187: Xu Fengnian gets married according to imperial decree! Gu Dazu returns to his heart!

Chapter 186: Xu Fengnian Marries by imperial decree! Gu Dazu's Loyalty! (23)

After tallying his gains, Li Chang'an returned to the county town at the foot of the mountain.

The next step was to secretly forge equipment in Qingcheng Mountain, and then recruit more soldiers to expand his forces.

As for why he remained in Qingcheng Mountain, the reason was simple: to eradicate evil and wipe out the mountain bandits.

News of Li Chang'an's cavalry trampling Qingcheng Mountain and killing Wu Lingsu's entire family quickly spread throughout the southern part of Yong Province.

The common people, who had long suffered from banditry, finally saw the dawn of peace.

Because of the rampant bandits in the mountains, they had been plundered and bullied for years.

Now, the mountain bandits had been completely annihilated, and their protectors had been uprooted!

Destroying the old immortal of Qingcheng Mountain was something the common people had never dared to imagine!

When Li Chang'an returned to the city, the streets on both sides were filled with kneeling common people!

"Long live the King of Tang!"

"Thank you, Your Highness, for saving our lives!"

"May King Li enjoy eternal blessings!"

Amidst various shouts of gratitude and blessings, Li Chang'an rode past majestically.

Upon reaching the city gate, he suddenly waved his hand!

"Brocade-Clad Guards, where are you!"

Behind him, more than thirty Brocade-Clad Guards immediately responded in unison, their voices chilling!

"Here!"

Li Chang'an pointed at the thirty-odd bandit leaders in the procession and declared, "These people are all bandit leaders and core members."

"Behead them all, then scatter their ashes!"

Upon receiving the order, the Brocade-Clad Guards beheaded all thirty-odd individuals, then gathered their bodies.

Flames ignited, and a pungent stench permeated the air!

The common people watched the raging flames, many of them shedding tears of excitement!

These evil bandits, who had ridden roughshod over the common people, deserved their deaths! They got what they deserved!

This fire was so damn satisfying!

"Serves them right!"

"Burn them well!"

"Good and evil will ultimately be rewarded!"

As the great fire began to die down, Li Chang'an's expression was solemn.

"Those who harm the common people, even if they are as noble as kings or marquises!"

"This King will never tolerate them; I will surely cut them down with a sword!"

These words were chilling and full of Killing Intent!

Some merchants who had secretly traded with the mountain bandits couldn't help but tremble.

"With this King here, the Qingcheng Mountain bandits will never dare to descend the mountain and cause trouble again!"

"However, crimes must be punished, and evil must be eradicated!"

"This King will be stationed in Qingcheng Mountain to wipe out all mountain bandits!"

"As long as the mountain bandits are not completely killed, this King will not leave the mountain!"

Hearing Li Chang'an's powerful words, the common people erupted in cheers again!

They never imagined that this young King would possess such courage!

"Thank you, Your Highness, for giving us peaceful days!"

"Your Highness, this humble commoner has some family assets and is willing to contribute to military expenses!"

"This humble commoner wishes to join the army and follow Your Highness!"

"Your Highness, I want to be a Brocade-Clad Guard!"

The common people were enthusiastic, and with their support, recruiting soldiers would not be difficult.

Afterward, Li Chang'an continued to suppress bandits in the mountains.

News of him leveling Qingcheng Mountain also spread throughout the land.

Tai'an City.

Emperor Zhao Chun let out a series of cold sneers, "Wu Lingsu actually did hide weapons and armor!"

"The Grand Pillar State, the King of Northern Liang, has quite a long reach."

"Li Chang'an actually broke into Qingyang Palace, but he was too presumptuous, killing Wu Lingsu directly!"

Sitting beside Zhao Chun was the elder, Imperial Tutor Yuan Benxi.

Yuan Benxi now controlled Intelligence Agency and wielded immense influence in the imperial court.

"Your Majesty, eliminating one of Xu Xiao's hidden pieces is always a good thing."

"Xu Xiao had a Zhi Xuan Realm expert hidden in Qingcheng Mountain."

