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

Chapter 527 Standing atop the First Peak of Wu Mountain (Part 8)
As the end of February approached, the hearts of people in Jiangnan were restless, like the undercurrents of spring tides. Meanwhile, the northern army's southward offensive was truly like the Qiantang River tidal bore, with each wave stronger than the last.

Wang Yanzhang was stationed at the Parrot Island camp, and sent Shi Hongzhao to lead the integrated land and sea elites westward.

To prevent the fall of Yuezhou and to prevent the Northern Army from completely controlling the mouth of the Jingjiang River, Xu Dexun, the naval commander of the Chu Kingdom, personally led the Dongting Navy to meet the enemy at the mouth of the lake. The two sides then engaged in a decisive battle on the vast Dongting Lake.

Before this, the Chu navy had as much information as possible about how the Northern army crushed the Ezhou navy in one battle. Knowing that the Northern army's warships were equipped with powerful cannons that could directly destroy warships, Xu Dexun and his officers agreed that they should seize the initiative at the beginning of the battle and not allow the enemy ships to approach at their leisure. They should take advantage of the terrain of the lake and the Han River to maneuver at a distance with catapults and crossbows to wear down the Northern army.

Unfortunately, military strategy is just military strategy, and actual combat is just actual combat.

The two armies clashed on Dongting Lake. The Northern army led the way with its warships and cannons. After the two armies engaged in battle, the Chu army, despite having practiced, was still unable to withstand the thunderous power of the cannons. Many of them were afraid of the cannons. The two armies fought fiercely from dawn to dusk all day long. Although Xu Dexun was brave, he could not reverse the defeat in the end. The main warships of the Chu army were either burned or captured, and he himself was wounded and fled.

After winning the naval battle, Shi Hongzhao swept across Dongting Lake, capturing key coastal locations such as Huarong and Anxiang. He then cooperated with Yu Zhong's troops to capture Puqi City, a crucial point on the Junshui River that controlled the post road, thus completely severing the connection between Yuezhou and Ezhou.

Although Qin Yanhui, the governor of Yuezhou who assisted in the Dongting naval battle, knew that the situation was hopeless, he was grateful for the kindness shown to him by King Ma Yin of Chu. He refused to surrender, burned the grain and ships outside the city, gathered the remaining troops and retreated into Yueyang City, intending to hold it to the death and use it as a barrier to Changsha to the south.

Wang Yanzhang, however, was not in a hurry to launch a full-scale attack. Instead, he ordered Shi Hongzhao to dig deep trenches and build high walls, set up artillery, and cut off Yueyang City's connection with the outside world. Then, he divided his troops to sweep through the entire Yuezhou territory and brought his army to the city of Changjiang, south of Yuezhou, thus posing a direct threat to Changsha.

The main force of the Northern Army was only a hundred miles away from Changsha. When the news of the defeat that the gates of Chu were wide open reached Changsha, King Ma Yin of Chu, who was already old and frail, heard about the successive defeats at the front, the loss of contact with Ezhou, the siege of Yuezhou, and the loss of most of his navy. Overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, his condition suddenly deteriorated rapidly. He vomited blood incessantly on his bed. On his deathbed, he passed the throne to Ma Xisheng and then died.

Ma Xisheng kept Ma Yin's death a secret and hastily succeeded to the throne. However, while Ma Yin's death could be concealed, the great defeat at Dongting Lake could not. In an instant, the people of the country were in a state of panic, and countless people advocated moving south to Hengzhou or east to Yuzhang (Nanchang).

However, news soon reached Changsha that the allied forces of Raojiang and Nanping, led by Chi Li, the Duke of Qian of the Northern Dynasty, had captured Guizhou, leaving those who advocated for the southward migration speechless.

It turned out that after receiving Xiao Yan's imperial edict, Chi Li's Southern Route Army immediately took advantage of the mountainous terrain and forests to launch a surprise attack on Guizhou.

