The Child Emperor-Chapter 265: The Battle that Spun out of Control

Initially, each faction’s plans were realized.

Han Ruzi’s five thousand cavalry charged toward the northern gate of the Capital, leaving their flanks unguarded, appearing to launch a joint attack with Grand Tutor Cui’s Southern Army.

This move indeed confused the palace guards, but Han Ruzi and his commanders overlooked a crucial issue – even the widest city gate was an extremely narrow passage for tens of thousands of soldiers, especially with a moat blocking their retreat. Though frightened, the palace guards couldn’t retreat quickly, and the supervising officers on the walls wouldn’t allow the soldiers to withdraw. Instead, they sent someone to notify Shang-guan Sheng in the palace for instructions.

The Southern Army, having circled around from the western gate, charged bravely forward, attacking their former comrades from the flank. To gain the palace guards’ trust, Grand Tutor Cui had issued strict orders to show no mercy to the Weary Marquis’s Southern Army, treating them as traitors to be executed.

Cui Hong also overlooked an issue – the terrain outside the northern city was very narrow. The palace guards and the Weary Marquis’s Southern Army were only about three miles apart. After forming their battle formations, the distance shortened to two miles. The Weary Marquis’s cavalry set out early and quickly approached the palace guards. Just as the leading commanders were hesitating about whether to retreat as planned, Grand Tutor Cui’s Southern Army attacked.

Both the palace guards and the Weary Marquis’s Southern Army noticed this large force attacking from the flank, each believing they were the target.

The palace guards, already distrustful of Grand Tutor Cui, had prepared for this and immediately diverted troops to change formation and meet the flanking attackers.

The Weary Marquis’s five thousand cavalry encountered another problem – when they wanted to retreat, they found there wasn’t enough space. Five thousand horsemen charging couldn’t simply turn their horses around to flee; they needed to circle around, which required considerable distance.

Han Ruzi’s choice to camp a four to five miles outside the city violated military principles, and the hasty combination of palace guards with Grand Tutor Cui’s Southern Army without mutual trust contradicted military strategy even more.

Though all sides knew their actions were unreasonable, they deployed troops hoping the others would recognize the difficulty and withdraw.

The soldiers indeed recognized the “difficulty” and wanted to retreat, but none could. The palace guards were blocked by the moat and narrow city gate, the Weary Marquis’s cavalry lacked turning space, and Grand Tutor Cui’s Southern Army’s rear pushed the front forward, unable to distinguish friend from foe, attacking whoever blocked their path.

While the commanders had meticulously planned this battle, they only followed the plan during the march. As soon as the three armies made contact, they fell into chaos.

The darkness added to everyone’s suspicion and mistakes.

Han Ruzi couldn’t see clearly what was happening ahead, but he clearly heard the screams and realized his five thousand cavalry wouldn’t return. With no other choice, he had to send more troops, advancing with infantry formations due to lack of horses.

The battlefield gradually expanded, getting closer to the Weary Marquis’s camp. Han Ruzi didn’t retreat, becoming the only commander personally present on the battlefield.

The fighting in the city had started earlier but progressed slowly. Cai Xinghai’s forces had no intention of actually attacking the palace, only wanting to draw the main palace guard force to create an opportunity for Meng E to leave the city. They hadn’t expected large numbers of pugilists and guards to join in, including some of the Tan family’s men who had just fought with them.

This motley crowd shouted outside the imperial city, circling from the east gate to the south gate and back again, sometimes supporting the Weary Marquis, sometimes calling for Prince Donghai to become emperor. The palace guards were bewildered, and the attackers themselves were equally confused.

Upon hearing that Meng E had left the city, Cai Xinghai planned to withdraw. However, when he saw the group of scholars who had been driven to the south gate, he remembered the Weary Marquis’s instructions and had to stay a while longer to persuade them to leave with him. But the scene was too chaotic – he couldn’t even find anyone in charge to speak with.

Everyone was at a loss, harboring hope for an imminent victory while fearfully watching their surroundings, wary of sudden defeat lurking in the corners.

In the palace, Shang-guan Sheng went to seek an audience with the Empress Dowager. She wasn’t just Great Chu’s Empress Dowager, but also his aunt and mentor, and had once even been his “mother,” teaching him the art of rulership.

But the Empress Dowager refused to see him. This had been going on for days – she seemed dispirited, neither stopping nor supporting Shangguan Sheng’s actions.

“I will defeat all these traitors and rebels! I won’t disappoint you, Empress Dowager!” Shang-guan Sheng shouted at her chamber doors before leaving.

Outside the Hall of Diligent Administration, seven or eight palace messengers anxiously waited for Shang-guan Sheng. Their reports varied and even contradicted each other, but they all confirmed one thing – the battle outside the city was at a stalemate, with no sign of the quick victory they had imagined.

Shang-guan Sheng entered the hall and gathered his commanders, issuing stern orders which they solemnly accepted. Yet everyone, including Shang-guan Sheng, knew these orders would never reach the troops in the chaos of battle.

When only a few people remained in the hall, Shangguan Sheng turned to stare at Lin Kunshan.

Lin Kunshan looked disheveled. Though he still stood beside Shang-guan Sheng, he was there as a prisoner awaiting punishment, not an advisor. His reckless suggestions had likely led to the imperial seal being taken from the palace, which forced Shang-guan Sheng to trust Cui Hong and join forces to attack the Weary Marquis. He feared that once the seal reached the Weary Marquis’s hands, he would lose without a fight.

“Are you certain the person who took the imperial seal will give it to the Weary Marquis?” Shang-guan Sheng asked again.

