The Young Swordsman of Dalu

While the Great Lu Kingdom was at war with the Western Regions, Murong Bo of the Northern Dynasty also launched an attack on the border troops of Beijiang City.

Li Chaoyang, mounted on his horse, watched the soldiers fighting ahead. He seemed to see himself in his youth, bravely fighting on the battlefield. He was filled with excitement and could not suppress his inner impulse. He spurred his horse, raised his spear, and charged towards the Northern Dynasty army.

When the soldiers saw Li Chaoyang enter the battlefield with a long spear in hand, they were all filled with excitement and their morale soared. They all brandished their weapons and charged towards the Northern Dynasty army.

The soldiers of the Great Lu Kingdom surged forward like a torrent, overwhelming the morale of the Northern Dynasty, and the Northern Dynasty soldiers retreated in droves.

Han Jue shouted, "Anyone who retreats will be killed without mercy!"

The Northern Dynasty soldiers had no choice but to charge forward despite their fears. The Lu soldiers, however, showed no signs of slowing down and hacked wildly at the Northern Dynasty soldiers, leaving them with no option but to flee.

"Charge forward!" Han Jue shouted.

"Marshal! The Lu Kingdom soldiers' offensive is too fierce! Our army is clearly at a disadvantage. We can't linger any longer. Let's retreat! Otherwise, it will be too late!" said the subordinate general.

"Withdraw!" Han Jue said unwillingly.

The Western Regions army turned and fled back to their camp. Shangguan Chenxing ordered, "Advance five li!"

The soldiers of the Great Lu Kingdom chased after the Northern Dynasty army with all their might, and the Northern Dynasty army fled in panic, retreating for a full ten miles.

"Let's set up camp here!" Shangguan Chenxing said.

“That’s excellent!” Li Chaoyang said.

"Didn't the Grand Secretary tell you to stay behind? Why did you rush up here? I was so worried!" Shangguan Chenxing said.

"I'm not afraid! I know what I'm doing. I was just inspired by the soldiers' spirit of fighting bravely against the enemy, and I couldn't help myself!" Li Chaoyang said with a smile.

"Uncle Li is still going strong despite his age! His heroic spirit is as strong as ever!" Wenjie said.

"Shangguan! I think news will soon come from the country and the northwest and eastern borders. If my estimation is correct, war has broken out in these places at the same time!" Li Chaoyang said.

"So it seems that my Great Lu Kingdom is once again surrounded by enemies on all sides!" Shangguan Chenxing said.

“I believe that all the men of the Great Lu Kingdom across the land are just as brave as we are on the battlefield!” Li Chaoyang said.

“It must be!” Shangguan Chenxing said.

"Report! The North Korean army is organizing its forces to prepare for a second offensive!"

"All soldiers! Prepare for battle!" Shangguan Chenxing commanded.

"Shangguan! It must have been Murong Bo who gave Han Jue the order. Since their master sent them to their deaths, let's not give Han Jue a chance to breathe this time. Let's attack the outskirts of Yan City in one fell swoop and teach that arrogant Murong Bo a lesson!" Li Chaoyang said.

"Alright! Let's go all the way to his doorstep!" Shangguan Chenxing said.

Han Jue quickly regrouped the disorganized Northern Dynasty army and prepared to launch a second attack on the Lu army.

Shangguan Chenxing had already led the army of the Great Lu Kingdom to his opposite side.

After his recent defeat, Han Jue had a bad feeling; he felt his military career was about to end. He hadn't expected the morale of the Great Lu army to be so high, nor had he expected Li Chaoyang to come here again.

"All soldiers, listen to my command! Attack with all your might, and march straight to the walls of Yancheng!" Shangguan Chenxing shouted, brandishing his spear.

All the soldiers bravely charged forward, brandishing their weapons and attacking the Northern Dynasty army. The Northern Dynasty army was completely overwhelmed by the momentum of the Lu army. After their defeat, the Northern Dynasty soldiers lost their fighting spirit and retreated one after another.

Han Jue gripped his spear and wildly stabbed at the retreating soldiers, cursing, "Charge forward, all of you! This is what will happen if you retreat again!"

The Northern Dynasty soldiers seemed not to have heard their commander's orders and continued to retreat. Han Jue was furious and said, "Heaven is going to destroy me, Han Jue!" With that, he raised his spear and charged towards the Lu army. Shangguan Chenxing, holding a large sword, slashed at Han Jue. The famous general of the Northern Dynasty was cut down from his horse. He died with his eyes wide open, unable to close them in peace.

Without their commander, the Northern Dynasty army scattered like headless flies, and the soldiers of the Great Lu Kingdom pursued them relentlessly, fighting all the way to the walls of Yan City.

"Give the order! The army shall set up camp here!" Shangguan Chenxing commanded.

"Shangguan! Prepare Han Jue's body properly; after all, he was a renowned general!" Li Chaoyang said.

“You’re right, Your Excellency! I’ll have someone do it right away!” Shangguan Chenxing said.

"Your Majesty! The army of the Great Lu Kingdom has already attacked the gates of our Yan City, and they have set up camp there!" said Eunuch Liu.

"Where is Han Jue?" Murong Bo asked.

"General Han has died for his country!" said Eunuch Liu.

"Ah!" Murong Bo cried out as blood flowed from his mouth and he fainted.

"Quickly summon the imperial physician!" Eunuch Liu shouted.

Murong Bo lay unconscious on the bed. The imperial physician took his pulse and prescribed medicine.

"How is His Majesty, the Imperial Physician?" Eunuch Liu asked.

"Your Majesty's condition is caused by a sudden surge of anger! I have prescribed some medicine for Your Majesty to take first," the imperial physician said.

"Where is Baili Heng?" Murong Bo asked, still half-asleep.

"This servant will summon him immediately!" said Eunuch Liu.

Baili Heng was summoned to the palace. Murong Bo struggled to get up from the dragon bed. When he saw Baili Heng, he asked, "Why are you here all the time?"

"Where does Your Majesty wish me to be?" Baili Heng asked.

"Baili Heng, don't think I don't know your plans. You oppose me and secretly collude with the Empress Dowager to oppose me. You, Baili Heng, deserve to die!" Murong Bo shouted.

"Then please punish me, Your Majesty!" Baili Heng said, adopting a nonchalant attitude.

"Don't think that just because the Empress Dowager is backing you up, I won't dare to do anything to you! Guards! Drag this disrespectful bastard out and behead him!" Murong Bo said angrily.

Two imperial guards came to Baili Heng's side, grabbed him, and took him outside. Baili Heng knew this was his fate, so he did not resist.

"Release him!" Jin Yuanying walked in from outside the hall, followed by Ji Wuchang. Jin Shoukang also escorted Tuoba Hongrui into the hall.

"Grandmother! You..." After seeing the bound Tuoba Hongrui, Murong Bo knew that all his plans were under his grandmother's control. He had never escaped her grasp. Murong Bo was too weak to resist and spat out another mouthful of blood. He could barely sit there.

Baili Heng knelt down before Jin Yuanying and said, "Your subject respectfully welcomes the Empress Dowager back to court!"

"Baili Heng, get up quickly! You've suffered!" Jin Yuanying said.

"I simply do not wish for the people of the Northern Dynasty to suffer the pain of war again!" Baili Heng said.

"You did it!" Kim Won-young said.

"His Majesty may have suffered a stroke from anger!" Baili Heng said.

"Let the imperial physician treat His Majesty. Eunuch Liu, summon the court officials to court to discuss state affairs!" Jin Yuanying said.

Eunuch Liu glanced at Murong Bo and then left.