Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 476. The Shadow of Candles and the Sound of Axes Shock the Imperial Palace; Dragons and Tigers Fight, Shattering Mountains and Rivers.
On the day of the Autumn Equinox, mist filled the Huai River. As expected, the dragon boat fleet of Southern Wu came out in full force. Xu Zhigao stood at the bow of the flagship, looking at the Tang army camp on the opposite bank, and sneered: "Li Danqing, you brat, today I'll let you taste the power of 'Black Cloud Capital'!"

With a wave of his command flag, three hundred fast ships shot out like arrows, their black-clad warriors wielding long oars coated with deadly poison.

Li Danqing stood on the high platform on the north bank, his black armor gleaming coldly in the morning light.

"Shi Ye, release the 'water mines'," he calmly instructed Shi Shi Ye.

Shi Shiye waved his command flag, and hundreds of pottery jars suddenly emerged from the surface of the Huai River. The jars cracked open, releasing a dense array of iron lotus flowers—these were the "ice-breaking spikes" specially made by the Yihua Palace, designed to break underwater sneak attacks.

Suddenly, screams came from underwater, and the corpses of the Southern Wu warriors floated to the surface, each one riddled with holes by the iron lotus flowers.

Xu Zhigao roared and dispatched the elite of "Black Cloud Capital". These men were clad in heavy armor and wielded three-zhang-long halberds, and they were able to charge through the waterweeds.

Upon seeing this, Yelü Shihan fired a fire arrow from the Tianlang Bow, igniting the oil floating on the water, and flames immediately soared into the sky.

Li Danqing leaped into the fray, unleashing the "Ram Butting the Fence" move from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, sending three Wu generals flying. His feet moved with the "Water Shadow Technique," traversing the battlefield as if on flat ground. Wherever his palms swept, the heavy armor of the Wu soldiers shattered, their internal organs splattering with blood. Shi Shiyue's "Hundred Victories Saber Technique" was unleashed with sweeping, powerful movements. Suddenly, a "Severing Reincarnation" strike cleaved the Southern Wu vanguard in two, the corpses crashing onto the dragon boat, staining Xu Zhigao's brocade robe crimson.

The city walls of Jiangdu, the capital of Southern Wu, were teetering on the brink of collapse under the battering rams of the Tang army.

Xu Zhigao stood on the city tower, gazing at the densely packed Tang army outside the city, cold sweat beading on the imperial seal in his hand. Yan Xu ran up breathlessly, his face full of dejection, and said, "Your Majesty, 'Black Cloud Capital' has been completely annihilated, and General Xu Zhixun has surrendered to the Tang!"

"Traitor!" Xu Zhigao slammed the imperial seal to the ground and roared, "Issue my decree: release the 'poisonous dragons from the water'!" Suddenly, bubbles appeared in the moat at the foot of the city, and dozens of crocodiles injected with venom rushed out and tore at the Tang soldiers.

Seeing this, Li Danqing unleashed the "Flying Dragon in the Sky" technique with both palms. The resulting giant waves from his palm strikes killed all the crocodiles, their poisonous blood splattering onto the city walls and corroding them with black spots. "Xu Zhigao, those who surrender will not be killed!" Li Danqing's voice boomed like a bell, echoing throughout Jiangdu. The Southern Wu soldiers on the city walls looked at each other in bewilderment. Suddenly, someone threw down their weapon—it was a Huainan civilian who had been forcibly conscripted by Xu Zhigao.

Taking advantage of the situation, Yelü Shihan led the "Water Shadow Battalion" to infiltrate through the waterway and opened the city gates. As the Tang army poured into Jiangdu, Xu Zhigao was about to commit suicide when Shi Shifeng kicked him to the ground. "You dare to commit suicide?" Shi Shifeng stepped on his wrist and said coldly, "His Majesty the Great Tang has decreed that he will personally interrogate you."

Xu Zhigao looked at the Tang army pouring into the palace and said with a bitter smile, "I have lost... but the waters of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers will forever be the blood of the Wu people!"

When Li Danqing entered the palace, she saw Yelü Shihan organizing the household registers of Nanwu. "Your Majesty, Nanwu has a total of 200,000 households, of which 150,000 are displaced people forcibly conscripted." She pointed to the bloody handprints on the register pages and said angrily, "These are all evidence of their resistance against Xu Zhigao."

Li Danqing gazed at the Han Canal outside the window and said in a deep voice, "Guards, issue an imperial decree to pardon all the surrendered soldiers of Southern Wu. Those who wish to return to their fields will be given calves, and those who wish to join the army will be incorporated into the 'Jianghuai Army'." He picked up Xu Zhigao's jade seal, casually handed it to Shi Shiye, and solemnly said, "Melt this and cast it into a large bell to warn future generations—tyrannical government is more ferocious than a tiger."

