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

Chapter 521 Standing atop the First Peak of Wu Mountain (Part Two)
At 3:45 AM, Yangzhou was still immersed in the deepest darkness before dawn. The continuous drizzle had turned the world into a damp and cold mist, and the dripping water from the eaves tapped against the palaces and towers, which was particularly clear in the silence.

Inside the side hall, Li Xingyun had not slept all night, vaguely hearing the distant sound of the night watchman's drum, as if each beat was striking his heart.

Zhang Zifan stood quietly by the window, gazing at the sky outside, shattered by the drizzle, and said in a low voice, "In another half hour, the officials will be entering the palace."

Before the words were finished, the palace door creaked open. A figure dressed in eunuch's robes flashed in and immediately closed the door behind him. He moved with lightning speed, his clothes soaked through, with water droplets even visible dripping from the hem of his garments.

Before Li Xingyun and the other person could react in surprise, the man raised his face, which was covered in mud and water, and, still breathing heavily, took out a small bamboo tube from his pocket and offered it with both hands.

Zhang Zifan's expression changed, and he quickly stepped forward to take it. He then pulled out the slip of paper inside, which contained only a few words.

"Xu and Zhang have already made their move. The troops outside the palace have formed an ambush and are preparing to launch a preemptive strike. Be careful."

Li Xingyun leaned closer for a look, and his expression changed instantly. He then hurriedly looked at the man and asked, "How did the message come about? Who verified it?"

“Every day at this time, the Shanglin Bureau arranges for someone to deliver ingredients to the Shangshi Bureau. These are our people, and they came in with the delivery truck, but the delivery person doesn’t know who the messenger is…”

The people in the palace were trusted confidants cultivated by Li Xingyun and Zhang Zifan themselves, and had nothing to do with the Bad People. Hearing him say this, the two looked at each other and saw the wariness and hesitation in each other's eyes.

Finally, Zhang Zifan said, "Xu Wen and Zhang Hao always strive for perfection in their actions. If they sense any unusual activity from us, it wouldn't be surprising if they acted first. Better safe than sorry, we need to change our plans and not just sit and wait to die."

"Let's try to investigate first..." Li Xingyun's expression was uncertain, but he spoke in a low voice.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Zifan turned and strode out.

About half an incense stick later, Zhang Zifan led Li Sixiao into the hall.

“Your Majesty,” Li Sixiao said in a deep voice, “the number of sentries at key points outside the palace is several times greater than usual, all fully armed and clad in armor. Although they are lying in wait in silence, the encirclement is already complete. The intelligence is undoubtedly correct.”

Zhang Zifan continued, "According to intelligence, there has been frequent movement of carriages and horses outside the residences of Xu Wen and Zhang Hao, with the sound of clashing armor echoing incessantly. They... may have already risen to prepare for battle."

Li Xingyun slammed his fist on the table, hating Xu Wen's ruthlessness, wondering how the news had leaked, and even more worried about the safety of Shangrao and Lu Linxuan.

Zhang Zifan immediately noticed Li Xingyun's worry and quickly reassured her, "Master Xu and the others left Yangzhou according to plan and should be dozens of miles away now. With someone to meet them, they will surely be safe."

"Then how should we break this situation?" Li Xingyun suppressed his anger and asked as calmly as possible.

"Your Majesty, hesitation will only lead to chaos!"

Sima Hui's voice came from the palace gate. The group looked up and saw that he had arrived with Shi Yao at some point, and was obviously aware of the situation.

"Xu Wen's arrangement, though seemingly prudent, actually reveals his cowardice. The Northern Army is preparing for its southward advance, and he certainly wouldn't launch a forceful attack on the palace and commit regicide at such a critical juncture. Such a self-inflicted disruption would only lead to his primary objective of seizing power and usurping authority. This is our only chance of survival!"

"Where is the hope?" Li Xingyun hurriedly asked.

Sima Hui entered the palace, but did not rush to answer Li Xingyun's question. Instead, he listened carefully to Li Sixiao's account of what happened outside the palace.

Suddenly, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he analyzed the situation to Li Xingyun and the others:
"Your Majesty, the situation is extremely precarious. Xu Wen and Zhang Hao have taken the initiative, setting up a strong outer encirclement and controlling the palace gates from the inside, clearly intending to trap Your Majesty here. If they wait until they are fully prepared, they will either launch an attack at the court meeting or forcibly break into the palace to capture the king, and we will all be trapped like turtles in a jar. The King of Wu and the royal family will be in their hands. At that time, they can simply use them to threaten us, and our army's morale will collapse, and everything will be over."

