wen has been operating for a long time and is deeply rooted. The power of the royal family has been suppressed for many years. If we want to do something about this matter, we need to plan it carefully and be extremely cautious.”

"Of course we should be cautious, but do we have to make a big fuss about it?" Princess Shangrao was thrilled to see that he approved of her idea. She couldn't help but raise her chin, her spoiled nature returning. "As long as you cooperate, I'll figure out the rest!"

Li Xingyun forced a smile and silently dressed amidst Princess Shangrao's pacing back and forth and her excited mutterings. Before he could even slip away, Princess Shangrao dragged him to wash up, saying that he had to fulfill his duties as a wife and that he was not allowed to call her "Princess" anymore, but should call her "Wife" like in the stories.

Princess Shangrao's willingness to follow her husband after marriage made Li Xingyun feel even more guilty. He made an excuse about urgent military affairs and managed to escape from the palace in a disheveled state.

Only after escaping the back garden did Li Xingyun stop, leaning against a vermilion pillar, panting heavily. The dizziness from the hangover and the churning in his chest made his vision blur.

"Brother Li?"

Someone approached from a distance; it was Zhang Zifan, who had been waiting in the corridor for some time. He waved away several eunuchs, quickly stepped forward, and supported Li Xingyun's swaying arm. His gaze swept over Li Xingyun's ashen face and slightly bloodshot eyes, and he lowered his voice, saying, "Brother Li, you look so unwell. Last night..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but simply sighed knowingly, gently patted Li Xingyun's shoulder, and comforted him gently, "Brother Li, there's no need to worry too much. This marriage is just a temporary measure, to strengthen ties with Wu and solidify the foundation of the alliance. We all know that you only have Miss Lu in your heart. As for Princess Shangrao, you don't need to put too much pressure on yourself... It's just a temporary measure, nothing more."

Unexpectedly, the more Zhang Zifan spoke, the more ashamed Li Xingyun felt. He closed his eyes, gave a bitter laugh, and said, "Brother Zhang, I... I... last night... I was drunk and acted recklessly, mistaking Shangrao for Lin Xuan..."

After saying the last few words, Li Xingyun could no longer speak. He slumped down the pillar and sat on the cold stone steps, burying his head in his hands.

Zhang Zifan was startled at first, then took a deep breath, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He really thought Li Xingyun had kept his bottom line, but alcohol is a...

"Brother Li, what's done is done, and regret is useless. In any case, Princess Shangrao is now your lawfully wedded empress. What's done is done, and perhaps this will actually strengthen the ties with the Wu Kingdom more quickly?"

His mind raced, and he quickly found a practical point of support, comforting her: "Since Princess Shangrao is Brother Li's wife, it is a fact no matter what. As for Miss Lu's matter, it is not advisable to think too much. Brother Li should look forward first, accumulate strength, and then there will be a chance to turn things around. Dwelling on self-blame at this moment will only disturb your mind."

Li Xingyun simply held his head and let out a heavy sigh. Zhang Zifan's words made sense, but could a huge weight in one's heart be lifted with just a few words? However, even if he was wrong, it was his own fault, and no one could share his burden. Reality was what it was, and he couldn't afford to continue wallowing in self-pity.

"The Jin State envoy has arrived," Zhang Zifan said, seizing the opportunity to change the subject. "He brought Li Cunxu's personal letter and the latest military intelligence from Mobei and Jinyang. The situation... has changed somewhat. Several captains from the Bad People, as well as several officials promoted a few days ago, have been waiting for you in the side hall for quite some time. The situation is urgent, and Brother Li needs to know as soon as possible."

Li Xingyun's body trembled, but he finally managed to stand up, leaning against a pillar, and said in a low voice, "Brother Zhang, thank you."

Zhang Zifan patted his shoulder and smiled wryly, "Why are you thanking me? If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been pushed into this situation."

As he spoke, knowing that these words would easily trigger Li Xingyun's thoughts, he sighed and said, "Now that my godfather has been killed for plotting a rebellion in Jin, I can't go back to Jin. I'm all alone like a rootless duckweed. If it weren't for Brother Li taking me in, I'm afraid I wouldn't even have any wine to drink."

