Eternal Saber

Chapter 631: Chapter 52: Using the Pretext of Borrowing a Road to Destroy Guo

"Third Brother Li, why are you here?"

Chen Tang asked, "I heard from the desert thieves that you got involved in the internal strife of Wusun, the struggle for the position of Kunmi. What’s going on?"

"Alas, it’s a long story."

Li Shuhu sighed and said, "Years ago, my father was recommended by Prince Wei to become the Inspector in Liangzhou, thus escaping the troubles of the Capital City."

"Liangzhou was originally the ancestral land of our Li Family. Over the past two years, my father has managed it well, implementing benevolent governance, attracting people from other prefectures to settle and gradually prosper. Among them, even some foreign people have come to trade and reside, all being treated equally by my father."

"In these two years, many barbarians have come south. Relying on the strength of the Barbarian Race, they’ve become increasingly arrogant. I’ve heard they caused quite a stir in the Capital City, yet nothing came of it."

"Recently, a few barbarians violated Daqian’s laws in Liangzhou City and were beheaded by my father’s order!"

Chen Tang nodded.

Treating all equally means that rewards and punishments must be fair and strict, without discrimination.

Otherwise, people’s hearts will become restless.

Li Shuhu said, "As a result, the leader of the Barbarian Lion Army found out and was furious. In less than a day, he gathered a force of a hundred thousand troops to attack Liangzhou to avenge his tribesmen."

Chen Tang shook his head and said, "This is obviously just an excuse for the Barbarian Race."

To prepare for an expedition, many things need to be arranged in advance, such as provisions, training, mobilization, etc. How could they muster an army of a hundred thousand in a day?

Unless they had prepared long ago, waiting for the right moment.

"Exactly."

Li Shuhu said, "My father saw the danger in this and, on one hand, urgently sent messages to the Capital City for aid; on the other hand, he asked my Second Brother and me to prepare lavish gifts and come to Wusun Country to persuade the Wusun Great Khan not to open the borders to let the Barbarian Lion Army through."

Chen Tang asked, "How does this matter relate to Wusun Country?"

Li Shuhu fumbled on his body, took out a map, and unfurled it in front of Chen Tang.

The map was densely packed with information, including Beiqian, Nanxia, Wusun, Xiling Countries, the Six Barbarian Tribes to the north, and even the Extreme North Cold Domain.

Seen this way, the Barbarian Land is vast, lying north of Liangzhou, spanning east and west.

"Here is Liangzhou."

Li Shuhu said, "To the east of Liangzhou are the six major towns of Beiqian, established to defend against the Barbarian Race. To the north of Liangzhou is also Barbarian Land, but between them lies the Tianyin Mountain Range, stretching east to west."

"The mountain range is surrounded by an endless desert, directionless. Let alone the Barbarian army, even martial arts experts find it extremely difficult to cross the desert and climb the Tianyin Mountains."

Chen Tang’s gaze shifted to the west of Liangzhou, in the direction of Wusun Country, and asked, "So, for the Barbarian Race to invade Liangzhou, they must borrow the route from Wusun Country?"

"Exactly!"

Li Shuhu inwardly praised, "This brother Chen Tang is very quick-witted. He identified the key issue after just a glance at the map."

Chen Tang said, "If Wusun Country agrees to lend the route to the Barbarian Race, they too will be in jeopardy. This is a strategy of borrowing the path to annihilate the enemy."

Li Shuhu had never heard of borrowing the path to annihilate the enemy, and was momentarily stunned.

But he roughly understood Chen Tang’s meaning and said, "This is also how our father taught us, instructing my Second Brother to explain to the Wusun Great Khan that once Wusun Country lends the route to the Barbarian Race and Liangzhou falls, Wusun Country will then be in a perilous position."

At this, Li Shuhu sighed lightly and said, "However, the situation in Wusun Country is complex. Although the Great Khan is respected, the Little Kunmi faction is not weak."

