[Wuxia] Wandering Freely in the Tang Dynasty (Complete) - 39

Chapter 152 Bloodbath in Chengdu:
The cannonballs were hollow iron spheres filled with gunpowder and iron pieces resembling Libby swords, along with a fuse that held the fuse inside a bamboo tube. To fire, the projectile was loaded into the barrel, the fuse was lit first, followed by the propellant inside the barrel, and the projectile exploded upon reaching its target, causing devastating damage; even ordinary martial arts masters would find it difficult to escape. These giant fire crossbows were the greatest threat to the defenders of the city, but Li Jiancheng and Xie Hui were not worried. Judging from the frequency of their use by the Song dynasty, their stockpile of cannonballs was certainly limited, so they dared not use them recklessly. Ren Lumiaozi, though exceptionally talented and referencing later books, was still influenced by the backward productivity of this era. The collection of gunpowder raw materials was a major problem, and their stockpile was already small. To deal with Chang'an, a city many times more fortified than Chengdu, they naturally dared not use them recklessly. Putting theory into practice was by no means an easy task. Shuangliu City, located south of Chengdu, faced the overwhelming force of the Song army. Defending was not an option, nor was surrendering. Therefore, Li Jiancheng and Xie Hui decided to wear down the enemy's firearms and observe their siege tactics one last time. In fact, a secret passage existed within the city leading outside; should the situation deteriorate, a retreat could be initiated to preserve manpower. By the time the enemy discovered the passage, the defending army had already retreated to Chengdu. After dismissing the scout, Xie Hui instructed Xie Wenlong to keep an eye on Fan Zhuo and the others, and then invited Li Jiancheng to a side hall for dinner.
Yuan Yueze, Song Faliang, and the three great Li generals of Lingnan strolled through the streets of Shuangliu Ancient City. The fires throughout the city had been extinguished, leaving only wisps of steam and smoke, a reminder of the fierce siege that had taken place. The Song army had just discovered a wide, half-mile-long secret passage leading outside the city. The enemy's retreat was not only swift but also orderly, minimizing casualties. Song Faliang glanced at the darkening sky and sighed, "It can be inferred that Li Jiancheng and Xie Hui have both become cowardly. They've placed their last hope on defending Chengdu to the death."
Yuan Yueze said, "Since Chengdu chose to support the Li Tang dynasty, it should have been fortifying its city walls, building various defensive facilities, and preparing food and supplies, right?"
Song Faliang nodded and smiled, "However, they also have many weaknesses. For example, they're terrified by their son-in-law, and the people's hearts are always with us."
He paused, then said with reverence, "Before the old lord passed away, he was the most respected person among the various ethnic minorities in the south because he was the Han Chinese who treated ethnic minorities the best. He never cheated them out of a single penny in transactions, and he was especially kind to the many vulnerable ethnic groups in the Lingnan region."
The old lord he was referring to was naturally "Heavenly Blade" Song Que. Chen Zhifo, the leader of the Li and Liao people of Longshui County, continued, "Since Second Master Song became the clan leader, he has treated us ethnic minorities even better. He has sent people to help us build roads and bridges year after year. From housing to food, there is nothing he doesn't care about. He also takes special care of us ethnic minorities when doing business with foreign countries. His reputation is even better than that of the old Tiandao clan leader."
This man was in his forties, tall and sturdy, dressed like a scholar, with an unusually high forehead, sharp eyes, and a small mustache. He was handsome and dashing. Yuan Yueze nodded slightly. Wang Zhongxuan, the leader of the Li and Liao people of Panyu County, laughed loudly, "We received news that the Sichuan Gang and the Ba Alliance know that we have pacified southern Sichuan and have formed an alliance to support us, making the situation in Chengdu even more tense."
He was about the same age as Chen Zhifo, and was fat, like a bucket, with a particularly noticeable bulging belly, which gave him the opposite impression of being agile and lively. Yuan Yueze thought of Fan Zhuo and reasoned that Chengdu had always been a place where various ethnic groups lived together. The Sichuan Gang and the Ba Alliance had deep-rooted influence in the city, and Jie Hui certainly wouldn't dare to drive them out of the city. Otherwise, it would only cause internal strife before external enemies could attack. Therefore, as long as the city gates were sealed, the Sichuan Gang and the Ba Alliance, with their large families, would certainly not be foolish enough to actively oppose Jie Hui in order to protect their families. Faced with this delicate balance, internal conflicts no longer posed a threat. Thinking of this, he asked Song Faliang, "Faliang, how do you plan to deal with Chengdu?"
Song Faliang pondered and said, "Our scouts report that the defending army numbers over 100,000, and the enemy is fighting with their backs to the city, with deep moats and high walls. They can use catapults on the high walls and crossbows from above to increase their defenses, so they are not afraid of any frontal assault. My temporary plan is to besiege the city and leave a corner open, attacking morale while continuing to gather supplies and troops through the waterways, taking the opportunity to completely control the towns surrounding Chengdu. When the enemy's morale is low, we will launch a thunderous surprise attack."
Yuan Yueze sighed, "Siege is always the worst option, Faliang's method is excellent. Because we have waterway support, we can advance and retreat freely, and we have no worries about supplies. Moreover, the climate difference between the south and the north is very large. In the north, at this time of year, it is frozen and covered in snow, so there is no choice but to cease hostilities. In the south, apart from being slightly colder, it is no different from autumn, and the soldiers will not suffer too much."
"Tiger-Clad Beauty" Ouyang Qian interjected, "Could we, while attacking their morale, also use a tactic to quickly deplete the city's defenses' equipment? For example, arrows?"
Yuan Yueze and his three companions hesitated for a moment before nodding. They had already discerned the enemy's deliberate attempt to target Yuan Yueze with a decapitation strike, making this method unlikely to succeed. After all, he wasn't an omnipotent deity; even with the will to fight ten thousand men, he would be powerless. Song Faliang's strategy of encirclement without attack, opening a corner of the enemy's defenses, was a commonly used tactic since ancient times. Now that the year was drawing to a close, the fact that neither side chose to immediately engage in battle would only earn Song's army greater praise and popular support. Ouyang Qian was no simple woman either; her simple plan was indeed one of the best methods for attacking a city. Hua Cuiwei once said: "Of the thirty-six weapons, the bow is the foremost. Of the eighteen martial arts, the arrow is the most important." This shows the importance of bows and arrows in warfare. Even if a city allowed people to freely bring weapons in and out, bows and crossbows were strictly prohibited, precisely because they possessed the threat of long-range attacks. In war, crossbows are indispensable. If the defenders lack arrows, even the strongest walls and high ramparts are useless. The next day, Song's army left two thousand men to garrison Shuangliu, while the main force began advancing towards Chengdu, more than twenty miles away. They began to set up camp in the plains and hills ten miles outside the city, systematically transporting tools, setting up tents, building high fortifications, digging deep trenches, and constructing palisades. It took them four days to establish a firm foothold and complete the encirclement. War clouds gathered over Chengdu, creating a tense atmosphere of impending battle. Neither side dared to slacken their vigilance. That night, Kezhi stood alone on a hill, gazing south towards Chengdu. The ancient sage Sun Tzu divided cities into two categories: those castles situated on high ground or backed by mountains and with good water sources were called "strong cities," extremely difficult to conquer; those situated in low-lying areas, between two mountains, or backed by valleys, lacking water and vegetation, were called "weak cities," easily breached with sufficient force. Chengdu, reinforced and fortified, boasts thick, high walls and a deep, wide moat, easily withstanding any upward assaults, scaling, or ramming attacks. It is a typical "mighty city," easily defended with only half the current forces. Moreover, with the numbers on both sides roughly equal, the chances of the Song army breaching the city head-on are extremely slim. He and Yuan Yueze are responsible for guarding the north side of Chengdu, to cut off any potential Li Tang reinforcements lurking in the shadows. Yuan Yueze's voice reached his ears: "Brother Ke, are you worried that we won't be able to break through the city?"
Kezhi looked in the direction of the voice and saw a small black dot rapidly expanding in the direction of Chengdu—it was Yuan Yueze speaking. So he asked, "Brother Yuan, did you get any useful information when you sneaked into the city to visit Chief Fan?"
Yuan Yueze stopped beside him, shrugged, and said, "I couldn't find Li Jiancheng, Xie Hui, or any other important generals. I searched all over Duzun Fort and the Shu King's Mansion, but there wasn't a trace of them. Chief Fan made an agreement with me that if we stormed the city, he and the four tribes of the Ba Alliance would definitely come to our aid!"
Keda Zhi laughed, "I'm afraid even if you sent the Black King to patrol high in the sky, you wouldn't be able to find them. Otherwise, why would they dare to oppose you?"
Yuan Yueze nodded to show he understood. Suddenly, a soldier came to report that the "borrowing arrows" plan from the south of the city had been completed. They had obtained over ten thousand arrows using specially made thick leather armor. Some of the Song family soldiers were wounded, but no one died. The two didn't react much, because the enemy wasn't stupid. They might fall for it the first time, but it was hard to say what would happen next time. Keda Zhi gazed at the wide moat and said in a deep voice, "As long as we fill the moat with the silt we've accumulated after the New Year, we can launch a full-scale attack."
Yuan Yueze agreed, "The morale inside the city should be much lower by then."
"At least we should wait until spring has arrived before attacking!"
A soft, melodious laugh clearly reached their ears, and in a flash, a petite and exquisite figure appeared before their eyes. The newcomer possessed unparalleled beauty, a slender and graceful figure, her hair tied back with a black headscarf, and she wore a black short-sleeved, tight-fitting Hu-style robe, revealing her fair, alabaster-white forearms. A black cloak covered her, the contrast between her black clothes and white skin dazzling. Under the starlight, she appeared like a fairy descended from the endless void. However, what was most captivating was not her elegant appearance, but rather her seemingly innate, aloof and compelling aura, blended with her serene and refined temperament, creating a unique and mesmerizing charm. Keda Zhi was stunned, immediately recognizing her from her distinctive appearance and demeanor, and clasped his hands in greeting, "Keda Zhi greets Sister-in-law."
Yuan Yueze smiled, "How could Jiao Jiao be as free as my younger sister?"
The newcomer was indeed Linglong Jiao. After exchanging a few polite words with Kedazhi, Linglongjiao gave the two of them some time. Yuan Yueze, without any hesitation, took advantage of her, and Linglongjiao, blushing, reluctantly pushed him away, scolding, "Luoyan sent someone to help you, and Sister Yuyan will be here soon. Luoyan also said you don't need to go back to Luoyang; Chengdu is difficult to attack, and you still have to rush to the desert, so you should save as much time as possible."
