Deposed? I couldn't be happier! I wouldn't even be a dog to the crown prince.

The Donggong Martial Arts Arena was shrouded in darkness.

Not many torches were lit; only a few huge Kongming lanterns floated in mid-air, casting a pale and cold light that made the nearly ten thousand soldiers standing solemnly on the drill ground look like ghostly soldiers from the underworld.

Inside the dressing room of Lizheng Hall.

Li Chengqian opened his arms, letting Xu Xiao's thin but powerful hands loosen the loose casual clothes embroidered with gold thread on his body.

His usual soft-soled shoes were kicked aside, and in their place came a pair of combat boots with leather soles and copper studs.

"Your Highness, this armor was specially made by a descendant of the Gongshu family, and it took this old servant forty-nine days to forge it."

Xu Xiao held up a suit of armor that shimmered with silver light, his eyes filled with affection, as if watching his own child finally about to wear the auspicious robes for their coming-of-age ceremony.

"The inner lining is made of silkworm silk, impervious to swords and spears, and impervious to water and fire; the outer armor is made of refined steel mixed with black iron, which is lightweight yet incredibly strong."

"Most importantly..."

Xu Xiao chuckled and helped Li Chengqian fasten his belt.

"This Commander Jia..."

Li Chengqian looked down.

He's really handsome.

The silvery-white armor plates were layered like fish scales, the breastplate was polished to a mirror shine, there were two roaring dragon heads on the shoulders, and the cloak was as red as blood.

Wearing this outfit, the originally somewhat naive eight-year-old boy instantly lost some of his laziness and gained more of a sharp and heroic air.

"Tsk, it's a bit heavy."

Li Chengqian stretched his shoulders, and although he complained, the light in his eyes was unmistakable.

"But I'll endure it for the sake of showing off."

He reached out and grabbed the phoenix-winged purple-gold crown adorned with red tassels from the table, slowly put it on his head, and tightened his hair bun.

"Old Xu."

"This old servant is here."

"Come on, take me to see my soldiers."

Li Chengqian turned around, flicked his cloak, and strode out of the dressing room.

At that moment, the playful expression on his face vanished completely.

Instead, there is an aura of authority that makes people afraid to look directly at those in power.

……

The training ground was deathly silent.

Apart from the sound of the flags fluttering in the wind, there was not a single other sound.

On the left was a dark red square formation, the Iron Eagle Warriors led by Bai Qi, resembling a solidified sea of ​​blood, exuding a nauseating stench of blood.

In the middle was a black iron wall, the Beiwei Army led by Yue Fei, with its long swords like a forest and its divine crossbows strung. They were as still as mountains, but when they moved, the heavens and the earth would collapse.

To the right was a torrent of silvery white, the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry under Huo Qubing's command. Both men and horses were clad in heavy armor, and every pair of eyes burned with a thirst for war.

These three armies represent the pinnacle of infantry, cavalry, and special operations capabilities in Chinese history.

Now, they have gathered together, all for one person.

"Tap, tap, tap."

The sound of crisp footsteps came from the high platform.

Li Chengqian, clad in silver armor and holding the Crown Prince's sword at his waist, walked step by step to the very center of the command platform.

He was not tall, not even as tall as the war drum standing next to him.

But in the eyes of these ten thousand fierce warriors, he was taller than the majestic Zhongnan Mountain at this moment.

"Why are you all staring at me?"

Li Chengqian braced his hands on the railing, his voice lazy yet ruthless, devoid of the usual official tone.

"I know you've been through a lot of training these past few days, and you're probably cursing under your breath."

"Why are you dragging me here in the middle of the night to let me sleep, making me stand in this cold wind? Do you think I'm crazy?"

No one spoke from the audience, but the tense atmosphere seemed to ease a little.

Actually, I also want to sleep.

Li Chengqian sighed, looking helpless.

"How comfortable the soft couch is, how sweet the grapes are! Who would want to suffer like this?"

"But there's nothing I can do."

His voice suddenly turned cold, like a poisoned dagger.

"Someone won't let me sleep."

"There was an old bastard named Jieli who led 300,000 men and trapped my father in a mountain ravine. He wouldn't let him eat or drink, and he even wanted to kill his horse."

"Tell me, can we tolerate this?"

"cannot!!!"

Ten thousand people roared in unison, the sound almost shattering the sky.

"That's right, we can't tolerate it."

Li Chengqian straightened up, drew his long sword from his waist, and pointed the tip of the sword directly at the dark night sky to the north.

"Although I'm lazy, greedy, and sometimes a bit unreliable..."

"But I have a problem."

"I'm protective of my own."

"Although my dad can be quite annoying at times and always tries to steal my money, he is still my dad, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty!"

"He was bullied. If his son just cowers in bed and pretends to be dead, how will he ever be able to survive in the underworld?"

"so!"

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, each word seeming to be spat out from between his teeth, carrying sparks.

"Tonight, let's not talk about grand principles or matters of family, country, and the world."

"Let's do one thing—"

"Let's get our revenge!"

"Whoever harms my father, I'll harm their entire family! Whoever dares to let the Emperor of Tang go hungry, I'll make them vomit up every last grain of rice they've eaten in their lifetime!"

"Did you understand?!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

His response was three unified, murderous roars.

It was a yearning that had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, a revelry in the impending feast of slaughter.

"very good."

Li Chengqian sheathed his sword, a cruel smile curving his lips.

"All troops, listen to my command!"

"Wrap the horse's hooves in cloth and put a coin in its mouth!"

"Target—Longmen Mountain!"

"Set off!"

……

At 3:45 AM (丑时三刻).

The heavy Mingde Gate of Chang'an City, which was usually locked and sealed at night, emitted a dull creaking sound.

"Squeak—"

The massive city gates slowly opened to both sides, like a giant beast opening its gaping maw to devour the heavens and the earth.

There were no torches.

There were no horns.

The army of nearly 10,000 men flowed out of the city gate like a black river, silently.

The horses' hooves were wrapped in thick cotton cloth, and their footsteps made only a slight thud; the soldiers had wooden pegs in their mouths, and even their coughs were suppressed.

This doesn't look like an army sent to rescue the emperor.

They looked more like a group of death gods reaping lives under the cover of night.

Li Chengqian rode on the Jade Lion Shining at Night, walking in the very middle of the procession.

He glanced back at the sleeping city of Chang'an behind him, looking at the ever-burning streets still lit up with lights.

"Father, you must hold on!"

He murmured softly, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

"If you die, I won't be able to clean up this mess."

"If you were alive..."

Li Chengqian grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth.

"Then get ready to watch your son put on a spectacular show of... an incredible comeback."

The wind has risen.

Swirls up fallen leaves, and together with this silent, terrifying army, it blends into the vast night, baring its ferocious fangs towards the northern land that will soon be stained red with blood.

From this moment on...

The Tang Dynasty has officially entered a state of war!