Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 393 Soldiers of the Tang Dynasty! Fire arrows at your Crown Prince! [Seeking monthly votes]

"Have you heard? His Highness the Crown Prince is back! He's outside the city!"

"What? His Highness the Crown Prince is back? That's wonderful! Chang'an is saved!"

Gradually, the topic began to change.

"What's so good about it! You probably don't know yet, but His Highness the Crown Prince is disregarding Chang'an's epidemic prevention regulations and trying to force his way through the city gates!"

"No, who told you that His Highness the Crown Prince needs to force his way into the city?"

"That's right, that's right! As soon as His Highness the Crown Prince gives the order, the city gates will open immediately!"

"Hmph! You don't believe me when I say you don't know anything. Don't you know what the situation is like in our city? It's ravaged by plague! How could His Highness the Crown Prince, a person of noble birth, come to a plague-stricken area?"

"Yes! Why didn't I think of that?"

The topic has started to shift again.

"I think His Highness the Crown Prince's return to Chang'an this time is no small matter! I heard that even His Highness the Prince of Liang knelt down before him, crying and begging him not to come in for the sake of the people, but he ignored him completely!"

"Oh my god! This...this is going to kill us all!"

"Exactly! His Highness the Prince of Shu and the divine physicians finally managed to bring the plague under control. What if he comes in and brings the disease with him, causing the plague to break out again?!"

"I also heard that His Highness the Crown Prince was assassinated on his way back to Chang'an and was seriously injured. He's probably possessed by evil spirits! He's back now to harm us!"

"We can't let him in! Absolutely not!"

Just as Li Yin and Li Chengqian were confronting each other outside the city gate, the plague doctor's men were spreading rumors throughout the city.

They precisely touched the most sensitive nerves of the people of Chang'an: their fear of the plague and their desire to survive.

The image of the 'savior' previously established by the divine physician of the Shu King's Mansion was further reinforced by the Plague Doctor.

Li Chengqian, on the other hand, was portrayed as a selfish, ruthless, and potentially even more disastrous "plague god".

Panic spread like wildfire, instantly engulfing the entire city of Chang'an.

"Stop the Crown Prince! Don't let him in!"

"Protect His Highness the Prince of Shu! Protect the divine physician of the Prince of Shu's residence!"

"To survive! We must stand with the Shu King's Mansion!"

Countless incited people, their eyes red with rage, armed with any weapons they could find—kitchen knives, wooden sticks, carrying poles, hoes—sponge spontaneously surged toward the city gate like an angry and blind tide, attempting to support Li Yin, who was trying to stop Li Chengqian.

Even worse, some people who had already taken "Qingwen Powder" and had unwavering faith in the divine physician of the Prince of Shu's mansion began to storm the residences of the officials who remained silent, as well as the military academy, the Crown Prince's residence, the Academy of Sciences, and other institutions and government offices established by Li Chengqian that were under the strict guard of the guards.

"You traitors and henchmen of the Crown Prince, don't even think about helping the Crown Prince enter the city!"

"Smash this godforsaken place! It's all their fault!"

"Long live the Shu King's Palace! Long live the Divine Physician!"

Chaos, utter chaos.

The streets and alleys of Chang'an were filled with frenzied shouts, terrified screams, desperate cries, and sounds of smashing and destroying.

The shadow of the plague has not yet dissipated, but the plague of the human heart, catalyzed by lies, has erupted even more fiercely.

This was no longer a simple popular uprising, but a fooled, infuriating infighting.

Meanwhile, inside the Shu King's Palace.

"Wu Bing! What are you doing!?"

Li Ke watched as Wu Bing approached him step by step. Although his body was controlled by the flying needles, his mouth and eyes could still move.

Most importantly, his emotions at this moment were filled with anger.

A boundless rage surged within his imprisoned body, like magma!
Li Ke, the dignified King of Shu, was actually betrayed by his most trusted ally in his own palace?!
This is simply a disgrace.

Although he knew that cooperating with Shouchuro was like playing with fire, he never expected the backlash to come so quickly.

Could it be that they have found a new collaborator?
who is it?

Is it Lee Tae? Or Lee Woo?

Impossible! How could that idiot Li Tai possibly be a match for Li Chengqian? As for Li You, it's impossible too, otherwise why would Yin Zhihong use him as a pawn?!
Could it be Li Zhi?

