Mo Li

Half a month later, the Regent of Great Chu, Mo Jingli, along with the Empress Dowager, the newly enthroned young emperor, and most of the court officials, moved south to Jiangnan. Left behind in the capital were the elder statesmen led by Duke Hua and a faction of upright civil officials. Upon receiving this news, the morale of the frontline troops collapsed instantly, and the already dire war situation turned into a complete rout. The Northern Rong forces advanced relentlessly southward. Ten days later, Zijing Pass, which had held out for months, was finally breached, allowing a flood of northern soldiers to pour through.

Meanwhile, far in Western Liang, Mo Xiuyao received the news just as the Mo Family Army reached the gates of the Western Mausoleum Imperial City. The Battle of Fengcheng had been a test of the young generals like Chen Yun, who had learned from their earlier lessons in Biancheng and performed admirably. Although Lei Tengfeng was ultimately rescued by the Gold-Clad Guards, this minor flaw did not overshadow their overall success. Months of relentless combat had transformed the once-inexperienced troops into the Mo Family Army’s true elite. By the time they arrived at the Western Mausoleum Imperial City, it was already the ninth month.

After encircling the city, Mo Xiuyao did not immediately order an assault. Instead, he maintained the siege, giving his exhausted soldiers a much-needed respite.

Inside the Western Mausoleum palace, the Xiling Emperor frowned deeply as he studied the elegant young man in white standing before him. Seated below the emperor, Xu Qingbai, also dressed in white and exuding scholarly refinement, regarded the emperor with a faint smile. The Xiling Emperor was only in his early fifties, but compared to the imposing Zhennan Wang—who remained dignified despite losing an arm—he appeared utterly lackluster. Years of indulgence in revelry had left him gaunt, with sallow skin, dull eyes, and sagging eyelids. Though not old, he exuded an air of lifelessness.

Xu Qingbai paid no mind to the palace guards glaring at him from nearby. He had actually been in Western Liang for quite some time, but the emperor had initially refused to see him. Perhaps the emperor had never imagined his Western Mausoleum Army would prove so utterly defenseless against the Mo Family Army. It was only after the Mo forces breached both Biancheng and Fengcheng in less than half a month that the emperor grew truly alarmed. Yet negotiations—especially those concerning the fate of a nation—were not easily resolved. Moreover, the emperor clung to a sliver of hope, making his stance wavering and indecisive. Now, with the Mo Family Army at his gates and no word from Zhennan Wang’s forces, hesitation was no longer an option.

Having spent years in the impoverished northwest working on agricultural projects, Xu Qingbai had not lost the innate grace of a scholar. Instead, time had polished away his youthful naivety, leaving him even more composed and serene. Among the diverse personalities of the Xu Family’s sons, Xu Qingbai was the truest heir to their centuries-old scholarly legacy—a genuine prodigy. Xu Qingchen was too transcendent, Xu Qingze too aloof, Xu Qingfeng more akin to a warrior, and Xu Qingyan too restless. Only Xu Qingbai, with his gentle demeanor and tranquil smile, embodied the refined elegance of a true gentleman, making it impossible for anyone to dislike him.

"Has the Xiling Emperor reached a decision?" Xu Qingbai finally asked, his voice calm and unhurried.The Xiling Emperor did not relax at Xu Qingbai's gentle demeanor, his brows still deeply furrowed with a troubled expression. Xu Qingbai said leisurely, "Why must Your Majesty be so troubled? Prince Ding's Estate has no intention of making things difficult for you. We are merely acting out of necessity."

Everyone present, including the Qilin guards standing at the door, vigilantly watching the palace guards, found this statement utterly absurd. They had already marched all the way to the capital—how could this not be considered making things difficult? What would it take to qualify as such?

Facing the Xiling Emperor's skeptical look, Xu Qingbai smiled and said, "If Zhennan Wang hadn't been so ambitious as to send troops to attack Great Chu, our Wang Ye wouldn’t have resorted to such measures to trouble Your Majesty." The Xiling Emperor frowned and replied, "As far as I know, the Mo Family Army has already severed ties with Eastern Chu. Young Master Xu, do not try to deceive me with such words." Even as a puppet emperor, he was still the emperor, and Xu Qingbai’s attempt to mislead him felt like an insult to his intelligence. Xu Qingbai, unperturbed, shook his head helplessly. "Although our Wang Ye has no intention of interfering in Great Chu’s affairs, Your Majesty must understand that the northwest is small and barren. If Zhennan Wang were to conquer Great Chu, given his boundless ambition, wouldn’t he inevitably turn his sights on Prince Ding's Estate next?"

