Chapter Fifty-Six: Three Strategies to Steady the Troops

Yu Lang taught Li Bi this song not merely as a gesture of camaraderie—Li Bi looked even more like an invincible time traveler than Yu Lang himself. Since that was the case, why not let him master a Cantonese song as well, to enhance the effect? Setting Li Bi up as a target would likely draw out other time travelers, serving as a way to test the waters. With Li Qin’s strength and wisdom, any other traveler who sought him out would simply be courting death.

There are many ways to use another’s blade; Li Shao employed the most laborious and dignified method, while Yu Lang opted for the most subtle and insidious.

Early the next morning, Li Bi met with the Crown Prince and presented three strategies for rescuing Huangfu Weiming. The lowest plan was Li Shao’s previous suggestion: a cavalry raid across a thousand miles to confront the besieging enemy head-on, launching an attack from inside and out. The middle plan involved a cavalry strike at the vital Tibetan strongholds, Sangcheng and others, in a classic strategy—attack the enemy’s base to force them to withdraw from the siege. The highest plan was bold, almost unbelievable: the Longyou army would fully mobilize, seizing the stretch of land from Xidu City to Hongji City, methodically consolidating their gains and incorporating Hongji City, that isolated thorn, into the Tang Empire’s domain.

The lowest plan was a brute-force approach, the middle plan was cautious and clever, avoiding direct confrontation, and the highest plan was risky but promised immense rewards. Upon hearing these three strategies, Yuan Qilang and the others were deeply impressed by Li Bi, addressing him as “Master Strategist” and seemingly forgetting all their previous disrespect. Li Guangbi nodded quietly; he could conceive the middle plan, but, as he lacked influence under the Crown Prince, he had kept silent. The highest plan, however, was daring beyond his own capacity—even if he had thought of it, he doubted he could execute it.

Li Shao deliberated for a long time before deciding on the highest plan. Leaving the capital was a grave breach of protocol; even if Huangfu Weiming were rescued, punishment would be inevitable. But if they succeeded in capturing the thousand-mile territory and nine cities, Emperor Xuanzong might reward them rather than condemn.

Li Bi seemed to have anticipated the Crown Prince’s choice. He unfurled a map from his sleeve and explained the order in which the nine cities should be attacked, detailing the tactics required for each. His extraordinary military talent shone through. Li Bi’s plan was audacious: conquer nine cities in seven days, then marshal fifty thousand troops to face the Tibetan Grand Master in a final showdown at Hongji City.

Zhao Weide, the current leader of the Longyou army, shook his head repeatedly. “You’re just a child playing with paper plans. You don’t understand the ferocity and cunning of the Tibetan forces. Your attack sequence, based on the personalities of the city defenders and the terrain, is clever—but conquering nine cities in seven days is pure fantasy!”

Li Bi gave Zhao Weide a cold glance. “The Crown Prince has decided. As a general, your job is to execute the plan, not harp on its difficulties. No wonder you’ve only managed to become a low-ranking officer at your age—useless.”

Zhao Weide’s fury erupted. “I’ll kill you right now, you wretch who deserves to have his tongue ripped out in hell!”

Zhao Weide, hot-tempered as ever, drew his blade and swung for Li Bi’s neck. Li Bi did not dodge. Li Shao himself blocked the blow with his arm. Although Zhao Weide tried to check his strike, he was too late; Li Shao’s right arm bled profusely.

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Li Shao endured the pain and issued a stern command: “Zhao Weide has attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince. Execute him for treason. The Longyou army is now under Li Bi’s full command.” With this, he seized the opportunity to transfer power to Li Bi.

Seeing the Crown Prince so protective of Li Bi, Zhao Weide’s rage grew. He decided to truly rebel, thinking he might as well kill the Crown Prince and present his head to Li Linfu. He raised his blade again.

Li Bi turned his head to glance at Zhao Weide—just a light, effortless look. At that moment, Zhao Weide, a master at the peak of the Sea of Wandering, died instantly.

