[Fantasy] A Eunuch Breaks into the Inner Palace (Complete) - 15

In Chapter Six of Episode Four, on

the training ground for the suppression of the rebels, an army was undergoing rigorous drills. Their banners and armor gleamed, and their soldiers were fierce
and valiant, appearing as a formidable force. Li Xiaomin, riding a tall horse, stood in the center of the training ground, secretly admiring and gratified by the valiant appearance of his men.
This army was composed of the strongest and most capable men he had handpicked from the Imperial Guard, named the Demon-Suppressing Army, and he had assigned them numerous training tasks, vowing to train them into the most elite and courageous army of the era.
Although he wasn't a soldier in his previous life, he had at least read many novels about traveling back in time to build armies, knowing that in this age of cold weapons, the most important training method was to increase the soldiers' physical strength. Therefore, his soldiers had to carry heavy loads for dozens of miles every day before being allowed to return for meals; otherwise, they would be punished.
Under such cruel treatment, the soldiers suffered greatly. Fortunately, Li Xiaomin was willing to spend money, obtaining a large amount of military funds from the Ministry of War. He put considerable effort into the soldiers' meals, ensuring they had meat every day. He even hired several top-tier chefs from the palace, allowing the soldiers to enjoy the delicacies prepared by the imperial kitchen.
Being able to eat their fill every day was a rare privilege for soldiers in an era when many ordinary people struggled to get enough to eat. Moreover, Li Xiaomin never delayed paying his soldiers, making him a rare and benevolent commander compared to other units.
Sometimes, Li Xiaomin would personally lead his troops, running dozens of miles on the road. In his previous life, he certainly wouldn't have been able to keep up, but now, having diligently practiced immortal arts and martial arts, running dozens of miles was child's play for him. Seeing their young commander's impressive running speed, and Li Xiaomin's occasional display of swordsmanship, defeating some of the army's bravest warriors, the soldiers all respected him. The training tasks he assigned were also executed exceptionally well.
After some time, the soldiers' physical strength increased dramatically. Nourished by excellent rations, they grew as robust as oxen. They trained daily in martial arts, using swordsmanship and spear techniques devised by Li Xiaomin and the two ghost generals—simple yet effective, perfectly suited for the battlefield.
To avoid appearing weak on the battlefield, Li Xiaomin also diligently studied military knowledge of the era, immersing himself in several military texts. He even sought advice from retired veterans. Recognizing his humility and the generous gifts he offered, these elders were willing to share their knowledge without reservation. As for what they couldn't teach him, he would have to learn it himself on the battlefield.
Now, Li Xiaomin stood on horseback, watching thousands of warriors, their movements synchronized, their shouts echoing as they swung their swords in unison, their momentum like thunder. He nodded inwardly, dreaming of the day he could lead them into battle, letting the world know the bravery of his army.
There's a saying, "What you wish for will come true," and Li Xiaomin had just stumbled upon such good fortune. As he was lost in his daydreams, a young eunuch came running breathlessly into the drill ground, summoning him to the palace to meet Empress Zhou. According to the eunuch, bandits were causing trouble, and Empress Zhou intended to send him to lead the campaign.
Li Xiaomin was overjoyed. He tossed a silver ingot to the eunuch, spurred his horse, and galloped off from the drill ground, heading straight for the palace.
In the Golden Palace, civil and military officials stood solemnly, holding their tablets. The stunningly beautiful Empress Zhou, seated behind a beaded curtain, parted her lips slightly and asked in a sweet voice, "My lords, bandits have rebelled in Yongzhou, killing the prefect and seizing the city. How should the court respond? What are your thoughts?"
General Qin Yuan stepped forward, bowing respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister is willing to lead an army to quell the rebellion and reclaim Yongzhou!"
The officials stirred, looking at the white-bearded old general, marveling at his enduring prowess and ambition.
Empress Zhou shook her head, saying, "General, your loyalty to the country is known throughout the land. However, you are indeed advanced in years; the hardships of war may not be good for your health. If we are to launch a campaign, we must choose another general."
Qin Yuan was immediately troubled. Most of his capable sons and nephews were stationed on the border, guarding against attacks from Northern Zhao and Chen. In Jinling City today, even finding a capable general is no easy task. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh at the vicissitudes of life. Once, his subordinates were filled with valiant generals, but now there's a shortage of capable men—truly lamentable.
Left Chancellor Zhou Tai, however, stepped forward, holding his tablet, and bowed, saying, "This old minister recommends one person who can surely wipe out the bandits in one fell swoop: Lingxiu Zhenren Li Xiaomin, commander of the Changshui Colonel, whose subordinates are brave and skilled in battle, renowned throughout Jinling. If he is appointed to lead the army to Yongzhou, he will surely defeat the bandits in one fell swoop and restore our Great Tang's lands!"
The officials were all somewhat surprised. Although Li Xiaomin enjoyed great favor with the emperor, he was ultimately just a youth, and besides his knowledge of immortal magic, he showed no other talent. Why did Zhou Tai insist on recommending him to lead the army?
Some astute individuals were already speculating whether Empress Zhou was cultivating a confidant to seize military power. Zhou Tai, as the head of all officials, had many subordinates and disciples in the court, who naturally followed his lead. They all stepped forward to recommend Li Xiaomin, claiming that they saw his men running around the city every day during drills, their shouts echoing across the fields. His bravery and fierceness were renowned far and wide, truly making him a remarkable young hero. They believed that if he were to lead the troops into battle, they would surely return victorious in no time.
Right Chancellor Qian Song stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, that commoner is a eunuch. How can he command a large army? Moreover, he has no experience in commanding troops. If he is ordered to lead the army, I fear the troops will not obey him. Please, Your Majesty, consider this carefully!"
Zhou Tai asked in dismay, "Then what should be done according to the Right Chancellor's opinion?"
Qian Song smiled and said, "I recommend someone: Qian Wulin, the commander of the Imperial Guards. He is skilled in archery and horsemanship and has the courage of ten thousand men. If he is ordered to lead the army, he will surely wipe out the bandits in one fell swoop and live up to His Majesty's expectations." Zhou Tai shook his head and said, "Right Chancellor, you are mistaken! General Qian is indeed highly skilled in martial arts, but he is reckless and has no experience in battle. Letting him lead the troops into battle rashly
will likely be detrimental."
He sneered, "Qian Wulin has never fought in battle, but is that little eunuch a seasoned warrior? He's nothing but a lowly servant. If he were to command troops, the whole world would laugh at our Tang Dynasty for having no one capable!"
Li Xiaomin had already arrived outside the main hall. Using his extraordinary hearing, he pricked up his ears to eavesdrop on the sounds inside. Upon hearing Qian Song's words, he was furious, thinking, "What an old scoundrel! How dare he call me a lowly servant, just like your grandson? He's no good either!"
Zhou Tai and Qian Song, as the two prime ministers, were now arguing. Many of their disciples and officials in the court stepped forward to support their respective prime ministers, and the argument between them grew louder. For a time, the court was filled with heated debate, and the noise gradually increased.
Only the military faction, led by Qin Yuan, stood awkwardly between the two prime ministers, lamenting that the court currently lacked capable generals who could not compare to the candidates proposed by the two prime ministers. They could only watch helplessly as this opportunity to shine in battle was given to other factions.
Li Xiaomin, who overheard everything outside the hall, was puzzled: "Zhou Tai and I aren't related, so why is he helping me so much? Although he's my nominal grandfather-in-law, he doesn't know about the close friendship between me and his granddaughter... Hmm, I know, it was Empress Zhou who instructed her father to do this. No wonder she's been summoning me so often these days, asking about my well-being, and giving me delicious snacks, praising me for being honest and hardworking. She's trying to win me over! Could it be that she's after my military power, or my magical abilities? It seems they really don't know anything about magical arts." "Even those in high positions would have some worries without the backing of the Guishan Sect's masters!"
