Late Tang Dynasty: Descendants of the Imperial Clan

"Close the gate! Close the gate now!" Zhao Zhang shouted shrilly from his horse.

The guards frantically tried to push open the two heavy gates. Huang Chao looked back and saw that Li Cenji had caught up to within thirty paces of the gate.

Hundreds of cavalrymen surged forward like a torrent from behind, their hooves shaking the ground.

"Hurry! Hurry!"

Huang Chao urged him on with a hoarse voice.

The gate was finally half closed, leaving a gap about ten feet wide.

Just as the guards were about to lift the bolt to brace the door, Li Cenji arrived.

The yellow horse neighed loudly, its four hooves off the ground, and leaped into the gap.

The lance swept across, sending two soldiers carrying the door bolt flying, spitting blood from their mouths.

The cavalry followed closely behind, filing in through the gaps and smashing open the gate that hadn't yet been closed.

When the soldiers who were originally lined up to support Huang Chao saw that the generals and soldiers of the northern camp were scattered in an instant, and their commander was chased all the way into the camp in a sorry state, with countless cavalry following behind him, where did they lose their will to fight?

Some turned and ran, some threw down their weapons and knelt down to surrender, and some stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.

Li Cenji ignored the scattered soldiers and kept his eyes fixed on the large yellow banner that was still moving in front of him.

The yellow horse galloped away along the camp's passageway, its hooves flying, followed closely by Xu Tai, Zhou Ping, and Song Wentong, each leading a squad of cavalry, setting fires along the way.

The northern camp was now in complete chaos.

Although Huang Chao had entered the camp, he was unable to stabilize the situation. The soldiers only heard shouts of "The Tang army has broken in!" and "The emperor has fled!" and they ran around like headless flies.

The officers shouted and berated, but they couldn't quell the panic that was spreading throughout the entire camp.

Huang Chao rode his horse to the central command post, dismounted, and staggered onto the general's platform.

His face was ashen, his beard and hair disheveled, and his civil and military robes were covered with dust and sweat stains. Where was the slightest trace of imperial majesty?

He leaned on the railing, panting heavily, his gaze sweeping over the chaos in the camp, his heart filled with both anger and anxiety.

"Issue my decree!"

Huang Chao roared and shouted fiercely.

"All battalions, resist on the spot! Those who retreat will be executed! Those who desert in the face of battle will have their entire family wiped out!"

Zhao Zhang was so anxious that he kept stamping his feet:

"Your Majesty, the army's morale is already in chaos. Killing ten or a hundred more now would be of no use! We should retreat eastward first and discuss things after we leave the camp—"

"shut up!"

Huang Chao suddenly turned his head, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at Zhao Zhang.

"I raised my army in Caozhou, fought across thousands of miles, conquered dozens of prefectures, and entered Chang'an to ascend the throne! How can I be forced to flee in disarray by a mere brat? I will not leave!"

Before the words were finished, a loud bang came from the direction of the camp gate, followed by deafening shouts of battle.

Huang Chao looked up and saw flames shooting into the sky at the gate of the stronghold. A group of men had already charged in. The general in the lead, holding a horse spear and covered in blood, was none other than Li Cenji.

Huang Chao's pupils suddenly contracted, and his right hand unconsciously gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Just then, Cheng Zongchu led the Jingyuan troops in a fierce attack on the northern camp, but was repelled by a hail of arrows from the defending army. As they were regrouping and preparing to attack again, they suddenly saw flames shooting into the sky at the gate of the northern camp, and the shouts of battle were deafening.

He shaded his eyes with his hand and looked in that direction, only to see a troop of cavalry charging into the camp, with the "Li" character flag at the front standing out conspicuously in the firelight.

"It's Jingzhi!"

Cheng Zongchu was overjoyed, grabbed the long sword, and shouted loudly.

"Brothers! Li Liuhou has stormed into the northern camp! That scoundrel Huang Chao can't escape! Follow me and charge in!"

