r18novel Page 428
Page 428
Li Chang'an took a step forward, and amidst the sandstorm that filled his eyes, he grabbed Tantai Ping's neck with one hand.
At his level, he could freely manipulate his internal energy, and even a slight wave of his hand carried immense power. Tantai Pingjing was instantly suppressed, her feet weakly kicking in the air, and her hands trying with all her might to pry Li Chang'an's hands open.
As the sandstorm gradually subsided, Tantai Ping's pupils widened, his fair cheeks turned red, and his expression was one of extreme fear.
If she had simply stayed in the South China Sea and lived as a recluse, not getting involved in the struggle for destiny in the Central Plains, no one would have searched high and low for her.
But once she gets involved, there's no way she can get out.
With a soft crack of her throat bones being crushed, Tantai Ping's head slumped down, completely lifeless. Li Chang'an exerted a little force, turning her corpse into an ice sculpture, which then vanished with the wind.
Zhang Fuyao breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Xu Fengnian escape. If it weren't for Li Chang'an, he would have really lost his life.
"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime. I never imagined so many people would covet the good fortune I possess."
Tantai Pingjing and Xie Guanying were able to accurately locate Zhang Fuyao precisely because his luck was so extraordinary that it was very easy to spot him.
"For the world to enjoy lasting peace and stability in the future, the flourishing of Confucianism is indispensable. Mr. Zhang, there is no need to rush back to the Jixia Academy. Stay at the Liangzhou Prince's Mansion for a few months, and it will not be too late to return after the world is at peace."
A powerful dynasty cannot do without Confucianism. Confucian scholars, by governing the country and helping the people, are an indispensable force in stabilizing the realm.
Li Chang'an didn't want to unify the world, but the fortunes of the Confucian school had been ruined by Xu Fengnian, and he would have to spend a lot of effort to rebuild them.
Zhang Fuyao laughed heartily, "There's no need for such trouble. I will lend you all the fortune of the Confucian school. You can return it to the students of the world after you have pacified it."
Sage Zhang is a reasonable person. In this world, the safest person is Li Chang'an, as the fortune resides in him.
"So, very good."
Seeing that Li Chang'an did not make a fuss or refuse, Zhang Fuyao used the Confucian Qi-guiding technique to channel all her luck into Li Chang'an's Qi Sea, and from then on, she felt light and free.
As Zhang Shengren gave away his fortune, his own longevity was about to end, and he would become an old man with an ordinary lifespan.
He was willing to do this because he believed that Li Chang'an could restore peace to the world.
"Your Highness, I'm betting my life on your peace and prosperity. I hope I haven't misjudged you."
Li Chang'an smiled calmly, "Not only will the world be at peace, but Chang'an will also enjoy a prosperous era."
"Very well, very well! I can still live for another ten years or so. I'd like to witness your glorious Tang Dynasty!"
Zhang Fuyao departed gracefully, and Li Chang'an returned to Liangzhou. Not long after, Zhuge Liang was stationed in Nanjing, the capital of Northern Mang. Li Cunxiao was busy dealing with the remaining Northern Mang troops nearby, while Huo Qubing marched directly towards the Northern Mang capital, Beidi City.
Tai'an City.
The former Prince Zhao Bing of Yan sat calmly on his throne.
His elder brother Zhao Chun's entire family had been poisoned to death by him under a pretext, except for Zhao Fengya, who was trapped in the Tang Prince's mansion. No one survived.
This prince, who participated in the wars of the Spring and Autumn Period, was a true ruthless killer, not a bookworm like Zhao Chun.
Any ministers in the court who dared to speak out against the succession to the throne were immediately exterminated along with their entire families by Zhao Bing, and the situation in the court quickly stabilized.
The world is now divided into three again. After Li Chang'an's great victory over the Northern Barbarians, he now controls two-thirds of the world, while Zhao Bing and Xu Fengnian each control one-third.
"Zhu'er, what's the situation in Northern Mang?"
Crown Prince Zhao Zhu was meticulous and had been fighting alongside his father for many years. Zhao Bing was very satisfied with him. The reason he dared to rebel and seize the throne was because he believed that this son was reliable.
Zhao Zhu handed over a piece of intelligence and said, "Of the 600,000 troops of Northern Mang, 500,000 have been killed. Nanjing has been occupied by Zhuge Liang's army, and the entire southern part of Northern Mang has been wiped out by Li Cunxiao."
