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

Chapter 530 Standing atop the First Peak of Wu Mountain (Part 11)

A thick fog blanketed the Yangtze River, stretching for miles.

Before dawn, the water vapor swirled along the river's surface, compressing visibility to within a few dozen feet. The massive fleet slowly sailed upstream through this chaos, the splashing of oars breaking the water muffled in the fog, sounding very distant between the ships.

The banners hung wet and drooping, occasionally swaying in the breeze, revealing the blurry character "Tang" or the name of a general, before being soaked through again and returning to their drooping state.

Standing on the highest deck of the warship, Fake Li could feel the moisture condensing on his armor, slowly seeping into his inner clothes through the gaps in the armor plates. He disliked this feeling, just as he disliked the river surface shrouded in thick fog, where nothing could be seen.

Xu Wen stood half a step to his side, not wearing armor, but only a purple robe with a waterproof oilcloth over it, and his slightly gray hair and beard were also damp with water droplets.

He appeared much calmer than the fake Li, spending most of his time observing the formation of his own ships and the messages relayed by messengers through flags and lights. His hands were habitually tucked into his sleeves, his demeanor composed, as if he were truly appreciating the river view.

"Your Majesty, Minister Xu."

A naval commander boarded the deck, walked quickly, and whispered, "The vanguard has made contact with the Wuchang garrison again. There are currently no signs of activity from the Northern Army fleet in the direction of Fangang and Qizhou."

Fake Li didn't turn around, but simply snorted softly through his nose, as if he had heard.

Xu Wen nodded slightly and instructed the general: "Order all troops to enter the Wuchang waters and anchor in order. All units must be cautious and at the same time strengthen the defenses on both sides of Fangang and Qizhou. Do not slacken your efforts."

"Order."

After the general had gone some distance, Xu Wen took half a step forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with the fake Li, gazing into the depths of the mist. He stroked his beard, damp with moisture, and said slowly:
"Your Majesty, the Northern Navy has just won a victory and its morale is high. The superiority of its artillery is still fresh in our minds. Although our army is large and has gathered the naval forces of Wuyue, Fujian and even the entire Jiangdong region, it has not been united for long, and the generals' hearts... may not be the same. In this rescue of Ezhou, I believe that stability should be the priority. If we can force Wang Yanzhang to retreat and lift the siege of Ezhou, that would be a great success. We must not raise an army out of anger and rush into battle."

The fake Li nodded slightly, then asked, "What's the situation in Ezhou?"

"Wang Yanzhang besieged the city tightly, but it did not fall. However... Yuezhou has been lost. Qin Yanhui fought valiantly but was no match for the enemy and ultimately committed suicide to defend the city, thus fulfilling his loyalty to the Chu Kingdom."

Xu Wen paused for a moment, then continued, "The Northern Army's artillery is formidable, both in naval and land battles. Back then, Guangzhou was captured by Wang Zongkan using this weapon in a surprise attack. It's already remarkable that Ezhou has managed to hold out until now."

More artillery.

The fake Li subconsciously gripped the replica Longquan sword that Li Xingyun was holding at his waist before he could calm himself down.

“As long as Ezhou still exists, we have a chance.” Fake Li seemed to be saying this to Xu Wen, but also to himself.

"Opportunities certainly exist, but... we need everyone to work together to seize them."

Xu Wen's words had a hidden meaning, which Jia Li understood. Just as he was about to ask more questions, he saw one of Xu Wen's close generals quickly climb onto the deck, walk straight to Xu Wen's side, and whisper a few words in his ear.

Upon hearing the whispered words of his trusted general, Xu Wen's hand, which was tucked into his sleeve, clenched tightly for a moment, but his expression remained almost unchanged. He simply turned to the imposter Li, bowed slightly, and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister has some trivial matters to attend to immediately, so I will take my leave for now."

Fake Li waved his hand, watching Xu Wen and his personal guard quickly walk off the deck and disappear into the shadows of the cabin. The inexplicable unease that had been stirred up by the fog rose uncontrollably in his heart once again.