Li Qiong and Wang Huan, who were responsible for guarding Guizhou and were known as the Tiger Generals of Chu along with Xu Dexun and Qin Yanhui, fought hard, but ultimately could not withstand Rao Jiang's witchcraft. Moreover, the Chenzhou and Daozhou areas were also harassed by the Nanping army. Outnumbered, they were forced to abandon Guizhou and retreat to Yongzhou (Lingling), intending to use the natural barrier of the Xiang River to prevent the Northern army from attacking Changsha from both the north and south.

However, because Generals Li Qiong and Wang Huan were determined to defend Yongzhou and compete with Chi Li for control of the Xiang River, the battle became so stalemate that they were unable to turn east to support Changsha. Even Hengzhou, which was only a hundred miles northeast of Yongzhou, appeared to be in grave danger.

In this situation, to prevent the northern army from advancing south, Ma Xisheng had no choice but to urgently dispatch troops stationed in Langzhou (Wuling) to reinforce Xiangyin, attempting to establish a last line of defense along the Changjiang River. At the same time, he sent people to contact Yangzhou, Hangzhou, and Fuzhou, urging the three kingdoms of Wu, Yue, and Min to quickly reinforce Changsha, lest the Chu territory be completely lost and Jiangdong lose its protective barrier.

However, in Yangzhou, Xu Wen sent more than 10,000 Huangtou soldiers to reinforce Guangzhou, in order to threaten the flank of Wang Zongkan's troops who were heading south to attack Huangzhou, thus relieving the siege of Huangzhou.

Unexpectedly, the Northern army, having rested and prepared, ambushed the Huangtou army on the banks of the Hui River southwest of Shouzhou. As a result, the Huangtou army suffered a crushing defeat, losing many soldiers and generals. Xu Wen's eldest son, Xu Zhixun, was nearly captured. Fortunately, Heiyun Changjian, who had already sided with the fake Li and was ordered to provide support, came to their aid in time. Only then did they retreat in disarray to Shengtang County, barely managing to stabilize their position and temporarily secure the southwest passage of Shouzhou. However, the plan to relieve the siege of Huangzhou completely failed, and they could only watch as the Northern Dynasty's central route Wang Zongkan's army and western route Wang Yanzhang's army joined forces under the walls of Huangzhou.

The series of defeats—the disastrous defeat at Dongting Lake on the western front, the death of King Ma Yin of Chu, the fall of Guizhou on the southern front, and the setback of the Huainan reinforcements—shook the towns of Jiangnan and shocked the court and the public.

The Northern army's offensive was far more fierce and its progress far exceeded expectations. The Southern Tang court and the public instantly lost all confidence. Both civil and military officials were shrouded in defeatist sentiment. For a time, countless people secretly sent their confidants with large sums of money to try to contact the Northern Dynasty, or abandoned their families and homes to flee to the sea to avoid disaster.

------

With bad news coming one after another, not only was Xu Wen overwhelmed with worry, but even the fake Li was so anxious and angry that he developed blisters on his lips. On the one hand, he denounced the generals for their incompetence and loss of sovereignty and national honor, and on the other hand, he had to intensify his consultations with Xu Wen.

Finally, both men agreed that if Ezhou fell completely, the Northern Army could advance down the Yangtze River, leaving the gateway to Jiangdong wide open. Yangzhou and Nanjing would be directly exposed to the enemy's advance. Therefore, they had to reinforce Ezhou at all costs to stabilize the western front.

Although the two had always harbored suspicions and wariness towards each other, in this situation, they could only understand the principle of mutual dependence. The Northern Dynasty's leader was so powerful that both of them were now firmly on the death list. If they did not want to flee to sea so early, they had no choice but to temporarily put aside their past grievances and join forces to fight for a chance of survival.