The Jingyuan soldiers shouted in unison, their morale soaring, and surged toward the northern camp like a tidal wave.

At this moment, the garrison of the northern camp was being turned upside down by Li Cenji from within, so they had no time to care about the stockade walls.

Cheng Zongchu broke down the gate of the stronghold without breaking a sweat, and thousands of infantrymen filed in, brandishing swords and spears, and slashing at anyone they saw.

In an instant, fires broke out on all sides of the northern camp, and shouts of killing, screams of agony, and pleas for mercy mingled together.

The rebel soldiers were attacked from both sides and lost their commander's orders, and immediately collapsed.

Some knelt down to surrender, some abandoned their armor and fled, some hid in tents trembling with fear, and countless people trampled to death.

Huang Chao was trapped deep within the northern camp, caught in a dilemma.

Looking around, all he could see was fire everywhere in the camp, scattered soldiers everywhere, and Tang army flags everywhere.

Of his civil and military officials, countless had already dispersed, leaving only a handful, including Zhao Zhang, by his side.

Huang Chao stood on the platform, his face completely drained of color.

"Your Majesty, the situation is hopeless, we must flee!"

Zhao Zhang grabbed Huang Chao's sleeve, knelt down and begged, his voice trembling.

Huang Chao remained motionless.

He gazed at the bright yellow figure charging left and right through the chaotic army, and at the invincible horse spear, and suddenly let out a long sigh.

"Walk?"

Seemingly moved by Zhao Zhang's sincerity, he gave a bitter laugh, his voice hoarse.

"Though the world is vast, where can I go? Armies from all directions are coming to support the emperor, and they will not miss the opportunity to beat a drowning dog. I am already a turtle in a jar, and I cannot escape. Zilin, you may go and live in anonymity. You can still live a wealthy life."

He looked down at the sword at his waist that had accompanied him in battle for many years, then looked up again, his gaze passing through the firelight and smoke, landing on the "Li" character flag fluttering in the distance.

"Alright."

He murmured,

"I'd rather die before this mighty general than at the hands of some nobody. I want to see just what kind of person this Li Liuhou, who can defeat ten thousand troops with a hundred cavalry, really is."

After saying this, he straightened his clothes, brushed the dust off his civil and military robes, and retied his disheveled hair. He then stood on the platform and waited quietly.

Zhao Zhang pleaded repeatedly, but Huang Chao ignored him. He had no choice but to bid farewell to Huang Chao and ride away.

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment, and most of them scattered.

Meanwhile, Li Cenji rode his horse in pursuit of Huang Chao's banner all the way to the general's platform. Suddenly, he saw a man standing with his hands behind his back on the platform ahead. The man was dressed in a civil and military robe and armor, wearing a helmet. He had a face like a red date and a thick beard that was mostly white.

Although he is over sixty years old, he still stands tall with a straight back and bright eyes, exuding an aura of dominance over the world.

Li Cenji reined in his horse ten paces away, his lance pointing diagonally at the ground, blood still dripping from its tip.

Behind him, Xu Tai, Zhou Ping, Song Wentong, and others each led cavalry, completely surrounding the open space.

On the perimeter, Cheng Zongchu's infantry had also arrived, dividing and surrounding the remaining rebel troops.

The man on stage was also sizing up Li Cenji.

He looked for a while, then suddenly spoke, his voice aged yet steady:

"You're Li Cenji? The acting governor of Fengxiang and Longyou, and Zheng Tian's last disciple?"

Li Cenji said:

"Indeed, it is I. Could you perhaps be Huang Chao, the usurper of the Qi dynasty?"

Upon hearing the words "false Qi," a hint of anger flashed across Huang Chao's face, but it quickly dissipated.

