Huanzhu Time Travel: Yan Luo's Unbreakable Love in the Yong Dynasty

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the ground, creating an atmosphere so heavy it was almost suffocating. Hongli clutched the urgent report tightly in his hand, the letter trembling slightly at his fingertips. His face grew increasingly grim, his eyes blazing with anger at betrayal and impending crisis. "The Galdan tribe has actually colluded with a mysterious force!" His voice was low and suppressed, filled with barely suppressed rage, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.

Xiao Yanzi sat to one side, the hem of the Empress's court dress draped naturally, outlining her dignified figure. But at this moment, she had no mind to care about her demeanor; her brows were furrowed, and her eyes were full of worry. "Your Majesty, what is the origin of this mysterious force? Why is it colluding with the Galdan tribe at this particular time?" She subconsciously clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white from the force.

The ministers in the hall exchanged glances, none daring to speak for a moment. After a long while, an elderly minister stepped forward shakily, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that the border regions have always been a melting pot of all sorts of people, perhaps some江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) gangs seeking to profit from the chaos. However, with this mysterious force suddenly intervening, the situation for our army is likely to become even more dire." As he spoke, he shook his head slightly, his face full of worry.

"Hmph, no matter who they are, daring to invade our borders, I will make sure they never return!" Hongli slammed his fist on the table, making the teacup jump and spill tea onto the table.

At this moment, Su Peisheng hurriedly entered the hall, looking flustered. "Your Majesty, Prince Heshuo requests an audience!"

"Summon them quickly!" Hongli was extremely anxious. At this moment, he urgently needed the help of all parties to discuss a strategy to defeat the enemy.

Hongzhou strode into the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Today, he was dressed in a black robe with a jade belt around his waist, and his hair was tied up in a jade crown. Usually carefree and easygoing, he now had a solemn expression. "Father, I have heard that the war on the border is tense, so I have come to offer my advice." He knelt on one knee, his voice firm and powerful.

"Get up. Speak your mind." Hongli's eyes revealed a hint of expectation.

Hongzhou stood up and took two steps forward. "Your Majesty, I believe that although our army has suffered a temporary setback, its morale remains high. We should immediately dispatch an elite force to bypass the enemy's rear and cut off their food and supplies. At the same time, we should also transfer a batch of superior firearms from the capital to support the front lines. This will surely turn the tide of the battle." As he spoke, he gestured with his hands to indicate the marching route, his expression focused.

Hongli nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "This plan is feasible. However, detouring behind enemy lines is a treacherous route, and we'll need someone familiar with the terrain to lead the way..."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops there!" A young general stepped forward. He was tall and straight, dressed in black, with a long sword at his waist, and his eyes revealed determination and courage. This man was Li Zhao, the son of the frontier envoy. He had grown up on the frontier since childhood and knew the terrain there like the back of his hand.

"Good! I hereby appoint you as the vanguard, leading five thousand elite troops to cut off the enemy's supplies!" A hint of satisfaction flashed in Hongli's eyes as he immediately issued the decree.

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Li Zhao knelt on one knee, accepted the order, and left.

After making the arrangements, Hongli turned to Fucha Fuheng and asked, "Fuheng, how is your communication with the surrounding tribes going? Will the intervention of this mysterious force affect our plans?"

Fucha Fuheng frowned slightly. "Your Majesty, the tribes we have persuaded so far have remained relatively firm in their stance, but the appearance of this mysterious force has indeed shaken the resolve of other tribes. I will intensify our communication with them to help them see the situation clearly and solidify their position." He bowed slightly, his tone sincere, his eyes revealing an unwavering determination.

"Thank you for your hard work. Please do it as soon as possible." Hongli patted Fucha Fuheng on the shoulder, his eyes full of trust.

After the ministers left, only Hongli and Xiaoyanzi remained in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Xiaoyanzi walked to Hongli's side and gently took his hand. "Your Majesty, please don't overwork yourself. I believe we can overcome this difficulty." Her voice was soft and warm, trying to dispel the gloom in Hongli's heart.

Hongli looked at Xiaoyanzi with tenderness in his eyes. "With you by my side, I feel much more at ease. But how can I be at ease until the war is over?" He gently stroked Xiaoyanzi's hair, his expression weary yet resolute.

Days passed, and news from the front lines was inconsistent, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Li Zhao's elite troops, while traversing a mountain forest, were ambushed by a mysterious force. Suddenly, countless arrows rained down from the dense woods, striking soldiers one after another, their blood staining the grass. Li Zhao brandished his longsword, parrying and fighting his way through, shouting, "Brothers, don't panic! Fight your way out!" His face was splattered with enemy blood, but his eyes grew ever more resolute.

However, the mysterious force's offensive was fierce, and Li Zhao's troops gradually found themselves in dire straits. Just when they were about to give up, a battle cry suddenly came from afar. It turned out that General Zhao Hui had learned of Li Zhao's ambush and personally led reinforcements to the scene.