Therefore, the two decided to draw all the elite troops from Yangzhou and Jinling, including the remnants of Zhang Hao's forces that had already been reorganized and subdued, and to procure a large number of civilian ships. With the fake Li personally in command and Xu Wen assisting, they would sail up the Yangtze River to join forces with the troops from Poyang and rush to the aid of Ezhou to relieve the crisis in Changsha and stabilize the western front.

With the major events settled, the atmosphere inside the hall didn't lighten much. The imposter Li strolled back to the map, then suddenly seemed to remember something, asking casually, "Zhang Zifan... how has he been lately?"

Xu Wen, who was about to leave to raise military supplies and mobilize troops, glanced at the words and replied, "As Your Majesty instructed, he and Your Majesty's double are under house arrest in a separate courtyard in the mansion, and have not been mistreated. This boy's heart is with the Northern Dynasty, and his parents are... I believe that keeping him here may cause trouble."

The fake Li glanced at him and sneered, "Whether he will cause trouble or not depends on how he is used. Before the expedition, I would like to see him. Perhaps he can help me see some things more clearly."

Xu Wen did not object, but said calmly, "If Your Majesty finds him useful, there is no harm in meeting him. However, this boy is eloquent and cunning, so Your Majesty should be careful in dealing with him."

That night, the fake Li dismissed his attendants and summoned Zhang Zifan, who had been under house arrest for many days, along with the Mirror Heart Demon.

When Zhang Zifan was brought in, he was calm, though he had dark circles under his eyes, indicating that he hadn't slept well recently. He glanced at the fake Li sitting in the main seat, then at the Mirror Heart Demon in the corner, without bowing or speaking, simply standing with his hands behind his back.

The fake Li observed his composed demeanor, and instead of being angry, he smiled knowingly and said, "Minister Zhang, how have you been? You've lost some weight, which makes you even more distinguished."

"Thanks to your grace, I am still alive. Let me get straight to the point. I can't have summoned you so late at night just to have a chat over tea with me."

"Please sit down." Fake Li didn't care about the sarcasm in Zhang Zifan's tone. He simply pointed to the seat next to him and said, "I invited you here today to hear what insights you, a smart man, have on the current dire situation."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zifan readily sat down and then retorted sarcastically, "The big picture? Shouldn't you be busy deploying troops and dealing with the overwhelming force of the Jiangbei army right now? How can you have the leisure to talk about the big picture with a prisoner like me?"

“It is precisely because the overall situation is so volatile that I want to hear your truth.” The fake Li leaned forward slightly, looking at Zhang Zifan. “You are a wise man and can see clearly that Jiangnan is now in grave danger. The Northern Army is overwhelming, and although I have received the mandate of Heaven, I feel that I cannot support it alone and am hampered by both sides.”

Zhang Zifan sneered: "You are too modest. You now control Jiangnan and even have the power of the Bad People under your command. How can you say that you can't support the whole country alone? Isn't Xu Wen only working with you because of your 'destiny'?"

The fake Li shook his head, his tone becoming more sincere: "Minister Zhang, you and I both know perfectly well that people like Xu Wen are only temporarily obeying my orders and feigning compliance because of the overwhelming force of the Northern Army. Have such people ever truly considered the people of Jiangnan or the fate of the Li Tang dynasty? They are only concerned with their own gains and losses."

He paused, lowering his voice, "What I need are truly capable and courageous individuals to assist me, not those two-faced, opportunistic scoundrels. Although Jiangnan is in grave danger, as the emperor, I must do my utmost to protect this land and its people. If you are willing to lend me a hand, and together we can repel the Northern Army and stabilize this half of the country, I will not fail you. At that time, what will Xu Wen be? Your dear friend... I can also ensure his safety, and even grant him a life of wealth and leisure."

Zhang Zifan listened quietly, his face expressionless, until the fake Li finished speaking, then he slowly opened his mouth:
"Protecting the people? Your words sound grand and righteous. But unfortunately, first you used the King of Wu to coerce my father, and then you used my father to control me. What is the essential difference between this behavior and that of Xu Wen and Zhang Hao in the past, who held the royal family hostage and manipulated power? I, Zhang, am truly not impressed by the foundation of this 'great cause' you speak of."

