Chapter 66: Upheaval in the Li Dynasty, Yin Zhao Breaks the Deadlock

Lord Wan's memorial was like a carrier pigeon lost in the dark night; it should have soared into the Emperor's hands, but it was quietly intercepted by Prime Minister Gao's hidden hand, and the trajectory of destiny was thus ruthlessly reversed.

Every stroke of that memorial was originally a ray of hope, yet it failed to pierce the heavy, pitch-black curtain to reach the Emperor's desk.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gao's sinister plot, like a venomous snake with a flickering tongue, slithered through the shadows of the imperial palace as he secretly inflicted a fatal blow upon the Emperor.

In an instant, the imperial palace was shrouded in an ominous cloud. The Emperor fell gravely ill, and the court announced that he would grant no audiences. The magnificent Hall of Supreme Harmony seemed to have been pressed to a pause; for two consecutive days, the bells for the morning assembly remained silent, plunging the entire imperial court into panic and unease.

The first step of Li Chengyin's meticulously crafted plan collapsed with a deafening roar, like a fragile sandcastle caught in a violent storm, dissolving into nothingness.

Late at night, three days later, the sky above the capital seemed covered by a gigantic black cloth, with dark clouds churning like ink.

The bright moon, which originally hung high in the sky, was now swallowed by this thick darkness, leaving only a few weak rays of light struggling desperately through the gaps in the clouds. The moonlight was dim and pale, as if it were a silent sigh from the heavens regarding the impending turmoil.

Dressed in a black robe, Prime Minister Gao led a band of wolf-like cronies and rebel forces from various cities like a surging black tide, lurking in the streets and alleys near the palace. Greed and ambition gleamed in their eyes, waiting only for the right moment to break through the palace gates like ravenous wolves and seize supreme power.

Trapped in a desperate situation, Li Chengyin remained calm and resolute, a flash of determination cutting through his deep, fathomless eyes.

He knew well that facing Prime Minister Gao's ferocious troops, conventional tactics would not lead to victory; only by striking unexpectedly could he carve out a glimmer of survival.

Without hesitation, he made a decisive choice to disrupt the enemy's morale.

Li Chengyin nocked an arrow to his bow, pulling the string back until it formed a full moon. With a sharp "whoosh," an arrow pierced the sky like a shooting star, flying straight toward Prime Minister Gao's army.

A strip of cloth tied to the arrow fluttered violently in the wind, covered in words exposing Prime Minister Gao's conspiracy along with prophecies hinting at the imminent doom awaiting the soldiers.

This arrow was like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand ripples within Prime Minister Gao's army. The soldiers' previously neat formation began to churn with unrest as they whispered to one another, their eyes filled with panic and unease.

Some superstitious soldiers looked at the words on the arrow and pondered in their hearts: could it be true, as the arrow stated, that following Prime Minister Gao in rebellion was going against the heavens and bound to incur divine retribution?

This unsettling sentiment spread rapidly through the ranks like a plague. The once orderly military array fell into disarray; the soldiers' steps grew chaotic, and they loosened their grip on their weapons as if they had lost the will to fight.

Seeing this, Prime Minister Gao was filled with fury, veins bulging across his gloomy face.

He knew that if he failed to steady the soldiers' morale immediately, this rebellion would perish before it even began.

Thus, his cruel nature was fully exposed. Riding a tall, powerful steed, Prime Minister Gao brandished his long saber and roared:

"Anyone who wavers in battle shall be executed without mercy!"

With that, he took the lead and charged directly toward the soldiers displaying panic. Wherever his saber passed, blood splattered, and heads rolled like kites with snapped strings.

Seeing this, his cronies quickly followed suit, beginning a massive slaughter within the ranks.

For a time, the sounds of battle and screams intertwined, plunging an army already gripped by panic into even deeper terror and chaos.

Yet, under this bloody suppression, the troops were once again driven forward, surging toward the main imperial hall.

Li Chengyin had prepared long in advance. He had ordered heavy defenses set up along the strategic forward routes, where soldiers stood in formations like an iron wall.

clad in heavy armor and wielding sharp spears, they gazed with resolute eyes at the surging rebel forces ahead.

Li Chengyin and Pei Zhao personally directed and commanded from the rear, their towering figures resembling majestic peaks that instilled endless courage and confidence in the soldiers.

Li Chengyin shouted loudly:

"Today's battle concerns the life and death of the Liang Dynasty. All soldiers must fight bravely to protect our home and country!"

