Chapter 60: Li Guang Enduring Humiliation and Bearing Heavy Burdens

Li Guang looked around, seeing the soldiers who, though facing confusion, did not retreat in the slightest, and said in a low, powerful voice:

"Behind us are the people of the Northern Frontier, the land of the Han; we must defend it to the death."

Liuche nodded slightly, a complex glint flashing in his eyes; although he had lost the throne, his responsibility to the Han and his obsession with power prevented him from staying aloof.

He then slowly said to Li Guang, "General of the Vanguard, the equipment sent by the Emperor can be put to use."

After thinking it over, Wei Xiang also hesitantly added:

"General of the Vanguard, the other day I also participated in the weapons drill; I find that those weapons, in terms of range, power, and loading speed, can be used together, each suited to different local troops, which I believe will achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Li Guang glanced in surprise at the usually silent Wei Xiang, feeling astonished.

Liuche then seriously sized up Wei Xiang, as well as Zhao Chongguo beside him, who already bore the air of a famous general; these two men were not from illustrious families and had previously been obscure.

How could they have suddenly appeared? Moreover, it is said they were merely ordinary soldiers and scholars before; after a trip to Xianyang, they became completely different people.

Could this unfilial son really possess some divine power?

I have specially built the Ganquan Palace, yet I have seen no immortal or ghost lend me a hand!

At this moment Zhao Chongguo also added, "General of the Vanguard, though the enemy is numerous, they have come after a long march and must be fatigued. Moreover, their army is composed of diverse elements, and their command coordination may be problematic. We can exploit these weaknesses to win by surprise."

Li Guang turned to Zhao Chongguo and said, "You mean we cannot sit and wait for death, but must take the initiative to attack?"

Zhao Chongguo nodded, speaking confidently: "Since I arrived at the Northern Frontier, I have felt this place is a key military point; therefore Wei Xiang and I specially surveyed the surrounding terrain. General, look to the northwest—there is a valley there..."

Listening to Zhao Chongguo's words, Li Guang grew ever more astonished: "Your Majesty, these scholars under your command are truly surpassing their teachers; the Han indeed has capable successors."

Liuche's gaze continually shifted between Wei Xiang and Zhao Chongguo; he, too, thought the same.

Boom—

At that moment, with a tremendous shudder of the city walls, the Wusun great army launched a fierce assault.

They pushed siege towers forward, surging toward the walls like a tide.

"Fire the cannons!"

Li Guang waved his long sword and issued the command.

Boom, bang, clang!

On the walls, Han defenders hurried to meet the enemy; cannonballs and arrows rained down upon the foe, while boulders rolled from the walls and crashed into Wusun soldiers.

"Soldiers, kill!"

Li Guang's voice echoed across the battlefield; Han soldiers, with a hail of gunfire and their very flesh, erected a solid defensive line.

Although the Wusun offensive continued unabated, it never managed to breach the defenses of Northern Frontier City.

In the Wusun great tent below the city, King Hunxie could not bear to stare any longer at the Northern Frontier walls, gazing at the heavily wounded Wusun warriors, wishing he could fly over himself to behead Li Guang.

"They say Li Guang has courage but no strategy; why is he so tenacious, and what weapons do the Han Army wield, whose power is actually so enormous?"

King Hunxie's voice kept roaring inside the great tent.

At this moment a strategist hurried into the tent, excitedly saying, "Your Majesty, scouts report that they have discovered the main force of the Xiongnu Chanyu, and are now coordinating with us to flank the rear of Northern Frontier City."

"Good, good, good!"

King Hunxie repeatedly exclaimed approval; the opportunity to breach the city had arrived.

Meanwhile, beneath Northern Frontier City, as Wusun casualties continued to mount, their offensive gradually waned.

Li Guang and the others, however, let out a long sigh of relief.

"Thanks to the equipment granted by Your Majesty; otherwise, facing the Wusun army of 200,000, we could hold out at most half an hour!"

Beside him, Li Gan said with lingering fear.

Wei Xiang, Zhao Chongguo, and the others likewise felt the same, nodding continually.

