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

Chapter 475 The Emperor (Part 4)

Taiyuan, the main hall of Jinyang Palace.

The palace doors were wide open, and a few rays of increasingly bright sunlight slanted in. Instead of dispelling the oppressive atmosphere, they cast patches of light on the dark vermilion beams and the ground, making the sense of oppression even more palpable.

The two groups of Jin officials, standing solemnly, now had ashen faces, looking utterly dejected. Some were dumbfounded, while others forced themselves to remain calm, all displaying an expression of disbelief.

Many people couldn't help but whisper among themselves, their voices as soft as mosquitoes buzzing. At first, they were somewhat restrained, but gradually their whispers turned into an uncontrollable cacophony, and the Taiyuan main hall was temporarily devoid of its usual order.

Because the State of Jin controlled the southern part of the Gobi Desert, there was no problem with the exchange of military intelligence reports. Therefore, the news of the war in the northern Gobi Desert was always transmitted back in a timely manner. However, when this news arrived, it caused all the ministers to lose their composure.

The Battle of Mobei was a disastrous defeat.

Prince Jin was surrounded by the enemy before the Liu River. Although he managed to escape through a desperate battle, all the brave and fierce generals, including Shi Jiantang, Li Jianji, Zhu Shouyin, Zhang Jingda, and Lu Wenjin, perished in this battle, and the number of soldiers lost was unknown.

Even after escaping, the bad news continued. The remnants of the Prince of Jin's forces were immediately pursued day and night by the army personally led by Prince Xiao Yan of Qin, and fled for their lives. Only when they reached Tanshan did they receive reinforcements from Gao Xingzhou's army, and they also gathered up the defeated soldiers of Li Zhou. They fought desperately for a day and finally managed to hold on.

While catching their breath, Zhao Dejun, the garrison commander of Juyong Pass in Youzhou, joined forces with troops from Guizhou to press northward, blocking their retreat. The remaining troops had no choice but to retreat towards Yehu Ridge. Unexpectedly, before they could catch their breath, Xiao Yan had already caught up closely, joining forces with Shuliduo's elite palace troops, directly facing Yehu Ridge. Li Cunxu and the remaining soldiers were already trapped in a desperate situation, their lives hanging by a thread.

The noise continued, and sighs rose and fell.

Although she had previously been a concubine of Li Keyong, Cao, being the birth mother of Li Cunxu and later the Empress Dowager of Jin after his ascension to the throne, sat in the main seat. Her well-maintained face had lost some color, and her fingers gripped the armrest tightly, her knuckles turning white, but she remained calm. Liu, Li Keyong's principal wife, sat to the side, her face hidden behind her sleeve, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Zhang Chengye, who was standing to the side, stared intently at the ground, as if trying to see through the blue bricks. After a long while, he finally raised his head and shouted in a loud voice, "Enough!"

His Highness's civil and military officials all paused, some indifferent, others pale-faced, but the noise eventually subsided.

However, the battle report was not false. The Crow Army, the elite troops of Daibei, the backbone supporting the hegemony of the Jin state, had been almost completely wiped out in just two months? Even veteran generals like Shi Jiantang and Li Jian...

How can you keep someone calm?

"Is Heaven dooming Jin?" an old minister couldn't help but murmur, and was immediately pulled on the sleeve by his colleague next to him.

"Is this not the will of Heaven to destroy my Jin state?" But one person raised his voice so loudly that all the ministers were startled. When they looked over, they saw that it was Li Cunhao, the adopted son of Li Kening, the younger brother of the late King Li Keyong. He stepped forward from the crowd, looked around the room, and was heartbroken.

"Gentlemen, in the battle of Liuhe, the elite troops that our Hedong region had accumulated over more than a decade were wiped out in a single day! This was not a natural disaster, but a man-made calamity!"

He turned abruptly, pointing his halberd at the throne beside Empress Dowager Cao, which was empty, but his meaning was self-evident.

"What caused this defeat in the northern desert? It was all due to Your Majesty's stubbornness, overconfidence, and reckless advance. For the sake of that foolish barbarian Yelü Lage from the northern desert, you disregarded the very foundation of the nation, embarking on a thousand-mile expedition, which led to this utterly devastating defeat!"