Li Xingyun slightly perked up his spirits and found the words amusing: "With your pretty face and unkempt white hair, seducing a noblewoman in the martial arts world would be a piece of cake. You wouldn't have to worry about not having wine to drink!"

The two chuckled at each other, then walked arm in arm toward the side hall.

The atmosphere in the side hall was somewhat somber. Li Xingyun forced himself to sit down on the makeshift throne.

Below, Zhang Yantao, the Star of Heavenly Valor, was clad in armor, his face resolute and iron-like; Cui Chengying, the Star of Heavenly Hero, wore an inconspicuous gray robe, constantly scanning the secret report in his hand; Li Sixiao, the Star of Heavenly Fierceness, stood by the pillar of the palace with his hand on his sword, resembling Li Xingyun's bodyguard, exuding a murderous aura that kept strangers at bay.

A new face appeared in the hall, a scholar of about forty years old, dressed only in a faded scholar's robe. Shi Yao explained that he was Sima Hui, the Heavenly Star of the Bad People.

In addition, several officials and generals who had been selected by Zhang Zifan and promoted by Li Xingyun stood by.

As soon as he took his seat, everyone bowed in unison and said, "Congratulations to Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities, cough, please sit down." Li Xingyun was already used to these kinds of occasions and had no intention of mentioning yesterday's wedding. His gaze was already fixed on Tianxiong Xing as he spoke, "Captain Cui, how is the military situation?"

Tianxiongxing then stood up and said, "Your Majesty, we have initially sorted out and grasped the intelligence network of the various towns in Jiangnan. If I were to speak frankly, there are quite a few hidden dangers."

Li Xingyun nodded. There was no need to even think about it. With such a disorganized group, how could there not be hidden dangers?

Tianxiongxing carefully considered his words before continuing, "One of the most important matters is Zhu Jin of Wu. I have repeatedly examined the old files from a year ago. At that time, Zhu Jin led his army into Dongting Lake, forcing the main force of the Chu army, which was about to besiege Panyu and wipe out Nanping in one fell swoop, to turn back. I found that this was no ordinary border skirmish. Therefore, piecing together various scattered clues, the reason for his military action seems to be closely related to Xiao Yan, who was still in Raojiang at the time, and I suspect that he was invited by the latter in a secret letter."

"Wait a minute." Zhang Zifan interrupted at the right time, "As far as I know, when Xiao Yan was heading south along the Ying River, he was intercepted and killed by Zhu Jin's army. The two must have been mortal enemies. Moreover, everyone in the world knows that Zhu Jin has always hated the Liang Dynasty. Why does Tianxiongxing say this?"

He paused, looked at Li Xingyun, and reminded him, "Zhu Jin is the main force of Wu's attack on Liang. He has the potential to be a great general. We must not make unfounded suspicions."

Li Xingyun nodded and looked at Tianxiong Star.

The latter didn't react much, but his gaze swept over everyone. "Back then, Zhu Jin sent troops to intercept and kill Xiao Yan at the junction of the Ying River and the Huai River. He sent three giant ships and a navy of over a thousand men, while Xiao Yan was only on a ship with a hundred or so guards. What was the result?"

Zhang Zifan frowned, while the others either nodded or pondered, but no one objected for a moment.

Tianxiongxing did not elaborate further, but simply said, "Although there is no conclusive evidence, Zhu Jin holds significant military power in the Shouzhou and Ezhou areas. If his intentions are unpredictable, wouldn't he be a major threat? Moreover, his troop movements have repeatedly clashed subtly with Tianyongxing's river defense deployment. In any case, we must be wary of this man."

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze.

Li Xingyun frowned and exchanged a glance with Zhang Zifan. They both saw the seriousness in each other's eyes, but in the end, Zhang Zifan nodded.