That old fox is always hiding his true intentions; who knows what he's plotting in the shadows again.

The fleet struggled through the dense fog and finally arrived in the waters off Wuchang. Guided by pilot boats, they anchored in the designated area.

At the dock, the fake Li met with all the generals and officers of the garrison in Wuchang City and the northern Fangang. After accepting their greetings and declarations of loyalty, he led a group of civil and military officials into the government office in the city, which was temporarily serving as his headquarters. He then immediately summoned Shi Yao and a group of unruly people.

When Xu Wen strode into the hall with Zhong Taizhang and several trusted men, he saw the fake Li sitting in the main seat with a gloomy expression.

In addition, Zhang Zifan, who had a pale face, sat to the left of the fake Li, and Shi Yao, who was pouring tea with her bare hands. Tianji Star Sima Hui, Tianmeng Star Li Sixiao and other bad guys were also present.

These people had nearly stormed his mansion not long ago, intending to take his life, but Xu Wen's face showed no sign of distress, as if the battle had never happened. His gaze merely swept over the group before finally settling on Jing Xinmo, who stood in the hall holding a document that was clearly from the Northern Dynasty's official gazette.

Xu Wen glanced at the fake Li's gloomy face, then his gaze finally settled on the official gazette, which was no longer new in Jiangnan. A smile, but no real smirk, appeared on his lips: "Oh? Is there something new happening in the Central Plains? Read it to me, so that I may have a glimpse of what brilliant ideas that emperor of the Northern Dynasty has had lately."

Jingxinmo bowed slightly and said, "Reporting to Prime Minister Xu, it is an article personally written by the Emperor of the Northern Dynasty, published in his official gazette, and circulated far and wide."

Upon hearing this, a hint of mockery flashed in Xu Wen's eyes. He walked to an empty chair to the side, sat down, and said leisurely, "This fellow has a new work again? He certainly has quite the refined taste. Read it aloud, let everyone hear it."

Mirror Heart Demon did not speak immediately, but instead turned his gaze to the fake Li in the main seat.

The fake Li remained expressionless, coldly saying, "Since Prime Minister Xu wants to hear it, then read it."

Jing Xinmo then unfolded the official gazette and read aloud: "In the spring of the first year of Hongwu, I passed through Baling. Hearing that Ezhou had fallen and the waters of Dongting Lake were calm, I climbed Yueyang Tower to observe the situation..."

Xu Wen was leisurely stroking his beard as he listened, but when the words "Yueyang Tower" came out of Jingxinmo's mouth, his fingers, which were twirling his beard, suddenly stopped, his face instantly turning ugly, and then he couldn't help but interrupt, "Yueyang Tower? This bastard... Xiao Yan has already arrived in Yueyang?!"

The fake Li remained silent, offering no reply, but his expression grew noticeably darker.

Xu Wen's gaze swept quickly across the crowd below. He noticed that Shi Yao's eyelids were lowered, making her expression unreadable. Although Sima Hui and Li Sixiao's expressions remained unchanged, the subtle flickering in their eyes did not escape his notice. Zhang Zifan, on the other hand, frowned slightly, seemingly savoring the meaning of the text.

These reactions made Xu Wen's heart sink even further, and his face became even more gloomy.

"Keep reading!" he commanded the Mirror Demon, his voice inexplicably urgent.

The Mirror Demon paused, then continued reciting:

"...Now, looking at it, the buildings are half-ruined, and the smoke of war has just died down. However, the place controls Jingzhou and Xiangyang, and is connected to the three Xiang regions. Merchants and travelers do not travel there, and the market is deserted. I have observed that the most beautiful scenery of Baling is in Dongting Lake. It embraces distant mountains and swallows the Yangtze River. It is vast and boundless. This is truly a place of strategic importance in the southeast, and it is not a place that will remain desolate for long."

