All Heavens: From Joy of Life to The Great Feng Night Watchman

Page 402

Northern Mang, the Northern Emperor City.

Empress Murong, who was already over fifty years old, summoned Tuoba Bodhisattva and Zhong Shentong.

The Li Yang Dynasty was in great turmoil, with various armies besieging Li Chang'an. This was a perfect opportunity for the Northern Barbarians to take advantage of the chaos.

The 100,000 Rouran cavalry wandering in northern Liangzhou were only a part of the army. Tuoba Pusa and Zhong Shentong both hoped that the Empress would send a large army to directly invade the Central Plains.

However, they also knew that such a possibility was unlikely.

Because of the past relationship between Empress Murong and Xu Xiao, the bold and unrestrained grassland woman did not deliberately hide this history.

Everyone in Northern Mang knew that the Empress had not launched a major southward campaign because of Xu Xiao, and they all remembered the Empress's bold words.

As long as Xu Xiao lives, I will not march south.

But now, the Empress has changed her mind. Her cold and majestic voice made Tuoba Bodhisattva and the other supernatural beings tremble with excitement.

"Tuoba Bodhisattva, Zhong Shentong, you two should lead another 300,000 troops to join the Rouran cavalry."

"When Shazhou and Beiliang are locked in battle and both sides are exhausted, we will invade Shazhou and Liangzhou and destroy Li Chang'an!"

His Majesty said that he would not march south until Xu Xiao was dead, but now the task is to destroy Li Chang'an, not to attack Xu Xiao.

Both of them were puzzled. News of the internal strife in Liyang had been circulating for a long time, but the Empress had not reacted. Why did she suddenly decide to send troops today?

Unbeknownst to them, Empress Murong received a letter from Xu Xiao.

When the Empress was young, she traveled to Liyang. At that time, the Empress was still a young girl, while Xu Xiao was an out-and-out soldier.

A vulgar soldier captured the heart of a grassland girl, but his affections were unrequited. In the end, the girl returned to the grassland with a fur robe given to her by Xu Xiao.

She later became empress, and just over a decade later, she ascended the throne as a woman.

Later, the Empress sent a messenger to Xu Xiao, saying that if Xu Xiao was willing, she could marry him and the two of them could rule the world together.

Then, Northern Mang and Northern Liang merged into one, with Xu Xiao as their emperor.

Xu Xiao beheaded the messenger, then wrote a letter to Empress Murong, saying that even if you were to serve as my maid, I would find you too old.

The empress was not angry and simply laughed it off.

Xu Xiao's letter this time was to ask the Empress for help in jointly attacking Li Chang'an.

The words were spoken very politely, but the Empress could see Xu Xiao's embarrassment at a glance; otherwise, how could such an arrogant person like him take the initiative to write a letter to the Empress?

It's simply that he lacked confidence, yet wanted to leave a legacy for his son; as heroes age, they abandon their integrity.

Although the Empress cherishes the past, she is not a sheltered young lady whose mind is only on men; her decisions will always prioritize the Northern Barbarians.

I've helped Xu Xiao out this time, and I'll let that old man meet with me. Surely he won't refuse.

Tuoba Pusa, mature and prudent, said, "Your Majesty, it will take at least a month to assemble an army of 300,000."

"Although a month is a long time, in the last great battle between Shazhou and Beiliang, Beiliang lost very quickly."

The Empress didn't care. "It doesn't matter. Regardless of whether Northern Liang wins or loses, our 400,000-strong army will crush Shazhou and Liangzhou!"

Tuoba Pusa and Zhong Shentong understood that the goal was not to help Xu Xiao, but to expand territory, with the target being the increasingly powerful Li Chang'an.

Over the years, Northern Mang has allowed Li Chang'an to grow powerful, then weakened the Li Yang court. Once Li Yang was fragmented, Northern Mang would then sweep away the remaining forces and clean up the mess.

This strategy is consistent with the Empress's style, and it seems to be quite effective now.

It now seems that the Empress is unwilling to wait for the Li Yang Dynasty to fall apart; she intends to take over Li Chang'an after this civil war in Li Yang.

The Great King and General of the Northern Court were both excited. The great war for the unification of the world by the Northern Barbarians was finally about to begin!

"Your humble servants respectfully accept Your Majesty's decree!"

Tang Palace.

Yu Youwei recounted Cao Changqing's story in fits and starts, but Li Chang'an didn't seem to care.

Cao Changqing's motive for restoring the kingdom was laughable. Even if he rebuilt Western Chu with such ambition, how could he win the hearts of the people?

In the original story, the rebuilt Western Chu court was also rife with infighting and was soon extinguished.

"Youwei, don't worry. All the capable people in the Green Robe Alliance have been rescued by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. They will soon be serving me."

Yu Youwei bowed gracefully and said in a sweet voice, "This servant thanks Your Highness for saving the survivors of Western Chu."

This bow was so powerful that the snow-covered hills seemed about to leap out.

Li Chang'an waved to Yu Youwei, and Yu Youwei's heart skipped a beat.

She followed Li Chang'an back to the Prince's mansion, and almost a month has passed in the blink of an eye, but the Prince has still not touched her.

Yu Youwei, a former courtesan, naturally knew that following Li Chang'an meant becoming his concubine, so she would try to appear in front of him almost every day.