"Secondly, there are the Min and Yue kingdoms," Tianxiongxing continued after seeing Li Xingyun nod. "King Wang Shenzhi of Min has an ambiguous attitude, and some generals under King Qian Liu of Yue, especially the naval commanders along the coast, have close ties with merchants of the Liang Dynasty. There are signs of transactions involving grain, weapons, and even intelligence. It is obvious that the puppet regime in the Central Plains is trying to win over the two kingdoms in order to avoid war and protect itself. Your Majesty has already increased the number of people to monitor them closely."

"Thirdly, there is a sharp increase in espionage activities along the southern border of Chu, in Nanping and Raojiang, with signs of taking advantage of the Chu army's main force being transferred north and the rear being undefended. I suggest that Your Majesty secretly order the King of Chu to reinforce the troops in Guizhou, Shaozhou and other gateways in Lingnan, to strictly inspect the border and deter the villains."

Tianxiongxing's reports were always concise, yet they quickly identified internal and external threats, truly living up to Shi Yao's assessment of him as a specialist in intelligence infiltration. Li Xingyun nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze to Tianyongxing in his military uniform: "Captain Zhang, how is the integration of river defense progressing?"

Tian Yongxing, a short and wiry man in his thirties, immediately clasped his hands in greeting upon hearing this and said, “Your Majesty, I have secretly inspected key points along the Huai and Yangtze Rivers, including Shouzhou, Xuyi, Zhongli, and Jiangxia in Ezhou, and have completed my reconnaissance. The Wu and Chu navies each have their strengths, but their commands are inconsistent, leading to discord, which is a major problem. Under Your Majesty's decree, I am currently working to integrate them, unify the command of flags and drums, optimize the defenses, and pre-position fire ships, hidden stakes, and iron chains across the river at several key crossings, creating layers of defense. Among them, the Chu army is very cooperative due to Commander Ma (Ma Xisheng), and the Wu army under Xu Wen and Zhang Hao is also quite stable, except for Zhu Jin's troops, which do seem somewhat self-willed…”

At this point, his tone suddenly became more serious, "I believe that if Your Majesty wishes to make the river defenses impregnable, Your Majesty must grant me the power to make decisions on the spot and to command them as easily as my own limbs. Otherwise, if in wartime the generals of Wu and Chu act independently and miss opportunities, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"The power to make arbitrary decisions on the spot..." Li Xingyun didn't say anything about whether his subordinates would still disagree even if he granted them that power; he simply nodded slightly without immediately responding. Putting everything else aside, Li Xingyun had learned quite a bit about how superiors handle things in recent months.

“Your Majesty,” Zhang Zifan spoke up at the opportune moment, stepping forward to present a letter and a golden arrow as a token, “The Prince of Jin’s secret envoy traveled day and night to deliver this letter and a message. He said that the situation has changed drastically.”

The people in the hall immediately forgot about the power of making decisions on the spot and all became serious.

At Li Xingyun's prompting, Zhang Zifan unfolded the secret letter and read it briefly to everyone. The letter stated that although the Jin Kingdom's advance detachment was temporarily delayed due to constant harassment from Zhu Youwen's Liang army, the King of Jin had decided to personally lead the central army to conquer the Northern Kingdom's capital, Dading Prefecture. He intended to take advantage of the fierce battle between the royal court and Yelü Lage to join forces with the advance detachment for a swift and decisive attack, seizing the opportunity to tie down Xiao Yan's heavy northern forces on the grasslands and thus reverse the situation in the northern frontier.

Then it was said that Prince Li Cunxu of Jin personally submitted a memorial, earnestly requesting the emperor to immediately launch a full-scale offensive on the three fronts of Jianghuai, Jingxiang, and the southeast, pinning down the main force of the Liang Dynasty's imperial guards deployed in the south on the thousand-mile-long river defense, so that its soldiers would be unable to come to the north to provide reinforcements, and so on.

Finally, Li Cunxu even added a threatening remark, saying that the opportunity to fight in the southern desert was fleeting, and if the armies in the south hesitated to advance, once Xiao Yan's northern front was settled, the crisis between the north and south would immediately appear, and everyone would be waiting to die.