Yuan Yueze secretly praised Shen Luoyan's intelligence and then recounted his experiences over the past few days. Upon hearing about Fan Qinghui's actions, Linglongjiao immediately became furious, only calming down after Yuan Yueze's reassurance. What Linglongjiao said was true. At this time, due to the climate, the north had returned to a period of stalemate, and the Song family army could only isolate and weaken the Chengdu garrison by gradually encircling and nibbling away at their forces. Otherwise, it was hard to guarantee that the Li Tang central army wouldn't march south, leaving the Song family army vulnerable to attack from the north and with no hope of victory. This was precisely the main reason why the Song family army was so eager to besiege Chengdu—to seize the initiative and gain the upper hand. After nearly three months of siege, the Song family army's "arrow-borrowing teams" and harassment squads frequently went out, often confusing the defenders. Their efforts not only depleted the enemy's supply lines by over 50,000 arrows, but also caused unrest among the defenders. Most of the civilians knew the Song family army was disciplined and remained indoors, not fleeing Chengdu. However, some who originally belonged to the Duzun Fort system and had families and businesses in Chengdu began to panic, secretly ordering their families to escape. Except for Shen Luoyan, who was too busy to leave, the other women managed to meet with Yuan Yueze once. The latest news came from Yun Yuzhen: the weather in the north was warming, and the fighting on the central and northern fronts had resumed. Shen Luoyan was also secretly beginning to gradually transfer power to the meritorious Song Shidao. The Song family army could finally launch an attack without hesitation. All supplies were already prepared, as breaking through the enemy's deep trenches and high walls with only infantry and cavalry and ordinary swords and arrows was absolutely impossible. Therefore, it was essential to prepare adequately in terms of siege equipment, supplies, and organization to ensure a strong reserve for the subsequent relentless day and night assaults. For months, the Song army had constructed a sufficient number of mobile watchtowers, known as "nest carts" and "tower carts," to observe the situation within the city from a high vantage point or to launch arrow attacks. To subdue the enemy from behind, one must attack them. The first step in the siege was "crossing the moat." Only by successfully crossing the moat could the siege equipment and suicide squads approach the city walls and begin the assault. The Song army generals had been continuously learning new knowledge over the years and were extremely familiar with siege tactics. They had already cut off the water supply to the moat, and once the water was shallow, they used earth-filled carts to push directly into the moat, filling it up. After "filling the moat" came the "attacking the city" battle, in which the "wooden donkey" was indispensable. The wooden donkey was a four-wheeled cart with a massive, pointed, sloping log on top, resembling a roof ridge. It was impervious to arrows and stones, and covered in medicinal cowhide, making it difficult to burn. It could conceal nearly a hundred soldiers, proving remarkably effective in covering the siege. Approaching the city walls was where various siege weapons came into play: siege towers, battering rams, ramparts, siege towers, high-rises, ladders, and giant logs used to ram the gates. With overwhelming force, they scaled the walls, rammed the gates, and assaulted the ramparts, determined to reach the top and establish a foothold before gradually widening the breach, wearing down the enemy's will and defenses. On March 25th, as a shooting star traced a curved arc across the sky, the fierce siege finally began. Yuan Yueze, Zhu Yuyan, Linglong Jiao, and Fu Junqiang were invulnerable, insane killing machines, always charging at the forefront. Ke Zhi rode alongside the three Li generals at the front, directing the attack, while Commander Song Faliang remained on a makeshift command platform some distance from the city, using torches, horns, and war drums to direct the overall offensive and defensive maneuvers. However, no matter how well-prepared the Song family army was, resources were always limited. Therefore, the main force of the attack was concentrated on the north gate of Chengdu, while the attacks on the other three gates were much smaller, serving only to contain the enemy and prevent them from escaping. Yuan Yueze and his wife, along with their three companions, led the charge, rushing straight to the city walls and unleashing a massacre. The defenders seemed to have anticipated this move, remaining calm and composed. While four groups of men engaged Yuan Yueze and his companions, thousands of shield bearers rushed to the moat from the opposite bank, crouching behind their shields. Crossbowmen then followed, hiding behind the shield bearers and firing their crossbows, unleashing a rain of arrows upon the walls. Next came the rocket troops, the giant crossbowmen on sleds, and the soldiers with catapults. Most of the defenders took cover behind the battlements, and after surviving a volley of arrows, they began to retaliate with sand, stones, boiling oil, and rockets. Yuan Yueze and his three companions were never able to kill hundreds or thousands instantly, so they could only slaughter as many as they could. Meanwhile, both sides attacked each other with arrows, stones, and firearms. The outer walls and ramparts bore numerous marks of impact and burning, but these were only superficial damages, not structural. The defenders, with their superior position and abundant arrows and stones, suffered heavy casualties from the four who charged up and the occasional artillery fire, yet they managed to hold the walls as impregnable as ever. After more than ten days, both sides had suffered heavy losses, with casualties exceeding ten thousand each, and a temporary halt and reorganization was necessary. The Song family army had been unable to breach the moat, but Song Faliang finally discovered its secret: even after the water source was cut off, the moat hadn't become much shallower. Shi Qingxuan, who was familiar with the situation in Chengdu, immediately pointed out that this was likely because Jie Hui had previously diverted the water from the moat of Duzun Fortress outside the city. It was important to know that the moat of Duzun Fortress was a flowing river; it didn't need water diversion because springs gushed from its bottom, making it impossible to cut off. Therefore, Song Faliang devised a solution: digging tributaries to divert the water. After resting for about a month and a half, the Song family army finally diverted the water, and the siege resumed. After five days and five nights of fierce fighting, the Song family army, under the cover of their vanguard, filled the moat with earth and stones. They then pushed their armored assault vehicles, battering rams, and siege towers across the filled-in moat. The siege towers were as high as the city walls, allowing attacking soldiers to quickly scale them. Rammers, carrying steel-plated logs, could deliver continuous, powerful ramming blows to the city gates and walls. Flying towers served as vantage points for archers, allowing them to attack the defenders on the walls from their elevated position. Fires erupted in many places, both above and below the walls, sending plumes of smoke filling the air. Some were from cannonballs fired by catapults, others from various wooden tools ignited by rockets fired by both sides; some were already ashes, while others continued to burn fiercely, sending billowing smoke that blotted out the sky. The attacking Song army had already scaled the walls using ladders and were attacking the enemy on the top, while the defenders fought desperately against the attackers, eliminating those attempting to scale the walls at the crenellations or beneath them. Besides close-quarters combat, a hail of arrows and catapults rained down on the city, both inside and outside, adding to the carnage of this merciless battle and highlighting its brutality. Under the torchlight both inside and outside the city, the defending troops, having endured a relentless and prolonged assault, were showing signs of exhaustion. No matter how firm their resolve, they were still flesh and blood, human beings with feelings. The tireless Yuan Yueze and his three companions alone had killed over 15,000 defenders—a truly terrifying number! The battering rams pounded the city gates one after another, producing deafening roars that felt like death knells striking their hearts. Their resolve was on the verge of collapse. "Boom!"
With a thud, the sturdy north gate, unable to withstand the continuous assault, collapsed and toppled inwards, kicking up dust and splinters of wood. Simultaneously, the convoy of logs tasked with ramming the gate swiftly retreated. The Song family army's morale soared, their shouts and cries completely drowning out the sounds of fighting and clashing weapons. Spear-wielding infantry and saber-wielding cavalry surged into the city from both flanks like a raging tide. Yuan Yueze, who had fought on the city walls every time, naturally noticed the large number of cavalry ambushed in the city streets. Sure enough, with a burst of rapid drumbeats, a large contingent of enemy cavalry swarmed out of the city streets, their hooves thundering, breaking out in several directions, killing anyone they encountered. Inside and on the city walls, even fiercer close-quarters combat erupted. Then, another strange gong sounded, and warriors bearing the banners of the Sichuan Gang and the Ba Alliance, led by their tribal leaders, rushed out of their closed doors, joining the Song family army from within. In an instant, the battlefield descended into chaos. Cries and screams shook the heavens. Amidst the raging flames, thick smoke and fire obscured the sky, and the city of Chengdu was a blood-red hellscape, flesh and blood flying everywhere – a scene of utter devastation, too gruesome to bear. The Song army's signalmen released fireworks, and the soldiers outside the other three gates abandoned their assault and began to retreat and form ranks to prevent the enemy's escape. The Song cavalry, a mighty force, swept through the breached city gates, relentlessly charging into the city and continuing their advance. The leading generals, their killing intent boiling, appeared like gods, greatly inspiring the surging warriors behind them. They engaged the stubborn defenders in the most brutal street fighting, rendering the thick city walls completely ineffective. The pursuit and street battle continued until nightfall, the defending army suffering heavy casualties and near exhaustion. Song Faliang, his hands never stopping, shouted, "Why don't Li Jiancheng and Xie Hui come out? Your cause is lost, yet you stubbornly resist. Do you have any respect for the people of Chengdu who yearn for peace?"
Yuan Yueze echoed, "Li Jiancheng has never shown his face. What kind of prince is he? What kind of commander is he?"
Before each siege, Song's army had tried to persuade Li Jiancheng and Xie Hui to surrender, but the defenders had always resolutely refused. In today's situation, Song Faliang's words had an even greater effect. Most of the defenders who participated in the street fighting lost their fighting spirit and surrendered. Only a small number of Li Jiancheng's personal guards continued to resist stubbornly, making a last-ditch effort. With the help of Fan Zhuo and other "old Chengdu" veterans, Song's army quickly killed or captured the resisters. A portion of Song's army was responsible for caring for the wounded and cleaning up the mess, clearing away all kinds of debris and corpses from the streets, repairing the damaged city walls, incorporating the surrendered soldiers, and pacifying the people, in an effort to restore order to Chengdu and the normal lives of its residents as quickly as possible. The main force, led by Fan Zhuo and others, quickly dispersed, forming a net-like encirclement of the Duzun Ancient Castle on the northern outskirts of Chengdu. Li Jiancheng and Xie Hui were already exhausted, while the Song family army, though suffering heavy losses, was in high spirits, filled with the joy of a great victory. In their eyes, Yuan Yueze and his wife were like living gods; as long as they were there, what was there to fear? Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan led a group of a thousand cavalrymen northward along the deserted official road when they suddenly saw dust rising ahead. The Song family cavalry regiment immediately halted and went on alert. In the blink of an eye, the enemy had reached within ten paces of Yuan Yueze. They reined in their horses, which reared up and neighed. There were only a dozen or so riders, led by Xie Wenlong, dressed in ordinary warrior's attire. He was travel-worn and looked worried. Upon seeing Yuan Yueze, his expression became even more complex. He and his guards dismounted and stepped forward, clasping their hands in greeting, saying, "My father requests a private conversation with Brother Yuan. Is that convenient for you?"
His voice was hoarse, and his eyes were red and swollen, revealing the immense psychological pressure the Chengdu campaign had placed on him. Yuan Yueze smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Brother Xie."
He then gave Zhu Yuyan a wink and followed Xie Wenlong away alone. Xie Hui sat solemnly and upright in the center of the mysterious and imposing main hall. A beautiful young woman with a gentle demeanor knelt not far behind him, holding an infant. Yuan Yueze and Xie Wenlong entered the main hall one after the other and were invited to sit opposite Xie Hui. Xie Wenlong personally poured tea for the two of them, his strong hand trembling slightly as he poured for Xie Hui. He then sat down to the side. Xie Hui, who had been intently watching Yuan Yueze since he entered the room, watched him finish his tea before slowly speaking, "Brother Yuan, aren't you afraid I might poison your tea?"
Yuan Yueze replied calmly, "The Fortress Master may not know, but my body is somewhat special; no poison has any effect on me." Xie Hui
was slightly taken aback and asked, "May I ask how many casualties were in this battle?"
Yuan Yueze said, "The count hasn't been done yet, but a rough estimate is that nearly 140,000 people died on both sides, and countless others were wounded."
Xie Hui fell silent, reaching for his teacup, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of pain, helplessness, shame, loss, sorrow, and resentment. Xie Wenlong and the young woman immediately tensed up. After a long silence, Xie Hui finally let out a long sigh, revealing a bitter smile, as if he had aged many years in an instant. He choked back tears and said, "I lost! Brother Yuan, if you become emperor one day, do not forget this lesson!"
Yuan Yueze raised his little finger and laughed out loud, "To be honest, Lord Yuan, I don't have many merits, but I dare to boast about one thing: I have a good sense of self-awareness. In terms of martial arts and knowledge, I am second to none; as for literary talent and the strategic planning for governing the world, I am absolutely the best. Besides, I most admire the free-spirited eagles in the sky; becoming emperor would be like forcing me into confinement." "In this cage-like palace, I can't leave even when I want to. This is tantamount to depriving me of my innate love for flying and my instinct for freedom."
Jie Hui's tiger-like eyes flashed with a strange light, as if trying to see right through him. After a moment, he slowly said, word by word, "Well said! This war was started because of one of my decisions. I wonder if my life, Jie Hui's life, can be exchanged for the safety of the Jie family?"
Yuan Yueze frowned, about to speak, when Jie Wenlong and the young woman cried out in grief, "Father!"
Jie Hui raised his hand, and the two dared not speak again, only bowing their heads and weeping. Yuan Yueze shook his head and sighed, "Since ancient times, there has always been victory and defeat. The fortress lord may think I am a hypocrite, but you don't need to think that way. I will never harm even half a life of your Jie family. If I break my oath, may I be as useless as this table!"
He slammed his hand heavily on the thick wooden table, and immediately the wood cracked and splintered. Jie Hui reached for his teacup, shouted, "Good!" and
drank it all in one gulp.

