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In Li Jue's military camp, the number of soldiers was vast, mostly composed of Xiliang people, along with a group of Qiang warriors supporting them. They usually relied on Li Jue's power and were filled with arrogance. However, recently, the atmosphere in the camp had become unusually oppressive.
After leaving Li Jue's camp, Huangfu Li returned to Xiliang and spread the word: "Li Jue harbors treasonous intentions, using the Emperor to command the lords. This is clearly rebellion! Anyone who follows him will eventually be treated as a bandit and despised by all; the consequences will be dire!"
This statement quickly spread among the soldiers of Xiliang, causing many to waver in their loyalty. The conversations in the camp subtly changed; the previously high morale was replaced by hushed doubts and dissatisfaction.
"Have you heard? Huangfu Li says Li Jue is plotting rebellion..."
"Isn't that so? If that's true, aren't we helping a thief?"
"What will happen in the future? We can't bear that label!"
***
Li Jue learned of Huangfu Li's words spreading in Xiliang and was furious. He slammed the documents on his desk and shouted, "That dog Huangfu Li dares to tarnish my name! Bring me Hu Ben Wang Chang; immediately pursue this man!"
Soon after, Wang Chang entered the tent to receive orders. He knelt on one knee and replied, "This subordinate obeys." He then mounted his horse and left the camp, heading towards Huangfu Li's direction. However, halfway there, he found himself repeatedly contemplating Huangfu Li's words and character.
"Huangfu Li is a man of Loyalty and Righteousness; he advised Li Jue to cease hostilities but nearly faced deadly consequences. This man acts not for himself but for the common people. If I truly capture him, wouldn't I be aiding tyranny?"
With this thought in mind, Wang Chang stopped his horse, pondered for a moment, and ultimately decided to turn back. He returned to the camp and reported to Li Jue, "Huangfu Li has vanished without a trace. I pursued him for several dozen miles but still did not see him."
Although Li Jue was filled with rage upon hearing this, he had no way to vent it and could only give up.
***
Meanwhile, Jia Xu had other plans. He secretly summoned the Qiang Leader and whispered, "The Emperor knows that you have fought bravely on the battlefield for a long time and holds great admiration for your loyalty. Now, the Emperor has a secret edict for you to return to your homeland to recuperate and await a favorable opportunity; there will be generous rewards."
Upon hearing this, the Qiang Leader's eyes flickered as he quietly asked, "Is this true?"
Jia Xu smiled slightly and spoke sincerely: "The Emperor always keeps his word; how could he speak falsely? You have served Li Jue for so long; has he ever granted you any official position? Now that the country is at stake, if you return home, the Emperor will surely not treat you poorly in the future."
The Qiang Leader remained silent for a moment, whispered a few words to his subordinates, and finally nodded: "We have long held grievances; since the Emperor has such goodwill, we will no longer serve Li Jue and shall return home."
That night, the Qiang soldiers packed up their camp one after another, leaving behind empty tents and unburned bonfires. The next day, when Li Jue learned of this situation, he was furious but helpless as he watched his original strength crumble and morale plummet.
Jia Xu leaned forward quietly at the table and advised Han Xian Di, "Li Jue is a greedy and reckless man. Now that he has suffered defeat and is feeling insecure, if we entice him with high positions and wealth, we can surely make him lose his senses and weaken his foundation."
Han Xian Di nodded in agreement and immediately issued an edict to appoint Li Jue as Grand Marshal. The edict was delivered to Li Jue's camp, and upon receiving it, he examined it closely and burst into laughter, beaming as he said to those around him, "This is all thanks to the witch's prayers!"
He promptly ordered rewards for the witch, showering her with gold, silver, and fine silks, while completely ignoring the soldiers who had fought valiantly. The generals in the camp were filled with indignation at this sight.
***
Rider Yang Feng sat in his tent, seething with anger. He turned to Song Guo beside him and said, "We risk our lives for him, facing arrows and stones, yet we receive no recognition for our contributions. Our blood and sweat are worth less than those witch's deceptive words! It's utterly absurd!"