Of course, all of this was arranged by my capable wife, Sweet Potato.

However, Li Chang'an has been busy with cultivation and government affairs lately, and has completely ignored the beautiful scenery in front of him.

Even Hongshu, who knew Li Chang'an best, couldn't understand why the prince, who always balanced work and rest, would be so blind to the stunning beauty before him.

What she didn't know was that although Li Chang'an was busy, he was able to balance work and rest by spending all his time with Qingniao Jiang Si.

Li Chang'an pulled Yu Youwei's hand, then pulled her soft, delicate body onto his lap, making her sit facing him.

Yu Youwei was breathing rapidly, too nervous to look up, and simply buried her face in Li Chang'an's arms.

Having been in the manor for so long, Yu Youwei had finally gotten her chance, and of course she had to seize it.

"Youwei, you've hit me hard."

Sweet Potato had taught Yu Youwei how to serve Li Chang'an, but before she could do anything, Li Chang'an's fingers twitched slightly, and the upper part of her ruqun was gently untied.

In an instant, the waves surged like fury, smooth and tender, with perfect curves.

Li Chang'an gently lifted Yu Youwei's head, then lowered it to enjoy the beauty's fullness and softness.

The woman's fair face, like that of an angel, was flushed with an alluring blush. Her delicate red lips were slightly parted, and a soft moan escaped from her throat.

Yu Youwei straddled Li Chang'an, the two pressed tightly together. Her eyes were hazy and her body was getting hot, allowing Li Chang'an to caress and appreciate her.

"Your Highness, let me serve you... Ah..."

She suddenly gasped as she spoke, and then her whole body began to tremble violently.

It turned out that Li Chang'an had already grasped Yu Youwei's small waist with one hand, leading this plump and charming woman into the primal pleasures of humanity.

Yu Youwei's face was so red it looked like it could bleed. She bit her lower lip tightly, her hazy, alluring eyes straining to look down, trying to see clearly what had happened.

However, she couldn't see it; her view was blocked.

Li Chang'an clicked his tongue in admiration, "Looking down, you can't see her feet; she's absolutely stunning!"

One word, absolutely!

Three days later, on the Western Shu Road.

Ever since Zhao Kai quelled the Qingyi Alliance and set up camp on the banks of the Wei River, ten thousand Tang cavalrymen have crossed the river to the south and confronted the Liyang Army from afar.

The standoff has lasted for ten days, and neither side has shown any intention of launching an attack.

King Zhao Kai of Shu and Grand Tutor Yang Taisui were discussing military matters. The current situation was far from the previously anticipated encirclement of Li Chang'an from all sides.

Gu Jiantang was defending against the Waleng tribe at Jianmen Pass, and no news could be sent from the Jing'an Prince of Qingzhou. He didn't know what had happened.

Because the troops from Shu and Qingzhou could not join forces to attack Li Chang'an, Xu Xiao was also waiting for news while holding back his troops, as he was not confident of defeating Li Chang'an.

Yang Taisui looked at the map calmly, seemingly unsurprised.

"Xu Xiao is no longer the Xu Rentu of yesteryear. He has been terrified by Li Chang'an after the two major battles."

"He dared not launch another rash attack. If there were another mishap, Northern Liang would have nothing left to rely on."

Zhao Kai was overjoyed to receive the news that Cao Changqing had died in Tai'an City.

"The forces for the restoration of Western Chu and Western Shu were all wiped out, and Cao Changqing, that fool who didn't know his own mortality, also died in Tai'an City."

"My expedition to the Western Shu Road this time can be considered a successful first battle."

At this point, Zhao Kai suddenly frowned, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

"Second Master, we failed to capture Cao Changqing. Will Father blame us?"

Yang Taisui shook his head and said, "Of course not. Cao Changqing has stormed Tai'an City more than once or twice."

"He was originally a great celestial being, and after turning to the domineering way, he went straight to the level of a terrestrial immortal. Ordinary soldiers and horses cannot stop him."

Zhao Kai then asked, "But did Second Master bring along a Qi Refiner from the Imperial Observatory...?"

The Qi cultivators of the Imperial Observatory are the Qi cultivators of the Fulong lineage in the north, supporting the Liyang Dynasty and being one of the Liyang Dynasty's major trump cards.

Yang Taisui immediately stopped him, saying, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. Li Chang'an's Embroidered Uniform Guards are everywhere. The Qi Refining cultivators I brought were specially permitted by His Majesty."

"These Qi cultivators are here to ambush Li Chang'an. We must not let this get out of the way."

Zhao Kai possessed great fortune, and Yang Taisui, being so shrewd, naturally knew that someone like Li Chang'an, who aspired to dominate the world, would definitely collect fortune.

If Li Chang'an kills Zhao Kai, he can collect a portion of the deceased's fortune, just like Xie Guanying.

Therefore, Zhao Kai himself was the best bait to ambush Li Chang'an.

Zhao Kai was not offended at all; on the contrary, he became very proud. If he could capture and kill Li Chang'an, no one, from the emperor to the court officials, would dare to treat him, the illegitimate prince, with disrespect.

Just then, a soldier outside reported that the Tang army was assembling and looked ready to charge.