Chapter 153 Not to be outdone by men
Jie Wenlong and the young woman immediately rushed over, sobbing uncontrollably. Yuan Yueze stared motionlessly at Jie Hui. Jie Hui smiled sadly and said softly, “That treacherous scoundrel Li Jiancheng, we had a secret passage for escape, but he escaped first, and then, to avoid being chased, he dropped a large rock, preventing my people from escaping. My decision caused the devastation of Sichuan, rivers of blood; how can I have the face to live in this world!”
At this point, his breathing became rapid, and his face turned deathly pale. Yuan Yueze realized that the teacup he had just used must have been poisoned, thinking that perhaps he was afraid that your people would implicate him in his escape! Jie Hui's voice, now weak, continued into his ears, saying, “I know Brother Yuan has ambitions for the world, not that you want to… kill… everyone… Thank you for sparing… Wenlong and my grandson…” Yuan Yueze was both amused and
exasperated; Jie Hui had considered him a schemer until his death. Then he remembered that this young woman must be Lian'er, the one Xie Wenlong loved, so without further explanation, he nodded solemnly. A blush suddenly appeared on Xie Hui's face, and his unfocused gaze began to sharpen. Xie Wenlong and his wife knew this was a final burst of energy before death, and they wept even harder. Xie Hui collapsed weakly into his son's arms, gazing at the ceiling, his eyes shining with a dreamlike light, as if immersed in deep longing, murmuring, "The Xie family will surely flourish under Wenlong's leadership; I can go in peace now. Qinghui! I..."
Before he could finish speaking, he breathed his last and passed away. Yuan Yueze, upon leaving Duzun Fortress, recounted Xie Hui's story. Song Faliang immediately took the lead in agreeing to his decision, and the other generals naturally had no objections. The main force then turned to cleaning up the mess, working for over ten hours to achieve a preliminary order. Afterwards, funerals were held for the fallen soldiers, and the deceased were properly compensated before the entire army rested. In this battle, the Song family army suffered over half its casualties. Except for Li Jiancheng and some of his confidants who escaped, they almost completely annihilated the defending army, capturing Chengdu in just six months, shaking Chang'an. The following evening, Fan Zhuo hosted a banquet for Yuan Yueze, key Song family generals, Xie Wenlong, and the leaders of the Ba Alliance, agreeing to cooperate sincerely to maintain peace in Chengdu, a promise unanimously supported by everyone. Xie Wenlong was grateful for the lack of reproach shown by these people, and for Xie Hui's actions, even though he was already buried. He promised to cooperate with other forces in the future to revitalize Bashu. During the banquet, Fan Caiqi and Ouyang Qian, who had met him briefly, frequently flirted with Yuan Yueze, making no attempt to hide their admiration after witnessing his terrifying strength firsthand. After the banquet, Yuan Yueze immediately took his leave and headed west. Everyone who heard about Liu Yu understood that killing him was more important than seizing half the country, and that Jieli would be left only to await his execution. Therefore, although they knew that having him would make conquering Hanzhong much easier, they dared not keep him. The Song family army had suffered considerable losses and was temporarily unable to advance north, so they chose to hold Chengdu and coordinate with allied forces on the other two fronts when the time was right.
Luoyang, the City Lord's Mansion. Shen Luoyan was busy in her study, reviewing and signing countless documents, including edicts, appointments, and decrees. She was so busy she was dizzy with work. Finally, she stopped, yawned, stretched contentedly, and raised a brow, teasing Zhang Chuchen, who was sitting beside her, engrossed in a book, "Thinking of your husband?"
Two faint blushes immediately appeared on Zhang Chuchen's stunningly beautiful face. She retorted defiantly, "He's your husband, what does he have to do with me?"
Shen Luoyan giggled, then slumped her shoulders, saying dejectedly, "I'm exhausted!"
Zhang Chuchen then remembered seeing Kou Zhong working with a mountain of documents on his desk... Seeing Shen Luoyan's distressed expression, Zhang Chuchen, with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, stepped forward to massage her shoulders, saying, "So many people want this seat, what are you complaining about?"
Shen Luoyan hummed comfortably, closing her eyes and smiling, "Unfortunately, I'm still not one of those 'so many people' you mentioned."
She paused, then added, "Since the news of Chengdu's devastation came about a month ago, my husband took Sister Yuyan and the others westward, and we haven't heard from them since. I don't even know if they've reached Puchanghai."
Zhang Chuchen chuckled softly, pinching her cheeks a few times, as if laughing at her for being so open about her feelings in broad daylight without any shame. Shen Luoyan pouted, about to tell this cold beauty about the alluring feelings between men and women, when a barely perceptible sound of footsteps approached. Zhang Chuchen sat back down in his seat, knocked on the door, and then Yun Yuzhen, her face beaming with joy, slipped in. After sitting down, she began, "Lu Shi's two hundred new warships are complete and are being transported via the southeast waterways. They will arrive back in Luoyang in about ten days, allowing my second brother, who is stationed there, to finally put his skills to good use."
Shen and Zhang, the two women, beamed with joy. While Luoyang's military resources were comparable to Li Tang's, their military equipment was always inferior. These warships would be their best asset in crossing the river and completely controlling the middle and lower reaches. Yun Yuzhen continued, "General Yang lured the enemy deep into Quemen, then ambushed and defeated the Tang army, severely wounding their general Qin Shubao and killing nearly a thousand. Seeing the situation was hopeless, Li Shimin had no choice but to retreat. Our army pursued them relentlessly, and the Tang army split into two groups, retreating to Xiashi and Jijin. Our vanguard has already moved to Mianchi; subsequently, the morale of the other two Tang armies confronting Luqiao Post Station and Santu Mountain was greatly affected, forcing them to retreat to Changshui and Yiyang. Several generals have already pursued them."
Shen Luoyan's delicate brows furrowed. Yun Yuzhen seemed oblivious to her change, continuing with great enthusiasm, "After General Dugu captured Liyang half a month ago, he rested briefly before heading north to attack Anyang; General Liu, sent by Luoyan to join forces with the Young Marshal's army, has begun recruiting Dou Jiande's former troops in Shandong and Hebei. The Tang army generals defending cities like Dizhou, Yangxin, and Ande on the north bank of the Yellow River have been killed by disgruntled civilians and Dou Jiande's former subordinates. The Young Marshal's army and General Liu have captured several cities without bloodshed in just over a month. Xiao Zhong in Yangxin..." The city assembled a large army, preparing to soon launch a northern attack on the combined forces of Li Yuanji and Li Yi, the governor of Youzhou, who were stationed in the important city of Rao'an. "
Li Yi was formerly Luo Yi, a powerful figure in the underworld of Youzhou. He had previously only cooperated with Li Yuanji to defeat the Xia army. After the fall of Xia, the Li Tang dynasty rose to prominence, and the major northeastern forces, such as Gao Kaidao and Luo Yi, who had always been opportunistic, surrendered to the Tang court. Gao Kaidao remained in his post, while Luo Yi was appointed governor of Youzhou and, like Xu Shiji, was granted the surname Li and renamed Li Yi. Shen Luoyan listened silently. Yun Yuzhen's voice reached her ears again, saying, "However, according to the messenger from the Young Marshal's army, large numbers of Khitan and Goryeo pirates have begun to appear in Dengzhou, Huangxin, and other coastal cities in Shandong. They are burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities. Although the Young Marshal left behind a large force, they are still no match for the pirates who are well-versed in naval warfare."
Shen Luoyan smiled bitterly and sighed, "Li Yuanji has secretly cooperated with the Turks. Our western front may also have fallen into Li Shimin's trap!"
Yun Yuzhen and the other woman were stunned. It was understandable that Li Yuanji cooperated with the Turks, because that was how the Donghai Alliance had always been. The Goryeo people were skilled in naval warfare, not only in manpower but also in martial arts. Both sides had an inexplicable deep hatred for Yuan Yueze. After the great defeat at Longquan, the situation in the Northeast changed. The possibility of them submitting to Tuli was extremely slim, so choosing to cooperate with Jieli was inevitable. With Chengdu lost, Li Yuanji was filled with fear. He cooperated with the Turks, who were temporarily unable to advance south. Jieli and his group helped him tie down the young marshal's forces, relieving Li Yuanji of much pressure. Both sides benefited—a perfectly normal arrangement. However, the two women couldn't immediately understand why Shen Luoyan had said the following. Shen Luoyan continued, "Li Shimin has never missed an opportunity to seize our lifeline from Hulao to Yanshi."
The two women pondered for a long time before realizing what she meant, deeply admiring Shen Luoyan's keen military acumen and strategic vision. Li Shimin was skilled in defense and always planned carefully before acting. The battles of Qianshuiyuan and Baibi were prime examples. Currently, both sides were facing off on opposite banks of the river, and Dugu Feng's army had already entered Hebei. If Li Shimin offered the Luoyang army on the western front some incentives, they wouldn't be afraid of escaping. He himself could not only personally plan the crossing of the river at Wude to seize the sparsely defended Hulao, but could even secretly lead the army himself. Once Hulao Pass falls, the connection between the Luoyang army and the Young Marshal's army will be severed, and Kou Zhong and Dugu Feng, who were attacked, will inevitably be affected and defeated. Even if they launch a counterattack on Hulao Pass, the troops on the western front and the south bank of the Dahe River will be tied down and unable to attend to the eastern front. Li Shimin will naturally be able to hold Hulao Pass and wait for the Li Tang army, which is pursuing Dugu Feng and others, to provide support. The Li Tang army will then continue to nibble away at the surrounding areas, and the Luoyang army and the Young Marshal's army will be led by the nose, ultimately suffering a major defeat. Zhang Chuchen sighed, "Li Shimin is truly an unparalleled general. Fortunately, we still have Luoyan."
Shen Luoyan smiled slightly and asked, "What is the situation in Chengdu?"
Yun Yuzhen replied, "The Tang Dynasty has mobilized nearly 100,000 new troops to garrison Hanzhong, diligently training and actively preparing for war. The Song army has not yet recovered its strength and is temporarily unable to march north."
Shen Luoyan then asked, "Is there any news about Li Jiancheng?"
Yun Yuzhen nodded and said, "After the great defeat in Chengdu, Li Yuan was furious and slapped Li Jiancheng in front of all the civil and military officials. He then imprisoned him in the East Palace and forbade him to leave. Half a month later, Li Jiancheng knelt before Li Yuan's palace for several days to beg for forgiveness, eventually collapsing from exhaustion. Li Yuan and one of the concubines he favored that night personally came out to help him into the palace. No one knows what they said. Three days later, Li Jiancheng returned to the East Palace in high spirits and has lived there ever since."
The reason they knew so much about what happened in the Tang Palace was because Wei Lianxiang, who was familiar with the situation in the Tang Palace, and Feng Deyi, an important minister who knew many of the Tang Dynasty's plans, were secretly communicating with each other. Wei Lianxiang was Zhu Yuyan's senior brother, while Feng Deyi had a life-or-death bond with Song Que. Both shared a common ambition to revitalize the Han dynasty and secretly helped the Song family. Shen Luoyan's clear, beautiful eyes shone with unfathomable wisdom, a strange smile playing on her lips. She stood up and said calmly, "Call Xingzhi over for me!"
Her voice clearly reached the ears of the guards outside the door, who acknowledged and left.
