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

Chapter 463 Let's see who the hero is today (Part 4)
Deep in the northern part of the southern grasslands, beside a turbid stream outside the Yuanyangpo Wetland, waterfowl fluttered their wings and flew away in fright.

Zhu Youwen dismounted, his face, covered in a thick red beard, contorted with a grim expression. He glanced back at the dozen or so weapons he had seized from the Jin army generals in the battle, and his rage only intensified. He slammed them all to the ground.

The accompanying officers and soldiers remained silent; some hesitated to speak, some were quite dejected, and some were indignant.

Looking around, he found that he had less than a thousand riders left, many of them wounded, their horses foaming at the mouth and nose, clearly exhausted from their repeated battles.

Zhu Youwen pushed aside those around him, his face grim, and walked to the riverbank. He scooped up the icy water and splashed it fiercely on his face. The chilly water cleansed his blood-stained face and cleared his confused mind somewhat. He raised his head, his large eyes fixed on the almost invisible yet clearly perceptible vast cloud of dust in the southern sky.

As per Xiao Yan's previous plan, Zhong Xiaokui was responsible for secretly traveling among the various tribes of Yinshan, while Zhu Youwen personally led 5,000 cavalry. Relying on the supply lines of Youzhou and the military supplies that Zhong Xiaokui had cleverly obtained from the various tribes of Yinshan, they patrolled Li Siyuan's rear and the entire heartland of southern Mongolia. Taking advantage of their mobility, they forced Li Siyuan to cut off contact with the Hedong side. During this period, they also continuously harassed the flanks and rear of the Jin army that might support Li Siyuan.

The purpose was to use Li Siyuan's troops as bait, so that the Jin state would be reluctant to abandon them, but unable to mobilize the Yinshan tribes to help them, and could only deplete the local forces in Hedong. This was what Xiao Yan called "bleeding them dry".

Meanwhile, the two thousand vassals of Li Cunzhong, whom Li Siyuan had sacrificed to exchange for the main force's eastward advance, were also decimated by Zhu Youwen. It is estimated that only seven or eight hundred cavalrymen managed to escape westward. However, letting Li Siyuan cross the Tanshan Mountains and penetrate deep into the northern desert was one of Xiao Yan's planned strategies. Therefore, Zhu Youwen was not alarmed but rather pleased, and prepared to directly block the Tanshan Mountain line to isolate the northern and southern deserts in order to besiege and attack the Jin army.

Later, the Jin army indeed sent a large force out of Baidaochuan. However, according to intelligence, the commander was Shi Jiantang, the "Pioneer Shi" who was famous during Li Keyong's time, and his 10,000 cavalry. After dealing with the unruly tribes of Yinshan, his troops marched eastward without stopping to aid Li Siyuan.

In response, Zhu Youwen simply divided his main force into several groups to continue the strategy of harassment, cutting off supply lines, and exhausting the Jin army, while he himself sat in one place to observe the overall situation, intending to deliver a fatal blow when the Jin army was exhausted and confused.

Such a prudent arrangement was not problematic in itself, and Zhong Xiaokui, who had returned from Yinshan, had also given a cautious reminder that the Jin state would definitely send a large army and the Yinshan auxiliary army eastward, and that the Huailai army in Guizhou to the south and the Juyong Pass in Youzhou should be ready to provide support at any time, which made the preparations for this battle even more secure.

However, in this battle, the commander-in-chief of the Jin army was not Shi Jiantang; he was merely a vanguard.

After personally leading the central army out of the pass, Li Cunxu swiftly reorganized the various tribes of Yinshan and quickly made a preliminary assessment of Zhu Youwen's deployment and approximate troop strength through various intelligence reports.

Li Cunxu was not careless about this Ghost King's true form. He knew the man was brave, but he also knew he was stubborn. Or rather, from the moment he began preparing for the personal campaign, he already knew how to defeat Zhu Youwen's army.

Therefore, before this battle, Shi Jiantang personally led his 10,000 cavalry to forcefully attack several passes in Tanshan, making it appear as if he intended to take this mountain range that isolated the eastern northern desert. Through several days of scout engagements and small-scale conflicts, he created the illusion that the Jin army was eager to break through.

Gao Xingzhou, serving as Shi Jiantang's deputy, led a contingent of elite cavalry to join forces with the Yinshan auxiliary army. Leveraging their familiarity with the terrain, Gao was tasked with striking Zhu Youwen's scattered harassing units. Their strategy was swift and decisive, avoiding direct confrontation. While losses on both sides were minimal, this quickly disrupted Zhu Youwen's rhythm, forcing him to regroup his forces. The aim was to first decisively defeat Shi Jiantang's eager-to-capture Tanshan, preventing him from establishing a foothold, and then, with reinforcements from Guizhou and Youzhou, to regain control of the Jin army and the heartland of southern Mongolia.

