At that moment, atop Tianshou Pass, after the horn sounded, the first war drum began to beat. The Northern Di started their assault on the city!
This time, Yao Yong didn’t dare to be overconfident. The Great Chu could lose anywhere else, but Tianshou Pass was indispensable. If Tianshou Pass fell, it would mean Yao Yong had completely lost the Emperor’s trust.
The Yao family wasn’t one of those deeply-rooted century-old clans. If they lost the Emperor’s trust and the Crown Prince was deposed, the Yao family would be finished.
However, even at this critical moment, Yao Yong still placed his hopes on Chu Linyang. He secretly instructed his deputy, “Take some men to the side positions. Leave the key positions to Chu Linyang. Don’t fight to the death unless necessary.”
The deputy understood. Yao Yong’s troops had always fought this way. With these instructions, everyone would initially defend positions that wouldn’t face a strong assault.
As for crucial strongholds like the top of the city gate, Yao Yong had given them all to Chu Linyang.
Chu Linyang glanced at Yao Yong’s deployment and calmly said, “I’ll lead the troops out for close combat. General Yao, please guard the city wall.”
The key to defending against a siege was, firstly, to prevent the enemy from approaching the city wall. If they got close, one had to protect the gate and prevent scaling ladders from reaching the wall.
Sending troops for close combat to defend the gate was one strategy, but the casualties would be high. Yao Yong had been waiting for Chu Linyang to say this. Once he did, Yao Yong hurriedly replied, “General, your righteousness is admirable. Rest assured, I will have archers on the wall to assist and protect you!”
Chu Linyang’s lips curled in a mocking smile, but he said nothing more and turned to go downstairs.
Once downstairs, he gathered his troops and opened the city gate to march out.
Yao Yong had all the archers prepare. He was feeling quite pleased with himself. His deputy noticed and couldn’t help asking, “Why is the Marshal so happy?”
“General Chu is truly righteous!” Yao Yong said with a smile. “With General Chu’s assistance in this battle…”
“Marshal!” the deputy suddenly exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. “Chu Linyang has fled!”
“Don’t talk nonsense…” Before Yao Yong could finish, his eyes widened in shock. He saw Chu Linyang leading his troops towards the outskirts, raising a white flag without engaging the Northern Di at all. They skirted around the enemy forces, galloping past as if fleeing for their lives, disappearing in the blink of an eye!
Yao Yong stared in disbelief, but at that moment, the Northern Di’s battle cries reached them – they had already reached the foot of the city wall!
All the soldiers looked at Yao Yong, who roared in anger, “What are you looking at? Fight!”
As he spoke, Yao Yong shouted towards the distance, his voice laced with inner energy, “Chu Linyang! Get your ass back here!”
His voice echoed across the entire battlefield, but Chu Linyang didn’t even look back. He just raised his hand and waved, as if bidding farewell.
Yao Yong felt a surge of blood rising in his chest. He finally realized that he had fallen for Chu Linyang’s trick.
He had never imagined that Chu Linyang, who always seemed so loyal to the army and loving towards the people, would one day do such a thing.
He had abandoned Tianshou Pass…
The last natural barrier of the Great Chu, Tianshou Pass, just two hours away from Huajing, he had abandoned it!
Yao Yong didn’t dare to run, but Chu Linyang had unhesitatingly taken his troops and fled!
Yao Yong gritted his teeth. His deputy cautiously asked, “Marshal, what do we do now?”
“What can we do?!” Yao Yong raged. “Notify all the nearest forces. Where’s Song Shilan? Didn’t he just retreat from Quanzhou? Go find him! Tell everyone to hold their ground at all costs! No one is allowed to flee!”
Shortly after his outburst, an attendant came up, anxiously reporting, “Marshal, someone calling himself Song Shilan’s messenger, named Gu Chusheng, is here to see you.”
“Gu Chusheng?!” Yao Yong was stunned for a moment before remembering who this person was. He immediately realized that Gu Chusheng’s arrival probably didn’t bode well. He quickly ordered, “Arrest him and bring him to me after the battle!”
The soldier went down, but soon returned, hesitating before saying, “Marshal…”
“What now?!” Yao Yong was on the verge of a breakdown.
The soldier spoke softly, “Gu Chusheng asked… if you no longer want General Song’s help?”
At these words, everyone fell silent. After a moment, the deputy cautiously suggested, “Marshal, perhaps you should consider meeting with Gu Chusheng?”
Yao Yong was trembling with anger, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and say, “Bring him up to the city wall to see me.”
With that, Yao Yong turned and entered the central command post on the city wall.
