The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 378 The Old and New Prince An

Inside the large tent of the Pinglu army stood three awkward-looking men. In fact they didn’t know where to put their hands and feet. Facing the stares of the generals, both their faces were red. It was as though both of them were hanging on tenterhooks.

The three awkward men were Zhaoyi Army commissioner, Kang Chengqian, Tianping Army commissioner, Xue Wei and Henghai Army commissioner, Liu Jingsi. After they walked in the tent and saluted to Liu Dazheng, who was sitting on the first seat below the commander’s desk, they were already awkward.

They felt awkward because Liu Dazheng did not say a word but just looked at them. Neither did the generals, who also just looked at them. People’s eyes all revealed the same thing, a kind of sense that made you feel guilt. In fact the present silence spoke volumes.

Sweat beads appeared on Xue Wei’s forehead and he could no longer keep it together. He said to Liu Dazheng with a laugh, “General Liu, it’s not that we don’t want to contribute in the past days. Just that we have been tied up by the Hedong Army, and we can’t exactly split ourselves...”

Liu Dazheng interrupted unapologetically, “So according to General Liu, the Tianping army can’t win even with favorable odds, ten to one in fact. Since you’re such useless on the battlefield, you’re of no use, and you might as well turn around and head home!”

Xue Wei was shocked and his expression changed dramatically.

Liu Dazheng had wanted them to back out of the Hedong battle front. If they indeed did leave now, then they would get none of the spoils of Hedong army’s victory.

But this battle had already consumed too much of Tianping army’s armor, men and food. They had lost many commanders already, which was too much of a loss. It was a loss that would take many years for the Tianping army to recover, and before then, none could guarantee that the Tianping would not face any invaders.

The Tianping army would be the laughing stock of all the vassal states.

Xue Wei was full of panic, he apologized hastily, “General Liu, I’m the reason we lost. To make up for my incompetence, I’m willing to head the charge to breach the city and pave the way...”

During the day battle, Li Xian and Shangguan Qingcheng joined forces and not only wounded Li Keyong, but also smashed his Military Formation. He led the Pinglu troops and countered, but it was getting late and darkness fell upon them, thus the Pinglu army’s attack did not last too long.

Still, the Hedong Army had suffered heavy losses. After this battle, the Pinglu army, who had Li Xian, had the upper hand. Not only were they now able to hold on, they could also even attack Taiyuan city now.

Xue Wei and his men did not know who Li Xian was. But they had the utmost respect for this military warrior of Militarism, who appeared out of nowhere. After all, he was able to defeat Li Keyong. They could read the situation accurately. Thus they came to apologize for their lack of effort earlier as soon as the battle was done for the day.

Liu Dazheng looked at Xue Wei coldly without saying anything. His eyes then shifted to Kang Chengqian and Liu Jingsi.

Out of the three of them, in terms of wisdom and ability, Kang Chengqian was at a higher level. But he too felt pressure as he saw Liu Dazheng approach.

When the Pinglu army was locked in a fierce battle with the Hedong Army, their incompetence not only resulted in the Pinglu army losing its advantage, but also made the Pinglu army suffer heavy losses.

If they fought valiantly and controlled the Hedong army, they could draw Li Keyong’s attention and he would not be able to focus on attacking the Pinglu army.

Though in the end the Pinglu army would probably still lose to the Hedong Army because of their lack of commanders and strongest forces, at least the Pinglu army would not have suffered such heavy losses.

Seeing the way Liu Dazheng looked at him, Kang Chengqian sensed Liu’s anger and hatred towards him. He then clasped his fist in salute and added, “General Liu, our incompetence has caused heavy losses to you. We’d like to take full responsibility for the Pinglu army’s losses.”

Playing it by the ear might be able to avoid risks, but at times, it might still pay a heavy price.

Kang Chengqian was clearly aware that if he did not offer the Pinglu army some armor and food, he would not be able to calm them down.

Liu Dazheng snorted heavily, “In this battle, the three vassal states must chip in for the compensation for the soldiers that the Pinglu army has lost, and the treatment of the wounded soldiers. Take heed, I’m talking about the entire Hedong Battle! Aside from that, the three vassal states must also offer the Pinglu army sixty million pounds of food, 3 million arrows, 30 thousand armors and 900 thousand Guan of copper coins!”

Though Kang Chengqian had expected Liu Dazheng would make unreasonable demands. However, he was still shocked upon hearing Liu’s asking price.

It meant that Li Ye hadn’t spent a cent in this battle between the Pinglu army and the Hedong army. It was already enough that the three vassal states chipped in for the compensation of the dead soldiers and the food. Couple that with the support that the three vassal states had provided in the earlier battles. It would more than cover the loss of armor and weapon.

Though Li Ye hadn’t spent a cent, however, after Li Ye took the vassal states of Hedong, he would get all kinds of spoils. It would be pure profit for him.

Kang Chengqian, Xue Wei and Liu Jingsi looked at each other and saw the pain in each other’s eyes.

Though they all felt pain, but pain was not their strongest feelings, what was stronger were helplessness and hatred.

Though the asking price was high, it still was within the three vassal states’ range of expectations. The vassal states were still going to accept it, and it was just that they would take a hard, painful blow.

“We obey General Liu’s command,” answered the three of them.

Seeing the three of them said so, Liu Dazheng’s expression eased a little, “Such being the case, please sit down.”

Kang Chengqian and crew heaved a sigh silently because seeing Liu Dazheng ease up, the Pinglu generals also stopped glaring at them with anger. It had made them relax.

