Chapter 85

The endless stench of blood filled the narrow corridor, with severed limbs and colorful entrails scattered everywhere. Unowned warhorses were fleeing in all directions, trampling over the bodies of unknown soldiers, while blood slowly flowed on the ground.

Ancient wars were this cruel, not as heroic as depicted in TV dramas, nor filled with smoke and fire. What existed were only cold, lifeless corpses and the soldiers of both armies fighting desperately. Except for the highly skilled generals, the soldiers hardly shouted, for shouting would distract them, and a moment's distraction might cost their lives. Their weapons swung mechanically, and as long as it wasn't their comrades, they would strike without hesitation.

The battle was nearing its end. Li Yuanji was captured, and Qin Qiong sought aid from Cheng Yaojin. This proud general, the only Grand General of the Tang Dynasty's early years, actually asked for support, a shocking and heart-wrenching event.

A general's twilight years, with white hair and wrinkles, were the most painful things in the world. Qin Qiong's body was riddled with hidden injuries, making it difficult for him to defeat Xue Wanren. His pride, his persistence, and his glorious battle records seemed to have become a thing of the past. He was old, with white hair and wrinkles on his forehead, and his hands, which once firmly held the familiar bronze cudgels, were no longer as strong. Although he still sat straight on his horse, his stiff back carried his last bit of pride.

Xue Wanren's Azure Dragon Halberd was heavy and powerful, striking Qin Qiong's bronze cudgels with a loud clanging sound. Qin Qiong gripped his weapons tightly to prevent them from flying out of his hands, and sweat began to appear on his forehead. The prolonged battle had drained his strength, and although he was over fifty and had never admitted to being old, he now felt truly aged. He had fought countless battles, killing many, but was also covered in scars. He often joked that the blood he had shed in his life could fill three large vats.

Let's not dwell on these reflections for now. The battle situation was intense. Qin Qiong swung his cudgels, repeatedly blocking Xue Wanren's fierce attacks. At this moment, Cheng Yaojin charged in, his spear like a meteor piercing the air, a cold light flashing and disappearing in an instant.

Xue Wanren deflected the spear, stepping back to block the attack. "Both of you come at me! I'll see what you, the Five Tigers of Wagon Fort, are made of today!"

"Ha ha ha... You're truly despicable, Old Cheng will skewer you!" This remark struck a sore spot for Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin. They had once been the rulers of Wagon Fort, with Cheng Yaojin even being a king, though his title, "Chaos King," was not flattering, he was one of the most powerful forces among the thirty-six rebel kings and seventy-two rebel armies. The Five Tigers of Wagon Fort were among the best generals in the world. However, Shan Xinxin was killed by Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong, who had just surrendered to Li Shimin. This was a test, a form of "blood oath." It had always been a taboo for them, and no one dared to mention it in their presence, for it would drive them mad.

Sure enough, Cheng Yaojin's spear thrusts became faster and faster, like lightning striking Xue Wanren's body. Xue Wanren struggled to defend, but the old general Qin Qiong also summoned his last strength, using the final and most dangerous move of the Qin family cudgel technique. This move, if it failed, would mean certain death. The bronze cudgel whistled through the air, flying towards Xue Wanren like an arrow.

"I'll fight to the death too! Ha ha..." Xue Wanren laughed heartily, his Azure Dragon Halberd creating a barrier that blocked Cheng Yaojin's spear. This was his life-saving move, and although swinging the heavy halberd was tiring even for him, it was surprisingly effective.

Suddenly, the flying cudgel, after being deflected by Xue Wanren's barrier, rebounded back. Qin Qiong spurred his horse, heading towards where the cudgel would land. Along the way, he knocked out the heads of enemy soldiers with his remaining cudgel. At this moment, Qin Qiong seemed to regain all his strength, becoming invincible.

The flying cudgel crossed the battlefield, heading towards the city gate. Qin Qiong pursued it, soon disappearing from the sight of those on the city wall.

"What's going on?" Li Shimin muttered to himself, sensing something was amiss but unable to pinpoint it. He had just pulled Li Xiu'ning from the battlefield and, upon reaching the city wall, saw this scene, feeling a sense of foreboding.

Li Kuan felt the time was right and signaled to Chang He. After a moment of struggle, Chang He nodded heavily and then apologized to Li Shimin, walking to the other side of the city wall.

"Li Yuanji, don't run!" Qin Qiong shouted in the city gate, his voice hoarse from prolonged battle and dehydration.

"What's happening?" Li Shimin finally realized something was wrong. Li Yuanji, who had been tied to the city wall, was now missing. From Qin Qiong's shout, he realized Li Yuanji had escaped, but running towards the city gate was suicidal. Outside the city gate, there were two thousand Black Armored Guards waiting, and such a large figure was likely to be a significant target.