The sun had set, and lights twinkled across the camps on both banks of the river. On the surface, it appeared peaceful and undisturbed, yet beneath lay a tense atmosphere, like the calm before a storm. On a spacious wooden platform, Li Shimin sat comfortably in his armchair, gazing at the camps and towns across the river and the distant, verdant mountains. Behind him stood his generals, including Li Shiji, Feng Liben, Changsun Wuji, Yuchi Jingde, and Pang Yu, surrounded by ten elite, heavily armed Xuanjia warriors. This was a crucial military stronghold established by the Li Tang dynasty at Qilipu, south of Wen County, right on the banks of the river. The forces of the Li Tang and Luoyang armies were not allowed to form a straight line along the river, so they both built temporary docks, watchtowers, and wooden stockades along the riverbanks for mutual support—a primitive yet effective defensive measure. The watchtowers were densely packed, nearly ten zhang high, with sentries and archers standing guard for surveillance and vigilance. Every few miles or so, there was a large assembly platform like this. The naval fleet patrolled day and night within their controlled waters, supporting the guards on the watchtowers. Land troops, in shifts, camped and rested behind the wooden fortresses, conserving their strength for any potential battle. The vast river, shimmering under the gentle moonlight, had witnessed countless destructions and rebirths, rises and falls, defeats and victories, humiliations and conquests. The river, as always, flowed calmly eastward into the darkness. Footsteps sounded below the tower, followed by a Tang soldier who saluted and handed a note to the solemn-faced Pang Yu, who then respectfully passed it to Li Shimin. Li Shimin read it, smiled slightly, took a deep breath of the fresh air carrying the scent of the river, and then passed the note to the generals behind him for further reading. After reading the letter, the simple-minded general Yuchi Jingde clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Ren Yuanyue and Shen Luoyan are as cunning as foxes, yet they still fell for our trap!"
Li Shimin didn't turn around, but asked in a deep voice, "Shiji, what do you think of the news in the letter?"
Hearing Yuchi Jingde's careless words, Li Shiji, whose expression turned unnatural, coughed and said solemnly, "Our spies wouldn't spread false information. The letter says that an ordinary carriage left the city lord's mansion this afternoon, but Xu Xingzhi, who is in charge of Luoyang's administration and military affairs, did not leave. So it's almost certain that the person in the carriage must be... Shen Luoyan."
Li Shimin nodded slightly, and Changsun Wuji chimed in, "Shen Luoyan is indeed no ordinary person. I'm afraid she sensed something was amiss and wanted to personally check whether the western front had fallen for our trap, but she doesn't know that leading her west is just one part of our plan."
Li Shimin just sighed softly upon hearing this. Pang Yu, adept at understanding his lord's mood, immediately sneered, "Our men reported long ago that Yuan Yueze, along with Zhu Yuyan, Fu Cailin's third disciple, and several women, traveled west into the desert. This man is truly arrogant and domineering, thinking that once he's settled things, he can abandon Luoyang. Humph!"
Upon hearing Yuan Yueze's name, Li Shiji's eyes flashed with a fierce light. Li Shimin laughed and said, "I've heard that a large portion of the soldiers and civilians in Luoyang believe the time is ripe. The army and civilians are united, yet neither Yuan Yueze nor Shen Luoyan shows any intention of declaring themselves emperor. What do you all think?"
Li Shiji scoffed, "That fiend only dreams of conquering the entire land before declaring himself emperor! That would be true rule over the world."
Changsun Wuji coldly said, "Wuji agrees with General Li's assessment. Yuan Yueze is willing to sacrifice more than half of the Song family's troops to seize Chengdu within six months. This not only puts us in a difficult and passive position after losing the support of Bashu, but also allows him to secretly undermine Song Zhi, greatly weakening the Song family army. How will we negotiate with Yuan Yueze in the future? As for the Young Marshal's army, it goes without saying. With Kou Zhong's character, how can he possibly defeat the treacherous Yuan Yueze?" His westward journey to the desert was simply to act simultaneously with the Central Plains, preparing to unify the Central Plains and beyond the Great Wall in the shortest possible time.
Li Shimin sighed, "What a pity, Yuan Yueze, your intentions are good, but arrogance is your greatest flaw."
Then, changing the subject, he asked, "How is the communication with our 'secret troops' going?"
Pang Yu bowed and said, "The Qin King's orders have been issued. Our Tang soldiers are just waiting for the Qin King to personally lead them into battle."
Li Shimin stood up, turned, and smiled, "Good! Who will accompany me?"
Luokou Granary, also called Xinglu Granary, was located on the hilly loess ridges along the Luo River. The soil there was hard and dry, and with convenient waterways, it connected Luoyang to the west, Shandong to the east, Yangzhou to the south, and Hebei to the north—a strategically important and well-connected area. Luokou Granary was originally only about twenty li in circumference. It was built by Yang Guang to store grain transported from Jiangnan via the Grand Canal. It had three thousand cellars, each holding eight thousand dan of grain, totaling nearly twenty-five million dan, making it the largest granary in the country. After the Wagang Army captured the granary, Li Mi ordered the construction of Xingluo City, expanding it to forty li in circumference, thus increasing Luokou Granary's size several times. The Wagang Army established its regime here. After Shen Luoyan came to power, she never neglected the fortification and construction of Luokou Granary, because she had once served under Li Mi and deeply understood its strategic importance. Li Shimin, of course, also understood the importance of this place. Therefore, before expanding his power south of the Yellow River, a blitzkrieg to take the impregnable Hulao Pass was impossible. Only by taking Luokou Granary first could he cut off the lifeline east of Luoyang Granary, and then use it as a base to expand his sphere of influence. General's Mansion. Bing Yuanzhen, with his eyes slightly closed, lay comfortably on a chaise lounge, receiving a massage from his newlywed, charming concubine. He and Shan Xiongxin were both former generals of the Wagang Army, and later they were not on good terms with the new favorites of Li Mi, such as Xu Shiji and Shen Luoyan. However, after Shen Luoyan became the lord of Luoyang, she did not retaliate against him, but instead used his talents, appointing him as a general and sending him to guard Luokou. Although Bing Yuanzhen was a military man, he knew that although he was well-versed in military strategy, he lacked courage and was not suitable for charging into battle, so guarding the city was the most suitable thing for him. Therefore, he admired Shen Luoyan's demeanor and ability even more and swore allegiance to her. Suddenly, a personal guard announced outside the door: Shen Luoyan had come to visit and was waiting in the study. Bing Yuanzhen was greatly surprised, knowing that Shen Luoyan's personal visit at this time must mean something important had happened. He quickly dismissed his concubine, ordered his men to notify the important generals and strategists to come immediately, and went to the study himself. This was a moment when a great battle was about to erupt. Bing Yuanzhen's generals and strategists moved with lightning speed, entering the study almost simultaneously with him. Only Shen Luoyan was inside, her silver helmet and plain clothes highlighting her heroic spirit and radiant beauty. After exchanging pleasantries and taking their seats, Bing Yuanzhen tentatively asked, "The city lord has come in person, I wonder..."
Shen Luoyan smiled slightly and recounted the events on the western front, saying, "I've come simply to personally meet Li Shimin."
Everyone was no fool; they immediately grasped the meaning behind her words and all looked towards Bing Yuanzhen, who was the most qualified to speak. Bing Yuanzhen said in a deep voice, "We are currently facing off on the river. Unless Li Shimin launches a full-scale attack, he will absolutely not be able to cross the river successfully, let alone capture Luokou!"
He paused, then continued, "No matter how strong Li Shimin is, he must take Luokou with overwhelming force. Otherwise, once our reinforcements arrive, he will only face certain death. The soldiers sent by the city lord to monitor the area beneath Luokou are taking turns listening day and night. It will be impossible for Li Shimin to dig a tunnel to infiltrate."
Shen Luoyan shook her head and said, "General Bing, do you know what Li Shimin is good at?" "
Bing Yuanzhen exclaimed in astonishment, "Judging from past battles, Li Shimin was most adept at feigning weakness to lure the enemy into attacking. He would wait until the enemy's morale was nearly broken before launching a full-scale assault. Li Shimin would personally lead his Xuanjia light cavalry, charging headlong into the enemy ranks with unstoppable force. They could usually reach the very back of the enemy lines, cutting all the way through, then return and repeat the attack until the enemy's formation was thrown into chaos and their morale collapsed. Then the main force
would simultaneously pursue and finish them off. This tactic was almost always victorious." As he spoke, his brow furrowed, his thoughts racing. This "piercing through" tactic was the essence of Li Shimin's years of combat experience—a tactic of concentrating superior forces to find the enemy's weak points and attack them, ultimately breaking through their defenses and causing their entire line to crumble. Shen Luoyan said softly, "Why do we choose to temporarily confront the Li Tang, instead of launching a full-scale attack?"
One of the strategists respectfully replied, "Judging from our current combat capabilities, both the Luoyang army and the Young Marshal's army are much weaker than the Li Tang army, which has been fighting for many years. The Song family army, due to the water and soil conditions, would probably be no match for the Li Tang army in the north. However, we have various defensive tools invented by Master Lu, so we choose to temporarily confront the enemy while continuously recruiting and training soldiers. When our strength is sufficient, we will engage in a decisive battle, and then we can conquer the world in one battle."
Hearing the strategist's words, Bing Yuanzhen had a flash of inspiration and pondered, "Does the city lord mean that a large number of Tang spies have infiltrated our side?"
Shen Luoyan nodded, saying, "We have never stopped recruiting soldiers and have not imposed many restrictions on merchants and traders. If the enemy is so inclined, they can not only infiltrate our army, but also send a large number of disguised soldiers out of the pass unnoticed."
Bing Yuanzhen and his advisors looked horrified: Currently, the Luoyang army, the Young Marshal's army, and the Song family army are only stationed along the border. The entire interior is only occupied by Lin Shihong in the south, and the area north of the Yangtze River is actually quite empty. If the enemy is really so inclined, then in the past year or so, countless Tang soldiers must have infiltrated the area. Their weapons and warhorses can also be infiltrated. Since they won't be put into the city, they can simply be placed in the nearby mountains, making them difficult to detect. With their intentions against their lack of intentions, this group of people would definitely be Li Shimin's greatest asset. Bing Yuanzhen said helplessly, "Even if we know that Li Shimin wants to deal with Luokou, we probably don't have time to find out where his ambush troops are hiding..."
He wasn't being modest. It's because if the enemy wanted to gather, they would definitely choose a steep mountain. Within a radius of a hundred miles, mountains and forests abound, making it extremely difficult to find a deliberately hidden force in a short period of time. With a major battle imminent, Li Shimin had likely already infiltrated the area to make contact with the Tang army, preparing to launch a feigned attack while the Tang army crossed the river to draw the attention of the Luokou troops, while simultaneously implementing a breaching tactic. Shen Luoyan smiled and said, "I speculate that the army Li Shimin infiltrated is all elite Xuanjia soldiers, numbering over a thousand. Other troop types might exist, but not many. This kind of combat mission demands the highest level of martial prowess; each soldier must be a warrior capable of taking on a hundred men."
She paused, then softly called out, "Come in!"
Bing Yuanzhen and the others were bewildered when, in a flash, a burly figure appeared in the room, clasping his hands in a fist salute, saying, "The Luoshui dike has indeed been tampered with. Just ten men could cause it to collapse at any moment, impacting Luokou. Brothers, remain hidden and await the city lord's orders."
Upon hearing that the Luoshui dike had been tampered with, a chill ran down Bing Yuanzhen and the others' spines. This meant their dereliction of duty. Without Shen Luoyan, the defending army would likely have been defeated when Li Shimin captured Luokou! Bing Yuanzhen hurriedly led his men to kneel and beg for forgiveness. Shen Luoyan invited them to rise and take their seats. The trembling Bing Yuanzhen and his companions finally got a clear look at the newcomer: he had a thin face, a calm expression, and piercing eyes. He wore black night clothes, carried a long sword on his back, and had various strange chains hanging from his waist. Most striking was the overwhelming aura of a peerless master emanating from him; his cultivation was no less than Bing Yuanzhen's, who had undergone marrow cleansing and body tempering. Shen Luoyan introduced, "I've brought twenty warriors from the Qiongqi Guard with me today. This is Captain Yin Xianhe."
Bing Yuanzhen was initially stunned, then his face lit up with joy, while the others were completely bewildered. After ascending to the position of city lord, Shen Luoyan secretly began to build three elite guard units: the Taotie Guard, the Chaos Guard, and the Qiongqi Guard. The Taotie Guard is primarily responsible for gathering intelligence, and its leader is Luo Qifei; the Chaos Guard is a guerrilla force, and the raid on the Li Tang supply convoy last winter was their "masterpiece," led by Wang Xuanshu; the Qiongqi Guard only receives orders from Shen Luoyan, and is capable of everything from assassinations to large-scale battles. Its original leader was Zhang Chuchen, but due to the gender difference making operations inconvenient, Yin Xianhe, Yuan Yueze's brother-in-law, was promoted. After more than two years of arduous training, the three guards were finally formed, each with only sixty members, but all had undergone rigorous training and were top-tier experts. Supported by Lu Miaozi's state-of-the-art equipment, they moved with lightning speed and ruthlessness. Their power can be guessed simply from the fact that their names are derived from the ferocious beasts in the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*.