The Xiling Emperor fell silent, somewhat persuaded by Xu Qingbai’s words. Deep down, he knew much of it was sophistry, but under these circumstances, people were far more inclined to accept such reasoning. He couldn’t help but wonder—if Zhennan Wang hadn’t attacked Great Chu, would Mo Xiuyao have refrained from invading Xiling? More importantly, while Lei Zhenting had launched his campaign against Great Chu, he had taken Xiling’s most elite troops and, even in Xiling’s hour of crisis, showed no intention of returning to aid them, instead continuing his assault on Great Chu. This was something the Xiling Emperor could not easily overlook.

Seeing the emperor’s silence, Xu Qingbai pressed on, "Your Majesty surely understands that with Xiling’s current military strength… the capital cannot possibly be defended. Even if our Prince Ding's Estate were to withdraw now, could Your Majesty withstand the forces of the Western Regions? As far as I know, the minor kingdoms of the Western Regions have already formed a coalition of fifteen nations, amassing an army of six hundred thousand at the border, seeking vengeance for the blood debt incurred by Xiling’s past campaigns in their lands…"

At this, the Xiling Emperor shuddered. The number of people Longyang had slaughtered in the Western Regions was beyond counting. For centuries, many of these small states had lived under Xiling’s oppressive shadow, their hatred for Xiling running deep. Only Xiling’s military might had kept them subdued, forcing them to swallow their grievances in silence. But their patience did not mean they had accepted subjugation—now that Xiling had been defeated by the Mo Family Army, these small nations were already stirring.

The Xiling Emperor knew full well he was no match for Mo Xiuyao, nor could he contend with the Western Regions’ deep-seated hatred for Xiling. Just as he had always known he could never outmaneuver his younger brother, Zhennan Wang, he was a man who recognized reality. After a long pause, the emperor finally spoke, "What is it that Young Master Xu wishes to say?"Xu Qingbai raised an eyebrow slightly, sensing the Xiling Emperor's wavering resolve. With a faint smile, he said, "If the Xiling Emperor cedes the Western Mausoleum Imperial City, all territories previously captured by the Mo Family Army will be returned to the northwest. The Mo Family Army will immediately withdraw its troops. Wouldn't peaceful coexistence between our two sides be ideal?"

The Xiling Emperor nearly spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot. Peaceful coexistence?! The Mo Family Army had seized a third of Xiling's territory and now came to talk about peaceful coexistence?

Shaking his head, the Xiling Emperor replied, "The imperial city is out of the question. If Prince Ding withdraws his troops immediately, the lands previously occupied by the Mo Family Army can be handed over to Prince Ding's Estate. Additionally, I can include Qingyang Province. Qingyang borders Great Chu and is twice the size of Anping Province, where the imperial city is located." The imperial city was the capital and foundation of Xiling. If even the imperial city were lost, how could he, as emperor, retain any dignity? Would he have to follow the example of the Great Chu emperor and flee?

Speaking of which, Xiling and Great Chu truly shared the same roots. They had risen in rebellion against the previous dynasty around the same time and established their nations almost simultaneously. When Xiling was strong, Great Chu thrived; when Great Chu fell into chaos, Xiling followed suit. For over a century, neither had gained a significant advantage over the other. And now, the new emperor of Great Chu had fled, while the Western Mausoleum Imperial City faced an overwhelming military threat.

Xu Qingbai waved his folding fan and shook his head. "Your Majesty, does the Western Mausoleum Imperial City truly hold any real significance for you? The so-called imperial city... is merely the residence of the Son of Heaven. As long as the Son of Heaven remains, can't an imperial city be built anywhere? Given the current circumstances, even if the imperial city is preserved... could you truly live there in peace?"

The Xiling Emperor fell silent, inwardly cursing his ancestors for choosing such an ill-suited location for the imperial city. The Western Mausoleum Imperial City was a mere six to seven hundred li from the borders of the Western Regions' various states. In Xiling's heyday, this had been convenient for demanding rare tributes, peerless beauties, or legendary steeds from the smaller Western nations. But once Xiling declined, the cavalry of those Western states could reach the imperial city in just a few days. Moreover, with the Mo Family Army now as neighbors, the mere thought made the Xiling Emperor feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

Xu Qingbai's reminder made the emperor suddenly feel the imperial city was more trouble than it was worth. He had no desire to face the formidable Mo Family Army on one front while dealing with the vengeful, predatory states of the Western Regions on the other. Yet, to simply hand over the imperial city was a humiliation he couldn't bear.