Understanding his own value, Li Xiaomin felt a surge of joy, thinking, "Since I'm so important, surely she won't refuse if I directly ask to marry her daughter?" Just
as he was pondering this, the Grand Eunuch standing in the court raised his voice to silence the officials' commotion. Empress Zhou said clearly, "Since the two prime ministers cannot reach a decision, why not summon Li Xiaomin and Qian Wulin to the court for a formal inspection? What do you two think?"
The two prime ministers readily agreed, nodding in agreement.
A eunuch stepped out of the palace gate, shouting loudly, "The Empress commands: Summon Li Xiaomin and Qian Wulin to the court!"
Li Xiaomin, who had been waiting at the palace entrance, stepped inside upon hearing the sound. He passed through the passageway between the officials, reached the jade steps, and prostrated himself before them, silently reciting, "Mother-in-law, your daughter has served me so well; it is only right that I bow to you. I haven't seen her for so many days, and I really miss her. When should I send Li Bai back from the Soviet Union to properly comfort Princess Zhenping?"
Lost in thought, he heard the beautiful woman behind the beaded curtain on the jade throne ask with a smile, "Li Xiaomin, I have appointed you to command the Zhenxie Army. How have you performed?"
Li Xiaomin kowtowed at the foot of the jade steps and replied, "Your Majesty, I have received Your Majesty's grace and have always thought of repaying it. Now... " Every day, he led his soldiers in rigorous training and made them kowtow to the heavens, remembering the virtues of His Majesty and the Empress, vowing to be loyal to the court for life, even at the cost of their lives!
Empress Zhou smiled slightly and said gently, "The bandits in Yongzhou are causing trouble. Prime Minister Zhou recommends you to go and suppress them. Are you willing to go?"
Li Xiaomin hurriedly kowtowed and said, "I am not talented and have no experience in battle. I am grateful for Prime Minister Zhou's recommendation. I will do my utmost and die for my country. I will not return to the court until all the bandits are wiped out!"
Empress Zhou nodded with a smile. Just as she was about to speak, she heard footsteps outside the door. A burly man, wearing heavy armor, strode into the hall with heavy steps.
Approaching Li Xiaomin, the burly man prostrated himself and kowtowed, his voice booming, "This humble general, Qian Wulin, pays his respects to Your Majesty the Empress!"
Empress Zhou repeated her earlier words and asked, "If you are appointed to lead the army into battle, are you confident in your ability to annihilate the bandits?"
Qian Wulin was a nephew of the Qian family. Qian Song and Li Xiong had gone to great lengths to seize such an important position as Commander of the Imperial Guard and appoint him to it. Now, he was given a great opportunity to make a name for himself and be promoted. Overjoyed, he prostrated himself and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this humble general will not fail Your Majesty's expectations. I will cut off the heads of all the bandits and bring them back to report to the Emperor!"
Empress Zhou frowned slightly and pondered, "This matter requires careful consideration. You may rise and speak first."
Li Xiaomin stood up and boldly peeked at the graceful beauty behind the curtain, but he could only see the alluring aura emanating from the sexy body concealed by the Empress's robes. He could not see anything else clearly and could not help but feel a little regretful.
Turning to look at Qian Wulin's towering figure and hostile gaze, Li Xiaomin smiled slightly and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I am willing to duel with General Qian to determine the winner. If I lose, I will willingly concede defeat. I have no face to accept this important mission and wish General Qian a swift victory."
Qian Wulin was taken aback, not expecting this frail eunuch to dare challenge him, which pleased him greatly. Although it was an unfair victory, he loudly replied, "Empress, this humble general is willing to duel with this little eunuch to determine the winner. Whoever wins will be appointed to lead the southern expedition!"
The officials of Qian Song's faction were overjoyed upon hearing this. They knew Qian Wulin was brave and capable of fighting against a thousand soldiers. In terms of physique alone, he was enough to crush this overconfident little eunuch. They immediately echoed his sentiments, saying that a martial arts contest was a good way to select a commander.
Qin Yuan's generals were also very interested. Seeing the young eunuch's audacity in challenging the burly Imperial Guard commander, they became excited and fanned the flames, eager to witness a thrilling contest of martial arts prowess.
Zhou Tai, however, remained silent. He stroked his white beard, intently watching Li Xiaomin, thinking that since Li Xiaomin was willing to speak so boldly, he must have a chance of winning. Moreover, Li Xiaomin possessed magical arts; perhaps he could use a special technique to achieve victory. He nodded in agreement, saying, "A martial arts contest for leadership is feasible. I request Your Majesty to issue a decree to move the imperial carriage to the training ground, where the two generals can compete on the spot to determine the victor."
Empress Zhou nodded in agreement, saying, "Very well. Prepare the carriage for the training ground!"
Civil and military officials, guards, and soldiers escorted the imperial carriage, arriving in a grand procession at the edge of the training ground. Horses were brought forward, and bows and arrows were presented for the two generals to compete in archery.
Qian Wulin was skilled in archery and horsemanship, so why would he be afraid to compete with a eunuch? He merely felt contempt; competing with a eunuch in archery would diminish his reputation!
He leaped onto his horse, spurred it on, and drew his bow to its fullest extent. The arrow pierced the air, leaving a cold, sharp mark, and landed far away on the target in the center of the training ground.
This arrow struck the bullseye. The drummer beside the target pounded the drum, and a soldier shouted, "General Qian's arrow hits the bullseye!"
Qian Wulin, full of energy, spurred his horse back and forth around the training ground, his arrows never missing their mark, each one striking the bullseye. Ten arrows in a row, all hitting their targets, lined up in the center of the training ground, a truly astonishing sight.
A thunderous cheer erupted around the training ground. The Imperial Guards officers and soldiers who had accompanied Qian Wulin cheered loudly, and the officials of Qian Song's faction also laughed and looked at Li Xiaomin, eager to see what extraordinary skills this little eunuch possessed that could surpass Qian Wulin's archery.
At this moment, however, Li Xiaomin had no confidence whatsoever. These past few days, he had only focused on practicing martial arts and immortal techniques, or cultivating his immortal power on Qin Yuan, Consort Chen, Consort Xiao, and several princesses and palace maids; he had never practiced archery. But with so many people watching, although he was intimidated, he had no choice but to bite the bullet, ride forward, take an arrow from his quiver, draw his bow, and aim at the target in the distance before shooting. As
soon as the arrow was released, Li Xiaomin immediately knew something was wrong. This arrow had shot too high. According to common sense, it would most likely miss the target.
Li Xiaomin, blushing, waited for his embarrassment, when suddenly a red shadow flashed in his eyes. He saw a slender figure leap from his arms, moving like lightning to chase after the arrow. It was none other than Yue Niang!
Li Xiaomin's spirits lifted as he watched Yue Niang swiftly catch up with the arrow. With a delicate touch, she deflected the arrowhead, causing it to droop slightly. Guided by Yue Niang, the arrow struck the bullseye with a resounding crash, cleaving the arrow Qian Wulin had pinned there in two.
Outside the arena, cheers erupted. The soldiers of the Zhenxie Army who had come to cheer him on shouted with joy, feeling deeply honored. With
Yue Niang's help, Li Xiaomin felt much more confident. He sat proudly on his horse, bow in hand, a slight smile on his face, displaying the dashing nature of a young man.
His hand steadily drew back the bow, an arrow nocked, and Li Xiaomin, aiming at his target, gently released the second arrow.