Gu Chusheng soon arrived, dressed in a crimson official robe, his face beaming with joy. As soon as he entered, he cupped his hands towards Yao Yong and said, “Congratulations, General! My felicitations to you!”
“Just say what you have to say!” Yao Yong’s heart was pounding at Gu Chusheng’s cheerful demeanor. He spoke coldly, “Don’t beat around the bush with me.”
Gu Chusheng smiled, “This humble official heard that the General was defending Tianshou Pass and rushed over to congratulate you.”
Yao Yong hadn’t wanted to listen to Gu Chusheng’s rambling, but his cryptic words made him unable to resist asking, “What’s there to congratulate?”
Gu Chusheng stepped forward, sighing with emotion, “Now that all the Great Chu’s generals have either fled or scattered, leaving only Marshal Yao here to defend the pass, once Tianshou Pass is held and the Northern Di retreat, Marshal Yao will be the greatest hero of our Great Chu. Among all the civil and military officials, who wouldn’t have to follow Marshal Yao’s orders? This is the first cause for celebration.”
Hearing this, Yao Yong’s heart sank as he instantly understood Gu Chusheng’s meaning.
Now that all the other generals had fled, defending Tianshou Pass would undoubtedly be extremely difficult. But if he managed to hold it, he would indeed become a great hero of the Chu. However, why had Emperor Chunde favored him in the first place? Because he had no strong foundation in the court. If he were to gain such a foundation now, on top of what Emperor Chunde had already given him, it would mean his achievements outshone his sovereigns.
He knew Emperor Chunde too well. With such great merit, would the Emperor still keep him around?
In just one sentence, Gu Chusheng pointed out two things: Yao Yong would have to risk his life to defend Tianshou Pass, yet he would gain no benefit from it.
But Gu Chusheng’s expression seemed so sincere that Yao Yong couldn’t tell if he was genuinely congratulating him or warning him. He could only ask in a deep voice, “And what’s the second cause for celebration?”
“The second cause for celebration is that Duke Zhenguo is now outside the imperial city with forty thousand troops, surrounding Huajing and playing chess with His Majesty. Once Marshal Yao defends Tianshou Pass, you can return to the palace to rescue the Emperor. Wouldn’t that be another great achievement?”
“Gu Chusheng!” Yao Yong suddenly stood up. “Are you all in rebellion?!”
“How can Marshal Yao say such a thing?” Gu Chusheng looked puzzled. “Tianshou Pass is currently under attack. If it falls, light cavalry could reach Huajing in just two hours. Duke Zhenguo has sent troops in advance to protect Huajing, showing his utmost loyalty to the imperial family. How can this be called rebellion?”
Sighing, Gu Chusheng put on an expression of helplessness. “It seems that those with dirty minds see everything as dirty.”
“Gu Chusheng, don’t be too arrogant!” Yao Yong suddenly drew his sword, pointing it at Gu Chusheng. “Or don’t blame me for being impolite!”
Gu Chusheng faced the sword tip, his expression unchanged, still smiling.
In his previous life, he had entered officialdom at fourteen and died at fifty-two, serving as an official for thirty-eight years. What storms hadn’t he weathered?
Like Wei Yun, he had always been a man who gambled with his life. Yao Yong’s sword tip seemed childish to him.
Gu Chusheng raised his hand, pinching the sword tip between two fingers, and shook his head. “General Yao, don’t be hasty. I still have a third cause for celebration to report.”
No one was looking forward to this third piece of news, but Gu Chusheng moved Yao Yong’s sword aside and said with a smile, “The third cause for celebration is something General Yao will surely like. General Song is on his way here now. If General Yao can hold out for one more day, General Song will arrive.”
Yao Yong said nothing. Before Chu Linyang’s betrayal, hearing that Song Shilan was coming would have certainly relieved him. But now, he couldn’t shake the feeling that some conspiracy awaited him.
“Why doesn’t he come now?”
He didn’t believe for a second that Song Shilan needed another day to arrive. They must have some plot…
That’s it.
Speaking of time, Yao Yong suddenly realized that Song Shilan, far more cunning than Chu Linyang, was waiting for him to engage with the Northern Di and then come to reap the benefits.
They were all certain that he wouldn’t dare abandon Tianshou Pass!
But…
Yao Yong clenched his fists.
Indeed, he couldn’t abandon it.
He stared hard at Gu Chusheng, who smiled and said, “So rest assured, just hold out for one night, and General Song will arrive. You needn’t worry too much.”
One night, my foot!
After one night, he would have already faced the Northern Di’s main force, and Song Shilan would just come to claim the victory!
