“That’s not quite right.” Li Jun leaned back slightly and sighed, “If I had a choice, I would have preferred that Master Cheng keep Liu Guang at bay. Now that Master Cheng is gone, Liu Guang’s army will surely march east, and Yuzhou is in grave danger. It’s just a pity that Liu Guang seized the opportunity perfectly. I couldn’t extricate myself from Su, and he suddenly launched this plan… He probably also wanted to eliminate both Master Cheng and me at the same time, to remove a thorn in his side.”
Gan Ping choked up; what Li Jun said was indeed absolutely true.
"The sect leader was ambushed and severely wounded. On his deathbed, he sent me to find the commander." Gan Ping raised his head again, his eyes filled with rage. "As long as the commander sends troops to avenge the sect leader, I, Gan Ping, and my six thousand followers will brave fire and water, even unto death!"
Li Jun gently patted his shoulder, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes. Gan Ping's expression at this moment reminded him of the same pain he felt when he lost Lu Xiang. It took him five whole years to transform that pain into a suppressed hatred.
“Even if you hadn’t come, I would have gone to seek revenge on Liu Guang; and even if I hadn’t gone to him, he would have come looking for me,” Li Jun said slowly. “Therefore, I hope you joined my ranks because you genuinely want to serve me, and not because you want revenge for Sect Leader Cheng.”
"Apart from avenging the sect leader, I have no other desires!" Gan Ping glared.
"Alright, I don't think I can convince you in a day or two," Li Jun laughed. "Rest assured, I will certainly use Liu Guang's outstanding achievement to commemorate Headmaster Cheng."
Upon hearing this, Gan Ping turned over and knelt down, bowing three times. When he raised his head, he found that Li Jun had already avoided his kneeling.
“Brother Gan, please remember, in my Peace Army, a man’s knees do not kneel before anyone, not even the Emperor himself,” Li Jun said solemnly. “Go and rest first.”
Gan Ping was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. He got up and silently followed the guards out of the tent. Only after Gan Ping left did a complex expression appear on Li Jun's face.
"Please invite Mr. Wei here; I have important matters to discuss with him," he said slowly.
Things seemed to be happening one after another. If it had been three days earlier, he would have been helpless, but in these few days, Qinggui had been settled, and Lu Yuan had brought back Wu Shu's trump card. He could now concentrate on playing against Liu Guang again. At this moment, he didn't know whether to feel fortunate or to curse.
Chapter Seven: First Meeting
one,
Liu Guang squinted, gently swaying on his horse. Those unfamiliar with him might even think he was asleep. But those who knew him well, like his old subordinates in the Liu family army, understood that he would do this when some scheme was about to be completed.
In the past two years, in order to firmly grasp the political power of the Chen state, he spent most of his time in Linying, riding in a sedan chair far more often than on horseback, and spending far more time mingling with high-ranking officials than confronting enemies head-on. However, whenever he needed to make a major decision, he would order his groom to lead out his prized horse, Huangyun Zhuiyue, and let it run several laps in the suburbs until his sides were flailing and his body was steaming hot, before returning to the city.
"I'm getting old, getting old..." He suddenly sighed softly. Throughout history, countless heroes and great men, who once dominated the world without rivals, tasted the loneliness of being at the top, only to fall to the invisible blade of time. Since ancient times, beauties and great generals have not been allowed to grow old in this world.
Liu Guang reached out and touched his helmet. Those with any power in Lin Ying of Chen State had either joined his ranks, been killed, or exiled. Now he could confidently go out to conquer. If he stayed in that decadent capital any longer, he feared he wouldn't even know how to ride a horse anymore.
"My lord is in the prime of his life, why do you call him old?" Han Chong said with a smile. As Liu Guang's power grew, their address to him changed from Commander-in-Chief to Lord.
"Since I started my army at the age of twenty, I have fought for more than thirty years. There are mountains of bones and rivers of blood. I have seen so much life and death and separation. How can I not grow old?" Liu Guang said with a loud laugh. Although his words were desolate, his tone was still heroic.
"My lord, look, that's Evil Wind Ridge. It was here that Li Jun annihilated the 30,000-strong army of the Lotus Dharma Sect. The stone walls on both sides are still black to this day, said to be the bloodstains from that fierce battle." The strategist Pang Zhen pointed with his riding whip at the desolate and treacherous landscape before them.
"The villagers here say that every night there are ghostly cries, the vengeful spirits of those who died in battle," said another strategist, Liu Zheng. He and Pang Zhen were both retainers recruited by Liu Guang over the years, and both wanted to make lasting contributions to Liu Guang's great cause.
"Is that so?" Liu Guang laughed heartily. "Then our army will spend the night here this year, and I'll see if there really are ghosts!"
"This place is a dangerous place, not suitable for encampment," Han Chong advised. "Besides, it's still early, and the soldiers are full of energy and spirit. Let's make it in time."
Liu Guang stroked his beard and nodded: "Han Chong is right. In that case, I will climb Evil Wind Ridge to take a look around, which can be regarded as a tribute to Li Jun's heroic deeds that day."
The crowd dismounted and escorted him up the mountain path. Halfway up, the rocks seemed like menacing monsters, and a strong north wind blew, sending a chill down their spines. Looking down into the gorge, the people below appeared like ants, the dark rocks like gaping maws of monsters ready to devour them. After climbing a little further, the path disappeared into the undergrowth and bushes; only the rustling of trees and the startled cries of a few birds could be heard. The pale sun shone on the still-dampened mountain, and a faint, eerie mist rose from it.
