Traveling the Heavens in Thunderbolt

Chapter 54 Before the decisive battle
Just as Fan Qinghui was thinking about a way out, the situation in the world changed dramatically again.

Because Li Shimin and Kou Zhong were in a stalemate on the front line, in order to break the deadlock, Li Yuan, under the suggestion of Cheng Qian, took advantage of Li Tang's military strength and opened up two new battlefields.

With Prince of Qi Li Yuanji as the commander-in-chief and Li Xiaogong and Li Jing as his assistants, they set out from Luoyang to attack Xiao Xin, who dominated the Jingxiang area. Then they went down the river and captured various areas south of the Yangtze River. At the same time, they completely cut off the support of the Song clan for Kou Zhong. Then they went north to attack Du Fuwei in Jianghuai and joined Li Shimin.

Another route was led by Crown Prince Li Jiancheng (Chengqian), assisted by Liu Hongji and Luo Shixin. They sent troops from Hedong to attack Liu Heita who occupied Hebei and Shandong. After pacifying these places, they would join forces with Li Shimin to complete the encirclement of Kou Zhong.

Along the way, Li Yuanji received help from the Demon Cult. Xiao Xing, who was originally a spy for the Yinkui Sect, surrendered to Li Yuanji, their chosen supporter, at the instruction of the Demon Cult.

After incorporating Xiao Xin's troops, Li Yuanji immediately attacked Fu Gongyou who occupied the Jiangnan region. Du Fuwei personally led his troops to rescue him in order to protect his retreat and out of loyalty.

But what he did not expect was that just when the two armies joined forces to repel Li Yuanji's troops, Fu Gongyou suddenly rebelled and attacked him together with Li Yuanji.

Du Fuwei's army was unable to react in time and was defeated. He was captured by Yuwen Shang, who was invited by Li Yuanji. At the request of Fu Gongyou, he was spared and escorted back to Chang'an.

Du Fuwei only found out now that Fu Gongyou was originally from the Lotus Sect of the evil sect.

After Li Yuanji left Li Xiaogong to pacify the areas south of the Yangtze River, he and Li Jing worked together to suppress the remnants of Du Fuwei in the Jianghuai area and joined forces with Li Shimin.

Liu Heita's side was also defeated by the army led by Li Jiancheng (Chengqian). Facing the Tang army's elite troops and sharp armor, he had a major battle every five days and a minor battle every three days. He was defeated in every battle. In less than two months, he lost all of Hebei.

The Turks, on whom Liu Heita had high hopes, were unable to provide him with effective reinforcements as their war potential had been greatly reduced due to several previous battles, and the troops they sent were all defeated by the fierce general Luo Shixin.

Liu Heita wanted to take advantage of Li Jiancheng's (Chengqian) conquest of Hebei to gather up the remaining troops and retreat to Shandong, where he would regroup and wait for an opportunity to return to attack Hebei.

But what Liu Heita did not expect was that Li Jiancheng (Chengqian) had already anticipated this move. While he was conquering and pacifying Hebei, he sent Liu Hongji with 3,000 elite cavalry to chase and kill him, leaving his soldiers no chance to rest and regroup.

When Liu Heita fled to Raoyang (now Raoyang, Hebei) under the pursuit of Liu Hongji, he was followed by only more than a hundred cavalrymen. They were all hungry and wanted to go into the city to get something to eat.

Zhuge Dewei, the governor of Raozhou appointed by Liu Heita, went out of the city to welcome them with great ceremony and invited them to enter the city. Liu Heita initially disagreed, but Zhuge Dewei pretended to be sincere and respectful, crying and insisting on inviting them. As soon as Liu Heita entered the city gate, Zhuge Dewei immediately ordered his troops to arrest him and sent him to Liu Hongji, who was chasing him closely.

Before Liu Hongji set out, he received a military order from Li Jiancheng (Chengqian) that if Liu Heita was captured in battle, he should be killed immediately.

