205: The Western Regions barbarians are knocking on the gate! Jiang Si, the kendo idiot!

Chapter 204: Western Regions Fan People Attack the Pass! Sword Dao Idiot Jiang Si! (23)

Northern Liang and Qingzhou border each other. On the third day after Wang Linquan was killed, Qingliang Mountain received the news.

In Tingchao Pavilion, Li Yishan’s brows were tightly furrowed.

Before, he thought Xu Fengnian wouldn't lose, but Xu Fengnian lost utterly.

Later, the Esoteric Buddhism Cultivation Technique sneak attack he devised was also cracked by Li Chang'an.

Then Li Yishan activated Wang Linquan, but the man died, and the money was gone!

Xu Xiao’s ox-like eyes stared blankly at Li Yishan.

Then, Xu Xiao let out a pained howl!

“Yishan, my silver, my Wang Linquan!”

“Zhao Yutai, Wang Ying, Wang Linquan! Li Chang'an is pulling out my nails!”

Li Yishan sighed, “Wang Linquan acts meticulously and rarely leaves traces.”

“Unexpectedly, the commendation order that Your Highness personally issued back then exposed his identity.”

Xu Xiao’s face still held an expression of disbelief!

“Li Chang'an’s seven thousand men actually defeated Zhao Heng’s more than forty thousand!”

“If this were to get out, the people of the world would think that old me had come out of retirement again!”

“If that descendant of the Southern Tang Hong family was really that formidable, how could Gu Jiantang have destroyed his country?”

Xu Xiao was a bit worried. If Li Chang'an really reached Sha Province, it was uncertain what major events he might cause.

But Xu Fengnian was hidden somewhere by Li Chang'an, and Northern Liang couldn't openly confront Li Chang'an.

Li Yishan pondered for a while, as if he had thought of another scheme.

But Xu Xiao spoke first, preempting him before he could open his mouth.

“Yishan, it’s not that I don’t trust you!”

“It’s just that Li Chang'an is truly too peculiar.”

“Qingcheng Mountain, Daliang Mountain, Tianmu Mountain, all three of our strongholds have been uprooted by Li Chang'an!”

“The Longshang Horse Stronghold within Western Shu Province cannot be moved lightly this time!”

The Longshang Horse Stronghold was a mountain stronghold that operated a black market for horses.

There were many people in the stronghold, as many as twenty thousand.

However, the main task of these twenty thousand people was to raise and sell horses.

It was located in a no-man's-land between Northern Liang, Western Shu Province, and the Fan People tribes.

Because of Northern Liang’s covert support and thorough arrangements with all parties, it had always stood firm.

Xu Xiao’s actions made Li Yishan both laugh and cry.

“Your Highness, rest assured, the Longshang Horse Stronghold is of great importance and will never be moved lightly.”

“Li Chang'an, heading further west, needs to pass through Western Shu Province and exit Jiange Pass to reach Sha Province.”

“However, there are major movements happening around Shanshan recently.”

The Shanshan Tribe, like the White-Robed Guanyin’s Wala Tribe, was a major Fan People tribe.

A glint flashed in Xu Xiao’s eyes, “Oh right, how could I forget those savages!”

“They want to attack Jianmen Pass and have repeatedly probed whether we would send aid.”

“Jianmen Pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and there are sixty thousand Li Yang Dynasty border troops stationed there.”

“Northern Liang needs to defend against Northern Mang; how can it have the troops to care for Jianmen Pass!”

Li Yishan smiled and said, “If they can eliminate Li Chang'an, we can avoid sending troops.”

“The Fan People of the Western Regions are different from the Huns of Northern Mang. The Fan People only plunder grain and common folk; they don't seize land.”

“The Northern Mang Huns want to occupy our cities and slaughter our people. Moreover, Northern Liang only defends the imperial court against Northern Mang; defending against the Western Regions Fan People is not Northern Liang’s responsibility.”

Xu Xiao slowly nodded, “Yishan, I think this plan is feasible!”

“Even if the Western Regions Fan People aren’t serious, and Li Chang'an manages to escape Jianmen Pass.”

“Li Chang'an would also have formed a deadly feud with Shanshan, making it even harder for him to establish a foothold in Sha Province!”

