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Chapter 807: Confrontation on the Battlefield
Chapter 807: Confrontation on the Battlefield
September 25, 2017
Emperor Ling's plan to capture Lu Hai Kong within a day was nothing but a pipe dream, a fantasy concocted by an outsider with no understanding of the situation.
Aside from that, although Huangfu Song was considered one of the top generals in the Great Han, mobilizing an army of fifty to sixty thousand required time, especially for a renowned general like him. Unlike Yuan Shao, a novice on the battlefield, Huangfu Song paid meticulous attention to every detail during the mobilization.
Even when Huangfu Song's army was besieging Lu Hai Kong's troops outside the city, he had already begun his preparations. However, from the time he received Emperor Ling's oral decree to the arrival of the army outside Luoyang, nearly a full day had passed.
When the sixty thousand-strong Northern Army deployed outside Luoyang, many people were already watching from the city walls. Numerous ministers in the court who understood military affairs eagerly anticipated this battle.
Among the knowledgeable ministers, many were confident in the Northern Army, despite the devastating defeat at the hands of the Eight Schools of the Western Garden. On the contrary, that defeat had left many people frustrated, hoping that the Northern Army would crush Lu Hai Kong's arrogant demeanor.
Under these circumstances, numerous ministers personally climbed up the city walls of Luoyang, eager to witness the battle firsthand.
At that moment, almost all the nobility of Luoyang, and even the entire Great Han, had gathered on the city walls.
Yuan Wei, one of the Three Dukes of the Yuan family, who had previously trembled in the General's Mansion; General He Jin, the Grand Stables Master Wang Yun, and Cai Yong, who had come with Wang Yun; these were among the high-ranking and influential ministers present.
Some were there out of personal interest, while others had received news and arrived early. Just a few hours ago, word had spread that Emperor Ling intended to personally witness the battle. However, after waiting for a couple of hours, there was no sign of the Emperor's arrival.
In truth, Emperor Ling did intend to come, but unfortunately, he changed his mind and did not go to Luoyang. Instead, he sent someone to retrieve a precious treasure from the Divine Armory and placed it in his chamber.
When the treasure was displayed, a light screen appeared before Emperor Ling, showing a bird's-eye view of the standoff between Lu Hai Kong's Bloody Legion and the Northern Army outside Luoyang.
The treasure Emperor Ling used seemed quite advanced, providing an immersive experience despite being viewed through a tool. Through the light screen, Emperor Ling could see and feel the aura of the two opposing armies.
As Emperor Ling witnessed Lu Hai Kong, his face pale, riding a divine horse onto the battlefield through the light screen, he was momentarily stunned, his expression turning complex.
...
Outside Luoyang, in the midst of the standoff between the two armies, Huangfu Song rode alone to the front lines of the Bloody Legion.
Before the battle, Huangfu Song's sudden action perplexed the ministers on the city walls, unsure of his intentions.
If possible, Huangfu Song had no intention of fighting Lu Hai Kong, as he lacked absolute confidence in victory. Even if he won, the Northern Army would still suffer heavy casualties. Therefore, at this moment, Huangfu Song wanted to make an effort to try and persuade Lu Hai Kong to surrender.
He was well aware of the risks involved in his actions. These risks did not include the possibility of Lu Hai Kong taking advantage to eliminate him but rather the potential for criticism within the court. Nonetheless, he proceeded, understanding that once the battle commenced, it would no longer be a matter of criticism.
Huangfu Song stood before the Bloody Legion and shouted loudly, "General Lu, your old acquaintance Huangfu Song seeks an audience!"
As Huangfu Song waited, not long after, Lu Hai Kong, his face pale, emerged riding the 'Little Luzi.'
"After so many years apart, I never imagined we'd meet again under such circumstances." Huangfu Song sighed as he looked at Lu Hai Kong's pale face.
"Why did you call me out just to say this?" Lu Hai Kong frowned and spoke coldly, his mood visibly sour.
"Of course not," Huangfu Song replied. "I want to persuade General Lu..."
Lu Hai Kong interrupted with a cold snort, "Persuade me? Persuade me to what? To be loyal and obedient, standing idly by while the imperial relatives and the venomous Empress kill me? To persuade me to let my fiancee take action for me, only to be brutally suppressed? To persuade me to keep silent and endure, pretending nothing happened?"
"Do you even understand who's in the wrong here? Is it me? No, it's not me. It's He Jin and Empress He, fearlessly toying with the court, openly assassinating court officials, trampling on the nation's laws and dignity. Don't you know that?"