The Moon Goddess had already flown back to his side, following the arrow's flight. In mid-air, she continuously reached out and deflected the arrow, guiding it in the correct direction.
As expected, this arrow struck the bullseye, splitting the old arrow firmly embedded in the target in two, which fell to the ground.
With these two arrows as a foundation, Li Xiaomin was completely relieved and began to gallop at full speed, performing various fancy maneuvers on horseback, such as "scooping the moon from the sea," shooting arrows backwards, and even hiding in the stirrups. Although the speed of each arrow wasn't very fast, they all hit the target smoothly, breaking and dropping all ten arrows shot by Qian Wulin.
Outside the training ground, the soldiers cheered until their voices were hoarse. Even the civil and military officials were astonished; this young boy, at such a young age, possessed such skill. Did he secretly practice archery every day in the palace, besides serving his master?
The Moon Goddess flew through the air, drenched in sweat from exhaustion, her spiritual energy depleted. She rolled her eyes, giving a coquettish glare to her master who was only concerned with showing off.
Li Xiaomin, having finished shooting ten arrows, waved his hand in the air, patting her dark hair when no one could see, and casually touched her breasts. He smiled and rode back to the imperial carriage, dismounting and bowing, saying with a smile, "Your Majesty, I have finished shooting. How shall we compete next?"
Empress Zhou smiled pleasingly, parting her lips slightly, and said calmly, "Go and choose a suitable weapon to test your horsemanship against General Qian!"
Li Xiaomin kowtowed and accepted the order, mounting his horse to choose a weapon.
He had mastered all eighteen weapons and had sparred many times with the two Ghost Generals. Choosing a weapon for this battle was proving quite difficult.
Looking towards the training ground, Qian Wulin already held his usual broadsword, standing guard on horseback. His face was filled with a fierce, murderous aura, as if he wanted to devour someone.
Seeing that Qian Wulin had used a sword, Li Xiaomin didn't want to choose the same weapon. Looking at his own white battle robe, he spurred his horse to the weapon rack, grabbed a gleaming silver spear, and twirled it in the air. Finding it quite comfortable, he spurred his horse forward and galloped towards the training ground. Reaching Qian Wulin, he cupped his hands and smiled, "General Qian, this humble general has come to spar with you. I hope you will show mercy!"
Qian Wulin, clad in black armor, snorted, filled with disdain for this eunuch-turned-general. He had just lost an archery contest, which greatly angered him, and he didn't bother with further words. He raised his sword and brought it down fiercely.
Seeing the sword's powerful strike, Li Xiaomin immediately raised his spear to meet it. Sword and spear clashed with a loud clang. The two forces collided, causing both men to stagger on their horses. They then spurred their horses aside, focusing their attention on their enemy.
Li Xiaomin was somewhat better off; his strength was far inferior to that of the two ghost generals. He had only managed to hold
his own against Qian Wulin because he hadn't used his full strength due to the unexpected attack. Qian Wulin, however, was greatly alarmed. The force of his own strike had been extremely powerful; even the fiercest generals of the Imperial Guards would have struggled to withstand it. This frail eunuch had managed to block his furious attack; it seemed his skill was not to be underestimated.
With renewed vigilance, Qian Wulin abandoned his underestimation of Li Xiaomin and raised his broadsword, slashing at him repeatedly. Li Xiaomin, however, dealt with the attacks calmly, using only a fraction of his strength to deflect all the blows. Occasionally, he would counter with a spear thrust or two, keeping Qian Wulin busy and exhausted.
Qian Wulin grew increasingly alarmed as the battle progressed, realizing he had encountered a formidable opponent. This thin, handsome eunuch, resembling a woman, was far more troublesome than any of the fiercest generals he had ever faced. He feared he would be defeated today; losing face was a minor matter compared to ruining the Prime Minister's important plans—how could he explain that?
In desperation, Qian Wulin unleashed all his skills, his broadsword flashing wildly, engulfing Li Xiaomin in the fray. Li Xiaomin, caught up in the fighting spirit, thrust out his silver spear like a white dragon emerging from its cave, clashing with the broadsword's gleam. Although Qian Wulin's sword strikes were powerful and heavy, he could not overcome Li Xiaomin's spear technique.
On the sidelines of the training ground, all the officials and soldiers were stunned. The two generals on the field displayed their skills, their blades and spears flashing coldly, enveloping the two generals. Eventually, their moves became obscured, only a chilling aura remained, piercing the eyes. Only two generals, one in white and one in black, shouted and clashed fiercely in the cold light, their killing intent filling the air, a breathtaking spectacle.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed across the training ground. A massive, extremely heavy sword flew through the air, tracing a long arc before landing more than ten paces away. The blade slammed heavily into the ground, the hilt swaying and emitting a low hum.
The two generals had stopped fighting. The handsome young man in the white battle robe, wielding a gleaming silver spear, its tip flashing coldly, held it against the black-armored general's throat, clearly having won.
Qian Wulin's face flushed crimson, filled with shame and rage. His bulging eyes glared fiercely at Li Xiaomin, wishing he could tear him to pieces. However, with his life hanging in the balance, despite his fury, he dared not act rashly.
Li Xiaomin slowly sheathed his spear, hanging it on his horse's neck, and smiled as he cupped his hands, saying, "General Qian, you flatter me!"
Qian Wulin snorted, too ashamed to reply. He heard cheers erupting from the sidelines, all from Li Xiaomin's soldiers. Turning back to see the horrified and dejected expressions on his men's faces, Qian Wulin felt utterly humiliated, wishing he could disappear into the ground.
Empress Zhou, pleased with the sight, nodded and smiled, "Xiaomin is indeed brave and valiant; my efforts in training him have not been in vain. Since the outcome is decided, let Li Xiaomin resign his post and lead the army!"
Qian Song, hearing this from the side, was indignant. Today's events were clearly a result of Empress Zhou and Zhou Tai's faction abusing their power, preventing a general from leading the army and instead sending a lowly eunuch. It was utterly unacceptable. He immediately argued that Li Xiaomin had never experienced battle before, and leading a large army so suddenly might cause them to miss crucial opportunities and delay important national affairs.
Seeing Li Xiaomin's victory, Zhou Tai was in high spirits and wouldn't tolerate his sophistry, immediately arguing with him. The two engaged in a heated debate, drawing in officials from both factions.
Empress Zhou, seeing their argument escalating, turned her gaze to Qin Yuan and asked, "General Qin, in your opinion, who should be sent to the front?" The
Zhou and Qin families were now quite close, but Li Xiong's alliance with the Yinshan Sect had threatened both families, who were well aware of the power of the immortals, forcing them to temporarily join forces against the Qian family. Currently, none of Qin Yuan's generals were in Jinling, so logically, Qin Yuan should have done the Zhou family a favor. Moreover, although Li Xiaomin had recently been favored by Empress Zhou and was implicitly considered part of Zhou Tai's faction, he was also the adopted brother of Qin Yuan's granddaughter. If he gained military power, it would benefit the Qin family.
Qin Yuan stepped forward, bowed, and said in a deep voice, "Since Your Majesty has inquired of this old minister, I have no choice but to recommend a worthy candidate, regardless of kinship. I recommend the current Imperial Consort Qin. Although she is a woman, she has served in the army since childhood, experiencing numerous battles. Her strategic acumen surpasses even that of this old minister. Moreover, her martial arts skills are superb, no less than those of a general. More than a decade ago, she personally fought an enemy general before this old minister, slaying him. If she were to command the troops, she would surely defeat the enemy in one fell swoop and wipe out the bandits!"
The officials from the two factions beside him were eagerly awaiting his words, and they were greatly surprised that he would recommend his own daughter for the battle.