Chapter 154
Only the important generals of the Luoyang military, including Bing Yuanzhen, knew of the existence of three teams. Other strategists and generals, though unaware, were reassured by the general's relaxed expression. Shen Luoyan said to Yin Xianhe, "Brother Yin, please send five brothers to watch the Luo River dike. The rest of you, please immediately check the Si River dike outside Hulao Pass
. Also, remind the garrison commander to secretly send men to check the Yellow River dike north of Hulao Pass. Because we need to conserve our strength, Li Shimin will definitely not launch an attack tonight, but tomorrow night is uncertain!" Yin Xianhe accepted the order and left. Shen Luoyan surveyed the assembled generals and strategists, who were now completely convinced and awaiting her orders, and said, "When I was in Gongxian, I already noticed a problem with the Luoshui dike north of the city. If I'm not mistaken, Li Shimin will only use this dike near Luokou Granary as a last resort. Gongxian and Hulao Pass will likely be flooded when the battle takes place at Luokou, making it difficult for our reinforcements to arrive quickly."
Shen Luoyan's analysis was reasonable. Everyone nodded in agreement: using the power of water to create momentum was indeed the best method. This further demonstrated that Li Shimin was a ruthless and cunning ruler who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Because if the dike breached, the nearby people would suffer the most. Li Shimin wanted to seize Luokou Granary, so he wouldn't flood the area under normal circumstances. If he couldn't seize it, then breaching the dike and destroying the Luoyang army's supplies was his true intention. Shen Luoyan sighed softly, then said, "I've heard that Li Shimin is always steady and meticulous in his thinking, and he would never give the enemy a chance to ambush him. This time, we'll use a 'luring the enemy into a trap' tactic!"
The next day, everything at Luokou was as usual. At dusk, the Tang navy finally launched its attack. Under Li Shiji's command, countless rockets soared into the sky, illuminating the river and raining down on the Luoyang navy's warships and temporary docks. Then came the powerful arrows and catapults, all poised to be unleashed, attacking the opposite bank. The Luoyang navy only realized what was happening when the rockets were upon them; several fires had already broken out on their warships. They were in no condition to retaliate, let alone fight back. They jumped into the water and fled back to shore. The Tang infantry and cavalry, under the cover of the lightning-fast warships, quickly laid down the pre-built pontoon bridge and rushed to the opposite bank in an orderly fashion. Once the 15,000 Tang troops reached the other side, they divided their tasks according to plan.
Because of the existing facilities of the former Luoyang army, the Tang army only needed to set up tents and wooden palisades, and dig deep trenches for defense. The key to establishing a camp lay in "choosing the right location first," aiming to achieve the two major military objectives of "self-defense" and "blocking the enemy." The camp served not only as an encampment and command post, a safe haven, and a supply depot for storing provisions and equipment, but also as a strategic stronghold to prevent enemy advances. Due to geographical constraints, the Tang army could only establish its camp near the water. This allowed them to not only take advantage of the continuous stream of warships coming from the opposite bank, but also to project an image of "do or die," where retreat meant certain death. The Tang army's outer perimeter was designed as a balanced offensive and defensive layout, with a front crescent shape and a rear square shape. The command post was located in a square formation, close to the river dock, with an arc-shaped formation in front, divided into left, center, and right points, facing the Luokou granary about three miles away. In front of the Crescent Moon Camp, deep trenches were dug and wooden palisades were erected. Tang archers, who had taken over the camp, climbed high watchtowers to monitor the enemy alongside two squads of a hundred-man cavalry patrolling the outermost perimeter of the camp. The navy was responsible for clearing shipwrecks and obstacles from the river. The nine thousand mixed troops were divided into three groups, each led by one of Li Shimin's generals, Li Shiji, Yuchi Jingde, and Kan Leng, who was skilled with a double-edged longsword. There was no room for carelessness. Li Shiji rode alone at the very front of the central army formation, gazing at Luokou Granary under the starry sky. After a long while, he came to his senses and sighed deeply. Behind him, Yuchi Jingde's deep, resonant voice rang out, "General Li, have you noticed something amiss?"
Li Shiji frowned and said, "I don't know why, but I have a very bad feeling."
Yuchi Jingde, riding up on horseback, laughed loudly, "Our plan this time is meticulous, and Bing Yuanzhen is skilled in defense but not offense. Under these circumstances, he has no choice but to send troops. Isn't this exactly what we planned? Besides, even if Shen Luoyan can return before the city falls, the situation is already... Oh! I'm sorry!"
He knew that "Shen Luoyan" was a word Li Shiji vehemently avoided, so he immediately shut his mouth. Li Shiji forced a self-deprecating smile. He had indeed been thinking of Shen Luoyan, but unfortunately, she was already another man's wife. Yet, he knew he would never forget her. That resourceful and valiant woman had never faded from his mind, so he hated Yuan Yueze, and even more so, he hated Shen Luoyan for not being able to distinguish right from wrong, throwing herself into the arms of that wicked Yuan Yueze. The sound of hooves ahead brought Li Shiji back to reality. The patrolling cavalry reported that Bing Yuanzhen had personally led nearly ten thousand mixed troops out of the city from Luokou Granary and was now about a mile away. Li Shiji and Yuchi Jingde exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously: Luokou Granary only had a total strength of twelve thousand men. With their communication channels to the surrounding areas cut off by the Tang Dynasty, Bing Yuanzhen must be as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. His all-out counterattack, using their weakness against their strength, played right into the Tang army's hands. Li Shiji raised his hand and waved his flag, and the patrolling cavalry and Yuchi Jingde and others returned to their positions. In the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the thunderous sound of hooves filled the air. The garrison of Luokou Granary, carrying hundreds of torches, charged forward like a tide under the moonlight, stopping two thousand paces away. The war drums sounded, and the Luoyang army formed ranks, ranks, and lines, creating a crescent-shaped formation with halberd-wielding soldiers at the front and bow-and-crossbowmen at the rear, the protruding part facing the enemy's center. Except for Bing Yuanzhen and a few generals who were on horseback directing the troops, the rest were all infantry, using shields taller than a person, with pointed spikes extending from the bottom that could penetrate three feet into the ground. With the added protection of spears, halberds, and arrows, they were impervious to the charge of enemy cavalry. The reason both armies used infantry spearmen and shield bearers as the vanguard, archers as the rear, and then the highly mobile cavalry, was that as long as the infantry formation restrained the enemy's attack, the cavalry could attack from either side. Both armies deployed infantry spearmen as their vanguard, followed by archers, and then highly mobile cavalry. As long as the infantry formations held back the enemy's attacks, the cavalry could strike from either side.
All the trees within a radius of several miles had already been felled; on this vast riverside plain, the battle was a contest of sheer strength, and the tactic of ambushing from the flanks was no longer effective. At the same time, Li Shiji, the commander of the central army, raised his flag, and the Tang army immediately sounded drums and horns, the atmosphere tense. The two flanks, already prepared, moved simultaneously, ready to launch a pincer attack while the Yang army's formation was still unstable. Bing Yuanzhen's strategist was right; the Tang army was indeed a well-trained elite force. Just looking at their advancing formation—their formations were well-organized, their ranks interconnected, their positions linked, orderly and disciplined, everyone moving in unison, creating the imposing momentum of a thousand troops advancing—enough to intimidate the enemy. Bing Yuanzhen sneered. The enemy was now launching a two-pronged attack, forcing his main force to advance and engage.
This would allow the enemy's central army to be divided under the cover of their flanks, facing a three-sided assault. Bing Yuanzhen would be utterly powerless to reverse the situation, and might even be routed. The Tang army could then relentlessly pursue the retreating Luoyang troops, directly attacking Luokou Granary, and possibly capturing it effortlessly. Bing Yuanzhen's face was grim. He waved his banner, the war drums sounded again, and the Luoyang army advanced instead of retreating. As the two forces drew closer, the atmosphere on the battlefield became as tense as a taut bowstring, a great battle imminent. Amidst the sound of war drums and horns, the distance between the two sides rapidly closed to a thousand paces. Both armies shouted in unison, their pace quickening with the sudden, rapid drumbeats. The flanks charged towards the enemy, archers on both sides drawing their longbows to their fullest extent. The wind and clouds instantly changed color, and the fighting spirit soared. When the two armies were about 700 paces apart, the bugle calls sounded simultaneously, as if by prior arrangement. Two cavalry units, each with nearly a thousand men, charged out from the flanks, flanking the enemy and joining the infantry in a fierce attack. The thunderous sound of hooves echoed across the plain, a terrifying spectacle. The tactics of both sides were almost identical.
War drums roared, battle cries filled the air, and soldiers from both sides, though scattered across the hills, charged towards the enemy in well-formed ranks, finally engaging in direct combat. Under the command of Bing Yuanzhen and Li Shiji, the soldiers of both sides fought with relentless ferocity, launching a fierce and relentless assault on the enemy, from long-range arrows to close-quarters combat, the fighting relentless and unending. The dust kicked up by horses' hooves and boots obscured the stars and moon. Both sides suffered casualties, blood staining the grassland, corpses littering the ground—a scene of utter carnage. Li Shimin led 1,100 elite Xuanjia cavalrymen from Qingshi Mountain, about twenty miles south of the Yellow River, galloping swiftly through the forest towards Luokou. The horses' hooves were wrapped in thick cloth, making only a faint sound as they moved. The riders were fully armed, their expressions relaxed and focused, showing no sign of tension. Li Shimin was confident: if Bing Yuanzhen simply held his ground by crossing the river, he could break the Tang army's offensive. However, with surrounding cities flooded and unable to send distress signals, coupled with a pincer attack, Luokou Granary would be difficult to hold. The cavalry he personally led was a formidable force, like a nail, capable of penetrating and striking. Once they reached the battlefield, they were sure to rout the exhausted Luoyang army. The sounds of battle could be faintly heard in the distance. Changsun Wuji, who was close by, leaned closer and said, "We should be only about five li from the battlefield."
Li Shimin nodded slightly. When they were about three li from the battlefield, the Xuanjia troops, having exhausted all available trees for cover, immediately assembled. They had barely traveled a mile when a series of deep, unsettling hoofbeats sounded ahead. Li Shimin and his men's faces darkened, and they immediately signaled for a halt. The Xuanjia warriors drew their bows and aimed in the direction of the hoofbeats. Judging from the sound, it was coming from a lone rider. Who would dare come alone? Could it be Yuan Yueze? Li Shimin and his men were horrified. Before they could think any further, a white dot ahead rapidly expanded. Shen Luoyan, clad in tight-fitting armor and exuding an awe-inspiring presence, gripped a silver spear and rode a magnificent, pure white steed, seemingly slow yet incredibly fast. Her silver armor and light gray shawl billowed in the wind behind her, making her appear like a goddess of war descended to earth. A highly intelligent hawk perched proudly on her shoulder, its cold eyes fixed on Li Shimin and his men. Shen Luoyan stopped just outside the range of Li Tang's arrows, her beautiful eyes sweeping around. She smiled faintly, "I admire that the Prince of Qin could infiltrate my sparsely defended territory."
Li Shimin's pupils constricted sharply. He smiled and said, "Lord Shen, you are too kind. But I wonder if you intend to hold off my thousand-plus Heavenly Soldiers alone?"