Lu Hai Kong's words came like a torrent, his face contorted with anger, an unnatural flush creeping up his pale visage. Huangfu Song was left stunned.
After a moment of hesitation, Huangfu Song decided to deflect Lu Hai Kong's interrogation. As a veteran general who had once lost a verbal spar with Lu Hai Kong, he knew exactly what to do in this situation.
"Lord Lu, as court soldiers, our duty is to obey. We want to believe in His Majesty, in his wisdom..."
"Believe in His Majesty? Of course, I believe in His Majesty, but does His Majesty believe in me?" Lu Hai Kong interrupted Huangfu Song once more.
"When I received His Majesty's order in Bingzhou, I immediately gathered my strongest troops and rushed to Luoyang without rest. And what happened? I was assassinated on the way. What did His Majesty do? Did he give me justice?"
"Fine! If His Majesty doesn't give me justice, that's not a problem. I, Lu Hai Kong, rose from the bottom. I've endured hardships and endured grievances, and I know it's because of His Majesty that I have today. How could I get emotional over such a small matter with His Majesty?"
"Why did I stop advancing? It's to show His Majesty the rampant influence of the imperial in-laws and to inform him of the harm they pose to the Great Han Empire! I sincerely believed in His Majesty's wisdom and strength, but the imperial in-laws are so rampant. If they aren't eliminated early on, I dare say, after His Majesty ascends to the throne, the empire might not bear the name of the Liu family but that of the He family. By then, what face will His Majesty have to face the ancestors of the Liu family?"
"Lord Lu, watch your words!" Huangfu Song's eyebrows furrowed as he coldly shouted. At the same time, in the Luoyang Imperial Palace, Emperor Ling of Han trembled, kicking Zhang Rang who was beside him to the ground.
Lu Hai Kong completely ignored him and continued, "I'm so loyal, and how does His Majesty repay me? Not only does he not eliminate the imperial in-laws, but he also loses trust in me and even wants to break off my engagement with Princess San. When Princess San sought justice for me, he suppressed her instead."
At this moment, a book was opened, and a look was enough to confirm the truth.
As Lu Hai Kong spoke, his pale face suddenly erupted with a terrifying aura, which surged towards Huangfu Song, causing him to tremble.
"I can see that His Majesty has been deeply bewitched by the Empress. Only by clearing the court can the Emperor's wisdom be restored and the collapsing empire be saved. Huangfu, will you help me clear the court and restore the Emperor's wisdom, or will you aid the tyrant and watch as the Great Han Empire crumbles? You decide."
After Lu Hai Kong finished speaking, he completely ignored Huangfu Song and turned back to his camp.
Huangfu Song was left standing there, dumbfounded, vaguely realizing that coming to see Lu Hai Kong might have been a serious mistake.
At the same time, in the imperial palace, Emperor Ling was also in a fit of rage.
Although Lu Hai Kong's words seemed sincere, they touched upon many of Emperor Ling's taboos.
Whether it was talking about his life and death or his ability to face the ancestors, these were all things Emperor Ling was extremely sensitive about. Therefore, despite Lu Hai Kong's words carrying a hint of truth, Emperor Ling was still filled with anger.
Who was he? He was Emperor Ling of the Great Han Empire, the master of this empire. When did it become Lu Hai Kong's turn, a bandit from the mountains and a lowly commoner, to judge his actions and talk about clearing the court and restoring the Emperor's wisdom? How dare he!
Emperor Ling had never been one to accept criticism, let alone Lu Hai Kong's blunt criticism. How could he accept such a direct insult, almost like pointing at his nose and calling him a foolish ruler?
In this fit of rage, the unfortunate Zhang Rang was kicked several times by Emperor Ling.
Fortunately, Emperor Ling's small and weak body didn't have much strength, and Zhang Rang was not seriously injured after being kicked.
After kicking Zhang Rang a few times, Emperor Ling struggled to catch his breath and sat down. Zhang Rang, seeing this, immediately rushed over, his face devoid of resentment, carefully attending to Emperor Ling as he always did.
After a while, Emperor Ling recovered and, with a complex look, glared at Zhang Rang. Then, he raised his head and glared at the screen in front of him, shouting furiously, "Pass on my order! Tell Huangfu Song to immediately capture the traitor Lu Hai Kong and inform him that I want Lu Hai Kong dead!"
(End of Chapter)
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