Fortunately, Zhang Zifan quickly added, "The Prince of Jin has also shown goodwill, wishing to send several talented individuals skilled in military affairs and intelligence to serve in our army, assisting us in coordinating defenses and analyzing the situation on the northern front. I believe we can accept them as appropriate. However, to prevent them from spying on the core, they should be placed in the position of central advisor, directly controlled by Tianxiong Star and Tianyong Star, specializing in liaison, tactical advice, and analysis of Liang army movements, without being involved in core decision-making or military power."

The hall was silent as everyone whispered among themselves. Li Xingyun frowned. Li Cunxu's threats, though threatening, were not without merit. If the northern deserts were lost, the Jin Kingdom would perish. The seemingly fertile land south of the Yangtze River would become an isolated island in the blink of an eye, and everyone would just be waiting to die.

He instinctively reached out to beckon Zhang Zifan to come closer so they could discuss something.

At this moment, the middle-aged man in his forties who had been silently listening suddenly stepped forward and bowed deeply to Li Xingyun.

"Your Majesty, your subject Sima Hui has something to report."

Li Xingyun was taken aback, then reluctantly lowered his hand from Zhang Zifan's grasp, sat up straight, and said, "Um, please speak."

"Your Majesty," Sima Hui said, placing one hand in front of his abdomen and the other behind his back. He paced back and forth a few times before speaking, "Although the Prince of Jin's request is urgent, his strategy is indeed an open and aboveboard plan. For the false dynasty in the Central Plains, it presents a perilous situation of being attacked from both the north and south; for the Great Tang, it is also a golden opportunity to break free from its cocoon. I have three strategies that may be able to respond to it."

Li Xingyun was somewhat skeptical about whether this fellow had the ability to come up with three strategies so readily. Zhang Zifan coughed and said on Li Xingyun's behalf, "Mr. Sima, please tell His Majesty quickly."

"Firstly, Your Majesty should immediately issue a strict decree, granting Xu Wen the title of Military Governor of the Jianghuai region, commanding the main force of the Wu army under his command to be stationed in Xuyi, and launching a fierce attack on Sizhou on the opposite bank of the Huai River within a few days; ordering the Crown Prince of Chu (Ma Xisheng) to ensure the defense of Dongting Lake is secure, and dispatching elite troops to support the Wu army's offensive as needed; and ordering the King of Min and the King of Yue to immediately mobilize their naval forces to the north to harass the coastal areas of Qing and Qi in Liang Dynasty, burn their grain ships, and disrupt their rear, making it impossible for them to support each other. This is the obvious plan, and the greater the momentum, the more it will draw the main force of the Liang army away. As for the hidden plan..." He paused slightly and continued, "According to Tianyong Star's observation, Your Majesty should secretly order the King of Chu to send more capable generals to lead elite troops to reinforce the Lingnan gateways such as Guizhou and Shaozhou, strictly inspect the border, and widely deploy scouts to deter Nanping and prevent it from making any rash moves. As for Raojiang, it is mountainous and far away, and without the support of Nanping, its momentum will also decline."

"Furthermore, Zhu Jin commands the most elite cavalry force of the Wu Kingdom. If his stance wavers, he will become a threat from within. However, given his high position and great power, he should not be moved lightly, nor should he be pressured too much to make him side with the false Liang."

Sima Hui turned his gaze to Li Xingyun, “From my observation of the internal affairs of Wu, although Zhang Hao and Xu Wen are both powerful ministers, Zhang Hao is more ambitious for military power, hence his deeper rift with Zhu Jin. Moreover, Zhang Hao prioritizes the stability of the river defenses. Your Majesty could secretly grant Zhang Hao authority, promising him substantial benefits or a prestigious position, and have him stationed in Haozhou to gradually take over and integrate the defenses of Zhu Jin's forces. This would be a demotion in disguise, effectively stripping him of his power, with the stability of the river defenses being paramount. This is a drastic measure, gentle yet effective. If you are worried about alerting Zhu Jin, Your Majesty could also move the capital to Shouzhou, ordering Zhu Jin to launch a strong attack on Yingzhou, simultaneously launching a fierce offensive against the Huaibei region of the puppet regime in the Central Plains, along with the forces of Xu Wen and Zhang Hao, to test Zhu Jin's loyalty.”