The soldiers roared in unison, shaking the heavens, their voices seemingly capable of scattering the dark clouds in the sky.

Li Chengyin and Pei Zhao stood tall and straight, like two war gods stationed in the rear.

Li Chengyin's gaze was like a torch, fixed tightly upon the oncoming wave of enemies. He gripped his sword tightly, its blade flashing with a cold light as if thirsting for blood.

Pei Zhao held a long spear, its tip pointing obliquely toward the ground, while an aura of stern slaughter radiated from him.

As the enemy drew closer, Li Chengyin made the first move, shouting in a voice like a booming bell:

"Today, I shall let you rebellious scoundrels know that the orthodox rule of the Liang Dynasty cannot be violated!"

With that, he dashed forward like a hunting leopard, his agile figure transforming his sword into a flash of light.

Employing exquisite swordsmanship, he struck from unexpected angles. Every thrust targeted an enemy's vital points—slashing, stabbing, parrying, and cutting—leaving a trail of blooming blood in his wake.

Though the enemy vastly outnumbered him, they found themselves unable to approach him amidst his fierce onslaught.

Pei Zhao was no less formidable. Pressing his heels against his horse's flanks, the war horse neighed and charged into enemy lines like an arrow released from a bow.

The long spear in his hands seemed imbued with life; with sweeping motions, he beat back approaching enemies, or thrust forward with pinpoint accuracy, piercing straight through the chests of his foes.

His movements were powerful and vigorous, every swing carrying the force of a thousand jun. The enemies he struck flew backward like broken kites.

Seeing how fierce the two men were, the enemy attempted to submerge them under a tide of human bodies.

Dozens of enemies charged toward Li Chengyin simultaneously with battle cries, their weapons flailing chaotically.

Yet Li Chengyin's expression remained unchanged. His light footsteps carried him smoothly across the ground, deftly dodging enemy attacks while his sword spun into an impenetrable barrier.

At times he sidestepped an enemy's saber to slice open a throat with a backhand strike; at others, he leaped high into the air to evade attacks from below, swinging his sword downward to sever heads.

On Pei Zhao's side, the enemy encirclement was also shrinking.

Abandoning his mount, he planted his long spear firmly into the ground and used the shaft as a pivot, spinning his body rapidly.

His robes fluttered as the surrounding enemies were swept off their feet by his spear shaft.

Any foe attempting to get close was kicked fiercely in the abdomen and collapsed to the ground, vomiting blood.

Li Chengyin and Pei Zhao coordinated seamlessly, their backs pressed against each other to form an indestructible defensive circle.

While fending off the enemies in front of him, Li Chengyin shouted loudly to Pei Zhao:

"Pei Zhao, we must not let them break the defense line, or all our previous efforts will be wasted!"

Pei Zhao replied steadfastly: "Your Highness, rest assured! This subordinate will defend to the death!" Their voices echoed across the battlefield, inspiring the surrounding soldiers locked in bitter combat.

As time passed, the enemy's attacks grew increasingly frantic, yet the fighting resolve of Li Chengyin and Pei Zhao only grew firmer.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Li Chengyin's forehead, sliding down his cheek to drip onto the earth beneath his feet, mingling with blood.

Pei Zhao's arms trembled slightly from prolonged swinging, but his gaze remained as unyielding as iron.

At this critical moment of life and death, Li Chengyin suddenly conceived a plan.

Feigning exhaustion with staggering steps, he let the sword in his hand droop.

Believing an opportunity had arisen, the enemies swarmed toward him.

The moment the enemy closed in, Li Chengyin erupted with sudden force. Like a dragon bursting from the sea, the radiance of his sword surged, instantly cutting down several enemies. Taking advantage of the opening, Pei Zhao pulled his spear from the ground and launched a rear assault, tearing a gap in the enemy's encirclement.

However, Prime Minister Gao's rebellious forces far exceeded Li Chengyin's expectations.

As it turned out, the cunning Prime Minister Gao had long since sensed that Li Chengyin was secretly probing his military intelligence.

Therefore, he played along, intentionally leaking false information to make Li Chengyin underestimate the true scale of his forces.

At this moment, gazing at the defense line established by Li Chengyin ahead, a trace of a contemptuous smile crossed the corner of his lips.

Extending a finger toward the defense line of ten thousand soldiers ahead, he spat out a cold word:

"Kill!"

