Chapter 681

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The soldiers marched in neat steps into Tong Pass.

Inside the pass, Sun Lirong had already descended from the city wall. Looking at the well-disciplined soldiers led by Chen Guodong, Sun Lirong suddenly felt a strange sensation.

However, this strange feeling was quickly replaced by a desire for silver.

“General Chen, Prince Zhao will surely reward you for bringing him so much silver!” Sun Lirong laughed heartily, but in his heart, he was thinking about how to seize these silver.

Chen Guodong and Ye Qingyun had already entered the pass. Chen Guodong still wore a fawning smile, while a cold glint flashed in Ye Qingyun’s eyes.

The Qingzhou soldiers who accompanied him this time were all elite veterans. Although there were only five thousand of them, it was enough to capture the city gate.

Sun Lirong had not yet realized the approaching danger. He exchanged pleasantries with Chen Guodong as they walked to the front of the boxes.

Just as Sun Lirong reached out to open a box, Ye Qingyun suddenly struck, drawing the ceremonial sword from his waist and stabbing it into Sun Lirong’s heart from behind.

The stab was fatal. Sun Lirong fell to the ground without even a scream. The other Zhao army soldiers were greatly alarmed and rushed towards Ye Qingyun and Chen Guodong.

“Kill!”

The Qingzhou army soldiers who had entered the city simultaneously charged at the Zhao army soldiers. Although they had been killing enemies with firearms, their close-combat skills had never fallen behind.

Moreover, the tempering of war made them experienced. Each move was devoid of useless flourishes, and every strike was fatal.

Sun Lirong’s death caused some confusion among the soldiers at the city gate. After clashing with the Qingzhou army, they were pushed back repeatedly.

The Zhao army soldiers were terrified and continuously retreated into the pass.

Just then, Ye Qingyun lit a flare. With a loud bang, colorful flames burst into the sky.

It was almost dusk. In a forest about five li from Tong Pass, Niu Ben saw the fireworks from the direction of Tong Pass.

At this moment, he said to Qi Guangyi and Bai Mu, “You two lead the cavalry to reinforce immediately! I will follow with the main army!”

“Yes, General.”

Qi Guangyi and Bai Mu said, and the two rode their horses, leading the cavalry towards Tong Pass.

Niu Ben then led the main army to follow closely behind.

When he arrived, Ye Qingyun had successfully controlled the city gate and city walls, while Qi Guangyi and Bai Mu, leveraging the advantage of their cavalry, quickly controlled the other city gates.

“General, Sun Lirong, the defender of Tong Pass, is dead. The garrison in the city is leaderless and no match for us. They have already been routed,” Ye Qingyun said.

Niu Ben nodded. The cavalry led by Qi Guangyi and Bai Mu outnumbered the defenders, so there was no reason why they couldn’t capture it.

He ordered Lu Fei to lead soldiers into the city to further eliminate the remaining Zhao army in the pass. At the same time, he said to the Prince of Huainan and Chen Xinran, “Your Highness, General Chen, with Tong Pass taken, Chang’an is right before us. I hope you two can lend your full support to capture Chang’an in one fell swoop.”

The Prince of Huainan and Chen Xinran now held the Western Expeditionary Army in high esteem. In their eyes, this was truly an elite force.

The two bowed to Niu Ben and said in unison, “Just give the orders, General.”

Niu Ben nodded. The reason Tong Pass was so easily captured this time was partly due to their successful plan, but the most important factor was the problem with the Tong Pass garrison.

Previously, Tong Pass could garrison at least a hundred thousand soldiers, but now, the vast Tong Pass only had thirty thousand soldiers.

First Hulao Pass, then Tong Pass, Prince Zhao’s weakness was apparent to him. Now was the opportunity to annihilate Prince Zhao in one fell swoop.

As the large army entered the city, the remaining garrison within the city was quickly cleared out. That night, Niu Ben once again gathered his generals to formulate a plan to attack Chang’an.