He had vaguely sensed that something was amiss. Shen Luoyan might have already taken the initiative. This Xuanjia cavalry unit responsible for executing the "breaching tactic" was the main force for capturing Luokou, their strongest point, and also their weakness. To avoid any unforeseen complications, Li Shimin naturally decided to strike first. At his peak in the borderlands, Yuan Yueze had only managed to kill a thousand Golden Wolf soldiers in one go. Everyone knew that the highest-ranking members of Yuan Yueze's family were Yuan Yueze, Zhu Yuyan, Shan Meixian, Wanwan, and the three Fu sisters. Shen Luoyan's strength was certainly not comparable to theirs. Li Shimin's prediction was correct; Shen Luoyan was indeed stalling for time to allow the reinforcements to arrive. Although her cultivation was not as high as Yuan Yueze's and the others, she was no pushover. Shen Luoyan swatted away the hawk, spurred her horse forward slowly, and extended her slender palm, saying, "Please, Prince Qin, come with me to Luoyang for a while. After the world is at peace, you may stay or leave as you please!"
"How dare you!"
Generals Pang Yu, Changsun Wuji, and others drew their weapons, surrounding Li Shimin and shouting insults. Li Shimin sneered, lightly flicking his right hand. A series of arrows rang out from the bowstrings, sending over a hundred powerful arrows flying from the hands of the Xuanjia cavalry, forming a net of arrows that hurtled towards Shen Luoyan, who had entered their range. The archers were all masters of their craft, their aim and angles flawless; Shen Luoyan instantly became a target. No one believed that Shen Luoyan could simultaneously deflect a hundred arrows under such circumstances. But she did it. Before many could understand what was happening, Shen Luoyan, wielding her spear as a shield and unharmed, had reached within a hundred paces of the Tang army's formation. Suddenly, she leaped from her horse, swift as a wisp of smoke, her spear, cold as the moon, hurtling towards Li Shimin's face. A flash of cold light and a gust of wind filled the air. The Xuanjia cavalry, all seasoned warriors, remained calm in the face of danger. Pang Yu, Changsun Wuji, and several other elite guards of Li Shimin attacked simultaneously. Changsun Wuji's jade flute, Pang Yu's sword, and the eight guards' spears and halberds all charged fearlessly towards Shen Luoyan. The other Xuanjia warriors sprang into action, attempting to form a circular formation to protect Shen Luoyan, intending to surround and kill her as quickly as possible. Shen Luoyan's beloved horse escaped back to the rear before the enemy could complete their defense. Shen Luoyan's eyesight was exceptional; judging from the angle and timing of the eight guards' attacks, she immediately knew they were skilled in combined weapon techniques. Coupled with the fact that Changsun Wuji and Pang Yu were both top-tier experts, they were indeed formidable. With a light laugh, Shen Luoyan flicked her wrist, the tip of her spear first touching Changsun Wuji's jade flute. Upon contact with the flute, she then used the momentum to thrust the spear at Pang Yu. The seemingly chaotic movement was actually a masterful technique of using the opponent's force to deflect their attack. The ten-man offensive was immediately broken. In a split second, the silver spear struck the enemy's weapons ten times, leaving them struggling to defend themselves. Her powerful inner energy surged into the enemy's body along the spear. Changsun Wuji, whose all-out attack had missed, exhausted his inner energy and was about to give up when Shen Luoyan's energy penetrated his soldiers. They felt as if they had been struck by lightning and staggered back. The last soldier who had taken the brunt of his comrades' energy suffered the worst. His hand exploded, flesh and blood flew everywhere, and as his halberd fell to the ground, he collapsed and died instantly. Having succeeded, Shen Luoyan giggled and did a backflip. Facing the rain of arrows coming from all around, she raised her spear, creating a silver shadow, then narrowed the spear's circle. Instantly, the spear shadow rolled around her delicate body, deflecting the arrows.
The Tang soldiers stared dumbfounded as she gracefully flew back to her white horse a dozen feet away. As if she hadn't fought at all, she crossed her legs, shouldered her silver spear, and leisurely smiled as she surveyed the Tang army. The contrast between extreme movement and stillness, combined with her languid and graceful demeanor, possessed a captivating charm. The shouts of battle from the distant battlefield made the silence here almost eerie. Li Shimin drew his sword. He himself was a formidable warrior, and although he saw Shen Luoyan's unstoppable courage, he remained fearless. Just as he was about to order a full-scale attack to kill Shen Luoyan, a disheveled Changsun Wuji returned to his side. After whispering a few words, Li Shimin's expression changed slightly, and he looked towards the dark distance behind Shen Luoyan. Shen Luoyan immediately raised her spear and said, "Why doesn't the Prince of Qin attack? Are you afraid of a mere woman like me?"
The Xuanjia cavalry immediately felt insulted. Although they didn't shout insults, the killing intent in their eyes intensified. Shen Luoyan knew that Changsun Wuji was the most calm and intelligent among Li Shimin's men. He wouldn't be complacent just because her side seemed to have control of the situation, and he had considered various ways to respond to changing circumstances. Her tactic of stalling for time had likely been seen through by the enemy. If Li Shimin wanted to escape, she alone would find it difficult to capture him before reinforcements arrived. Therefore, she was using a provocation tactic. A look of hesitation flashed in Li Shimin's eyes: Shen Luoyan's presence could be an imitation of Zhang Fei's actions at Changban Slope, or it could be to buy time for the reinforcements. Even with Li Shimin's wisdom, he couldn't fathom Shen Luoyan's thoughts: retreating would ensure their safety, but the losses of Li Shiji and others waiting for him to break through their lines on the riverbank would be uncertain; not retreating, on the other hand, risked total annihilation. Judging from the current situation, the latter possibility was far more likely. Pang Yu, who had been bowing, suddenly changed her expression. She stood up and whispered a few more words in Li Shimin's ear. Li Shimin's face turned ugly. He said, "City Lord Shen, you
are a woman who is not inferior to men. How could I dare to underestimate you!" After saying that, he gestured for retreat. Shen Luoyan secretly praised this as a true overlord, able to take things as they come and let them go. Pang Yu must have heard the hoofbeats of Yin Xianhe's cavalry approaching and reminded Li Shimin. At this moment, reinforcements had not yet arrived. She could only focus all her efforts on attacking the orderly retreating enemy, killing as many as possible. With a sharp shout, Shen Luoyan leaped into the air again. Her silver spear flicked and danced, sweeping up a whirlwind of spear shadows. After deflecting a wave of powerful arrows, the spear shadows rolled even more fiercely, surging towards the enemy rearguard like a mighty river. Her all-pervasive energy, combined with her unpredictable and elusive moves, made it impossible for anyone to catch her. Those who stood in her way were utterly defeated. With the tides rising and falling, she fought with increasing ferocity, each shot striking and killing a fallen soldier. Hearing the screams of his personal guards behind him, Li Shimin's eyes blazed with fury, yet he dared not stop, galloping towards Qing Shi Mountain. "
You came here to abandon all hope." Standing side-by-side with the women on the sand-blocked Ancient Beach, gazing at Yangguan Pass in the distance, Yuan Yueze involuntarily thought of Dante's famous quote. It was the only sentence he could recall after personally experiencing the desert. Having traveled northwest from Chengdu for nearly two months, they had mostly traversed barren plains, occasionally encountering large lakes and small grasslands in saline-alkali land. Today, they had finally witnessed a true desert. As far as the eye could see, there were only bare rocks and flat, yellow sand stretching endlessly in all directions; this monotonous and tedious scenery seemed to have no end. The glint of light reflected from the sand was extremely uncomfortable for the eyes. Humans are pitifully small in the boundless sea of sand. The temperature difference in the desert is enormous; the nights are as cold as the Arctic, while the days are scorching hot. Linglong Jiao explained that before sunrise, the sand is always icy cold, like frost and snow, but less than an hour after sunrise, the sand becomes scorching hot, like an oven baking anyone who dares to step on it.
Finally, the sun sets in the west, and the rolling heat is replaced by a biting cold wind, and the blinding white light is replaced by a beautiful pale blue. The deep, dark blue sky is studded with a few stars, making one deeply awestruck by the vastness of the universe, and making the vast desert more bearable. Yuan Yueze and several women set up a simple tent against the rocks, had dinner, and then sat around a large rock, gazing at the night sky, experiencing the feeling of a primitive society after the initial evolution of humankind. Several women chattered idly nearby, listening to Linglong Jiao talk at length about the customs of the nomadic tribes beyond the Great Wall and the terror of the boundless desert. Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan sat side by side, silently admiring the magnificent starry sky. Zhu Yuyan suddenly asked softly, "What are you thinking about?"
Yuan Yueze put his arm around her slender waist and sighed softly, "The secrets of the universe and life have been a topic of discussion for countless people since ancient times. I believe that the universe, like life, is a ceaseless cycle of birth and death. Every death is the beginning of another rebirth. Between the birth and death of this universe, countless lives are born, but they also disappear with the destruction of the universe. I suddenly realized that one goal of life is not only to achieve eternity in the birth and death of this universe, but also to transcend the birth and death of this universe and achieve true immortality. To some extent, this is also the way to transcend the universe."
As he said this, he suddenly trembled and slowly closed his eyes. The chattering women instantly fell silent and all looked at the two of them. For a person, being able to shatter the void and comprehend life and death is already the greatest achievement and goal. But Yuan Yueze's words had gone far beyond that scope, touching upon the origin and extinction of the universe. When Yuan Yueze opened his eyes again, he saw the women sitting around him, looking at him strangely. He smiled and said, "Please, ladies, rest in peace!"
Outwardly, he appeared unchanged, but the women keenly sensed that Yuan Yueze had changed, though they couldn't quite put their finger on it. Yuan Yueze explained, "I just suddenly grasped a sliver of the secret to completely integrating True Innate Qi into my own power, but unfortunately, the time was too short."
Zhu Yuyan nodded in praise, "It was precisely because of your words of sudden enlightenment that such a tremendous change occurred. It seems the day of achieving True Innate Perfection is within reach!"
The women were overjoyed and were about to speak when the Black King's shrill cry pierced the night sky as it shot down like a meteor. Yuan Yueze untied the paper tube from its leg, intending to read it with the women. Li Xiuning, whose spirits had improved considerably in recent days, rose and retreated into the tent, clearly not wanting to hear anything about her family. Otherwise, it would stir up her inner turmoil, leaving her feeling helpless and only causing her pain. Song Yuhua considerately went to take care of her. The letter described the recent war results and the latest situation in the Central Plains: when Wen County launched its river-crossing attack that night, the Tang army on the western and northern fronts also began to launch counterattacks, and fierce fighting broke out across the entire front. With thorough preparation, the Luoyang army achieved a near-total victory. The western route firmly secured the line of Mianchi, Changshui, and Yiyang, forcing the Tang army to retreat to the line of Jijin, Xiashi, Songyang Pass, and Gaomen Pass. On the northern route, due to geographical constraints, Song Shidao still failed to seize control of the Yellow River. However, a letter indicated that the latest batch of warships was rapidly arriving in Luoyang, suggesting Song Shidao was about to display his prowess. While the Tang army in Wenxian annihilated many of the Luokou garrison, their own losses were even greater. With Li Shimin's "heavenly army" failing to arrive on time, Li Shiji decisively chose to retreat to preserve his forces. Shen Luoyan pursued Li Shimin alone for about twenty li, killing over a hundred elite Xuanjia cavalry, but was eventually scattered and fled into Qingshi Mountain. She was helpless; by the time Yin Xianhe, leading his troops under the command of Yao Ying, encountered Shen Luoyan, the war had already ended. On the front lines, the offensive of the Young Marshal's Army and Dugu Feng's forces was in full swing. Dugu Feng's 30,000 troops had already captured Neihuang and Yaocheng, and would soon besiege Anyang. Meanwhile, Kou Zhong, with the help of Liu Heita and Fu Junzhuo, engaged in a fierce battle with Li Yuanji, Li Shentong, and Li Yi at Rao'an, inflicting a major defeat on the Tang army. Li Yuanji led his remaining 10,000 soldiers in a hasty retreat back to Youzhou. The handling of the pirates along the Shandong coast was also relatively successful. Although Li Shimin preserved his strength in this battle, his reputation was greatly damaged, and the morale of the Tang army suffered a significant blow. This can be considered a major turning point in his life. Li Yuan subsequently dispatched Li Jiancheng as military supervisor to assist Li Shimin at Tongguan. Needless to say, everyone could guess that Li Yuan had once again succumbed to his soft-hearted nature. Yuan Yueze sighed, "Li Jiancheng's departure from the pass will only benefit us, and Luoyan will surely make good use of this!"