Having said that, without waiting for the reactions of those ministers who were showing signs of anger, he immediately shouted again: "And the bad news doesn't stop there. Taking advantage of our great defeat in the northern desert and the shock of our army's morale, the Liang bandits have launched a full-scale war. Li Ting and Feng Dao are reorganizing their troops in Youzhou and Yizhou; Tian Daocheng and Li Si'an are greatly reinforcing their troops in the Zhenji and Xingming directions, and their offensive is fierce; Wang Jingren is making moves in the east; Xie Yanzhang is putting pressure on Luzhou in the Zezhou direction... Wherever Xiao Yan's troops are pointing, our Jin Kingdom's thousand-mile defense line is in dire straits. Even Taiyuan is no longer a safe place."

Now that the King is trapped in the bitter, cold desert of the north, his fate uncertain and all communication cut off, Taiyuan is the foundation of the nation, the lifeline of the people of Shanxi. How can we, for the sake of such a life-or-death rescue, exhaust our last bit of strength and sit idly by while the country crumbles?!

Before he could finish speaking, Li Kening's other adopted son, Li Cunshi, immediately stepped forward to support his brother:

“Brother Cunhao is absolutely right. Our late king braved wind and rain, overcoming countless obstacles to establish the foundation of Hedong. At this critical juncture, how can we afford to squander our power?! The Prince of Jin is surrounded and we have no news of him. The country cannot be without a ruler for even a day. At this perilous moment, we must make a decisive decision…”

He immediately bowed deeply towards Li Kening, the head of the civil officials, and his voice suddenly rose, “Taishu is the late king’s younger brother. His benevolence is known throughout the land, and his wisdom is renowned in the army. At this time when the country is in peril and there is no ruler, only Taishu can step forward and succeed to the throne. Only then can he take charge of the overall situation, unite the people, and ensure that our Hedong land will not fall. This is the will of Heaven and the will of the people!”

"Please, Taishu, succeed to the throne and take charge of the overall situation!" The dozen or so officials behind Li Cunshi, as if they had been rehearsing, stepped forward in unison, clasped their hands in prayer, and shouted loudly.

"Absurd! Rebellious!" Judge Lu Zhi, trembling with rage, pointed at Li Cunhao and the others, shouting angrily, "The King is still alive, how dare you commit such treasonous acts?! The defeat at Liuhe was due to the overwhelming power of the Liang rebels, not a failure in battle. Instead of uniting to fight the enemy and rescue the King, you spread rumors and plot treason! What is your punishment?!"

Behind him, several young generals rolled up their sleeves and glared angrily, echoing him sternly: "Exactly! Uncle, you must not listen to slander!"

Li Cunhao gave a mocking smile and immediately retorted: "The road to Yehuling is nearly a thousand miles long. Xiao Yan, riding the wave of his recent victory, has his army moving through the southern desert as if it were empty. Our army has just suffered heavy losses, morale is low, where will our provisions come from? Where will our troops come from? Forcibly sending troops is tantamount to driving sheep into the tiger's den, wasting the nation's strength and burying the last bit of vitality of Shanxi beyond the Great Wall. May I ask you all, what will you use to save us? Will you use the lives of the old, weak, women and children in Taiyuan to fill the gap?!"

"shut up!"

Li Kening finally frowned and looked around at his two adopted sons, sternly interrupting them: "Cunhao, Cunshi! Stop talking nonsense! Are you trying to put me in an unjust position?!"

He stood at the head of the civil officials, pointed with his finger at the group of cronies who had long wanted to put him in power, and sighed deeply.

"Cunxu is the late king's eldest son, the rightful Prince of Jin, and my own nephew. He is now in grave danger, his fate unknown. As his subjects and elders, we should do everything in our power to rescue him. How can we harbor such rebellious thoughts because of a temporary setback?! Do not mention this again! If you do, don't blame me for being merciless!"