……

Three months later, in the rice paddies along the Huai River, the people were busy with the autumn harvest. Li Danqing and Yelü Shihan sat on the edge of the field, watching the children chase and play, when suddenly they heard the sound of a bell in the distance—it was the "Peace Bell" cast from the jade seal of the Southern Wu Kingdom, which rang every morning in Yangzhou City.

"Your Majesty, news has come from the Beggars' Sect that the remnants of the Southern Wu have been wiped out." He Quan came over to report, holding a newly drawn map of the Jianghuai region, on which the newly constructed water conservancy projects were marked in red ink. He then said with delight, "After these canals are completed, the grain harvest in Huainan will increase by 30%."

Shi Shiyue ran over, carrying a large carp from the Huai River, and said with a grin, "Your Majesty, let's stew fish tonight!" Behind him was a surrendered general from Southern Wu, Zhou Ben, the former commander of "Black Cloud Capital". He was now the commander of the Jianghuai Army and was holding a newly cast military regulations book for Li Danqing to review.

Li Danqing took the military regulations and jokingly asked, "General Zhou, can you actually abide by these regulations?" Zhou Ben knelt on one knee and said firmly, "This humble general is willing to guarantee it with his own head!"

As the sun set in the west, the surface of the Huai River rippled. "My father once said, 'The country is not won by fighting, but by guarding it.'" Yelü Shihan leaned on his shoulder and whispered, "Then let's guard it for the world to see."

In the distant city of Yangzhou, the "Peace Bell" rang once again, its sound echoing across the rice paddies and waters, reverberating throughout the Jianghuai region.

……

The autumn wind at Chenqiao Post Station carried yellow sand, causing Zhao Kuangyin's command flag to flutter loudly.

Inside the tent of the Guide Army military governor, the candlelight flickered on the bronze candlesticks, reflecting the darting eyes of the generals inside.

Commander Gao Huaide suddenly stood up, his hand on his sword, the clanging of armor startling the guards outside the tent.

He urged, "My lord! The Zhou dynasty's fate is sealed, and the current emperor is young and weak. We risk our lives, but who will show us any compassion?"

Zhao Kuangyin suddenly threw down his wine bowl, the broken porcelain shattering on the blue bricks. He feigned anger and cursed, "Stop talking nonsense! I, Zhao, am paid by the Zhou dynasty, how dare I have any disloyal intentions?" Despite his words, he looked at the secret report on his desk—the young emperor Chai Zongxun was teetering on the brink of collapse in Bianliang, and the elite troops of the Later Zhou were all under his control.

Suddenly, a chorus of shouts erupted outside the tent: "We wish to make the Inspector the Emperor!" The sound was so powerful that it shook the eaves of the post station, causing dust to fall.

At dawn the next day, Zhao Kuangyin, draped in a bright yellow dragon robe, stood before his army, a half-scroll of "The Art of War" fastened to his jade belt. Looking at the fervent light in the eyes of his soldiers, he recalled Shi Shouxin's whisper from the previous night: "If the Inspector doesn't declare himself emperor, even with our immense achievements, we will be nothing more than traitors and rebels."

At that moment, the rising sun pierced through the clouds, staining the dragon patterns on his black armor blood red. He excitedly said, "Guards, issue the decree: the nation is named Great Song, and we will march our army to Bianliang!"

Inside the Hall of Diligent Governance in the Luoyang Imperial Palace, Li Danqing's knuckles turned white as he gripped the secret report.

The four large vermilion characters "Chenqiao Mutiny" on the parchment looked like bleeding wounds in the candlelight. Yelü Shihan's silver armor rustled softly behind her. She caught a glimpse of the bulging veins behind the emperor's ear and said softly, "King Qian Chu of Wuyue has already sent envoys north to surrender his territory to the Song Dynasty."

"What a Zhao Kuangyin!" Li Danqing suddenly slammed his fist on the table, causing the armrest of the dragon throne to shatter. He roared, "Back then, in the Battle of Gaoping, our Great Tang even helped him defeat the Northern Han! Now, he has actually usurped the throne and established himself as emperor. Such a despicable and shameless scoundrel is intolerable to Heaven!"

Yelü Shihan reminded him, "Your Majesty, it is only through his despicable and shameless nature that he became emperor. Otherwise, he would still be a mere inspector."

Li Danqing was deeply shaken and remained silent for a long time. He looked at the map on the wall, where the territory of the Song Dynasty was like a malignant tumor devouring the Central Plains. He murmured, "Jingnan and Nanchu have always been two-faced. If they were to form an alliance with Song..." Before he could finish speaking, He Quan rushed into the hall like a ghost, his dog-beating stick still damp with the mist from the Yellow River crossing. He said urgently, "Your Majesty! Master Shi has sent a message by carrier pigeon!"