The practice of sending female generals into battle had a long history in the Southern Tang Dynasty. The wife of the first Tang emperor, Li Zhihao, also came from a family of military generals, and after becoming empress, she often presided over state affairs. A general once rebelled against a woman's rule, but Li Zhihao was ill and unable to lead the army. His empress, however, personally led the troops, beheading the rebel general and returning with his head. Li Zhihao was overjoyed and full of praise, declaring her a heroine who put men to shame. From then on, the status of women in the Southern Tang Dynasty rose considerably, at least within the royal family. Women were highly valued, and empresses and concubines led troops to quell rebellions several times over the past three hundred years. This was quite different from other countries.
This time, Qin Yuan's recommendation of his daughter to lead the army wasn't too shocking. The military generals were excited. Although they lacked the qualifications and ability to lead troops, it was a good thing that their favorite concubine was being recommended. They clamored for Qin's daughter, praising her highly. Officials from the other two factions were also dissatisfied, and the three factions were arguing fiercely, making it almost impossible to hear what anyone was saying.
Empress Zhou frowned slightly, raised her jade hand, and the chief eunuch attending to the imperial carriage understood, loudly proclaiming, "Silence! Her Majesty the Empress is here; do not disturb the imperial procession!"
The officials' voices gradually lowered, returning to calm, and they looked at Empress Zhou, awaiting her decision.
Empress Zhou pondered for a moment. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she could not show too much favoritism towards the commoner, so she calmly said, "Since General Qin has recommended him, then let Consort Qin resign her post and lead the expedition, with General Li serving as the deputy commander, leading the Zhenxie Army as the vanguard."
Zhou Tai, watching from the side, exchanged a glance with Empress Zhou, understanding in his heart: Although the commoner was outstanding in both martial arts and magic, he was ultimately too young to command respect. He only regretted that his side lacked outstanding military talent. If they could win over the commoner, he would be a powerful ally. Especially his attainments in magic were extremely important to their side; whether they could seize military power was secondary. It would be better to send Qin Yuan's daughter to lead the expedition, giving Qin Yuan face, so that the two families could join forces to resist the Qian family and the Taoist sect behind them. Seeing this, Xiao Minzi couldn't help but feel grateful for Empress Zhou's recognition; this arrangement was quite satisfactory.
Zhou Tai made up his mind, bowed, and said, "What the Empress says is absolutely right; I have no objection."
His officials and generals praised her, saying that the Empress's judgment was fair and reasonable, and everyone was convinced.
Seeing this, Qian Song knew that with the two families joining forces, he wouldn't be able to gain any advantage for the time being, so he could only grit his teeth and endure, but on his face, he smiled and bowed his head to indicate that he was willing to follow the Empress's arrangements.
Thus, Li Xiaomin became the deputy commander of the southern expeditionary army. Although he didn't get the commander-in-chief position, being given such an important task so soon after joining the army was a pleasant surprise.
On the walls of Yongzhou, defenses were tight. Tens of thousands of rebels guarded the entire city like an iron barrel, determined to block the imperial army that was coming to conquer them, and wait for reinforcements to arrive.
Last month, Song Dajiang, the bandit leader who had been entrenched in Panshan Lake, launched a surprise attack on Yongzhou City. The people outside the city, already suffocating from the oppression of corrupt officials, rose up in rebellion, joining the bandits in the attack on Yongzhou.
The garrison commander of Yongzhou, though greedy and cruel, was a skilled warrior. His soldiers were ruthless in plundering the people and equally fierce in battle. In a fierce fight with Song Dajiang, he seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack, killing Song Dajiang in the night. However, his deputy, Lin Kui, led reinforcements and slaughtered them, killing the garrison commander on the spot, scattering the soldiers, and capturing Yongzhou City.
With Song Dajiang dead, his various leaders were leaderless, vying for power and losing their will to advance. This gave the Tang court a chance to regroup, allowing them to dispatch a large army to quell the rebellion.
Seeing the formidable enemy at hand, the leaders dared not vie for power any longer. They all pledged allegiance to Hong Sanniang, the widow of Song Dajiang, and proclaimed themselves the Great Shun Dynasty, united in their efforts to resist the imperial army.
Hong Sanniang was currently recruiting soldiers in the south and leading her army towards Yongzhou. Yongzhou was now occupied by the bandit leader Lin Kui, whose 100,000 soldiers were mostly newly gathered refugees. Upon entering the city, their first act was to wreak havoc. The wealthy households were robbed clean, their wives and daughters forced into prostitution. The men were naturally beheaded to prevent them from plotting revenge.
The newly arrived refugees, seeing the veterans looting with abandon, couldn't resist their envy. They plundered every household in Yongzhou with a modicum of wealth, naturally seizing considerable spoils. Those they robbed were either killed or fled, and the women were captured, raped, and sold, leaving the new recruits with a satisfying windfall. The streets of the city
were littered with corpses. Lin Kui, finding the sight unsightly and fearing the spread of plague, ordered them to be taken outside the city for burial. The soldiers, too lazy to do much, simply dug a mass grave, filled it with the bodies, covered them with some soil, and that was it.
Yongzhou was left in a state of utter desolation after this calamity. Meanwhile, people from outside the city flocked to Yongzhou, for they too were driven to desperation by corrupt officials in their hometowns. Joining the rebels offered a chance at a decent meal. While the Da Shun army plundered civilians, they avoided the poor, knowing they wouldn't get anything from them anyway. Therefore, the poor rushed to join the army, so they could legitimately rob the wealthy.
Yongzhou City was under heavy guard, tense for several days, when news finally arrived that the imperial army, led by the daughter of General Qin Yuan, the current Imperial Concubine Qin, numbering over 100,000, was being mobilized from various places and marching towards Yongzhou.
Meanwhile, Imperial Concubine Qin herself was leading 50,000 elite troops from the court, marching south from Jinling and gradually approaching Yongzhou. They were waiting for the troops from various prefectures to gather before launching their attack.
Upon hearing this news, a fierce debate erupted within the Da Shun army in Yongzhou.
General Zhu Yanda strongly advocated taking advantage of the enemy's unassembled forces to march north and confront the main force led by Imperial Concubine Qin. The Lin Kui faction argued that Qin Guifei, being a mere woman, could not possibly possess the necessary skills. If she could decisively defeat the enemy and capture
Qin Guifei, the various armies of the court would be thrown into disarray, greatly boosting the morale and prestige of the Da Shun army. This would make capturing Nanjing a much easier task. However, another faction, led by Lin Kui's trusted general Hong Beitong, insisted that Qin Guifei, being the daughter of the renowned general Qin Yuan, though not famous, was still a daughter of a military family and should not be underestimated. They argued that since she had been appointed commander-in-chief, she must possess exceptional abilities. A hasty northward campaign to confront her would only demoralize the army. It would be better to hold Yongzhou and wait for Hong Sanniang's reinforcements to arrive, allowing for a coordinated attack from within and without to defeat the enemy.
The two factions argued incessantly, and Lin Kui was unable to make a decision. Finally, he decided to give Zhu Yanda 30,000 troops to confront Qin Guifei's elite forces, while the rest would hold Yongzhou and await reinforcements.
Zhu Yanda wasn't bothered by the small number of troops; after all, nearly half of the soldiers he brought were elite, while the 70,000 soldiers left in Yongzhou were mostly newly recruited and lacked combat effectiveness. He was currently high-spirited, leading his army north, single-mindedly focused on defeating the enemy and, ideally, capturing Consort Qin and raping her to his heart's content, so that even a poor peasant like himself could taste the noble body of an imperial concubine.