"Hold your ground and wait for reinforcements?" Zhang Zifan blurted out instinctively, but immediately realized his mistake.

Where will the reinforcements come from? It is still unknown whether Wang Geng, who is lurking in the Black Cloud Longsword Capital, can respond in time, and the palace is not a fortified city, so how can it be defended for long?
Sima Hui shook his head and said decisively, "To defend is certain death. Your Majesty, in this desperate situation, the only option is to take a risk and fight, which may offer a chance to survive."

He walked to the table, spread out a map of the city's layout, and spoke faster: "Although Xu Wen has laid a heavy siege, he must think that His Majesty is still in the dark and is waiting to walk into the trap during the court assembly. He never expected that His Majesty would dare to launch the first attack and point his sword directly at his throat. This is the perfect opportunity to emulate the Northern Dynasty's 'fast attack against fast, taking them by surprise'!"

"Please enlighten me, sir." Zhang Zifan stared intently at Sima Hui.

"As Tian Mengxing just mentioned, there are approximately eight hundred palace guards and outlaws that can be mobilized within the palace. If we break out immediately, we might be able to put up a fight. Your Majesty can open the palace gates wide and launch a surprise attack, heading straight for Xu Wen and Zhang Hao! They are most likely currently in their residences, mobilizing their troops and generals, confident of victory, and their defenses must be lax. Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, acting with righteousness and authority; such a swift and decisive strike will surely catch them completely off guard!"

“Even so…” Li Xingyun hesitated for a moment, “…rushing out of the palace to fight Xu Wen in the streets? At that time, Yangzhou will be in chaos, the enemy will be besieging and suppressing them, and what about the Wu Prince’s Mansion…”

Sima Hui immediately interrupted him, a strange light flashing in his eyes, but his words were earnest:

“Throughout history, extraordinary events have always been accomplished by extraordinary people using extraordinary methods. Your Majesty may know that when the Northern Dynasty was in Bianjing, the Guide Army was withdrawn, Dingba was still on the border, and valiant generals such as Wang Yanzhang and Yuan Xingqin were also transferred out. He only had a few hundred men at his disposal. But what was the final outcome?”
Right under Zhu Wen's nose, with only a few hundred personal guards, he dared to launch a coup, seize control of the palace, capture and kill Zhu Yougui, and establish his dominance in one fell swoop. At that time, he was merely a Marquis of Champion, far inferior to the righteous authority of His Majesty today. Did he not know the risks involved? Did he not know that Zhu Wen's former subordinates were not easy to deal with?

However, his advantage lies in his decisiveness, his surprise attack, and even more so in his willingness to fight with all his might! What he relies on is not only the superiority of his military might, but also the three words: 'speed,' 'accuracy,' and 'ruthlessness'! Your Majesty now commands nearly a thousand elite warriors, all battle-hardened veterans, and with the greater good at your side, how could you possibly be inferior to the Marquis of Champion of yesteryear, forced to sit idly by in a city of sorrow, at the mercy of others?"

When Sima Hui mentioned Xiao Yan's past, although he didn't flatter him much, the excited look on his face and the surging emotion in his heart clearly showed that he regretted not being able to personally experience what happened in Bianjing that day.

His words directly conjured in everyone's minds the image of a peerless figure who fought his way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood, wielding a sword and controlling his own destiny, which involuntarily captivated them.

Li Xingyun's chest heaved violently.

Trapped in the palace, Shangrao, Lin Xuan, the King of Wu... everyone will be doomed because of his hesitation.

Fight to the death, even if the hope is slim, at least...

Zhang Zifan, standing to the side, took a deep breath, his face no longer showing any hesitation.

He gripped Li Xingyun's arm tightly and said resolutely, "Brother Li, what Mr. Sima said is the only way out! Since Xu Wen has shown no mercy, we have no way out! The only way to survive is to fight hard, and perhaps protect our loved ones and bring a glimmer of hope to Jiangnan! Zhang Zifan is willing to fight alongside Brother Li, even at the cost of his life!"

"Take the initiative to fight our way out?" Li Xingyun suddenly opened his eyes and gritted his teeth.

"Exactly!"

