Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Tongguan Pass, the most formidable pass under heaven.

As dawn breaks, the fortress stands majestically nestled in the embrace of the Qinling Mountains and the Yellow River, like a sleeping giant.

The garrison commander, Chang He, stood on the city wall, gazing at the gradually brightening eastern horizon, his brow furrowed.

He has received an urgent imperial edict from His Majesty, ordering him to be on high alert and especially vigilant against the possible westward advance of Xue Rengui's forces in Liaodong.

"General, everything is normal."

The lieutenant stepped forward and reported:
"Last night, the scouts went fifty miles away and found no unusual troop movements. The three thousand garrison troops inside the pass are all on high alert, and they have prepared enough logs, stones, and oil-soaked arrows."

Chang He nodded, but a sense of unease lingered in his heart.

He was a veteran of the battlefield, and his intuition told him that things were not so simple.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian suddenly raised an army, Xi Junmai provided support, Xue Rengui and Su Dingfang disobeyed orders, and the movements of Hilde's navy remained unclear...

This is all too chaotic, so chaotic that it doesn't resemble a meticulously planned rebellion, but rather...

"Founding in the east and attacking in the west?"

Chang He muttered to himself, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the west side of the pass, the direction leading to Chang'an.

To the west of the fortress lies the continuous Qinling Mountains, with high mountains and dense forests, accessible only by a few narrow trade routes and paths.

In theory, it is impossible for a large army to attack from that direction.

But what if it's a small, elite force?
"Send more scouts to explore the western mountains, going thirty miles into the mountains."

Chang He suddenly gave the order.

The lieutenant was taken aback: "General, the west is the heart of the Qinling Mountains, a place rarely visited by people, with many cliffs and precipices, making it impossible for the army to pass through."

"Excuting an order!"

Chang He said sternly, "I need to know if there are any rats hiding in those mountains!"

"Yes!"

The deputy general accepted the order and left.

Chang He continued to stand on the city wall, but the unease in his heart grew stronger.

He could almost smell the danger permeating the air.

Meanwhile, thirty miles west of Tongguan, deep in the Xiong'er Mountains.

A team of about three hundred people is sneaking through the dense forest.

They were dressed in bluish-gray outfits that blended seamlessly with the mountains and forests, their faces smeared with mud and charcoal ash, and they moved swiftly and silently, like ghosts.

It was the most elite squad of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, personally led by Li Chengqian.

They have been ashore for five days, breaking up into smaller groups and sneaking into the Qinling Mountains via different paths. They are gathering here today in secret.

"Your Highness, the designated assembly point is three miles ahead."

Yang Nannan slid back from the front like a raccoon dog, her voice extremely low:

"General Pei was already waiting there, and had set up three lines of sentries along the way, but no imperial scouts were detected."

Li Chengqian nodded and wiped the sweat from his face.

The five-day march through the mountains was more difficult than expected, but the results were remarkable.

They vanished from the court's sight like drops of water falling into the sea.

"Walk."

The team moved on.

Half an hour later, they arrived at a secluded valley.

More than two hundred people had already arrived in the valley and were resting quietly.

Pei Xingjian stepped forward, his eyes filled with excitement: "Your Highness, everyone is here! Five hundred elite troops, all have arrived, not one has fallen behind!"

Li Chengqian surveyed his loyal subordinates.

Five hundred men faced a seemingly overwhelming odds against three thousand defenders at Tongguan.

But what he wanted was not a direct assault, but a surprise attack.

"What is the situation at Tongguan?"

"Chang He has strengthened his defenses and sent out scouts into the western mountains this morning."

Pei Xingjian said in a low voice, "However, our assembly point is well hidden, and they won't be able to find it. But time is running out, and if Chang He becomes suspicious, he might send more people."

"Then let's do it tonight."

Li Chengqian said decisively, "We can't wait any longer."

He unfolded a hand-drawn topographical map of Tongguan.