Li Danqing took the letter and saw that on the yellowed letter paper, Shi Feiyang's handwriting was strong and penetrating: "Zhao Kuangyin is well aware of the strategy of 'first the south, then the north'. We should quickly form an alliance with Min, Han, Jing, Chu and Bei Han to break their 'nibbling away' by 'horizontal alliance'."

Li Danqing suddenly laughed, his laughter carrying Shi Feiyang's unique arrogance, and said with emotion, "A father is still a father." He turned to Shi Shiye and said in a deep voice, "Prepare the horses immediately, I want to go to Jingnan myself!"

Yelü Shihan had already retrieved the Heavenly Wolf Bow and said firmly, "Your Majesty, I will go with you." Li Danqing nodded, and the couple, escorted by disguised Beggar Clan disciples, rode swiftly towards the treacherous and unpredictable Jingnan.

On an autumn night in Jiangling, the capital of Jingnan, a thin mist shrouded the moat. Gao Jixing leaned back in a tiger-skin chair, the jade ring on his finger gleaming coldly, and looked at Li Danqing below the steps, smiling, "The Emperor of the Great Tang has condescended to come, is it for that Zhao fellow?"

Behind him were twelve guards with concealed crossbows, ready to turn everyone in the hall into pincushions at a single command.

Li Danqing removed the black iron token and placed it on the table. The token struck the blue stone, producing a clear sound like a dragon's roar. He said in a deep voice, "Jingnan is located at a crucial point between the north and south. If Song obtains this place, it will be like a tiger with wings." He suddenly lightly struck out the "Dragon Appearing in the Field" move from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. The palm wind swept across the wine cup, and the wine in the cup actually froze into ice crystals. He then said cryptically, "Does Governor Gao know that the ice ships of Yihua Palace are already waiting on the Yangtze River?"

Gao Jixing's pupils shrank sharply, and he almost crushed the jade ring in his hand. He said angrily, "Is this a threat from Your Majesty?" Yelü Shihan suddenly drew his Heavenly Wolf Bow and pointed the arrow straight at the beam—where three assassins from Southern Wu were lying in ambush.

Where the arrow fletching swept, the assassin's night clothes instantly frosted over.

“Not so.” Li Danqing shook his head, picked up the token, traced the engraving with his fingertips, and analyzed, “After Zhao became emperor, the first thing he did was to reorganize the canal transport. Jingnan’s livelihood depended on the ‘toll’…”

He paused meaningfully before saying in a low voice, "I'm afraid it will all come to nothing." Gao Jixing remained silent for a long time before suddenly raising his cup and saying, "I am willing to fight alongside the Tang Dynasty against the Song Dynasty! However..." A cunning glint flashed in his eyes as he put forward a condition, shamelessly saying, "For the alliance to be formed, you must obtain the position of leader." The negotiations reached a stalemate. Li Danqing remained silent, while Gao Jixing chuckled coldly.

Helpless, Li Danqing rose to take his leave, then instructed He Quan to relay the message to Shi Feiyang, seeking his guidance. He then traveled lightly to the summit of Mount Heng. At the summit of Mount Heng in Southern Chu, clouds and mist swirled, resembling a celestial palace. Ma Xi'e, toying with a gold-inlaid knife-shaped coin, listened to Li Danqing explain his alliance strategy and couldn't help but scoff, "Your Majesty's words sound good, but who will be the leader of this alliance?"

Behind him, thirty-six barbarian soldiers each carried a poisoned crossbow, its arrowheads coated with the deadly "Heart-Eating Gu." Shi Shiyue could no longer contain himself; he slammed his dog-beating stick heavily on the ground and declared in a deep voice, "Naturally, I am the Emperor of our Great Tang!"

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Chang, the envoy from the Southern Han Dynasty, flicked an iron chain whip from his sleeve. The barbs at the end of the whip grazed Shi Shiyue's nose as he coldly said, "Our Great Han Dynasty possesses the treasure mines of the South China Sea. Why should we obey anyone's orders?"

Li Danqing suddenly leaped onto the boulder, his black armor appearing and disappearing in the clouds and mist. He then declared loudly, "The position of Alliance Leader shall be determined by strength!" He struck out with both palms, unleashing the "Regretful Dragon" technique. Wherever his palm wind reached, all the trees within a ten-zhang radius snapped in two.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yelü Shihan shot out three bone-piercing nails, which accurately embedded themselves in the rock wall, forming the character "盟" (alliance). Li Danqing analyzed, "If Zhao obtains the Central Plains, the next thing will be the elephant cavalry of what you call the Great Han!" His gaze swept over the crowd, and he threw out bait, saying, "Liu Jun of the Northern Han has already sent his crown prince Liu Ji'en here, and Li Renda of the Min Kingdom has also stationed his warships in Fuzhou Port."