Sima Hui's tone was resolute:
"Xu Wen is certain that His Majesty, mindful of family ties, will assume we dare not strike first. This is our perfect opportunity! His Majesty holds the reins of power and righteousness, and the palace boasts nearly a thousand loyal and brave men, each capable of taking on ten men. In the Black Cloud Sword Capital, Wang Geng is our inside man. Once the battle begins, His Majesty will raise the banner of 'eliminating powerful ministers and purging the court of corrupt officials,' and many in the city will be watching. Xu Wen's forces may not be a united front. A swift and decisive battle, striking directly at the rebel leader, will secure the victory!"

When the fighting erupts at the palace, the entire city will be thrown into turmoil. How could Zhong Taizhang and Mi Zhicheng, who are guarding the Wu Prince's residence, not be distracted? Zhang Tianshi will also find a chance to rescue them!

Sima Hui took a breath and continued speaking at a rapid pace:

"On the contrary, if Your Majesty remains trapped in the palace, you will be putting yourself in a deadly situation. Xu Wen can easily mobilize a large army, and even troops from the direction of Jinling, to come to your aid. At that time, with the palace heavily besieged, how can Your Majesty, with your thousand wisdom and courage, withstand tens of thousands of troops? The Wu Prince's residence will be like fish on a chopping block, and Xu Wen can kill you at any time! Your Majesty, if you fight to the death, there is still a chance of survival; if you sit and wait to die, there is only one way out: death! We will do our best to make up for the people's worries after the war. Now is not the time to hesitate!"

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Li Xingyun's face was tense as he scanned the crowd.

Shi Yao lowered her eyes and remained silent, her posture a tacit agreement. Li Sixiao's eyes burned with fighting spirit, clearly awaiting only the order. Zhang Zifan stood beside Li Xingyun, gently placing his hand on Li Xingyun's trembling arm.

Feeling the strength from his close friend in his arm, Li Xingyun felt a surge of hot blood rushing to the top of his head. He turned around abruptly and drew out the replica Longquan sword.

"Good! Rather than surrendering to slaughter, we should fight to the death! Let's follow Mr. Sima's plan and prepare immediately. While the officials are waiting for the court, we will lead our troops out of the palace and kill the traitors!"

"We will obey your orders!" the four replied in unison, then quickly turned and left.

At 3:45 AM, the civil and military officials who had been notified of the court assembly had arrived one after another in the square in front of the palace. They chatted in small groups, and some even laughed from time to time, seemingly unaware of the changes taking place in the city at night.

Some astute individuals might have noticed that the guards at the palace gates were unusually cold and the atmosphere was different from usual, but they simply attributed it to the tense situation.

No one took the fact that Xu Wen, Zhang Hao, and other core henchmen had not shown up for a long time seriously. As the two wielded immense power, they always arrived last, at the very last minute.

By the fourth quarter of the hour of Mao (5:45 AM), the palace gates still hadn't opened as usual, and the officials began to wonder.

But at that moment, the palace gate suddenly creaked open with a loud bang, slowly opening a crack before being completely vacant.

Li Xingyun's figure appeared behind the door.

He was clad in full armor, and although the Longquan sword in his hand was not genuine, it was still half a foot out of its sheath, its sharp edge menacing. Zhang Zifan, Shi Yao, and Li Sixiao stood to his left and right, respectively, behind them a dark mass of armored soldiers, their swords drawn, bows strung, and shields held, their murderous aura instantly spreading out.

The officials were stunned, and the clamor abruptly ceased.

Li Xingyun swept his gaze across the crowd, gathered his inner strength, and spoke loudly:
"Xu Wen and Zhang Hao, those two traitors, harbor wolfish ambitions, have seized control of the court, framed loyal officials, imprisoned members of the imperial family, and wreaked havoc on the government! Now they even intend to usurp the throne, using the emperor to command the feudal lords; they are truly the greatest traitors to the country!"

The officials were immediately in an uproar, their faces changed color, and they were at a loss for what to do.

"As the ruler of Jiangnan, how can I tolerate the rampant traitors? Today, I will personally punish these national traitors to uphold the law. All of you are pillars of the nation; now stand by my side and temporarily avoid the brunt of my attack. Once I have executed the traitors and cleansed the court, I will restore order and peace to Jiangnan!"

Before the words were even finished, the armored soldiers had already stepped forward with their shields, "escorting" the dumbfounded officials back into the palace gates. Some officials who tried to escape when they saw the situation was not good, such as Qian Yuanqiu and Qian Yuanxiang, were directly held at knifepoint and dragged into the army formation.