Yao Yong stared at the sound of the war drums, unable to utter a word. Gu Chusheng, however, sat down contentedly and calmly said, “General Yao, I won’t disturb you further. I’ll just have a cup of tea here if you don’t mind?”
“You…”
Yao Yong wanted to say more, but his deputy held him back. Everyone present feared that Song Shilan might not come, so the deputy hurriedly said, “Marshal, please calm down. Let’s go outside first and not bother with him for now.”
Hearing this, Gu Chusheng let out a sneer, picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and looked utterly self-satisfied.
Knowing it wasn’t the right time to confront Gu Chusheng, Yao Yong turned and went out to observe the battle situation.
The Northern Di’s attack was fierce. They were now focusing on two places: Tianshou Pass and Fengling City. Yao Yong watched as the elite troops he had personally trained fell one by one, his heart aching unbearably. If it were for him alone, it would be one thing, but for others? How could he not feel pain?!
Moreover…
Just thinking about Song Shilan lurking in the shadows, ready to usurp his position, gave Yao Yong a headache.
Back then, he had stolen others’ military achievements in the same way. Now, he knew all too well what Song Shilan intended to do.
But Song Shilan’s troops were better than nothing. Now that Chu Linyang had fled and Wei Yun was surrounding the imperial city, if Song Shilan hadn’t come either, Tianshou Pass… would truly be indefensible.
Yao Yong gritted his teeth and continued to defend until midnight, watching as corpses were carried down from the city wall one after another, his heart bleeding. It was at this moment that his deputy hurriedly reported, “General Yao, an imperial edict from Huajing has arrived!”
“An imperial edict from Huajing?” Yao Yong was puzzled. What was this about?
Nevertheless, he went to receive it, seeing a beardless, pale-faced eunuch approaching with the edict. Upon seeing Yao Yong, the eunuch seemed somewhat surprised and said, “Marshal Yao, you’re still here?”
Yao Yong was confused but still replied, “What does the Excellency mean by that? I have been stationed at Tianshou Pass all along and haven’t fled. It’s that scoundrel Chu Linyang who has run away! I hope the Excellency will report this to His Majesty and punish Chu Linyang!”
The man frowned, but as he was merely a eunuch delivering the edict, he simply said, “Then, Marshal, please receive the edict.”
As he spoke, the eunuch unfolded the imperial edict and read coldly: “By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: Yao Yong, as the commander-in-chief on the battlefield, has shown intention to flee before the great natural barrier of Da Chu. This crime is unforgivable. He is now to be escorted back to the capital, and his commander’s seal is to be transferred to Wei Yun, Marquis Who Pacifies the Nation…”
“What did you say?!” Yao Yong, hearing this, suddenly raised his head and looked coldly at the eunuch. “What do you mean?!”
The eunuch, frightened, shrank back a little and swallowed before saying, “This humble servant is reading the imperial edict. Why are you standing up?”
“Give me that edict!” Yao Yong reached out to the eunuch. The people around him immediately drew their swords. A Northern Di soldier desperately climbed up the siege ladder to attack the city, but was immediately run through by a soldier and fell at the eunuch’s feet. The eunuch, startled, stepped back. Just as he was about to hand the edict to Yao Yong, a loud shout was heard: “Who’s falsely transmitting an imperial edict?!”
Before the words were finished, Yao Yong saw a figure in red robes rush over, grab the eunuch, and before anyone could react, throw him straight off the city wall!
This sudden turn of events left everyone speechless. Gu Chusheng turned around, dusted off his hands, and said with a smile, “Official Yao, these are just some scoundrels trying to deceive you. Marshal Yao, you needn’t pay them any mind. Just focus on defending the city.”
Yao Yong said nothing.
Beside them, the sound of killing continued. Now, less than half a night into the battle, his forces had already been reduced by ten thousand. He looked at the smiling Gu Chusheng and began to calmly analyze the situation before him.
Gu Chusheng represented Song Shilan, proving he was Song Shilan’s man.
And now, with Wei Yun besieging the imperial city, this eunuch who had come must be Wei Yun’s man.
Emperor Chunde had always been suspicious and timid. Now that he was trapped by Wei Yun, who hated him bitterly, this imperial edict might not be fake. Perhaps Wei Yun had already convinced the Emperor, saying he had abandoned the city, and issued an edict to punish him.
If Emperor Chunde believed he had abandoned the city, whether he did so now or not, what difference did it make?
And why did Gu Chusheng throw away that edict?
