Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 273 Please Call Me King

North Midtown.

Ma Fonian rushed over, his figure almost disappearing into afterimage.

"General, this is bad!"

Looking at Ma Fonian's appearance, Chen Qingzhi realized that he had never seen him so anxious before.

"how?"

"We've all been fooled by those barbarian bastards!"

As Ma Fonian spoke, he slapped his thigh, filled with regret.

"The Xianbei people in Luoyang have all fled, and Luoyang is in chaos."

Chen Qingzhi's heart tightened, but his expression became increasingly indifferent, and he appeared very composed.

Where is the ruler of Wei?

"What king? He was the one who led the escape. He pretended to inspect the defenses a couple of days ago, but in reality, he was just trying to appease the people and deceive us. He secretly took gold, silver, his family, and the third prince, and fled to Huanyuan Pass overnight under the protection of his hundreds of cavalry."

Chen Qingzhi nodded and asked:

"Where is the Prince of Chenliu?"

"Still in Zhongyifang, south of Luoyang City, by the Luo River."

With Yuan Hao gone, there was no point in Chen Qingzhi and his White Robe Army continuing to guard the place.

The next question is where to retreat to!

Heading towards Huanyuan Pass and then towards Yingchuan County is the shortest route. The problem is, he's stationed in Beizhong City, and his forces don't have many horses. With Luoyang in chaos, he probably won't even have time to gather supplies along the way.

If they went to Huanyuan Pass, they would be surrounded by Erzhu Rong's cavalry and wouldn't even have a chance to fight back.

"Gather the ships, load them with all the provisions, line them up along the river, and head towards Hulao Pass."

Upon hearing this, Ma Funian couldn't help but say:
"But Yuan Ziyong has already been defeated. If we head towards Hulao Pass, won't we be surrounded by Erzhu Rong?"

"Let's bet on who Erzhu Rong wants to capture most right now!"

Chen Qingzhi said slowly:

"If the gamble is right, there's still a day or two to turn things around, and perhaps there's a chance of survival."

……

"General Tianzhu, I've heard that Luoyang is in chaos."

Yuan Ziyou entered the main tent with a smile on his face. But when he saw Erzhu Rong, the other man's expression turned quite unfriendly.

"General Tianzhu, the war is not going well."

Erzhu Rong disliked Yuan Ziyou somewhat and even looked down on him. However, he did not show it.

"No, the war is going well, and Your Majesty will be able to return to Luoyang soon."

Yuan Ziyou believed Erzhu Rong's words. He had gotten the answer he most wanted to know, and he didn't care about anything else.

"In that case, I will not trouble General Tianzhu any further."

Yuan Ziyou had just stepped out of the tent when he heard a cold snort from inside.

"Hmph, Emperor!"

Yuan Ziyou's face turned pale, his hands clenched tightly, but he didn't say anything, as if he hadn't heard anything, and slowly left.

Inside the main tent, as soon as Yuan Ziyou left, Husichun approached and said:
"General Tianzhu, let us set aside this humiliation for now. It is of utmost importance to press our advantage and pursue our advantage."

Erzhu Rong won this battle, but he didn't feel a sense of victory. The reason was simple: without a direct and decisive defeat of the enemy, the war was, in the eyes of Erzhu Rong and his northern troops, incomplete.

Yuan Ziyou only needs to recapture Luoyang; how he recaptures it is not important.

This is the difference between him and Erzhu Rong, and one of the reasons why Erzhu Rong looked down on him.

Husichun understood this well, so he advised Erzhurong that expanding the gains at present was the most important thing.

"Where is Li Shenggui? Did he run away with Yuan Hao?"

"He remained in Zhongyifang."

Erzhu Rong frowned and asked:

"Is he going to surrender?"

"That's not the case either."

Erzhu Rong then asked:

Where is Chen Qingzhi?

"He led his white-robed army in formation along the river and headed towards Hulao Pass."

For Erzhu Rong, Chen Qingzhi was clearly a greater threat. However, Husi Chun couldn't fathom Erzhu Rong's thoughts at that moment.

"Send Erzhu Zhao with the cavalry to pursue Yuan Hao. I will personally head south to capture Li Shengui!"