"The Great Khan is young and finds it difficult to make decisions, while the Little Kunmi and Prime Minister Qin believe it is unwise to confront the Barbarian Race, fearing backlash. They think they should lend the route to the Barbarian Race."

"In the Imperial Court, I am not good with words. Only my Second Brother argued with them, resulting in a stalemate."

"Later, the Great Khan invited his master, Elder Feng of ’One Step to the Clouds’, to discuss the matter, but it turned out to be a trap laid by the Little Kunmi’s faction!"

Chen Tang frowned and said, "Were there other Grandmasters present?"

Li Shuhu nodded and said, "The Little Kunmi had long wanted to eliminate the Great Khan, but this man knew that behind the Great Khan was Elder Feng. Even if his faction could overthrow the Great Khan, it would bring endless troubles."

"In Wusun Country, Elder Feng rarely appeared. However, he held an extremely high status, as he was the only Grandmaster expert in Wusun Country."

"This time, the Barbarian Lion Army borrowing the route turned out to be a perfect opportunity for him to collude with the barbarian race. On that Imperial Court, there were two Barbarian Race Grandmasters already waiting in advance."

At this point, Li Shuhu paused, showing reluctance, and said, "Elder Feng originally firmly opposed lending the route to the Barbarian Race. Unfortunately, he only spoke a few words before the two Barbarian Grandmasters suddenly attacked."

"Elder Feng was caught off guard and, besieged by two Grandmasters, was heavily injured. Outside the palace, a trap had already been set, and Elder Feng could not escape."

Chen Tang’s face was solemn and silent.

No wonder the chubby old man was in trouble; it turned out that two Barbarian Grandmasters had ambushed him!

"Is he still alive?"

After a moment, Chen Tang asked.

"He should be alive."

Li Shuhu said, "I heard he was imprisoned in the Celestial Prison in the Capital City, as they want to force Elder Feng to reveal his Lightweight Skill."

"As long as he’s alive."

Chen Tang murmured lightly.

Li Shuhu said, "When my Second Brother saw that two Grandmasters were present, he realized something was wrong and told me to escape immediately."

"At that time, the palace guards’ attention was on Elder Feng, allowing me to escape amid the chaos, while my Second Brother got captured, alas."

"Unable to complete our father’s entrusted task, with my Second Brother imprisoned, I had no face to return after escaping Wusun Royal City but kept hiding while being pursued."

Chen Tang was thoughtful.

By now, the Barbarian Lion Army should have already passed through Wusun Country, threatening the border.

Though Liangzhou is also in crisis, besieging and conquering a city won’t be easy.

With Li Yan’s ability, he should be able to hold on for some time.

Currently, the most critical task is to rescue the chubby old man!

Each day delayed is another day of suffering and increased danger.

"Can you still ride a horse?"

Chen Tang asked.

"Yes, after a night’s sleep, I feel much recovered." Li Shuhu nodded.

"Mount up, we’re heading to Wusun Royal City." Chen Tang said.

"To do what?"

"Rescue someone."

"Just the two of us?"

Li Shuhu was taken aback and shook his head, saying, "Brother Chen Tang, it’s not that I’m afraid to die, I just don’t want to drag you down."

"Wusun Country is completely under the control of the Little Kunmi now, and the Royal City is heavily guarded, like a dragon’s den or tiger’s lair. For just the two of us, heading to the Capital City is a shot in the dark."

Now, with the Great Khan imprisoned and things looking bleak, wanting to rescue someone would be like going against all the strength of Wusun Country.

Chen Tang pondered, "The two Barbarian Grandmasters should have left by now."

"They must have left; staying in Wusun Country is pointless."

Li Shuhu said, "But even without Grandmasters, Wusun Country has several Innate Martial Artists; that Prime Minister Qin is a top expert within the Innate Realm, not to mention the Imperial Guard in the Royal City..."

Chen Tang said, "That’s fine, it’s not a big problem."