Regarding the Minyue region, Your Majesty should first observe the movements of their naval forces, and then dispatch a high-ranking official from Wu with imperial credentials to offer condolences. The Minyue region is deeply hidden behind Wu territory; if they continue to avoid battle, the Wu envoys will surely resent it. Your Majesty can then use this opportunity to implement a policy of both kindness and force. Only by acting righteously and establishing authority can the foundation be solid. In this way, by simultaneously pursuing both overt and covert measures, one can appease the Jin state and test loyalty, without neglecting either.”

Li Xingyun swallowed hard and turned around to look, only to see that his good brother Zhang Zifan had stopped tapping his chin with his folding fan and was just staring at Sima Hui, waiting for him to speak.

"Secondly, we can break the deadlock by using Jiangling as a starting point."

Sima Hui ignored the outside world, gripping his sleeve and pointing to the location of Jingnan on the map. "Gao Jixing, the military governor of Jingnan, is two-faced. He is nominally a subject of Liang, but in reality, he harbors ambitions of separatism. This barbarian occupies the strategic location of Jiangling, controlling the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. He is an obstacle to both Liang and us. We should have Tianxiong Xing thoroughly investigate his weaknesses, either by finding out his conflicts with the central government of the pseudo-Liu dynasty in the Central Plains, or by exploring his old grudges with the Central Plains, and devise a plan to induce him to change his ways. We do not need him to surrender the city, but only to make him alienated from the Central Plains, or even turn against them. Then the gateway to the Yangtze and Han rivers will be wide open, and we will also reduce our power in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. This would be the best outcome."

Thirdly, remain still and wait for the right time to change.

Sima Hui's finger slid down from Jiangling: "The southern defense line of the Central Plains is long. Although Xiao Yan is strong, his forces will eventually run out, and his supply lines will also have their limits. Li Cunxu of Jin needs to act swiftly to seize control of the grasslands. However, our Great Tang's three armies are pressing in, not for a quick victory, but to firmly hold their southern elite troops at various points along the river defenses with a powerful and disciplined formation. This will exhaust their troops, cause their supplies to dwindle daily, and wear down their generals. When their fatigue is fully apparent, or when Jin gains ground on the northern front and Xiao Yan's main force is forced to look north..."

He then traced his finger across the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River on the map. “That is when our Tang Dynasty’s elite land and water forces will find the weakest points in the river defense chain and launch a thunderous attack on Bianliang. This is the decisive moment, and we must wait patiently for the opportune moment and gather our strength before launching our attack. Before that, our army should be as solid as a rock, no matter how turbulent the waves are, we will remain calm and composed.”

This was the first time someone had clearly laid out such a grand strategy in front of Li Xingyun. Even he, a layman, was stunned, let alone Zhang Zifan, who prided himself on being well-versed in military strategy.

“Uh…” Li Xingyun looked at Sima Hui, who bowed to him after falling silent, and was momentarily at a loss for words.

Zhang Zifan sighed in admiration, stepped forward and bowed to Sima Hui. Then he looked at the officials who had been promoted by Li Xingyun and were now showing signs of excitement, and said, "Mr. Sima is indeed worthy of the title 'Star of Heavenly Secrets'."

"Vice Minister Zhang is too kind."

At this point, among the officials who were already eager to try, someone suggested: "Your Majesty, as Mr. Sima said, logistics is of paramount importance. With the three armies moving at the same time, a unified system for the allocation of funds and provisions must be established to prevent the various garrisons from acting independently and delaying supplies." Another person also said: "Your Majesty also needs to issue a decree to encourage the three armies and proclaim to the world the great cause."

The reason Zhang Zifan selected these people was that they were all people without any connections, and they naturally hoped to make a name for themselves in this group. Most importantly, they also saw that these scoundrels who were responsible for setting up Li Xingyun's career were indeed capable in their own way.