"Now it seems that Your Majesty's plan to use Li Chang'an against Xu Xiao is quite effective!"

Zhao Chun said, "As long as Li Chang'an dares to continue weakening Xu Xiao, we will support him!"

"We must also restrict him, keeping him in a state where we can crush him at any time!"

"He currently has less than five thousand troops; the hundred thousand Yongzhou Army can eliminate them in an instant!"

Yuan Benxi had always maintained that the King of Northern Liang, Xu Xiao, being too powerful to control, was the greatest threat to Liyang.

Compared to Xu Xiao's three hundred and fifty thousand troops, the small Li Chang'an was not worth fearing.

Zhao Chun said worriedly, "I had previously planned that if he resolved Northern Liang's hidden piece, I would grant him the four prefectures of Hebei."

"However, Li Chang'an's prestige in Yong Province is growing, making it highly inappropriate for him to have a fief in Yong Province!"

Yuan Benxi replied, "This is easy; if Li Chang'an performs another meritorious service, what's wrong with giving him a fief?"

"Throughout the Liyang realm, we can always find a barren, chaotic place that can also constrain Northern Liang!"

"But for now, the big trouble in Yong Province should still be left for Li Chang'an to solve!"

A glint flashed in Zhao Chun's eyes, "Mr. Yuan is referring to Chu Lushan!"

"That Xu Xiao indeed refused to promise that Northern Liang would never have hereditary succession for Chu Lushan's sake."

"Northern Liang's Fushui Bureau is frequently active in Yong Province; it seems they want to rescue Chu Lushan!"

Yuan Benxi continued, "Let Li Chang'an supervise Chu Lushan's execution, and let them continue to fight Xu Xiao!"

"Chu Lushan is highly valued by Xu Xiao; Xu Xiao will definitely use many of his hidden cards in Yong Province!"

Zhao Chun nodded, "Good! Let them fight like dogs!"

"However, since Xu Xiao won't give up hereditary succession, we still need to find a way."

Yuan Benxi said, "Your Majesty, this old man has a plan!"

Zhao Chun relied heavily on Yuan Benxi, "Teacher, please speak!"

Yuan Benxi said, "Grant a marriage between Princess Suizhu and the Northern Liang Crown Prince, and have Xu Fengnian enter the capital to become a consort!"

"Once Xu Fengnian enters the capital, he will never return to Northern Liang!"

"No matter how arrogant Xu Cripple is, would he dare to refuse the Emperor's boundless grace?"

Zhao Chun had six sons and one daughter, and this only daughter, Princess Suizhu, was exceedingly pampered.

He gritted his teeth and said, "For the sake of the Liyang realm, why should I begrudge a daughter!"

Days later.

Northern Liang Royal Mansion, Listening to the Tide Pavilion.

Crown Prince Xu Fengnian let out a wail!

"What? Li Chang'an killed Aunt Zhao!"

When Xu Fengnian was young, Zhao Yutai, wearing copper armor and a mask, followed by Princess Wu Su's side.

Later, after Wu Su passed away, Zhao Yutai went to Qingcheng Mountain.

Zhao Yutai was an elder whom Xu Fengnian respected.

"Isn't Aunt a first-rank expert as you all said?"

"How could she be killed by Li Chang'an!"

Xu Fengnian clenched his fists, his expression almost frantic!

"That scoundrel Li Chang'an, just a subjugated remnant, why does he repeatedly oppose our Northern Liang!"

"Xu Xiao! Master! Is this matter just going to be left at that?!"

Facing Xu Fengnian's anger, Xu Xiao's face was grim, and Li Yishan was pensive.

When he first heard the news, Xu Xiao was even angrier than Xu Fengnian!

He had long laid out his plans in Qingcheng Mountain, and Zhao Yutai had even used Prince Qingcheng as a cover.

Xu Xiao truly hadn't expected Li Chang'an to attack Qingcheng Mountain and kill Wu Lingsu's entire family!

That was Prince Qingcheng, personally enfeoffed by the previous Emperor!

"Now, it has been confirmed that there was armor in Qingcheng Mountain."

"However, your aunt acted cautiously and left no evidence related to Northern Liang."