Li Yishan continued, “There’s one more thing, regarding Jiang Si.”

“Jiang Si is missing. We still don’t know who abducted her.”

“We will spread the rumor that the exiled princess of Western Chu is being kept in Li Chang'an’s army!”

“In that case, those remnants of Western Chu will also go looking for trouble with Li Chang'an!”

Xu Xiao said with satisfaction, “Among all those who can cause trouble in this world, you, Li Yishan, rank first!”

After discussing the Fan People matter, they talked about Xu Fengnian again.

“Yishan, after so many years of operation, the Fushui Bureau still can’t find Feng Nian’s whereabouts?”

Li Yishan shook his head helplessly, “I suspect Li Chang'an didn’t hide Feng Nian by his side at all.”

“If he has already sent people to hide Feng Nian deep within the Li Yang Dynasty, how could we find him?”

Because they couldn't plant spies around Li Chang'an, Xu Xiao and Li Yishan couldn't get any news about Xu Fengnian.

Qingzhou, King of Tang’s military camp.

Jiang Si finally met Li Chang'an.

But the scene of their meeting was somewhat different from what she had imagined.

The Li Chang'an of before was a thought in her mind.

But the Li Chang'an before her now was very distant from her.

The easygoing big boy in her memory had now become a majestic King of Tang.

The “Brother Chang'an” on the tip of her tongue was swallowed back.

“Jiang Si greets Your Highness.”

By Li Chang'an’s side, there was only Qingniao now.

Qingniao politely said, “Young Miss Jiang, please sit first.”

“His Highness is busy.”

Jiang Si sat down with a puzzled expression, occasionally stealing a glance at Li Chang'an.

In her eyes, Li Chang'an’s handsome and unrestrained demeanor remained, with an added sense of composure and majesty.

On the table in front of Li Chang'an lay a copy of the “Sword Scripture.”

This was transcribed by Wu Liuding and Cui Hua, containing all the sword techniques collected by the Sword Tomb.

Of course, these sword techniques were not top-tier, but rather used by the master and servant to Cultivate Sword Intent.

Knowing more sword techniques would naturally help them comprehend Sword Intent.

As the contemporary Sword Crown and Sword Attendant, Wu Liuding and Cui Hua’s Finger-Sensing Secret Arts were both Sword Intent.

Li Chang'an flipped through it once and memorized all the sword techniques.

Name: Jiang Si

Age: 17 years old

Realm: Martial Artist Fifth-Rank · Peak

Talent: Sword Dao (First-Rank), Financial Management (Second-Rank)

Ability: Sword Dao (Sixth-Rank), Financial Management (Third-Rank)

Affection: 90

Jiang Si had grown up, and her current appearance certainly lived up to her ranking as a third-place beauty on the Rouge List.

The top five on the future Rouge List would be Nangong Pu She, Chen Yu, Jiang Si, Huyan Guanyin, and Pei Nanwei.

“Jiang Si, how is your Sword Dao Cultivation?”

Jiang Si suddenly looked up, clearly not expecting Li Chang'an to ask this.

Li Chang'an’s voice was the same as what she had heard these past few days.

Majestic and magnetic, yet without a trace of emotion.

The distance of two or three zhang between them felt incredibly far to Jiang Si.

“Your Highness, I have practiced Sword Dao for several years, but I have never grasped the essentials.”

Jiang Si’s words surprised Li Chang'an a little.

Jiang Si was an Innate Sword Embryo; how could she not grasp the essentials of practicing the sword?

“Qingniao, find Jiang Si a sword and test her sword techniques.”

Subsequently, Qingniao found a sword, and then Jiang Si began to demonstrate the sword techniques she had learned.

Li Chang'an, who had read the Sword Scripture, couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. Xu Xiao hadn’t given Jiang Si very good sword techniques.

A dignified Innate Sword Embryo had actually become a Sword Dao idiot.

“You’ve been in the military camp for several days now; you should have seen that I don’t keep idlers.”

“Since you were rescued by me, you must serve me.”

Jiang Si’s expression changed slightly, and her face flushed a little.

It wasn’t shyness, but rather embarrassment and a touch of shame.

