Chapter 76: Ten Thousand Miles (IV)

Half of the night had passed, and the banquet held in the palace of Juran City finally came to an end.
As the music stopped and everyone dispersed, Li Huaizhong, impatiently waving his hand, ordered his attendants to clean up the leftovers in the hall. Clutching at his attendants for support, he staggered toward his bedroom, still reeking of alcohol.
It had been a long time since he had drunk so much as he had today. Though he knew it was all just an act, Li Huaizhong still felt extremely pleased. So what if it was an act? Even if you want to act, you need someone to watch you perform, right?
In this world, from kings to commoners, who isn’t an actor? Everyone is putting on a show; it’s just a matter of who is genuine and who is not.
At the thought of becoming Gao Xianzhi’s trusted right-hand man, Li Huaizhong felt immense pride. Among the kingdoms along the River Region, who could compare to him in terms of experience and strategy? It was only because those barbarian rulers had larger territories and stronger armies that he was temporarily at a disadvantage. But he had never accepted it and never wanted to bow his head! He was waiting for an opportunity—a chance to strike a decisive blow! And now that opportunity was coming, right away!
“Your Majesty, we’ve arrived!”
The attendant pushed open the wooden door to the bedroom, bowed slightly, and greeted Li Huaizhong.
“Mm, you may go.”
Waving his hand impatiently, Li Huaizhong stepped inside. Locking the door behind him, he walked toward the large bed covered with dark red curtains. Stumbling three steps before reaching the head of the bed, he collapsed backward. He had drunk too much today; his head felt swollen, and everything before his eyes seemed like twin shadows.
Just as he was about to lie down to rest, a familiar scent reached his nose. It was so enticing that it instantly invigorated him. Li Huaizhong snapped his eyes open to see a woman in a sheer dress smiling at him.
“Beauty, come here, to my side!”
Seeing her exposed body, Li Huaizhong felt a stir in his lower body. He pushed himself up and rushed at her.
But the woman refused to “surrender easily.” With a quick movement, she dodged aside. Li Huaizhong missed her and fell to the ground, but he wasn’t angry at all. If it had been any other woman in Juran City, his anger would have led him to order his guards to behead her. But this was his favorite concubine—the only woman who could influence his will.
“Your Majesty, you smell terribly of alcohol today!”
The concubine covered her mouth with a smile and gently waved the silk handkerchief from her sleeve at Li Huaizhong’s face.

“Huh!”
Li Huaizhong closed his eyes, greedily inhaling the fragrance from Meiniang’s sleeves. “My beauty, today I drank to my heart’s content!”
As he spoke, Li Huaizhong’s large hands reached toward Meiniang’s body, roaming over her curvaceous form. She was his woman, and he wanted to enjoy her to the fullest!
“Your Majesty!”
Meiniang protested playfully, gently pushing away his hands. “Your Majesty, if you don’t cherish your own body, I won’t allow it.”
Moved by her words, Li Huaizhong rubbed his palms together. “Meiniang, there’s no need to worry. My body is strong. Tonight, I must fight three hundred rounds with you!”
“Your Majesty!”
But Meiniang refused to yield, smiling coyly. “With whom did Your Majesty drink at the banquet tonight? You seem so pleased.”
In high spirits, Li Huaizhong replied casually, “Just some Tang army generals. Why mention them? My beauty, let’s…”
He tried to cover Meiniang’s lips with his, but that man preempted him, sealing her mouth first. “Your Majesty, what are you talking about? Could you tell Meiniang?”
Repeatedly rejected by Meiniang, Li Huaizhong’s enthusiasm had faded greatly. He shrugged irritably and said, “Fine, I’ll tell you.”
After a brief pause, Li Huaizhong continued, “It’s a commander from the Anxi army. He received a secret letter from Gao Xianzhi, the governor of Anxi, and came to Julan City to welcome the main army!”
“Oh? To welcome the Anxi army? Does that mean the Battle of Talas is over?”
Meiniang was clearly very interested and kept asking questions.
“Mm, it seems the Battle of Talas is over. Otherwise, this Tang army commander wouldn’t rush to the front line to meet Gao Xianzhi.”
Li Huaizhong decided to talk to her. Meiniang was strategic, sometimes seeing things more clearly than some military advisors. Having her analyze it wasn’t a bad idea.
“That’s strange!”
Meiniang frowned slightly. “A few days ago, I heard Your Majesty say that small groups of scattered Tang soldiers from Anxi passed through Julan City, but they all went around it?”
“Mm, that’s true. What’s the problem?”
Li Huaizhong nodded. “At first, I wondered whether to invite those soldiers into the city, but I thought it might be inappropriate to be too hospitable, so I just let them pass.”
“Has Your Majesty ever seen a victorious army with scattered soldiers leading ahead of the main force?”
Meiniang already had her own thoughts, gradually leading Li Huaizhong into her plan.
“Well…”

Li Huaizhong also frowned upon hearing this. Meiniang was right—after a great victory, the entire army would be filled with pride. The more so at such times, the more the commander would enforce discipline, and the soldiers would take pride in such strict rules. Gao Xianzhi, a veteran general, surely understood this principle. If the Anxi army had achieved a great victory, they certainly wouldn’t allow their soldiers to wander off the army freely.

“Perhaps, perhaps it’s scouts sent to scout the area ahead?”

Li Huaizhong still held onto hope and asked in a deep voice.

“Hehe, hehe.”

Meiniang covered her lips and laughed, “Your Majesty, think about it—would an army returning to its own territory need scouts to investigate? Besides, when has Your Majesty ever seen infantry who’ve abandoned their armor used as scouts?”

With just one sentence, Meiniang shattered Li Huaizhong’s illusions, creating an awkward atmosphere in the room.

Li Huaizhong pondered for a long time before angrily slamming a small table by the bed and cursing, “Damn those Tang people! In my opinion, they clearly didn’t win—they must have lost, they definitely lost!”

“Your Majesty is truly heroic!” Meiniang flattered him at just the right moment. “That’s why those Tang soldiers earlier must have been retreating troops. And the Tang governor rushed to Julan City so anxiously precisely to rescue Gao Xianzhi’s defeated army.”

“Hmph, damn him! How dare he deceive me! If I drive them out of the city like that, those defeated soldiers still expect me to welcome them? No way!”

Furious, Li Huaizhong grabbed a porcelain pillow and threw it. It hit the ground with a crisp sound, scattering shards everywhere.

“Your Majesty, calm down!” Meiniang smiled gently. “Do you know how many troops that governor has? And how many capable men do you have at your disposal? If you go now, how confident are you that you can drive those Tang people away?”