The current Xu Fengnian was completely unaware of Xu Xiao's plans.

"Xu Xiao! Li Chang'an crippled Luqiuer, took my second sister, and now killed my aunt!"

"How can our Northern Liang Royal Mansion, with its illustrious reputation, allow this scoundrel to humiliate us like this!"

Xu Xiao sighed, "What else can be done?"

"Hiding armor is a capital crime punishable by extermination of nine generations, and Li Chang'an was acting on an imperial decree to suppress bandits."

Xu Fengnian couldn't help but say angrily, "So, Luqiuer deserved to die for breaking the law?"

"Aunt's family deserved to be exterminated?"

"What breaking the law, what committing a crime, what acting on an imperial decree!"

"When has our Northern Liang ever feared the national law?"

No matter how Xu Fengnian raged and threw tantrums, Xu Xiao and Li Yishan simply let him be.

They wanted Xu Fengnian to experience the feeling of being bullied.

When Xu Fengnian tired of scolding, Xu Xiao took out a bright yellow scroll.

"Feng Nian, this is the Zhao family's greatest rule, an imperial decree!"

Xu Fengnian grumblingly took the imperial decree, and after reading it, his anger flared up again.

"Is this Princess Suizhu very beautiful? She certainly puts on airs!"

"Making this Crown Prince enter the capital to be a consort, can I even get out of Tai'an City once I'm in?"

"How stifling it is to be a consort! I can only have the Princess as a woman my whole life!"

"What if Princess Suizhu truly resembles a pig, as ugly as a pig? What then?"

After Xu Fengnian finished scolding, Xu Xiao also started scolding.

"Damn it, that old Yuan Benxi, full of wicked schemes!"

Xu Xiao cursed a few times, then turned to Xu Fengnian.

"However, Feng Nian, your Master and I have already thought of a countermeasure."

"I will use your profligacy and unfilial behavior as an excuse to kick you out of the family for three years of travel!"

"If you're not in Northern Liang, what can the imperial court say?"

After Xu Xiao finished speaking, he found that the usually lively Xu Fengnian had suddenly fallen silent.

"Ahem, son, you're not really unfilial and profligate..."

He had barely said two sentences when Xu Fengnian interrupted him.

"Xu Xiao! Don't say such useless things!"

"Luqiuer hasn't been rescued yet, and Aunt can't die in vain!"

Hearing this, Li Yishan suddenly raised his eyebrows, "Is the Crown Prince saying that he has an idea?"

Xu Fengnian said, "Haven't you all been trying to find a way to rescue Luqiuer these past few days?"

"The bandits of Daliang Mountain, the Jianghu School of Yong Province, the officials and wealthy families in Jin City, haven't you all been laying out plans?"

Li Yishan said, "Indeed, some are like Zhao Yutai, hidden pieces for many years."

"And some are being rapidly infiltrated."

Xu Fengnian sneered, "Since you all want to put on a big show in Jin City, how can it be without this Crown Prince!"

"Since the Emperor is so eager to marry his daughter to me, then this Crown Prince will marry by imperial decree!"

Hearing Xu Fengnian's words, Xu Xiao immediately became anxious.

"Oh my!"

"Son, you can't say such angry words!"

"Even if Princess Suizhu is a Heavenly Immortal descended to the mortal realm, you cannot enter the capital to marry her!"

Li Yishan, however, smiled knowingly and said, "Your Highness, don't worry!"

"Feng Nian means to appear to do one thing while secretly doing another!"

"The Crown Prince will marry by imperial decree, but will be robbed by bandits within Yong Province and go missing!"

"Of course, these bandits will be our own people, arranged by us."

"Then, Feng Nian will secretly command this operation to rescue Luqiuer."

Xu Fengnian continued, "After rescuing Luqiuer, I will then travel the Jianghu."

"In this way, the Northern Liang Crown Prince being robbed in Yong Province, the responsibility lies entirely with the imperial court!"

"This Crown Prince also won't have his reputation damaged or bear the charge of being unfilial and profligate!"

When Xu Xiao heard this, his eyes immediately lit up!