He gave a wry smile and said:

"False Qi? I am the Emperor of Great Qi, having ascended the throne in Hanyuan Hall, changed the era name to Jintong, and all rites and regulations are in accordance with those of the Emperor. Even your so-called Emperor of Great Tang is nothing more than a stray dog ​​fleeing to Shu."

Li Cenji did not argue with him, but simply said:

"Huang Chao, things have come to this, what do you have to say now?"

"The victor is king, the loser is villain; I have nothing to say about that."

Huang Chao stared at Li Cenji with eyes as sharp as knives.

"I started my rebellion in Caozhou, and roamed the world, defeating Wang Xianzhi, defeating Song Wei, beheading Zeng Yuanyu, conquering Guangzhou, taking Luoyang, capturing Tongguan, and entering Chang'an. The Emperor of Tang fled westward in panic upon hearing my name. I thought that all the heroes in the world were no more than this. But I never expected that I would encounter a young man like you here in the west of Chang'an."

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose a few decibels:

"I ask you: Do you know why I rebelled?"

Before Li Cenji could answer, Huang Chao continued speaking to himself, his voice like the clanging of metal, every word carrying the resentment accumulated over decades:

"Since the An Lushan Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty has been plagued by regional warlordism, eunuch power, and a court filled with incompetent officials who hold positions without merit, while the prefectures and counties are plagued by exorbitant taxes. You, the Li family emperor, sit atop the ninefold palace, yet you know nothing of the people's suffering; you, the powerful and aristocratic families, occupy the prefectures and counties, yet you treat the common people like dirt!"

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, his beard and hair standing on end, and the sword in his hand trembled slightly.

"In my youth, I made a living by smuggling salt. I have witnessed firsthand how tax collectors forced ordinary people to sell their children and destroy their families! I have studied and taken the imperial examinations, but because of my humble origins, I have repeatedly failed! I have seen countless talented individuals ostracized by powerful families, and countless innocent people bullied by corrupt officials! This world should have been changed long ago!"

He paused abruptly, his gaze sharp as he swept over every Tang army officer present:

"You all claim I am a traitor, but do you know that this Tang Dynasty is nothing but a rotten shell on the outside! The emperor is incompetent, the officials are corrupt, the powerful are rampant, and the people are suffering! Shouldn't such a court be rebelled against? Shouldn't it be destroyed?"

The Tang army officers around him looked at each other in bewilderment after hearing his words, and several of them unconsciously lowered their heads.

Cheng Zongchu, who rushed over upon learning that Huang Chao was besieged, also heard these words and found the term "regional separatism" extremely jarring.

His face turned ashen, his lips trembled, and he wanted to retort, but for a moment he didn't know where to begin.

Although Cheng Zongchu was a military governor, he knew that Huang Chao's words were not entirely without reason.

Over the past hundred years, the Tang Dynasty has indeed declined with each generation.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Huang Chao threw his head back and laughed loudly, his laughter filled with sorrow:

"When I first raised this army, my intention was to act on behalf of Heaven and save the people from suffering. But now Heaven has not blessed me, and my cause has failed so miserably. What more can I say?"

His laughter subsided, and he sighed deeply, gazing at the morning clouds on the horizon, reddened by the firelight, and murmured:

"This is fate. Heaven does not favor me; it is not a fault of our fighting spirit!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people around him varied.

Cheng Zongchu frowned, about to speak, when he saw Li Cenji suddenly step forward.

The young man's face was calm and composed, but his gaze was like two unsheathed swords, fixed directly on Huang Chao.

"Destiny?"

Li Cenji spoke, his voice not loud, but each word resounding, like metal striking the ground.

"Huang Chao, how dare you speak of the Mandate of Heaven? Let me ask you: Since you raised your army, after capturing the city, have you spared the people? Have you opened the granaries to provide relief? Have you disciplined your troops?"

His question hit the nail on the head.

Huang Chao's expression changed slightly, but he did not reply.