Li Cunhao, however, disregarded all warnings and continued proudly, "I know that my uncle is benevolent and considerate of our uncle-nephew relationship, and cannot bear to betray him. But this is not betrayal; it is for the sake of the million soldiers and civilians of Hedong, and for the preservation of our ancestral legacy. If…"

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over Lu Zhi and the other officials. "If Heaven blesses Hedong and the Prince of Jin escapes this calamity, it will naturally be a blessing for us, and Taishu should be returned to the throne. However, if something truly happens to the Prince of Jin... Taishu, by obeying Heaven and the people, succeeding to the throne is the only best course of action to protect the borders, ensure the people's safety, and prolong the dynasty. This is a strategic retreat, a foolproof plan for the survival of Hedong."

His younger brother, Li Cunshi, also chimed in, saying, "The most urgent task is to consolidate our forces and hold our ground. Taiyuan is a fortified city with deep moats, so there is still hope. If we divide our forces a thousand miles away, not only will we fail to save the Prince of Jin, but we will also exhaust our last bit of strength, giving the Liang rebels an opportunity to strike directly at our heart. That would be the real catastrophe! Those who gain the support of the people prosper, and those who lose the support of the people perish. This is the ultimate truth!"

"Absurd!" Zhang Chengye had been watching the father and his two sons put on an act with a cold eye. Of course, Li Kening was not entirely lying. He was a kind and filial man who had served Li Keyong for many years with utmost care and diligence. When Li Keyong suddenly passed away last year, he immediately pledged allegiance to Li Cunxu. However, he could not resist the instigation of his adopted son and cronies. Even his wife, Meng, who was usually strong and arrogant, was also greedy. Li Kening was kind but lacked decisiveness. I'm afraid that under the influence of public opinion, he might develop disloyal thoughts.

Therefore, he finally took a step forward and pointed directly at Li Cunhao, saying, "The King of Jin is the heir apparent and successor of the late king, the embodiment of the law of Jin, and the sovereign to whom our three armies are willing to die. Instead of thinking of rescuing him, you are here talking about 'those who lose the people perish'? How is such talk different from betraying your sovereign and abandoning your righteousness, and how is it different from betraying the trust of the late king!"

He coughed incessantly, but his gaze remained fixed on Li Kening. "Uncle, have you considered what will happen to the morale of the Jin army and the people if we stand by and watch our king perish without offering our aid? Which of the generals and allied tribes will be willing to fight to the death? Can we not learn from the lesson of Shu? Even if Taiyuan is a fortified city, it is nothing but an isolated city, a soulless city, which will be trampled into dust by the Liang bandits in an instant. The survival of Jin depends on the unity of the king and his ministers, on righteousness and honor. To abandon the king is to perish!"

Li Kening's face turned pale. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something in his defense, but he was speechless for a moment.

His elder brother's entrustment, his nephew's safety, his wife's coercion, his adopted son's instigation, the scrutiny of the court officials... countless voices roared in his mind, leaving him unsure whether to continue following the predetermined script.

His two adopted sons were even more anxious, but Zhang Chengye, as the military supervisor of Hedong, was highly regarded by both Li Keyong and Li Cunxu, the two Princes of Jin, and his prestige was no less than that of Li Kening. When he spoke up, the two of them did not know how to refute him for a moment.

“What Supervisor Zhang said was not only a statement of loyalty and righteousness, but also a path to survival.”

Guo Chongtao stepped forward at the opportune moment and said, "Yehu Ridge is a strategically important location, easy to defend and difficult to attack, serving as the throat connecting the southern desert and the northern border. Although the Prince of Jin is trapped on this isolated ridge with few soldiers and generals, his exceptional military talent will surely allow him to rely on the terrain to temporarily halt the Liang army's advance. Moreover, Your Majesty is the pillar of our Hedong region and must not be lost. Although we have suffered a setback, Your Majesty is still alive, and the morale of the army and the people can still be maintained."

Xiao Yan has penetrated deep into the northern deserts, fighting across thousands of miles. Although his forces are formidable, the transport of supplies is difficult, the war in Jiangnan is raging, and the grasslands are not a place for him to linger. At this juncture, if elite troops are quickly dispatched north, it would serve two purposes: first, to support the King, and second, to seize the strategic pass of Yehuling, blocking the Liang army beyond the border. This is a strategy of offense over defense, a way to salvage the situation. If we allow the King to remain in his position… then Hedong will inevitably fall into chaos, and Xiao Yan will seize the opportunity to attack. At that point, it will truly be too late to reverse the situation, and there will be no hope of recovery!”