This is the result of Yang Nannan and the Imperial Guards' months-long investigation and multiple infiltrations.

"The main force of the Tongguan garrison was on the eastern city wall to guard against Xue Rengui. The western city wall was relatively weak, with only about 500 men stationed there."

"What we need to do is not to break through Tongguan, but..."

Li Chengqian pointed heavily on the map:
"From here, climb up a cliff on the west side of the fortress, open the west gate, and send the signal."

"General Xi Junmai's two thousand cavalry are lying in ambush in the valley twenty miles away. As soon as the west gate opens and the signal is given, they can rush to the pass within a quarter of an hour!"

Pei Xingjian gasped: "Climbing a cliff? That cliff is almost vertical, about fifteen zhang high. How can you climb it?"

"use this."

Li Chengqian gestured to his subordinates to bring over several wooden boxes.

Inside, there are specially made steel claws, ropes, pulley systems, and a uniquely shaped short crossbow with barbs.

"This is the latest 'city-climbing crossbow' developed by the Academy of Sciences, which was secretly equipped by the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Li Chengqian picked up a crossbow bolt: "The bolt has a barb at the tip, which can be used to shoot into city walls or rock crevices. The tail is connected to a special silk rope—this silk rope is half the thickness of hemp rope, but three times stronger."

"First, the best climbers use crossbows and steel claws to reach the top of the cliff and secure the main rope, then the rest of the team follows quickly using pulley systems."

Yang Nannan added, "I have already surveyed that cliff three times and found several natural rock crevices and protrusions that we can utilize. Tonight, with the moon dim, it is the perfect opportunity to take action."

Pei Xingjian looked at the ingenious equipment, his eyes shining: "With such powerful tools, great things can be accomplished!"

"But it has to be quick."

Li Chengqian said in a deep voice, "From the time we climb to the time we open the west gate, it cannot take more than half an hour. Otherwise, once the garrison on the east wall notices and comes to our aid, we will be trapped like turtles in a jar."

"Your Highness, don't worry!"

A lean, sharp-eyed commander of the Imperial Guard stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

"This humble servant, Chen Hu, grew up in the mountains and can climb rocks with ease. I am willing to lead twenty brave men to clear the way for Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian helped him up: "Good! Chen Hu, if you succeed, I will credit you with the greatest merit!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

A resolute glint flashed in Chen Hu's eyes.

At midnight, on the cliff west of Tongguan.

The moon is hidden and the stars are few; it is a dark and windy night.

Chen Hu and twenty carefully selected elite Imperial Guards clung to the rock face like geckos.

They had short blades in their mouths, specially made crossbows and steel claws on their backs, and silk ropes wrapped around their waists.

"on!"

Chen Hu gave a low shout and took the lead.

Using both hands and feet, he found tiny protrusions and cracks on the near-vertical rock face and climbed upwards like an ape. When he encountered sections that he could not pass by hand, he used steel claws to embed himself in the rock crevices or fired a climbing crossbow to shoot barbed arrows into the high places.

The team members behind him followed closely, their movements swift and quiet.

Below the cliff, Li Chengqian and the main force waited, holding their breath.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Every breath felt like a year.

"It's done!"

About 15 minutes later, a very faint bird call came from the top of the cliff.

This is the agreed signal.

Immediately afterwards, several silk ropes were lowered down from the top of the cliff.

"on!"

Li Chengqian waved his hand.

The Imperial Guards immediately attached the pulley system to the silk rope and began to rise rapidly.

It's more than three times faster than climbing.

In less than a quarter of an hour, all five hundred elite soldiers had reached the top of the cliff.

Chen Hu and his men have taken care of the seven sentries on the west wall.

From the moment they climbed the cliff to the moment they took control of the west wall, no one noticed.

"Open the city gate!"

Li Chengqian snorted softly.

More than ten strongmen immediately rushed to the west gate and silently began to turn the winch.

