Chapter 273.2: Hello Chang'an
Chapter 273.2: Has the Time Not Yet Come?
So… those thirty thousand soldiers were sent to their deaths for nothing?
Ge Zhiqing still thought that he had been favored by his lord, granted the honor of leading the vanguard, believing that soon the main force would follow to jointly attack Huainan Prefecture…
Little did he know that from the moment he took the command token, he had already become a discarded pawn—he and those thirty thousand soldiers together, nothing more than sacrifices in Xu Zhengye’s ruse of striking east while feinting west.
Looking at the calm expression on Xu Zhengye’s face before him, Luo Guanlin felt a chill rise from the depths of his heart—one steeped in sorrow and despair.
Sensing his unease, Xu Zhengye sighed lightly. “Guanlin, on the road to great ambition, mercy is a fatal weakness.”
Luo Guanlin lowered his gaze, answering only after a long silence, “Yes.”
Then Xu Zhengye’s voice sounded again. “Preparations for our journey to Luoyang have begun. Guanlin, will you accompany me?”
The words made Luo Guanlin feel as though he had been brought back to their first meeting.
That night, beneath the moonlight upon a painted barge, the man had invited him: ‘I seek to overthrow the usurping demon empress, restore the rightful Li dynasty, and save the realm from fire and water. Would you, worthy brother, walk this path with me?’
At that time, Luo Guanlin had been deeply stirred, readily pledging to follow him—believing he had finally met a kindred spirit, that the path ahead would not be lonely.
Yet as they journeyed thus far, he had only grown more disillusioned.
He raised his hand in salute and said quietly, “I am no man of the sword, and should I go to Luoyang, I fear I would only hinder my lord. I therefore wish to remain in Jiangdu.”
Xu Zhengye regarded him deeply, then nodded. “Very well. The journey will be perilous. If you remain here, I will be more at ease.”
He patted Luo Guanlin’s shoulder. “Jiangdu is of great importance. I leave it in your care for now. Once I have secured Luoyang, I will send for you to join me there.”
Luo Guanlin remained silent, bowing once more.
Soon after, someone came requesting an audience, and Xu Zhengye departed.
Luo Guanlin stood motionless for a long time before finally taking a step.
The next day, a friend sought him out. “How could you volunteer to stay in Jiangdu? Once the Grand General departs, this will be the most dangerous place! How could you possibly hold it?”
Then he sighed. “Even if you’re angry with the Grand General, you shouldn’t gamble your life out of spite…”
Luo Guanlin’s expression changed. “That’s not it!”
What foolish talk of anger or spite?
He was no petty, jealous woman!
At least this time—truly, he was not.
He simply could not, and dared not, go any farther. The road ahead was not the one he had envisioned.
Weary, Luo Guanlin closed his eyes, unmoved by his friend’s persuasion.
He had made a wrong choice in Jiangdu back then. Since it began here, it would end here.
He would guard Jiangdu—live with it if it stood, perish with it if it fell.
To live was his fortune; to die, his fate.
“Report!”
Two scouts galloped back to camp with urgent news.
They had discovered signs of Xu Zhengye’s army on the move—marching toward Shouzhou.
Xiao Min’s eyes flashed sharply, and he turned to Chang Kuo.
It was an instinctive motion, and the very next moment he saw the Grand General looking toward his daughter—the expression on his face just as instinctive.
Xiao Min was used to it by now, though he still didn’t quite understand it—and each time, he was still faintly shocked.
But now was the time for serious matters. Xiao Min turned to Chang Suining. “It seems Xu Zhengye truly intends to strike Huainan Prefecture!”
“He’ll strike, yes—but if he doesn’t, how could he feign an attack to conceal his real move?” Chang Suining said. “The question is only how much of his force he’s willing to sacrifice.”
The scout reported: the enemy numbered about thirty thousand.
Xiao Min was about to speak when the young woman had already risen. She turned to him and said, “Commander Xiao, since Xu Zhengye has moved, to seize the initiative, we must act without delay. Let us proceed according to plan.”
“But…” Faced with a choice that could determine victory or defeat, Xiao Min hesitated. “Is Lady Chang certain that Xu Zhengye intends to march on Luoyang?”
“Yes,” Chang Suining replied solemnly. “My father placed a spy in Xu’s army. I’ve just received a secret report—Xu Zhengye is already preparing to attack Luoyang.”
Chang Kuo: “?”
When had he planted such a spy—and one capable of uncovering such sensitive plans?
Xiao Min looked at him.
Chang Kuo nodded, grave and calm. “Mm…”
Indeed, he had planted such a spy… likely sometime during one of his dreams.
Chang Suining took the short blade from the weapon rack, slid it into her boot, then straightened and accepted the black cloak handed to her by Xi’er.
Chang Kuo stayed behind to command the army, first dispatching Deputy General Jin and Chu Xing to lead the troops against Xu Zhengye’s thirty thousand.
News of Xu Zhengye’s march from Shouzhou to attack Huainan soon reached the capital.
Ten days later, however, a more urgent report arrived—Xu Zhengye had suddenly led one hundred thousand troops out of Jiangdu, not toward Huainan or the capital, but northward—he had already crossed Xuzhou!
The court erupted in shock and fury. That traitor’s supposed assault on Huainan had been a ruse—his true goal was the Eastern Capital, Luoyang!
The Holy Emperor’s expression hardened as she addressed the messenger. “What are Commander Xiao and General Chang doing now?”
“Your Majesty, Commander Xiao has led the army in pursuit!”
“Pursuit…” The Holy Emperor closed her eyes briefly. To pursue meant to have already fallen behind—merely to chase in vain.
“Since Xu Zhengye has crossed Xuzhou, once he takes the Bian River and captures Bianzhou, he can march straight to Luoyang! If we only pursue from behind, it will be too late!” a minister cried. “Your Majesty must dispatch reinforcements to Luoyang at once!”
Luoyang and the capital faced each other east and west—Luoyang must not fall into the traitor’s hands!
As the court debated strategies, some began blaming Chang Kuo and Xiao Min for their failure to foresee this move. Others turned their scorn upon that widely-circulated proclamation.
It had been the perfect time to attack Yangzhou—yet instead of taking any real action, they had written a flashy, useless piece of rhetoric!
The proclamation had accused Xu Zhengye of scheming to crown himself King of Jiangdu, causing his allies to doubt him. Perhaps it was precisely to dispel those doubts that he now turned his ambition toward Luoyang—to prove his loyalty to the Crown Prince!
And to make matters worse, that girl had boldly declared she would take Xu Zhengye’s head within seventy-three days—yet now he was already on his way to Luoyang! What “severing his head” could she possibly speak of now?
That Chang girl’s fame might be small matter—but after this, the army’s credibility would be shattered, and the situation would only worsen.
She had sought glory with her pen, yet brought calamity instead—provoking Xu Zhengye into marching on Luoyang without the ability to clean up the mess!
A mere young woman, with a few scraps of talent and luck, was granted a general’s seal and immediately let it cloud her head—recklessly acting without foresight! And Chang Kuo, too, had failed to restrain her!
Thus, many at court began accusing him of “failing to discipline his daughter.”
“Why be so quick to judge, my lords?” Wei Shuyi finally spoke, his gaze sweeping across them. “The seventy-three days she spoke of—have they yet passed? To condemn now—is that not rather premature?”
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