He took out Shi Feiyang's secret letter, offered huge benefits, and promised, "Yihua Palace is willing to provide 100,000 units of cold iron to help you forge weapons." Ma Xige looked at the frost that had formed on the broken wood and smiled slyly, "Good! We, the men of Chu, will gamble this game with the Tang Dynasty!" Liu Chang put away his iron chain whip, a calculating glint in his eyes, and made another condition, saying despicably, "But the alliance must specify that after the war, the South China Sea trade route will belong to our Southern Han."

The negotiations reached a stalemate, and it seemed unlikely that a breakthrough would be achieved. Li Danqing took his leave, looking dejected.

At this time, Zhao Kuangyin had already stationed his troops outside Bianliang. Riding his Ferghana horse, he looked at the Song Dynasty banner fluttering on the city wall and smiled at Shi Shouxin, saying, "Li Danqing is quick to react." Suddenly, he noticed a wooden plaque floating on the moat, on which was written in cinnabar, "The Five Kingdoms have formed an alliance to jointly punish the traitor Zhao."

Shi Shouxin gripped his spear tightly and whispered, "Your Majesty, should we strike first?" Zhao Kuangyin took out a scroll of "Longzhong Plan," with a portrait of Li Dan as a teenager tucked between the pages: "Back in Shaolin Temple, this kid even secretly watched me practice Taizu Long Fist."

He closed the book, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and said ruthlessly, "Send down the order to forge the 'Divine Fire Flying Crow,' and take Jingnan in three days!"

……

Inside the Luoyang Imperial Palace, Li Danqing unfolded the latest battle report. Upon seeing the words "Song army developing firearms," ​​he said to Yelü Shihan, "Empress, please have the Beggars' Sect send a message via carrier pigeon to the Yihua Palace, requesting Father to send the 'Fire Control Technique' of the 'Heavenly Silkworm Skill'." He stroked the scabbard of the Xuan Shuang Blade—left by Shi Feiyang before his departure—and said resentfully, "Zhao, this time, let's see if you can still 'don the yellow robe'!"

As night deepened, the lights of Bianliang and Luoyang faced each other across the distance, like two opposing stars. Several months later, on the ancient battlefield of Chibi in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, smoke once again filled the air. Zhao Kuangyin's "Divine Fire Flying Crow" swept across the land like a dark cloud obscuring the sun, its iron body trailing a fiery tail, crashing down on the warships of the Jingnan navy.

Gao Jixing's "towering ships" wailed in the sea of ​​fire. The bamboo planks ignited instantly upon contact with the flames. Soldiers jumped into the river, only to be dragged to the bottom by the hook-and-sickle spears of the Song soldiers. "Why haven't the elephant cavalry of Southern Chu arrived yet?" Gao Jixing roared, brandishing his whistling blade and cleaving a Song soldier in two.

Suddenly, a deafening roar of elephants echoed across the river—Ma Xige's elephant cavalry charged across the pontoon bridge, torches tied to their tusks igniting the Song soldiers' gunpowder barrels. Amidst the explosions, Shi Shiyue's "Hundred Victories Blade Technique" surged like rolling snow and surging waves, unleashing a "Demon-Slaying Cloud" strike that swept three Song generals into the river.

Just then, dozens of dark figures flew out from the Song army formation, each holding a flail with oil-soaked linen wrapped around the chains.

"They are assassins from the 'Demon Subduing Academy' of the Great Song Dynasty!" Yelü Shihan exclaimed in surprise. She quickly drew her bow and nocked an arrow. The Heavenly Wolf Arrow pierced the throats of three assassins, and green smoke emerged from their wounds—they had been poisoned by "Corpse Dissolving Powder".

Suddenly, a long howl ripped through the sky, and Shi Feiyang came riding on the ice waves. He swung his Xuan Shuang Blade and unleashed "Emperor's Thunder," turning ice into lightning, which struck the Song army's "Divine Fire Flying Crow," causing a burst of ice and fire to fill the sky.

His skin was as clear as jade, and he secretly used the "Flower Transference and Jade Grafting" technique to deflect all the incoming rockets and shoot them at the Song army's flagship.

Li Danqing exclaimed in surprise and delight, "Father, you've arrived just in time! Hehe!" He then unleashed the "Flying Dragon in the Sky" technique with both palms, his true energy flowing like rivers into the sea, creating towering waves on the river surface and capsizing all of the Song army's fire attack ships.

On the ancient battlefield of Chibi on the south bank of the Yangtze River, the setting sun casts a blood-red glow, turning the surging river crimson.

Shi Feiyang's silver hair flew in the wind, his Xuan Shuang Blade casually slung across his waist, his glassy eyes reflecting the burning enemy ship, a carefree smile playing on his lips as he teased, "Kid, your father's 'Supreme Forgetfulness: Ice Soul Cold Prison' hasn't deteriorated yet, has it?"