During this process, although there were many ambush troops lying in wait outside the palace gates and occupying advantageous positions, they really did not expect that Li Xingyun would be able to see through the danger, let alone that he would so decisively send out all his troops to launch a counterattack.

After a brief moment of shock and being caught off guard, the officers' shouts, the sound of weapons being drawn, and the vibrations of bowstrings suddenly filled the air.

"Stop them!"

"Fire arrows!"

Instantly, the piercing sound of arrows whistling through the air rang out, as dozens of feathered arrows rained down. Shield bearers swiftly moved forward to protect Li Xingyun and the officials in front. The thuds of arrows echoed continuously as several officials, unable to dodge in time, were struck by arrows and fell to the ground with screams of pain.

Meanwhile, a large force of ambushers poured out from the streets and alleys, hastily forming ranks. At the same time, a lieutenant shouted sternly, "His Majesty has been deceived by treacherous people. Do not make a mistake for yourselves. Lay down your weapons!"

"Kill!" Li Xingyun simply swung his sword forward.

Li Sixiao charged forward, his sword flashing, and crashed into the chaotic enemy ranks. The elite palace guards followed closely behind, charging towards the other end of the long street.

In an instant, the two torrents collided violently in the narrow streets in front of the imperial city.

First, a deafening clang of metal clashing suddenly erupted, followed by spurts of blood that mingled with the muddy rainwater, staining the cobblestone path a dark red. The clanging of swords, the sharp crack of spears breaking, the wails of the dying, roars and curses—all mingled together, making it impossible to distinguish friend from foe.

The palace guards, having seized the initiative, were all elite soldiers handpicked and trained by Li Xingyun and Zhang Zifan over a year, with skilled members of the Bad Guys mixed among them. Their individual martial prowess and teamwork far surpassed that of ordinary soldiers, and now, with a death wish, their offensive was incredibly fierce. In a short time, they forced Xu Wen's numerically superior army to retreat steadily, advancing towards their predetermined direction!

However, Xu Wen and Zhang Hao had already decided to stage a coup to control the emperor, and their preparations were meticulous and layered.

After the initial chaos, more soldiers poured out from all directions into the alleys, attempting to encircle the enemy. The corpses quickly blocked the narrow streets, but as soon as a body fell, it was trampled into the mud by those who came later, and the fighting continued.

Meanwhile, Xu Wen and Zhang Hao were already fully armed at their residence. Upon hearing the battle report from the front, Xu Wen's face first showed a hint of surprise, then he let out a cold laugh.

"It's a desperate struggle, a last gasp of a cornered beast. Order the right battalion to press forward and block the western alleyway. Command the archers to occupy the high ground on both sides and cover the city indiscriminately. Also, order all troops to seal the city gates and surround the city with all their might. Make sure to strangle him in the city. Apart from the emperor himself, leave no one else alive."

"I underestimated this brat; he actually has some guts. Good, saves me the trouble of going to the palace to capture him." Zhang Hao chuckled, then raised his long-handled broadsword.

"I will personally go to the front to supervise the battle and see how long this brat can be so arrogant!"

"Brother Zhang, wait a moment." Xu Wen raised his hand to stop him, smiling calmly. "Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Besides, sometimes attacking the heart is more effective than killing the person."

He turned his head and whispered a few instructions to his attendant, who then hurriedly left.

Before long, Li Siyuan, who had changed into a clean cloth robe and had his hair combed, was brought up.

Xu Wen looked at him and said calmly, "Lord Li, it's time for everyone to hear what you've said. Especially... let that rebellious emperor and his Vice Minister Zhang hear it clearly."

Li Siyuan smiled and bowed deeply: "That is indeed my wish, but I dare not ask."

The fierce battle raged in the city. Xu Wen's residence was close to the imperial city, and with Li Sixiao and Shi Yao, two extremely powerful warriors, as a breakthrough point, the palace guards instantly broke through Xu Wen's army, which was scattered in all directions and had not had time to regroup, and headed straight for the residence.

More troops rushed towards the scene, pouring out from alleyways in an attempt to encircle the area. Arrows rained down from above, and although the palace guards were all equipped with round shields, they still suffered considerable casualties, causing the offensive to slow down slightly.

Li Siyuan was led to the window of the mansion's watchtower, where the view was expansive, overlooking the chaotic battlefield ahead, and the sound could be carried far.