In Chapter Seven of Episode Four

, the Imperial Army slowly marched south. Li Xiaomin, riding a snow-white steed, led his army at the forefront. Looking at the ravaged villages along the road, the people hiding in their huts, watching his army with fearful eyes, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
His army wasn't the first to arrive. The Shun army had already reached this area, looted it, and then, hearing that the imperial army was sending troops south, retreated to Yongzhou, leaving this area to the government forces.
Before his arrival, one or two government armies had already passed through and looted the area again. Although his own men were strictly forbidden from looting, the troops arriving later were under the command of Consort Qin and disobeyed his orders. They would likely follow tradition and plunder first.
Despite feeling sorry for the people, Li Xiaomin didn't intend to advise Consort Qin to restrain her troops. She was new to command and unfamiliar with everything; her soldiers might not be convinced by a woman's leadership. It wouldn't be right for him to add to her troubles. Besides, the soldiers might not like her orders. Forcibly prohibiting looting would lower morale and might even incite a mutiny, which would be a much bigger problem.
Watching the panicked people fleeing in the fields, and thinking about the resistance of the Da Shun army ahead, Li Xiaomin sighed inwardly. In this era, he had become the executioner of peasant uprisings.
When he first heard of Song Dajiang's rebellion, Li Xiaomin was startled, wondering if it was a repeat of the Song Jiang uprising of the Song Dynasty. After much thought, he realized that this world was different from his own. This uprising was clearly not the same one. However, talented people would stand out in any world, and he couldn't be sure if any of the generals participating in the uprising had been famous in their previous world.
Thinking back to past peasant uprisings, Li Xiaomin felt confused. Why were demons like Wang Ying, who captured innocent passersby, cut out their hearts and livers, and ate human hearts for wine, called peasant rebels and representatives of justice? Zhang Xianzhong killed countless innocent people, leaving Sichuan devastated, yet history remained silent on this matter, instead placing him alongside Li Zicheng as a great and righteous hero. Such obvious inconsistencies—how could those high-ranking literary critics and historians so openly proclaim them? Were they all out of their minds?
This question remained unanswered for Li Xiaomin as a child, but as he grew older, he gradually understood that those authorities weren't mentally ill; what was ill was their conscience. For wealth, status, and even their lives, they dared not retain a shred of the conscience of scholars and historians, spewing blatant lies, knowing full well that no one dared to refute their definitive pronouncements.
In the past, the hot-blooded young Li Xiaomin felt he had been fooled by these authorities and was furious, believing them to be inherently shameless, inhuman, and unable to survive without lying. Later, as Li Xiaomin gained more experience, he gradually learned tolerance, and his perspective changed considerably. He realized that these people's lives were not easy either; if they uttered a single wrong word, and it was misinterpreted as criticism of the rebel army as a pretext to attack the peasant uprising, or even an insinuation against the court that rose to power through rebellion, their entire families might be implicated. Even for the sake of their own families, they had to utter words against their conscience, no matter how obviously ridiculous and hypocritical they were; they had to say them with their eyes closed.
Moreover, the integrity of Chinese scholars had long since been lost. After Fang Xiaoru's entire clan was executed, Li Xiaomin never heard of a historian with any backbone again. The three hundred years of Manchu rule, with its countless literary inquisitions, completely eradicated the integrity of Chinese intellectuals from its very roots. Occasionally, one or two regressive scholars or historians would emerge, only to be swiftly and decisively killed.
Therefore, in Li Xiaomin's former world, inexplicable opinions were everywhere. Any clearly illogical authoritative conclusions were instilled in children by teachers with only a few jobs, and no one answered the children's questions, no matter how many doubts they had.
Now, as Li Xiaomin leads his army south, he inwardly smiles bitterly. He fears that his actions, a thousand years from now, will be seen as a cruel suppression of a just peasant movement, a stain on his record like Cao Cao's or Liu Bei's suppression of the Yellow Turbans.
However, Li Xiaomin raises an eyebrow and smiles again: who will care about the clamor of a small group of shameless intellectuals a thousand years from now! Even if they manage to spread these unfavorable opinions for decades, after several generations, their words and they themselves will be swept into the dustbin of history, ignored by all. On the contrary, his achievements in conquering east and west will be remembered for millennia, praised by posterity. Just like Genghis Khan, who killed hundreds of millions, committing genocide throughout his life—enough for Hitler to bow down as an ancestor—wasn't he still worshipped by later generations as one of the greatest heroes of all time?
However, this all depends on one prerequisite: the emperor or general who is praised must ultimately emerge victorious. At the very least, he wanted to die at the right time, like Yue Fei and Zhuge Liang, so that future generations would admire him and lament his unfulfilled ambitions.
Thinking this, Li Xiaomin turned and loudly ordered his men to be alert. He assured them that once they captured Yongzhou and seized the bandits' loot, the rewards would be immense!
Enticed by this promising prospect, the soldiers' spirits soared, and they marched with renewed vigor. That very night, they had passed through the territories of three counties and camped in the wilderness.
Scouts gradually returned with reports that Zhu Yanda had led 30,000 elite troops out of Yongzhou, heading north to meet the imperial army. His vanguard officer, Chen Ming, led 3,000 troops at the forefront, less than a hundred li away.
Li Xiaomin also had 3,000 troops; besides the original 1,000 from the Zhenxie Army, Consort Qin had allocated him 2,000 more soldiers for his command.
As the deputy commander and vanguard officer of the army, Li Xiaomin naturally couldn't afford to be weak in terms of morale. Therefore, he resolved to achieve a decisive victory in the first battle tomorrow to boost morale and impress Consort Qin.
Just thinking of Consort Qin's sexy, tall, and alluring figure, brimming with mature feminine charm, made Li Xiaomin feel increasingly hot. It was a pity she was leading the main army several miles behind; otherwise, sneaking out to spy on her at night would have been a good idea.
There were no women in the army; the only female soldiers were in the rear, responsible for serving and protecting Consort Qin, and also for supervising her to prevent her from having any romantic encounters with soldiers or officers, which would damage the imperial dignity. Li Xiaomin was consumed by his desire for Consort Qin. Unable to do anything else, he summoned Yue Niang and took the beautiful ghost to bed for a tryst. At the same time, he set up a protective barrier in the tent to prevent the soldiers from overhearing, becoming lustful, and then going to the people's homes to abduct women.
The next day, the army broke camp and set off. Li Xiaomin, aided by his magical powers, was in remarkably good spirits despite having slept little the night before. He spurred his horse forward,
leading his army south. At noon, the army encountered Chen Ming's forces on the road. The two armies met, but instead of attacking, each set up camp and ate their fill before engaging in battle.
After eating, Li Xiaomin, wanting to digest his food, spurred his horse, spear in hand, and led his troops out of the camp to challenge the enemy.
Chen Ming had long heard that the enemy's vanguard commander was a eunuch, and he was filled with contempt and disdain for the corrupt court. Now, hearing that this eunuch dared to lead his troops in a verbal battle, he was both amused and annoyed. He also picked up his giant axe and led his army out of the camp to confront this reckless eunuch.
Arriving at the front lines, looking around, one sees a young general with handsome features, clad in silver helmet and armor, wielding a long, sharp, gleaming silver spear, and riding a magnificent white steed, its body completely free of any blemish—a truly exceptional horse. Although young, the general already possesses a refined and imposing presence, a hint of killing intent flickering between his brows. Holding his spear horizontally, he stands firmly on his horse before the two armies, his composed demeanor befitting a renowned general.
Chen Ming was surprised to see that the eunuch was such a young boy, and seemingly quite strong. He immediately abandoned his contempt, pointed at Li Xiaomin, and shouted, "Who goes there? State your name!"
Li Xiaomin, head held high, roared, "I am Li Xiaomin, the deputy commander and vanguard officer of the Great Tang's bandit-suppressing army! Who are you? State your name and face death!"