Before the words were even finished, a sudden surge of chill enveloped him, and the river water within a ten-zhang radius instantly froze into ice, the shattered wreckage of the enemy ships frozen within the crystal-clear ice walls. Li Danqing, his bright yellow dragon robe fluttering in the wind, couldn't hide his admiration on the young emperor's face as he gave a thumbs-up and exclaimed, "Father is the true hero! Such divine skill is truly awe-inspiring!" He turned to look at the generals behind him, his eyes gleaming.

"Hahahaha!" Upon seeing this, the generals burst into laughter, their voices soaring into the sky. The veteran general Wang Ce was the first to raise his arms and shout: "Having fought a hundred battles in the yellow sands, clad in golden armor, Shi Lang's brilliant plan brings peace to the world!" Instantly, shouts rose and fell, startling countless gulls and egrets on the river, and even the remnants of Cao Cao's army on the opposite bank couldn't help but peek out.

However, this joy did not last long. That night, an urgent secret report was delivered to Li Danqing's desk. In the flickering candlelight, the young emperor's face grew paler and paler—Zhao Kuangyin was feigning an attack on Southern Chu and Jingnan while secretly leading the elite Song army in a surprise attack on Northern Han.

Even more shockingly, Yang Ye, a famous general of the Northern Han Dynasty, surrendered to the Song Dynasty, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun fell back into the hands of the Khitans.

Inside the temporary palace, Li Danqing sat alone at his desk, the secret report in his hand crumpled in his hand.

Moonlight streamed through the window and fell upon him; overnight, his black hair turned white.

Yelü Shihan pushed open the door and entered, carrying a bowl of freshly brewed medicine. She froze the moment she saw her husband. The bowl clattered to the ground, shards of porcelain scattering everywhere. She rushed to Li Danqing's side, tears streaming down her face, sobbing, "Your Majesty, why did you do this…?"

Li Danqing reached out to wipe away his wife's tears, but found his own hand trembling slightly. He said sadly, "Shihan, with the loss of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, the Central Plains will have no more protection. Zhao Kuangyin's actions were truly a ruthless scheme..."

His voice choked with emotion as he recalled the "Memorial on Dispatching the Troops" that his father had taught him to read when he was a child, and now he felt the same way.

Just then, familiar footsteps came from outside the door.

Shi Feiyang, dressed in a blue robe, strolled in slowly, twirling a copper coin in his hand. Seeing his son's white hair, a flicker of heartache crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his nonchalant demeanor, teasingly saying, "Oh dear, it's only been a few days, and my good son has turned into an old man with white hair?"

He sat casually on the table, the Xuan Shuang Blade gleaming coldly in his palm, and said consolingly, "Conquering and defending a country is not so easy. Back then, Cao Mengde roamed the world, but he still failed to unify Jiangnan; Zhuge Kongming was a brilliant strategist, but in the end he could only maintain a partial peace in Shu."

He suddenly leaned closer to Li Danqing and lowered his voice, saying, "Do you think Father didn't want to strike at the heart of the enemy back then? Some things can't be rushed."

Li Danqing raised his head, a stubborn glint in his eyes, and said with a dilemma, "Father, Zhao Kuangyin is now very powerful, and Southern Chu and Jingnan are wavering. If we don't strike first, we will have no chance of winning once he has consolidated the northern forces."

Shi Feiyang clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "Excellent! You truly are my son!" He rose and walked to the window, gazing at the surging river with a deep look in his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "The most ruthless are those in the imperial family. To be an emperor, one must be ruthless! If a man isn't ruthless, the empire will not be stable." He turned to Li Danqing and offered his advice, "Now that we are at Chibi, this is a golden opportunity. You return to Luoyang to oversee the situation in the Central Plains. I will handle the affairs of Southern Chu and Jingnan!"

“But Father…” Yelü Shihan couldn’t help but speak.

Shi Feiyang waved his hand, winked mischievously, and said firmly, "Don't worry! Your father-in-law's old bones are still hale and hearty!" Yelü Shihan looked at Shi Feiyang's eternally eighteen-year-old appearance, her eyes filled with tears, but she smiled through her tears and nodded.

Shi Feiyang suddenly pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. Unfolding it, it revealed a map of the Southern Chu defenses. He said in a low voice, "These days, the Beggars' Clan brothers haven't been idle." Li Danqing was moved to tears.

The father and son plotted for a while, then went to rest.

The next morning, at the Yangtze River ferry. Li Danqing, clad in black armor, was about to board the ship when Shi Feiyang suddenly grabbed him and whispered, "By the way, give military power to Shi Shiyue. That kid seems reckless, but he's actually quite shrewd."

He then pulled out a small bottle and instructed, "This contains the 'Immunity to All Poisons Pill,' a secret recipe from the Yihua Palace. Give it to Shi Ye and the others. Those guys from Jingnan love to poison the water." Li Danqing solemnly took the bottle, nodded, and then added, "Father, please be very careful."