Li Cenji didn't wait for his answer and continued:

"I will answer on your behalf: You conquered Guangzhou and massacred 120,000 people; you took Luoyang and allowed your troops to plunder for three days; you entered Chang'an, claiming to 'not take a single hair's breadth,' but in reality, your soldiers looted every night, and the people were filled with resentment, wishing they could eat your flesh and sleep on your skin! You keep saying you are acting on behalf of Heaven, but what kind of justice have you been practicing? What kind of people have you saved?"

His voice rose in pitch, becoming deafening:

"When Emperor Gaozu of Han entered Guanzhong, he established three laws, stipulating that no one should be harmed, and the people welcomed him with food and drink. Emperor Guangwu restored the Han dynasty, governing the country with benevolence and allowing the people to rest and recuperate. Therefore, he won the hearts of the people and the world. Emperor Taizong of our dynasty also said, 'The people are more important than the ruler; the people are like water, and the ruler is like a boat. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.' When you entered Chang'an, the people initially welcomed you with food and drink, but how have you repaid them since then? Your troops have been plundering at will, and you have been unable to control them. Go and see again, after you conquered Chang'an, did the people still welcome you with food and drink? No, the people closed their doors and guarded themselves, regarding you as wolves! Why? Because wherever you go, not a blade of grass grows; wherever you live, even chickens and dogs cannot find peace! Do such people deserve to speak of the Mandate of Heaven?"

Huang Chao's face turned from green to white, then from white to red, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Li Cenji, however, did not let him off the hook and said again:

"You just said that the Tang emperor is incompetent, the officials are corrupt, and the powerful are rampant. As a subject of the Tang, I cannot comment. But what about yourself? After entering Chang'an, did you reform the corrupt practices? Did you appoint capable officials? Did you reduce taxes and corvée labor? No, all you know is killing, looting, and slaughtering all the surrendered Tang officials, replacing them with a group of old brothers who followed you in smuggling salt! These people, besides killing and arson, do they understand even a fraction of the principles of governing a country and ensuring its stability?"

He suddenly waved his hand, pointing to the rebel prisoners outside the camp who were being escorted by Tang soldiers and kneeling on the ground:

"Look at those people! They've fought alongside you for ten years, and all they know how to do is kill! If such a person were to rule the world, would the lives of the people be any better than before? Let me say something unpleasant: no matter how flawed the Tang emperor was, the people could still barely survive; but if you were to rule the world, I'm afraid they wouldn't even have the chance to survive!"

Huang Chao trembled at his words, his hand gripping the knife with veins bulging, but he still did not draw the knife.

He wanted to refute, but when he opened his mouth, he found that he had no way to refute it.

Because what Li Cenji said was all true.

He certainly failed to control his troops.

He has indeed never governed any region.

He was indeed only capable of killing, looting, and leading displaced people on a rampage, leaving nothing but desolation.

Is this considered rebellion?

This is called banditry.

Your failure is not due to fate, but to human error.

Li Cenji's voice suddenly lowered, becoming even more sorrowful, like a heavy hammer striking everyone's heart:

Sun Tzu said, "The right time is not as important as the right place, and the right place is not as important as the right people." You have lost the support of the people; even if you have the right time and the right place, it will be nothing but a mirage. Xiang Yu was strong enough to lift a cauldron and won every battle, yet he was defeated at Gaixia and died at Dongcheng. Why? Because he lost the support of the people. How is your defeat any different from Xiang Yu's?

Huang Chao was jolted, as if struck by lightning.

He looked at Li Cenji, the anger in his eyes gradually dissipating, replaced by regret and sorrow.

After a long while, he sighed and slowly lowered the sword in his hand to the ground.

"What a silver tongue."

His voice was hoarse and tired, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

"I have fought for ten years, from south to north, from east to west, killing people and being hunted down. Yet no one has ever said such a thing to me."

He raised his eyes, looking at Li Cenji with a complex expression:

"You're the first one."