At this time, although Li Cunxu had not yet shown up, Shi Jiantang and Gao Xingzhou, working together, had successfully attracted the attention of Zhu Youwen's main force and made him decide to use his main force for a decisive battle.

Therefore, the two sides quickly broke out into a direct battle. However, on the day of the battle, Shi Jiantang's troops were almost defeated by Zhu Youwen's main force at the foot of Tanshan. But Shi Jiantang, as the famous vanguard, also took the lead, which prompted Zhu Youwen to personally join the battle.

Although Gao Xingzhou's troops hastily joined the battle to threaten Zhu Youwen's flank, forcing the latter to mobilize reserves to reinforce, the Jin army's 10,000 cavalry and Zhu Youwen's 5,000 cavalry clashed at the foot of Tanshan. Whether it was intentional or not, the former was still defeated and unable to raise its head, even with all of Zhu Youwen's 1,000 Qin King's Righteous Cavalry participating in the battle.

But just as the battle situation became clear, Zhu Youwen led a hundred cavalrymen and almost broke through the Jin army's front line, forcing Gao Xingzhou to abandon his fierce attack on Zhu Youwen's flank and retreat. Li Cunxu, leading seven thousand cavalrymen, who had detoured hundreds of miles to the north, suddenly appeared from Zhu Youwen's side and rear like a divine soldier. As soon as his king's banner appeared, the morale of all the Jin army on the battlefield soared, and they reversed their decline and charged back at the Liang army.

Caught off guard, Zhu Youwen's rear army was instantly thrown into chaos. In this situation, no matter how brave and skilled Zhu Youwen was, and how many Jin generals he killed, his cavalry was thrown into disarray. On the other hand, the Jin army had an absolute advantage in terms of manpower, morale, and even positioning.

Seeing that the situation was beyond saving, Zhong Xiaokui made a decisive move, desperately trying to dissuade the bloodthirsty Zhu Youwen and persuade him to disperse his troops, thus allowing them to break through the encirclement. However, because Li Cunxu had already deliberately cut off access to the south, the main force retreated northwest to Yuanyangbo to temporarily establish a foothold.

In this battle, Zhu Youwen's initial losses were not significant, and he could have even achieved a remarkable victory. Regardless of whether the Jin army was feigning weakness to lull Zhu Youwen into a false sense of security or attempting to use their vanguard to hold off the Liang army, they undeniably displayed a decline in morale. The tactical coordination of Zhu Youwen's four thousand Youzhou Dingba Du soldiers and one thousand Qin Wang Yi Cong was flawless.

However, once Li Cunxu joined the battle, hundreds of elite troops were killed on the battlefield, the main force was directly scattered, and the strategic intention of delaying and exhausting the main force of the Jin army completely failed. This also caused Zhu Youwen to lose face. How could he not be angry?
It should be noted that although Zhu Youwen knew he was a martial arts fanatic, he had followed Zhu Wen in his early years, fighting in the north and south, defeating the cannibalistic demon Qin Zongquan, and defeating the Zhu Jin brothers. He had even learned from Li Keyong, and he considered himself to be a first-rate strategist.

However, upon calm reflection, he had to admit that Li Cunxu's strategy in this battle, which utilized his own stubbornness and exploited the weakness of his earlier harassment by dividing his forces, was flawless. He first used Shi Jiantang as the main force to launch a feint attack to draw the enemy away, while Gao Xingzhou served as a surprise force to sweep the outer perimeter. He himself led the main force in a "surprise attack within a surprise attack" to carry out a decapitation strike.

Could it be that my brain has become malfunctioning because I've been imprisoned for over a decade?

"Did you see it clearly?" Zhu Youwen squatted by the river, his face gloomy as he thought for a long time before suddenly speaking, his voice hoarse.

A scout officer behind him clasped his hands in a fist salute, panting heavily: "I saw it clearly, it was indeed Prince Li Cunxu of Jin. I saw it clearly when I followed the general straight into his central army."

The general then exchanged glances with his colleagues and said again, "Currently, the Jin army has controlled the main pass of Tanshan, and Li Cunxu has also gone north. The rearguard is Gao Xingzhou's troops, who are clearing the battlefield and mobilizing the various tribes of Yinshan to provide support from the rear, while monitoring our Guizhou and Youzhou."

“What a Li Yazi…” Zhu Youwen’s bushy beard trembled, and his tiger-like eyes narrowed slightly.

Suddenly, he grinned, revealing a set of menacing teeth, and laughed. The laughter was initially low and suppressed, but then grew louder and louder, filled with wild excitement, echoing in the empty valley and startling flocks of birds in the distance.

"Hahaha... Good, very good. You've got guts, you've got real guts." Zhu Youwen suddenly straightened up, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. His previous dejection and anger vanished, leaving only arrogant killing intent and the excitement of a hunter finally spotting his most precious prey.

"He dares to hang his head like a lantern in front of me; he clearly doesn't take me seriously. He thinks breaking through the pass will solve everything? Dream on! I'm going to take his head!"

