Chapter 45: Assault on the City Part 1

At dawn, Hulü Guang quietly called Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun, informing them that the carriage sent by Elon waited outside the inn. Xiang Xian had no choice but to get up, wash up, wake Chaosheng, and head to the royal palace.

Today, Bila Ge appeared full of vigor. Throughout Gaochang City, after a night of chaos and warfare, they had managed to settle all 160,000 refugees. Li Er Man dozed off, his eyes half-closed, as he sat in the position to the lower left of Bila Ge’s throne.

“Yesterday, Bai Ju Er already told me the full details,” Bila Ge said gravely. “There’s just one thing I don’t understand.”

Breakfast was laid out on the table. As soon as Xiao Kun sat down, he said, “We have one thing we don’t understand either.”

After Xiang Xian’s reminder, Xiao Kun had roughly figured out how to deal with Bila Ge: he had to pin the blame squarely on him without hesitation, or else the troubles they faced would only mount.

“You first,” Bila Ge gestured.

“Your Majesty should go first,” Xiang Xian said.

“Your father has caused me such massive trouble,” sure enough, Bila Ge struck first. “How do you plan to clean it up?”

“This isn’t Father’s fault,” Xiao Kun replied. “Mr. Liu has been operating in Gumo for years, and Your Majesty turned a blind eye all this time, leading to today’s disaster. If we can’t hold them off this time, and the Ba Army overruns Gaochang before turning east into Da Xia Kingdom’s territory, then heading south to threaten the Central Plains—what then?”

Bila Ge suddenly burst into laughter.

“Interesting.” Bila Ge sized up Xiao Kun. “What do you want to ask me?”

“Your Majesty wants us to chop off Li Er Man’s head,” Xiao Kun stared straight into Bila Ge’s eyes, blue light blooming in his own. “But you two clearly share a bond of life and death. Why do that?”

Li Er Man let out a heavy “hmph.”

Bila Ge said indifferently, “Li Er Man was my closest friend when I was crown prince. Later, he was granted the title of Grand Vizier. Due to some past events, we fell out. But I know you Central Plains folk— you won’t just kill without hesitation. You’ll bring him to see me, that’s all.”

Xiang Xian: “Hard to say. If I find it too troublesome, I might just swing my blade. Then your childhood playmate would be gone.”

Bila Ge said coldly, “Then he can only blame his own incompetence.”

Li Er Man swallowed his anger and said nothing. Bila Ge continued, “Look at him—gorging himself into this state. Does he have even a shred of his old spirit? Now look at this portrait?”

“What?” Xiang Xian was shocked. He looked at the handsome man in the portrait behind Bila Ge, then at Li Er Man. “This… this is you?”

Li Er Man bellowed a few sentences in Uyghur, undoubtedly meaning he could still fight.

Xiao Kun said, “Back to the main issue. How does Your Majesty plan to repel the invading Ba Army?”

Bila Ge replied, “I must first confirm… Now that you’re here, how did you sleep last night?”

Before his words finished, Hulü Guang arrived at the royal palace with Wu Yingzong and Chaosheng for an audience. With Chaosheng’s arrival, the atmosphere eased considerably—he was, after all, the Gaochang King’s benefactor.

Bila Ge descended from the throne and personally came to check on him. Chaosheng said, “Mm, still a bit sleepy, but it’s fine. Is this breakfast prepared for me?”

Bila Ge treated Chaosheng like his own child. He took his hand, felt it, and gestured for him to sit and eat quickly.

“Your Majesty must first confirm,” Elon said to Xiao Kun. “This battle for the city isn’t one Gaochang faces alone.”

“Naturally,” Xiao Kun said. “During our first audience with Your Majesty, I told everyone: the current situation is closely tied to the Heavenly Demon Rebirth. The crisis is imminent.”

Bila Ge gestured, and Gemu Wen brought a map of the entire Western Regions, which included Western Xia in the Hexi Corridor, as well as parts of Song, Liao, and Jin further east.

Xiao Kun pointed on the map and said, “Mr. Liu’s route is obvious. Their target is the Central Plains region. After gathering the Ba Army at Aksu, Gaochang is their must-take path. After capturing Gaochang, the next target is Shazhou.”

Xiang Xian watched as Xiao Kun traced the route. Xiao Kun continued, “For the safety of Western Xia and the Central Plains people, we must stop these 100,000 Ba Army here. Otherwise, in every city they reach, Mr. Liu will cast his evil spell with the Gate of Past Life Rebirth, reviving fallen soldiers, and the army will only grow larger.”

“Then the question is,” Bila Ge said, “What is this army’s combat strength? Will it turn my warriors into walking corpses too? Who will deal with their commander?”

“We will,” Xiao Kun said. “But we need cooperation from Gaochang and the Gumo Army. While the main force assaults the city, Xiang Xian and I will head to the rear and eliminate Mr. Liu. Once he’s dead and we reclaim the Great Si Ming Flute, the Ba Army will naturally collapse.”

Bila Ge: “My army must both defend the city against sneak attacks and sortie to fight, plus the Gumo remnants—only 26,000 in total. The enemy has 100,000. If we barricade the gates, I believe we can hold; but splitting forces to draw their attention for you still falls short. Your father’s subordinates are also Ba—why doesn’t he come fight alongside us?”

“He can’t fight personally,” Xiao Kun explained the roles of the Great Si Ming Flute and Zenggu Drum, as well as the influence of magic treasures. “But he sent Forbidden Army subordinates for me, led by two comrades, who will assist in striking the enemy from the side.”

“I need reinforcements,” Bila Ge said. “I’ve already sent pigeons to Tingzhou, but no reply yet.”

“Your Majesty, you can’t just barricade,” Xiao Kun warned. “You must send all your soldiers out to pin down the enemy’s main force. That way, Xiang Xian and I have a chance to eliminate Mr. Liu and reclaim the Great Si Ming Flute. Once the magic treasure is back in our hands, the siege will resolve itself.”