His gaze swept over Li Cunhao and the others like lightning. "You keep talking about preserving your strength and holding fast to your foundation, but if you lose your lord, where will your foundation be? Where will the hearts of the people be?"

Beside him, Zhou Dewei, who had rushed back from Yanmen Pass, was still in his armor and travel-worn, but he simply bowed deeply to Empress Dowager Cao and said in a deep voice: "This humble general is willing to lead the brave men of my troops north to cross the border. The terrain of Yehu Ridge is treacherous, and if I only need to hold the key pass, I can hold off the Liang army for ten days or so. Only then can we find a glimmer of hope to welcome back Prince Jin. If the court does not come to our aid, the soldiers of the three armies will be chilled to the bone and fear that a coup may occur. And once His Majesty returns safely and regroups, the outcome will still be uncertain."

As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Li Cunhao, Li Cunshi, and the others: "What are your intentions in spreading alarmist rumors, undermining morale, and obstructing the rescue of the king? Do you perhaps want to sit back and watch the king..."

He didn't say the rest, but the so-called veteran's might and killing intent made Li Cunhao and the others subconsciously swallow.

“My son…” Although Consort Liu was not Li Cunxu’s biological mother, she had always been Li Yazi’s legal mother while Li Keyong was alive. At this moment, she finally couldn’t hold back her tears, her voice choked with sobs, as she looked at Li Kening, “Kening, he is your own nephew, the only bloodline of the late king, how can you… how can you bear to see him… see him…”

Before she could finish speaking, she was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Li Kening looked ashamed, but remained silent in embarrassment.

Empress Dowager Cao helped Consort Liu up, her gaze towards Li Kening remaining calm: "The Prince of Jin is the ruler of a nation. If he betrays his king, the nation will cease to exist. The collapse of the state is imminent. I urge you, Uncle, to prioritize the affairs of the state and remember the entrustment of the late king."

For many years, Li Cunxu had only suffered one defeat at the Gaoliang River. Therefore, even though he had hastily ascended the throne as a young man, he still held enough prestige to keep the imperial clan from raising their heads. But now that he was absent and had suffered such a great loss, how could Li Cunhao and others let such an opportunity pass? Even if Li Cunxu had wiped out the elite troops of Jin, he would still have more than enough strength to kill a few members of the imperial clan. At worst, they could have a civil war. But in a civil war, with generals like Zhou Dewei supporting Li Cunxu, how could they possibly win?
Therefore, the two factions were locked in a fierce confrontation in the imperial court.

Li Kening, however, had fine beads of sweat on his forehead, his mind in turmoil.

"Enough!" Empress Dowager Cao suddenly spoke, giving Li Kening no time to respond. "Kening, Chengye, Chongtao. I don't care how you argue, the Prince of Jin must be saved. Even if there's only a sliver of hope, we must exert a hundredfold effort. The three of you, discuss immediately and come up with a rescue strategy. Decide quickly on the troop strength, provisions, and the choice of commander. Send orders to all the tribes in Yinshan, urging them to do everything in their power to provide support and assistance, without fail!"

Her gaze was solemn, and she looked at Li Kening with an air of authority. "Uncle, you are the late King's brother and the Prince of Jin's uncle. You should know what to do at this moment!"

Li Kening finally let out a sigh of relief, but thinking of the pressure his wife would exert upon returning home, he reluctantly bowed and said, "Your subject obeys." ——————

Yehu Ridge.

This mountain range, historically known as Heifengkou or Langwogou, stretches across the border between the grasslands and the agricultural areas east of the Yellow River. Its treacherous terrain and strategic importance make it a key to the northern frontier. The mountains rise abruptly from an elevation of 600-700 meters below the dam to over 1600 meters, resembling a giant dam cleaving the plateau and the Yan region. To the north lies the vast desert, and to the south, towering peaks rise one after another. Its incredibly rugged terrain truly makes it a place where one man can hold off ten thousand.