"Pass on the order," he suddenly said, his face darkening.

Several skilled messengers immediately stepped forward.

Zhu Youwen spoke rapidly, pacing back and forth: "You, immediately send a messenger to Huailai in Guizhou, and tell his garrison commander to gather all the horses that can run, bring ten days' worth of rations, and as many arrows as you can carry. Immediately, right now, head north to Jiming Mountain to meet me. Tell him that the supply convoy is also going to Jiming Mountain. If they are even a moment late, I will kill them first."

"Furthermore, send men to Juyong Pass immediately. Tell the garrison commander Zhao Dejun that no matter what methods he uses, immediately withdraw all capable cavalry, advance lightly and swiftly, and reach Jiming Mountain together with the Huailai troops. Also, have them immediately send messages to Youzhou and Yingzhou, saying that the head of that brat Li Cunxu is right in front of us. Whether we can take him down depends on their reaction. And send a night watchman to Fu An, the garrison commander of Youzhou, ordering him to monitor all the troops. Anyone who delays the battle will be executed without mercy."

"The rest of you," Zhu Youwen said, mounting his horse. "Rest here for half an hour. We can't stay here long. Immediately prepare to assemble all units and head south to Jiming Mountain. We'll keep a close watch on the Jin army's flank. There's bound to be a weakness we can find. That brat Li Cunxu wants to cross Tanshan, but I'll make sure he never comes back!"

Just as these orders were being issued, Zhong Xiao Kui, who was responsible for bringing up the rear, arrived after hearing the news. After carefully listening to all the orders, she finally couldn't help but step forward: "Commander..."

Zhu Youwen turned his head sharply, scrutinizing Zhong Xiaokui with a somewhat displeased look: "Speak."

Zhong Xiaokui took a deep breath and stepped forward, lowering her voice, "Li Cunxu's main force is still strong, while our army has just suffered a defeat and has not yet recovered its strength. Even if we join forces with the troops inside the pass and venture deep into the northern desert to pursue his main force, it will be extremely dangerous, and we will hardly have a chance to win. I believe that it would be better to take advantage of the fact that his main force is looking north and the Yinshan Mountains are undefended, and submit a memorial to the Prince of Qin, proposing to unite the Yizhou, Zhenzhou, and various tribes in the Taihang Mountains to launch a fierce attack on the Daibei and Xinzhou prefectures. We should burn their grain supplies and cut off their retreat. This is a strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao,' attacking what they must defend. This would not only resolve the defeat in this battle but also align with the Prince of Qin's strategy of 'exhausting their strength,' and the chances of victory would be much greater..."

As she spoke, she whispered a reminder: "The King of Qin's intention is ultimately for our troops to blockade Baidaochuan, harass and delay, rather than actively seeking a decisive battle with the main force of the Jin army, let alone penetrating deep into the northern desert..."

After listening to Zhong Xiaokui's words, Zhu Youwen remained silent for a moment before shaking his head and saying, "Your plan is very good. Under normal circumstances, I might have considered it. But today is different."

He pointed north, "Li Cunxu's head is right there. He delivered himself to my blade. If I miss this opportunity, I'll regret it for the rest of my life. Extremely dangerous? I'm going to fight in extremely dangerous territory! If I succeed, I'll be famous throughout the world; if I fail..." He sneered arrogantly, "I can't possibly fail again. Do as I say. Quickly send orders to Guizhou and Juyong Pass to assemble according to plan. Don't say another word!"

Zhong Xiaokui had no choice but to obey, knowing Zhu Youwen's personality. However, upon closer examination, she realized that Zhu Youwen's strategy might not be entirely without merit. Furthermore, launching a full-scale offensive along the Taihang Mountains would require central deliberation before a decision could be made. While the impact of different battlefields might be significant, it was negligible given the current situation in southern Mongolia. In the end, Zhong Xiaokui simply turned and whispered a few instructions to a night watchman.

------

On a solitary peak at the northern foot of Yinshan Mountain, a cold wind howled, causing the four people's clothes to flutter.

The older sister squatted on a large rock, resting her chin on her hand, her little face scrunched up. She first looked at the lingering smoke and dust in the distance, counting on her fingers one or two streams, but before she could finish counting, she inexplicably puffed up her cheeks in anger.

"Fight, fight, fight! All you do is fight! It's so noisy! My shop has been open for so long and I haven't sold a single bowl of soup! It's all been scared away by these bastards! I might as well starve to death! Pay up! Li Cunxu! Zhu Youwen! You owe me money!" She got angrier and angrier as she spoke, picked up a small stone and threw it at the battlefield that was still being cleaned up in the distance, but unfortunately it didn't even reach the edge.

Hou Qing stood with his hands behind his back on the edge of the cliff, his white robes spotless, as if he were in his own world. With his back to the others, his gaze was focused on the battlefield below, where the fighting had recently ended.