Thinking about this, Li Ke felt like his brain was full of crap. How could he possibly connect a two-year-old child to a conspiracy?

and many more!

Who says it has to be a prince?!
The Imperial Uncle would also work! Or perhaps the Retired Emperor?

Upon realizing this possibility, Li Ke instantly understood. He then suppressed his anger and shock, and coldly looked at Wu Bing: "Do you want to abandon me and cooperate with others?"

"Ah!"

Wu Bing laughed, then said calmly, "Your Highness, you're overthinking it. We've invested so much in you, how could we possibly abandon you and cooperate with someone else? Besides, who else but a perfect avenger like you could cooperate with us, the Guardians?"

"Ok?"

Li Ke was slightly taken aback, wondering what was going on? Had he guessed wrong? The garrison commander didn't intend to abandon him, so what was happening now?

Seemingly seeing through Li Ke's doubts, Wu Bing explained on his own: "Your Highness, rest assured, we will always cooperate with you and will never betray you. We are only trying to increase our mutual trust!"

After saying this, he took out a hollowed-out metal ball from the bag in his hand.

"What the hell is this thing?"

When Li Ke saw the hollowed-out metal ball that Wu Bing had taken out, he instinctively felt a strong sense of fear and dread.

But his body seemed to be petrified, and he couldn't move it even if he wanted to.

He could only watch helplessly as Wu Bing opened the metal sphere in front of him.

The moment the metal sphere was opened, a strangely shaped worm quickly crawled out, revealing its ugly and eerie appearance.

But then Wu Bing chuckled and explained, "This thing is called a Mother-Child Gu, a type of Gu worm. You've probably heard of the witchcraft scourge, right? This is witchcraft!"

"Witchcraft? You...you want to use witchcraft on me?!"

"Guessed it right!"

Wu Bing grinned, then changed the subject: "Actually, you weren't the only one who was bewitched; Li Chengqian was also bewitched! However, he somehow managed to break our bewitching technique! And you..."

He stopped there, because he felt that Li Ke understood what he meant and that he had no ability to break the Gu technique.

But how could Li Ke allow himself to be cursed?

But then he hurriedly begged for mercy, "No! Don't use witchcraft on me! I'll grant you whatever you want! I'll never betray you! I'll cooperate with you properly!"

"Useless Prince Shu, this is the garrison commander's order. Do not resist, it will be soon."

"Do not--!"

Li Ke screamed in agony, his vision blurred, and a sharp pain shot through his neck.

A strong sense of numbness and dizziness instantly swept over his body. He could only stare wide-eyed in disbelief at Wu Bing, his throat emitting a "hoarse" gasp.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, I am not a Gu master. I can only use the most primitive method to cast a Gu on you, which cannot be done without anyone noticing."

Wu Bing's voice was eerily calm, with a hint of nauseatingly feigned gentleness.

"Pfft!"

A soft sound was followed by Li Ke's body convulsing violently and uncontrollably.

The ugly, eerie insect transformed into a viscous line of blood and burrowed into Li Ke's body.

"Ugh—!"

The indescribable pain and the terrifying feeling of having one's soul torn apart and forcibly invaded by a foreign object caused Li Ke to let out a silent, heart-wrenching scream while he was numb.

His eyes were bloodshot from extreme pain and anger, almost bursting open.

How could I be controlled by this Gu worm and become a puppet?!

Damn you guards! How dare you treat me like this!

Li Ke let out a desperate and unwilling roar from the depths of his consciousness, frantically resisting the pain until he was drenched in sweat, barely able to breathe, and only then did the pain gradually subside.

"Alright, the Gu worm has been successfully implanted. As long as you don't have any other wicked intentions, I guarantee the pain you felt earlier won't recur. However, if you dare to have any other thoughts, hehe..."

As Wu Bing spoke, he casually pulled the flying needles from Li Ke's body, a cruel smile appearing on his lips, and said indifferently, "You'll bear the consequences!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he prepared to turn around and leave the Shu King's Mansion.

However, just then, a report came urgently: "Your Highness! Something terrible has happened! The Crown Prince intends to force his way into the city! His Highness Prince Liang is about to collapse!"

"Ho ho."

Li Ke was panting heavily, trying to respond to the report from outside, but he couldn't muster the strength. He could only look at Wu Bing with a resentful and complicated expression.