"And what about Chen Qingzhi?"

"With my elder brother and Murong Shaozong here, a day or two's rest won't be a problem!" ...

Loyalty Arch.

Li Shenggui gathered his own retainers and loyal troops, and also assembled all the livestock that could be collected in the Luoyang area into his army.

"Then why didn't we run away with Yuan Hao?"

Han Ling said leisurely:
What appears to be a smooth road is actually a treacherous path!

Li Shenggui felt somewhat irritated upon hearing this.

"Sir, you always talk in such a mysterious way, can't you just say it directly!"

Han Ling, upon hearing this, was not angry, and said:
“Yuan Hao and Chen Qingzhi are both figures who pose a threat to Erzhu Rong. Traveling with them would be too risky. Let’s take a different route and head towards Yique Pass. The risks would be much lower.”

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"Wait for Erzhu Rong!"

"Erzhu Rong?"

Li Shenggui was startled when he heard this.

You think he'll come and arrest me?

“King Chenliu, don’t panic. It’s impossible for his hundreds of thousands of troops on the north bank of the Yellow River to be mobilized to the south bank in such a short time. It’s estimated that it’s only a few thousand cavalry.”

"Oh, several thousand...that's a lot!"

Li Shengui was not as calm as Han Ling at all, and said:
"He defeated Ge Rong's army of 200,000 with only 7,000 cavalry!"

Han Ling nodded and said calmly:

"The only chance for the Prince of Chenliu to win is to take advantage of Erzhu Rong's contempt."

"Can……"

"Don't worry, we have generals like Heba Yun, Dongfang Lao, and Huyanzu to lead the charge, and I'll be in charge of the central command! If we don't fight this battle, it will be difficult for us to retreat."

……

Erzhu Rong led three thousand cavalrymen, traveled for a day, crossed the Mangshan Mountains, and finally arrived at the banks of the Luo River at nightfall.

Zhongyi Archway was prominently featured, and large areas of campsites remained on the open ground outside the archway.

Before Erzhu Rong even got close, firelight blazed outside the tent.

Li Shengui, with his thousand troops and fully equipped warhorses, met Erzhu Rong outside the tent.

Erzhu Rong was first attracted by Li Shengui's voice.

Back on Zhongzhou Island, that voice was unforgettable for Erzhu Rong!
Erzhu Rong smiled confidently.

Once we catch Li Shenggui, Third Brother, you'll know who your true sworn brother is!

As Erzhu Rong drew nearer, he saw Li Shengui's retinue and couldn't help but marvel:

They're truly elite!
Although Li Shengui's troops were not as strong as his Jinyang cavalry, they were by no means weak either.

Erzhu Rong knew very well that an elite army could not maintain its fighting strength for long without someone to lead and train it.

Li Shenggui is clearly not this person!

Who would that be?
Heba Yun?
As Erzhu Rong was pondering, Li Shengui's words came over.

"But is it General Tianzhu in person?"

"Lord Chenliu, it's been a long time!"

Li Shengui sneered:

"You, a mere Qihu, have become the King of Taiyuan. How can I still be the Duke of Chenliu? You should call me the King of Chenliu!"

After hearing this, Erzhu Rong scoffed:
"This title of king was bestowed upon you by Yuan Hao, this false emperor, and the Liang emperor. What, are you admitting to treason?"

After hearing this, Li Shengui laughed heartily:
"Treason? I am not Dong Zhuo!"

Upon hearing this, Erzhu Rong was enraged and said:

"Stop talking nonsense, are you going to lower your price or not?"

Li Shen Track:

"Erzhu Rong, do you really think I'm afraid of you when it comes to marching and fighting? If you're so capable, let's get into position and have a fight right here."

Erzhu Rong laughed. This kid has really been blinded by his empty reputation and forgotten his own worth.

"Okay, how do you want to fight?"

"In cavalry battles, the victor reigns supreme!"

Erzhu Rong looked at Li Shengui like a cat looking at a mouse.

But in the military camp behind him, watching this scene of confrontation amidst the firelight, the generals under Li Shengui looked at him as if he were a god.

Is this the greatest general of the Northern Wei Dynasty?
……

(End of this chapter)