The scene of the Jin army clearing the battlefield and regrouping for their northward advance was vividly captured in his eyes. Their swift and precise changes in formation, the precise timing of their ambushes, the ruthless efficiency of their encirclement and annihilation, and even the orderly discipline of their final northward march…

"The army is like a chess piece, moving like thunder, still as a mountain..." Hou Qing seemed not to hear her elder sister's complaints, and continued to clap her hands with her bone flute, saying, "This Li Cunxu has some method in arranging troops, and compared with his father, he is quite dignified."

He nodded slightly, "...The timing of the surprise attack to decide the outcome was also perfectly timed. Hmm...impressive. Such a military strategy, capable of making the entire army move as if it were one's own arm, where can one find it..."

"Hmph, you call this military strategy?" The surrendered official leaned against a tree trunk on the edge of the cliff, arms crossed, and sneered. But when Hou Qing looked at him with a slightly furrowed brow, she simply patted the dust off her body and calmly swept her gaze across the tragic battlefield ruins below, pausing for a moment on the direction where Zhu Youwen's remnants of the army had fled and on the dust cloud where the main force of the Jin army had disappeared.

"It's all just for show. No matter how much Li Cunxu can jump around, can he really tear a hole in the sky? In my opinion, even if he were to enter this grassland, he would be nothing more than a skeleton in a tomb..."

Upon hearing this, Hou Qing was greatly shocked and turned to kneel down: "Disciple..."

"Pah! Pah! Pah!" The older sister was so anxious that she jumped up and gave Hou Qing a hard flick on the forehead. "What kind of behavior is this? Aren't you afraid of messing up the seniority?"

“Each person has their own opinion,” Hou Qing said earnestly.

The elder sister ignored him completely, only looking warily at the surrendered official: "You know military strategy?"

"Who knows any military strategy?" The surrendered official was also quite speechless.

The older sister then looked at her with an expression that said, "I knew it," and said smugly, "I knew you were bragging."

The surrendered official rolled his eyes and said, "That brute Zhu Youwen has really fallen. The northern deserts are going to be in chaos again. Xiao Yan is annoying, but he still owes me a favor. If all my men are ruined, who will do my bidding to pay off my debts?"

As she was talking, she noticed that her older sister, Hou Qing, and even the drought demon who had been squatting not far away and had been silent all looked at her. Her older sister, in particular, had a look on her face that said, "Spit it out if you have something to say," which was really irritating.

Surprisingly, the surrendered minister did not use her status as the eldest sister to beat her up. Instead, she changed the subject, saying, "...Ahem, what I mean is, even when watching a show, we have to make sure the stage doesn't collapse too quickly, right?"

Upon hearing this, the elder sister made a face and whispered, "Really?" She then pulled Hou Qing down to lie down, as if to whisper something in secret. Seeing this, the surrendered minister frowned almost imperceptibly, then hurriedly said, "Hey, Hou Qing."

Hou Qing was about to listen carefully to what her elder sister's so-called big secret was when she heard this and politely looked up.

"Since we're just idling around anyway," the surrendered official said casually. "Why don't we stretch our muscles and lend a hand?"

"Not interested." Hou Qing prepared to continue listening to the big secret.

"Wait, wait, wait." Jiang Chen was convinced. He walked over, grabbed the mysterious and seemingly very serious older sister by the back of her collar, threw her aside, and said, "If you're willing to do it, the manager's affairs will be handed over to you from now on."

"I'd like to hear the details." Hou Qing patted the bone flute, ignoring his elder sister's protests, his face serious.

"That brute Zhu Youwen suffered a great loss, he definitely won't swallow this insult." The surrendered official pointed southeast with his chin. "He'll almost certainly go after Li Cunxu. You know his temperament, he won't give up until he hits a brick wall, he'll probably throw everyone down with him. You're fast, go and give the guards a heads-up. Let them know that Li Cunxu is personally leading the expedition and that Zhu Youwen suffered a setback. Otherwise, that brute will ruin the situation in southern Mongolia... Cough, why are you looking at me like that? I'm just worried that if too many people die, no one will come to our door, and we'll have wasted our good choice of location."

The elder sister looked at him with disdain, and a barely perceptible smile flickered across Hou Qing's lips, but he did not point out the surrendered official's hidden worries about someone. He raised his hand and gently brushed away a non-existent speck of dust from his sleeve.

"Very well, this place is filled with the stench of war, it's a good time to get some fresh air, I'll go and come back quickly."

Before he finished speaking, the ornate longsword behind him emitted a clear, melodious hum.

Before Hou Qing could draw his sword, a sharp, cold light shot out from its sheath and hovered in front of him.

The sword was long and narrow, exuding an ancient charm, and its surface shimmered like autumn water under the vast sunlight of the mountains and grasslands. Hou Qing lightly touched the ground with his toes, and his figure floated like a feather, already firmly planted on the spine of the sword.