He then saw Zhang Zifan charging into the crowd with his fan, deflecting a stray arrow, and then shouting at Xu Jun: "Xu Wen and Zhang Hao embezzled military funds, cultivated private armies, and usurped the emperor's power. The evidence is irrefutable! Today, His Majesty is restoring order. Do you still want to aid and abet the wicked?"

Xu Wen and Zhang Hao, who were also on the gate tower, heard everything clearly, but they just sneered.

Seeing Xu Wen nod slightly, Li Siyuan took a deep breath, suppressing his physical discomfort, and his sharp voice pierced through the battlefield's clamor, carrying forward:

"Li Xingyun! You fraudster! How long are you going to keep up this act?!"

This sharp shout silenced the battlefield. Countless eyes, whether of soldiers engaged in battle or officials and civilians watching in fear from afar, instinctively turned towards the source of the sound.

Li Xingyun swung his sword and killed an enemy officer. Hearing the sound, he looked up sharply and his pupils contracted when he saw Li Siyuan's figure.

"Li Xingyun, Zhang Zifan! You two colluded with the Northern bandits, intending to offer up Jiangnan for wealth and power, betraying your country for personal gain, and you still have the nerve to talk about restoring order? Your wives and junior sisters have long been playthings on Xiao Yan's bed, and now you are offering them up as hostages as a stepping stone to advancement. Do you think Prime Minister Xu and Minister Zhang don't know this? Prime Minister Xu's elite troops have already been dispatched and captured those two women! You are already deserted by everyone and have reached the end of your road. Why don't you kneel down and surrender immediately!"

Li Siyuan laughed loudly, then narrowed his eyes and said, "If you still insist on being deluded, what will become of your empress, your junior sister, and the child in her womb? Do I need to elaborate?! Oh, and that Master of Longhu Mountain... tsk tsk." Li Xingyun suddenly felt a darkness before his eyes, his blood rushing upwards, his ears ringing, and his swordplay faltering as he was nearly stabbed by a spear thrust from the side. Fortunately, Li Sixiao beside him managed to deflect it with his blade. He staggered, a mouthful of blood rising to his throat, which he swallowed hard, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot.

"Shangrao...Lin Xuan..." he murmured to himself, his heart pounding wildly, almost making it hard to breathe.

Zhang Zifan was struck dumb, his body stiffened abruptly, and his face turned deathly pale.

After recognizing Zhang Xuanling and his wife, although he never called them father and mother, he truly felt their tenderness towards his parents. Having grown up in the Tongwen Academy for many years, how could he not be moved by such parental affection?

If Li Siyuan hadn't been the obstacle he couldn't overcome, how could he have been delayed until now and still not been able to truly acknowledge his ancestors?
But this very person, this very adoptive father who had always prevented him from making a decision, stabbed him in the most vulnerable spot, in the place where he needed it most. Perhaps feeling that it wasn't cruel enough, he even stirred the wound, as if afraid that his adopted son wouldn't feel the father-son bond of the past.

In that instant, Zhang Zifan let out a grief-stricken roar, wildly waving his iron fan and unleashing his inner force, directly severing several heads. Then, disregarding his own safety, he charged forward as if to tear apart all the enemy soldiers in front of him, along with the figure on the watchtower.

Seeing his adopted son in such a state, Li Siyuan's resentment towards Zhang Zifan for refusing to save him transformed into pleasure, and he continued to smile.

"Fan'er, I taught you long ago that those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles, but rather eliminate all threats at the root. You are still... too inexperienced."

"Li Siyuan—!" Zhang Zifan roared, "You beast! You murdered my birth parents, robbed me of my life, and now you're aiding and abetting evil, defaming my innocence! Today, I, Zhang Zifan, sever all ties with you, and we'll fight to the death!"

"Zhang Zifan, don't fall for the trap!"

Shi Yao shouted coldly, brushing aside two enemy soldiers with her sleeve and tightly protecting him. Then she looked at Li Xingyun and said, "Don't listen to this shameless old thief's nonsense. Master Xu is highly skilled in martial arts and will surely protect the Empress and Miss Lu! Your Majesty, only by killing the traitor can we have any chance of survival!"

Provoked by this, Li Xingyun's pent-up anger erupted. His eyes turned bloodshot, and he let out a low roar. Ignoring the swords and blades in front of him, and with the imitation Longquan sword in his hand shining brightly, he charged forward.

Seeing Li Xingyun leading the charge, the palace guards under his command were immediately invigorated and charged forward with shouts, tearing open another gap in Xu's army's defenses.

