The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 403 Li Cunxiao’s Death

In the military barracks outside the city, soldiers were sweating profusely on the drill ground with smoke and dust rising everywhere. Some were practicing formations, and some were training various technical skills. All of them were in high spirits with enthusiasm.

They didn’t look like defeated troops but elite troops who were ready to fight.

The reason was simple. The person standing on the commander’s platform was Li Cunxiao, a senior general of Militarism.

He gathered the several thousand soldiers who were on the drill ground along the way when he retreated to Daizhou. Although they only had a short training time, the soldiers quickly changed into a new condition and became absolute elites under the influence of his territory of Militarism.

These soldiers were elites and skilled and good at fighting in the military formation, but they lost morale because they were defeated in Taiyuan. Ordinary generals might not be able to boost their morale quickly, but Li Cunxiao could do that.

Li Cunxiao looked around the drill ground. His eyes were quiet, but there was a fighting spirit in them.

With elite troops, a military warrior of Militarism had the confidence to win no matter what situation he would encounter.

If he didn’t have such confidence, he wouldn’t be qualified to be called a military warrior of Militarism.

Standing behind Li Cunxiao, Qin Mingyi, the deputy general, looked at the drill ground and said with emotions, “The soldiers have restored their prime state in just a few days. Except you, I’m afraid no one can do this.”

His words showed his admiration for Li Cunxiao from the bottom of his heart.

In fact, not only Qin Mingyi but also the generals under Li Cunxiao’s command admired him very much. This was inevitable, because Li Cunxiao never had a defeat, and the generals who followed him made big military exploits. Who wouldn’t admire him?

Moreover, Li Cunxiao knew how to lead troops and sympathized with subordinates, so they were willing to follow Li Cunxiao and fight fiercely on the battlefield. Once their courage came up, they didn’t even care about death.

Li Cunxiao said calmly, “If Prince trains the soldiers, he will have a better effect than me.”

Qin Mingyi smiled awkwardly and didn’t know what to say, because it was obviously wrong, but he couldn’t refute him. Li Cunxiao’s tone was particularly serious and earnest, and he said that sincerely.

Qin Mingyi sighed and said, “General, you are loyal. With you, Prince will definitely take charge of the world. The current setback is not worth mentioning at all.”

Li Cunxiao didn’t comment. He was ineloquent, so he could only keep silent when facing undisguised praises.

Li Cunxiao naturally knew that he needed to encourage the soldiers often, so he said, “I heard that Prince has sent Kang Junli to borrow troops from Tartar. We just need to guard Daizhou. As long as the grassland cavalry arrives, we can fight back. It’s just a matter of time to recapture Taiyuan!”

Upon hearing this, Qin Mingyi was really excited. “That’s great!”

But then, his eyes became dim. He hesitated for a while. “I have something to say, but I don’t know if I should say it or not.”

Li Cunxiao glanced at him. “Do you want to say the valiant general with a high realm who is under Prince An’s command?”

Qin Mingyi cupped his fists. “I made an indiscreet remark...”

Li Cunxiao didn’t tell him Li Xian’s identity. If the soldiers knew that old Prince An didn’t die and joined hands with new Prince An, it would definitely be a great blow to the morale. Since Li Xian didn’t indicate his identity, Li Cunxiao was happy to hide it.

He said, “That valiant general has a high realm. He has almost stepped into the Famous General Realm. He can be called a semi-famous general or the Pre-famous General Realm. But, after all, he isn’t a famous general, so he is not invincible.”

As he spoke, Li Cunxiao suddenly clenched his fists, and his momentum burst out. A stream of Spiritual Qi with murderous intents rushed out of his head, straight up to the sky, and directly smashed the white clouds. No one knew where the end was.

When the soldiers on the drill ground felt the movement, they all looked askance at it, with awe on their faces.

Qin Mingyi opened his eyes wide, full of disbelief on his face. Then, he was overjoyed and quickly cupped his fists. “Congratulations! Your realm is improved again!”

Li Cunxiao withdrew his momentum and said calmly, “As you can see, I have reached the middle-stage of the Senior General Realm. If I fight that valiant general again, although I can’t defeat him, I can hold out for a while so that I won’t lose quickly. What’s more, with the Prince’s realm, none of Li Ye’s men can defeat him. When our troops fight on the battlefield, we have a big chance to win!”

Last time when he fought Li Xian, although Li Cunxiao was defeated without suspense, it was also a chance for him to comprehend. He seized it. After several days of meditation, his realm was immediately improved.

This was also the reason why the military warriors of Militarism all achieved success on the battlefield.

Li Cunxiao had an extraordinary talent, and he was also a veteran in the army. This was what accumulation mattered.

