Chapter 481: Futile Struggle

Thump thump thump! Thump thump thump!

Thump thump thump! Thump thump thump!

Late at night, drum sounds erupted! That was the warning sound of someone launching a night raid on the camp.

Fang Youde calmly put on his helmet and unhurriedly walked out of the commander's tent. The fighting at the camp gate was still ongoing, but it appeared to be no longer a serious concern.

"Commander Fang's planning leaves nothing to chance; he already anticipated that Cui Qianyou would launch a night raid on the camp."

At some unknown time, Li Mi had already come to Fang Youde's side and bowed with hands clasped in greeting.

"Mere trifling tricks."

Fang Youde gave a cold snort, and it was unclear whether the "mere trifling tricks" in his mouth meant that Cui Qianyou should not have launched a night raid on the camp, or that defending against this level of night raid was not even worth mentioning.

In less than the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, the distant sounds of shouting and killing gradually subsided, as if Cui Qianyou's troops had retreated.

A bodyguard stepped forward, clasped his fist to Fang Youde, and reported: "Commander, the enemy army has retreated to Huangxiang Plateau. Should we pursue?"

"Do not pursue a desperate foe. Leave a portion of men to patrol the surroundings; the rest, go back to sleep."

Fang Youde gave an instruction to the bodyguard, and after speaking, walked toward the commander's tent.

Li Mi hastily stopped Fang Youde and asked with some confusion: "Commander, Tong Pass is easy to defend and hard to attack. The enemy army went to great lengths to sortie and raid the camp. Why don't we follow close behind? Even if we cannot breach the city, we would certainly deal a blow to their morale."

"If you want to go, go yourself. This commander is not going."

Fang Youde dropped these words and left, not wanting to waste any more words on Li Mi at all.

When it came to grand strategy and national policy, Li Mi was a man of understanding, but when it came specifically to marching and fighting, he was out of his depth. Li Mi, in his bookish way, wanted to use the "Rolling Up the Pearl Blind" tactic to break Tong Pass, whereas Fang Youde knew that Cui Qianyou must have set an ambush on both sides of the mountain path at Huangxiang Plateau.

This night raid was a feint; luring the enemy was the real intent. Having lived two lifetimes, how could Fang Youde not see through such petty tricks?

Due to information asymmetry, Cui Qianyou did not know that Crown Prince Li Chang had already taken a detour via the Shangluo Route, executing the stratagem of openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing at Chencang.

The Tong Pass front seemed lively, but it was merely a feint. Since Fang Youde was in no hurry to breach the city, he was already in an invincible position. There was truly no need to pointlessly go and court death.

"This time, Cui Qianyou is merely luring the enemy. Do not pursue a desperate foe. Let the enemy army come out of the city a few times, and we will chase them off a few times.

As long as Chang'an runs out of provisions, and Tong Pass is cut off inside and out, becoming an isolated city, it will be impossible to hold."

Gao Shi, wearing the emperor's dragon robe, stepped forward and explained to Li Mi.

Simply put, what Cui Qianyou should be doing right now was hurrying back to Chang'an to stabilize the situation, perhaps buying a few more days.

And in the current situation, on the surface it appeared that he was blocking Fang Youde, but in reality, he was pinned down by Fang Youde at Tong Pass, unable to move. If Cui Qianyou were stationed in Chang'an, it would be rather troublesome for certain people to install Li Chang on the throne.

Li Mi quickly untangled the stakes involved.

"On the battlefield, there has never been any such thing as fairness!"

Li Mi could not help but sigh with emotion, feeling that in recent times, he had gained a great deal, having seen clearly and reasoned through many truths of the human world.

On the battlefield, there is only the difference between winning and losing; where is there any fairness?

Thinking about how Cui Qianyou exhausted every effort and employed every means, yet was like nothing more than a supremely skilled mantis.

Li Mi felt a sense of sorrow in his heart, because the Heavenly Dao is merciless, and man cannot triumph over Heaven.

From the very beginning, Cui Qianyou had already lost.

Even a very formidable person cannot triumph over Heaven, and would not even dare to shout those words aloud!

Cui Qianyou, what a pity.

Li Mi sighed softly, returned to his own military tent, picked up a scroll of the Dao De Jing, and began to read.

"Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs. The sage is not benevolent; he treats the people as straw dogs. The space between Heaven and Earth—is it not like a bellows? Empty yet inexhaustible, in motion it pours forth ever more. Many words lead to swift exhaustion; better to hold to the center..."

His slightly hoarse voice echoed within the military tent. But to the soldiers standing guard outside the door, it sounded only like a "yi-ya, yi-ya" buzzing like mosquitoes, utterly unable to distinguish the words.

……

The Shangluo Route was a series of routes that did not exist on the Tang government's maps, yet were very active among the common people. It was not a single road, but a network of large and small routes connecting many places, like blood vessels.

There were no government relay stations, yet there was no shortage of shops supplying provisions, forage, and water, and even providing lodging.

As the saying goes, there were originally no roads; when many people walk them, they become roads.