Zhang Zifan's eyes also turned red. With each opening and closing of his folding fan, a strong wind howled. He disregarded his life and only attacked without defending.

Zhang Hao, enraged from the gate tower, disregarded the need to capture the prisoner alive and roared, "Li Xingyun, you tyrant! Colluding with foreign enemies, how dare you claim to be fighting a rebellion? Soldiers, listen to my command! Whoever kills this tyrant will be rewarded with ten thousand gold pieces and granted a marquisate!"

The two commanders exchanged insults across the distance, while their soldiers fought each other with reckless abandon. The narrow streets made it difficult for the large armies to deploy, and the battle quickly devolved into a straightforward war of attrition.

The corpses piled up one after another, blocking the road, and those who came later could only step over the bodies of their comrades or enemies to continue forward.

------

Almost simultaneously, the sounds of battle erupted from the direction of the imperial palace and Xu Wen's residence, thoroughly alarming all parties in Yangzhou.

Outside the Wu King's palace, surrounded by a large force, the atmosphere was already tense. This sudden chaos throughout the city caused an uneasy commotion among the defenders. The soldiers looked at each other, whispered among themselves, and their attention involuntarily drifted towards the direction where the fighting was most intense.

Zhong Taizhang, the Left Guard General in charge of guarding the mansion, and Mi Zhicheng, another brave and fierce general under Xu Wen, rushed out of the mansion gate.

The two men gazed into the distance and saw fires raging in many parts of the city, billowing black smoke. The clamor of voices and the sounds of clashing weapons, though separated by several streets, could still be clearly heard, as if there were several battlefields. It was hard to tell which was real and which was fake, so for a moment, the two men's faces were filled with surprise and uncertainty.

"What's going on? Didn't they say it would happen at the court meeting..." Mi Zhicheng paced anxiously, one hand on the hilt of his sword.

Zhong Taizhang's expression was grave: "I'm afraid something has changed."

As the two hesitated, several men covered in blood, dressed like servants from Xu Wen's household, came running in a panic, shouting from afar, "General Zhong! General Mi! Something terrible has happened! That tyrant... that tyrant has used some kind of sorcery to break out of the palace and is attacking the Prime Minister's residence! Prime Minister Xu is short-handed and has ordered you two generals to quickly lead elite troops to his aid, or it will be too late!"

Almost simultaneously, several more fires broke out in the city, and a commotion came from different directions. One could vaguely hear shouts of "Xu Wen is dead!" and "The Emperor is purging the court and the country; those who surrender will not be killed!" It was so chaotic that it was impossible to tell what was real and what was not.

Zhong Taizhang and Mi Zhicheng's expressions changed drastically. They exchanged a glance and saw the surprise and fear in each other's eyes.

"Bullshit! Where would that brat Li Xingyun get a large army to counterattack?" Mi Zhicheng cursed instinctively, not believing a word his servants said.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhong Taizhang gritted his teeth and said, "It's better to believe it's true than not. If our lord is truly harmed, we will both die without a burial place. You take half the men and stay behind at the Prince's residence. We absolutely cannot let that old man, the Prince of Wu, be harmed. He is Prime Minister Xu's last line of defense! I will take the other half and immediately head towards the Prime Minister's residence to check and provide backup!"

Having said that, without waiting for Mi Zhicheng to say anything more, Zhong Taizhang quickly mustered his most elite troops and hurriedly rode towards Xu Wen's residence.

Mi Zhicheng was filled with anxiety and unease, but he had no choice but to suppress his restlessness and sternly reprimand his subordinates to tighten their defenses and increase vigilance. His fierce eyes scanned the surroundings for any movement.

However, just as the guards of the Prince's Palace were distracted by the general's division of troops, morale was low, and attention was drawn to the commotion on the front, several ghostly figures took advantage of the chaos in the city to quietly climb over the high wall of the Prince's Palace's backyard and land silently.

The leader was Zhang Xuanling, followed closely by more than ten elite disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion and skilled members of the Bad People. Each of them was agile and had a restrained aura.

A sudden upheaval occurred in the city. Although Zhang Xuanling could not see the whole picture, he knew that this was a golden opportunity. He immediately made a decision, ordering his disciples and men, who had been lying in ambush throughout the city, to set fires and create noise in multiple locations to further create chaos and distract the enemy.

After infiltrating the Prince's mansion, the group followed the route they had already scouted and familiarized themselves with, using the flowers, trees, and pavilions for cover, and quickly made their way to the inner courtyard where the Prince of Wu was being held captive.