Liu Guang looked back and saw mountains stretching endlessly to the horizon. He took a deep breath, feeling a surge of pride, as if he had returned to his youth.
With a "clang," he drew his sword and thrust it into the rock beneath his feet. The sword was sharp and tough, but he was unharmed.
"In my prime, I climbed the precipice, reaching out to touch the stars. Old pines startled evil spirits, and dark clouds disturbed the gods. Dry bones filled the ravines, and bloodstains remained on the black cliffs. Even now, the cries of ghosts can be heard, causing sorrow every night."
"What a fine poem! It is generous, tragic, and full of heroic spirit." Pang Zhen exclaimed in admiration. "Our lord's civil and military achievements are unparalleled in the world. Even if Lu Xiang were to be resurrected, he could not compare to such a versatile talent as our lord."
"This is just nonsense, and I am unworthy of such praise, Master Pang." Liu Guang narrowed his eyes and smiled slightly.
"Why doesn't the lord order the stonemasons to carve a stone and erect a monument here, so that future generations can remember and commemorate this place?" Liu Zheng said.
"Let's deal with this when I return to the army." Liu Guang turned to his newly appointed Lord of Huai'en City, Wang Renyuan. "Lord Wang, Huai'en is now in your hands. For years, no one has been able to collect the bones in this gorge. Please order someone to give them a proper burial."
Wang Renyuan bowed deeply: "Your Excellency's benevolence extends even to the most destitute; how could I not pledge my life to serve you?"
Hearing the hint of surrender in his words, Liu Guang simply smiled and dismissed it. If someone was incompetent, he could easily obtain thousands or tens of thousands of them; if someone was talented, he would find a way to recruit them even if they didn't want to pledge allegiance.
"Down the mountain, advance!" Liu Guang turned to look eastward, but his view was blocked by the surrounding peaks. He drew his sword and took the lead down the mountain.
"Time is of the essence. Last night I discussed with Mr. Wei Zhan that we must return to the army immediately."
Li Jun surveyed his generals, and upon hearing the news brought by Gan Ping, the main generals and strategists of the Peace Army all paled. When they raised their army, Lian Fazong was still maintaining a stalemate with Liu Guang, but unexpectedly, in just one month, the Chen Kingdom was swept away by Liu Guang with unprecedented domineering power. Now, there is no force that can stop Liu Guang from unifying the entire Chen Kingdom and even ascending to the throne.
Therefore, Liu Guang's next target must be Yuzhou. He chose this time to launch his attack precisely to avoid Li Jun's interference, and to catch Li Jun off guard while his main force was in Su. Perhaps Liu Guang realized from the outset that Li Jun's intentions were not in Chen, but in Su, when Li Jun first instigated the joint attack on him.
When Li Jun met with Gan Ping last night, although he appeared confident and composed, only he knew that Liu Guang's grasp of the timing was far superior to his expectations. He wasn't sure if the countermeasures he had left in Yuzhou could truly withstand Liu Guang's sharp and incisive attacks.
The silence lasted for the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Everyone understood how terrifying Liu Guang was, and they all knew that if they were not careful, the expedition against the Su Kingdom would be fruitless, and even survival would be in danger.
Li Jun was slightly disappointed, but quickly came to terms with it. Even he and Wei Zhan, two strategists, couldn't come up with a perfect plan after spending half the night without sleep, let alone the other civil and military officials.
He shifted his gaze and noticed that Huang Xuan, who was sitting upright to his left, slightly trembled his lips. He then asked, "Mr. Huang, when Commander Lu was alive, he used your strategies many times. Now that things are in danger, what advice do you have for me?"
Section 02
Huichang City?
Liu Guang, dressed in a blue robe and wearing a small hat, rode a donkey that seemed utterly incongruous with his status as a renowned general. The wrinkles on his face and the streaks of white hair at his temples made him appear more like a recluse living a leisurely life in the countryside than a hero who had once dominated the world. Only the glint in his eyes when he stared at Huichang City revealed that he was no ordinary man.
From afar, Huichang City stood silently in the twilight, like a beast lurking in the grass, ready to pounce on its passing prey. Smoke curled from the city walls, seemingly peaceful and serene, but Liu Guang clearly saw a chilling murderous aura emanating from them.
"It's not like we're completely unprepared." Liu Guang smiled slightly. It seemed that his opponent intended to turn this place into a hunting ground for him. So, whether he, the hunter, was more skillful or the beast was more powerful, it would depend on the outcome of their battle of wits.
"The spy said that Feng Jiutian, whom Li Jun relied on as his strategist, and his Rong woman have come here, along with an army of 50,000." Pang Zhen, the strategist dressed in civilian clothes beside him, said, "However, to have 50,000 against our lord's 200,000 troops is no less than throwing an egg against a rock."
“Pang Jun is too arrogant. Li Jun’s rise to power in just three to five years is no accident.” Liu Guang stroked his beard and said, “Look, Feng Jiutian must have known that my army was coming here, otherwise he would not have suddenly led his troops to Huichang City at this time. He arrived before me, which is to set a trap and want to ruin my life’s reputation under the walls of Huichang City.”