She had previously fantasized about how warm her meeting with Li Chang'an would be.

After all, this was a story of a hero saving a beauty!

Unexpectedly, Li Chang'an was all business, demanding Jiang Si’s service.

Li Chang'an continued, “However, you don't seem to have any notable skills.”

At this moment, Jiang Si was somewhat at a loss, both laughing and crying.

Because her Sword Dao truly hadn't gotten anywhere.

“What did you do in the Northern Liang Royal Mansion?”

Jiang Si replied, “I guarded the tomb of the former Princess, and then casually learned some sword techniques.”

Li Chang'an said, “How about this, since you don’t have any particular specialty, you can be my maid.”

“But my maidservants cannot be idle eaters.”

“Look at Qingniao, her spear techniques are exquisite, and I like her very much!”

Qingniao, who had been standing solemnly, couldn't help but blush at Li Chang'an’s words.

Jiang Si asked doubtfully, “Your Highness wants me to be a maid like Qingniao?”

Li Chang'an replied, “Yes, that’s right!”

“From now on, you will be like Qingniao, protecting me day and night.”

Qingniao looked at Jiang Si’s innocent expression and couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for her.

Jiang Si had no idea what being a maid like Qingniao implied.

Another naive girl was about to fall into His Highness’s clutches.

Indeed, Jiang Si was quite puzzled, “But my martial arts are not good; I cannot protect Your Highness.”

Li Chang'an said, “No matter, I’ll find someone to teach you.”

After speaking, Li Chang'an had Qingniao call Wu Liuding and Cui Hua in.

After the two came in, they were both a bit surprised to see Jiang Si.

Because Jiang Si was an Innate Sword Embryo, she would advance a thousand miles a day in Sword Dao practice!

Although they couldn't discern it clearly, they could always sense something unusual.

Li Chang'an said, “Cui Hua, starting today, you are responsible for teaching Jiang Si Sword Dao.”

Cui Hua replied, “Your subordinate obeys!”

Li Chang'an said, “Just teach Jiang Ni to master these 108 sword techniques from the Sword Scripture. Do not teach them anything else.”

After speaking, Li Chang'an handed the Sword Scripture to Jiang Si.

Jiang Si eagerly took the Sword Scripture and quickly began to flip through it.

“Yue Maiden Sword Technique, Jade Flute Sword Technique, Winding Soft Sword…”

“Lingchen Sword Manual, Five Thunder Piercing Heart Sword, Hegemon Sword Technique…”

“Cloud Mist Thirteen Forms, Fast and Slow Seventeen Routes…”

The more she read, the more engrossed she became, as if a new world had opened up to her.

These sword techniques were immeasurably more profound than the ones the Northern Liang Royal Mansion had given her to fool around with!

In fact, these were all ordinary sword techniques; none of them were even at the First-Rank Great Grandmaster level.

Wu Liuding said, “Your Highness, although these sword techniques are not First-Rank, they are all exquisitely brilliant sword moves.”

“If Young Miss Jiang’s foundation is not stable, mastering one a year would be quite good.”

Hearing Wu Liuding’s words, Jiang Si’s expression also changed slightly.

To master all 108 types, wouldn't that take a lifetime of practice!

But Li Chang'an said sternly, “Master one a month, otherwise half of Jiang Si’s allowance will be deducted!”

Li Chang'an always meant what he said, so Wu Liuding and Cui Hua immediately accepted the order.

Anyway, if she couldn’t learn it, their money wouldn’t be deducted.

After Li Chang'an finished speaking, he left directly.

Cui Hua, who had never taught a disciple before, was somewhat eager to try.

“Young Miss Jiang, you wouldn’t want your allowance deducted, would you…”

Jiang Si’s face showed bitterness, and she was momentarily lost.

When she was Jiang Ni guarding the tomb, Xu Fengnian often deducted her allowance.

Now that she was back to being Jiang Si, she was still going to have her money deducted!

Tai'an City.

Each time Emperor Zhao Chun received news about Li Chang'an, he was filled with mixed feelings of joy and worry.

This was also the case with the news from Qingzhou.

“Yumen Commandery, which Xu Xiao couldn’t reclaim, has been taken back by Li Chang'an.”

