The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 339 The Battle is Exhilarating, The Battle is Exhilarating (Part Two)
On the Wuting River, guided by several Ministry of War officials, Xiao Xiu and his party sped along the Wei River.

They had never been to the Western Regions before, and setting off alone, they feared they might take the wrong path and waste time.

He came from a family of Xi generals, and from the time he inherited his official post, he chose to serve in the cavalry.

For him, his mount was the most important thing. It was normal for a warrior like himself to suffer some grievances, but his mount could not be allowed to suffer. But now, his black horse was already running so hard that it was foaming at the mouth, yet he was still whipping it. He would only change horses if the horse really couldn't go any further.

Thanks to the success of the emperor's western and northern expeditions, meat and milk prices in Guanzhong plummeted, and livestock productivity soared. The Imperial Stud even built horse ranches in Youfufeng, Qinfeng, and Qingyang. In peacetime, livestock management was a hassle. But in wartime, its advantages became apparent.

They had only come a short distance from Lantian, yet Xiao Xiu and his party had already changed horses seven times, even riding camels.

"Giddy up, giddy up!" Another whip cracked, and Xiao Xiu, who was dizzy from running, just lay on the horse's back, staring at the Guanzhong Plain and the surrounding mountains.

Sage, sage, where are you? Have you returned with your troops yet?
"How far is it to the Western Sea, and how many days will it take to get there?" he asked, turning back again.

"Two thousand li!" The Minister of War adjusted his body on horseback, stretching his aching limbs.

"Two thousand li? Two thousand li?" Xiao Xiu muttered irritably, then suddenly looked up: "A round trip is four thousand li!"

At a normal marching speed, infantry would travel 20 to 30 li (approximately 10-15 kilometers), while cavalry would travel 40 to 100 li (approximately 20 to 50 kilometers). Given our current speed and the status of our relay system, it would take at least ten days to reach the Western Sea.

Even if they returned on the same day after meeting the sage, even a light cavalry force with one rider and two horses, such as the Leopard Army, would still take at least half a month to run back from there without carrying supplies and constantly changing horses along the Shanzhou and Weizhou route.

Needless to say, the infantry were even worse off.

In other words, if the sage had not returned with his troops and had waited until he arrived to bring reinforcements, it would have taken at least a month for the army to rush back to Chang'an!

January, January...

With the reinforcements from the Hezhong army and the addition of Ding Hui's troops, the Tongguan garrison now numbers 50,000. Combined with civilian laborers, they should be able to hold out for another month. Even with Zhu Dalang's strength, he might not be able to break through. Although he has a large and powerful force, most of his men are civilians he has coerced.

The core military force consists of only about 100,000 men, some of whom are stationed at Wuguan.

Xiao Xiu wasn't sure if Zi Mei could hold out for five days on Huashan Road.

Hopefully, Wang Congxun and Chen Xiong will act like human beings and not stand by and watch someone die without considering the bigger picture.

"Young Master Xiao!" In his confusion, the officer behind him suddenly stood up, pointed his whip westward, and said excitedly, "Take a look at what's that?"

Xiao Xiuma trembled, his heart pounding, and he turned his gaze toward it.

The ministers and soldiers traveling with him all acted in the same way, as if their heads weighed a ton.

Coming from the west...

Everyone was eagerly anticipating the battle at Wuguan Pass; has it finally arrived?
Xiao Xiu's eyes widened.

In his line of sight, he saw small figures running around on the walls of Qishan County. The officials were frantically beating drums and sounding alarms, the sound reaching all the way to the riverbank where they were.

With the devastation of war and the resulting unrest, all regions of Guanzhong were on high alert. The mere sight of military activity, regardless of friend or foe, led to cities closing in and defending themselves with extreme vigilance. Qishan, a strategic location in Youfufeng, was no exception.

What caused such a strong reaction in Qishan County was the sudden appearance of an army from the west.

In the wind and snow, a large contingent of men, wrapped in cloaks and raincoats and clad in red and black armor, marched swiftly along the main road of Jincheng. There were mules, camels, and horses; no one walked, indicating a mixed force of infantry and cavalry. Numerous vehicles, weapons, flags, and ranks stretched to the horizon, numbering over ten thousand. They were advancing eastward with menacing intent!

The main army led the way, flanked by various commanders of unshaven, barbarian men. Judging from their appearance, they were the newly conquered Tibetan, Tangut, and Tuyuhun tribes, their troops crowding the mountains and plains under the sky, making it seem as if barbarian invaders had arrived.

Without a doubt, this was Emperor Li's main force.

The appearance of such a powerful army naturally caused great tension in Qishan County. Before all the residents of the outskirts of the city could enter, the Qishan magistrate had already raised the drawbridge. The people in the city watched in fear as this mixed army swept in.

At this moment, Xiao Xiu and the others were desperately trying to identify the army that was breaking through the heavy snow and rushing towards them.