So he beheaded Liu Heita and his brother Liu Shishan in Mingzhou, and Shandong was pacified.

As the news of Liu Heita's death quickly spread throughout Hebei, rebels in various places laid down their arms and surrendered. Hebei was completely pacified. Li Jiancheng immediately arranged for Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling and others to cooperate with Luo Shixin to deal with relevant matters under Li Tang's new jurisdiction, and then went to meet Li Shimin and Li Yuanji.

The young marshal's army and Song Shidao's Song clique army were preparing to encircle Kou Zhong together. At this point, the situation had completely turned to Li Tang's favor. Kou Zhong and others' reinforcements were all eliminated, and the defeat was inevitable. Even if Song Que were alive again, he could not save the situation.

Just at this moment when the world was about to be decided, the day of the decisive battle between Ling Donglai and Li Gong, the two top figures of good and evil, finally arrived.

The future ruler of the world, Li Yuan, the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty, also specially opened the Xuanwu Gate on this day, and transferred the guards to other places, so that martial artists could enter to watch this unprecedented secret. Countless martial artists poured in just to see this grand event, and these people basically included all the famous figures in the underworld.

Including people from evil sects such as the Demon Sect's deputy leader Zhu Yuyan, his direct disciple Kankan and a group of elders in the sect, people from the good sect such as the leader of the Cihang Jingzhai, the master Fan Qinghui, his direct disciple Shi Feixuan and a group of disciples, and some famous heroes in the martial arts world, such as Kou Zhong's good brother Xu Ziling and his companion Shi Qingxuan. They all arrived and stood in the distance waiting.

Of course, there are also people lurking in the dark, such as Pei Ju, who goes by the alias "Evil King" Shi Zhixuan, but is actually a descendant of a prominent family. At this time, he is waiting with Li Yuan and a group of ministers to watch this duel.

It was noon, the sun was shining brightly, the sky was clear blue, and the people who had been waiting for a long time could no longer hold back and began to discuss the outcome of the martial arts duel. Some people even set up private bets on the outcome of the duel, attracting countless people to place bets.

Even a person as indifferent as Xu Zilin couldn't help but bet some silver on Ling Donglai's victory after seeing Kankan's jump, while Kankan bet on Li Gong's victory.

Just as the discussion was in full swing, there was a constant noise at the scene. Suddenly, a pressure came from a distance, causing everyone present to fall silent, because they knew that the protagonist of this martial arts competition had finally arrived.

I saw a man in coarse linen clothes, like a banished immortal, descending from the sky with a poem, "I don't hate that I haven't seen the ancients, I only hate that the ancients haven't seen me. Who can be my equal in the way of Taoism? I hate being invincible the most." He slowly landed in the venue prepared for the two of them.

It is Ling Donglai, the only hope for the righteous martial arts world today, the "Supreme Master".

When everyone saw Ling Donglai had arrived and was still wondering when the other protagonist would arrive, they heard the poem again and suddenly dozens of figures appeared from all directions, "My life has been like a hurricane, and I have seen so many talented people everywhere. I point my sword at the sky alone, why should I feel ashamed of being a hero?"

When the poem was finished, the dozens of figures merged into one person and stood opposite Ling Donglai. The person was dressed in white, thin but with a very big frame, giving him a kind of immortal-like air.

It was none other than the founder of the Holy Religion, the Patriarch of the Holy Religion, and “Bloody Hand” Li Gong.

The two stood opposite each other, a solemn atmosphere spread silently, and everyone held their breath, just for this
Li Gong was the first to speak: "The Heavenly Master ordered the East to come."

Ling Donglai then replied, "Saint Sect Master Li Gong."

“This battle has been long awaited.”

"This battle is what you wish for."

"Drink!" "Drink!"

The two men did not move, but their energy was released spontaneously.

The energy collided and swept across the surroundings, affecting the onlookers. Those with strong internal strength were fine, but those with weaker power had red blood coming out of their mouths.

(End of this chapter)