Xu Qingbai, well aware of his dilemma, remained unhurried. With a faint smile, he said, "No matter. Your Majesty may take a few days to consider carefully. Of course, if our two armies can resolve this peacefully, Prince Ding's Estate will not take a city from Xiling without fair compensation." Such a clear hint stirred the Xiling Emperor's interest, and he looked at Xu Qingbai questioningly. Xu Qingbai smiled slightly and added pointedly, "The legitimate line of the Xiling imperial family... has long been suppressed by Zhennan Wang. Had it not been for Zhennan Wang eliminating dissent, how could Xiling's three great generals have fallen so low? If Xiling and Prince Ding's Estate coexist harmoniously, we would naturally be allies. And isn't it only reasonable for allies to support one another?"The Xiling Emperor's eyes lit up. No matter how capable he was, he was still an emperor and a man. If a man who was an emperor had not the slightest desire to hold great power, he would not be sitting in this position. The terms Xu Qingbai offered were undoubtedly very attractive. If Prince Ding's Estate helped him suppress Lei Zhenting, he would be able to control the court and become the true emperor of Xiling in every sense. So what if Xiling was left with only two-thirds of its territory? Right now, didn't he have no power at all? He wasn't even as free as an ordinary noble.

Xu Qingbai understood the principle that going too far was as bad as not going far enough, so he stopped at the right point and said no more. He leisurely rose to take his leave from the Xiling Emperor, giving him time to think it over.

Before leaving, he did not forget to add, "Your Majesty, in truth, Xiling's current state is not your fault..."

Watching Xu Qingbai depart with such ease, the Xiling Emperor couldn't help but feel dazed and envious. Even though the other was just a young man who didn't seem to hold any official rank, the composure and relaxed demeanor he displayed before him, the ruler of a nation, filled him with jealousy. At the same time, Xu Qingbai's last words were deeply imprinted in his mind. Indeed... none of this was his fault. It was all Lei Zhenting's doing!

"Your Majesty?" A eunuch attendant approached cautiously with hot tea.

The Xiling Emperor took a sip of his usual tribute tea and let out a long sigh before asking absentmindedly, "Do you think... the imperial city can hold?"

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty, and Xiling will endure for generations. Naturally, it can hold," the eunuch replied respectfully, though he didn't believe his own words. Fortunately, the Xiling Emperor didn't press him on the truth of his statement. He nodded silently and said, "Very well, let's wait and see." The eunuch attended to him quietly. Having served the Xiling Emperor for years, he could guess his master's thoughts just by observing his expression. This time was no exception, but as a mere eunuch, state affairs were not his place to comment on.

In the grand tent of the Mo Family Army outside the imperial city, the generals of the army had gathered and were engaged in lively discussions. The Mo Family Army had advanced swiftly and reached the gates of the Xiling imperial city, but Wang Ye had ordered them to only besiege it and not attack, leaving many commanders puzzled. Shouldn't they take advantage of the army's high morale to capture the imperial city in one fell swoop?

"Feng San, what exactly are Wang Ye and Wang Fei thinking?" While others might not dare to ask, Zhang Qilan had no such reservations and directly questioned Feng Zhiyao, who had been by Mo Xiuyao's side the longest. Feng Zhiyao rolled his eyes at the tent ceiling and said, "How would I know what Wang Ye is thinking? I'm not a worm in his belly."

A deputy general hesitated before asking, "Could it be that Wang Ye is planning to withdraw the troops?"

At these words, the others fell silent. They were all aware of the news that the Emperor of Chu was heading south. Though none of them wished to have any further dealings with the Chu imperial family, they were not without feelings for the people of Chu. Even without seeing it firsthand, they could guess the current state of Chu. Hence, it was inevitable that they would speculate whether Wang Ye intended to withdraw the troops."Actually... withdrawing the troops wouldn’t be so bad, would it? If His Highness intends to reinforce Great Chu?" someone hesitantly asked. After all, they shared the same roots with the people of Great Chu, and most of the Mo Family Army still had relatives and old friends there. If the Prince truly planned to send troops to aid Great Chu, it was unlikely anyone would oppose it. No matter how much the Mo Family Army despised the Great Chu royal family, it had nothing to do with the common people. After all, human hearts were made of flesh and blood.