Song Guo snorted coldly, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes. "If that's the case, why not kill this traitor to save the emperor? This way, both the court and the people can be freed from their troubles."
Yang Feng pondered for a moment before nodding heavily. "Good. You set fire in the center of the army as a signal; I will lead our troops to respond from outside. We will strike together and annihilate this traitor in one blow!"
The two agreed to act that night at the second watch. However, their plan leaked out. Li Jue learned of their intentions and flew into a rage, immediately ordering the capture of Song Guo and executing him on the spot as a warning to others.
***
As night fell, Yang Feng led his troops ambushing outside the camp but saw no sign of fire. Realizing something was amiss and wanting to retreat, he suddenly saw Li Jue personally leading his troops out of the camp. The two armies clashed in the darkness; the sounds of battle echoed through the night as countless soldiers fell amidst flashes of swords and blades. The fierce fighting continued until the fourth watch, but Yang Feng ultimately had to retreat westward with his remaining forces due to being outnumbered.
Li Jue returned victorious; however, after this battle, his military strength was greatly weakened. Coupled with Guo Si's continuous attacks, his troops suffered heavy casualties, morale plummeted, and they no longer held their former prestige.
***
At that moment, a scout reported: "Zhang Ji is leading a large army from Shaanxi, claiming he wishes to mediate between the two lords. If not accepted, he will march against us."
Upon hearing this, Li Jue's expression changed slightly as he thought to himself: "Our forces are weak now; if Zhang Ji joins the fray, it will be difficult for us to escape unscathed. It would be better to take this opportunity to gain favor by agreeing to negotiate."
He promptly sent envoys to Zhang Ji's camp expressing his willingness for peace talks. When Guo Si heard this news and saw that their situation was dire, he too had no choice but to agree.
Zhang Ji then submitted a memorial to the court suggesting that the emperor relocate to Hongnong. Upon learning of this matter, Han Xian Di was overjoyed and said to his close ministers, "I have long wished for a return to the Eastern Capital; now that I can return to my homeland, it is truly a great fortune!"
Zhang Ji prepared provisions and supplies for officials and ordered arrangements for the imperial carriage to set off. Guo Si released imprisoned officials while Li Jue organized his troops and dispatched several hundred Imperial Guards armed with spears to escort the emperor. A grand procession of carriages slowly headed eastward in the morning light. Han Xian Di gazed through the carriage window at the road ahead, filled with anticipation for the future mixed with a hint of unease.
The Luan Yu Caravan moved slowly eastward along the Northwest Road. It was deep autumn, and the air was crisp, with golden leaves swirling in the wind, carpeting both sides of the road. As the convoy approached Xin Feng, a deafening shout suddenly echoed from the distant Ba Ling bridge.
"Stop!"
Everyone was taken aback as hundreds of armored soldiers formed a line at the bridgehead, weapons drawn and advancing ominously. Two commanding officers rode forward, their voices cold as they demanded, "Who goes there? Announce yourselves at once!"
Yang Qi, the Imperial Attendant, felt a surge of anger at the sight. He spurred his horse forward and shouted sternly, "Impudence! This is the Sacred Presence; who are you to block our way?"
One of the leading officers sneered, his tone laced with sarcasm. "We are under orders from General Guo to guard this bridge against spies. You claim this is the Sacred Presence—what proof do we have? We must see His Majesty in person before we can let you pass!"
The caravan came to an abrupt halt, and the guards looked uneasy, instinctively placing their hands on their weapons. Yang Qi, fuming with rage, rode up to the front of the carriage and raised his token high, whispering to those inside, "Your Majesty, these fools do not recognize your authority. Please give a sign to correct their insolence!"
Han Xian Di pulled back the curtain of the carriage, revealing a weary yet imposing face. He spoke in a deep voice, "I am here; will you not step aside?"