Because Song Shilan didn’t want him to abandon the city. Song Shilan was still waiting to be the one to swoop in at the last moment. If he confirmed that this edict was real, he would certainly no longer defend the city. If he didn’t defend Tianshou Pass, Song Shilan wouldn’t be able to claim the credit.
Yao Yong pondered for a long time. Gu Chusheng’s expression became somewhat unpleasant. He forced himself to say, “What’s wrong? Does Marshal Yao perhaps think this edict is real? General Yao, why don’t you consider how much His Majesty trusts you? How could he possibly believe Wei Yun over you?!”
Hearing this, Yao Yong’s expression changed dramatically. Emperor Chunde’s trust in him was perhaps the most unreliable thing of all.
He had done so many things behind Emperor Chunde’s back; how could there be any trust between them? The only person Emperor Chunde might trust wholeheartedly was probably that loyal Wei Zhong.
He looked up at Gu Chusheng, gritted his teeth, and finally said, “Arrest him!”
Gu Chusheng’s face changed dramatically. “Marshal Yao, do you not want to wait for General Song’s reinforcements?”
“Reinforcements?” Yao Yong laughed coldly. “I don’t want this Tianshou Pass anymore. What do I need reinforcements for?”
“Yao Yong!” Gu Chusheng shouted angrily. “Tianshou Pass is Da Chu’s last line of defense. Aren’t you afraid of His Majesty’s wrath if you do this?!”
“Ha! He already thinks I’ve abandoned the city. What difference does it make whether I do or not? Do you expect me to stay here stupidly and pave the way for Song Shilan?”
Yao Yong walked up to Gu Chusheng and patted his face. “Pretty boy, the battlefield isn’t a playground. In your next life, stay far away from it.”
Hearing this, Gu Chusheng chuckled lightly. “General Yao,” he lowered his voice, “you can kill me if you want, but if you do, do you think you can still escape?”
Yao Yong looked up at Gu Chusheng, who smiled and said, “Before I came, I told General Song that I would stand on the city wall until dawn. If I’m not here, it means General Yao is planning to rebel, and General Song can directly lead his troops to eliminate the remaining forces outside the city. Eliminating rebels is much easier than holding Tianshou Pass, but it’s still a great achievement.”
Yao Yong said nothing. He understood Gu Chusheng’s threat clearly.
Now, he had two choices: either keep Gu Chusheng alive and as long as Song Shilan saw that Gu Chusheng was alive, even if he ran, Song Shilan wouldn’t act immediately.
However, if Gu Chusheng died, he would be immediately surrounded and attacked by Song Shilan.
Yao Yong stared at Gu Chusheng for a long time before saying three times, “Fine, fine, fine.”
“You youngsters,” he released Gu Chusheng and said through gritted teeth, “I’ve underestimated you!”
Saying this, Yao Yong pushed Gu Chusheng aside and then said, “Keep him pressed against the city wall with a knife at his back. Don’t let him move. The rest of you, come with me. Prepare to retreat!”
As he spoke, a sharp knife was pressed against Gu Chusheng’s body. Gu Chusheng didn’t move, but Yao Yong immediately went downstairs, gathered the troops below, and began to retreat.
Gu Chusheng stood on the city wall, his red robes fluttering in the wind. He looked towards another hilltop and raised his hand slightly.
Chu Lingyang, on the hilltop, saw Gu Chusheng’s signal and understood that Yao Yong had truly abandoned the city.
They watched Yao Yong’s movements. After Yao Yong left the city, only Qin Shiyue’s Wei family troops remained on the city wall, refusing to retreat and resisting fiercely. Yao Yong looked back at Tianshou Pass, gritted his teeth, and finally galloped away on his horse.
Seeing Yao Yong leave, Gu Chusheng let out a sigh of relief and turned to Qin Shiyue, saying, “General Qin, can you hold out for half an hour?”
Qin Shiyue glanced at Gu Chusheng and nodded.
However, they didn’t have to wait half an hour. The Emperor’s spies in Tianshou Pass rushed back to the palace the moment Yao Yong abandoned the city. Two hours later, the Emperor received his intelligence report.
“Your Majesty—” The messenger tumbled in, “Marshal Yao has abandoned the city! He’s abandoned it!”
Hearing this, Emperor Chunde and the Crown Prince suddenly looked up. The Crown Prince, who had been resting for some time, stood up abruptly upon hearing this, pointing at the messenger with eyes bulging, “You’re lying!”
“It’s true,” the messenger said, crying. “Your Majesty, you must leave quickly. Only Qin Shiyue is left defending Tianshou Pass now. Once Tianshou Pass falls, Huajing will soon be lost.”
The Emperor knew well that Qin Shiyue was originally a servant of the Wei family.