Shi Feiyang patted his son on the shoulder, leaped onto a black horse, and said domineeringly, "Don't worry! When you return to Luoyang, you might receive the surrender letter from the King of Southern Chu!" With that, he flicked his whip and disappeared into the morning mist.

……

On the border of Jingnan, Shi Shiyue, carrying a dog-beating stick, looked at the city on the opposite bank, grinned, and said jokingly, "Old beggars, this time we'll launch a 'fire attack on the camps'!"

He turned to Shi Shiye and said, "You lead the 'Cold Moon Guard' to infiltrate by water, while I lead the Black Armor Army in a frontal assault. Remember, defeat is the only option, victory is not allowed!"

Shi Shiye was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "Defeat?"

Shi Shiyue smiled mysteriously and whispered, "This is called 'luring the enemy deep into our territory'! Once they come out in full force, we'll cut off their retreat..." His voice grew softer and softer, a cunning glint in his eyes, as he instructed Shi Shiye on what to do.

……

Inside the Southern Chu imperial palace, Ma Xige was looking at the map with a troubled expression.

Suddenly, a spy rushed in to report: "Your Majesty! The Tang army has launched a major offensive on the southern border of Jingzhou!"

"Hmph!" Ma Xige sneered and cursed, "Li Danqing has indeed lost his temper. Men, issue the order to assemble the army... we..."

"Wait!" Suddenly, a sarcastic voice rang out. A man in black emerged from behind the screen; it was the Song Dynasty's secret envoy. He grinned maliciously and said, "Has Your Majesty forgotten the agreement with our dynasty?"

Ma Xige's expression changed, and she said in a trembling voice, "This..."

“In my opinion,” the man in black leaned closer and lowered his voice, “Your Majesty might as well adopt a ‘when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits’ strategy. After the Tang army and Jingnan are both exhausted, we can then…” At this point, he made a throat-slitting gesture.

However, unbeknownst to them, a figure was crouching on the roof. Shi Feiyang chewed on a blade of grass, his glassy eyes gleaming with a playful light, thinking to himself: What a "fisherman's gain," but I fear that this fisherman will end up as someone else's meal!
He took out a small bamboo tube and released a carrier pigeon.

Three days later, outside Jingnan City. Shi Shiyue feigned defeat and led the Tang army into the valley. The Jingnan army pursued relentlessly, unaware that they had stepped into Shi Shiyue's "Ice Soul Formation." In an instant, ice walls rose up on both sides of the valley, and countless ice spikes rained down from the sky.

The Jingnan army was thrown into chaos, suffering heavy casualties. Meanwhile, the Southern Chu army was quietly approaching Jingnan. Ma Xige gazed at the city ahead, a smug smile playing on his lips, and roared to the sky, "Li Danqing, you've miscalculated this time..."

"Is that so?" A familiar voice sounded from behind. Ma Xige was startled and turned around to see Shi Feiyang leaning against a tree, his Xuan Shuang Blade gleaming coldly. He chuckled and said, "King Chu, where are you going?"

When Li Danqing returned to Luoyang, news of victory had already arrived. Jingnan surrendered without a fight, the Southern Chu army was completely annihilated, and Ma Xige was captured. The young emperor stood on the city wall, gazing into the distance, his white hair fluttering in the wind.

Yelü Shihan stepped forward, gently took his hand, and said softly, "Your Majesty, Master Shi has sent a letter."

Li Danqing unfolded the letter, and Shi Feiyang's handwriting was flamboyant and elegant: "Kid, now you know that experience counts, right? Although the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun have been lost, Zhao Kuangyin has also lost the hearts of the people. Remember, a true king is not defined by the gain or loss of a single city or battle..."

A slight smile finally appeared on the young emperor's lips. He looked north, to Zhao Kuangyin's Song Dynasty; then west, to where the Khitans were stirring. The fate of the world was like a game of chess that had just begun.

Inside the Hall of Diligent Governance in the Luoyang Imperial Palace, the flickering candlelight illuminated Li Danqing's increasingly composed and resolute face. He gazed at the map of the world on the wall, the locations of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun heavily marked, like a wound that was difficult to heal.

Yelü Shihan stepped forward lightly, draped a brocade robe over him, and said softly, "Your Majesty, Master Shi has sent another letter."

On the letter, Shi Feiyang's handwriting remained as unrestrained and free: "We can send envoys to Liao to explain the advantages and disadvantages, so that they will create a rift between Liao and Song. In the lands of Southern Chu and Jingnan, we need to appease the people and recruit their elite troops for our own use."

After reading the document, Li Danqing's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He turned to Shi Shifeng, who was standing to the side, and said, "Issue the decree to summon He Quan and Li Xing, elders of the Beggars' Sect, to the palace."

A moment later, He Quan, leaning on his dog-beating stick, and Li Xing, scratching his disheveled hair, stepped into the hall.