Beside him, Liuche stared with shining eyes at the new cannons and muskets on the walls, his mouth almost watering.

"This unfilial son, this unfilial son actually has some talent; he has really deceived me to my detriment!"

With a blast of the bugle, the Wusun great army withdrew, and cheers rose from the Northern Frontier city walls.

Morale soared!

Li Guang also ordered repairs to the breached sections of the city walls, and had the cannons and muskets reloaded with ammunition, in preparation for the Wusun's next attack.

"Your Majesty, General of the Vanguard, word comes from the rear that the Emperor's imperial expeditionary force is marching toward the Northern Frontier!"

At this moment Dongfang Shuo, whom we had not seen in a long time, hurried over.

"What?"

Li Guang and Liuche exclaimed in shock simultaneously.

Li Guang's heart suddenly surged with a strong sense of unease.

Emperor Wu of Han, Liuche, now hiding here; should the Emperor encounter Emperor Wu of Han, the situation would become exceedingly tangled, likely triggering a turmoil that could endanger the very foundations of the Han.

Meanwhile Liuche, trembling with excitement, had a few days earlier asked Li Guang to bring him to meet Liu Ju, only to be refused; he had already made other plans, never expecting Liu Ju to literally deliver himself to his door.

"Li Guang, I want to see Liu Ju; I want to reclaim the throne that is rightfully mine!"

He said in a low voice to Li Guang, whose expression kept shifting.

Li Guang dropped to one knee, his tone unwavering: "Your Majesty, forgive me for not obeying; the present situation is delicate, and your meeting with the Emperor will only cause trouble."

"The Han has just endured numerous upheavals, and now the Wusun great army presses upon our borders; should further change arise, only the common people will suffer."

Emperor Wu of Han glared his eyes wide, furious at Li Guang, and roared: "This is betrayal! I am the true Son of Heaven of the Han; Liu Ju is merely a callow youth—how could he bear such a heavy responsibility?"

Li Guang lifted his head, meeting Emperor Wu of Han's gaze without flinching, and said: "Your Majesty, my loyalty to you can be attested by sun and moon; but I understand better that the Han now needs a peaceful transition."

"After Crown Prince Liu Ju ascends the throne and enacts new policies, winning popular favor, this imperial expedition is also intended to defend Han territory; I implore Your Majesty to put the greater good first."

Having spoken, Li Guang ordered Li Gan to forcibly take Emperor Wu of Han, Liuche, down from the walls.

At this moment Zhang Tang, who had not yet appeared, slowly walked onto the walls and said to Li Guang, "General of the Vanguard, it is time to make a decision."

Li Guang let out a long sigh, saying, "Marquis Zhaowu, although the late emperor and we have our differences, he remains the Emperor's person; his life or death is not for us, as subjects, to decide."

Zhang Tang's gaze grew cold and stern as he said: "As for me, the Han has only one true Emperor; Liu Zhi is no different from a commoner."

Li Guang still furrowed his brow and sighed.

Zhang Tang said in a deep voice: "Former General, since you are unwilling to be that regicide, let me do it—for the Great Han, for the Son of Heaven, I, Zhang Tang, have no regrets."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left; Li Guang hurriedly grabbed him, sighing: "Gu Jun, I understand your intention, but if you do this, what would the Son of Heaven think? That is his father after all—close blood relatives."

Zhang Tang froze; he could disregard anyone's opinion, but Liu Ju's opinion was not something he could ignore.

Li Guang closed his eyes for a long time, slowly opened them, and sighed long: "Gu Jun, this Northern City is now entrusted to you."

"Former General, what is this?" Zhang Tang looked at Li Guang doubtfully.

Li Guang declared resolutely: "Old soldier Li Guang, perhaps I will never return to Han lands after this; my greatest regret is that I will never again have the chance to personally see the emperor and kneel to thank the Son of Heaven for his great grace."

Zhang Tang looked at Li Guang, who showed a resolute expression, suddenly realized, and hurriedly said: "Old general, no!"

Li Guang slightly shook his head, then slowly untied his waist sword.

His body gradually bowed down, facing the direction of Long Peace, he performed three heavy kowtows.