"Moreover, the Northern Rong and the Mo Family Army have a deep-seated enmity. If His Highness truly intends to do so, we naturally wouldn’t object." Years ago, the previous Prince Ding, Mo Xiuwen, along with tens of thousands of wrongfully slain Mo Family Army soldiers, perished in the hands of the Bei Rong people. Including those who died in battle, nearly two hundred thousand soldiers were lost in that single campaign.

"What are you all discussing?" Ye Li’s clear and elegant voice came from outside the tent, prompting everyone to rise and bow in greeting. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li entered hand in hand, their expressions carrying a faint warmth, clearly in good spirits.

"Greetings to His Highness and Wang Fei."

Mo Xiuyao led Ye Li to the main seat and sat down, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the generals with a smile. "Wang Fei is asking—what were you all discussing so animatedly?" Yun Ting was unexpectedly pushed forward by his peers. Glancing helplessly at his colleagues, who were now feigning innocence, he had no choice but to reply, "Reporting to Your Highness, we were speculating about when you plan to launch the siege."

Seeing Yun Ting’s overly serious expression, Ye Li couldn’t help but chuckle. "No need to be nervous. His Highness and I were just casually asking. Sit and speak freely."

"Many thanks, Wang Fei!" Yun Ting exhaled in relief and quickly returned to his seat beside Chen Yun.

Mo Xiuyao regarded the assembled generals with an amused expression. "You all want to know when we’ll attack the city?"

The generals nodded eagerly. They were practically itching for it. The Western Mausoleum Imperial City was within their grasp—a feat the Mo Family Army hadn’t accomplished in nearly two centuries.

Mo Xiuyao smiled at them. "This prince has no intention of attacking the imperial city."

At this, the generals couldn’t hide their astonishment. Though they had suspected as much, hearing it directly from the Prince still came as a shock. Besides, if they weren’t planning to attack, there had been no need to come all this way. They could have simply turned back—would the Western Liang defenders, already thoroughly beaten, dare to pursue them?

"Your Highness... why not attack?" Yun Ting couldn’t resist raising his hand to ask. Immediately, all eyes fixed on Mo Xiuyao.

Mo Xiuyao asked calmly, "How many troops has the Mo Family Army lost in the battles for Bian City?"

Silence fell. Though the Mo Family Army’s campaign had been remarkably smooth, Bian City had still cost them dearly. Preliminary estimates put their losses at nearly eighty thousand soldiers—almost equal to the total casualties from all previous battles combined. The reason they still had three hundred thousand troops at the gates of the Western Mausoleum Imperial City was only because Lü Songxian had later replenished their ranks with over a hundred thousand elite soldiers. And these losses were from the Mo Family Army’s most elite forces.

Mo Xiuyao continued, "Though the Western Mausoleum Imperial City lacks the historical depth of Bian City, its defenses are undoubtedly superior. Moreover... the last of my three great generals, Feng Ao, the General Who Obeys Heaven, is currently stationed there. The Mo Family Army could indeed take the city, but this prince has no wish to pay such a steep price. Additionally... I have no desire to destroy this city’s defenses."This imperial city was not particularly ancient, having been built only about a hundred and fifty years ago. It was a city constructed by Western Liang over a span of more than a decade. In the early days of Western Liang's establishment, the various states of the Western Regions were far from docile. The fact that the first two emperors of Western Liang dared to choose such a border-adjacent location for their imperial capital spoke volumes about their courage and vision. Perhaps there was also an intention to remind future generations to remain vigilant. Once the Mo Family Army captured the entire northern territory of Western Liang, what was once Western Liang's border would become the Mo Family Army's frontier. And this former imperial city would become the strongest—and final—gate of defense against the Western Regions.

"Then... what does Wang Ye plan to do? We can't just keep waiting like this or give up the fight, can we?" Zhang Qilan asked.

Mo Xiuyao smiled without answering, and everyone turned their expectant gazes toward Ye Li.

Ye Li lowered her eyes with a faint smile. "As the Art of War states: The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. The next best is to engage in diplomacy, then to engage in battle, and the worst is to attack cities... To conquer the enemy without resorting to war is the highest strategy."

Everyone bowed in admiration: Wang Fei is truly a celestial being.

Feng Zhiyao rubbed his nose, silently pondering: Which military manual did that come from?

Yun Ting looked on with reverence: Wang Fei is so well-read! I spent three whole months poring over military texts, and there are still things I haven't seen!

"Ahem..." Feng Zhiyao cleared his throat and respectfully inquired, "Wang Fei means to subdue the enemy without fighting? That... might not be so easy, no?" Even if the Xiling Emperor were truly a fool, the officials of the Western Liang court wouldn't agree to simply hand over their imperial city. That's the imperial capital—the heart of a nation, not some random potato!