Qin Mingyi immediately raised his arms and shouted, “Mighty, General!”

The several thousand soldiers on the drill ground also stopped training and shouted in unison, “Mighty, General!”

Their momentum was overwhelming.

Li Cunxiao also raised his arms and shouted, but his words were different. “Mighty, Prince!”

Then, the soldiers shouted together, “Mighty, Prince!”

After this episode, the soldiers became more hardworking and had high morale. It could be seen that many of them couldn’t wait to fight.

The army had morale.

But at this moment, an Inspector of the Prince’s Manor entered the military barracks and went to the commander’s platform. He passed Li Keyong’s order. “Prince ordered General Li to go to the Inspector General’s Manor for a banquet with daily clothes.”

Li Cunxiao didn’t suspect him. “I’m going now.”

Soon, Li Cunxiao took off his armor. With only a knife and two trusted soldiers, he followed the Inspector to the Inspector General’s Manor.

After getting off the horse in front of the door, Li Cunxiao handed the reins to his trusted soldiers and asked them to wait there.

Before entering the door, Li Cunxiao handed the knife to the guard and followed the Inspector into the Manor.

In front of the floral-pendant gate, Li Cunxiao saw Li Keyong waiting there. Li Keyong smiled and looked particularly cordial.

“I am flattered by your waiting here.” Li Cunxiao felt surprised and hurried forward to salute.

“I heard that you have been working hard to rectify the military discipline and train the soldiers these days and haven’t had a good rest for a long time. I can’t bear it, so I prepared some dishes and wine and asked you to come and have a rest.” Li Keyong walked down the steps to help Li Cunxiao up. His smile was softer, and his eyes were full of appreciation and consideration.

After saying that, he pulled Li Cunxiao into the door without hesitation.

Li Cunxiao was very moved and felt warm in his heart.

When he was defeated in Taiyuan that day, he blamed himself and felt very guilty. He was entrusted with an important task at the crucial time of the battle. He felt that he betrayed Li Keyong’s trust.

He didn’t expect that Li Keyong had the slightest intention of blaming him. Moreover, Li Keyong understood his hard work in training soldiers and held a banquet to entertain him personally.

Training soldiers was not harder than fighting on the battlefield. Li Cunxiao felt that Li Keyong was very kind and that it was his great privilege to be under his command.

It was said that there were many talented people but fewer talent scouts. There were more than ten million talented people in the world, but most of them accomplished nothing and lived a depressing life. Only very few of them could give full play to their talents and ambitions. Hence, it was said that a scholar would die for his bosom friend.

Li Cunxiao thought that Li Keyong was his benefactor, so he determined to exhaust his ability in the battle. Even if he would die on the battlefield, he had to open up a new prospect for the army and let Li Keyong stage a comeback.

“General, I’m afraid you haven’t eaten well these days. We’re in a bad situation at present. You’re my best general. If you don’t eat well and your body is affected, it will be a loss of the army. I will rely on you in the future, so please make yourself at home...” Li Keyong took Li Cunxiao to the center of the door.

“It’s very kind of you. I...” Li Cunxiao choked with sobs. He wasn’t good at words and didn’t know what to say.

He didn’t need to say anything.

He didn’t even finish his words.

Because Li Keyong suddenly attacked him.

A sharp dagger was stabbed into Li Cunxiao’s lower abdomen without the armor’s protection in a flash!

Li Cunxiao’s body was stiff, and he stopped walking.

He looked at Li Keyong blankly, full of confusion and doubts in his eyes. He looked like a child who had been slapped by an adult for no reason.

He was completely defenseless.

Of course, he would not guard against Li Keyong.

Which child would guard against his parents stabbing him with a knife for no reason?

Moreover, the cultivation of a military warrior of Militarism was in the military formation. Once he left the military formation, he was just an ordinary Qi-refining cultivator, and he had little fighting power left. He wasn’t like Li Xian, who cultivated both Taoism and Militarism.

At this moment, he saw Li Keyong look indifferent and cruel without the previous cordial smile.

The dagger was suddenly stirred in his lower abdomen, smashing his Ocean of Qi and internal organs.

Li Keyong distanced himself as fast as lightning.

Fu Cunshen and countless guards armed with shields and knives rushed out from both sides of the door and surrounded Li Cunxiao tightly, ready to take action. Everyone’s face was full of hatred, contempt, fear, and precaution against him.

Covering his bleeding lower abdomen, Li Cunxiao stood there with great difficulty. The pain distorted his features and made him look particularly ferocious. The sadness in his eyes had a great impact on everyone.

“Prince... What are you doing?” Li Cunxiao’s face was pale, and he had a look of disbelief and unacceptability. “Why, why are you doing this?”