The muscles on Fake Li's face twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure, his tone turning cold:

“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. If I am not firm and decisive, how can I unite this disorganized army into a fighting force? And how can I deal with the ferocious army of the Northern Dynasty?”

Zhang Zifan couldn't help but chuckle.
"The Northern Dynasty's fierce and ruthless army? Do you really think that with the current state of affairs in Jiangnan, where morale is low and everyone is harboring their own agendas, we can withstand the onslaught of veteran generals like Wang Yanzhang, He Gui, Wang Zongkan, and Chi Li? In Jiangnan, including yourself, who can directly confront their might? Moreover... the hearts of the people are like water flowing downstream; are you truly unaware of this?"

The fake Li clenched his hands slightly on his knees, but then forced himself to relax them, a strange smile even appearing on his face:

"You're right. Perhaps a direct confrontation would be like throwing an egg against a rock. But, Minister Zhang, if I hadn't intervened to consolidate things, you would probably be in Changsha by now, persuading Ma Xisheng to surrender the city, wouldn't you?"

Zhang Zifan's pupils contracted slightly. After a moment of silence, he coldly said, "A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and a wise minister chooses a good lord to serve. The general trend of the world is overwhelming and unstoppable. Even the Bad Commander has fallen silent. Why do you go against the will of Heaven and cause only suffering to the people?"

"The general trend?" Fake Li suddenly laughed, first a low chuckle, then he cupped his face and burst into loud laughter. "All of you, Li Siyuan, Xu Wen, Li Xingyun, even that one in Jiangbei! Did you all think that what I was fighting for was this? The ownership of the world? This emperor's throne in a remote corner? Or this so-called irresistible general trend?!"

He suddenly stood up, walked a few steps to the window, and stared at the deep night outside, as if confronting an invisible opponent. Suddenly, he roared with all his might, "You will never understand!"

Zhang Zifan frowned, about to speak, when he saw the fake Li suddenly turn around and stare intently at him.

"What I want is for him to see it with his own eyes! To see how everything that person so easily gave up was firmly grasped in my hands! To see how I turned the tide step by step in a situation that that person was powerless to control! I want him to watch me sit in this position, even if only for a moment, even if it ultimately leads to an abyss and mutual destruction, I want him to know—!"

This almost naked confession might be incomprehensible to others, but it made Jingxinmo, who was standing to the side, pause in surprise, then raise his head and show a slight emotion.

Zhang Zifan was completely stunned. Looking at the face before him, so identical to Li Xingyun's, he felt only a strange chill and a sense of absurdity. "So, what does this 'great trend' you speak of have to do with me!?"

The fake Li, his voice hoarse, walked step by step back to Zhang Zifan, then leaned down and stared intently at him: "I will ask you only one last time, are you willing to help me? If you nod, after this defeat of the Northern Army, I can guarantee that Xu Wen will hand over Li Xingyun and spare his life. Moreover..."

He paused, then slowly said, "I can let you see him now. And you can tell him in person that his wife, his beloved junior sister, and even your mother, Master Xu... have not fallen into Xu Wen's hands, and are now... safe."

Zhang Zifan suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with disbelief, a mixture of immense joy and rising doubt, as he stared intently at the fake Li.

The fake Li met his gaze, his face expressionless, and simply said, "The choice is yours."

After saying that, he didn't linger, turned around and strode away. Jing Xinmo gave Zhang Zifan a deep look and silently followed behind.

In the empty hall, only Zhang Zifan remained alone. The wind howled through the cracks in the window, and the faint sound of patrol gongs echoed from the distant military camp. He slowly closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently, his mind a chaotic battle of thoughts.

------

Inside the study of Xu Wen's residence.