Ye Li chuckled. "Whether it works or not, we'll find out soon enough, won't we?"

Zhang Qilan frowned and asked, "If we don't attack the city... what should we do if reinforcements arrive?" Mo Xiuyao gave him a calm glance and replied, "What should we do? Naturally, we kill them! Leave the imperial city be. During this time, any Western Liang reinforcements that dare approach—slaughter them all!"

The group finally exhaled in relief. So they would still fight. But open-field battles were definitely more advantageous for them than siege warfare.

"Understood!" they chorused in unison. Feng Zhiyao, however, seemed thoughtful. In a way... wasn't this also a form of psychological warfare?

"Reporting to Wang Ye and Wang Fei, someone has come out from the Western Liang Imperial City seeking an audience," a guard announced as he entered the tent.

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. "Who is it?"

The guard replied, "He claims to be the fourth young master of the Xu Family, but he doesn't bear any token from Prince Ding's Estate, so..." Unlike Xu Qingchen and Xu Qingze, who were often in Li Cheng, or Xu Qingfeng, who frequented the military camps, Xu Qingbai was not well-known among the Mo Family Army. Especially among the lower-ranking soldiers, few recognized him, so protocol dictated that he had to be announced before being allowed into the camp.

Ye Li brightened at the news. "Fourth Brother is here?"

Mo Xiuyao took Ye Li's hand and stood up with a smile. "In that case, let's go welcome the fourth young master. I have a feeling he'll bring us good news." The others exchanged curious glances. Why was the fourth young master of the Xu Family in the Western Liang Imperial City? More importantly, what kind of good news would he bring them?The group arrived outside the main camp, where someone had already come out to greet Xu Qingbai. It was Xu Qingfeng, who had been idly wandering around and happened to run into them. Seeing his fourth brother—who should have been holed up in the northwest planting potatoes—mysteriously appear in Western Liang, and even emerging from the imperial city, Xu Qingfeng was startled. He pulled Xu Qingbai aside and scrutinized him for a long while, only relaxing after confirming there wasn’t a single scratch on him before asking, "Fourth Brother, what are you doing here? Does Aunt know about this?"

Faced with his third brother’s undisguised concern, Xu Qingbai shook his head with a cheerful smile. "Third Brother, it seems you’ve been doing well?"

Xu Qingfeng's eyes sparkled with excitement as he grinned, "Of course! Your third brother has accomplished quite a few feats this time. Qin Feng said he'll promote me to deputy commander of the Qilin upon our return." Although Xu Qingfeng understood that part of this was due to his cousin's influence—after all, he wasn't the only squad leader who had distinguished himself—he also knew Qin Feng was not one to mix personal feelings with official matters. At the very least, this showed Qin Feng recognized his abilities.

"Then congratulations, Third Brother," Xu Qingbai said with a smile. Xu Qingfeng's expression turned serious. "You still haven't told me why you're here. If Aunt finds out you came to this place, she’d be terrified!"

Xu Qingbai gave a helpless smile. "Father and Eldest Brother already know. Once things settle here, I’ll write home to reassure them. Third Brother, I need to see Li'er and Prince Ding."

"Third Brother—" Before he could finish, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao stepped out, followed by a large entourage, leaving Xu Qingbai momentarily awestruck.

"Well?" Mo Xiuyao asked calmly.

"Mission accomplished," Xu Qingbai replied with a faint smile.

---Author's Note---

Writing up to this point, I’ve realized that for any nation, having powerful figures like Zhennan Wang as a domineering minister or loyalists like Prince Ding’s Estate isn’t an absolute good. Zhennan Wang’s iron-fisted rule has stripped the Xiling Emperor of his dignity and fighting spirit as a monarch. If it were Mo Jingqi, I believe even if he were incompetent or half-mad, he’d rather die for his country than surrender the capital. On the other hand, while Prince Ding’s Estate has safeguarded Great Chu’s peace for two centuries, it has also inadvertently stifled the growth and potential of other military forces and commanders. Should the Mo Family Army ever turn against Great Chu, the consequences would be dire. Worse still, the imperial family’s way of countering the Mo Family Army isn’t by nurturing rival generals but by suppressing Prince Ding’s Estate while simultaneously fearing the rise of another such power. This has left Great Chu with no renowned generals beyond Prince Ding’s Estate and a few aging veterans.