Li Xingyun sat in the main seat. He was still a little dizzy from a hangover the night before, but seeing everyone looking at him, a heavy sense of responsibility mixed with the expectation of breaking the deadlock stirred up in his heart for no reason.

He took a deep breath, stood up, and said, "Accept the first and third points raised by Mr. Sima. Immediately draft an imperial edict in the name of the Emperor of the Great Tang, strictly ordering all the garrisons in Jiangnan to send troops according to the plan. Anyone who delays military operations or outwardly complies but inwardly disobeys will be executed without mercy, no matter who they are."

"As Zhang Zifan has suggested, the advisors sent by the Jin State shall be accepted and supervised by the two captains, Tianxiongxing and Tianyongxing, with their authority clearly defined and not to be overstepped."

"The second point is approved by Mr. Sima. Secretly order the Chu State to prepare for the defense of Nanping and Raojiang, and to increase troops in Gui and Shao. Authorize Tianxiongxing to monitor internal affairs in accordance with the law, focusing on investigating Zhu Jin's suspicious points, and to ensure that the defense of the river is secure. Instruct Tianxiongxing to work with the two captains, Tianjixing, to formulate a detailed strategy against Gao Jixing within three days."

"Tian Yongxing is granted full authority to integrate and optimize the river defense deployment, and is given the power to make decisions on the spot. If any Wu or Chu generals disobey orders and obstruct the overall river defense, they may be taken away by the Bad People first, and then I will be informed."

At this moment, he turned to the officials and said, "I order you all to work with Vice Minister Zhang and the Ministry of Revenue to ensure the smooth supply of logistics for the three armies. Immediately draft an edict to encourage the three armies and send it to each camp."

Zhang Zifan was the first to bow his head and pay respects to the group of Bad Guys who were quite pleased, as well as Shi Yao and the others who had been sitting in the corner without participating.

"The ministers obey the order."

"..."

After the meeting, Li Xingyun was about to speak with Zhang Zifan when he saw that the latter had gone to find Tianjixing Sima Hui without saying goodbye, so he was also a little sad.

Ma Xisheng returned to Changsha, but dared not go back to see Princess Shangrao, so he could only find a secluded side hall to catch up on his sleep.

------

On the horizon of the southern grasslands, the morning light pierces through the gray-blue clouds, and the cold wind sweeps across the withered yellow grass, stretching endlessly.

Under a banner bearing the character "Jin" fluttering in the wind, Li Cunxu sat atop a magnificent black warhorse. His face was expressionless, displaying only the focused concentration of a hawk locking onto its prey, even if that focus was fixed on just a few people.

Shi Jiantang, fully armored and silent, stood by Li Cunxu's side, his horse reined in. Gao Xingzhou, Xia Luqi, and Shi Kuangyi each led elite cavalry, flanking Li Cunxu. Behind them, over ten thousand Jin cavalry stood silently, watching in the distance as several Jin scouts pursued an equal number of knights. The knights were clearly exhausted, yet they were fighting the Jin soldiers to a standstill.

In the end, the pursuing Jin scouts were all wiped out, and among those few knights, there was still one left. Instead of fleeing, he reined in his horse, let his hooves pound on the ground, and held his spear, looking at the ten thousand Jin cavalry. This mere cavalryman was full of heroic spirit.

Shi Jiantang's face was grim. He turned and glanced at Li Cunxu, who was squinting and silent. He gritted his teeth and said, "This humble general will ride alone to retrieve that man's head for Your Majesty."

"Nearly thirty scouts have perished, yet we couldn't even wipe out a mere ten enemy riders. I, the vanguard commander, even had to personally lead the attack." Li Cunxu, however, merely held the reins from his horse and scoffed, "Is the Qin King's retinue truly invincible?"

Upon hearing this, the young generals, including Xia Luqi, who had been furious and eager to fight, all fell silent, let alone volunteer for battle.

Just then, a rider suddenly emerged from the army. Judging from his attire, he was just an ordinary soldier, and the spear he carried was not a self-made weapon by professional warriors of this era, but just a standard-issue spear.