The secret to the Shangluo Route's success lay in the fact that it connected Luoyang, Jingxiang, and Chang'an. Most of the route consisted of official roads, while the small portion of paths crossing over mountains were the "finishing touch" of the Shangluo Route.

These small paths were trade routes formed over centuries of travel by merchants. It was precisely because of this shortcut that merchants from Jingxiang could connect with the two great commercial hubs of Chang'an and Luoyang. The route from south of Chang'an through Lantian and out via Wu Pass was a very important trade route.

The emergence of the Shangluo Route was no accident, nor was it that the ancients had nothing better to do than to wander through the mountains looking for paths. Rather, it was driven by an urgent economic need—continually opening new routes in order to make money.

Along the way, Li Chang felt the great power of the common people.

This road sometimes required crossing mountains, sometimes crossing rivers. But regardless of the terrain, one could ride a horse on it. It was hard to imagine that without the Tang government's involvement, without relay stations providing food, lodging, and horses, this route could still have no shortage of supplies.

What the government could not accomplish, the common people did.

Cutting a road through mountains was nothing remarkable.

Building bridges over water, and even maintaining these seemingly simple bridges from time to time—this was the true "will of the people."

"Your Highness, the reason this road came to be like this is that tea and local specialty goods from Jingxiang cannot be carried by human shoulders and hands; they must be transported on the backs of donkeys or mules.

If the road cannot be ridden on horseback, then it loses its reason for existence."

Lu Jiong, seeing Li Chang looking thoughtful, spoke up to explain. They were currently crossing Xiong'er Mountain; once over the mountain, Lantian Pass lay ahead.

This stretch through Xiong'er Mountain appeared fraught with peril, but in reality, someone had long since carved out a road.

"I understand."

Li Chang, wearing Tang military uniform, nodded slightly.

"Your Highness, shortly I will use a garrison rotation as pretext to pass through Lantian Pass. Please be patient and do not reveal your identity, lest it cause complications."

Xu Yuan bowed to Li Chang and offered a reminder.

Ever since Li Chang's party had passed Wu Pass, he had brought some of the garrison troops to join the marching column, responsible for opening the road ahead.

Looking out across Xiong'er Mountain, Daoist temples stood in great numbers on the various peaks, among them the Patriarch Shrine, Spirit Palace Temple, Lord Lao Temple, Great Sage Hall, and other Daoist temples, with flourishing incense. After they entered Xiong'er Mountain, they encountered quite a few Daoist priests along the way.

These people were all hurrying along as if no one else was present, as though they had not even seen them.

Along this journey, Li Chang saw many scenes of the human world that he had never before witnessed.

Not only the idle monks and Daoist priests, the merchants hurrying along the road, the numbly plowing farmers, and the shop assistants with forced smiles—each person a different face, the myriad states of life.

The masses of common people were all busy with their own insignificant little matters before their eyes.

Whether Brother Ji was the Son of Heaven, or he himself ascended the throne as Son of Heaven, it seemed to have little impact on these people's lives.

The prefectures and counties near the Shangluo Road were all fairly remote, had rarely seen war throughout history, and were relatively economically backward.

The people here rose at sunrise and rested at sunset, living a hard and frugal life. Though it was not quite to the point of "knowing nothing of Han, let alone Wei and Jin," they likewise lacked any sensitivity to changes in the political situation.

Li Chang suddenly felt that in truth, even if the Great Tang ceased to exist one day, it would not matter to them.

That notion of "all land under heaven is the king's domain" was nothing more than empty talk.

King, what king—more like a turtle!

Li Chang could not help but give a self-mocking laugh. No matter which emperor this world lost, the common people still had to go on living just the same!

Royal ambitions and hegemonic enterprises were all put on for others to see, all self-aggrandizement—in reality, they amounted to nothing at all!

He suddenly stopped in his tracks, somewhat reluctant to go to Chang'an.

"Your Highness, why have you stopped?"

Lu Jiong saw Li Chang stop walking without any warning and stepped forward to ask in a low voice.

"Even if I ascend the throne and become the Son of Heaven, what then?"

Li Chang could not help but let out a long sigh.

"Even if Your Highness does not think of yourself, you must think of the people of the realm!"

Lu Jiong was getting anxious.

If the Crown Prince pulled some stunt at this critical juncture, a great many people would die!

"I was merely expressing my feelings. You need not mind it."

Li Chang waved his hand lightly and continued forward along the mountain path, and only then did Lu Jiong breathe a sigh of relief.

Beyond this mountain lay Lantian Pass—a pass with virtually no defensive capability, serving only as a symbolic presence. Lantian Pass and Lantian Station (Qingni Station) formed a single complex, and it was the largest station south of Chang'an, with people coming and going in an endless stream.

The greatest hermit hides in the city. Li Chang did not need to make any announcement, much less reveal his identity—he only had to follow Xu Yuan through Lantian Station. This rotation of guards was itself a normal procedure, and Xu Yuan carried the official transfer documents for proceeding to Chang'an, allowing them to pass through directly.

And Li Chang, wearing a Tang army uniform, was concealed among the ranks, completely inconspicuous.