If they encountered patrol teams along the way, they were all subdued instantly by the exquisite techniques of the Celestial Master's Mansion, either by striking pressure points or knocking them unconscious. The process was clean and efficient, without making much noise.

However, just as they approached their target courtyard, deafening shouts of battle, the sound of doors being rammed, and panicked cries of the guards suddenly came from the direction of the Prince's Mansion.

"Hold on! Hold the gate!"

"No retreat!"

Mi Zhicheng's roar, filled with shock and rage, stood out particularly amidst the chaos.

At the main gate of the Prince's mansion, an elite group of armored soldiers were fiercely attacking the gate. What was even more surprising was that among the attacking army, a young general dressed in armor, holding a long spear, and riding a horse with great swagger, looked exactly like Li Xingyun.

"That's...the Emperor?" Some sharp-eyed soldiers at the gate exclaimed in surprise, causing an uproar and chaos. The general on horseback, in terms of appearance and figure, was indeed identical to the Emperor of Yangzhou.

While ordinary soldiers might have made a mistake, Mi Zhicheng saw it clearly from the gate tower. His heart was struck as if by a heavy blow, and he was so shocked that he was in a daze and disbelief, and for a moment he was at a loss for what to do.

The "Emperor" personally attacked the residence? What about Prime Minister Xu's side...?
In that moment of hesitation, the morale of the guards at the Prince's Palace began to waver.

The troops attacking from outside the gate were extremely fierce and, having prepared for a surprise attack, smashed open the gate in an instant, tearing through the outer defenses and surging into the courtyard like a tidal wave. Mi Zhicheng, protected by his personal guards, fought and retreated, his heart filled with shock and anger. Upon seeing the "emperor's" face, he felt an inexplicable chill.

After barely managing to fight a few rounds with the enemy's experts, Mi Zhicheng saw his men flee in disarray and knew that the situation was hopeless. With eyes wide with rage, he unleashed his ferocity, shouted "Protect the King of Wu!" and retreated swiftly.

In reality, he drew his sword and turned around, intending to lead his personal guards to retreat to the inner courtyard and carry out a desperate act.

Mi Zhicheng had a clear plan: even if he died, he would take hostage or kill a member of the Wu royal family, making the Wu king be buried with Xu Wen, and he would never allow him to fall into the enemy's hands unharmed.

But as soon as he retreated into the corridor leading to the backyard, he saw an old Taoist priest with slightly bristling hair and beard, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light, blocking his way.

"Mi Zhicheng, stop committing further murders!"

Mi Zhicheng, eager to kill the King of Wu and enraged by his defeat, roared and swung his long sword at Zhang Xuanling's face with a fierce whistling sound. It was a desperate, life-or-death strike.

Zhang Xuanling neither dodged nor evaded. He held his right hand together like a sword and drew a semicircle. A faint purple electric light flowed around it, emitting a soft crackling sound.

With a low shout, the purple lightning that had been swirling around his fingertips suddenly erupted, striking Mi Zhicheng's blade with overwhelming force.

A deafening roar, like a muffled thunderclap, suddenly erupted.

Mi Zhicheng felt an unimaginable force surging along the blade, mixed with a strange, scorching, and numbing force that instantly pierced through his protective aura and invaded his meridians and internal organs.

His tiger's mouth split open, the long knife almost slipped from his hand, his entire arm and even half of his body were shaken and felt numb and painful, his blood and qi were churning, and he staggered back several steps, his face filled with horror.

"Thunder Magic...you are from the Celestial Master's Mansion..."

Zhang Xuanling didn't answer, nor did he show any mercy. He changed his footwork again, his figure closing in like a ghost, and lightly struck out with his left palm towards Mi Zhicheng, crackling with lightning that was blinding.

"puff!"

The latter was as if punished by heaven. His protective aura completely collapsed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. He flew backward and crashed heavily into a pillar. The sound of his bones breaking could be clearly heard. When he landed, he was barely breathing. Before he died, his eyes still held unbelievable shock and fear.

Zhang Xuanling slowly withdrew his palm, flicked his sleeves, and stood up, the pale purple lightning flowing around his body gradually disappearing. Several personal guards who wanted to step forward to rescue Mi Zhicheng were quickly stopped, killed, or dispersed by disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

Inside the inner courtyard, King Yang Wo of Wu and his clansmen were terrified by the shouts of battle outside and the close-quarters fighting. They huddled together, trembling like lambs to the slaughter.

