章 20: The Xia Army Is Here to Court Death Again
編集者: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Xia Palace.
In the Eternal Peace Palace's hall.
Li Zhongxian quickly walked into the hall and bowed. "Empress Dowager, something bad has happened."
Empress Dowager He kept the letter in her hand and slowly asked, "What's the matter?"
Li Zhongxian told the Empress Dowager about the Crown Prince's order to reduce the number of servants in the palaces. The Empress Dowager's expression suddenly changed. "Ye Xuan, you're going to make a move on me."
300 suicide soldiers were killed, and the remaining 700 went into hiding.
Now that Ye Xuan had reduced the number of servants in the various palaces, he wanted to expel the 700 hidden suicide soldiers from the inner palace. Her many years of deployment would be destroyed by Ye Xuan.
"Zhongxian, you must make the palaces keep our people."
Li Zhongxian said, "Empress Dowager, Gao Ying is in charge of this matter. I'm afraid that the Crown Prince has already planned everything. He wants to take this opportunity to get rid of our 700 suicide soldiers. If I interfere in this matter, I might expose them instead."
Empress Dowager He's face darkened. "I'm still one step too late. The alliance just sent word that they will arrive in Chang'an in ten days, but Ye Xuan won't leave the last ten days for me."
"Empress Dowager, we might not be able to keep the suicide soldiers. It might not be a bad thing to let them leave the palace. At least you're safe," Li Zhongxian said in a deep voice. "However, I have one more thing to report. It should be helpful for your deployment."
"Tell me about it."
"Empress Dowager, two months have passed. His Majesty has been poisoned by the devil-brand poison pattern, but he is safe and sound. I have heard from the servants of the Yangxin Hall that His Majesty's body has recovered a lot. This is a chance for us."
Empress Dowager He nodded. "That's true. Looks like I'll have to personally make a trip to Yangxin Hall."
She paused for a moment and continued, "The people from the alliance just so happen to be arriving during my birthday. At that time, they can enter the palace with a proper reason."
"Empress Dowager, the Eternal Peace Palace needs a lot of manpower for your birthday," Li Zhongxian said. "We also need to buy a lot of things. When the time comes, I can let the suicide soldiers who left the palace enter again."
"No matter how powerful the Crown Prince is, he wouldn't be able to predict that we would attack them during the birthday celebration."
Empress Dowager He stood up. "Let's go to Yangxin Hall."
...
Outside Yangxin Hall.
The servant saw the Empress Dowager arrive, but before he could say anything, Li Zhongxian gave him a look. The servant bowed slightly and quickly got up to leave.
The Empress Dowager pushed the door open and entered the hall. Her gaze fell on the dragon bed. "My son, I've come to see you."
Emperor Xia had long sensed their arrival. He looked in the direction of the voice and said weakly, "Mother, you're here."
In fact, Empress Dowager He was not Emperor Xia's biological mother. When Emperor Xia's biological mother died due to complications of labor, the previous emperor handed Emperor Xia over to Empress Dowager He to raise. This was no secret at all in the palace.
After Emperor Xia ascended the throne, Empress Dowager He naturally became the Empress Dowager of the Great Xia Empire because of her son. She had once ruled behind the curtain for a period of time. It was only in the 10th year of Great Xia's Xuan calendar that she handed over the power to Emperor Xia.
As such, Emperor Xia had always been somewhat fearful of his mother. When he found out that she was a member of the Nine States Alliance, Emperor Xia was not surprised at all. As a woman who craved power, it was not surprising for her to do anything.
"Mother, you've arrived. Please forgive your son for not being able to stand up and bow."
"There's no need to be so polite, my son," Empress Dowager He said. "I'm just here to see you. Seeing that you've recovered a little, my hanging heart can finally be at ease."
"I've made you worry, Mother," Emperor Xia said.
Empress Dowager He continued, "My son, this period of time has been an eventful period for Great Xia. I've found someone to do a reading. This is a sign of the country's decline. However, I've already found a way to break it."
"In a few days, it will be my birthday. I'm preparing to make a big celebration to rid the empire of bad luck. At that time, the master will also enter the palace and help you to remove the poison."
Emperor Xia was stunned for a moment. "Mother, I almost forgot about your birthday. This year, I'm unable to prepare for your birthday, so I'll do as you say."
A hint of slyness flashed in the depths of Empress Dowager He's eyes. "I'm relieved to see that you're fine. You should rest well!"
After leaving Yangxin Hall, they left quickly. After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Emperor Xia ordered an internal servant to inform Ye Xuan to come to Yangxin Hall.
...
Lieyang Pass.
This was the closest pass to Xiayang City. However, the garrison here had been withdrawn a month ago.
Lu Bu led the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry to set up camp at Lieyang Pass. According to the reports of the scouts, the Northern Barbarian army would not come to Lieyang Pass. Instead, they would march straight into Xiayang City. In this way, the Northern Barbarian army would pass by the side of Lieyang Pass.
This was also the reason why Lu Bu was stationed here.
The most dangerous place was always the safest. If the Northern Barbarian army found out that they were stationed at Lieyang Pass, they would be at risk of being surrounded. If they were not discovered, they would have the chance to split the Northern Barbarian army into two like a divine weapon.
Even if they wanted to retreat, the Lieyang Valley behind them was the best choice.
A scout galloped over and appeared in the pass. He pulled the reins and said, "General, the Northern Barbarian vanguard is approaching Xiayang City."
Lu Bu jumped onto the horse's back, holding the halberd in his hand. He was clad in silver robes and white armor, looking extremely majestic. "Get on the horse and follow me to kill the enemy!"
With an order, 3,000 Great Snow Dragon Cavalry appeared on their horses. They were like a flood that burst through a dam, rushing through Lieyang Pass with unstoppable momentum.
The Northern Barbarian army marched very slowly. Along the way, no one in the Xia army could stop them. As a result, the general in the lead thought that it was the same for Xiayang City and that it would be broken through very soon.
"Great General, the women of Great Xia are not bad. They have fair skin and are very beautiful."
"A hero is matched with beauty. There are many beauties in Xiayang City. Take down this city and take all the women away to reward the three armies," the Great General of the Northern Barbarians, Yuwen Hong, said in a deep voice. "Send an order to General Tuoba. Tell his elephant-armored army to speed up. Otherwise, we won't even be able to have a hot meal when we enter the city."
"I will take all of the beauties."
As soon as he finished speaking, the ground began to shake as if it would collapse at any moment. Yuwen Hong's face was filled with doubt as he asked, "Where did the sound of horse hooves come from?"
He looked over and saw Lu Bu's troops. He sneered. "You want to ambush the army with such a small number of people? Xia is too naive. Don't worry about them, and let's keep going. Xiayang City is just ahead."
"Great General, what should we do with the Xia army?"
"With General Tuoba's elephant-armored army, what are you worried about?"
Yuwen Hong was carefree and didn't put the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry in his eyes at all. Tuoba Zhan was leading 50,000 elephant armored troops, and they were all heavy cavalry that could take on 100 enemies at once. However, the Xia army didn't even have 5,000 soldiers. Were they sure that they weren't here to be a joke?
Xiayang City was just a stone's throw away, and that was his true target.
At this moment, Tuoba Zhan looked at the 3,000 Great Snow Dragon Cavalry charging over and said with a mocking expression, "Xia army is here to court death again!"
However, what happened next made him dumbstruck. He was instantly scared silly.
-- 贈り物
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