"Reinforcements have arrived! Brothers, charge!" Upon seeing General Zhao Hui's banner, Li Zhao's morale soared, and he led his soldiers in a counterattack.

General Zhao Hui, riding a tall warhorse and brandishing his long sword, charged into the enemy ranks. His swordsmanship was fierce and powerful, each strike felling a group of enemies. "Kill! Don't let a single one escape!" His voice, like a booming bell, resounded across the battlefield, inspiring the soldiers' fighting spirit.

Under the combined attack of General Zhao Hui and Li Zhao, the mysterious forces finally succumbed and fled. Although the battle was won, Li Zhao's troops also suffered heavy casualties.

"General Zhao Hui, thank you for saving my life." Li Zhao walked up to General Zhao Hui, knelt on one knee, and said gratefully.

General Zhao Hui quickly helped him up. "General Li, there's no need for such formalities. Your courage in venturing deep behind enemy lines is commendable. However, this mysterious force is truly troublesome." His expression was grave as he looked at the devastation on the battlefield, his heart filled with worry.

Meanwhile, Fucha Fuheng also brought good news. He had successfully persuaded the last wavering tribe to join the fight against Galdan. This news greatly excited Hongli and Xiaoyanzi.

"Excellent! Fuheng has indeed lived up to my expectations." Hongli's face showed a long-lost smile. "In this way, Galdan's flank has been exposed."

"Your Majesty, this is a great opportunity," Xiao Yanzi said excitedly. "It would allow General Zhao Hui to seize this opportunity and launch a full-scale attack."

Hongli nodded. "I will issue an order immediately, commanding General Zhaohui to lead troops! We must defeat Galdan's forces in one fell swoop!"

However, just as Hongli was preparing to issue the decree, another urgent report arrived. After learning of the threat to their flank, Galdan's forces, in a desperate move, gathered all their forces and launched a fierce attack on General Zhaohui's camp.

"Your Majesty, the Galdan tribe has gone completely mad!" Xiao Yanzi's face turned extremely grim as she read the urgent report.

Hongli took a deep breath. "Things have come to this point, so we can only let General Zhaohui fight with all his might. I will also dispatch another 50,000 troops to rush to the aid of the frontier!" His eyes were filled with determination. At this moment, he had made up his mind that no matter what the cost, he would defend the border.

Inside the imperial palace in the capital, Xiao Yanzi and the other concubines prayed day and night for the soldiers at the front. They lit eternal lamps in the palace's Buddhist hall, hoping to bring good fortune to the soldiers.

"Your Majesty, do you think the soldiers on the front lines will be able to return safely?" Little Swallow looked at the Buddha statue in the Buddhist hall, her eyes filled with worry.

Zhen Huan (the Empress Dowager) gently patted Xiao Yanzi's hand. "Your Majesty, rest assured, General Zhao Hui and his soldiers are brave and fearless. They will surely return safely and defeat the enemy." Her voice was calm and firm, giving people a sense of reassurance.

Meanwhile, on the frontier battlefield, General Zhao Hui was leading his soldiers in a fierce battle against Galdan's forces. Smoke filled the air, battle cries shook the heavens, and the blood of the soldiers stained the earth.

"Soldiers, for the country, for the people, fight!" General Zhao Hui brandished his long sword, leading the charge at the forefront. He was already wounded in many places, his battle robe stained with blood, but he still did not flinch.

Just as the two sides were locked in fierce combat, Li Zhao led the remaining troops to the battlefield. "Brothers, kill! Support General Zhao Hui!" he shouted, leading his soldiers to charge into the enemy lines.

With Li Zhao's support, General Zhao Hui's pressure was greatly reduced. They cooperated and gradually gained the upper hand. Galdan's soldiers began to waver, and their formation gradually fell into disarray.

"The enemy is about to be defeated, brothers, charge!" General Zhao Hui saw the enemy's weakness and immediately ordered a general offensive.

The soldiers surged towards the enemy like a tidal wave, their battle cries deafening. Galdan's forces finally could not withstand the onslaught and fled in disarray. General Zhaohui led his troops in pursuit, driving the enemy all the way out of the border.

"Your Majesty, good news has arrived from the border! General Zhao Hui has decisively defeated Galdan's forces, and the enemy has been driven out of the border!" Su Peisheng walked into the Hall of Mental Cultivation with a joyful expression and presented the good news to Hongli.

Upon receiving the report of victory, Hongli smiled with satisfaction. "Good! Good! General Zhaohui has indeed lived up to my expectations!" His voice was filled with joy and pride.

Little Swallow was also very happy. "Great! Your Majesty, the soldiers can finally return safely." Her eyes glistened with tears, tears of joy and tears of emotion for the soldiers' bravery.

However, just as everyone was immersed in the joy of victory, a mysterious figure quietly left the capital and headed towards the frontier...