Unlike before, Niu Ben’s attack plan this time was quite bold. He ordered Qi Guangyi and Bai Mu to lead the cavalry directly to Chang’an first.

If Chang’an’s defenses were weak, they were to seize the opportunity to harass. At the same time, he instructed Qi Guangyi and Bai Mu to establish contact with the powerful families in Chang’an. At this point, if these powerful families still couldn’t see the situation clearly, it could only mean they were too foolish.

However, in Niu Ben’s opinion, as soon as Qi Guangyi and Bai Mu’s cavalry arrived, it would be the final straw that broke Prince Zhao’s back.

Because at that time, the powerful families in Chang’an would inevitably side with them to deal with this rebel.

…

Chang’an.

The sudden increase in soldiers on the streets made the common people uneasy. In the past month, the peaceful atmosphere in Chang’an had gradually become somewhat eerie.

And the news of Luoyang City being plundered by the Zhao army made them even more worried, fearing they would suffer the same fate as the people of Luoyang.

“Father King, the Qi army is approaching fiercely. I always feel that Chang’an is not a place to stay long. Why don’t we plunder the wealth and take the common people back?”

In the imperial palace study, Zhao Yuanliang advised.

Prince Zhao caressed the exquisite ceramics in the study with infatuation. These were official kiln porcelains that only an emperor could enjoy, and now he had to abandon all this. He was unwilling.

“Hmph, if it weren’t for Deng Yuan and Wang Xi’s incompetence, why would I be in such a sorry state now!” Prince Zhao roared in anger.

Zhao Yuanliang naturally completely shifted the blame for the defeat at Juyong Pass. In fact, he was the commanding general of the Battle of Juyong Pass.

But he was greedy for life and afraid of death, never even going to the battlefield, staying in Yuanzhou the whole time.

Although he hated Xiao Ming intensely, he felt a certain fear towards Xiao Ming’s army in his heart. His previous trip to Qingzhou left him with lingering trepidation.

“Father King is absolutely right. But Wang Xi being imprisoned is fine; this Deng Yuan still has some use. I hope Father King reconsiders.”

Prince Zhao nodded, “You have some logic there. Let Deng Yuan remain in the army to atone for his sins with meritorious service.”

Zhao Yuanliang breathed a slight sigh of relief. He continued, “But is Father King still planning to stay in Chang’an? This is not a place to stay long, after all.”

Prince Zhao already had the intention to evacuate Chang’an. The imperial treasury of Chang’an had been completely plundered by him. Besides this imperial palace, there was nothing left for him to cling to.

However, a glimmer of hope still lingered in his heart. If King Qi no longer advanced westward, he might not have to withdraw from here. After all, who would willingly leave this prosperous place?

“Now we just await news from Tong Pass. But you should also prepare. Once the news is unfavorable, immediately burn Chang’an and forcibly relocate the common people to Yuanzhou.” A ruthless glint flashed in Prince Zhao’s eyes.

He cared nothing for the rise and fall of the Great Yu Empire. In his eyes, there was only his own royal power. For this, he could destroy everything, and betray everything.

“Yes, Father King, I will go and prepare now.” Zhao Yuanliang rejoiced inwardly. Like Prince Zhao, even if he couldn’t obtain the imperial power of the Great Yu Empire, he still wanted to enjoy wealth and glory in his own feudal state.

After a pause, he suddenly remembered something and asked, “Father King, what about the Thirteenth Prince?”

“Let the Thirteenth Prince be left for Xiao Ming. I’d like to see how he treats a two-year-old prince,” Prince Zhao sneered.

Zhao Yuanliang chuckled simultaneously. Then he bowed and left the imperial palace. However, his and Prince Zhao’s triumph came to an abrupt halt the next day.

Qi Guangyi and Bai Mu led a large cavalry force and appeared outside Chang’an City.