Shortly after, Qin Qiong rode out of the city gate, the ground inside covered with bodies, including the extremely ugly Li Yuanji, Li Shimin's third brother. There were also many bodies of soldiers from both sides. No major battle had occurred in the city gate, as Li Jiancheng had rushed towards the palace when he realized something was wrong, rather than retreating. However, the city gate was now filled with bodies because Li Yuanji, even when captured, was not an easy opponent. He had cut his bindings with a fallen sword, killed the two Black Armored Guards watching him, seized a horse, and called the remaining Crown Prince's Six Armies to the city gate.

Qin Qiong, coincidentally following his weapon, pursued them. His loud shout alerted the surrounding Black Armored Guards, who joined the chase. Inside the city gate, a fierce battle ensued. Qin Qiong, with his two cudgels, easily dealt with the injured Li Yuanji but deliberately prolonged the fight, allowing the Black Armored Guards and the Crown Prince's Six Armies to fight each other, causing many casualties. Finally, when both sides were nearly exhausted, Qin Qiong killed Li Yuanji and, with the shock of the Black Armored Guards, killed everyone else.

By now, everyone should understand that Qin Qiong was actually Li Yuan's secret agent, "Secret Seven." This is why, despite his great contributions and numerous battles, he was ranked last in the Lingyan Pavilion's list of meritorious officials. He was also the only general among those who participated in the Xuanwu Gate Incident who did not receive a generous reward. Later, Cheng Yaojin, Yu Chigong, Duan Zhixuan, Qu Tongsu, and Li Shiji all received higher ranks and rewards than this old general, because he had killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, forcing Li Shimin to bear the stigma of killing his brothers in the palace.

Of course, Li Shimin was still unaware of this, only sensing something was amiss. It would only be after the entire incident was over and Li Yuanji's body was found in the city gate that he would draw his conclusion, but he could not say it openly, only dealing with Qin Qiong in secret.

At this point, the battle was almost over. Chang He, standing on the other side of the city wall, hesitated, unsure whether to reveal the secret.

On the battlefield, only a few dozen of the Crown Prince's Six Armies remained, surrounding Li Jiancheng. Li Jiancheng's face showed despair: "Am I really going to die here? Why hasn't Father come? Is the second brother really following Father's secret order to kill me and the third brother? I am not content! Why can you, Li Shimin, command thousands of troops and lead armies to conquer cities, while I am confined to Chang'an, dealing with the old foxes of the noble families? Because you have the power, you have the courage to challenge the ancient noble families, but what about me? I have no capable people, no invincible army to awe the world. Those peasants only respect me on the surface, but look at me with disdain behind my back. I know all this! What can I do? I have tried my best to rally all the forces I can to secure my position, using every means possible! I am not lacking in ability, but in opportunity. Without the opportunity to build my own power, those I have rallied still prioritize their own families. The Tang Dynasty, ha ha..."

At this moment, the sound of galloping horses came from the direction of the palace, quickly approaching.

"General Wang Kuang is late in protecting the Crown Prince, please forgive me!" A loud shout came from afar, and it was Wang Kuang, the commander of the Crown Prince's Six Armies, leading the remaining forces. The Crown Prince's Six Armies totaled nine hundred men, divided into six units of one hundred and fifty each. Here, there were still more than five hundred, as many elite soldiers had been dispatched to attack Qin Wang's residence, and some had been sent out by the Sixteen Guards. Now, the forces inside the city gate were about five hundred Crown Prince's Six Armies and less than two hundred Black Armored Guards, who had also suffered significant losses. The women's army that came with Li Xiu'ning was also down to about a hundred. On the battlefield, no one cared about gender or showed mercy; if you showed mercy, you would soon be dead, as a delicate woman could take your life in the next moment.

Li Shimin frowned. If the Crown Prince's Six Armies blocked the city gate, the situation would reverse, and he, along with Changsun and the three children, and Li Xiu'ning, would be trapped. What should he do?

Li Shimin frowned for a moment and then shouted, "Defend the city gate! Let the soldiers outside the city enter!" As long as the city gate was not lost, there was still a chance, and he could even annihilate this loyal force of Li Jiancheng.

"Defend the city gate!" the soldiers below shouted.

"Seize the city gate, close it, and send a unit to capture the second brother on the city wall!" Li Jiancheng, seeing the Crown Prince's Six Armies coming to his aid, was overjoyed. Seizing this lifeline, he thought that if he could hold out and capture Li Shimin, the Black Armored Guards would have no choice but to surrender.

"Second brother, it seems heaven still favors me once! Ha ha..." Li Jiancheng laughed maniacally, his purple-golden crown long lost, his hair disheveled, and his face covered in blood. At this moment, he no longer looked like a prince but like a trapped beast, making a final desperate struggle.