Chapter 139: The Li Family's World

Western Xia.

Feng Rendo Baozhong led his army of two hundred thousand in a retreat to prevent the "fifty-thousand-strong" Song army from launching a surprise attack on Huining Prefecture. However, in the imperial court, Li Changqi was the first to submit a memorial impeaching him. Li Changqi claimed that Feng Rendo Baozhong had colluded with the Song forces, intentionally surrounding but refusing to annihilate the two thousand remnants led by the Song’s Great General of the West, which ultimately caused the entire campaign against the Song to end in failure. Li Changqi also noted in his memorial that it was truly miraculous for the Song dynasty to have dispatched fifty thousand troops into Western Xia territory right under the noses of the Western Xia military without anyone noticing.

When Emperor Li Shunqian read the first point in the memorial, he was not particularly moved; he knew Feng Rendo Baozhong’s military capabilities well and assumed there must have been a strategic reason for choosing to surround rather than annihilate the enemy. But upon reading the second point, Li Shunqian hesitated. Like all monarchs, he was inherently suspicious by nature. The idea of fifty thousand troops appearing within the borders of Western Xia without the military detecting a trace was simply inconceivable. When combined with the reports of Feng Rendo Baozhong’s failure to destroy Wu Jie’s forces, the entire situation began to take on a sinister tone.

Could Feng Rendo Baozhong truly be in league with the Song? Li Shunqian could not help but harbor doubts. Although the matter could not yet be verified, it was clear that Feng Rendo Baozhong was no longer fit to hold military command. Consequently, his authority was revoked. With the death of the capable general Yeli Wangrong at the hands of the Song forces, and with Feng Rendo Baozhong now sidelined, Li Shunqian suddenly felt a desperate shortage of available commanders.

Having successfully brought down his rival, Li Changqi was riding high on his triumph. Seeing that the Emperor was looking for someone to lead the suppression of the Song forces within the country, he proactively volunteered: "Your Majesty, though I am untalented, I am willing to personally lead the army to exterminate the invading Song forces!"

Li Shunqian, not expecting Li Changqi to step forward, was deeply moved. Furthermore, although Li Changqi had impeached Feng Rendo Baozhong, Feng Rendo himself had previously submitted reports praising Li Changqi and attributing much of the campaign's success to him. This created the illusion in Li Shunqian’s mind that Li Changqi possessed genuine military talent. Moreover, Li Changqi’s father, Li Baoji, was indeed a capable man. Seeing the son volunteer, the Emperor could not help but praise him: "Truly, a tiger father produces no dog for a son. Prince Xiao has a worthy successor." After a brief pause, he added, "Issue the decree: appoint Li Changqi as the Great General of Dingyuan, commander of one hundred thousand troops, to march to Da'an City and eliminate the Song forces that have infiltrated our borders."

Upon hearing this, Li Changqi knelt to express his gratitude. In a single stroke, he had risen from a vanguard to a commander of one hundred thousand, a meteoric promotion.

Feng Rendo Maili, standing behind his father, felt a chill in his heart. It was said that having connections in court made for a smooth career, but seeing Li Changqi—a man who was little more than a wine-filled, rice-stuffed bag—easily ascend to the rank of a Great General equal to his father, while those who had spent their lives bleeding on the battlefield were cast aside, left him bitter.

Once appointed as the Great General of Dingyuan, Li Changqi’s arrogance knew no bounds. After the court session, he approached the disgraced Feng Rendo Baozhong with a mocking grin. "Well, Great General Feng Rendo, do you regret not heeding my advice now?"

Feng Rendo Baozhong offered a gesture of apology and prepared to leave. As a veteran commander, he had no desire to be insulted by the likes of Li Changqi. However, Li Changqi would not let him off so easily. He hurried forward to block his path, sneering, "Since the Great General no longer has an army to lead, are you still so busy that you don't even have time to speak with me?"

Seeing his father being mocked, Feng Rendo Maili could no longer restrain himself. He stepped forward and blocked Li Changqi, saying, "Young Marquis, please show some self-respect."

Li Changqi let out a cold laugh and shoved him aside. "What is that supposed to mean? Are you implying that I lack self-respect?"

Feng Rendo Maili ignored him. After all, Western Xia was the domain of the Li family. His father had been stripped of his command, and though he was filled with rage, he had to suppress it to keep the peace. But some people, like the shameless Li Changqi, were not looking for peace; they were looking to revel in their petty victory.

"I am asking you a question. You walk away without answering and tell me to show self-respect? Tell me, exactly how do I lack self-respect?" Li Changqi pressed aggressively. Seeing Maili clenching his fists, he sneered, "What? Fists clenched so tight—are you thinking of hitting me?"

Feng Rendo Maili turned his head away, his desire to strike Li Changqi nearly overwhelming.

"Come on, hit me here!" Li Changqi patted his own chest, goading him.

"You!" Being young and hot-blooded, Maili could take no more and prepared to strike.

"Stop!" Sensing disaster, Feng Rendo Baozhong rushed forward, grabbed his son’s arm, and scolded, "Hurry up and come home with me!"

"Hmph!" Maili released his grip and walked toward the palace gate with great reluctance.

"You brat, let me tell you something," Li Changqi sneered at their retreating backs. "You are nothing more than a dog raised by our Li family. Behave, and you might survive; disobey, and watch your head."

Feng Rendo Baozhong had never suffered such humiliation. Even Li Baoji had always treated him with courtesy. He realized, with bitter resignation, that in the Great Xia, just as in the Song, the status of military commanders was abysmally low.

"Young Marquis," Feng Rendo Baozhong said coldly, "I suggest you hurry to exterminate the Song forces. If they escape while you are busy here, that will be a loss for you alone."