"Squeak-"

The heavy city gate slowly opened a crack.

Li Chengqian took out three specially made fireworks and lit the fuses.

"Boom-boom!"

Three red fireworks exploded in the night sky, standing out vividly against the dark backdrop.

Twenty miles away, in a valley.

Xi Junmai suddenly looked up and saw the three striking red fireworks in the night sky; his eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Your Highness has succeeded! Men, mount your horses!"

"Target: West Gate of Tongguan, full speed ahead!"

Two thousand fully equipped cavalrymen charged out of the valley like arrows released from a bow, their hooves thundering as they rolled toward Tongguan.

Tongguan City Tower.

Chang He had not fallen asleep and was still studying the map in the city tower.

Suddenly, the guards rushed in in a panic:

"General! There are red fireworks signals in the western sky!"

"what?!"

Chang He suddenly stood up and rushed to the window.

The embers of three red fireworks were slowly dissipating in the night sky.

In that instant, he understood everything.

"A feint to the east while attacking in the west! A surprise attack! Damn it! It's the Crown Prince! He actually appeared in the west!"

"Beat the drums! All troops on alert! All defenders on the west wall, move up the city walls! Quickly!"

However, it's too late.

When he rushed out of the city tower, he could already hear the shouts of battle coming from the west gate and the rumbling sound of the city gate hinges being completely released.

Immediately following was the thunderous sound of approaching hooves from afar.

"Close the city gates! Close the west gate immediately!"

Chang He roared loudly.

But it was too late.

At the west gate, Li Chengqian personally led five hundred Imperial Guards, spear in hand, to defend the city gate area.

The garrison at the western wall of Tongguan rushed over, but was held back by this well-equipped and fearless elite force.

"Hold on! Just fifteen minutes!"

Li Chengqian swept through the enemy ranks with a single blow, pushing back enemies who were half a zhang away, and shouted fiercely, "Those who block my way shall die!"

The Imperial Guards formed a defensive line and held their ground, using their own flesh and blood to build a defensive barrier.

Time passed amidst the clash of swords and the shadows of battle.

Every breath, Imperial Guards fell, but no one retreated.

finally--

"Boom!"

The thunderous sound of horses' hooves had reached the pass.

Xi Jun bought a horse and took the lead, his lance gleaming like a dragon:

"Your Highness! This humble servant has arrived!"

"Fight in!"

Two thousand iron cavalrymen surged in like a steel torrent through the wide-open west gate.

The garrison at Tongguan was already small, and the garrison at the west wall was even smaller. Faced with this suddenly appearing elite cavalry, they collapsed instantly.

Chang He, standing on the east wall, was furious and wanted to call for reinforcements, but it was too late to turn the tide.

The troops guarding the east wall were held back by the fear of Xue Rengui's possible attack and were unable to be mobilized in time.

Moreover, the cavalry that Xi Jun bought was too fast.

It took less than a quarter of an hour from entering the pass to controlling the key roads to the pass.

When Chang He finally organized several hundred of his personal guards to attempt a counterattack, Xi Junmai had already led his main force to the scene.

Chang He! Surrender!

Xi Junmai pointed his spear directly at the enemy: "His Highness the Crown Prince is merciful. Considering your past as a meritorious official, if you lay down your weapon, you may be spared death!"

Chang He looked at the ever-growing number of enemy troops around him, and at the dark banner embroidered with the character 'Li' and dragon patterns that had somehow appeared on the western wall in the distance. He gave a bitter laugh.

He understood that Tongguan had fallen.

It was not breached by a large army, but rather disintegrated from within by a surprise force.

"Crown Prince, what a brilliant counterattack!"

Chang He sighed deeply and threw down the long sword in his hand:

"This humble general is willing to surrender!"

He knew that if Tongguan fell, the gates of Chang'an would be wide open.

The balance of power in this father-son conflict has shifted decisively. (End of Chapter)