The Young Swordsman of Dalu

Wen Fei sprinted to the border between the two countries and rushed into the military tent, where Shangguan Chenxing had already arrived.

"General Shangguan, please save my master!" Wen Fei knelt down in front of Shangguan Chenxing with tears in his eyes.

"Wenfei, get up quickly and explain in detail." Shangguan Chenxing stepped forward to help Wenfei up.

"My master entered the Northern Dynasty's palace and was imprisoned in the palace by the young emperor's imperial guards, and he hasn't been able to come out," Wenfei said, crying.

"Did Senior Ji say anything to you?" Shangguan Chenxing asked.

"My master told me to tell you to lead your soldiers to defend the border people to the death," Wenfei said.

"All soldiers, listen to my command! We swear to defend the people on the border to the death! We will never retreat!" Shangguan Chenxing said solemnly.

"We swear to defend the people on the border to the death! We will never retreat!" the soldiers shouted in unison.

"I want to join you too, General Shangguan!" Wen Fei said firmly.

"Enter the ranks!" Shangguan Chenxing said authoritatively.

At this time, a large army was pressing in on the border, with all the armies of the Northern Dynasty lined up on the border line.

The soldiers of the Great Lu Kingdom, led by Shangguan Chenxing, stood in majestic formation on the border.

The two armies faced each other, and a war was about to break out.

The Western Regions army was also converging with the Northern Dynasty army in the northwest, making the border situation extremely critical.

At this time, the court of the Great Lu Kingdom was also in chaos. Taking advantage of the fact that his brother, the emperor, had gone to the Southern Mountains to recuperate, Prince Zhou Moyao actually launched a palace coup. He killed all the emperor's confidants who should be killed and imprisoned all the confidants who should be imprisoned.

Wen Tao went to Nanshan with the emperor, while his family members who remained in the capital were imprisoned in Zhou Moyao's mansion and could not come and go as they pleased.

The Liang family suffered the same fate. The old imperial physician Liang also went to Nanshan with the emperor, and the people in the mansion were imprisoned in the mansion.

After receiving the secret report in Nanshan, the emperor roared and cursed, "Zhou Moyao, you rebellious wretch! How dare you defy me! It's all my fault for being merciful and sparing you for a moment. When I catch you, I will tear you to pieces!"

"Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to contact all the armies and march into the capital to launch a punitive expedition," a minister said.

"Your Majesty, I have just received a secret report from the northern border. The armies of the Northern Dynasty and the Western Regions have already pressed on to our border and are currently confronting the border troops of our Great Lu Kingdom. A great battle is imminent," Wen Tao said urgently.

"Is there any news from Wenxian Pavilion?" the emperor asked.

"Master Li will be here shortly!" the attendant said.

"My beloved ministers, in this time of national crisis, you stand with me in our shared hatred of the enemy. With our unity, we will surely defeat both internal and external troubles," the emperor said passionately.

"Your Majesty, Li Chaoyang from Wenxian Pavilion requests an audience."

"Quickly, invite Elder Li!" the Emperor said.

Li Chaoyang strode into the hall and knelt down: "Li Chaoyang of Wenxian Pavilion pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Lord Li, please rise. You need not kneel before me," the Emperor said politely.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Chaoyang said, rising to his feet.

"Old Master! How should we deal with the current situation?" the Emperor asked.

"Your Majesty, I believe we should first keep the foreign enemies out of the border before returning to clean up the mess at home," Li Chaoyang said.

"The old master must have a foolproof plan in mind. I entrust my life and fortune entirely to you," the emperor said.

“The Great Lu Kingdom was conquered by me following the late emperor, and I will never allow it to be violated by anyone. I am determined to fight to the death for the Great Lu Kingdom,” Li Chaoyang said.

"Li Chaoyang, receive the decree! I hereby bestow upon you the title of Grand Marshal of the Army and the Tiger Tally to mobilize all armies. You have the right to execute first and report later. I grant you the duty to kill those who disrupt the country and to stabilize the borders. For the sake of the Great Lu Kingdom, I entrust everything to you. Li Chaoyang, I bow to you on behalf of the late Emperor." The Emperor then knelt down on both knees.

"Your Majesty! You mustn't! You're making me feel terrible! I, Li Chaoyang, will certainly live up to your expectations!" Li Chaoyang also knelt down before the emperor.

Li Chaoyang brought out all sorts of talented people from Wenxian Pavilion. Among them were those who could lead troops into battle, those who knew astronomy and geography, many martial arts masters, and many skilled craftsmen. Li Chaoyang assigned them to the army according to their respective abilities.

Li Chaoyang then looked at Wen Tao: "Prince Wen, do you still have the courage you had when you went on your solo mission to the Western Regions back then?"

“Old Master, the passion in Wen Tao’s heart still exists, and it has been rekindled.” Wen Tao said.

"Although I don't think much of you, you really impressed me back then," Li Chaoyang said, looking at Wen Tao with admiration.

"Old Master! Now that the nation is in peril, please give me your orders, and I will do my utmost," Wen Tao said.

"Good! You have the style of your father! Wentao, take the order!" Li Chaoyang said authoritatively.

"Wen Tao, receive the order!" Wen Tao shouted.

"From today onwards, you will serve as the vanguard, wielding the Tiger Tally to mobilize various armies and fight your way back to the capital, striving to annihilate the rebels within the city," Li Chaoyang said.

"Wen Tao obeys!" Wen Tao said solemnly.

"Han Jiujiang, you will lead a large army to stay in Nanshan. His Majesty's safety is entirely entrusted to you!" Li Chaoyang said.

"Han Jiujiang obeys!"

"Li Linfeng, you will lead the Southern Route Army to guard the southern gate of our Great Lu Kingdom and prevent the Southern Barbarians from taking the opportunity to launch a sneak attack," Li Chaoyang said.

"Li Linfeng obeys!"

"Li Linlie, you will lead the Western Route Army to resist the invasion of the armies of the Western Regions!" Li Chaoyang said.

"Li Linlie obeys!"

"The rest of you shall follow me, Li Chaoyang, and march into the northern border!" Li Chaoyang said.

"Father! Let me go to the North, you stay in the Southern Army, that way we brothers can rest easy," Li Linfeng said.

“Father! Eldest brother is right, you should stay!” Li Linlie said.

"In times of national crisis, there is no distinction of age. Although I am old, my heart for the country and its people will never die!" Li Chaoyang said passionately.

"Father!" the Li brothers cried out in unison.

"Stop talking! The situation is forcing you two brothers to forge ahead bravely and not back down!" Li Chaoyang said.

"I will obey Father's command!"

"The army marches forth!" Li Chaoyang gave the order.

All the armies set off in their respective directions, and Li Chaoyang bid farewell to the emperor.

The emperor stood atop the city gate, watching the armies depart into the distance, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

The emperor watched Li Chaoyang's departing figure and uttered, "The setting sun shines on the great banner, the horses neigh and the wind whistles."

Li Wei and Liang Feiyan also infiltrated the army. They put on armor and carried swords at their waists, looking very imposing.

"Sister Feiyan, will my grandfather find out about us?" Li Wei said in a low voice.

"As long as we don't do anything outrageous, the old master won't find us. We just need to obediently follow the main group," Liang Feiyan said.

"Sister Feiyan, I'm so excited about the fact that we're going to the Northern Border soon," Li Wei said.

"Calm down! We're about to have a real fight with the Northern Dynasty army," Liang Feiyan said.

"I will fight bravely against the enemy. We will never be inferior to the men," Li Wei said, clenching his fist.

"Alright! It's up to you then," Liang Feiyan said.