The Daoist art of “Qi Observation,” when mastered, could cut off another’s life with a single glance—a truly formidable power.

Zhao Weide’s fifty personal guards rushed in to avenge him. Li Bi flicked his robe, and the guards’ blades, as if bewitched, slashed their own throats. Not one survived.

A master of the Boundless Realm could move through thousands of troops with ease; a hundred ordinary men were as easy to kill as reaching into a pouch.

“Who else?” Li Bi, dressed simply and unarmed, stood in the cold, bleak wind before the camp. Fifty thousand Longyou soldiers dared not advance.

Hong Rulin, another core leader of the Longyou army, immediately knelt. “Zhao Weide attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince and deserves execution. We are willing to obey the Crown Prince’s orders, follow Master Li Bi, and take the nine Tibetan cities in seven days!”

Li Bi left with his hands behind his back, issuing a calm order: “Spread the word—at the third watch, light fires and cook; at the fourth, the entire army marches!”

The details of task allocation and personnel deployment were left to Crown Prince Li Shao and the core leaders of the Heavenly Strategy Army.

The men of the Lang Battalion, witnessing Li Bi’s commanding presence, could only sigh silently: “Such is the measure of a true man.”

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In a small forest outside Lanxie City, twenty riders of the Lang Battalion and two thousand Longyou infantry, recently reassigned, rested in place, awaiting Yu Lang’s orders. Li Bi had demanded that Yu Lang’s unit seize Lanxie City within three hours and deliver the city’s ladders and other siege equipment to Yuan Qilang’s Heavenly Strategy Division outside Baining City.

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Lanxie City was the first step in tonight’s operation. Its commander, Teng Ba’er, was a peak master of the Void-breaking realm, with five thousand elite soldiers inside—a truly tough nut to crack. The pressure on Yu Lang was immense.

Yu Lang divided the two thousand infantry into twenty teams, appointing each member of the Lang Battalion as a centurion. He had also requested Li Guangbi, the future celebrated general of the Tang, to assist, since Li Guangbi lacked real combat experience. Having him and his support would make things easier.

Yu Lang’s initial plan was a feint: surround the eastern gate, use the cover of darkness to set up torches and straw figures, shout and challenge the defenders, drawing them to the eastern gate. Meanwhile, the main force would attack the western gate under cover of night, quickly turning the siege into street fighting. The men of the Moon-washing Academy would leverage their superior martial prowess to focus on killing enemy officers and breaking the defenders’ morale.

Li Guangbi had no objections to Yu Lang’s overall strategy, but worried that the young men, despite their agility, might lack the courage to face blades and blood. He volunteered to lead a team with Nan Jiyun through the western gate. Yu Lang agreed without hesitation; with Li Guangbi and Nan Jiyun’s skill and bravery, the Lang Battalion would have a chance to shine. Currently, their main weakness was their tendency to excel only when the battle was going well—when faced with adversity, their resilience was questionable.

Yu Lang raised his hand, clenched his fist tightly, and gave a low command: “Attack!”

The soldiers formed two columns and carried out their tasks with remarkable order. Though the Longyou troops were not highly cultivated, their discipline as soldiers was exceptional. Their steps were steady, their actions swift, with not a hint of sluggishness.

According to the plan, five hundred weaker support troops remained with Yu Lang, tasked with drawing the defenders’ attention. The true elites and the Lang Battalion’s core had gone with Nan Jiyun and Li Guangbi to the other gate. Yu Lang, concerned for Qingqing’s safety, kept her by his side.

At Yu Lang’s signal, the five hundred soldiers quickly lit their torches and erected straw figures. In the darkness, it looked as though countless soldiers had gathered outside the city.

The defenders atop Lanxie City responded quickly, sounded the alarm, and sent an officer to the wall to inquire.

“Who are you? Why are you besieging the city at night?”

Yu Lang, atop his horse, thundered, “The Longyou Army of the Great Tang comes to take the city! Surrender and you will not be killed!”

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