Chapter 67: The Invasion of Western Xia

Li Qianshun waved his hand and said to Li Changqi, “Changqi, calm down first. I am just as grieved by Brother Wang’s murder as you are, but this matter is not as simple as you imagine.”

Li Changqi, hearing this, responded with mounting agitation, “Your Majesty means that my father died in vain?”

“Insolence!” Before Li Qianshun could reply, the eunuch beside him rebuked sharply.

Li Changqi had spoken in the heat of the moment and immediately regretted his words. After all, the man before him was not a mere Ministry of Officials functionary, but the Son of Heaven, sovereign of the Great Xia. Even if the emperor were wrong, it was not for him to say so.

“Your Majesty, I beg forgiveness!” Li Changqi hurriedly knelt, bowing his head to confess his fault.

“Rise, rise!” Li Qianshun was fairly open-minded; he waved his hand and said, “Are you thinking that I fear the Jin Empire, and that is why I have not moved against Wanyan Chang?”

“I would not dare!” Li Changqi responded at once. Though this was precisely what he thought in his heart, he had already reined in his agitation, knowing full well that such thoughts could not be voiced.

“Hmph, you say you dare not, but I see your heart is full of such notions.” Li Qianshun gave a cold snort and threw the memorial in his hand before Li Changqi. “See for yourself.”

Li Changqi picked up the document in confusion, furrowing his brow. “Is this a memorial my father wrote to Your Majesty?”

“Yes. You see here, he describes all he witnessed and heard upon going to the Song court, points out the threat the Song Dynasty poses to the Great Xia, and makes clear his support for an alliance to destroy Song. The reason for Wanyan Chang’s embassy was precisely to forge an alliance with Western Xia. Since your father advocated for this campaign, it would make no sense for Wanyan Chang to assassinate him!”

Li Changqi, too, found the affair strange, but in his thirst for vengeance he could not dwell on it. Now, hearing Li Qianshun’s words, he could not help but retort, “Your Majesty, you mean my father was not killed by Wanyan Chang?”

Li Qianshun nodded. “There must be other secrets behind this.”

“Even if Wanyan Chang did not kill him with his own hand, he cannot be entirely absolved of involvement. I’ve heard from the servants—the woman that night was brought into the mansion by Wanyan Chang himself,” Li Changqi insisted.

Li Qianshun nodded. “Most likely, Wanyan Chang was also someone’s pawn in this. At such a time, we must be all the more calm and not fall into our enemy’s scheme of sowing discord through reckless action!”

Li Changqi knew Li Qianshun spoke sense, but all he wanted now was vengeance for his father.

“I know you wish for vengeance, but you must first know who your enemy is. If I am not mistaken, it was Song spies who killed your father. If you would have your revenge, you must seek it from the Song people,” Li Qianshun said.

Li Changqi took a deep breath and finally said, “Your Majesty, I am willing to lead troops to attack the Song.”

Seeing Li Changqi thus, Li Qianshun could not help but feel a measure of approval. “Good lad. Truly a worthy son of the Li clan. I grant your request.”

“Send forth my decree: Feng Renduo Baozhong is named Great General for the Song campaign, Li Changqi as vanguard. They shall lead two hundred thousand of Great Xia’s troops, join with the Jin army, and attack the Song from west and north, seizing the lands of Hanzhong!” Li Qianshun declared.

Li Changqi understood this appointment as a mark of favor and quickly knelt to express his gratitude.

Li Qianshun nodded, “With Xia and Jin allied against Song, the Song will surely struggle to hold out. This is your chance to make your mark. Grasp it well—return and inherit your father’s title.”

Li Changqi was overjoyed; with his qualifications, he could never have hoped for a princely title. But if he could distinguish himself on the battlefield, it would be another matter altogether.

Thus, Western Xia’s army, led by Feng Renduo Baozhong, marched out through Daqing Pass, invaded Shaanxi, advanced straight toward Jingyuan Circuit, and threatened Guanzhong.

Yang Feiyan hurried to the palace to report to Zhao Huan her successful assassination of Li Baoji.

When Zhao Huan heard that Yang Feiyan had entered the prince’s residence using Wanyan Chang, a wry smile touched his lips. “You’ve done well. Even face-to-face with your enemy, you remembered to put duty first.”

Yang Feiyan said nothing. This, she thought, would likely be the greatest regret of her life.

“I promise you, I will see Wanyan Chang captured and put into your hands for whatever fate you choose,” Zhao Huan said, feeling a pang of guilt toward the young woman.

Though she suspected Zhao Huan meant more to comfort her than anything, Yang Feiyan was still deeply moved. For the Son of Heaven to say such words to her, all her sacrifices had been worthwhile.

“Steward, Lord Li Gang requests an audience,” Cheng Dafu entered quietly to inform Zhao Huan.

Zhao Huan waved to Yang Feiyan. “A job well done. Ask for any reward you wish—I shall grant it.”

After a moment’s thought, Yang Feiyan said, “May I visit my younger siblings?”

Zhao Huan had not expected such a request and laughed. “Very well, I approve. A hundred taels of gold for you, and a day’s leave for you and your siblings. Take them out, let them relax.”

After their rescue, the children had been sent to a newly established military academy, and Yang Feiyan herself had been drafted into the Feather Guard, then assigned to a mission in Xingqing. Nearly two months had passed since she last saw them, and she missed them dearly.

“Very well, you may go.” Zhao Huan dismissed Yang Feiyan, then said to Cheng Dafu, “Let Li Gang enter.”

Li Gang rushed in, scarcely pausing to catch his breath before reporting anxiously, “Your Majesty, urgent news from Guanzhong—Western Xia has mobilized! They have already taken Daqing Prefecture and are advancing on Guanzhong!”

“What?” Zhao Huan’s face darkened in fury. “What use is Wu Jie? Did I not order him to be on guard against a Western Xia attack? How could Daqing Prefecture fall so quickly?”

Yang Feiyan, who had not yet left, overheard Li Gang’s report and could not help but stop. “Lord Li, have Western Xia and the Jin Empire truly joined forces?”