The flickering candlelight illuminated Xu Wen's somber, expressionless face.

Just now, his confidant had just finished reporting that the men he had sent out over the past twenty days still hadn't been able to find any definite trace of Yao Kezhan, Cheng Sizhong's two teams, or Princess Shangrao and the others; it was as if they had vanished into thin air.

This news amplified the worst-case scenario in his mind, and more than that, the loss of this crucial bargaining chip had recently made him extremely anxious.

Just then, a trusted aide outside announced that Zhang Zifan was requesting an audience, carrying a fake edict from Li, with Jing Xinmo accompanying him.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Xu Wen's eyes, filled with doubt, but upon hearing that Jing Xinmo was also present, he hesitated for a moment before waving his hand and saying, "Let them in."

After Zhang Zifan and Jing Xinmo entered the study one after the other, the former bowed slightly to Xu Wen, while Jing Xinmo simply stood quietly by the door, like a shadow.

"Minister Zhang has come to visit late at night, and he also has a decree from His Majesty. I wonder what brings him here?" Xu Wen's tone was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, but his gaze swept back and forth between the two men.

"Minister Xu, you flatter me," Zhang Zifan replied calmly. "His Majesty will soon be personally leading an expedition to Ezhou. Although I am a convict, I am concerned about the situation on the front lines. I have come to ask Minister Xu how much grain, fodder, and military supplies Yangzhou currently has available to support the western front, so that His Majesty may have a better understanding of the situation."

Xu Wen narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Zhang Zifan as if examining prey, trying to find a flaw in his every expression.

Is this white-haired boy genuinely trying to change his ways and atone for his crimes, or is he here to test us on Li's orders?

After a moment, he slowly said, "I will do my best to procure provisions and weapons for the royal army. However, we are currently waging war on all sides, which has resulted in huge losses. The Yangzhou reserves are not inexhaustible, so we need to make overall plans. It is surprising that Minister Zhang, who is in dire straits himself, is so concerned about the war at the front."

Zhang Zifan smiled and said helplessly, "Concern is useless. Now that I am imprisoned, it is just empty talk and a waste of energy. I just think that if His Majesty can win the first battle in this campaign, it may greatly boost morale and stabilize the panicked people. Otherwise... the situation may be even more unpredictable."

Xu Wen sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm: "His Majesty is wise and powerful, and has his own brilliant plans. If Minister Zhang has any good strategies to defeat the enemy, he may speak frankly."

He said this to Zhang Zifan, but out of the corner of his eye he glanced at Jingxinmo at the door.

Just as the two were exchanging barbs, Jing Xinmo, who was standing quietly by the door, spoke up at the opportune moment: "Prime Minister Xu, His Majesty is about to embark on a campaign. Since Vice Minister Zhang has come with an imperial edict, wishing to see an old friend to put his mind at ease, it might encourage him to do his best to plan for His Majesty's western campaign. It's just a meeting, Prime Minister Xu's residence is heavily guarded, and I will be accompanying you, so there should be no problem. Why not comply with His Majesty's wishes, and also show that Prime Minister Xu is mindful of the overall situation?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Wen's gaze lingered for a moment on Jing Xinmo's seemingly calm yet unpredictable face, then swept over Zhang Zifan, his mind racing.

After a moment, he nodded in agreement, his expression softening slightly: "Since His Majesty has issued an edict, and Vice Minister Zhang is so concerned about his old friend... Very well, then come with me. Tianzui Xing, may we come along?"

Jingxin Demon nodded slightly, without saying anything more.

The three then went together to a heavily guarded, secluded courtyard deep within the mansion. Xu Wen stopped in front of the main house, gave a slight nod to the guards, and then said to Zhang Zifan, "Young Master Li is inside. Minister Zhang, please make the long story short."

After saying that, he did not leave. Instead, he stood with Jingxinmo under the eaves in the courtyard, intending to personally listen to the sounds inside the house.