"Ying Gou, wipe the table clean." He left these words as the longsword, suspended in mid-air, carried him away, transforming into a streak of white light that cut through the mountain wind and sped off towards the southeast. Its speed was so great that it left only a faint afterimage in the air.

"Wow, my brother wasn't bragging after all! He really can fly! Wow, he's so cool!" The older sister instantly forgot her anger, jumping up and down, clapping her hands, her eyes sparkling, clearly extremely envious. The drought demon then got up and waved its large hand in the direction where the light disappeared.

The surrendered official snorted, wrapped his robes tighter around himself, but his gaze involuntarily followed the white line disappearing into the horizon, lingering there for a long time.

------

As dusk settled, the majestic Juyong Pass was bathed in a golden glow. The high walls gleamed with the cold light of weapons on the crenellations, and the guards stood at attention, their eyes scanning the vast wilderness beyond the pass with vigilance.

Inside the pass, the atmosphere was tense in the liaison office set up by the night guards, with messengers rushing in and out, delivering messages gathered from all sides.

Just then, a white rainbow suddenly tore through the deepening twilight without warning, coming from the northwest horizon at a speed beyond the limits of human perception. By the time the soldiers guarding the gate were alerted, the white light had already silently landed on the eaves of the highest point of the gate tower.

The sword light vanished abruptly, revealing a figure. Clad in pristine white, immaculate and untouched, he stood with his hands behind his back on a narrow corner of the eaves. The night breeze ruffled the hem of his robes and a few strands of loose, light golden hair, giving him an ethereal, otherworldly air. The setting sun cast a soft glow upon him, making him appear even more otherworldly, unlike anyone else in the mortal realm.

"who?!"

"A demon...a demon?! A demon from the northern desert?"

"Enemy attack! Archers!"

"Protect the gate tower!"

A commotion erupted on the ramparts. The guards, stunned by this astonishing feat, were instantly thrown into chaos. The piercing clang of alarm gongs rang out, and countless crossbows were nocked in an instant. A dense volley of arrows, gleaming coldly, were aimed at the suddenly appearing intruder. The air froze, thick with murderous intent. "Stop! Put it down! No rudeness allowed!"

Fortunately, a sharp shout immediately quelled the chaos. A middle-aged man dressed in the uniform of a night watchman, with a sharp and capable demeanor, pushed through the crowd and rushed to the front of the gate tower.

After looking up and clearly seeing the face and posture of the person on the eaves, his pupils suddenly contracted. He instantly recalled the detailed description of the four people in the internal files. Without hesitation, he pressed his hands down in all directions and shouted, "Put away your weapons! These are the people who have stained the rivers and mountains with blood, the corpse ancestor Hou Qing. Do not be disrespectful!"

Having said that, he strode forward, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply towards the eaves: "I am the Hundred-Household Officer of Juyong Pass, and I have met Lord Hou, the Corpse Ancestor. The Corpse Ancestor's swordsmanship is as graceful as a startled swan and as agile as a swimming dragon; it is truly the work of a god. When I served before the Prince of Qin, I was fortunate enough to hear Your Highness often say that the Corpse Ancestor's demeanor was unparalleled in the world. Today, having seen him, I know that Your Highness's words are indeed pearls of wisdom and absolutely true."

He straightened up, surveyed the bewildered guards, and spoke with undisguised admiration: "His Highness the Prince of Qin has long instructed that Hou Qing's swordsmanship is unparalleled in the world, moving with lightning speed, making him a sword immortal of our time. His immortal bearing and extraordinary demeanor are truly the pinnacle we can only look up to. Moreover, the Corpse Ancestor is a close friend and senior of His Highness. Why don't you all quickly pay your respects!"

Upon hearing the news, the general guarding the pass rushed over and, upon hearing this introduction, was immediately filled with turmoil.

Although he only knew the name of the Corpse Ancestor, he clearly understood the weight of the words "close friend of the King of Qin," "senior," and "sword immortal of this era." He quickly composed himself, clasped his hands and bowed respectfully towards the eaves: "This humble general, Zhao Dejun, the garrison commander of Juyong Pass, was unaware of the Corpse Ancestor's presence. My subordinates have been ignorant and offended you. I beg the Corpse Ancestor's forgiveness."

The area around the fortress fell silent instantly, save for heavy breathing. All the crossbows were lowered. The soldiers stared at the figure bathed in the last rays of the setting sun on the eaves, their initial shock quickly replaced by awe and curiosity.

Hou Qing stood on the eaves, his face showing no outward change in emotion. However, upon closer inspection, a faint, almost pleasurable ripple of pleasure flickered deep in his eyes from the flattery that had so precisely targeted the itch from the Hundred-Household Commander that night. He nodded slightly in response, his posture composed and elegant: "Yes, no need to be so polite. I was passing through Mo Nan and happened to witness a lively event, so I stopped by to take a look."

"Please speak, Ancestor Corpse." That night, even the hundred households who had not been collected were serious.