Chen Ming sneered, "I am Chen Ming, the vanguard officer of the Great Shun army. Since you dare to come, do you dare to fight me one-on-one on the battlefield?"
Li Xiaomin, pleased with this, didn't say more, spurred his horse forward, and charged straight at Chen Ming with his spear.
Chen Ming, impressed by his courage, swung his great axe, spurred his horse forward, and his steed galloped swiftly, soon reaching Li Xiaomin. He swung his great axe, bringing it down fiercely on Li Xiaomin's head.
Li Xiaomin raised his spear to meet the attack, and with a loud clang, the spear tip deflected the axe, sending it sliding aside.
The two horses passed each other. Li Xiaomin glanced back at Chen Ming, amused. Such meager martial arts dared to challenge him on the battlefield? He was far inferior to even his own best guards.
He and Chen Ming circled, engaging in battle. Li Xiaomin's gleaming silver spear blocked and slashed, protecting himself completely. He didn't attack, but patiently observed Chen Ming's axe technique, trying to see what he could learn.
Seeing Li Xiaomin's lack of attack, Chen Ming assumed he was afraid. He wielded his massive axe with ferocious power, its axe strokes filling the air, instantly enveloping Li Xiaomin.
His soldiers, seeing this, were overjoyed, thinking their general had utterly defeated the enemy, and cheered wildly. Their shouts echoed across the open field.
To the north, Li Xiaomin's troops remained silent, their worried eyes fixed on their eunuch leader. They feared he would be killed by the enemy, and if that happened, they didn't know if they could survive.
After a brief struggle with Chen Ming, Li Xiaomin, seeing nothing particularly remarkable about him, felt a slight disappointment and ceased his pursuit. He roared, "You traitor, prepare to die!"
His gleaming silver spear, like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair, thrust out violently. Chen Ming, engrossed in wielding his massive axe, was suddenly struck by the spear's fierce momentum, finding it difficult to defend. Startled, he hastily swung his axe back.
The axe blade struck the spear tip heavily, but Li Xiaomin, using his strength and a roar, forcefully deflected the axe, then thrust his spear forward, piercing Chen Ming's chest.
The sharp spear tip swiftly pierced Chen Ming's breastplate, penetrating his sternum and internal organs, reaching his back with a "thud," emerging from his heart.
An expression of disbelief and pain appeared on Chen Ming's face. His grip loosened, and he threw his massive axe far away, where it crashed to the ground with a dull thud.
His eyes were blank as he stared at the handsome young man before him. He couldn't believe that he, a hero for so long, would die at the hands of a eunuch!
Li Xiaomin forcefully pulled out his spear, and blood shot from the tip, staining the ground before his horse crimson.
The Shun army soldiers, witnessing this sudden turn of events, trembled with fear, staring blankly as Chen Ming's body slowly fell from his horse. The entire army
was deathly silent. On the other side, the long-silent imperial army erupted in jubilation, shouting and cheering deafeningly. The jubilant crowd made the northern army appear like a sea of joy.
Li Xiaomin struggled to look away from the convulsing, writhing bodies on the ground, suppressing his nausea. He brandished his blood-soaked spear and roared, "If you surrender, you may save your lives. Otherwise, Chen Ming will be your example!"
The blood-stained spear tip swung fiercely through the air, its cold light flashing, pointing directly at the rebel army to the south.
Seeing his commander's actions, the lieutenant hurriedly ordered, "Beat the drums! Attack!"
The thunderous war drums suddenly resounded, and three thousand soldiers, each vying for the lead, brandished their sharp swords and spears, charging madly towards the Da Shun army, whose will to fight had already vanished.
Before they could even reach them, some cunning soldiers had already slipped away from the Da Shun army. When the imperial army charged towards the Da Shun army like wolves and tigers, and their blades clashed, the Da Shun soldiers were terrified. They could only barely hold out for a short while before the charging cavalry completely shattered their formation. Seeing the wildly shouting and sword-wielding enemy soldiers, they had no chance to resist and fled in all directions.
Li Xiaomin stood on his horse on the battlefield, watching his men chase after the enemy, and felt a growing sense of satisfaction.
Through his rigorous training, these thousand Zhenxie soldiers were now elite troops, their running speed, endurance, and combat skills far surpassing those of other armies. The two thousand new recruits, under their leadership, also displayed extraordinary strength, relentlessly pursuing the enemy. The enemy army was indeed a rabble; having lost their commander, they had lost all will to fight, only thinking of escaping to save their lives, and could only be driven and slaughtered by their own men.
Among Li Xiaomin's Zhenxie Army were three hundred cavalrymen, horses he had painstakingly purchased with a large sum of military funds and trained for a long time. In the pursuit, they played a crucial role, spurring their horses to catch up with the enemy, fiercely wielding their swords, and hacking them to the ground. Following Li Xiaomin's orders, they shouted things like, "Those who surrender will not be killed!"
Hearing these shouts and the approaching hoofbeats behind them, the terrified deserters had no choice but to kneel on the ground, trembling and begging for their lives. Then they heard cavalry galloping past, chasing after the fleeing soldiers who refused to surrender, while imperial infantry arrived, binding the surrendered soldiers with ropes and taking them to a place for imprisonment.
Looking at the brutal battlefield, Li Xiaomin sighed inwardly. The novels he had read before only depicted the grandeur and magnificence of war, but never this bloody and cruel side. The sight of the bloody carnage still troubled Li Xiaomin, and he lost all will to advance. He simply ordered his soldiers to camp there, awaiting the arrival of the main army before joining forces for a final push.
The next morning, when Consort Qin arrived with 50,000 troops, the battle was over, and the battlefield had been thoroughly cleaned. Only the unburied corpses of enemy soldiers lay piled up everywhere, and the newly made banners of the Da Shun army were tattered and scattered across the battlefield. Crows flew about in the sky, cawing mournfully, presenting the astonished imperial army with a scene of bloody desolation after the battle.
In the central command tent, Consort Qin, fully armored and beaming, reached out and stroked Li Xiaomin's head, praising him with delight: "Good boy, my efforts to cultivate you and recommend you to the Empress have not been in vain. You have indeed rendered great service, beheading the enemy general in the first battle and annihilating the enemy's vanguard with such minimal casualties, greatly boosting our army's morale. Well done!"
Li Xiaomin lowered his head, standing obediently before the tall, beautiful woman. While feeling the warm touch of her jade-like hand on his head, he secretly looked up to peek at the female general's radiant smile, feeling a tickle in his heart. Inhaling her fragrance, which was like orchids and musk, he was completely captivated, lost in a daze.
At this moment, the army's commander, Consort Qin, wore a magnificent golden armor that gleamed, making her appear even more heroic and imposing. A powerful and majestic aura emanated from her, captivating Li Xiaomin, who had long been smitten with her. Faced with this valiant and beautiful female general, he couldn't help but be smitten.
In the central tent, there were no other generals, only a few female soldiers responsible for serving Consort Qin. Watching their newly meritorious vanguard officer and deputy commander, Lord Li, stand before his commander like an obedient child, letting her stroke his head, they couldn't help but giggle, quite surprised by the unusual intimacy between the commander and his deputy.
Consort Qin removed her hand from Li Xiaomin's head, moving it up to his face and stroking his fair, translucent skin. She exclaimed in amazement, "How can your skin still be so beautiful? It's as if it's impervious to wind and sun! How do you do that?"
Li Xiaomin's heart fluttered as her jade-like hand touched his face. He quickly replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I have diligently practiced immortal arts since childhood, and recently I have made some progress, which is why my skin has improved somewhat."