All the generals changed color, and the leader of his troops and his superiors panicked even more. They knew that if this fellow went up and died, he would die, but who would bear the blame for the failure to manage the army?
Everyone looked at Li Cunxu's expression, only to see that the latter merely squinted.

The Jin cavalryman galloped away silently, his horse still moving. The remaining Qin King's retainer, without asking any questions, simply laughed and charged at him.

It should be noted that although Zhu Youwen divided his troops into several groups, each with hundreds to thousands of cavalry, to constantly patrol around Li Cunxu's army, Li Cunxu still managed to seize the opportunity to launch a fierce attack. As a result, this Qin Wang Yi Cong, who was scattered by the fighting, was inadvertently entangled by Li Cunxu's main force. Although the enemy was already exhausted, there was a fundamental reason why the last man was able to survive to the end. Ordinary soldiers who rushed in at this time, even if they could gain an advantage in terms of physical strength, would probably just die.

But the Jin cavalryman killed King Yi Cong of Qin with a single spear thrust in just one round, which shocked everyone.

However, just as the Jin cavalryman was about to dismount and behead the wounded but not yet dead Yicong, he saw the man simply draw his sword, shout "May the King of Qin be victorious!" and swiftly commit suicide before the army.

Not to mention Li Cunxu and the once-energetic army fell silent, even the Jin cavalrymen who had killed him remained silent for a moment. They did not go down to cut off his head, but instead rode back, dismounted, and prostrated themselves before Li Cunxu.

Seeing that Li Cunxu remained silent for a long time, and that the generals were also silent, Jingxinmo could only chuckle dryly: "Xiao Yan only has 1,500 of these loyal followers, while Your Majesty seized Zhu Youwen's weakness in this battle and killed at least two or three hundred..."

Li Cunxu scoffed, ignoring Jing Xinmo completely. He simply rode forward himself, looked at the excessively young cavalryman on the ground, and loudly asked, "You're so young, yet you've joined the army? Are there no men left in Hedong? Why do we need a greenhorn like you to fight?"

The figure lying on the ground suddenly raised its head.

The man was indeed excessively young, appearing to be no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. Yet, far from showing fear, he met Li Cunxu's scrutinizing gaze with the sharp edge characteristic of youth, and loudly replied:
"Your Majesty, there are plenty of brave men in Hedong! I am but an ordinary cavalryman in the ranks, having trained in spear and horsemanship for a few years, which is why I secretly joined the army. Today, I witnessed the Qin King's followers behaving tyrannically, and I couldn't bear to go into battle and embarrass myself. As for strength, there are countless warriors in my Hedong army who can defeat me. Your Majesty has many fierce generals and valiant soldiers under your command. What are these Qin King's followers worth? If we kill one of them today, we can kill ten or a hundred tomorrow!"

Xia Luqi, Shi Kuangyi, and other young generals clenched their fists, their suppressed anger instantly ignited, transforming into burning fighting spirit. Shi Jiantang's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes as he looked at the young soldier. Jing Xinmo's dry smile froze, a hint of surprise crossing his face.

Yes. An ordinary, unknown soldier, with only a standard-issue spear in his hand, single-handedly killed the Qin King's elite cavalry, who had rendered his own thirty elite scouts helpless! Isn't this the best proof?

There is no shortage of fine young men in Hedong!
Li Cunxu's eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly, then he suddenly laughed, reined in his horse, and looked back at his generals and the vast army.

"What a fine piece of news!" Li Cunxu's laughter echoed throughout the hall. "What is your name? Where are you from?"

"Your Majesty, I am Liu Zhiyuan, a soldier from the Shatuo tribe in Yangqu County, Taiyuan Prefecture. I am the second son in my family." The young man straightened his back and spoke in a loud voice.

“Liu Zhiyuan…” Li Cunxu repeated the name in a low voice, his gaze deep. He no longer looked at the kneeling boy on the ground, but slowly raised his head, looking at the dark, undulating outline of the distant mountains, and closer still, at the desolate battlefield left behind by Qin Wangyi’s suicide. The faint morning light cast a desolate glow on the blood-stained grassland. Ten thousand soldiers stood in solemn silence, with only the howling wind.