“This Li Chang'an truly brings me surprises every time,”

Yuan Benxi’s face bloomed into a brilliant chrysanthemum-like smile.

“Your Majesty, Li Chang'an slaying Zhao Xun is truly a great joy!”

The sixth Imperial Prince, Zhao Heng, had almost ascended to the throne back then.

The current Emperor Zhao Chun held deep resentment towards him in his heart.

However, with the Empress Dowager’s protection and the late emperor’s will still in effect, he could only be allowed to continue guarding Qingzhou.

Li Chang'an killed Zhao Xun, and it was under the pretext of quelling rebellion and revolt.

It was well-reasoned, justifiable, and lawful!

Zhao Chun burst into laughter upon hearing the news of Zhao Xun’s death.

“Haha! Old Six, oh, Old Six!”

“You good-for-nothing Old Six, your only son has been killed!”

“Aren’t you the most favored by the Empress Dowager, and the late emperor also loved you the most!”

“Even the dignified Martial Emperor City Lord Wang Xianzhi took you as his godson!”

“But what happened? All your private soldiers are gone, and you couldn’t even protect your son!”

“What a relief! What a relief indeed!”

Zhao Chun was gloating from the bottom of his heart!

But after each moment of happiness, Zhao Chun always worried.

“Li Chang'an is bold enough to offend Old Six so much on Qingzhou’s territory!”

“I knew the Qingzhou Navy was rotten, but I didn’t expect it to be rotten to this extent!”

“Is it that the Qingzhou Navy is incompetent, or that Li Chang'an is getting stronger?”

After all, Li Chang'an had only seven thousand men, yet he defeated an enemy six times his size.

Emperor Zhao Chun couldn't help but worry.

Yuan Benxi replied, “Your Majesty, no matter how strong Li Chang'an is, he’s not enough to fill the gaps in Xu Xiao’s army.”

“We will confidently let him go to Sha Province. If he grows too powerful, we’ll let Xu Xiao eliminate him directly!”

“By then, the stronger Li Chang'an becomes, the greater the attrition for Xu Xiao!”

Zhao Chun nodded, “Indeed, that’s the case. Li Chang'an’s role is still to contain Xu Xiao!”

“Mr. Yuan, with the Shanshan Tribe Fan People invading this time, it’s a good opportunity for Li Chang'an to assist in repelling the enemy!”

The Western Regions Fan People tribes were vast and sparsely populated.

Every year, they would send troops to plunder the Central Plains region for people and grain.

Liang Province, under Northern Liang’s jurisdiction, and Western Shu Province, directly managed by the Li Yang Dynasty, were both disaster areas.

Yuan Benxi replied, “Your Majesty, this plan is feasible!”

Qingzhou.

Li Chang'an, who had just arrived at the border of Qingzhou, received an imperial decree from the imperial court.

The imperial decree stated that the Shanshan Fan People would invade the border.

Li Chang'an was to pass through Jiange Pass on his way out to Sha Province.

The imperial decree ordered Li Chang'an to assist in repelling the enemy, and only after defeating the Fan People should he exit the pass and proceed to his fief.

Xu Weibear, who was familiar with Northern Liang’s military and political affairs, said, “The Fan People generally attack in two directions.”

“One is Jiange Pass, and the other is the Liang Province border further north.”

“The damage they cause is limited, and they always suffer losses in Liang Province.”

Li Chang'an said, “Zhao Chun always wants me to put out his fires and, by the way, consume some of my military strength.”

“I haven’t seen him allocate a single tael of silver for my military pay!”

Hong Shu also said with dissatisfaction, “We’ll just wait in Western Shu. Once the Jiange Pass defenders repel the Fan People, we’ll exit the pass!”

Li Chang'an nodded, “Hong Shu, we need to get timely intelligence on the military situation in the west.”

“In the future, we need to establish a foothold in Sha Province, and the Shanshan Fan People must be eliminated.”

Of the seven commanderies in Sha Province, two were in the hands of the Fan People.

Yumen Commandery, occupied by the Wala Tribe, had already been reclaimed, but Shanshan still held Gantai Commandery.

Li Chang'an and these Western Regions Fan People would have a battle sooner or later.