"Elders," Li Danqing said solemnly, "I order you to immediately lead the Beggars' Sect disciples to the borders of Liao and Song. In Liao, spread the word that Zhao Kuangyin abandoned Youyun; in Song, spread resentment and incite discontent among the people. Remember, you must not reveal your identities."

He Quan stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "The old beggar understands. He will definitely cause trouble in Zhao Kuangyin's backyard."

Li Xing chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, our Beggars' Sect disciples are all over the world, this little matter is no problem for us."

……

In the land of Western Shu, Shi Shiyue was carrying out Li Danqing's secret orders to reorganize the surrendered troops of Southern Chu and Jingnan.

On the Chengdu training ground, tens of thousands of soldiers stood in neat formation. Shi Shiyue leaped onto the command platform, slammed his dog-beating stick heavily on the ground, and proclaimed loudly: "From this day forward, you are all sons of the Great Tang! Anyone who disagrees will have to face this dog-beating stick in my hand first!"

Holding the Ice Soul Sword, Shi Shiye patrolled the army, teaching the soldiers the exquisite swordsmanship of the Yihua Palace. He said in a deep voice, "This sword technique emphasizes using softness to overcome hardness." He lightly touched the ground with the tip of his sword, causing ice flowers to bloom. He then pointed out, "Watch carefully!"

The soldiers stared intently, marveling at this miraculous martial art.

Li Danqing secretly dispatched a steady stream of provisions and weapons to Western Shu. He also wrote to Yihua Palace, requesting more disciples skilled in naval warfare to prepare for the upcoming great battle.

……

Within the Liao Kingdom, Beggar Clan members disguised themselves as merchants and refugees, spreading the news that Zhao Kuangyin had abandoned the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun.

In the Liao court, the ministers were indignant. Emperor Yelü Jing slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Zhao Kuangyin's actions clearly show that he doesn't respect our Great Liao!" He immediately ordered the reinforcement of border troops, ready to march south at any time.

On the borders of the Song Dynasty, the people's discontent with Zhao Kuangyin was spreading like wildfire. Taking advantage of the situation, members of the Beggars' Sect organized a petition demanding that the Song army reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun. Upon learning of this, Zhao Kuangyin was furious and cursed, "It must be Li Danqing who's behind this!"

While suppressing the people, he also mobilized troops to guard against a surprise attack from the Liao Kingdom. At this time, the envoy sent by Li Danqing arrived in the Liao Kingdom. The envoy reasoned with the Liao ruler, saying, "The Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun were originally a shield for the Central Plains. Zhao Kuangyin's abandonment of them is a shortsighted move. With the support of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, if the Liao and Tang Dynasties join forces to attack the Song Dynasty, they will surely be able to take half of the Song Dynasty's territory."

After much deliberation, the Liao emperor Yelü Jing finally decided to form an alliance with the Tang Dynasty.

With everything prepared, Li Danqing personally led the army into battle.

He divided his forces into two routes. One route, led by Shi Shiyue and Shi Shiye, consisted mainly of surrendered troops from Shu. They sailed down the Yangtze River aboard specially made ice-soul ships from Yihua Palace, aiming to take direct action against the Song navy. The other route, led by him and Yelü Shihan, advanced by land to draw away the main force of the Song army.

On the Yangtze River, Shi Shiyue looked at the Song warships ahead and laughed loudly: "Zhao Kuangyin, today I will let you see the power of my Great Tang Navy!" With a command, the Ice Soul Ship sped forward, the ice shards at the bow cutting through the water like sharp blades.

Shi Shiye unleashed the Mingyu Skill, "Supreme Forgetfulness: Ice Soul Cold Prison," instantly freezing the river water and trapping the Song Kingdom's warships inside, rendering them immobile.

On land, Li Danqing, clad in black armor and wielding a black iron token, stood imposingly. Facing the Song army's defenses, he unleashed the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms," the force of which shattered the Song army's formation. Yelü Shihan drew his bow and fired his Heavenly Wolf Arrows with unerring accuracy, striking fear into the hearts of the Song army.

The Song army suffered repeated defeats, forcing Zhao Kuangyin to personally lead his troops in a decisive battle against the Tang army outside Bianjing.

Instantly, the sounds of battle shook the heavens, and blood flowed like rivers. Li Danqing and Zhao Kuangyin finally faced each other head-on.

"Li Danqing, we've been fighting for so long, let's settle this today!" Zhao Kuangyin roared, unleashing the Taizu Long Fist, its force powerful and menacing. Li Danqing calmly countered, employing the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms," engaging Zhao Kuangyin in a fierce and evenly matched battle.

Yelü Shihan led her elite troops straight to the rear of the Song army's camp. The fire arrows fired from her Heavenly Wolf Bow ignited the Song army's provisions, sending flames soaring into the sky.