"Li Chang'an's general Huo Qubing has led 100,000 isolated troops to the gates of Beidi City. Empress Murong is critically ill, and Crown Prince Yelü Hongcai has temporarily taken charge of state affairs. Beimang should be able to hold out."
Zhao Bing stood up, looked at the map not far away, and frowned even more deeply.
"In this light, the southern half of Northern Mang has fallen into Li Chang'an's hands. Add to that Shazhou, Liangzhou, Qingzhou, Western Shu, and the former territory of Western Chu that Zhao Ying gave up, the entire western and northern regions are now under Li Chang'an's control."
“Xu Fengnian occupies Hezhou, Yongzhou, Jizhou, and Liangliao, sandwiched between us and Li Chang’an, and is also the weakest.”
Zhao Zhu suggested, "Father, as far as I know, Li Chang'an has his sights set on conquering the world. I'm afraid that once the situation in the north stabilizes, he will launch a major southward offensive."
"Although Xu Fengnian has seized half of our country, it is better to unite with him for now, at least to stop the Tang army from advancing south, and then make further plans."
Zhao Bing considered himself a hundred times wiser than Zhao Chun, but now he occupied only a small fraction of the land he had left in Liyang a few years ago, leaving him both embarrassed and angry.
Zhao Zhu could see his father's thoughts. "Father, if we hadn't stepped forward, the court might have already been usurped by Xu Fengnian. Fourth Uncle wouldn't have been able to protect this country."
This statement isn't entirely without merit, but it's not without its flaws. Because the Li Yang court has Longhu Mountain, the Imperial Observatory, and young eunuchs, Zhao Chun's worst fate is similar to Zhao Bing's current situation.
"Xu Fengnian's special envoy has been waiting in the city for half a month. Let's meet him. We really need to endure this humiliation for the time being."
"As long as my son and I are of one mind, one day we will see the light at the end of the tunnel and allow the Li Yang Dynasty to reunify the world!"
Li Chang'an in Liangzhou City also heard these good news. Hongshu gently massaged his shoulders, and Minister Nangong read out the recent battle reports.
The aloof and reserved Minister Nangong was not originally capable of doing these things, but she owed Li Chang'an too much, and she couldn't refuse whatever Li Chang'an asked her to do, so she gradually got used to the job of being his personal bodyguard.
"The 50,000-strong remnant army of General Zhong Shentong of Northern Mang was surrounded by Li Cunxiao on Orange Isle. After ten days of stubborn resistance, the entire army was wiped out. From then on, there were no more Mang troops in the southern part of Northern Mang."
"The strategist reports that the Northern Barbarian army currently numbers no more than 100,000, and even with the urgently conscripted troops, it will not exceed 150,000. Huo Qubing has already laid siege to the Northern Emperor's city, and the people in the city are filled with panic."
"Empress Murong was seriously ill, and Crown Prince Yelü Hongcai finally took control of the government. However, there was no one left in the army to use. None of the ministers and masters that the Empress took with her when she went on the expedition survived."
Nangong Pushe read the reports from Zhang Yichao, Zhao Dingxiu, and others. The situation in the other prefectures was stable, and the expansion of the army was going smoothly. Xu Fengnian and Zhao Bing did not intend to launch a joint attack for the time being.
Li Chang'an lay comfortably on Hongshu's soft thighs, enjoying the intoxicating fragrance of the woman. Nangong Pushe was surprised to find that the most favored person in the Tang King's harem was actually the Empress.
This is understandable, since Li Chang'an chose his empress himself, rather than making a decision against his will based on weighing the pros and cons. Of course, he would choose the woman who is most caring to be his empress.
Half a month after the great battle, Li Chang'an finally received the system's settlement.
[Your influence in this world has greatly increased; you are rewarded with 30000 Mortal Points!]
Li Chang'an doesn't plan to use the reward points this time, because there's no need to strengthen talent, troops, or military power anymore.
His Sacred Heart Technique was also nearing perfection, and after absorbing a large amount of power, he was now invincible.
The Tang army now has a total strength of 500,000, which is more than enough to contend for supremacy.
The quality of an army is more important than its quantity. Our current elite troops can completely overwhelm Li Yang and Xu Fengnian.