The rebel forces surged toward Li Chengyin like a tidal wave, and the battle instantly escalated to white-hot intensity.

Swords clashed, sparks flew, and the cries of battle were deafening.

Li Chengyin's soldiers resisted fiercely, thrusting their long spears into the rebel ranks with a do-or-die determination in every strike.

Yet the rebels were numerous and ferocious, charging forward wave after wave regardless of casualties to batter the defense line.

Soldiers fell one by one in combat, their blood staining the earth red while a thick smell of iron and blood filled the air.

Amidst the chaotic melee, Prime Minister Gao's eyes remained fixed on Li Chengyin.

He knew that as long as Li Chengyin was eliminated, the rebellion would be mostly successful.

Thus, he hatched a plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain. Dispatching an elite unit to feign retreat, he drew away a portion of the troops Li Chengyin had deployed around the perimeter.

Then, personally leading his main force, he heavily encircled Li Chengyin and the remaining soldiers.

Riding his horse slowly forward, Prime Minister Gao came face-to-face with Li Chengyin.

Looking at his young adversary, a smug smile appeared on his face.

"Youthful and arrogant, but this is as far as you go," he taunted.

Filled with burning anger and resentment, Li Chengyin glared viciously at Prime Minister Gao through gritted teeth:

"I came here solely to avenge my grievances and pacify the country. You treacherous scoundrel, do not dream of succeeding!"

Prime Minister Gao smiled craftily:

"Oh? Are you referring to the Gu family? Through my hands, they were long reduced to dust. What, do you truly believe you still possess the ability to exact revenge? The realm of Liang already belongs to me; this Liang Dynasty shall bear the surname Gao!"

Suddenly, Li Chengyin raised his head, a flash of shrewdness sparkling in his eyes.

"Is that so? Do you truly believe you have won?"

Before his voice faded, the sound of thundering hooves suddenly echoed from the distance. Three thousand Liang soldiers charged forward like divine troops descending from the heavens.

Witnessing Prime Minister Gao's astonished expression, Li Chengyin sneered:

"Did you really think I wouldn't discover the mole you planted by my side?"

As it turned out, upon realizing the intelligence was flawed, Li Chengyin had begun a covert investigation.

Following thorough and meticulous inquiries, he finally rooted out the spy hidden among his ranks and extracted Prime Minister Gao's true plan from his mouth.

Consequently, he played along—feigning that he fell into the trap while quietly summoning these three thousand fresh troops.

Furious and flustered, Prime Minister Gao realized his conspiracy had failed once more.

Unwilling to accept defeat, he roared:

"Kill them! Leave no survivors!"

Urged on by his commands, the rebels charged wildly at Li Chengyin's troops once again.

The fighting grew even fiercer as soldiers engaged in a desperate life-or-death struggle upon the battlefield of blood and fire.

Just as both sides were locked in intense combat, battle cries echoed from the distance.

It turned out that, at Xiaofeng's tearful and persistent pleas, the King of Xizhou had personally led the soldiers of Xizhou to rush desperately to their rescue. Sweeping in like a violent whirlwind, they rapidly annihilated the rebel forces Prime Minister Gao had deployed elsewhere before charging straight into the main battlefield.

The addition of the Xizhou soldiers acted like a shot of adrenaline, greatly boosting the morale of Li Chengyin's army. Striking from both inside and out, they launched a final encirclement of the rebels.

Caught in a pincer movement, Prime Minister Gao's rebel forces gradually plunged into a desperate predicament.

Their numbers dwindled, and their morale hit rock bottom.

Meanwhile, Li Chengyin's army grew ever bolder with every battle, their war cries resounding like thunder.

As the eastern sky gradually turned the color of a fish's belly, dawn was about to break. Gazing at the collapsing defeat before him, Prime Minister Gao knew the grand势 was lost.

He sighed in despair, attempting to escape amidst the chaos. But how could Li Chengyin let him slip away? Personally leading his soldiers, Li Chengyin surrounded Prime Minister Gao tightly.

In the end, Prime Minister Gao was captured alive, and this thrilling rebellion finally came to a close.

As the sun slowly rose, golden sunlight washed over the war-torn land. Looking out over the victorious battlefield, Li Chengyin felt a myriad of emotions stirring in his heart.

He knew this victory had not come easily; it was bought with the lives of countless soldiers.

He swore silently that he would govern the Liang Dynasty well, ensuring that this land would never again suffer the torment of war.