Hou Qing's gaze fell on the rather sensible and pleasant-speaking centurion, and he stopped looking at the dark mass of people below the pass and their tense posture, and went straight to the point: "Prince Jin, Li Cunxu, has personally led tens of thousands of his main force and broke through the Tanshan Pass this morning. Zhu Youwen's troops fought a fierce battle with his vanguard and suffered some losses. Li Cunxu is now rushing towards the Northern Desert Royal Court with about 20,000 cavalry under his command, not counting the Yinshan tribes."

He paused briefly, then continued, "Another minister of the Corpse Ancestor is worried about the King of Qin's plans, so he sent me to inform you all so that the King of Qin can make arrangements quickly."

These few words conveyed a message as powerful as a thunderclap.

The faces of the defending general Zhao Dejun and the officers who rushed over instantly turned ashen.

Li Cunxu personally led the expedition! They broke through Tanshan! Commander Zhu suffered a setback! Even more critically, the main force of the Jin army broke through the Tanshan line and was rushing towards the Northern Desert royal court at full speed!
Because Li Cunxu defeated Xiao Yan a few years ago, Li Yazi seemed to be nothing special. But in this northern land, where people are like shadows of trees, why did the tribes of Yinshan immediately become obedient and become dogs of Jin again? Why did the Jin army, which fought against Zhu Youwen, suddenly become so enthusiastic when they saw the royal banner?
The only one who could defeat Li Yazi was Xiao Yan.

"We are deeply grateful to the Ancestor for conveying this urgent military intelligence! We will never forget it." That night, the centurion and the garrison commander bowed deeply again. "This message concerns the entire northern frontier and His Highness Prince Qin's grand plan. I will immediately send this urgent message to Lord Li of Youzhou and Lord Feng of Yingzhou, and deliver it directly to the Tian Ce Mansion in Bianliang and His Highness Prince Qin with the utmost urgency! I will not dare to be negligent in the slightest!"

Hou Qing nodded in satisfaction: "Well, now that the message has been delivered, I won't stay any longer."

The centurion hurriedly said, "Ancestor Corpse, you've had a long journey. Would you like to rest for a while inside the pass? I'll have some tea prepared..."

But before he could finish speaking, Hou Qing, without uttering a word, let out a clear and melodious sword cry from the ancient sword beneath his feet. The light rose again, carrying his white figure, and suddenly transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into the deep sunset in the northwest as abruptly as it had arrived, leaving only countless heads looking up at the gate tower and the lingering echo of the sword cry.

Only a lingering sound suddenly drifted back from the sky.

"Tea is unnecessary. I hope you will inform the King of Qin as soon as possible, so as not to disappoint the good intentions of the surrendered subject, Shi Zu..."

“General… this…” A lieutenant looked at the disappearing white light, his voice hoarse.

That night, Bu Shoubai took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and turned to Zhao Dejun, saying in a deep voice: "General Zhao, what Hou Qingshizu said is probably not untrue. Commander Zhu has probably suffered a defeat, and Prince Jin Li Cunxu has personally led an expedition north. This is a cataclysmic event, and the situation is extremely urgent."

"I understand, but given the current situation, should we go out of the pass to meet Commander Zhu, or...?"

"No need to overthink it, make a decisive move." The Night Scout Centurion spoke rapidly. "Immediately dispatch capable cavalry from Juyong Pass and Changping in the rear to provide support. However, only half of the elite troops are needed; ensure sufficient forces are left to defend the pass. At the same time, send a urgent message to Commander Wang Yanzhang beyond the Great Wall, warning him to be vigilant. Also, send a message to the Prince of Qin in Bianliang via express courier, emphasizing that this message was personally relayed by the surrendered subject Shi Zu, and is absolutely true."

"I will make arrangements immediately, but could what this surrendered official, the Corpse Ancestor, said truly be without any falsehood...?"

That was clearly the old man from the Yanzhou branch, the Night Scout Centurion. He glanced at Zhao Dejun, his expression softening slightly. He patted the latter on the shoulder and pointed upwards: "Old Zhao, don't mention this again in the future. I'll just tell you one thing: if you can catch the eye of this Corpse Ancestor this time, it will be better than guarding this pass for ten years. Your future career in the Imperial Guard will be a natural progression... We've known each other for over a year, so don't think I didn't warn you."

Zhao Dejun looked bewildered. What could a mere corpse ancestor, or even a close friend of the King of Qin, possibly do?
The centurion looked at him with disappointment and turned to leave.

It wasn't until the moment that Zhao Dejun realized what was happening, his face turning deathly pale. He hurriedly chased after them, his voice hushed.

"Could this surrendered official, the Corpse Ancestor, be the one who once topped the Rouge Ranking...?"

"I never said that."

"Understood!" Zhao Dejun nodded emphatically, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, but he immediately grabbed the other man's hand. "Good brother, you and I are truly brothers for life."

He quickly turned around and roared out a series of orders, and the fortress instantly sprang into action, like boiling water tossed with a boulder.