Li Keyong stood behind the guards. Even though he knew that Li Cunxiao couldn’t threaten him anymore, he didn’t want to get close to him.

He sneered. “You colluded with Li Ye, the leader of the rebels, trying to murder me. I’d like to ask you. I always treat you well and entrust you with important tasks. Why do you fail me?”

At the end of the sentence, Li Keyong was fierce both in look and voice.

Li Cunxiao explained in a weak voice, “I’m loyal to you, and I have no intention of betraying...”

“Shut up! If you didn’t betray me and surrender to Li Ye, you wouldn’t be slack in the battle of Taiyuan and let the Pinglu Army attack on top of the city wall. If you didn’t break faith, the Pinglu Army wouldn’t conquer Taiyuan. You ruined my great ambition, so how could you still say that you were loyal?” Li Keyong rebuked him loudly, full of righteous words.

The blood was gathering under his feet and quickly spread out. Li Cunxiao couldn’t stand steadily. He knelt on the ground with one hand holding the ground, but he still stubbornly looked up at Li Keyong. “I have never colluded with the enemy...”

“You claimed to be loyal. If you didn’t collude with the rebels, why wouldn’t you die on top of the city wall when Taiyuan was captured?” Fu Cunshen shouted, “If it were not for you, our army wouldn’t be defeated in Yizhou and Taiyuan, the good situation of Hedong wouldn’t be ruined, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers wouldn’t die!”

Li Cunxiao stared at Fu Cunshen. The hatred on Fu Cunshen’s face was as great as if he had killed his father.

Not only Fu Cunshen, but also all the guards gnashed their teeth when they heard this. They all looked like they wanted to eat Li Cunxiao’s meat and peel off his skin!

Li Cunxiao felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

He finally understood.

Li Keyong not only wanted to kill him but also wanted to push the blame for the failure of the battle in Hedong on him.

If he died here today, not only would he lose his life, but his reputation as well. Even the merits he gained in countless bloody battles would be erased.

Li Cunxiao was finally speechless. He just stared at Li Keyong in a daze and couldn’t help shedding tears. “Prince...”

How could Li Keyong, who was kind, treat him like this?

He wanted to ask Li Keyong how he would bear to treat him like this!

But he didn’t ask. When he saw Li Keyong’s cold eyes, he knew that everything had been settled. It was useless to ask.

Li Cunxiao’s hands were stained with his own blood.

He was desperate.

Suddenly, he roared in a low voice and pulled out the dagger from his lower abdomen!

“This traitor is going to assassinate Prince. Kill him now!” Fu Cunshen’s expression changed and he shouted in a hurry.

All the soldiers rushed forward.

But Li Cunxiao didn’t stab anyone else with the dagger.

Instead, he stabbed himself in the throat.

Nothing was more lamentable than a dead heart.

He died in a pool of blood with his eyes wide open.

The guards didn’t stop. They rushed forward and wielded down their long knives, roaring. With the power of hatred, they chopped the traitor into pieces.

A while later, the guards stepped back in succession.

They looked at Li Cunxiao’s body with distorted faces, and their hatred could not be eliminated. Some people even spat on the pile of flesh and blood.

Li Keyong coldly looked at Li Cunxiao with his hands clasped behind his back. Then, he looked at the guards and said angrily, “Li Cunxiao betrayed me and colluded with Li Ye because of money so that Hedong was defeated in succession. He wasted my trust! Now Li Cunxiao has been executed. Pass down my order. Kill all his family members!”

“Yes!”

Li Keyong glanced at Li Cunxiao’s body for the last time. Then, he swung his sleeves, turned around, and left.

He suspected Li Cunxiao, who was a senior general of Militarism in his army. He wasn’t sure if he was loyal. He not only threatened his interests but also his life.

If he didn’t solve the internal hidden danger, he couldn’t protect himself, to say nothing of dealing with external enemies.

He must get rid of Li Cunxiao.

In addition, he also needed someone to take the blame for the defeat of Hedong.

Then, the others didn’t do anything wrong.

Li Keyong wanted people to know that Hedong was defeated and the current situation became like this because Li Cunxiao was vicious and colluded with the enemy.

He just trusted his general and was blameless.

In this way, no one would doubt Li Keyong’s ability.

Li Keyong needed all his soldiers and the officials and ordinary people of Daizhou, Shuozhou, Yunzhou, and Weizhou to trust him as they did before.

He wanted people to believe that since Li Cunxiao was dead and the traitor was eliminated, he could stage a comeback, win every battle like before, recapture Taiyuan, and stabilize Hedong again!

Now, as long as the reinforcements of Tartar arrived, he could counterattack against Li Ye!

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