Li Cunxu, leaning on his sword, stood atop a prominent eagle-beak rock. Days of fierce fighting and fleeing had left him with sunken eyes, chapped lips, and graying temples—his hair had prematurely turned white. Only his eyes remained sharp, scanning the area beneath his feet that would become his final battlefield.

Li Cunli, Xia Luqi, Gao Xingzhou, Li Zhou, Jing Xinmo, Yelü Lage, and the fake Li, among other generals, stood guard around him, all scanning the gradually closing Liang army camp below, each with a change in expression.

"You saw everything clearly?" Li Cunxu's voice was hoarse, drowning out the sound of the wind.

The Yehu Ridge is a vast mountain range, quite different from the grasslands. The two sides had been chasing each other from the grasslands to this point, one in the south and the other in the north. Yehu Ridge, relying on the outer Great Wall in the south of the desert, could also block Xiao Yan's army to the north. Fighting here would severely restrict the mobility of cavalry. At this moment, Xiao Yan was restricted, and so was the Jin army.

But Gao Xingzhou only frowned: "Your Majesty, our forces are no longer twice that of Xiao Yan. If we divide our troops to guard various mountain passes and strategic points, we fear that we will be vulnerable everywhere and be defeated one by one by the Liang army..."

Li Cunxu withdrew his gaze and looked at Gao Xingzhou: "Who said that I, the king, would divide my troops to guard all the places?"

He immediately said in a deep voice: "Issue the order to abandon all secondary passes, concentrate all capable soldiers, including those who are lightly wounded but still able to wield weapons, and retreat to the North Pass Badger's Mouth."

"Your Majesty." Li Cunli, who had stayed in the army, couldn't help but speak up, filled with doubt, since Li Siyuan hadn't followed him.

"Listen to my command." Li Cunxu did not explain. "Xia Luqi, you are to lead your troops and the remnants of the Yi'er Army to defend the front of Huan'erzui. Relying on the terrain, build stone walls, cut down trees to make fences, and dig deep pits. I want this place to become an impregnable fortress, and I will personally oversee it later."

"The last general takes orders."

"Sixth brother."

Li Cunli solemnly replied, "Your subject is here."

"You are hereby appointed to command all remaining cavalrymen who are still able to walk, as well as Li Zhou's troops, as the general reserve, stationed in the rear. You are not to move without my order. In addition to being ready to be deployed, your task is to closely monitor those abandoned dangerous paths. If any small elite Liang army attempts to climb up and launch a surprise attack, you must wipe them all out on the mountain ridges before they can establish a firm foothold. You must not allow any surprise force to appear behind our army."

"My lord, I obey."

Li Cunxu's gaze finally landed on the Mirror Heart Demon and the God of War. He didn't say much, but simply nodded slightly.

The order was swiftly relayed, but Li Cunxu simply walked behind the newly erected stone wall, grabbed a handful of soil, and squeezed it tightly. The soil slipped through his fingers. He gazed down the mountain into the distance; the Liang army's continuous encampments resembled a crouching behemoth, banners fluttering, and spears and swords forming a forest. The banners of Shuliduo's palace army were also mixed in, standing out starkly.

Although the southern part of the Gobi Desert could be disturbed by the Liang army's advance from Juyong Pass, the outer Great Wall could ultimately keep the northern part of the Gobi Desert out of reach. If Yefuling were lost, the southern part of the Gobi Desert and the Yinshan Mountains would surely fall into Xiao Yan's hands.

He can't retreat.

Several miles north of the mouth of Yehuling Mountain, the north wind howled. Xiao Yan, wearing a dark cloak, stood on a slightly higher mound at the edge of the camp, calmly gazing at the signs of Jin army activity in the distance.

Shuliduo stood slightly behind him, her silver fox fur cloak accentuating her striking beauty, her gaze equally focused on the mountain range that would soon determine the fate of many. Generals Li Maozhen, Zhu Youwen, Wang Yanzhang, Yuan Xingqin, and Zhao Siwen stood solemnly behind her.

“What a terrible place.” Xiao Yan chuckled. “Li Yazi has chosen a good cemetery.”

Shuliduo then interjected, "Wild Fox Ridge is a strategically important and dangerous location, a battleground for military strategists throughout history. Li Cunxu's decision to concentrate his forces at Badger's Mouth is indeed a wise move. A frontal assault, even with ten times the strength, would inevitably result in heavy casualties."