After thanking Liu Dazheng, the three of them sat down and all silently promised that they would attack Taiyuan city with full effort. They wanted to give Taiyuan city a fatal blow now that it was weak.

The logic was simple. The money that Liu Dazheng asked for was not going to be paid out of their pockets, and otherwise they’d lose too much. That being the case, they had to get that money from Li Keyong.

Only after they take Taiyuan city and breach Hedong, could they reap the spoils and offset such a loss.

While Liu Dazheng was discussing military matters with the generals, Li Xian was taking a stroll around camp.

He wasn’t alone, and there was someone by his side.

He was an old Taoist priest with a yellow face and patches all over his robes. He looked malnourished with his brown complexion.

No one took notice of the two of them as they walked around the camp. It was as though Li Xian was not the hero and savior of the whole army but a common soldier.

The browned cloaked Taoist looked like he hadn’t woken up as he yawned and wiped his face. He then said to Li Xian with a sigh, “Seeing you, my brother in action today had made me respect you even more. You haven’t lost a step at all!”

Li Xian replied lightly, “No, if I were young, then Taiyuan city would already be mine.”

The browned cloaked Taoist laughed in belief. But he was not about to offer more flattery.

The browned cloaked Taoist was well aware that with Li Xian’s cultivation in his heyday, and if the Pinglu army were trained by him, then their Military Formation would not be what was on display during the day. In fact Li Keyong would not even have the chance to escape, he would be annihilated.

Back in the day when Li Xian was taking on the north and south, no one was his match within the country. His only rival was outside of the borders.

The cultivation of military warrior of Militarism had to be completed in the military. When one’s cultivation reached the realm of military warrior, he would garner the respect of the three armies and he in turn could ignite the power of the Military Formation.

Yet when one’s cultivation reached Top General, he could ignite the power of the Military Formation even if the troops were not trained by him. It was just that the tacit understanding would be different from another’s army, and the power of the Military Formation would be different too.

Today, the fact that Li Xian was able to successfully ignite the power to oppress Li Keyong was due to two elements. One was that the original leader of the army Shangguan Qingcheng was willing to cooperate. Second, the elites of the Military Formation, which was around 800 soldiers, were quite familiar with him.

On the other side of the camp, Shangguan Qingcheng was patrolling the camp with her men.

Her personal chief guard was behind her on the side. He used to be Prince An’s guard, he then asked excitedly, “General, who was that middle-aged general?”

Calling someone with the cultivation of a military warrior of Militarism ‘general’ was definitely deserved.

Shangguan Qingcheng was silent for a second, and then she replied, “The general’s identity cannot be revealed. You just need to know that he has been invited by the Highness.”

“Yes, general.” The chief guard was a little disappointed.

Shangguan Qingcheng did not say much else but marched forward.

It was to be expected for the soldiers of the three armies to be curious about Li Xian. He did save the Pinglu army in desperate times after all. Not to mention the fact that the Militarism cultivation he had displayed had revealed such a rare realm that everyone was curious.

But no matter how they speculated, they would not be able to find affirmation. In the end, they could only come to the conclusion that the mysterious general was someone who had achieved a lot in his heyday and later lived in hiding. Li Ye was able to track him down and invite him, thus his timely appearance during times of need.

As for the general’s old identity, no one could guess that he was the old Prince An, who had fallen on the Bagong Mountain. After all, at present, the Prince An was Li Ye. Li Ye was the Prince An.

Because Li Xian was of such a high realm, although there were still many mysteries surrounding him, it did not ever affect the trust the Pinglu army had from him. And because of Li Xian’s appearance, they were able to restore the confidence to defeat the Hedong Army.

Although Li Xian had appeared, the Pinglu army’s commander was still Liu Dazheng. And only Liu Dazheng could arrange the troops to attack the city. Li Xian was more like a Sea-stabilizing Magic Cudgel who would be among the troops and control Li Keyong.

Of course, he would again join the Military Formation if the situation called for it. Like if Li Cunxiao joined the fray.

Li Xian suddenly stopped, looked at the browned cloaked Taoist and asked with a strange expression, “Senior Brother, don’t you have any advice for me in regards to attacking Taiyuan city?”

After stabilizing the Huang Chao Uprising, Li Xian followed Chu Nanhuai to Boji Mountain. These two brothers of the White Deer Sect went back to improving their cultivation after years of separation.

Li Xian had not planned on coming out when Li Ye first started the battle of Hedong. He had been living in hiding for many years after all.

The old Prince An, in his dead state or living state, had totally lost faith in the imperial court after two generations of emperors. As someone who had already died, Li Xian was not suited to be among the people. He never intended to make any more noise, and he just wanted to improve his cultivation and walk the rest of his journey in peace.

He would rather be free of the mortal world because the world had a new Prince An.

Old Prince An was tired and up there in age, and the new Prince An was at his peak.

But clearly the old Prince An could not be going to sit by and watch in times of chaos.

The browned cloaked Taoist spread out his hands and replied definitely, “Nothing!”

Li Xian stared at him unkindly. After a while, the browned cloaked Taoist who couldn’t stand being stared at finally gave in and replied, “I admit that I never keep out of the affair. I’ve been reading the heavens and figuring things out...”

The fact that Li Xian appeared timely at Boji Mountain was not that he had received Li Ye’s letter. There was no such letter. He was here solely because Chu Nanhuai had asked him to check things out. He didn’t expect the situation at hand when he arrived in Taiyuan.

In other words, it was not Li Xian who saved the situation for the Pinglu army and the Hedong battle. At least Chu Nanhuai started it.

Chu Nanhuai from the White Deer Sect.

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