Suddenly, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Zhang Xuanling stepped in first, saying urgently, "King Wu, do not be alarmed. I am Zhang Xuanling, and I have come by order of the Emperor of the Central Plains to rescue you from this sea of ​​suffering!"

Yang Wo and the others clung to the lifeline like drowning people, no longer caring whose orders Zhang Xuanling was acting on. They were almost in tears, their voices trembling as they cried, "Immortal Master, Immortal Master! Quickly, quickly take us away from this place of trouble!"

Just then, the general who looked remarkably like Li Xingyun led his troops to clear the front courtyard and stepped into the inner courtyard. His gaze swept across the scene and quickly landed on the Prince of Wu, who was still in shock and was being protected by the disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

A concerned and apologetic smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Your Excellency, I am sorry to have been frightened. I am late in arriving. The treacherous party in the city was causing trouble and almost endangered your safety. Fortunately, thanks to the bravery of the soldiers and the support of Zhang Tianshi, my army has quelled most of the rebellion. I have come here to protect Your Excellency."

He strode forward, nodded to Zhang Xuanling who looked slightly surprised and was frowning at him, and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Celestial Master. I will leave this place to you. Please assist me in eliminating the remaining enemies and stabilizing the situation."

Looking at his son-in-law, hearing that familiar voice, and seeing the troops he brought defeat the defending forces and save him, Yang Wo was overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming down his face. He was so moved that he could hardly contain himself, as if he had found his pillar of support: "Good...good, Xingyun...no, Your Majesty, it's good that you've come, it's good that you've come! These treacherous officials, they really are, they really are..."

Zhang Xuanling frowned slightly as he stared at the fake Li. He could vaguely sense that there were slight differences between the fake Li's aura and gait and Li Xingyun's, but the fake Li's appearance and voice were almost impeccable.

After careful consideration, he suppressed his doubts. Given the critical situation, he could only say, "It is truly fortunate that the King arrived in time."

The fake Li smiled and comforted Yang Wo, then whispered a few words to Zhang Xuanling, without revealing any flaws.

After leaving the area, the fake Li casually made up an excuse to send Zhang Xuanling away. The Mirror Heart Demon, who was also wearing armor, quickly walked to his side and whispered, "Your Highness, this place is now under our control."

The fake Li nodded slightly, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Zhang Xuanling beside him and the corpse of Mi Zhicheng on the ground. His smile remained warm as he looked out over the still chaotic city of Yangzhou, as if examining the spoils of war that were about to be his.

------

Jiangbei.

The vast Yangtze River was shrouded in a thick fog and rolling clouds. The wind grew stronger, the rain more torrential, and the waves surged, crashing against the banks with a thunderous roar.

On the north bank, countless camps stretched out in a continuous line. On the river, warships, battleships, and large barges were densely packed together, almost covering the entire field of vision.

The sails, stretching as far as the eye can see, are being raised one after another, battered by the wind.

On the open ground by the shore, the dark infantry formations and cavalry ranks were also straightening up and boarding the ships in an orderly manner. Countless armors reflected the sunlight, and although it was raining, a soaring murderous aura permeated the air.

On the largest warship in the central army, Wang Yanzhang knelt on one knee. In front of him, a member of the Imperial Guard was reading out an imperial edict sent from Bianjing with urgent delivery. After reading it, the guard presented half of a tiger tally.

After Wang Yanzhang waited for Yu Zhong, Shi Hongzhao, Wang Xiancheng and other generals to verify that everything was correct, he suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing like lightning as he swept over the warships that were as dense as reeds on the river and over the armored soldiers who stood like a forest on the shore.

"Your Majesty has a decree——"

His voice was booming like a bell, and he shouted at the top of his lungs:

"The time to pacify the south is today!"

"Beat the drums! March!"

The command flag was waved down. The bugle sounded loudly, its blast shattering the sky.

Boom!Boom!Boom!Boom!
The next moment, along the north bank of the river, hundreds of cowhide war drums were simultaneously struck by strongmen. The drumbeats were heavy, deep, and stirring, like the heartbeat of a giant, instantly overwhelming the sounds of wind, rain, and the river's roar, shaking heaven and earth.

On the river.

A thousand sails race, ten thousand oars churn the waves.

Warships cut through the waves, and battleships raced against each other.

"The entire army—"

Cross the river!

(End of this chapter)