Xiao Yan nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the natural gap. "Even a cornered beast will fight, its claws and teeth still sharp. A forceful attack on this strategic pass will only increase casualties among our soldiers; a wise man would not do that."

He paused, then turned around and gave the order.

"Wang Yanzhang."

"Your subordinate is here!" Wang Yanzhang's voice boomed as he stepped forward.

"Your troops are to establish a strong camp directly in front of Badger's Mouth, spread out banners widely, set up numerous watchtowers, and beat drums day and night, making it appear as if they might launch a strong attack at any moment. Hold him firmly in place for me, suppress Li Cunxu, and make him unable to breathe."

"Understood!" Wang Yanzhang clasped his hands in a fist salute, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. He then turned and strode away to direct his subordinates.

"Yuan Xingqin".

“Your subordinate is here!” Yuan Xingqin stepped forward.

"I hereby order you to lead your elite cavalry to Dingbadu and to provide you with a thousand light cavalry from the palace. Immediately move south and, when the opportunity arises, feign movement along all possible mountain paths, valley entrances, and low walls of the outer Great Wall, in order to draw Li Cunxu's troops into a separate force."

"As ordered!"

“King Wei.” Xiao Yan looked at Li Maozhen.

Li Maozhen clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Your Highness, what are your orders?"

"I entrust five thousand elite cavalry from Youzhou to your command." Xiao Yan pointed south. "You are familiar with mountain warfare. When necessary, I will require you to lead your troops to dismount and fight on foot, launching a frontal assault."

"Take orders."

Zhu Youwen crossed his arms, his black armor cold and menacing. When Xiao Yan's gaze swept over him, he merely raised his chin slightly and asked, "Your Highness, where shall I serve?"

"The night watchman, and you yourself..."

Xiao Yan chuckled, then turned to Zhao Siwen, who was standing solemnly to the side behind him.

"General Zhao."

"Your subordinate is here!" Zhao Siwen stepped forward, bowed, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, his armor clanging.

"I have a task for you." Xiao Yan's voice was not loud. "Gather two thousand of the most elite palace guards under the Empress Dowager's command, break camp immediately, and cooperate with Commander Zhu to advance at full speed to the southwest."

Zhao Siwen hesitated and didn't mention it, but Zhu Youwen's eyes narrowed: "What is the target?"

"Yunzhou."

Xiao Yan, with his hand on his sword, looked around and said, "Zhao Dejun's troops at Juyong Pass have already launched an attack westward from the direction of Guizhou. Your troops should attack the Great Wall of Yunzhou to the southwest, coordinating with his troops from the north and south. I don't care what methods you use, your troops must appear under the walls of Yunzhou and cause the Yunzhou garrison commander to panic."

Upon hearing this, Shuliduo's beautiful eyes flashed with understanding. She then nodded slightly to Shili Qixiang behind her, who immediately went down to mobilize the palace troops.

"Your Highness has made good arrangements..." Zhao Siwen took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and clasped his hands in a deep voice in response.

Not only him, but all the generals instantly understood Xiao Yan's intention. This was certainly not a siege, but merely a direct show of force.

If Yunzhou is in danger, Yinshan will be shaken. Who would dare to harbor any illusions about the Jin state? If Yinshan is shaken, Li Cunxu's rear will be in danger. If Yinshan is shaken again, Zhao Dejun's forces deep in the southern desert will be completely threatened. Li Cunxu will then be unable to take care of both ends.

"Haha, this job is great! I'm off!" Zhu Youwen laughed loudly, and his figure disappeared below the hill in a flash.

As orders were issued, the massive war machine began to operate around Wild Fox Ridge. Horns wailed, their roar deafening. A giant net was slowly tightening around Wild Fox Ridge from three directions.

Surround them without attacking, use your power to intimidate them, and wait for your prey to exhaust itself.

On Wild Fox Ridge, Li Cunxu stood behind the newly built stone wall, his hand on his sword. He watched the sudden increase in the clamor of the Liang army camp below and the long dragon of dust rushing southwest. After a long silence, he finally let out a long sigh.

(End of this chapter)