Li Cunxu remained silent for quite a long time. So long that Shi Jiantang couldn't help but want to speak, so long that fine beads of sweat appeared on Jingxinmo's forehead.

Finally, Li Cunxu withdrew his gaze from the distance and returned it to that young yet composed face. He did not inquire about his family background, nor did he ask why he had joined the army. He simply asked earnestly, "Liu Zhiyuan, would you be willing to join my ranks and become my personal attendant?"

The Prince of Jin's close attendants, who were closely attached to the royal banner, especially Li Cunxu's close attendants, always faced the vanguard in bloody battles. It was precisely because of this that Li Cunxu's confidants, such as Xia Luqi, rose to power in this way. Moreover, this kid was invited to such an occasion.

The surrounding generals, including Shi Jiantang, were once again shocked. This position, held by the most trusted confidants, had been so easily given to a mere sixteen or seventeen-year-old soldier who had just been in the scout team and was virtually unknown?
Liu Zhiyuan's chest heaved violently, and then without the slightest hesitation, he suddenly knelt on one knee, clasped his hands above his head, and said, "This humble soldier is unworthy, but Your Majesty has not abandoned me. How dare I not serve you to the death? I am willing to be Your Majesty's vanguard, at your side, and I would gladly die ten thousand times over."

"Good!" Li Cunxu shouted, then pulled hard on the reins without saying another word.

"Shi Jiantang!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Shi Jiantang replied with a fist and a fist salute, his voice booming like a bell.

"Take your men, and those Yinshan auxiliary troops," Li Cunxu drew his sword and pointed it northeast, his killing intent soaring to the sky. "According to the original plan, we will cut through mountains and build bridges over rivers. We will kill gods and Buddhas alike if they stand in our way. Once the roads are cleared, the army will immediately cross the mountains!"

"The last general takes command!"

Li Cunxu's gaze then swept towards Gao Xingzhou: "Gao Xingzhou!"

"Your subordinate is here!" the man replied loudly.

"You shall quickly lead three thousand elite cavalry and use their own methods against them. Focus on finding the temporary water sources and possible rendezvous points where Zhu Youwen's troops have dispersed. Once you find one, burn it down. Force them to be unable to rest and resupply nearby, keeping them constantly on the move. Meanwhile, although the Yinshan tribe has become obedient, they still need to be closely monitored. As long as Zhong Xiaokui is not killed, my hatred will not be appeased. You shall coordinate the subsequent troops, together with the auxiliary troops of the various tribes, to tighten the perimeter, concentrate the baggage train for protection, and disperse any small groups of harassment with powerful bows and crossbows. Do not pursue or engage in prolonged battles."

"The last general takes command!"

"Central Army, follow my royal banner, full speed ahead! Target: Tanshan Pass, pass through the mountain, and head straight for the royal court!" Li Cunxu glanced one last time at Liu Zhiyuan, who had already risen, gripping his spear tightly, his eyes burning with determination, and shouted, "Liu Zhiyuan, keep up!"

"Yes, sir!" Liu Zhiyuan replied in a deep voice, nimbly mounting his horse and following closely behind Li Cunxu.

Li Cunxu's cloak suddenly swung in the wind, but his sword still pointed forward.

"My lords, do you see this?! This is what the men of Hedong are all about! With Tanshan ahead and the northern desert in sight, follow me to conquer this road and crush all enemies that stand in our way!"

"Break through the road ahead! Break through the road ahead!"

More than 10,000 cavalrymen roared with earth-shattering fury, their sound waves sweeping away the gloom and tearing through the cold wind.

The torrent surged forth once more, carrying with it dust and boiling killing intent, rushing straight towards the northeast. Liu Zhiyuan rode closely behind Li Cunxu's army, his ordinary spear seemingly imbued with the aura of a thousand troops, gleaming with a chilling light of destruction amidst the thunderous roar of iron hooves shattering mountains and rivers.

(End of this chapter)