Shi Shiyue and Shi Shiye also led their naval forces to provide support. Under the combined attack of land and sea, the morale of the Song army was thrown into chaos.

In the end, Zhao Kuangyin was no match for Li Danqing and had no choice but to lead his remaining troops in a hasty retreat.

On the banks of the Yellow River, the autumn wind whipped up yellow sand, tearing the Song army's tattered flags into pieces.

Zhao Kuangyin reined in his frightened warhorse; the blood clots on his black armor trembled slightly with each breath.

The sound of the pursuing soldiers' hooves was like a death knell. He looked at the continuous Bianliang city on the opposite bank and suddenly remembered the high spirits he had when he was awarded the yellow robe at Chenqiao Post Station, but now he had ended up in such a sorry state.

"Your Majesty, hurry!" Shi Shouxin, covered in blood, used his spear to knock away the last pursuer and urged urgently, "Li Danqing's Xuanjia Army has cut off our retreat!" Before he finished speaking, Yelü Shihan's Tianlang Arrow grazed past Zhao Kuangyin's ear and embedded itself in the withered tree behind him, the silver bell at the end of the arrow chiming softly in the wind.

Zhao Kuangyin drew his sword with a backhand motion, but the blade trembled.

Ten years ago, during the Battle of Gaoping, the scene of him and Li Danqing drinking and laughing together on the battlefield flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern. "What a young emperor..." he roared to the sky, suddenly spitting out a mouthful of blood that stained his bright yellow dragon robe, and then said sadly, "Send down the order to retreat to Chanzhou!"

Inside Bianliang city, the people watched the defeated Song army and complained bitterly.

In the streets and alleys, Beggar Clan members quietly spread the news: "Zhao Kuangyin abandoned the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun to the Khitan, causing widespread suffering!" In teahouses and taverns, scholars slammed their fists on the table and angrily cursed: "The Emperor Shizong was so valiant in the past, if he were still alive, how could this have happened?"

These discussions spread like wildfire throughout the city.

In the palace, the candlelight flickered in the lamplight. Zhao Kuangyin leaned against the dragon bed, his cough causing the beaded curtain to sway slightly. Zhao Guangyi knelt before the bed, holding a bowl of medicine in his hands, his eyes flickering in the shadows, and whispered words of comfort: "Brother, please rest assured. Once you recover, you will surely be able to regroup and rebuild."

"Regroup?" Zhao Kuangyin suddenly sprang to his feet, grabbing his brother's wrist, and said with grief and indignation, "Zhao Guangyi, do you think I don't know? Rumors in the streets say that I colluded with the Khitans to seize the throne..."

He coughed violently, blood seeping from between his fingers, and gasped, "If it weren't for that brat Li Danqing pressing me so relentlessly, how could I have..."

Zhao Guangyi lowered his head to conceal the cold glint in his eyes and said softly, "Brother, please calm down. This must be a divisive tactic by the Tang Dynasty." He handed over the medicine bowl and advised, "Drink this calming soup first." The aroma of the medicine was mixed with a faint fragrance of something else, which was the "Drunken Immortal Powder" that had been lost from the Yihua Palace.

As the third watchman's clapper sounded, the shouts of the night watchman echoed outside the palace. Zhao Kuangyin, having finished his medicine, felt drowsy as a tide washed over him. Zhao Guangyi, watching his brother's eyes gradually close, took a gilded short axe from his sleeve. The blade gleamed a deep blue in the candlelight; it was the very blade that Emperor Taizu had used to pacify Huainan.

The candlelight dimmed, and Zhao Guangyi suddenly rose, his short axe flashing across the candlestick. The flames danced violently, casting his shadow on the dragon bed like a ferocious beast. Zhao Kuangyin, in his drowsy state, murmured, "Guangyi...guard the Song Dynasty well..."

The short axe hovered in mid-air, Zhao Guangyi's hand trembling slightly. The scene of his elder brother donning the imperial robes during the Chenqiao Mutiny ten years ago suddenly flashed before his eyes. But soon, he remembered the scene when Li Danqing captured Yangzhou, and the curses the people hurled at his brother.

"For the sake of the Song Dynasty, I have no choice but to do this," he murmured, as his short axe whistled through the air as it cleaved down.

Blood splattered on the bright yellow curtains, like blooming red plum blossoms.

Zhao Kuangyin remained in a state of astonishment until his death, his right hand still tightly clutching half a jade pendant—a keepsake from his childhood with his brother.

Zhao Guangyi laid the body flat and covered the bloodstains with a brocade quilt, as if his brother had simply fallen asleep peacefully.

Then, he shouted, "Guards!" His voice trembled with just the right amount of panic as he cried out, "His Majesty... His Majesty has passed away!"

When the guards rushed in, they saw Zhao Guangyi kneeling before the dragon bed, weeping bitterly, still holding his brother's jade cup in his hand.

(End of this chapter)