"When the days of war are over and the refugees have returned to their fields, we shall once again ascend this tower, and open up markets for ships, so that a thousand sails may compete and a hundred craftsmen may gather. Then, on a bright and clear spring day, there will not only be the joy of seagulls and fish, but also the bustling crowds and the magnificent sight of boats lined up one after another; when the bright moon shines over a thousand miles, there will not only be the delight of fishermen's songs echoing back and forth, but also the sounds of recitation and the commerce of goods. Ascending this tower, one will see the people living in peace and happiness, and the world at peace, and one's joy will be boundless!"

"Alas! I have sought the way to govern the world, which lies in ensuring that all things find their proper place. Why? Because one should not be discouraged by temporary difficulties, nor be disheartened by immediate wounds; when in high office, one should worry about the people; when in retirement, one should worry about the ruler. Whether advancing or retreating, one should worry. When then can one find joy? Surely it must be said, 'To be the first to worry about the world's troubles, and the last to enjoy its peace.' Alas! Without this aspiration, with whom can I share it?"

After the article was read aloud, the hall fell into a sudden, deathly silence.

Fake Li's hands, which were resting on his knees, suddenly tightened, turning white from gripping.

The atmosphere described in this article, whether it was the so-called "embracing distant mountains and swallowing the Yangtze River" or the "being the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy peace," gave him a sense of inexplicable unease.

This feeling was remarkably similar to the one I felt back in Yangzhou when Li Xingyun openly admitted that I was a stand-in—a mix of anger, humiliation, and a strange emptiness.

No, perhaps even worse.

Li Xingyun's composure carries a sense of resigned helplessness, while behind this article lies a magnanimity and height that he may never reach in his entire life, as well as a sense of inferiority and powerlessness that he is unwilling to admit but cannot ignore, stemming from the depths of his own heart.

This feeling kept surging up, so for a moment, Fake Li just stared intently at the floor in front of him, as if he wanted to see a hole through the blue bricks, his face extremely ugly.

Shi Yao's hand trembled slightly as she poured the tea, momentarily lost in thought. But she quickly regained her composure, lowered her eyes again, and concealed all her emotions beneath that docile and respectful mask. Only she herself could feel the sudden, rapid beating of her heart within her chest.

Sima Hui, as the Heavenly Star of Secrets, was usually known for his wisdom, composure, and self-control, but even he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It was hard to imagine that this article was written by a founding emperor who was leading his army south, but precisely because it came from the hand of that young emperor, its meaning was completely different. He exchanged a glance with Li Sixiao beside him, and they both saw the emotion in each other's eyes.

Zhang Zifan remained silent, his folding fan unfurled for a long time, lost in thought.

Even Yan Keqiu, who came with Xu Wen, was shocked and remained in a daze for a long time.

Xu Wen observed everyone's reactions. Although he regretted letting the Mirror Heart Demon finish reciting the words, his face showed no sign of being moved. He merely stroked his beard, then suddenly chuckled and said disdainfully:
"Elegant writings are ultimately just empty talk, all show and no substance. Xiao Yan is adept at this kind of psychological warfare. He uses these superficial words to bewitch the ignorant masses and buy off those ambivalent scholars! No matter how nicely he speaks, will it stop his cannons from firing a few rounds, or reduce the bloodshed of my Jiangnan men?"

"Xu Xiang is mistaken."

Zhang Zifan suddenly spoke up, looking up to refute:
"While words cannot replace weapons, they can sway the hearts and minds of the people. Xiao Yan's actions are precisely to show the people of Jiangnan that the Northern Dynasty seeks not only territory, but also the will to govern the country and bring peace. This piece of writing, amidst the undercurrents, carries a weight perhaps no less than that of thousands of troops stationed on the riverbank. If Xu Xiangruo turns a blind eye and a deaf ear to this, it would be unwise."

A cold glint flashed in Xu Wen's eyes, and he continued, "What a fine 'ambition to govern the country and bring peace to the people'! Minister Zhang is quite adept at understanding the intentions of the Northern Dynasty emperor."

Having said that, he looked sharply at the fake Li, then slowly shifted his gaze to Zhang Zifan, and sneered, "Compared to this empty formality, I have just received a more important message..."