------

On the upper reaches of the Luan River, a cold wind swept through a camp built on the site of a former medium-sized tribal settlement. The campfire flickered in the wind, reflecting the ever-changing expression on Li Siyuan's face in the firelight.

The camp was in a mess, with the captured cattle and sheep penned in a corner, and the air filled with the unpleasant smell of animal dung, leather, and lingering blood.

Li Cunli was reporting in a low voice to Li Siyuan about the situation of the several hundred newly recruited Xi tribe youths, while Li Sizhao led a group of officers and soldiers to count the simple weapons piled on the ground. The camp was beginning to take shape, but the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, as if shrouded in the deepening twilight.

Li Siyuan, however, had no interest in these reports. With a hint of irritation, he interrupted Li Cunli and asked, "Has the news of the Prince of Jin's personal expedition not yet arrived?"

Li Cunli shook his head: "There's no definite news yet. But judging by the timeline, if we consider the advance, the central army should already be near Tanshan. Zhu Youwen is entrenched at the pass; a fierce battle is likely in the works..."

"A fierce battle?" Li Cunhui, blindfolded, scoffed, his voice low and menacing. "No matter how arrogant Zhu Youwen is, can he withstand the King's entire army? As long as the King breaks through Tanshan and his forces advance directly towards the royal court, that fool Yelü Lige, who's stuck at the royal court unable to break through, will finally break the stalemate. Then..."

He pretended to turn to Li Siyuan, whose face was grim, and said in a feigned congratulatory tone, "Brother, we are like a sharp knife thrust into the heart of the royal court. Brother, you will soon be ennobled and appointed as a general, and granted a territory on the grasslands."

"Twelfth Brother, don't say anything more," Li Cunli reminded him in a deep voice, while Li Cunhui chuckled and indeed kept quiet, tucking his sleeves behind his ear.

Li Siyuan's face trembled slightly as he glanced at Li Cunhui, who was trying to disgust him by abusing his power, but for a moment, he was speechless.

Because the current situation is that although he has gotten rid of Zhu Youwen by using Li Cunzhong's expendable troops and has temporarily established himself in the upper reaches of the Luan River, news has also come from the royal court that Yelü Lage, that good-for-nothing, has actually been blocked by tens of thousands of troops!

That useless Yelü Lage, his tens of thousands of troops have been struggling for days, and he's only managed to breach half of the city wall built around the royal court in the last two years. Moreover, according to the intelligence sent by his beloved son-in-law Shi Jingtang, Zhao Siwen's vanguard has already appeared less than eighty miles north of the royal court. What use is it for his troops to be tied down by Yelü Lage's detachment? Even if I join the battle, I'm afraid I'll have the option of taking Yelü Lage's remaining troops with me and fleeing.

Let them take the remnants; they are still a formidable force capable of establishing themselves on the grasslands, and Li Siyuan is satisfied with that.

But what's worse, that bastard Li Cunxu actually got involved himself!

Li Cunli, standing nearby, frowned deeply, his expression filled with worry: "My eleventh brother (Li Cunyong) and his two thousand retainers marched west to lure the enemy, and their whereabouts are still unknown. If we act rashly now, what if they escape to the west..."

Just then, the sound of hooves grew louder as a travel-worn cavalryman tumbled off his horse and knelt down on one knee in front of Li Siyuan.

"Grand Commandant, Lord Xue, scouts report that the Prince of Jin's army has marched out of the border and decisively defeated Zhu Youwen at the foot of Tanshan. Tanshan has been captured by Your Majesty, and Your Majesty has personally led the main force through the mountain."

Li Cunli's words fell into an instant of silence, as if even the wind had frozen. Meanwhile, the generals who had heard the commotion in the distance stopped what they were doing and cheered.

In front of everyone, Li Siyuan himself could not react, so he forced a smile and then led the scouts and Li Cunli and others into the tent. But as soon as he entered, he seemed to have been struck by lightning. He sat down casually on a chair, and the color drained from his face instantly, leaving only an unbelievable paleness.

Li Cunxu won so quickly? And even broke through Tanshan? How is that possible? Wasn't Zhu Youwen supposed to be a very capable fighter?

This bastard! This bastard! He has completely ruined all his plans!

The scout, still panting, continued, "There's another piece of news: King Yan has already ordered the eleventh sect leader to immediately abandon the westward advance and hasten his troops to rejoin the King's central army."

This order caught Li Siyuan completely off guard, leaving him both shocked and furious.

Summoning Li Cunyong's troops back to their original command?! Those two thousand auxiliary soldiers were forces he had dispersed, and a continuation of Li Siyuan's alternative path on the grasslands. Was Li Cunxu's order a move to consolidate power? To take precautions? Or something else?

Shock, anger, worry, fear... a mix of emotions threw Li Siyuan into a state of utter confusion.

What was astonishing was Li Cunxu's audacity and methods.