The two officers were momentarily stunned by his presence before quickly dismounting and kneeling on the ground, repeatedly exclaiming, "Long Live the Emperor! Long Live the Emperor!"
Seeing this, the soldiers behind them also knelt down in unison, their voices rising in a thunderous chorus that echoed across the bridge.
The leading officer raised his head, shame evident on his face as he hastily waved for his men to clear the way. "We did not recognize the Sacred Presence; we deserve death! Please forgive us, Your Majesty!"
Han Xian Di nodded slightly, his tone cold. "Now that you know your crime, guard this bridge well and do not obstruct us again."
The officers quickly expressed their gratitude and retreated to either side of the bridge as the Luan Yu caravan passed through amidst the reverent shouts of thousands.
Afterward, the two officers hurried back to Guo Si's camp and knelt to report, "The carriage has passed Ba Ling and is heading east."
Guo Si's eyes widened in shock as he slammed his hand on the table in anger. "I was planning to stabilize Zhang Ji first before seizing His Majesty back to Maiwu! You let them pass without permission! Do you know how you've jeopardized my plans?"
The two men turned pale and hurriedly bowed their heads in apology. "We did not know that General had such a plan; we truly deserve death!"
Guo Si sneered coldly, a glint of malice in his eyes as he drew his sword. "Those who ruin my plans shall die!" Before he finished speaking, a flash of steel glinted in the light as both officers' heads fell to the ground. Guo Si then commanded sharply, "The entire army will set out immediately; pursue the carriage!"
As Han Xian Di's carriage reached Hua Yin County, a gentle breeze stirred through the mountains while dusk began to fall. The Emperor sat inside, fatigue evident on his face. Suddenly, a thunderous shout and the sound of horse hooves erupted from behind them, startling everyone in attendance into a halt.
"Stop the carriage!" The shouts of the Bandit Army echoed from nearby, growing ever closer.
Han Xian Di lifted the curtain and saw dust swirling in the distance, with weapons glinting under the sun. The flag of Guo Si was unmistakable. His face turned pale, tears welling in his eyes as he spoke with deep sorrow, "I have just escaped from the wolf's den, and now I find myself in the tiger's mouth. How should I face this?"
The ministers accompanying him exchanged glances, none daring to speak, as a silent fear spread among them.
At that moment, a series of drumbeats resonated from afar, deep and thunderous. Soon after, an army wound its way down from the mountains, flags fluttering in the wind. The leading banner bore the words "Great Han Yang Feng" prominently displayed. A general rode at the forefront, wielding a spear and clad in silver armor, his gaze fierce—it was Yang Feng.
Yang Feng shouted loudly, "Rebel Guo Si! The Emperor's carriage is here; who dares to act recklessly!"
He led over a thousand soldiers charging towards the Bandit Army, blades flashing like lightning, their momentum overwhelming as they forced Guo Si's vanguard to retreat step by step.
Han Xian Di listened to the approaching drumbeats from within the carriage and curiously peeked out towards the mountains. Upon seeing Yang Feng's banner, tears sparkled in his eyes as he exclaimed, "Yang Feng is a loyal and righteous minister; I am finally saved!"
Seeing Yang Feng's formidable forces approaching, Guo Si gritted his teeth and shouted fiercely, "Just a defeated general dares to block my path! Kill them all!" However, with Yang Feng's morale soaring like a fierce tiger, the Bandit Army struggled to withstand the onslaught and soon fell into chaos. The cries of battle filled the air as blood flashed between blades; Guo Si was forced to order a retreat to his rear ranks.
Yang Feng reined in his horse before the carriage and dismounted, kneeling to bow his head. "Minister Yang Feng has arrived late; please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Han Xian Di helped Yang Feng to his feet, his voice filled with boundless gratitude. "You have come just in time; without you, I would have perished at the hands of these bandits."
Yang Feng rose and turned sharply to command, "All troops protect the carriage and escort it to safety!"
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