Lin Kunshan nodded, “This was all Yang Feng’s strategy. He only supports the Weary Marquis.”

“Hah, Yang Feng. If you were half as clever as him, the seal would be sitting before me right now.” ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Lin Kunshan gave a dry laugh, knowing that arguing would only anger Shang-guan Sheng further, so he kept quiet.

“The seal was stolen, and your solution is to flee the capital?”

“It’s a long-term strategy,” Lin Kunshan said carefully. “The Eastern Sea and Qi regions are protected by mountains and seas, making them naturally defensible.”

“Bah!” Shang-guan Sheng stepped forward and spat viciously in the fate seer’s face. Lin Kunshan didn’t dare dodge or even wipe it away.

Shang-guan Sheng despised the man but not his idea, and muttered to himself: “The Empress Dowager also said Great Chu should start anew. What does starting anew mean? The rivalry between Chu, Zhao, and Qi – that’s starting anew.” He looked back at Lin Kunshan, “Qi was the first kingdom to fall. Why should I go to such an ill-fated place?”

Lin Kunshan finally wiped his face and smiled, “Qi’s fall was due to its people, not its territory. If the King of Qi had allied with the King of Zhao back then, the King of Chu would have been the first to fall.”

Shangguan Sheng fell silent for a moment, then gave a cold laugh, seemingly still unconvinced. He turned to a commander, “How goes the arrest of palace traitors?”

“We’ve arrested over three hundred and forty people so far, and we’re still investigating,” the commander replied. The palace guards had been making arrests since the group escaped the palace.

“Too slow! Arrest a thousand people and execute them all!” Shang-guan Sheng shouted, his anger inexplicably flaring. “Those who knew of matters but didn’t report them are as guilty as the traitors. They must all die!”

The commander looked alarmed but accepted the order and withdrew. He didn’t need to be a fate seer to know not to provoke General Shang-guan at this moment.

In the temporary military camp in the western city, Prince Donghai and Cui Hong were also consumed with anxiety.

“Weren’t we attacking Han Ruzi together? How did it turn into this mess?” Prince Donghai demanded angrily. He had received news that the area outside the north gate had descended into chaos, with no way to tell who was fighting whom.

Cui Hong was also furious. As an experienced commander who had quelled Prince Qi’s rebellion, he had now made a grave tactical error. Having lost control of the frontline troops, he could only wait for the final outcome. He said curtly to his nephew, “This was all your idea.”

“Mine? Ha!” Prince Donghai wanted to lash out at his uncle but didn’t dare. After repeatedly suppressing his anger, he said, “This might not be so bad. Han Ruzi has the fewest troops, so he’ll definitely be defeated. We’re just paying a slightly higher price. It doesn’t matter – once my claim to the throne is recognized. When do you plan to attack the palace?”

There were still ten thousand Southern Army troops in the city. Prince Donghai had sent a large mob to attack the palace’s east gate, but his real hope lay with these Southern Army troops, expecting them to seize the opportunity to attack the western gate.

Prince Donghai was gambling everything. If possible, he would have sent his uncle Cui Hong to the front lines too.

But Cui Hong was unwilling to risk everything. He shook his head, “No hurry. Let’s wait until the battle outside the city is decided.”

“If we occupy the palace, the outcome outside won’t matter.” Prince Donghai’s “coronation” outside the Tongxuan Hall remained a painful memory, and he desperately wanted a proper coronation.

Cui Hong stared at his nephew, unable to understand how his once-clever nephew had grown more foolish the closer he got to the throne. “A few days ago, occupying the palace might have meant total victory. But it’s useless now. Shang-guan Sheng holds the palace and has installed his own emperor. He’s too stupid to get the ministers to recognize the new emperor. But his stupidity has ruined everything – the palace, the Empress Dowager, even the imperial seal can no longer be used to establish a new emperor. Don’t you understand? Now, only military force matters.”

Prince Donghai was devastated by his uncle’s words. After a dazed moment, he said, “Even if we defeat Han Ruzi at the north gate, even if we kill him, will the Northern Army still decide who becomes emperor?”

Cui Hong nodded and said sternly, “Instead of thinking about capturing the palace, you should focus on winning over the Northern Army.”

Prince Donghai disliked his uncle’s lecturing tone but knew he was right. After some thought, he said, “Chai Yue is the key. We can kill all the Chai clan members and let him inherit the title of Marquis Hengyang. Right – Chai Yue still has his mother and a younger brother. We can take them hostage and use both carrot and stick. He’ll have to submit.”

“Invite them – we must treat them with utmost respect,” Cui Hong said more gently. His nephew still showed some capability after all. Cui Hong didn’t know as much about Chai Yue and couldn’t have devised such a ruthless strategy.

Cui Hong summoned an officer and ordered him to take a squad to “invite” them. Prince Donghai gave detailed directions to the Marquis Hengyang’s residence, finally adding, “The residence is in the north city. Don’t wear Southern Army armor and try to avoid the palace guards.”

The officer accepted the orders and left.

News from the north gate kept arriving, with no sign of the chaotic battle ending.

Prince Donghai paced anxiously like an ant on a hot pan, not daring to leave his uncle’s side.

As the morning sun rose, while there was still no progress outside the city, the fighting inside took an unexpected turn. A soldier rushed into the room, running so fast he nearly fell. He dropped to his knees before the startled Grand Tutor Cui and Prince Donghai, knocked his head on the ground, and exclaimed excitedly, “The palace has been breached!”

Earlier, this news would have overjoyed Prince Donghai. Now he just stared blankly at his uncle, at a loss for what to do.

At that same moment, Han Ruzi personally joined the battle.

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