He paused deliberately, waiting until everyone's attention was focused, before coldly saying, "The Celestial Master's Mansion, including the High Priest Xu Huan, has vanished overnight, leaving no trace. Only eight characters were left on the incense table, something about 'The Way follows nature, karma is repaid.' May I ask, Minister Zhang, in your opinion, what is the meaning of these eight characters? And who is it, and from whom, demanding what kind of karma?"

This news, even more so than the previous article, is like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, creating ripples far and wide.

Fake Li immediately looked up: "What? The Celestial Master's Mansion... is empty?"

His face turned cold, and he subconsciously looked at Zhang Zifan, then glanced at Shi Yao and the others beside him.

Shi Yao's eyebrows twitched very slightly, then she turned slightly closer to Sima Hui beside her, as if to whisper a question. Jing Xinmo, at the opportune moment, showed a look of panic, hurriedly lowered his head, staring at the tips of his boots, as if he were horrified by the news.

Zhang Zifan was also startled, but he quickly regained his composure, his brows furrowed as he said, "The Celestial Master's Mansion is a secluded place, and it is only natural that it would not want to be involved in war and that the entire sect would relocate. Does Prime Minister Xu think that all the Taoist sects in the world should be buried with my Jiangnan?" "Normal?" Xu Wen sneered, taking two steps forward, almost face to face with Zhang Zifan.

“Minister Zhang, your father, Zhang Xuanling, personally stormed into the Wu Prince’s residence and abducted the Prince. The Celestial Master’s Mansion is no longer a peaceful place! Now, under the close surveillance of our army, the Celestial Master’s Mansion has vanished without a trace overnight. If it weren’t for someone skilled in this art working together from the inside and outside, meticulously planning the operation, who could believe it? I’m afraid they have already surrendered to the protection of the Northern Dynasty’s Embroidered Uniform Guard!”

He turned abruptly, surveyed the crowd, and said sternly:

"The Celestial Master's Mansion has been operating in Jiangnan for hundreds of years, with its disciples and former associates spread throughout every prefecture and county. Now that they have pledged allegiance to the Northern Dynasty, what does that mean? It means that countless eyes of the Northern Dynasty are secretly watching Jiangnan! Our troop deployments, the transportation of supplies, and even our conversations here are probably already on Xiao Yan's desk! Minister Zhang, your father's disciples and even your mother have done this. As their son and in the heart of our army, shouldn't you give His Majesty, me, and the people of Jiangnan who are struggling to survive by relying on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River a clear explanation?"

The pressure instantly pressed down on Zhang Zifan as if it were a tangible force.

Faced with the increasingly fierce coldness of the fake Li, Shi Yao and Jing Xinmo remained silent. At this moment, any unnecessary words could backfire.

Zhang Zifan also felt cold sweat seeping down his back, but he knew he must not show weakness or panic at this moment. So he simply kept his expression unchanged, tapped his palm lightly with his folding fan, and asked in return, "Does Prime Minister Xu mean that I, Zhang Zifan, have already turned my heart to Bianjing and secretly colluded with the Northern Dynasty?"

"I never intended that."

Xu Wen's words were laced with sarcasm. This was precisely his goal for this trip, so although he spoke in this manner, his words were full of seduction and chilling intent:
"But facts speak louder than words. With the Celestial Master's Mansion defecting, Jiangnan is undoubtedly riddled with holes. At this critical juncture of life and death, any internal threats are a major threat. Minister Zhang has consistently advocated for patience and urged His Majesty not to engage in a decisive battle with the Northern Dynasty lightly. Now, he seems less enthusiastic about purging the remnants of the Celestial Master's Mansion and eliminating internal traitors, instead repeatedly steering the conversation toward a direct confrontation... I simply don't understand Minister Zhang's true intentions. Could it be, as rumored, that he has already secretly sided with Xiao Yan? Is he currently in Jiangnan, but his heart is in Bianliang, and he is actually plotting to sow discord and undermine morale?"

This statement reveals the true intentions behind the words.