"That...is?" The Minister of War beside Xiao Xiu frowned, seemingly wanting to say something, but only managed a disjointed shout: "Prime Minister, the King of Wu!"

They all recognized the original flag:

The Regent and the Prime Minister knew they were fighting a great battle, and the imperial court had come to their aid!
The flags behind it are also clear.

The Dragon Swift Army, Tiger Swift Army, Heroic Martial Army, Ink Departure Army, Feather Forest Army, Heavenly Peace Army, Xingguo Army, Molizhitian Army, and Fire Sharp Army—the ten main forces of the Holy Tang Dynasty, except for the Leopard Army—all arrived.

Even the sage has sent troops to help!

The sage knew they were fighting a bitter battle, and the sage came to their aid!
"I told you long ago, don't panic. Who is this person? Since he's on a long expedition, he must have made thorough preparations. How can we let this cause us to lose sight of this and allow that scoundrel Zhu Dalang to succeed in his ambitions!" The Minister of War dusted the snow off his shoulders, his expression arrogant.

Xiao Xiu's chest heaved, but she didn't reply. She pulled on the rope and darted away.

The wind howled in my ears, and only a fire burned in my chest.

Strong reinforcements have arrived! Strong reinforcements have arrived!
With tens of thousands of strong troops, the Eastern Army rabble on Wuguan Road can be swept away like autumn leaves by the autumn wind!

He shouted, "I am Xiao Xiu, I am Xiao Xiu, the Left Commander and Left Marquis! A small force of the Bian army has broken through the pass, but the main force is still being held up by our army at Qingni Ridge and Huashan Road! We are here to plead for help!"

As the opposing army drew ever closer, the scene in Qishan County showed no sign of the troops turning their heads; they were single-mindedly galloping eastward.

Amidst the roar of the galloping horses, they merely gazed with complex emotions at the disheveled Zhao soldiers by the roadside, praising them with shouts of "Warrior! Warrior! Warrior!"

The Wei River at Fengxiang was very shallow this winter. Xiao Xiu spurred his horse into the river to make way for the army. The splashing water hit his face, and all the shouts repeated only one thing: "I am Xiao Xiu! I am Xiao Xiu! I'm here to report an emergency..."

The opposing leader had already recognized them.

Hundreds of officers stepped forward, wading across the Wei River, splashing water everywhere, and swarmed towards them, shouting: "We're here! We're here! The sage sent us back first!"

"Where is the traitor Zhu? Where is the traitor Zhu?"

"You bunch of damned bastards! We didn't cause you any trouble, you should be thanking us with your wives and children, how dare you come here!"

"Once we take Bianliang, we'll slaughter the entire city, leaving no one alive! Just hearing about the people of Bianliang gives me a headache!" "...They say there are only 100,000 Bianliang warriors, and many of them are newly recruited incompetent! Our soldiers all know they're tough and resilient. If you ask me, after we take Wuguan, shouldn't we just abandon Zhu Dalang and focus on Bianliang? We can march straight through Zhengzhou and seize Bianliang!"

On the fifth day of the first month of the first year of Guanghua, Qi Yanshu, Li Renmei, Zhao Cunbu, and Wu Wangbu, who had set off earlier, encountered Xiao Xiu, who had come to report an emergency, in Youfufeng.

The chaotic shouting and cursing, however, brought Xiao Xiu a sense of relief.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter..." Several riders caught up from behind, the leader being none other than the King of Wu. He wore a robe, felt hat, and bamboo hat, with small chainmail hanging on his horse.

Xiao Xiu turned around and, together with everyone else, clasped their hands and shouted, "Your Majesty! We have suffered so much because of you!"

King Wu nodded nonchalantly: "Rise, all of you. In the Battle of Gaobi Ridge, Emperor Taizong went without food or sleep for a day and a night, marching two hundred li, and still managed to fight dozens of rounds. In the Battle of Tongzhou against Li Keyong, the Emperor went without sleep for three days and two nights; I am but a fraction of that."

His skin was rough, his lips were chapped, and his face was covered in ice crystals.

Compared to his former eldest son, who used to be obsequious before the sage, his eyes and expression are now noticeably rougher and more composed, showing a significant change.

Some people, even if they are in their forties or fifties, may still have a mental age of teenagers due to limitations in their knowledge, intelligence, experience, and perspective, making them obviously stupid.

Some people, even if they are only in their teens or twenties, become precocious because they have more experience and are in higher positions.

Before, the King of Wu was a typical prince confined to the inner palace. In the past two years, he has been taken by Emperor Li's side, and through his daily life, he has witnessed the changes in people and events, and observed the war and people's lives. However, these changes are far less significant than the transformation he underwent during his time ruling the country in Jincheng.

Pain can help people grow.

Power can transform a man in every way.

"General Xiao, you've worked hard." King Wu rode up to Xiao Xiu and his party and asked, "How were the two passes?"