In the end, the one who didn’t flee and was still protecting Da Chu’s territory was someone from the Wei family.
Emperor Chunde listened to this report with mixed feelings.
He was unwilling to admit his own mistakes, yet he had to face them.
Wei Yun, whom he had suspected, hadn’t truly abandoned Tianshou Pass even after all this. On the contrary, Yao Yong, whom he trusted most, had fled and abandoned the pass.
“What should we do…” The Crown Prince knew that the person who came was the Emperor’s confidant, so Yao Yong must have truly abandoned the city. The Crown Prince’s expression was bewildered as he turned to look at the Emperor and said, “Father, what should we do? Should we flee?!”
The Emperor didn’t speak. He stared hard at the Crown Prince, who began to feel weak in the knees under the Emperor’s gaze. Trembling, he said, “Father?”
“Wei Yun,” Emperor Chunde said hoarsely, “I cannot let Da Chu fall in my hands. I can run, but that would be too great a disgrace.”
Emperor Chunde didn’t use “We,” but “I,” a form of address that was enough to show his current attitude towards Wei Yun.
Wei Yun calmly blew on his tea and said indifferently, “Oh? What does that have to do with me?”
From Wei Yun’s tone, Emperor Chunde knew that Wei Yun wouldn’t let the matter rest.
He drew his sword from beside him and said through gritted teeth, “I promise you.”
Wei Yun looked up at Emperor Chunde. The Emperor, holding his sword, his eyes brimming with tears, said in a trembling voice, “Depose the Empress, kill the Crown Prince and Yao Yong, demote the Yao clan to commoners, appoint you as the Grand Marshal of all military forces in the empire, and clear the Wei family’s name.”
“If I do this,” Emperor Chunde said through clenched teeth, “will you go to battle and recapture Tianshou Pass?!”
Wei Yun said nothing. He turned his gaze to the Crown Prince.
Emperor Chunde understood his meaning, and so did the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince turned to run, but Emperor Chunde called out, “Come, restrain him!”
Soldiers rushed in and pinned the Crown Prince to the ground. Emperor Chunde walked over with his sword. The Crown Prince, whose facial wounds had just been bandaged, cried out, “Father… Father… please, Father…”
“It was Yao Yong who killed people, Yao Yong who did these things. It has nothing to do with me, nothing at all!”
The Crown Prince desperately tried to struggle backward. Emperor Chunde trembled as he pointed his sword at him.
“This has nothing to do with right or wrong…” Emperor Chunde said hoarsely. The Crown Prince shook his head frantically. “Father, I’m your son! You raised me with your own hands! How can you do this to me?”
Emperor Chunde didn’t speak. Tears streamed down his face.
The Crown Prince was his most beloved child. He had raised him on his knee since he was small. Now, seeing him finally grow into a man, even when he committed grave errors, the Emperor had always been patient and forgiving.
“Child, in this world, there is no right or wrong,” Emperor Chunde closed his eyes. “There has only ever been the victor writing history, the strong preying on the weak.”
As he spoke, Emperor Chunde’s sword moved forward slightly.
The Crown Prince froze in place, not even feeling the pain as the sword entered his flesh.
However, after this slight movement, Emperor Chunde couldn’t bring himself to go further. Wei Yun stepped forward and took the sword from Emperor Chunde’s hand.
“A father’s love for his son is a fundamental human relationship,” Wei Yun said calmly. “This sword stroke, Wei Yun will carry out on Your Majesty’s behalf.”
As he spoke, Wei Yun thrust forward suddenly. The sword entered the chest cavity, piercing straight through the heart. Blood gushed from the Crown Prince’s mouth. Emperor Chunde stepped back in shock. The Crown Prince stared fixedly at Emperor Chunde as he slowly fell.
Wei Yun turned around, withdrew the sword, stepped back, and knelt on one knee. Calmly, he said, “Your subject Wei Yun requests permission to go to battle!”
Emperor Chunde turned back blankly. He seemed to no longer understand what Wei Yun was saying. He stared silently at Wei Yun for a long time before finally comprehending his words.
He nodded woodenly. Wei Yun raised his head and said calmly, “Your Majesty’s current guards may not be safe. I would like to replace them for you. What do you think?”
Emperor Chunde stared blankly at the still-twitching Crown Prince on the ground. Wei Yun stood up, walked out, and called, “Come, pass down the order. Have Chen Ling, the Left Commander of the Imperial Guards, bring his troops to the great hall to protect His Majesty!”
Chen Ling had been waiting outside the door. As soon as Wei Yun spoke, he immediately led his men in.