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Zhang Zifan. The fake Li's eyes grew colder and colder as he spoke, his gaze shifting back and forth between Zhang Zifan and Xu Wen, his hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of his sword.

Zhang Zifan was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly:
"Prime Minister Xu is too kind to me. If I, Zhang Zifan, truly possessed such extraordinary abilities, capable of smuggling hundreds of people from the Celestial Master's Mansion away overnight within the inescapable net that Prime Minister Xu has laid out, and of continuously sending military secrets from Jiangnan to the Northern Dynasty, then why would I, Zhang Zifan, still be trapped here today, unable to even protect the safety of my parents?"

He walked into the hall, his gaze sweeping over Xu Wen, then over the fake Li, before raising his voice:

"Since the massacre by the Liang traitor Zhu Wen, the Celestial Master's Mansion has long since lost its former glory. Fearing the power of Liang, countless people have severed ties with it. Now, its disciples are of mixed quality, many scattered in all directions, and its so-called former students and friends are few and far between. The Northern Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard has been operating in Jiangnan for a long time; Minister Xu is surely more aware of its extensive network than I am. Even if the Celestial Master's Mansion were to submit to Bianjing, it would be nothing more than icing on the cake for the Northern Dynasty at present, certainly not a lifeline. Minister Xu, by placing all the blame for the leak of intelligence in Jiangnan on the Celestial Master's Mansion, isn't that a bit... evasive?"

"Your Majesty, is the most urgent matter truly to be wasting our already strained manpower and resources on pursuing those elusive disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion? The Northern Dynasty's navy has already cut off Ezhou and controlled Dongting Lake; the superiority of their artillery is evident to all, and cannot be stopped by manpower alone! Wang Yanzhang and Yu Zhong are both veteran generals of countless battles. Now that their fleet is stationed outside Ezhou, their next move will undoubtedly be to sail down the Yangtze River, directly threatening our Wuchang and Qizhou! What we should be thinking about now is how to deal with the impending decisive naval battle, how to hold this Yangtze River defense line under enemy fire, not getting bogged down in a long-empty Taoist temple, suspecting who the traitors are!"

However, Xu Wen merely responded with another sneer: "Vice Minister Zhang, your silver tongue is truly admirable. But you keep saying that the Northern Army's artillery is invincible and its navy is unstoppable, and you always cite Wang Yanzhang's bravery. Do you intend to make our army cowardly before the battle even begins, and surrender at the first sign of trouble?"

He stopped looking at Zhang Zifan and turned to the fake Li, his tone deep and confident as he said, "Your Majesty, though this weapon is deadly, everything in the universe has its counterpart, and there must be a way to balance it. I have already ordered a thorough investigation, and this thing, to put it bluntly, is nothing more than a powerful firework, powered by gunpowder. As a firearm, how can it not be vulnerable to fire attacks?"

He straightened his back slightly and continued:
"Your Majesty, this old minister has already ordered the preparation of fire ships, oil firewood, sulfur, and saltpeter. Although the Northern army's warships are large, they are ultimately made of wood. When they attack, we may take advantage of the wind and currents to launch fire ships into their formation, disrupting their ranks and allowing us to board them at close range! At that time, no matter how powerful their cannons are, they will be unable to effectively use them in the chaos. This is an ancient tactic that may well be able to counter the new and advanced firearms!"

At this point, his tone abruptly changed, and he looked at Zhang Zifan with a cold smile again:
"As for the Celestial Master's Mansion... Minister Zhang, you have always been known for your wisdom and strategy, so why are you avoiding the most direct and effective strategy of using your father as bait to lure out the remaining spies and completely eliminate the internal traitors? Instead, you keep emphasizing the difficulty of naval warfare and undermining morale. I have to ask you again, are you unwilling to carry out this strategy, unable to bear to harm your father and his former subordinates, or... are you worried and dare not do it? Could it be that you have already defected to the Northern Dynasty, as I suspect, and are now afraid that our elimination of the internal spies will ruin your master's plans?"