Wu Bing frowned slightly, then said in a deep voice, "We have already decided to change our strategy and deal with Li Chengqian in Chang'an. You don't need to fight him to the death now; just cooperate with us as much as you can."

"Once we deal with Li Chengqian, everything that's yours will be yours!" After saying this, he walked away on his own.

Li Ke, having recovered from his discomfort, forced himself to stand up and walked palely toward the door: "Pass on my order for Prince Liang to respectfully welcome the Crown Prince."

Bang!
Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed!

"Your Highness! Your Highness! Quickly summon the imperial physician!"

After a series of shouts, the Shu Prince's mansion was thrown into chaos.

Meanwhile, outside the gates of Chang'an.

Li Yin knelt by the cold moat, the words "no mercy" spoken by Li Chengqian echoing in his mind.

Fear! Fear that seeps into your very bones!

It terrified him even more than the plague!

Li Chengqian's eyes told him that this was not a threat, but a declaration: he really would kill him!
"The epidemic prevention regulations... no... the people's hearts are not His Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Yin was incoherent, tears streaming down his face. He had completely forgotten all the lines Li Ke had taught him, leaving only his most instinctive will to survive and utterly out-of-control panic.

"Pei Xingjian! Bring me my meteorite iron spear!"

Seeing Li Yin still struggling on the ground, Li Chengqian directly ordered Pei Xingjian behind him: "I will count to one! If the Prince of Liang does not open the city gate, kill him without mercy!"

"Yes!"

Pei Xingjian solemnly accepted the order and immediately had Li Chengqian's meteorite iron spear brought over. At the same time, he ordered all the Imperial Guards to draw their embroidered spring knives.

Even though they only had a few dozen men, they still dared to face the majestic city of Chang'an with an air of absolute confidence as they prepared to attack.

There was nothing they could do; they had witnessed Li Chengqian's power countless times before.

That's an invincible divine general!
The mere city of Chang'an is nothing to us; it's as easy as pie.

"three!"

Li Chengqian took the meteorite iron spear, his face cold and stern, and with the imposing aura of the Killing Wolf, calmly and solemnly uttered a number.

The surrounding people retreated a few steps with a whoosh, seemingly shocked by this invincible aura.

Good guy!
His Highness the Crown Prince is actually going to attack the city all by himself!?
This is too crazy!
Many onlookers felt their throats go dry and couldn't help but swallow.

Li Yin also felt incredibly excited, especially by Li Chengqian's murderous gaze, which he dared not look directly into.

The intense threat of death and the immense pressure constantly assaulted his already immature mind.

Until the next cold, hard number rang out.

"one!"

Boom!

The numbers were like thunder, sending chills down your spine!

"what--!!!"

Li Yin's psychological defenses completely collapsed, and extreme fear instantly transformed into hysterical madness!
He no longer fawned over others as before, nor did he 'act' anymore.

He scrambled to his feet, driven by desperation, and with the frenzy of a cornered dog, he issued a desperate and frantic order to the city guards on the city gate, who were equally intimidated by Li Chengqian's imposing presence: "Stop them! Stop them now! Don't let them get any closer! Fire arrows! Kill them all—!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole place fell silent.

Even the air seemed to freeze at that moment.

On the city wall, whether it was the soldiers guarding the city, the guards of the royal palace under Li Yin's command, or the surrounding people, everyone was stunned by Li Yin's words.

They stared in disbelief, their faces filled with astonishment.

Are you out of your mind?! To shoot an arrow at His Highness the Crown Prince?!

This is regicide! This is treason! This is a crime punishable by the extermination of an entire clan!
Disbelief, bewilderment, and a mixture of shock and disbelief overwhelmed them; they felt as if their minds were about to give out.

But it was precisely because of this emotional shock that they stood frozen in place, completely motionless, when faced with Li Yin's insane orders.

Seeing that they remained unmoved, Li Yin's panic reached its peak. Looking at Li Chengqian's cold and mocking gaze, and watching Pei Xingjian and the others move the barbed wire with impunity, about to rush towards the city gate, he went completely mad!
"You insolent fools! You useless trash! Are you trying to disobey military orders?! I hold the military tally! Are you going to disobey me?! Li Chengqian has rebelled! Shoot him dead with arrows!!"

He jumped up and down, spitting everywhere, looking like a madman.