Wei Yun stood at the doorway and looked back to see Emperor Chunde walking over to the Crown Prince. He slowly crouched down, his movements very slow and gentle, as if he had aged decades in an instant. The once vigorous emperor had finally become a frail old man.
He placed his hand on the Crown Prince’s head as if the Prince were still a child.
However, the Crown Prince had already breathed his last. He lay on the ground, no longer moving. Emperor Chunde slowly began to smile, but as he smiled, he finally broke into painful sobs.
Wei Yun watched silently. Only when he heard Emperor Chunde’s cries did he finally turn away.
Emperor Chunde’s cries intertwined with the wails Wei Yun had heard in Baidi Valley half a year ago. He walked along the palace corridors as if traversing two different times.
However, his steps did not falter. With a fierce expression, he walked straight out.
After leaving the palace, he immediately mounted his horse and galloped out of Huajing, leaving only five thousand troops in the capital as he led his forces straight to Tianshou Pass.
Riding through the night, he finally reached Tianshou Pass just before dawn.
At this moment, Chu Lingyang was defending Tianshou Pass alongside Qin Shiyue, fighting against the enemy. After Wei Yun’s arrival, the defending forces at Tianshou Pass quickly increased to a hundred thousand.
After being suppressed for so long, they finally had a chance to fight back. The soldiers under Chu Lingyang’s command counterattacked like madmen. Wei Yun observed the battle situation as Gu Chusheng came around from behind and calmly said, “Grand Marshal, the gunpowder we’ve been rushing to produce is now ready. Should we use it now?”
Wei Yun shook his head and said to Gu Chusheng, “I’ve selected five thousand light cavalry. Give the gunpowder to them.”
Gu Chusheng acknowledged and was about to go down when Wei Yun called out to him, “Gu Chusheng.”
Gu Chusheng paused, and Wei Yun calmly turned to look at him, his expression suppressing something: “Once Tianshou Pass is stabilized, no later than tonight, I’ll set out for the Northern Di. After I leave, what do you plan to do?”
“How is the imperial city now?”
“I left five thousand light cavalry there,” Wei Yun frowned. “I killed the Crown Prince and replaced the people around Emperor Chunde.”
Gu Chusheng calmly said, “Then I’ll go to Fengling soon.”
“What are you going to do in Fengling?”
“I’m just here to save people, not to help you seize power.”
Gu Chusheng looked up at Wei Yun: “Now that Yao Yong is finished and the Emperor is gone, I’ll hold Tianshou Pass for you. Whatever you want to do, follow your original plan. As for who ends up with Huajing, that’s not my concern.”
The victor becomes the king, the loser a bandit. Whether Huajing belonged to Wei Yun, Emperor Chunde, or someone else didn’t matter to Gu Chusheng.
He only knew that using Tianshou Pass to divert pressure from Chu Yu, Wei Yun would attack the Northern Di as planned, while Chu Linyang and Song Shilan controlled the situation. The rest was none of his business.
In his previous life, he had given everything to this world, leaving nothing for Chu Yu. In this life, what did this world have to do with him?
So he calmly added, “Even if just to watch, I should go and see.”
In his previous life, he watched her die. In this life, even if just to watch, he wanted to go and see.
Wei Yun said nothing, silently watching Gu Chusheng. After a long while, he slowly smiled: “That’s fine.”
Gu Chusheng frowned, not quite understanding Wei Yun’s meaning.
“Since you have such thoughts,” Wei Yun said hoarsely, “I can entrust her to you with peace of mind.”
Gu Chusheng sensed something amiss. He turned his head to look at Wei Yun.
However, Wei Yun had already shifted his gaze away. Gu Chusheng thought for a moment and couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing.
A child barely fifteen years old… what could he possibly think about Chu Yu?
Gu Chusheng turned away and hurried downstairs. Wei Yun clenched his fists, gazing into the distance. Chu Linyang glanced at him, frowning, but said nothing.
At this moment, Yao Yong was frantically fleeing towards Qingzhou.
Qingzhou was his stronghold. Now that he had lost the Emperor’s trust, his only option was to return to Qingzhou and rebel.
As he galloped along the main road, he saw a man in a light blue robe standing in the middle of the path. He frowned, feeling the figure looked vaguely familiar. As he got closer, his eyes suddenly widened, and he reined in his horse.
The man smiled at him. He wore the special robe of the Imperial Princess’s male companions, but there was an air of nobility about him that most male companions lacked.
Yao Yong stopped in front of him, and the man smiled, saying, “General Yao, it’s been a while.”
Yao Yong dared not speak.