Consort Qin chuckled, "You should call me Marshal, not Your Majesty. Since your immortal arts are so effective, please teach me when you have time."
Li Xiaomin smiled, "Yes, Marshal, I understand. I will do my utmost to help you practice your immortal arts when I have the opportunity."
In his heart, however, he secretly chuckled . He said, “You don’t need to tell me. Whenever I have the chance, I will definitely practice the Yin-Yang dual cultivation method with you. Although I benefit the most from cultivating immortal arts, you will also gain a lot. Just like Consort Xiao, since she married me, she has slept with me for so long, and now she is getting younger and younger, and her delicate skin is incredibly beautiful, even better than mine. Your skin is already very good now, but if you do it with me a few more times, I guarantee your skin will be even better!”
Consort Qin was delighted to see him nodding with a smile. She had no idea about the filthy thoughts in his heart. She just nodded and smiled, looking at this handsome and capable boy, and her heart grew more and more fond of him. She couldn’t help but think, “If I were ten years younger, before I got married, and went to war with my father…” "If I encountered such a young man in the army, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to resist falling for him!"
Thinking this, she suddenly felt a chill: "How could I have such thoughts! My daughter is already older than him!"
She hurriedly turned her face away, not daring to look at the handsome and heroic young man any longer, fearing it might arouse some bad thoughts. Taking a few deep breaths, she said in a deep voice, "Alright, pass on my order: summon all the battalion commanders to the tent for a meeting!"
The female soldiers hurried out of the tent to relay the order. Soon, all the generals gathered, dressed in military uniform, bowing respectfully and saying, "This humble general greets the Marshal!"
Consort Qin sat upright on the commander's throne, her face cold and stern, her eyebrows slightly raised, exuding an imposing aura. Li Xiaomin secretly admired her: "Truly a daughter of a military family." "A descendant of a prestigious family, just sitting there exudes the aura of a marshal; no wonder these generals of the Qin clan all respect her." Consort
Qin's face was ashen, her eyes flashing coldly as she swept her gaze over the rows of generals below. She said in a deep voice, "The bandit general Zhu Yanda has led 30,000 enemy troops from Yongzhou towards our army. What do you say we should do?"
A general stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Marshal! The enemy vanguard Chen Ming has been killed by our deputy commander, General Li, which will surely cause fear among the soldiers; while our army's morale is high and our troops are ready. We should go to meet them, defeat the enemy in one fell swoop, then march on Yongzhou, kill Lin Kui, and recapture the city!"
The generals were encouraged by the news of Li Xiaomin's initial victory and stepped forward to support his suggestion. Although some experienced and prudent generals hoped to stay a few more days until reinforcements from various prefectures and counties arrived before defeating the enemy with superior forces, their voices were quickly drowned out by the calls for battle, and few generals supported such a prudent suggestion.
Consort Qin's gaze swept over the generals, then settled on Li Xiaomin. Striving to maintain her composure, she said gently, "Vice Commander Li, what is your opinion?"
Li Xiaomin stepped forward, bowed, and solemnly replied, "Reporting to the Marshal, from what I've observed on the battlefield, the enemy is nothing but a rabble of bandits, untrained and merely rebels seeking to plunder in the chaos. With their commander dead, their morale has collapsed, and they've scattered and fled. Such a rabble is no match for our army. Please, Marshal, do not hesitate any longer; lead your troops to attack. I am willing to kill Zhu Yanda on the battlefield to repay your boundless kindness!"
Consort Qin smiled and nodded, saying in a deep voice, "Since all the generals agree, let us set off immediately to defeat the enemy!"
She raised her hand, pointing firmly towards the south outside the tent. Sunlight streamed in from outside the tent, illuminating her face and making the female general's unparalleled beauty shine.
On the desolate battlefield, two armies stood facing each other, their camps in stark contrast. The wind howled, creating a desolate and chilling atmosphere.
In the center of the battlefield, a tall, beautiful female general rode a fiery red warhorse, reined in her horse alone, a heavy, sharp sword in her hand. She wore a helmet and golden armor, which gleamed in the sunlight. A heavy, violent killing intent emanated from her, filling the opposing enemy soldiers with fear.
Dozens of paces behind her, a young general in silver helmet and armor reined in his horse and brandished his spear, ordering his hundred-odd soldiers to shout and insult the bandit general Zhu Yanda ahead, urging him to hurry up and fight, and not to appear cowardly in front of the army.
Zhu Yanda, who was being insulted, was now riding his warhorse and leading his troops to stand in front of his camp, his face ashen, glaring at the female general with hatred and anger. He turned to his men and asked, "Who killed Chen Ming?"
One of his generals, named Han Song, grabbed a defeated soldier who had fled back from the last battle and loudly demanded the answer. The defeated soldiers pointed at Li Xiaomin behind Consort Qin and replied, "That's the little eunuch, the one riding the white horse!"
Zhu Yanda coldly snorted and angrily said, "Chen Ming is really getting worse with age! How could he die at the hands of a eunuch! Men, go and capture that eunuch and kill him!"
A general beside him spurred his horse forward, bowed, and said, "General, this humble general is willing to go into battle, kill that eunuch, capture Consort Qin, and bring her back to the Marshal!"
Zhu Yanda turned his head and saw that it was his trusted and beloved general Wu Ping. He laughed and said, "It's good that you're so thoughtful. Go ahead, but try not to hurt that beauty over there!"
Beside Zhu Yanda, Han Song couldn't help but laugh loudly, "Wu Ping, you really have to be careful. If you hurt Consort Qin, I'm afraid the Marshal will be heartbroken!"
The bandit generals next to him burst into laughter, hurling insults and vulgarities at Consort Qin, her mother, and her daughter, and excitedly discussing how they would take turns punishing her if they caught her.
Zhu Yanda, having recently raised an army, was quite approachable with his subordinates, even laughing and cracking jokes to share the joy. Fortunately, Consort Qin was far enough away not to hear, otherwise she might have been spitting blood before even engaging in combat.
Wu Ping spurred his horse forward, wielding a heavy spiked club, pointing it at Consort Qin and shouting, "You woman over there, step back! Call that eunuch out first, let your grandfather behead this androgynous dog eunuch, then I'll pamper you!"
The two marshals were both red-faced with rage. Consort Qin spurred her horse forward, brandishing her sword and charging straight at Wu Ping, intending to kill this scoundrel who dared to speak so frivolously. Before her horse reached Wu Ping, a bowstring twanged, and Wu Ping screamed, tumbling from his horse and crashing into the dust, struggling and howling. A feathered arrow protruded from his chest, its tip piercing his lung—a fatal wound.
Consort Qin turned around and glared at Li Xiaomin, knowing that he had shot and killed Wu Ping because he was furious that the traitorous general had insulted her. Although Wu Ping was already on the ground, she was still annoyed that she hadn't killed the villain with her own hands.
On the other side, Zhu Yanda was shocked. His soldiers were already shouting and condemning Li Xiaomin for shooting someone in the back, saying it was not the demeanor of a great general.
Li Xiaomin sheathed his bow and sneered, looking smugly at Wu Ping, who was gradually dying on the ground. He thought to himself, "Dare to call me a male-female eunuch? Humph, I'll kill you first to show the monkeys, and see who dares to say that to me again!"
Consort Qin waved her hand, signaling him to lead his men back and not interfere in her duel with the enemy general, so as not to disturb her enjoyment of killing the enemy. Seeing that the commander's order had been given, Li Xiaomin dared not disobey, so he led a large number of soldiers back, and incidentally taught them a few new words to use against Zhu Yanda.
Hearing the insults coming from afar, Zhu Yanda was indeed enraged and ready to charge out on his horse to fight the eunuch to the death. Han Song, however, stopped him, shouting, "Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut! Marshal, please stand aside for now. I'll go and capture that woman and kill the eunuch!"