"My son is the most filial and the smartest; this idea is truly brilliant!"

"How could I not have thought of it! Hahahaha!"

Xu Fengnian gritted his teeth, rescuing Chu Lushan alone was not enough!

He was planning to kill Li Chang'an!

Flames shot from Xu Fengnian's eyes, and a surge of heroic spirit filled his chest!

"Xu Xiao! I want Jin City to be filled with Northern Liang blades!"

Yong Province, Qingcheng Mountain.

The armor for the true Bai Er Soldiers and Mo Dao teams had already been forged.

Gu Dazu picked up a fifty-catty Mo Dao and skillfully wielded it.

"Great Tang Mo Dao!"

"I never thought I would see it again!"

Western Chu called itself Great Chu, and Southern Tang also called itself Great Tang.

However, the Great Tang that Gu Dazu spoke of was not the same as the Great Tang in Li Chang'an's mind.

In Li Chang'an's previous life, during the world-shaking Great Tang era, Mo Dao only weighed twenty catties.

In this world, with the existence of martial Dao, Mo Dao all weighed fifty catties!

Looking at the two thousand sets of bright, grand, and sturdy armor, Gu Dazu's voice trembled uncontrollably.

"Is this the armor of the Mo Dao Army? This set of armor, this old man has never seen it before."

Li Chang'an said, "Seeing the light of the sun, the world is brightly illuminated!"

"This set of armor is named Bright Light Armor!"

The Bright Light Armor, which did not exist in this world, excited Gu Dazu immensely.

During this time, Li Chang'an had given this famous general of Southern Tang too many shocks!

In his opinion, the power of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms was already not far from the Vajra Realm Peak.

And the current Li Chang'an was only sixteen years old!

Even more terrifying was that Li Chang'an had, in a short time, trained two incredibly loyal new armies!

His Aura and methods of trampling Qingcheng Mountain and killing Wu Lingsu had also completely won him over!

"The world is brightly illuminated..."

"Your Highness's ambition is actually to illuminate the world!"

"Hahahaha! If a young man can have such grand aspirations, why should this old man begrudge his own life!"

Gu Dazu laughed loudly twice, then turned and knelt on one knee before Li Chang'an!

The old general, who had experienced the sorrow of a fallen nation, had his blood ignited once again!

His powerful voice echoed loudly in the cave!

"Gu Dazu, an old gate guard of Southern Tang, is willing to serve Your Highness as a dog and horse!"

Gate guard, guarding the national gate of Southern Tang!

Thereafter, news from Northern Liang, Yong Province, and the imperial court was continuously sent into Qingyang Palace.

Zhao Chun's imperial decree arrived, bestowing some gold and silver, and ordering Li Chang'an to execute Chu Lushan in the autumn.

To execute Chu Lushan, he would have to deal with the surging tactics from Northern Liang.

The imperial court also wanted to use Li Chang'an's power to probe Xu Xiao's arrangements in Yong Province.

As for the matter of the fief, Zhao Chun was still drawing a pie in the sky, saying what would happen next time.

However, the current Li Chang'an already had his own forces.

The matter of the fief needed to be planned and fought for, but waiting was not an option.

Having stayed in Qingcheng Mountain for over three months, it was time to prepare to return to Jin City.

At night, in Qingyang Palace.

In Li Chang'an's room, there was only Hong Shu, a bed-warming maid.

When he entered the room, Hong Shu poked her head out from under the covers.

"Your Highness, where is Young Miss Xu?"

Li Chang'an said casually, "Weixiong is feeling unwell today and is staying in the side room."

Hearing that Xu Weibear was not present, Hong Shu suddenly felt an inexplicable tension.

Although she was with Li Chang'an every day, she rarely had alone time with him.

"Your Highness, the bed is warm, this servant will leave now."

At this moment, Li Chang'an sat down beside her without ceremony.

"What's the rush? Are you afraid of this King?"

Hong Shu was about to get up, but hearing this, her heart pounded rapidly!

She subconsciously puffed out her chest, not showing any weakness in her words.

"This girl isn't afraid at all!"

"Isn't it just a body search?"

"Come on!"