He recognized the man’s appearance, but he dared not acknowledge him because that person… should have been dead.
— Last year’s rebellious Prince of Qin.
But looking closely, Yao Yong noticed some differences. This person was much younger, with a tear mole at the corner of his eye, completely unlike the Prince of Qin.
Yao Yong frowned: “Who are you?”
“I am the heir of the Prince of Qin’s household,” the man clasped his hands in his sleeves and smiled, uttering the surname that shocked Yao Yong: “Zhao Yue.”
Yao Yong’s eyes widened, unable to believe the person before him was still alive!
Back then, the Gu family had fallen into trouble for secretly harboring this son of the Prince of Qin. It was Gu Chusheng who had decisively sent him into the palace, giving up everything of the Gu family to protect them. He should have died…
“General Yao wants to say that I should be dead, right?” Zhao Yue smiled and said, “But not only am I not dead, I’m living well. Shouldn’t General Yao be glad?”
“What should I be glad about?”
Yao Yong’s heart was racing, but he understood what Zhao Yue was saying.
“The founding emperor of Great Chu was of my Zhao clan. Back then, the Li clan was merely the adopted son of the founding emperor, but in the end, they used their military power to usurp the throne. My father was enfeoffed in Qiongzhou, never in Huajing, and was willing to bow and submit, thus saving his life. But what right does the Li clan have to sit on this throne?!”
Zhao Yue’s expression turned cold: “Now, General Yao should distinguish right from wrong. Who is the legitimate heir? Do you understand?”
Zhao Yue’s question was loaded with meaning, but Yao Yong quickly understood.
Returning to Qingzhou would be considered rebellion no matter what, against the will of the people. Even if he declared himself king, he probably wouldn’t come to a good end.
However, if Zhao Yue was willing to cooperate with him, and he assisted Zhao Yue in becoming emperor under the banner of “Restoring the Zhao dynasty and punishing the treacherous ministers of the Li clan,” then he would have a just cause and wouldn’t be isolated.
Seeing Yao Yong’s hesitation, Zhao Yue continued: “Why should General Yao hesitate? Now the Xie family, the Wang family, and the Imperial Princess all support my claim to the throne. What does General Yao have to fear?”
The Wang and Xie families represented the civil official clans in the court, and the Imperial Princess was also a formidable figure. Although these people didn’t have many troops, they were as wealthy as nations.
Now he had the troops, and the Wang, Xie, and Princess had the money. Supporting Zhao Yue, the Zhao clan’s orphan, to claim the throne seemed to have everything in place.
Yao Yong gritted his teeth and finally said: “If I cooperate with you, what do you promise me?”
Hearing this, Zhao Yue laughed loudly.
“Is General Yao still negotiating terms with me? Rest assured, General,” Zhao Yue said meaningfully, “You will still be General Yao, but I won’t be the next Emperor Chunde.”
Yao Yong thought for a moment, and Zhao Yue continued: “If General Yao is unwilling, I’ll step aside now, but Song Shilan is waiting ahead.”
Yao Yong’s expression changed drastically. Zhao Yue stood beside him and calmly said: “Now General Yao has two choices. Come back to Huajing with me and use the power of the Wang and Xie families to take Huajing. Or return to your Qingzhou and fight a life-and-death battle with Song Shilan, who’s already lying in ambush.”
Hearing that Song Shilan was waiting ahead, Yao Yong realized he had fallen into Gu Chusheng’s trap.
Gu Chusheng wasn’t afraid of him abandoning the city at all!
He was completely hoping for him to abandon the city, letting Song Shilan wait for him here!
Yao Yong’s expression changed several times before he finally gritted his teeth and said: “Fine.”
He said with difficulty: “I’ll accompany you back now, take Huajing, and support your ascension to the throne!”
Zhao Yue laughed loudly, turned around, and looked toward Huajing.
He had been lying low for so long, and finally, the spring snow was melting.
With everything prepared at the front line, Chu Yu was at a standoff with Su Cha in Fengling City.
After resting for a day, Su Cha began another strong assault.
Han Xiu had promised to give him the gunpowder, and now Su Cha felt that if he could take Fengling City and get Han Xiu, all problems would be solved.
Wei Yun had already taken the gunpowder away, and the Northern Di had to get the formula for gunpowder no matter what, or they would be at a disadvantage from now on. Emperor Chunde didn’t understand the value of this thing, but Su Cha knew very well.
Su Cha had been forcefully attacking for two days without success. His deputy, seeing this, finally couldn’t help but say: “Your Highness, why don’t we retreat?”