He brandished a bronze cudgel, spurred his horse forward, and pointed at Li Xiaomin, yelling, "You dog eunuch, do you dare to fight me openly?"
Consort Qin, already itching for a fight, spurred her horse forward and swung her sword. Han Song hurriedly raised his cudgel to block, but a loud crash followed, and his arms went numb from the impact. He was secretly shocked, thinking, "How can this woman be so strong!"
Looking at the large sword in Consort Qin's hand, he was astonished by its weight; it looked to weigh well over forty or fifty pounds. He could hardly believe that a woman could possess such strength.
On the battlefield, neither side could afford to be distracted. Consort Qin shouted fiercely, brandishing her broadsword and slashing wildly. A chilling aura swept towards Han Song.
Han Song raised his staff to parry, and the two horses spun, locked in combat with Consort Qin.
Consort Qin, with her family's deep-rooted swordsmanship and years of honed strength, wielded her broadsword, its cold light flashing, swirling around Han Song, instantly engulfing him.
After several rounds, Han Song began to pant. Consort Qin seized an opening and struck with a vicious blow. Unable to defend himself, Han Song cried out and was cut down from his horse. His armor split open, blood gushed out, and he collapsed to the ground, barely breathing.
In the northern army, cheers erupted. A junior officer rushed over, severed Han Song's head, and carried it back, hanging it high on a bamboo pole as a show of force to the Shun army to the south.
The Shun soldiers stared in disbelief, their faces ashen. Two renowned generals were killed in quick succession upon entering the battlefield, a disastrous start. With the enemy so formidable, how could their army continue?
Zhu Yanda, his face ashen, gritted his teeth and glanced to the side. He saw that morale was already low; if they couldn't win this battle, the outcome would be dire.
From afar, he could hear shouts from the opposite side, all hurling insults at Zhu Yanda, calling him cowardly and incompetent, only capable of sending his men to their deaths, yet unwilling to personally fight Marshal Qin to the death. How could such an incompetent man be qualified to command an army? Following him, the soldiers would likely face certain death.
Zhu Yanda was furious after being scolded. Seeing that his subordinates didn't have any particularly skilled generals, he had no choice but to spur his horse and charge into battle himself. He thought to himself, "Han Song must have accidentally made a mistake. Although this woman's swordsmanship is quite good, she is still a woman after all. After fighting two battles, she must be exhausted. As long as I can capture her, how can I not worry about her troops falling into chaos?"
He rode up to the front of the two armies and looked at the female general standing before him, sword in hand. Her breasts were high and full, her body was curvaceous and exquisite. Even under her golden armor, she could still arouse endless fantasies.
Consort Qin stared at the enemy general, her delicate eyebrows raised, her eyes flashing with murderous intent. She calmly said, "State your name, general! No nameless wretch dies under my command!"
Zhu Yanda, while furious, couldn't help but be amazed by the woman's beauty and martial prowess. A lustful thought arose in his mind: "If I could capture this woman and have her in bed, wouldn't that be incredibly satisfying!"
Thinking this, Zhu Yanda brandished his three-pronged fork and laughed loudly, "I am Zhu Yanda, the marshal of the Great Shun Army's northern expedition! You are Li Yu's concubine, Qin Yuan's daughter? Tsk tsk tsk, indeed, you have a great figure, such big breasts, they must feel amazing to squeeze!"
He said this intentionally to provoke Consort Qin, hoping that her agitation would cause her to reveal a weakness in her swordsmanship. These words indeed enraged Consort Qin, her jade-like face turning red. She roared, "You glib-tongued scoundrel, take my blade!"
Her broadsword slashed down with thunderous force, its power extremely sharp. Zhu Yanda was startled and dared not be careless. He hurriedly raised his fork to parry, but with a loud clang, the copper rings on the fork vibrated violently, and Zhu Yanda's arms went numb from the shock. He was also greatly alarmed.
In her rage, Consort Qin swung her sword with all her might. The white blade flashed, creating gusts of wind that swept Zhu Yanda into the fray.
Zhu Yanda was terrified. While desperately resisting Consort Qin's relentless attacks, he thought to himself in horror, "How can there be such a powerful woman! Even if Lin Kui himself came, he probably wouldn't be her match!"
The wind surged, and sandstorms raged. Amidst the yellow sand, the two generals used all their skills to fight fiercely in the center of the battlefield. Their shouts and clashes echoed throughout the battlefield. The exquisite moves and ferocious momentum left the soldiers on both sides dumbfounded.
In the midst of the fierce battle, the two generals gradually determined the winner. Consort Qin was not only strong, but her moves were also taught by her father and were extremely exquisite. She used them in a fit of rage, and their power was so great that it shook the heavens and the earth. Zhu Yanda gradually could not resist them and could only cry out in pain. He was shocked and terrified and could not express it in words.
Suddenly, in a fit of rage, Consort Qin swung her sword, finally revealing an opening on her left flank. Zhu Yanda was overjoyed, parrying with his fork and then, with all his might, thrusting the fork towards Consort Qin's left side. He no longer thought of capturing Consort Qin alive to toy with; he only hoped to defeat her, and that he wouldn't die at her hands—that would be a stroke of good fortune.
In that instant, he suddenly saw a mocking sneer appear on Consort Qin's beautiful face!
The fiery red warhorse galloped forward, easily dodging Zhu Yanda's determined, all-out attack. A murderous glint flashed in Consort Qin's eyes; she raised her broadsword and slashed down wildly. The violent blade energy sent a chill down Zhu Yanda's spine.
His steel fork, having just missed its mark, was desperately trying to pull back to block the deadly broadsword when the sharp blade already cleaved his back, instantly splitting him diagonally across the shoulder and arm. Half his body fell from his horse, crashing to the ground.
Zhu Yanda only had time to let out a scream before his head was severed from his body, and he died on the spot. His warhorse, also struck by the blade, neighed in pain and galloped away, carrying his bloodied half-body with it.
Seeing their commander's gruesome death in the center of the battlefield, the soldiers of the Great Shun army trembled with fear. Gazing at the beautiful and imposing figure of the female general in the distance, their eyes were filled with astonishment and terror.
This stunningly beautiful woman, bathed in sunlight, radiant with golden light, resembled a female war goddess. Wielding a blood-stained broadsword, she roared, "Zhu Yanda is dead! Who among you dares to challenge me now!"
Her sharp shout thundered over the heads of the Shun army. Seeing their renowned commander slain on the spot, the rebel soldiers turned ashen-faced, their will to fight shattered.
Li Xiaomin, bringing up the rear, seeing the enemy's defeat, raised his spear and roared, "Brothers, follow me! Charge forward! Slay more rebels and serve our country!"
He charged ahead, spurring his horse forward at breakneck speed. The commanders of the other camps followed suit, leading their troops in a massive charge. The imperial army, like a raging torrent, surged towards the enemy.
The imperial army, roaring and crashing down like a giant wave, swiftly broke through the enemy's defenses. Although the rebel generals led their personal guards in a desperate fight, they ultimately could not withstand wave after wave of fierce attacks and were slaughtered on the spot. The 30,000 rebel soldiers scattered and fled, most of them kneeling and surrendering as prisoners.
At the rear of the army, Consort Qin directed operations with remarkable efficiency. Under her command, banners fluttered, and the generals of each army, seeing the banners raised, launched coordinated attacks from all sides, pursuing and intercepting the rebels, minimizing the number of fleeing enemy soldiers. Seeing the enemy army completely annihilated, the female general ,
who had been commanding with unwavering composure in the center of the battlefield, finally revealed a joyful and excited smile.

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