The women all nodded in agreement. According to Linglong Jiao, it would take at least another month to reach the Puchanghai area. The following day, Yuan Yueze and his group continued their westward journey, trudging through the scorching, rolling yellow sand.

Chapter 155: The Lost Kingdom
. Battles raged daily outside Xiashi and Mianchi. This time, Li Jiancheng was forced to adopt Li Shimin's tactic of feigning weakness, using an ambush to decisively defeat Yang Gongqing and force him to retreat to Mianchi, greatly venting his frustration. At the Xiashi military headquarters, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin sat high on their thrones, their trusted confidants standing to their left and right. Li Jiancheng was in high spirits. Today, in the battle of Pingyuan, he had fought Yang Gongqing for over a hundred rounds amidst the chaos of battle and emerged victorious. Although there was an element of taking advantage of the situation, it still filled him with immense excitement; he had been pent up for days. The only thing that bothered him was that this tactic was Li Shimin's idea; otherwise, this victory would have been perfect. Li Shimin, however, was not as excited as Li Jiancheng. After more than a year of stalemate and friction, he dared not underestimate the enemy. Moreover, Yang Gongqing was resourceful and experienced; who knew if he had deliberately lost this battle to boost Li Jiancheng's prestige? If so, chaos would break out within the Tang army. The two groups in the room were never on good terms, and as the atmosphere grew increasingly eerily quiet, Li Jiancheng spoke up: "We must quickly gather our forces and launch a surprise attack on Mianchi to support the other fronts. What do you think, Prince Qin and everyone else?"
Li Shimin immediately replied: "Absolutely not! I have already ordered my men to ambush the navy at the source of the Jian River. After a short while, our navy will sail south from the Jian River and then westward up the Gu River. At that time, we will then launch our attack and wipe out the Luoyang army at Mianchi in one fell swoop."
The people of the Tiance Mansion nodded in approval, secretly praising the brilliance of this tactic, while the Crown Prince's men remained expressionless. Li Jiancheng coldly said, "We don't have that much time left. Surely the Prince of Qin wouldn't be so preoccupied with the present that he's forgotten the overall situation in the Central Plains?"
Upon hearing this, the generals of the Tian Ce Mansion revealed a fierce glint in their eyes, but then realized that Li Jiancheng's statement wasn't entirely without merit. For the past month or so, war had raged across the Central Plains. Li Yuanji's group in Hebei had been driven to the gates of Youzhou by Kou Zhong. The Young Marshal's army had gained considerable prestige, and the number of followers was increasing daily. The former Jiande troops in various regions were even vying to kill Tang officials in support of Kou Zhong and Liu Heita. Now, the Young Marshal's army had completely seized the former territory of Jiande. The situation in Youzhou was far from optimistic; Dugu Feng had also finished encroaching on the area surrounding Anyang and was beginning to besiege the defending forces; the three counties north of the Yellow River, originally belonging to the Li Tang dynasty—Heqing, Heyang, and Wenxian—had been attacked half a month earlier by over a hundred massive warships that Song Shidao had somehow acquired. With Li Shimin's prestige damaged, the morale of the Li Tang forces was severely affected. In just over ten days, all three important cities on the north bank of the Yellow River had fallen. At this point, the entire Yellow River east of Baiya Cang was under the control of the Luoyang army and the Young Marshal's army. If supported by those state-of-the-art warships, Song Shidao could sail upstream and directly threaten Guanzhong. The Li Tang's actual situation was precarious. Most critically, the morale of the Tang army had been severely damaged. With this disparity, the Luoyang army and the Young Marshal's army were riding high, their fighting spirit soaring. If this continued, the outcome was almost predictable. Therefore, although Li Jiancheng's suggestion was rash, it was the best way to boost morale at the moment: in the rapidly changing situation, opportunities were fleeting, and who knew what would happen on the various fronts if they waited any longer? He was nominally the military governor, but in reality, he held Li Yuan's imperial edict, and his position in the army was no less than Li Shimin's, making him a true commander-in-chief.
Li Shimin wanted to remind him that Yang Gongqing might be feigning weakness today, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Knowing Li Jiancheng as he did, he knew such words would only have a negative impact. The generals of the Tiance Mansion also only dared to curse inwardly, not showing it. After Li Jiancheng led his troops away, Li Shimin and the generals of the Tiance Mansion fell into silence. After the battle of Luokou Granary, they no longer dared to underestimate the pincer attack of Shen Luoyan, this "little woman," Li Shimin. A strategy aimed at eliminating the enemy's manpower was definitely the best choice, but unfortunately, the command was in Li Jiancheng's hands! After an unknown amount of time, Changsun Wuji gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and knelt before Li Shimin. He took out a pair of exquisite wine cups from his robes, raised them above his head, and resolutely declared, "Our Great Tang cannot afford another misstep! I beg Your Highness, for the sake of the people, I, Wuji, will bear all the blame!"
Li Shimin's powerful body trembled violently. He abruptly stood up, his expression extremely complex, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light, staring intently at the two wine cups.
The next day at noon. At the Luoyang City Lord's Mansion. Shen Luoyan, along with Xu Xingzhi, Ren Meimei, and Zhang Chuchen, were enjoying Wei Zhenzhen's cooking while discussing important military and financial matters. At this moment, a guard announced the arrival of Luo Qifei. Luo Qifei, travel-worn, sat down and immediately exclaimed excitedly, "At dawn today, the Li Tang dynasty prepared to launch a strong attack on Mianchi. General Yang fought Li Jiancheng outside the city and killed him in public in less than ten moves!"
Shen Luoyan and the others were also taken aback upon hearing this. Xu Xingzhi and Shen Luoyan exchanged a glance, both guessing that Yang Gongqing was likely feigning injury to lure Li Jiancheng into battle. Li Jiancheng had killed Yang Gongqing's entire family and knew the deep-seated hatred between them. Enemies meeting are always filled with hatred, and Yang Gongqing's actions were a sign that he was blinded by hatred, so he was sure Li Jiancheng wouldn't fall for it. So he interjected, "General Yang, did you continue to retreat afterward?"
Luo Qifei was slightly taken aback, nodded, and then looked puzzled, as if he didn't understand why they didn't take advantage of the situation to launch a full-scale counterattack. Shen Luoyan sighed, "Li Shimin didn't object to Li Jiancheng going into battle, did he?"
Luo Qifei nodded again, thoughtfully saying, "General Yang later said that Li Jiancheng suddenly became very weak during the decisive battle for some reason, otherwise he wouldn't have been defeated so quickly."
Ren Meimei chimed in, "With Li Shimin's wisdom, how could he not guess some of General Yang's thoughts? It's very likely that he had already used some clever means or medicine on Li Jiancheng, but Li Jiancheng just didn't notice!"
The group nodded in unison, and Shen Luoyan shook her head and sighed softly, "Since they were born into the royal family, fratricide is not a big deal. Li Shimin is truly not simple; he not only used General Yang..." "Eliminating this major threat will not only boost the morale of the Tang army with Li Jiancheng's death, turning them into a fearless and desperate force,"
Xu Xingzhi frowned and pondered. "Li Shimin has always been resourceful and cunning; he probably has other plans to deal with us. I request that the city lord order Xingzhi to go to Mianchi to participate in the battle!"
Shen Luoyan smiled slightly and said, "Leave Luoyang to Xingzhi. I want to go and see for myself, because this may very well be the final battle that determines the fate of Li Shimin for the rest of his life!"
Ren Meimei also said, "The Tang Dynasty has been at war for years, and the national treasury's grain reserves have been greatly depleted. Li Shimin should have realized this long ago, so Luoyan's statement is not an exaggeration."
Xu Xingzhi nodded with a wry smile. As news of victories poured in from all fronts, the calls for Shen Luoyan to declare himself emperor in Luoyang grew louder, all thanks to him suppressing the crowd. Even with his wisdom, he didn't know how to smoothly hand over power to Song Shidao under such circumstances; he could only take it one step at a time.
After traveling for several days, the desert was no longer a daunting place for Yuan Yueze and his companions, but a breathtakingly beautiful world. Their journey had transformed into a love journey filled with boundless springtime charm. The main reason, of course, was the company of their beloved companions, which made them feel no loneliness whatsoever. They traveled by day and slept by night. Every nightfall, they would lie on the sand or pitch tents, watching the mysterious and vibrant night sky, seeing the moon rise above the horizon, vying for brilliance with the starlight. The warmth and joy they experienced were indescribable. With sunrise and sunset, and the alternation of hot and cold, the days flew by.
Yuan Yueze and the women finally crossed the Three Sands and arrived at the "Yardang White Dragon Mound" area of salt-alkali hills. "Yardang" is a Uyghur word meaning "steep-walled hills." It is a unique landform around the ancient lake basin of Puchanghai, spanning hundreds of miles, and is quite magnificent. The Yardang landform was formed by water erosion, and traces of water erosion can still be seen on the surface, indicating that this place must have been a lush and fertile land in the past. As for the White Dragon Mounds, they refer to the Yardang landforms that developed on the basis of grayish-white sandstone and mudstone interbedded with gypsum layers. They are nearly ten zhang high and more than a hundred zhang long, winding and extending, and from a distance, they look like a white dragon coiled on the desert. The name White Dragon Mounds comes from this. Linglongjiao led everyone to the high point called the "Dragon Body," where the White Dragon Mounds stretched to the end that could not be seen with the naked eye. Its shape is indeed like a dragon, some with their heads raised; some lying on the path; some with their heads slightly raised, ready to take off at any time. The
"Dragon Body" is covered with a layer of white saline-alkali soil, some of which is a thick layer of crystalline salt; and some "Dragon Body" itself is made of white clay. Under the sunlight, the long, winding sand dunes reflected a brilliant silver light, like a group of white dragons swimming in a sea of sand. Their white backs appeared and disappeared in the waves, head to tail, boundless and magnificent. Calling it the White Dragon Dunes was truly apt. After passing through the White Dragon Dunes from east to west, the ancient Silk Road, buried by sandstorms, forked, one branching southwest to ancient Loulan and Weili, the other north over the Kuruktag Mountains to Turpan. After admiring the sights, Yuan Yueze and his companions continued westward. Linglong sighed, "We'll reach Puchang Lake in ten more days. According to our ancestors, five hundred years ago, this lake was three hundred li wide; two hundred years ago, its area shrank by nearly half; as for its current size, outsiders have no idea."
The group shared a sense of helplessness. None of them had been to Puchang Lake before, and there wasn't a single person in sight within a hundred li radius. They could only search slowly, following the general direction. Yuan Yueze, having no other choice, tried to distract the women by glancing at a pile of bones in the distance. He then turned to Fu Junqiang, who was curiously looking around, and said with a mischievous grin, "The environment here is harsh, with frequent sandstorms. Countless travelers have died here. Moreover, countless battles have taken place here in the past; many soldiers have died here, their spirits said to still roam."