They had already come to the very threshold—victory was right before their eyes.

If Li Chang refused to go on, everyone in the party would go mad!

Fortunately, Li Chang's melancholy came quickly and passed just as quickly. After walking the mountain road for a day, the group finally emerged from Mount Xiong'er.

The road instantly opened up before them.

However, just as Li Chang and his party had passed through Lantian Pass, their path was blocked by a Tang army unit that suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Halt! Who are you people?"

Less than two li north of Lantian Station, by the edge of a bamboo grove, Li Chang and his party had their path blocked by a general dressed in the attire of the Jinwu Guard.

Behind him were over a hundred Jinwu Guard soldiers. This man was none other than the Jinwu Guard Grand General, Zhang Guangsheng.

Recently, he had been inexplicably transferred away from Chang'an by the Policy Deliberation Hall and assigned to patrol the Lantian area. This move was highly unusual.

So Zhang Guangsheng had intensified his patrols around Lantian Pass.

In truth, other than this, he had nothing else to busy himself with.

Li Chang and the others were all startled by this sudden turn of events.

In fact, because the itinerary had been kept extremely secret, no one in Chang'an knew they would be taking the Shangluo Road!

As for why Zhang Guangsheng had been transferred to Lantian, it was purely because he was not part of the new core of power—certain people, planning a coup, found him an inconvenience and reassigned him and the Jinwu Guard away from Chang'an!

Never did they expect that this would block Li Chang's path instead!

Xu Yuan shot Lu Jiong a glance, signaling him to prepare to strike. The Jinwu Guard did not have many men and was no match for this group of soldiers. Trading life for life would be entirely worth it.

"General Zhang, do you still recognize me?"

Li Chang stepped out from the crowd and looked at Zhang Guangsheng as he asked.

"You are…"

Zhang Guangsheng looked at Li Chang in his military uniform and suddenly recalled who this person was. Shock instantly showed on his face.

He was no fool. Recently, undercurrents had been surging within Chang'an, as though some major event was about to take place.

Seeing Crown Prince Li Chang before him, even a fool could guess what was about to happen!

"Your Highness, you are truly… unexpected."

Zhang Guangsheng smiled bitterly. He also knew that the Jinwu Guard behind him were not even sons of prominent families anymore—many were descendants of street merchants who had come in to gild their reputations and pad their credentials.

They lacked everything!

"Now I need someone to lead the way, to guide me into Chang'an and convene the ministers at Daming Palace to discuss matters of great importance.

I wonder—can you do me this favor?"

Li Chang asked in a low voice.

Lu Jiong, Xu Yuan, and the others beside him had already placed their hands on the hilts of their horizontal swords. The moment Zhang Guangsheng uttered the word "no," these men would immediately erupt into violence.

They had already come this far. Even if the person before them were Brother Ji, they would not shrink from personally slaying the sovereign! Having borne immense pressure all along the way, and with the enormous temptation of riches and glory ahead, these soldiers were completely without scruples!

"Your Highness, this way, please. This subordinate will lead the way for you."

Zhang Guangsheng's mouth was full of bitterness as he made a gesture of invitation to Li Chang.

"I will not forget General Zhang's kindness in leading the way."

Li Chang gave Zhang Guangsheng a slight nod.

"Your Highness, please do not humble this official so. Lantian Station is still quite a distance from the south gate of Chang'an. Please follow me, Your Highness."

Zhang Guangsheng called out an order, and with his subordinates—a band of Jinwu Guard soldiers who looked the part but could not fight—he turned around and headed north, clearing the way ahead.

With the Jinwu Guard's imposing presence, the travelers on the road gave way one after another, as though fleeing from a plague god.

Lu Jiong clasped his fist and bowed to Li Chang, saying, "Your Highness, look, this is where the people's hearts lie!"

Li Chang nodded slightly, neither affirming nor denying it.

Lu Jiong's fine words are just idle talk. In fact, for the Golden Wu Guard, it makes no difference which prince becomes emperor, and they won't bother with petty folks like them.

The Golden Wu Guard will still patrol the streets when they should patrol, drink when they should drink, and live their lives as they should; no emperor will make things difficult for them.

Thinking of this, Li Chang suddenly had the four words "lonely ruler" pop into his mind.

It looks like he holds great power, but in reality it's like walking on thin ice; anyone could betray him after something goes wrong.

Emperors seem to control the world, yet aren't they also being roasted over a fire by the world?

Step by step, the distance to Chang'an grew shorter. The crowds of people gathering at the roadside markets increased as well, and there were no shortage of ox carts and horse carriages coming and going.

Li Chang, however, felt his body trembling in waves.

That was a fear rising from the depths of his soul.

Li Chang knew very well that once he entered Chang'an, his fate would already be sealed.

"Your Highness, are you feeling unwell? Would you like to rest a bit?"

Lu Jiong saw Li Chang's deathly pale face and asked with concern.

Li Chang steadied himself, waved his hand, and said, "It's fine; I think we're about to reach Chang'an."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Then let's keep going; I'm fine."