World: Walking in the Snow
Age: 23 years old
Realm: Celestial Longevity
Cultivation Technique: Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill (Perfected, Thirteen Levels)
Martial Arts: Dragon Capturing Skill (Perfected), Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms (Perfected), Crossing the River on a Reed (Perfected), Prajna Heart Bell (Perfected), Six Gods Technique (Perfected), Great River Sword Intent (Perfected), Three-Part Return to Origin Qi (Perfected), Sacred Heart Technique (Great Success)
Su Hui: Possessing keen insight, photographic memory, and the master of all realms.
Abilities: (Expand)
Red Dust: 34000 (Cumulative 34 points)
排名：权势1、财富1、武力1、风流1、文艺2
Gate of Reincarnation: 80%
Li Chang'an didn't put much effort into managing the arts ranking. He only needed to take some of the skills he had acquired in his first life and have professional artists like Pei Nanwei and Yu Youwei spread them, and the ranking would go up. He estimated that it wouldn't be long before the arts ranking would reach the top.
The current ranking of the most romantic man has jumped directly to number one. Li Chang'an doesn't know why. Perhaps a famous minister or general with a large number of concubines died in this great battle. In any case, he is now ranked number one.
“Xu Fengnian and Zhao Bing are two incompetent fools. If they launch a surprise attack on Qingzhou and Liangzhou now, they still have a 50% chance of winning. Once Li Cunxiao returns, they will have no chance at all.”
"Nangong, get ready. I'm taking you to Longhu Mountain to dig up the Zhao family's ancestral graves."
Nangong Pushe said, "Xu Fengnian is nothing to fear. The young eunuch of Liyang Dynasty and the four terrestrial immortals of Longhu Mountain are the real threats to Your Highness. Your Highness wants to strike first."
She was unaware of Xu Fengnian's existence and Luoyang's, nor did she know that Xu Fengnian possessed some potential. Both the Northern Liang army and Tai'an City had over 100,000 troops; it would be unwise for Li Chang'an to force his way in.
First, we should destroy Longhu Mountain. This would eliminate the strongest wing of the Liyang Dynasty and demonstrate to the Liyang Dynasty that Li Chang'an does not intend to remain in a corner of the world, but rather to unify the entire country.
Sweet Potato asked with concern, "Your Highness, aren't you taking the other Grandmasters with you?"
Li Chang'an never intended to make a big fuss. He brought Nangong Pushe along simply because he had someone by his side to do some odd jobs, so he wouldn't have to do everything himself.
He took Hongshu's hand and said gently, "You don't need to worry about me. You should worry about yourself first. It's time to give me a son."
As clever as Sweet Potato was, she naturally knew that Li Chang'an's recent favoritism towards her had an ulterior motive. For the past few years, Li Chang'an had been using a dual cultivation technique to avoid having children, but recently he had been giving her many small gifts.
Such favor filled Hongshu with happiness. She embraced Li Chang'an from behind, wanting to envelop him with her voluptuous body. "Your Majesty, I thank you."
Li Chang'an felt numb from the two large bolts of lightning behind him, so he waved to Nangong Pushe and said, "Nangong, go and prepare first. We'll set off this afternoon."
Nangong Pushe secretly rolled his eyes, covered his slightly burning cheeks, and quietly slipped out of the room. Soon after, the princess's suppressed screams came from the room behind him.
In the afternoon, Li Chang'an changed into ordinary fine clothes and appeared on the hilltop outside the city with Minister Nangong.
Li Chang'an reached out a hand and grabbed Nangong Pushe by the back of the neck, then used the "Soaring to Immortality" technique to fly forward.
Nangong Pushe then realized that the speed at which the Celestial Beings achieved longevity was terrifying, even faster than that of immortals.
"Stop, stop, stop!"
On a giant rock in a mountain forest, Minister Nangong stopped Li Chang'an and then straightened his almost tattered clothes.
The androgynous woman in white pulled her straw hat down to cover her slightly flushed face, trying to make her voice sound as natural as possible.
"Your Highness, your waist."
Li Chang'an glanced at Nangong Pushe's slender waist, said nothing, and then draped himself over her from behind, making the rest of the journey much smoother.
Nangong Pushe shifted uncomfortably for a moment, but quickly adjusted; it was still better than being held by the back of her neck. She didn't know how much effort she had put in to keep herself from falling out of her white robe.
For years, Minister Nangong had always traveled the world alone, always living a carefree and unrestrained life. Being carried around like a chick like that was a completely new experience for him, and it was certainly not in keeping with his chivalrous demeanor.