These words are malicious and utterly despicable.

The fake Li's eyes instantly turned even more sinister, and the veins on his hand on the sword hilt bulged, with a sharp killing intent spreading out without any concealment.

Zhang Zifan met the scrutinizing gaze of the fake Li without panicking, and calmly said:

"Your Majesty is wise. Using my father to set up a trap sounds like a good plan. But the Northern Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard are not fools. Now that the Celestial Master's Mansion has been safely relocated, why would they risk their lives for a few disciples who may not even be important? What are the chances of this plan succeeding? If it fails, it might alert the enemy and force those hiding to act desperately, causing even greater damage. As for whether I, Zhang Zifan, will defect to the enemy..."

He glanced sideways at Xu Wen, chuckled, and then suddenly spread his arms wide, adopting a completely unguarded posture:
“If Your Majesty has any doubts, you may imprison me now, or even execute me. But please think about it, if I had really defected to the enemy, why would I stay here and put myself in this dangerous place with you all? Why not leave with the Celestial Master’s Mansion? I stay here only because I believe that there may still be a glimmer of hope in Jiangnan, and also because... I still have people I must protect, and things I have not yet finished.”

His gaze was open and honest, and his words carried a hidden meaning. Fake Li understood and could see it clearly, so he just stared at him for a long time, but slowly loosened his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Xu Wen's words make sense, but Zhang Zifan's explanation also makes sense.

In the past, Zhang Zifan would have been killed without consequence, but like Shangrao and others towards Xu Wen, Zhang Zifan was an important hostage to the fake Li, not a pawn that could be discarded at will.

Therefore, for a time, the fake Li found it difficult to make a decision.

Seeing this, Xu Wen frowned deeply, his heart filled with dissatisfaction. He had come with the rage of the Celestial Master's Mansion's defection, intending to seize the opportunity to cause trouble. Even if he didn't kill Zhang Zifan immediately, wouldn't it have been reasonable to use this as leverage to force the fake Li to agree to use Zhang Zifan or his father to set up a trap?
I thought the fake Li Xingyun was a bit better than the indecisive and soft-hearted Li Xingyun and could accomplish great things, but now it seems that they are exactly the same!
Zhang Zifan is just a guy, not your best friend who'd go through thick and thin with you. Are you out of your mind? Do you really think you're Li Xingyun?
What a...useless piece of trash!
Xu Wen's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he was about to apply pressure again when a series of extremely urgent and chaotic running sounds came from outside the hall.

Then a scout captain, disregarding etiquette, rushed into the hall, his face ashen, and knelt on one knee, reporting urgently with uneven breathing:
"Jiangbei...The main force of the Northern Army's navy has been discovered in Jiangbei! It is less than ten miles from...Fangang! Countless ships, their sails and masts covering the sky!"

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the deep, thunderous sound of war drums and the piercing warning of horns rolled in from the direction of the city wall, making people's hearts go numb.

The expressions of everyone in the hall changed drastically, and they no longer cared about the argument they had just had.

The fake Li suddenly stood up, and Xu Wen also suppressed the coldness on his face. Zhang Zifan, Shi Yao, Sima Hui, Li Sixiao and others stopped talking and rushed out of the hall.

The group practically ran up the city wall overlooking the river in Wuchang.

At this moment, most of the morning mist on the river had dissipated, and the view became wider. On the vast river north of Fan Port, a massive and awe-inspiring fleet was slowly approaching with the overwhelming force of a mountain.

The warships were like mountains, and the battleships were like shuttles, densely packed, almost covering the entire field of vision.

What the captain just said about the sails covering the sky was no exaggeration; the scene I saw with my own eyes was even more extreme than that description!
The black hulls, towering masts, and densely packed sails resembled a moving steel jungle. The ships maintained perfect spacing and formation, advancing silently, with only their bows cutting white wakes in the river.

The overwhelming killing intent emanating from the bulging drum could be felt even from several miles away.

The fleet lay silently on the water, yet it resembled a giant beast poised to pounce, coldly watching Wuchang City.