What angered him was that the plan was about to be completed, but with Li Cunxu's arrival, all the preliminary plans he had risked his life to develop would be in vain.

What worries him is that without Li Cunyong's troops, even the possibility of establishing a stronghold on the grasslands to gain a foothold in the future is now just wishful thinking.

What he feared even more was the deeper meaning behind Li Cunxu's actions—had he already become suspicious of him, Li Siyuan, or even harbored murderous intentions? Li Keyong's dying wish remained a sword hanging over his head!

"Brother, brother." Li Cunli shook the distraught Li Siyuan, waved away the scout and told him to tell the whole army the good news, then whispered, "Brother, don't overthink it. At this crucial moment in the grassland war, what the Prince of Jin is doing is perfectly normal. Concentrating the main force in the central army is the only way to avoid being taken advantage of by the enemy or being defeated one by one..."

He hesitated, then said, "Brother, the Prince of Jin is here in person, and the royal decree is as solid as a mountain. As for Eleventh Brother and the others... let's leave them for now. They can meet again once they move closer to the royal court. Should we... also immediately abandon our eastward advance, obey the royal decree, and wait for the main force of the central army?"

"Brother, we can't!" Li Sizhao, who had been silent all along, raised his head and clenched his fist to speak. "Even if Yelü Lage is temporarily at a stalemate, he has severely damaged the royal court's army under his relentless attacks over the past few days. Zhao Siwen's army is still a hundred miles away from the royal court, and Yuan Xingqin is also tied down. This is our last chance. If we wait, what good will it do even if the main force arrives? We will only lose the opportunity!"

"Brother, there's still a chance! We must gather our six thousand elite troops, all of them Shatuo warriors! While the royal garrison is exhausted and Zhao Siwen hasn't arrived yet, let's launch a full-scale attack! If we break through the city and capture Shuliduo alive, we can support Yelü Lage's establishment! What if the king himself comes then? He'll have no choice but to accept it! Brother! Let's take a gamble!"

Li Siyuan stood frozen in place, his body trembling slightly. He stared intently at the simple map on the wooden table, his gaze repeatedly burning on the location of the royal court. Only Li Sizhao's heavy breathing and Li Cunli's hesitant breathing filled the tent.

Time seemed to stretch out, each breath heavy and suffocating.

Obey the king's orders and wait for the reunion? Safe, but then they would be living under someone else's roof with no chance of escape, and might even have their last wishes exposed by Xiao Yan, dying at the hands of Li Cunxu, and all their previous efforts would be in vain.

To defy orders and take a risky attack on the royal court? If successful, it would turn the tide, make a great contribution that would overshadow the emperor, and even have the potential to carve out its own territory in the northern desert.

But if they fail... it would be disobeying military orders, losing troops and disgracing the country, and being doomed forever! And with Li Cunxu behind them, how could they allow him to coerce and incorporate the remnants of Yelü Lage's forces?

Yelü Lage's obstruction and Li Cunxu's personal expedition were like two invisible giant hands, gripping his throat and forcing him to make an immediate choice.

The shadow of the dying wish has never been so heavy.

The more powerful and prestigious Li Cunxu became, the more Li Cunren, who was in Xiao Yan's hands, resembled a guillotine hanging over his head, ready to fall at any moment. He needed this opportunity, his only chance, to overcome this threat that kept him up at night.

"Big brother..." Li Sizhao forced a low voice.

Li Siyuan suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot.

Time! Time is what he lacks most!

With Li Cunxu's main force approaching and Zhao Siwen returning to reinforce, the royal court could collapse at any moment. If he continues to stay here and "hold his ground," all the credit and influence he has gained on the battlefield will be completely irrelevant to Li Siyuan once Li Cunxu's army arrives. Furthermore, if the situation on the grasslands deteriorates and the northern frontier truly falls into the hands of the Jin state, Xiao Yan will still ensure his death!
In the deathly silence, Li Siyuan's breathing suddenly became heavy. He abruptly looked up, and all the struggle, hesitation, and fear in his eyes were instantly replaced by an almost insane ruthlessness.

boom!
His clenched right fist, imbued with all his strength, slammed into the location of the royal court on the map. The wooden table groaned under the weight, the sheepskin map was dented, and the edges were even torn by his fist.

"Sixth brother." His voice was hoarse, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Li Cunli's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stepped forward: "Big Brother?"

"Issue the order... the entire army must prepare for battle. Armor must be worn at all times, and swords must be in hand at all times! Send out all the scouts, every single one of them, to ensure that our route is not exposed before we reach the royal court."

"But what if the Prince of Jin comes to ask..."

“If Li Cunxu asks, I have only one thing to say: military affairs are urgent, and opportunities are fleeting. A general in the field may not obey orders.” Li Siyuan answered through gritted teeth, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over the astonished Li Cunli and the ecstatic Li Sizhao, finally settling on the map.

"This battle is a fight to the death. I... am going to take another big gamble."

(End of this chapter)