Zhang Zifan pushed open the door and entered. The room was simply furnished, but fairly tidy. Li Xingyun sat by the window, gazing at the thick night outside. His profile was thin. Hearing the door open, he turned around.

"Zifan?" Li Xingyun's eyes flashed with surprise when he saw the person who had arrived. "How come you... are you Xu Wen...?"

“I’m fine.” Zhang Zifan walked quickly closer, his voice extremely low, almost inaudible. “It’s that fake…he gave me permission to come.”

Li Xingyun frowned slightly, his doubts deepening.

Zhang Zifan sat down beside him and quickly recounted the dramatic changes in the outside world: the disastrous defeat of the western navy, the fall of Parrot Island and Hanyang, the siege of Yuezhou, the shock in Changsha, the death of King Ma Yin of Chu from fear and illness, the southern army's advance on Guizhou, and the defeat of the eastern reinforcements to Shouzhou...

Li Xingyun listened silently, his face showing little surprise, as if he had expected it all along. However, when he heard that Ma Yin had passed away, a trace of sadness, as if he were grieving for his own kind, flashed across his eyes.

“Brother Li,” Zhang Zifan leaned closer, his breath almost brushing against Li Xingyun’s ear, his voice barely audible, “Most importantly, the Empress and Miss Lu… they should be safe. Xu Wen’s men who were sent to hunt them down have disappeared. Judging from his recent reactions, they have at least escaped danger and are no longer under his control.”

Li Xingyun's body jolted violently, his carefully maintained composure shattered in an instant. He suddenly grabbed Zhang Zifan's arm, his eyes bursting with unbelievable ecstasy and excitement. His lips moved, but he couldn't utter a sound.

He stared intently at Zhang Zifan, his eyes eager to confirm this incredible good news.

Zhang Zifan gripped his arm tightly, nodded emphatically, then hesitated for a moment before continuing, "That man... just now, during our conversation, he seemed almost obsessively determined to sit in your seat. He said... he wants you to witness firsthand how he..."

Li Xingyun's violently heaving chest gradually calmed down. He released his grip, shook his head, and a look of bitterness and confusion appeared on his face: "Before this, I didn't even know that there was such a 'me' in the world. Yuan Tiangang... what exactly is his intention in setting up this mystery?"

Zhang Zifan pondered, "Perhaps he transferred all the cause and effect, guilt and burden onto this substitute. The fake Li is now enjoying everything you once had and tried to escape, and also bearing all the open and hidden attacks. It's like a... substitute talisman."

Li Xingyun remained silent for a moment without answering.

Seeing the renewed light in his eyes, Zhang Zifan patted his shoulder again, his gaze calm and firm: "Be patient, Brother Li. There will definitely be a turning point. The situation can change in an instant, and I will definitely find a way to get you out."

Looking at the unwavering conviction in his friend's eyes, Li Xingyun took a deep breath, finally nodded, and forced a smile: "I believe you."

Outside the courtyard, Xu Wen looked up at the sky and coughed softly. Mirror Heart Demon's gaze also swept towards the door. Zhang Zifan knew his time was up; he stood up, gave Li Xingyun one last deep look, and resolutely turned and walked out.

The door closed gently behind him, separating the two worlds. Li Xingyun turned his gaze back to the window. The night was still dark, but in his eyes, the horizon seemed to be tinged with the faint light of dawn.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Outside Yangzhou, on the banks of the Yangtze River, torches blazed like dragons, reflecting on the shimmering water, amidst the bustling noise of men and horses. The imposter, Li, fully armored and wielding a tall steed, sat astride his magnificent horse, preparing to swear an oath for the westward expedition.

On the opposite bank of the Yangtze River, Wang Yanzhang stood on the deck of a magnificent warship, braving the biting river wind, when he received a secret report that the emperor was about to personally lead an expedition and move to Nanjing.

(End of this chapter)