"The invasion is like a raging fire." Xiao Xiu blurted out, "Tongguan has many soldiers and generals, high walls and deep moats, and fortified villages connected to each other, so there should be no danger for the time being. But Wuguan Road has already been occupied by the rebels. Gao Jichang, Huang Wenjing, and Jia Sheng are besieging Qingni Ridge and Huashan Road day and night, and the situation is critical!"

"How many soldiers does the people of Bian have?"

"Your Majesty, the Bian army at Wuguan Pass actually numbered only about 30,000. The rest were all local militia and laborers. The Bian army treated them like pigs and sheep, using them to exchange for my life."

"These good-for-nothings!" King Wu cursed with a sneer. Why rebel and harm the common people?
What good is it to drive the people to war, no matter how many there are?

What about Sun Ru's 500,000-strong army?

"Furthermore, a plague has broken out in Tongguan," Xiao Xiu added. "Last year, a great plague struck the Central Plains, and many people were infected. The civilians taken captive by the Bian army, the starving and sick children who followed the army to beg for food, all died, and the Bian army dumped their bodies into the city. Now Tongguan is a dead end. If the army enters, most will not return..."

The King of Wu's expression froze.

Zhu Dalang is so utterly depraved!
What should he choose? If he doesn't join, all sorts of trouble will follow. If he does join, he'll most likely die there.

Of all the hardships throughout history, death is the only way; when life is at its end, one begs for divine grace!

Everyone cherishes their life to some extent, and he had many things he couldn't let go of.

But that's not the most important thing!
He looked around; the soldiers who had followed him by imperial decree had fiery expressions and calm hearts. They were just like the troops outside Tongguan Pass at the foot of Mount Hua. They were warriors, harboring the same convictions, fighting across the land, participating in the same mad war.

The King of Wu had no doubt that if they marched straight to Tongguan, even if Zhu Quanzhong were to be resurrected outside, they would not hesitate to charge forward with their swords drawn!

But is it appropriate to bring them into a plague-stricken mausoleum where the likelihood of dying from disease is far greater than dying in battle?
If a sage were to command the army here, would the sage go?

...But as long as the Holy Tang Dynasty remains safe and sound, do I have any other choice?

Looking back, Yuan Xie and other ministers of the Prince's Palace all had stern faces, hesitant to speak.

King Wu gritted his teeth, about to speak loudly, when Zheng Yanchang rode in on horseback amidst the swirling winter wind: "Everyone, go to Wuguan, I'll go to Tongguan."

The King of Wu looked surprised and was about to speak when he was interrupted again.

Beside him, Zhao Cun asked in a deep voice, "Which army does the Prime Minister want?"

Zheng Yanchang smiled and said, "The military strength at Tongguan is already sufficient; there is no need to add more soldiers! I will lead the Turkic army myself, and give me half of the Tibetan, Tuyuhun, and Dangxiang armies. With this manpower, Tongguan will surely be safe. With your strength, Youlun is no match for you."

"Drive out the Bian rebels as soon as possible. With the might of our cavalry, we can burn and destroy their supply lines, or even seize Bianliang to relieve the siege of Tongguan from the outside! The imperial edict has already been issued. If we are to launch a surprise attack on Bianliang and seize the city, the Weibo, Yicheng, and Zhongwu armies should cooperate with you!"

"If our wish is fulfilled, we will change the course of this war!"

The King of Wu merely looked at Zheng Yanchang, who was old and frail but still sat upright on his horse.

After a long, long while, he quickly donned his armor, rode his horse in circles on the water, and shouted loudly: "My followers have followed me from Jincheng all the way here, and finally this moment has arrived! The Prime Minister went to Tongguan, and we went to Wuguan to wipe out the likes of Zhu Youlun! After defeating Youlun, we will take the Central Plains. Now, our only goal is this... Bianliang! Bianliang!!"

"Bianliang, Bianliang!" The officers could only ride around in circles.

"Take care, Prime Minister!" The King of Wu slowly clasped his hands in greeting to Zheng Yanchang, then suddenly spurred his horse, and it reared up. His horsemanship was now quite impressive. With a clang, the King of Wu drew his jade-hilted sword and pointed east: "Forward!"

During the Battle of Tongguan, he lived with Consort He at the Prajna Temple. He watched his father, the Emperor, suffer from insomnia and his hair turned white.

He remembered that figure returning home in the snow at dusk for a long time.

Now, with the resounding victory that has rendered Zhu Dalang unable to recover, he must consider whether this is his only chance in this lifetime.

The generals and ministers watched the King of Wu's retreating figure.

They recalled how the sage led them in a great battle against Zhu Quanzhong at Tongguan, where they narrowly escaped death and ultimately drove Quanzhong away.

Now it is his son who is facing off against Zhu Quanzhong's son at Tongguan.

As long as fathers are kind and sons are filial, and the descendants continue the legacy, how could the Holy Tang Dynasty be unstable?

The reign of Yuanhe will return like lightning!

(End of this chapter)