A gust of cold wind howled, like a ghostly wail, startling Fu Junqiang, who screamed and threw herself into his arms. Hearing the laughter of the other women around her, she pouted and gave a coquettish scolding. After the banter, they continued on their way. Fortunately, their bodies were special; ordinary people would have perished long ago in this desolate, boundless land of death. Shang Xiufang's letter didn't specify whether she knew the exact location of Pu Changhai, so Yuan Yueze and the others could only search along the general direction of the map. A few sparse clouds drifted across the barren, sandy plain. The dryness and furnace-like temperature had sapped all life from the earth, and the relentless sunlight shone down. The desert had no boundaries or markers; the concepts of time and space were utterly foreign to this monotonous world. Under these conditions, Yuan Yueze and the others, who had been searching for seven or eight days, began to feel restless. At dusk, the sand gave way to gravel, and as the gravel gradually turned into coarse sand, the sun hid below the horizon. A chill descended, and the crescent moon shyly revealed its delicate beauty in the dim afterglow of the setting sun. Most of the group, who had been exploring westward in a fan shape
, returned to the agreed meeting point, feeling somewhat discouraged. Zhu Yuyan's voice rang out from the northwest: "I've found something! Come quickly!" Yuan Yueze and the women were startled and rushed over. When they reached Zhu Yuyan, they looked into the distance, only to see the same monotonous, suffocating desert horizon to the northwest, appearing and disappearing in the night. Zhu Yuyan offered no explanation, only a slight smile, and took to the air first, with Yuan Yueze and the others quickly following. An hour later, darkness fell completely. Guided by the crescent moon, they caught up with Zhu Yuyan, who had stopped. After looking around, they finally cheered. Before them lay an endless oasis, resembling a large green ship floating on the ocean in the twilight. Countless ponds of varying sizes stretched out, appearing so gentle under the starlight and moonlight. The grass and bushes teemed with various creatures, birds circled in the night sky, and butterflies fluttered in flocks. This was a treasure trove in the desert. Under the supreme spiritual perception granted by Zhu Yuyan's Demonic Cultivation Technique, they were like having a wireless radar, easily discerning the direction from which abundant life arose. They traveled through the night, heading into the oasis. The further they went, the more the ponds and waterways crisscrossed. Without someone familiar with the route or someone with extraordinary spiritual perception to lead them, anyone would likely have been lost in this oasis crisscrossed by numerous rivers. At dawn, the group finally reached a village inhabited by people. At this moment, even they themselves were unsure of their exact location on the earth. Smoke curled from the chimneys of a distant village, sparsely populated, resembling a paradise. It evoked an indescribable sense of warmth and happiness, a feeling even more profound for those who had spent days traversing the desolate desert. Yuan Yueze and his companions stopped atop a slightly elevated haystack, gazing around: the village had no clearly defined streets; the surrounding open spaces were dotted with nomadic-style tents and rammed-earth houses retaining some Han Chinese characteristics, totaling fewer than thirty households. Linglong Jiao glanced at the herds of sheep, horses, and cattle in another direction and exclaimed with delight, "It seems this village belongs to the Wushuang Kingdom!"
Yuan Yueze nodded, and the group proceeded around the village. The villages gradually became more densely packed, and after half an hour, they passed through a grove of trees. Suddenly, the view opened up before them—a large town. Terraced fields stretched as far as the eye could see, and majestic houses rose in the distance, creating a breathtaking panorama. Unable to remain hidden any longer, and to avoid attracting attention, Yuan Yueze only took Zhu Yuyan and Linglong Jiao into the town. Most of the pedestrians on the road were dark-skinned and simply dressed. Upon seeing the three uninvited guests, they all showed wary expressions. However, many naked children and young people greeted them with friendly looks, then went about their business, paying little attention to the three. As they walked along the road, rows of houses lined both sides, some with magnificent buildings, making one wonder how much manpower and resources it must have taken to create such a grand and secluded paradise in this remote place. Suddenly, the sound of hooves broke the tranquil atmosphere. The three stopped simultaneously and looked in the direction of the sound. More than ten riders were charging towards them, each armed and robustly built. The young general at the head was handsome, with long, flowing hair, wearing a short-sleeved leather jacket, a copper belt, and long boots. Zhiyuan, Yueze, and the other two reined in their horses five zhang in front of them, lined up neatly, and carefully sized up the three outsiders. The other soldiers, clearly lacking sufficient cultivation, couldn't tear their eyes away from the two beauties, Zhu Yuyan and Linglong Jiao. The leading general stared blankly for a moment before snapping out of his daze, making a strange gesture, and asked in fluent Chinese, "Are you Yuan Yueze?"
Yuan Yueze smiled and nodded. The dozen or so knights, unsurprised, reluctantly withdrew their gazes from the two women, dismounted, and walked a few feet forward, respectfully saying, "Our King invites you, young master!"
Yuan Yueze and his companions exchanged a few polite words and followed them. A while later, they had left the town and arrived at the edge of a grove of ancient, towering trees, where an elegant and exquisite pavilion could be seen. Led by the general, they followed a smooth, well-maintained stone path towards the heart of the swaying trees. At the end of the path, an ancient wooden structure appeared before them; the pavilion featured double-eaved crenellations, soaring high and far, seemingly poised for flight, exuding a powerful aura. The general escorted them to the pavilion gate and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, our distinguished guests have arrived."
A deep, melodious, and pleasant voice, yet so cold and clear as if it belonged to another world, rang out from inside the room, saying, "Please come in."
They still spoke fluent and standard Mandarin. Yuan Yueze and his companions were invited into the room, and their eyes lit up. The not-so-spacious hall was exquisitely furnished, with beautiful tables and chairs, and a huge painting of the grasslands hanging on the wall. Two women sat on two large chairs in the center. The one on the left was Shang Xiufang, whom they hadn't seen for several years, gazing at Yuan Yueze with affection. The woman on the right, dressed in a pale yellow gown, bore a striking resemblance to Shang Xiufang, making her identity obvious. She looked to be under thirty, with jet-black, glossy hair flowing like clouds, soft and pure, light as mist, emphasizing her long, slender neck. Her features were sharply defined, as if sculpted by a knife and axe; her nose was straight and elegant, with a noble air; her eyes were clear and deep black; and her body was tall and slender, possessing a captivating beauty and vitality that transcended all material things. Yuan Yueze was stunned for a moment, and was about to speak when the woman gracefully rose and said calmly, "Please take your seats, gentlemen."
She was the first person who showed no surprise upon seeing Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan's appearances. After exchanging pleasantries, the group took their seats. Taking a sip of the hot tea that had been prepared beforehand, Yuan Yueze scratched his head and awkwardly smiled, "Oh, right, how should I address you?"
Shang Xiufang, who had remained silent until now, blushed slightly upon hearing this and gave him a captivating eye roll. The woman looked surprised, but quickly regained her composure and said in a still emotionless voice, "I am the current ruler of Wushuang Kingdom. You are not a citizen of our kingdom, and you are the husband of Meixian and Xiufang. Please address me as you see fit."
Shang Xiufang protested, "Mother!"
This ruler of Wushuang Kingdom was none other than Mingyue, Shan Meixian's close friend and Shang Xiufang's mother. Yuan Yueze and the others had guessed that Mingyue was in Wushuang Kingdom, but they hadn't expected her to be the ruler of a kingdom; there must be many stories behind it. Yuan Yueze had no idea how to address her, as his family's generational hierarchy was a complete mess. So he coughed and changed the subject, saying, "When did Xiufang arrive? Why didn't you tell me the way?"
Hearing his complaining tone, Shang Xiufang got up and went behind Zhu Yuyan, who was quietly sipping tea, to gently massage her shoulders. She said aggrievedly, "I knew this was a trick to deal with my husband, how could I tell you? But Xiufang knew you would come looking for me, I just didn't expect it to be so soon."
Yuan Yueze remembered why the soldiers recognized him and could only smile bitterly. Mingyue stared at Zhu Yuyan and slowly asked, "Is this Meixian's mother, Empress Zhu?"
Shang Xiufang introduced them to each other before Yuan Yueze could. The three women simply nodded to each other without speaking. Lunchtime arrived quickly, and Shang Xiufang was the most talkative at the table. It turned out she had been there for about half a month. Seeing that her mother was still alive, she felt relieved and unconsciously returned to the childhood days of snuggling in Mingyue's arms. Hearing her story, Yuan Yueze and the others learned that Mingyue had been depressed for years, eventually reaching a point where even a healer could not cure herself. After her death, she was buried by Shang Xiufang. Coincidentally, the all-powerful Ning Daoqi passed by and, sensing the faint spiritual energy of the deceased, immediately began to revive her. After waking up, Mingyue, guided by Ning Daoqi, came to Wushuang Kingdom alone. Her beauty, medical skills, and compassion deeply moved the previous king. The king, who had no children, passed the throne to her before his death, and she has held it ever since.
Mingyue always maintained a cold demeanor, but when Shang Xiufang recounted the past, a barely perceptible sorrow appeared in her brows, and her beautiful eyes shone with an unfathomable bitterness. How could this deceive the perceptive Yuan Yueze and the others? Moreover, Shang Xiufang's words were vague, revealing that the truth was far more complex. After the meal, Shang Xiufang and Yuan Yueze went alone to the stone pavilion in the small garden behind the palace to reminisce. After a few words, Shang Xiufang nestled limply in Yuan Yueze's arms, panting softly. Yuan Yueze asked, "Why did you leave for a distant land without telling you she wasn't dead?"
Shang Xiufang pressed down on his playful hand, slightly annoyed, "It's our mother!"
Yuan Yueze chuckled, "If we're talking about Yu Yan, you're my granddaughter!"
Shang Xiufang was speechless, but helpless against his shamelessness, murmuring, "Mother has never told Xiufang who my biological father is. Ever since she gave birth to me, she's never been happy, alas!"
Her voice lowered, and a somber look appeared on her face. Yuan Yueze nodded, thinking that the problem must lie with Shang Xiufang's biological father. Although Mingyue was once incredibly beautiful, in the end, she was still just a courtesan. Her status and position came from high-ranking officials and nobles. Once her innocence was lost, or she was abandoned, how could she bear it? Shang Xiufang's plaintive voice continued to reach his ears, saying, "Although Ning Daoqi saved Mother's life, her deathly despair hasn't improved at all. If he hadn't arrived in time and used his extraordinary power to heal her, she probably wouldn't have survived for another two years!"
Yuan Yueze sighed, "Why are there so many heartless men in the world?"
Shang Xiufang wrapped her slender arms tightly around his neck, saying, "My husband is not a heartless man."
Yuan Yueze smiled bitterly, "I am even less of a good person and a qualified husband."
Shang Xiufang said, "If fate is like this, what can be done? My husband's behavior has been very good."
As she spoke, her pretty eyes turned, and she smiled lightly, "Xiufang has a request for you."
Yuan Yueze looked at her for a moment, then said in surprise, "You wouldn't be thinking of me..."
Shang Xiufang pressed her slender fingers to his lips. With a radiant smile, she said, "Xiufang can't lose her mother again. To gain her and then lose her again is too painful! Does my husband lack confidence in his own charm?"
Yuan Yueze was both amused and annoyed. His large hand, which had been caressing her alluring back and hips, lightly lifted and slapped her high, rounded buttocks. He said helplessly, "What kind of daughter would act as a pimp for her own mother? How about this, when we pacify the borderlands in the future, we'll take—oh no!—our mother with us and live in seclusion, okay? She's been heartbroken for many years; even a god descending to earth couldn't do anything about it in a short time."
Shang Xiufang's cheeks flushed red, and she writhed and moaned, "I did tell my mother everything about you, but she didn't react at all."
Yuan Yueze chuckled at this. Just as he was about to speak, a soft footstep sounded behind them. Shang Xiufang cried out, "Mother!" and struggled to her feet.
Yuan Yueze quickly got up to greet her. Shang Xiufang, arm in arm with Mingyue, sat down in the pavilion and made an excuse to slip away. Dressed in her noble robes, Mingyue remained unperturbed, calmly observing Yuan Yueze with eyes devoid of any human emotion. Only when he became somewhat uncomfortable did she speak, "Young Master, your background is extraordinary, and your ambitions are even more lofty. Years ago, I heard of your fame that resounded throughout the land, and I admired you greatly."
Recalling that he had been in the world for nearly ten years, Yuan Yueze sighed wistfully, "Mother...Auntie didn't blame me for starting this war, and I am very gratified."
Mingyue stared at him intently for a long while before withdrawing her gaze, saying, "If our country had possessed strength back then, how could we have been forced to flee to the vast desert? If we hadn't encountered this treasure land, the Wushuang Kingdom would probably have perished like Loulan long ago!"
She paused, then said thoughtfully in a low voice, "Since the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in the Central Plains, whenever the nation's power increased, it launched large-scale campaigns against the peaceful nomadic tribes beyond the Great Wall. In the eyes of the people beyond the Great Wall, the Han soldiers were brutal, a fact that has never ceased to be recorded in their blood-and-tears-written annals."
Yuan Yueze continued, "However, the powerful figures beyond the Great Wall have never ceased their covetousness and ambition towards the Central Plains. This is inherently a murky matter. It's because everyone has their own personal stance and reasons; what is good for one person may very well be bad for another."

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