Chapter 461: Forced Flight for Survival

A flash of keen light passed through his eyes: "Jiangnan is prosperous, Chuanshu is treacherous and strategic, Xiliang's foundation still remains."

As long as the Prince remains, Xiliang's great banner will not fall; this "momentum" is right there!

Jiang Jinshi wants to boil a frog in warm water? Then we'll let him boil!

As long as the frog isn't dead yet, as long as it can still leap, there is a chance to turn the tables!

Jiangnan's water network crisscrosses, hindering Beijiang cavalry's charge; Chuanshu's mountain ranges are layered, easy to defend but hard to attack. Xiliang is even more the foundation the Prince has cultivated for years!

The longer Jiang Jinshi's front line, the more cracks appear! He forces us to go, we go! But with each step, we must make him pay!

We will take Jiangnan's money and grain! We will reinforce Chuanshu's passes! We will nurture Xiliang's iron cavalry!

He stepped forward, his voice suddenly rising: "Prince! A momentary humiliation trades for a chance to turn the tables later! It's better than staying in Luoyang, buried together with this piled‑up splendor…"

As long as we live, as long as Xiliang's royal banner does not fall, this game… is not lost yet!

"Alive…"

Wei Wenlie murmured those two words repeatedly, the fury in his eyes gradually giving way to fatigue and struggle.

He slowly sat back on the throne, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the cold handrail.

Indeed! When dead, there's nothing left.

Living… living is the only hope, even if that hope is faint, even if the road ahead is deeper humiliation.

He closed his eyes, and in his mind flashed the bustling streets of Luoyang Cheng, the grand scene of ten‑thousand peoples worshipping during his eastern campaign, then the blood‑fire of Tongguan, the collapse of Lantian, and the twenty‑thousand Beijiang troops outside the city, eyes like tigers.

Stay behind? It's just adding another footnote to this city, to Jiang Jinshi's record of achievements. Flee? Like a dog whose family has perished…

After a long while, he snapped his eyes open, his gaze already resolved.

"Relay my decree."

Wei Wenlie's voice was hoarse, yet carried unquestionable authority, "Fei Tingxiong!"

"Your servant is here!" The veteran's spirit lifted.

"You, immediately assemble three thousand elite palace guards as vanguard! Clear the southern passage! Anyone who blocks, kill without mercy!"

"Your servant receives the order!"

"Cui Yan! Lu Wenchang!"

"Here I am!" The two trembled, hurriedly stepping forward.

"Both of you, immediately requisition all the city's wagons and horses! From the treasury, any money and grain that can be taken, not a single grain may be left for Jiang Jinshi! Anything that cannot be taken… burn it!"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Wei Wenlie's eyes, "One hour! I give you only one hour! After one hour, the royal carriage departs!"

"Your servant… obeys the decree!" Their voices sounded bitter, yet they dared not hesitate.

In their hearts they truly had unspeakable sorrow; this departure likely meant returning to Xiliang, where their foundations and power lie—who would willingly follow Wei Wenlie to that bitterly cold land?!

But… they had no choice!

"Si Wushuang!"

"Here I am."

"You will accompany me. Along the way… all checkpoint deployments are under your full authority."

Wei Wenlie looked at him, his eyes complex, "I… entrust this life, and Xiliang's last capital, to you."

"Your servant… will not fail the Prince's trust!" Si Wushuang bowed deeply, his eyes full of solemnity.

One hour later, Luoyang South Gate.

Wei Wenlie stood before the royal carriage, not turning to glance at the Luoyang Cheng he once treasured as a jewel.

He wore plain clothes, wrapped in a heavy dark cloak, his face showing no expression.

The royal carriage was not a splendid litter, but a sturdy yet unremarkable four‑wheel wagon.

They must be cautious! If this is Jiang Jinshi's trap, then the lower the profile, the safer.

At the gates of Luoyang Palace, chaos reigned.

Palace maids and eunuchs cried and shouted, clutching soft bundles, bumping around like headless flies.

The Imperial Guard brutally maintained order, shoving the wailing concubines who refused to leave the palace grounds into the wagon.

Cui Yan, Lu Wenchang and others wore ashen faces, directing servants and slaves to load boxes of treasure onto ox carts, moving hastily as if fleeing disaster.

"Father, the queen mother is still in the palace! I want the queen mother!"

A youthful wail came, Wei Wenlie's youngest son, tightly held by his wet nurse, struggling as he looked toward the inner palace.

Wei Wenlie's body froze in an almost imperceptible way, yet he still did not look back.

He lifted his foot, stepping onto the cold carriage seat.

"Prince!"

A mournful female voice rang out as Cui Wangshu staggered out of the chaotic crowd, her hair bun in disarray, tears still wet on her face, "Take me with you! I beg you, take me with me!"

She lunged before the royal carriage, clutching the carriage pole tightly.

Wei Wenlie lowered his head, looking at this once‑favored concubine, his eyes showing no ripple, only indifference.

"Let go."

"Prince! Your servant…"

Cui Wangshu sobbed silently, she still did not want to die; if the Ming Army entered the city…

"I say, let go!"

Wei Wenlie jerked his foot back violently, the force causing Cui Wangshu to stagger and fall.

He no longer looked at her, bent over and slipped into the carriage.

The carriage curtains fell, cutting off all the cries outside.

Time was too rushed; if everything had to be taken, one hour simply wasn't enough.

Moreover… from now on, the Cui Family held no further value to him!

"Set out!" Si Wushuang's voice rang out.

The Xiliang army cleared the way, the royal carriage in the middle, followed by a long line of wagons and ox‑carts loaded with treasure and family members, slowly moving out of Luoyang's south gate, disappearing into the vast snowstorm.

Inside the wagon, Wei Wenlie leaned against the side of the carriage, eyes closed.

The cries and shouts outside faded gradually, leaving only the creaking of the wheels.

Outside Luoyang Cheng, Wang Hou immediately reported, "Lord! The southern gate of Luoyang City is wide open, and that bastard Wei Wenlie really fled to Jiangnan!"

Jiang Jinshi sighed, "I thought… all the Wei family were brave!"

Wei Xikang, for the sake of the people's safety, willingly entrusted the Zhenbei Army to a bandit chief.

Even until the end, Wei Xi Yuan still chose to clash head‑on with Jiang Jinshi, insisting on dying standing up!

This once made Jiang Jinshi think that Wei Wenlie should also have some bloodlust, but now it seems… nothing more than that!

Wang Hou clasped his hands and asked, "Should I now send men… to ambush along the way?"

"No need for that!"

Jiang Jinshi shook his head, "He has tens of thousands of troops with him; a smaller force would be like a moth flying into fire!"

"Yes!" Wang Hou nodded in agreement.

Jiang Jinshi ordered, "Enter the city! Scrutinize all threats; Si Wushuang will inevitably leave some death soldiers to act! First, snuff out every possibility while it's still in the cradle!"

The soldiers immediately took the order, "Yes!"

The Luoyang Cheng gate slowly opened, Luo Feng led his troops in first; whether ordinary civilians or local strongmen, they were restrained first to prevent any threat.

Yet the Fu family did not leave with Wei Wenlie; he fled so hastily that even Cui Wangshu and most concubines were left behind, so why would he care about the fate of these families?

In Wei Wenlie's view, leaving those families behind was a dead end; having taken most of the wealth, they would only be a burden if they followed him.

The Fu party stood neatly to respectfully welcome the Ming Army formation, and a person stepped out of the ranks to greet Luo Feng.

"Brother Luo, long time no see!"

Luo Feng smiled at the newcomer, "Xiao Yu, indeed it's been a long time! You've worked hard these past days!"