Chapter Ninety-Two: Father and Son, Brother and Brother

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Zhong Ming slowly unfolded the letter, which was filled with over a hundred words detailing the scene of Li Jianye’s entry into Luoyang City. Three days prior, Li Jianye’s convoy had encountered the ten thousand imperial guards of Luoyang at Wushan. Hu Su was ordered to retake command of these ten thousand guards and continue advancing toward Luoyang.

According to the letter, before Li Jianye returned to the city, he had faced three assassination attempts. The first two were small in scale and did not affect him, but the final attempt caused him to lose a great deal.

At dawn this morning, ten miles outside the South Gate of Luoyang, Chen Lianghai, a former general under Prince Qin and commander of the elite Tiger Guard, led ten thousand troops to block the way. Both armies stood ready to risk their lives, determined to kill Li Jianye.

Chen Lianghai, brandishing his sword on horseback, declared, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, I cannot allow you to enter the city today. I am willing to bear the name of traitor for Prince Qin and exchange my life for yours.”

The first two assassination attempts were carried out by no more than a hundred assassins dressed in night clothes, meant as probes and warnings. But this third attack marked the beginning of a life-or-death struggle and rang the war drums for the succession battle between Li Shicheng and Li Jianye.

Chen Lianghai, one of Prince Qin’s top generals, stepped forward to block the way, pledging his life to the cause. Whether or not he could kill Li Jianye, Chen was prepared to pay with his head.

This unavoidable war was now out in the open; neither Li Jianye nor Li Shicheng dared to hold back. Emperor Tang Zhen, Li Yuan, turned a blind eye. It was too late to stop it. Three years ago, he had not sent anyone out to fetch Li Jianye, signaling that he had lost control over the political struggle unfolding in court.

His sons were grown, and many times Li Yuan found himself powerless to intervene.

This founding emperor, who had fought countless battles, defeated the Former Chen, resisted the Later Chen and Southern Han, yet he was helpless with his own two sons.

Prince Qin, Li Shicheng, wielded military power, commanding more troops than the emperor himself. Hidden Crown Prince Li Jianye had long gathered support, and most civil officials in court owed allegiance to him. Many officials had resigned when the crown prince fled Luoyang.

This battle, fought ten miles outside the imperial capital, was the first hurdle for Li Jianye’s return. If he could not pass it, he had no right to contest the throne with Li Shicheng.

Outside the South Gate, ten thousand Tiger Guards blocked the road; inside the gate, officials knelt to welcome the Crown Prince’s return.

A bloody and heroic battle raged for half an hour, with ten thousand Tiger Guards clashing against ten thousand imperial guards outside the city.

Chen Lianghai, one of the few top warriors on the Heavenly Gang Ranking, was ranked tenth, possessing strength on par with Hu Su.

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