Right at this critical juncture between deathly silence and madness—

Li Chengqian's horse had slowly crossed the moat bridge and stopped in front of the Chang'an city gate.

Li Chengqian glanced calmly and indifferently at Li Yin, then looked up at the soldiers on the city gate, raised the meteorite iron spear in his hand, and pointed it at them: "Do you recognize me?"

“I recognize you as His Highness the Crown Prince,” a soldier replied cautiously.

"it is good!"

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Then, I ask you again, who should your bows and arrows be pointed at? The crown prince appointed by your father? Or your comrades who fight alongside you? Or perhaps the elders outside the city?"

Upon hearing this, the city gate fell completely silent.

"Nonsense! He's talking nonsense! He's not our prince! He's an evil spirit! He's possessed by an evil spirit! He'll bring us disaster and plague!"

Li Yin had completely lost his mind and immediately ordered the guards behind him, "Charge! Kill this demon and evil spirit! Protect the people of Chang'an! He's trying to violate the epidemic prevention regulations! He's not our Crown Prince!"

"Kill!"

The guards of the Liang Prince's Mansion were all loyal to Li Yin, so they didn't hesitate and immediately obeyed the order to attack Li Chengqian.

But Li Chengqian didn't even glance at them. Pei Xingjian and Lai Fu led the Imperial Guards to meet them.

In no time at all, they had wiped out all the guards of the Liang Prince's mansion.

Are you kidding me? They've already killed several waves of assassins and generals, let alone the mere guards of the Prince's Palace.
"This"

Seeing his guards so easily killed, Li Yin felt a chill run down his spine!
However, he was still not giving up. He frantically took out the military tally and shouted at the city guards on the city gate: "I have the military tally! It was given to me by Chancellor Fang and General Li! They represent His Majesty! They represent the Empress! Are you trying to die by disobeying His Majesty and the Empress's orders?!"

"Now I command you! Quickly grab your bows and arrows! Shoot down this evil spirit, Li Chengqian!!"

The soldiers guarding the city gate remained unmoved.

Finally, a general, whether or not he was a staunch supporter of Li Yin, suddenly shouted, "We are soldiers! Soldiers should obey orders! The epidemic prevention regulations were formulated by the Empress, His Highness the Prince of Shu, and the cabinet ministers! We cannot sit idly by and watch the Crown Prince act willfully!"

Having said that, he immediately snatched a soldier's bow and arrows and roared, "Take up the bow and arrows! The Crown Prince dares to attack the city! This is tantamount to treason! He should be executed without mercy!"

Upon hearing this, some of the soldiers on the city gate finally picked up their bows and arrows.

Li Yin, standing below the city, burst into excited laughter: "Hahaha! That's right! Kill without mercy! Kill this evil spirit, Li Chengqian!"

Upon hearing Li Yin's laughter and the shouts of the general on the city gate, Li Chengqian frowned slightly, then slowly spurred his horse toward the city gate.

Only when he was an arrow's throw from the city gate did he rein in his horse and calmly look at the soldiers on the gate: "Are you soldiers of my Great Tang? If so, then shoot arrows at me! Shoot arrows at your Crown Prince!"

Wow!
As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar!

But Li Chengqian didn't say anything more and rode his horse directly towards the city gate.

"Shoot! Shoot!"

Seeing Li Chengqian closing in on him, Li Yin hurriedly gave orders to the city gate.

"Shh-!"

An arrow was released from the bow in an instant.

However, the arrow was not aimed at Li Chengqian, but at the general who had just shouted "Soldiers should obey orders" and was preparing to shoot Li Chengqian.

"Pfft!"

He was shot through the throat with an arrow.

At the same time, a thunderous shout rang out: "This general, the Gatekeeper of Mingde Gate, pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Boom!

As this shout rang out, people on and around the city walls knelt down.

"Your Highness, we pay our respects!"

But Li Chengqian did not respond, only calmly saying, "Open the door!"

Li Yin collapsed to the ground, looking utterly dejected.

"How could this be? How could this be? I have the military tally! Why don't you listen to me?!"

"Crench!"

The city gates were opened.

Li Chengqian looked at Li Yin with disdain: "Didn't Li Ke tell you? With me and Father Emperor here, the military tally is just a piece of broken copper and scrap iron!"

After saying that, he waved his sleeve and said, "Take him away! Throw him into the Imperial Guard prison!"

(End of this chapter)