Fake Li looked at the fleet, his face even more grim than when he was on the ship. He had imagined the strength of the Northern Army's navy, and he already knew from the battle reports that the Northern Army's scale after annexing the Ezhou and Dongting navies must be astonishing. But seeing it with his own eyes, the visual and psychological impact was still far beyond his expectations. He was so shocked that his heart skipped a beat, and the others unconsciously wanted to back away.

"This is... the navy of the Central Plains?" he muttered to himself, not knowing who he was talking to.

Xu Wen, standing to the side, was even more furious. He slammed his fist on the crenellations of the city wall and angrily berated a general in charge of river defense, "Useless! All of you are useless! Where are the iron chains and hidden stakes that were laid in the river? Why did the Northern Army get so close before we discovered them? Are the men below eating shit?!"

The general's face was equally grim, yet tinged with a hint of grievance. He hurriedly bowed and explained:

"Minister Xu, please calm down! It's just that the fog on the river is thick today, far worse than usual, making visibility extremely poor and severely impacting communication between outposts. Moreover... the Northern army's arrival was sudden and on such a massive scale that even if the vanguard scouts spotted them and tried to send back messages or put up a small force to resist,... there was simply no one who could withstand their onslaught. They were swallowed up in the blink of an eye!"

Xu Wen was speechless for a moment. He knew the reasoning behind it all, but the sudden pressure made him lose his composure.

He could only glare angrily at the river, cursing, "The Northern Army is truly insane! In this foggy weather, with a headwind, they still dare to come here so ostentatiously! Do they really think that Ezhou and Huangzhou are already in Xiao Yan's pocket?!"

Fake Li listened to Xu Wen's angry and alarmed complaints, but remained silent.

His gaze was involuntarily drawn to the tallest and most conspicuous flagship in the center of the Northern Fleet.

More precisely, he was drawn to a flag he had never seen before, hanging on the mainmast. The flag was bright yellow with patterns embroidered in gold thread, reflecting a dazzling light in the gradually brightening sunlight. Even from this distance, one could feel its inexplicable and majestic aura.

what is that?
Fake Li's pupils suddenly contracted, filled with doubt and a sense of foreboding. He swallowed hard, pointed at the flag, and blurted out, "What...what is that?"

Standing beside him, Xu Wen, whose face was already ashen, looked in the direction the fake Li pointed and squinted to make a careful observation.

Immediately, when he saw the shape of the large flag, his eye twitched involuntarily, and his face instantly turned extremely ugly again.

Xu Wen paused for a moment, as if he needed to gather his strength before he could grit his teeth and say the next words.

"Dragon Banner".

At this point, there was no need for Xu Wen to inform them.

As more and more people on the city wall looked up and recognized the flag, and as the bright yellow banner, surrounded by the morning light and thousands of warships, drew so clearly closer, a horrifying fact pressed down on the hearts of everyone on the city wall like a blazing sun, making it almost impossible for them to breathe.

Dragon banner...the emperor's ceremonial guard!
This means that the emperor of the Northern Dynasties, the one who personally led expeditions to conquer the northern deserts, sweep across the Yan region, annex the Shu Kingdom, and destroy the Hedong region... is currently on that huge warship opposite him.

he came.

Moreover, he not only came, but he also announced his presence in such a direct and domineering way before the two armies and throughout the entire Jiangnan region!
In an instant, everyone on the city wall, including the fake Li, felt a chill run from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads, and they were speechless.

Xu Wen stood frozen in place. All his previous sharpness and calculations seemed to be ruthlessly crushed in an instant before this dragon banner that represented the common sovereignty of the world.

His earlier angry remark, "How dare Xiao Yan'an regard Ehuang as something in his pocket?" now seems inexplicably ridiculous in retrospect.

Xiao Yan, how could he only regard Ezhou and Huangzhou as his own?

For him, the entire Jiangnan region, shrouded in mist and rain, was already seen as something he would surely take into his grasp... something that was already in his pocket!
(End of this chapter)