Su Cha didn’t speak. He glanced at his deputy, who mustered up the courage to say: “Your Highness, His Majesty has already ordered an attack on Tianshou Pass, and Tianshou Pass is still holding out. There’s no point in you staying here and wearing down Fengling.”
“No point?” Su Cha sneered, “I’ve already transferred so many people here, and you’re telling me we can’t take down a small city?!”
“Fengling is different,” the deputy said anxiously. “Fengling City is naturally easy to defend and hard to attack, and they have gunpowder…”
“You think Fengling City is hard to take?” Su Cha stared at his deputy, who stubbornly said: “Yes…”
“Then let me tell you,” Su Cha calmly spoke, “If we can’t take Fengling this time, there will be cities like this all over Great Chu in the future. Think about it, what will the Northern Di do?”
The Northern Di rarely farmed, and every year when food was scarce, they would raid the Great Chu border. They usually grabbed what they could and ran, and the Wei family had been skirmishing with them for many years.
If all the cities of Fengling were like this in the future, how would they steal food?
The deputy’s face didn’t look good. Seeing that he understood, Su Cha said flatly: “This time we must bring Han Xiu back. Such talent should either die or be brought back to the Northern Di.”
Seeing that Su Cha had made up his mind, the deputy sighed and said no more.
Just then, there was a commotion outside, and a soldier came in, smiling: “Your Highness, there’s a Great Chu person who wants to enter Fengling City.”
“Kill him,” Su Cha said decisively. “A Great Chu person dares to come talk to me?”
“Your Highness, that person says he has a piece of information about your mother. He’s willing to exchange this information for a chance to enter the city.”
Hearing this, Su Cha frowned.
His mother was a lifelong knot in his heart, and in his previous life, Gu Chusheng had fought with him for six years and knew him inside out.
After a moment, he spoke: “Bring him in.”
A man in crimson robes walked in from outside the tent. Su Cha coldly looked at him: “Speak. What do you know about my mother?”
“If I tell you, will you let me into Fengling City?”
“Just you alone?” Su Cha frowned. Gu Chusheng’s expression was calm: “Just me alone.”
“Fine,” Su Cha spoke decisively. “I’ll let you pass.”
“Your mother is buried on Suolou Mountain.”
Gu Chusheng revealed the information they had spent years searching for in his previous life.
Su Cha’s expression changed slightly. He said coldly: “If you’re wrong, I will come to kill you.”
Gu Chusheng nodded: “You’re welcome to go and find out.”
Although Su Cha said this, he knew Gu Chusheng was telling the truth.
The traces of his search had indeed approached this mountain peak.
He waved his hand and said to the others: “Take him out.”
Gu Chusheng let out a breath and was led by a Northern Di soldier to the front of the camp, passing through the camp and then stepping onto the middle ground between Fengling City and Northern Di.
As soon as he stepped out, Fengling City erupted into chaos. Han Min ran into the defense room on top of the city wall, excitedly saying: “Madam, there’s a Great Chu person coming towards Fengling City! Come and see quickly!”
Hearing this, Chu Yu frowned and asked puzzled: “A Great Chu person? Just one?”
“Yes!” Han Min pulled Chu Jin: “You come and see too, everyone’s gone to look.”
Hearing this, Chu Jin felt a bit helpless. She looked back at Chu Yu, who nodded, and the two sisters walked out of the room side by side to the outside of the city wall.
At this time, they saw a figure in red robes striding through the desert, walking towards Fengling Mountain.
He seemed to sense Chu Yu’s gaze and looked up.
Chu Yu stared blankly at the approaching person. Chu Jin quickly turned back, looking at Chu Yu, and said: “Why did he come?!”
Chu Yu didn’t speak.
She just watched Gu Chusheng walk into Fengling Mountain, and then soon after, he appeared at the foot of Fengling City.
He stood below the city wall, looking up at Chu Yu on the tower, his expression full of joy.
Liu Rong stepped forward and asked: “Who goes there?!”
“Gu Chusheng, Chief Officer of the Ministry of Revenue.”
“What is your purpose?”
“To find someone.”
“Who are you looking for?”
“The First Madam of the Wei family, Chu Yu.”
“What do you want with her?!”
At this question, Gu Chusheng fell silent, pressing his lips together. Everyone watched him excitedly.
After a long while, Gu Chusheng smiled frankly.
“I’m afraid she might be in danger here, so I thought, if something happened, it would be good to be able to die together.”
Little Scene:
Gu Chusheng: The old ginger is the spiciest, I’m the best at chasing girls.
Wei Yun: Heh, just wait for your comeuppance, you scumbag.