Li Daoxuan could not help letting out a long, heavy sigh, the kind that came from the depths of the chest rather than the throat, as a single thought repeated itself in his mind with growing bitterness.
The imperial court truly behaved inhumanely. Time and time again, it forced the border army into rebellion, squeezing them until they had nowhere left to retreat. How far did those fools seated high above intend to push the frontier soldiers before they would finally stop and realize the consequences?
The caravan manager cautiously poked his head out from the side, his expression tense and uncertain.
"Dao Xuan Tianzun," he asked in a low voice, "from the looks of it, Yinchuan is on the brink of great chaos. What should we do now?"
Li Daoxuan answered without hesitation, his tone calm and measured.
"If Yinchuan truly descends into chaos, our wool trade will be impossible to continue. You should first lead the caravan to hide in Dingbian Fort. The border troops stationed there will be willing to shelter you. Once the village sends additional supplies, you will take them and come directly to Ningxia Prefecture."
The caravan manager immediately straightened his posture and bowed deeply.
"As you command!" he replied, then paused, suddenly realizing something. "Eh? Dao Xuan Tianzun, does this mean you will not be staying here?"
Li Daoxuan nodded.
"I must make a trip to Ningxia Prefecture. That is where the border army is currently launching its attack."
The manager instantly understood what those words implied. Just moments ago, the messenger had reported that the border troops from the seven rebellious forts were advancing toward Ningxia Prefecture. For Dao Xuan Tianzun to personally head toward the very target of the rebellion could only mean one thing. He intended to stop the disaster with his own hands.
Suppressing the shock in his heart, the manager bowed even lower.
"Then this subordinate will wait here. Once the follow-up supplies arrive, I will immediately deliver them to you in Ningxia Prefecture."
Li Daoxuan took several quick steps forward, and once he was beyond everyone's line of sight, his body abruptly flattened against the ground. With a faint mechanical sound, concealed internal mechanisms activated, several wheels unfolding beneath him as four-wheel drive engaged. In the blink of an eye, he shot forward, racing straight toward Ningxia Prefecture like a gust of wind skimming the earth.
Ningxia Prefecture was the administrative seat of the Ningxia Governor.
Inside the governor's hall, Wang Ji, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and Governor of Ningxia, sat stiffly in his chair, his face pale and lined with fear.
"Has Supreme Commander Hong's relief army still not arrived?" he asked anxiously.
A subordinate replied with an awkward expression.
"Yes. The messenger has already been dispatched, but Supreme Commander Hong is currently stationed in Guyuan. Even if he mobilizes troops immediately, how fast can they arrive?"
Wang Ji's heart sank.
"It's over. It's all over. If the reinforcements cannot arrive in time, my life is finished."
In truth, he was not the only one gripped by panic. Hong Chengchou was just as anxious.
The moment he received the news, Hong Chengchou immediately ordered the Military Preparation Vice-Commissioner Ding Qirui to lead troops to suppress the rebellion. However, the distance between Guyuan and Ningxia Prefecture exceeded five hundred li. For a messenger to run there, and then for Ding Qirui to muster troops and march back, meant a round trip of more than a thousand li.
By the time they arrived, it would be far too late.
All Hong Chengchou could do was pray silently in his heart.
Please, do not let the border army cause a catastrophic disaster. The realm cannot endure such repeated upheavals.
During the Guyuan Rebellion of the past, large numbers of border troops had joined the roving bandits, causing their combat strength to surge dramatically. If the Yinchuan border troops were to follow the same path, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Seven border forts, led by Dashapu Fortress, gathered three thousand soldiers and completely surrounded Ningxia Prefecture.
No one could stop these three thousand men.
They were border troops, the most elite fighting force of the Great Ming Dynasty. Only other border troops could hope to stop them, yet those same units had also gone unpaid for over a year. They were not fools. Why would they rush to suppress comrades who were rebelling for the very same reason?
At this moment, the only thing capable of delaying the rebels was the towering city wall of Ningxia Prefecture.
Outside the city, the three thousand border soldiers prepared ladders and siege equipment. As they worked, their voices thundered in unison.
"Wang Ji, come out and die!"
"Where is our pay, Wang Ji? Did you embezzle it?"
"If you cannot produce our wages today, we will eat Wang Ji for dinner!"
"Eat Wang Ji! Eat Wang Ji! Eat Wang Ji!"
The roaring shouts surged like waves, shaking the air and rattling the city walls.
Inside the city, the common people trembled in terror.
They knew all too well that if these enraged border troops truly broke into Ningxia Prefecture, it would not end with the execution of Governor Wang Ji alone. Soldiers driven mad by rage would set fires, loot homes, slaughter innocents, and violate respectable women, reducing the entire city to ruin.
At that point, even if someone stood before them and shouted that the imperial court's unpaid wages had nothing to do with the common folk, who would listen?
In such circumstances, the only thing the people could do was hide inside their homes, shivering as they peered through cracks in doors and windows, secretly watching the chaos outside.
Before long, someone noticed something strange.
Amid the city's overwhelming panic, a young man dressed in the attire of a wandering chivalrous warrior was calmly walking down the deserted street, heading straight toward the city walls.
As he walked, the young man stopped in front of a residence and knocked lightly on a window.
"Elder brother," he asked, "is Governor Wang Ji currently at the North Gate?"
The resident peeking out from behind the window was startled and quickly replied, "Yes, yes! Young hero, what are you planning to do? Quickly hide yourself!"
The young man smiled faintly.
"I am going to solve his problem."
The commoner froze, staring at him in stunned disbelief.
That chivalrous warrior was none other than Li Daoxuan.
He had just arrived at Ningxia Prefecture, and by sheer coincidence, the South Gate had not yet been sealed. Some wealthy residents had bribed the gate guards to open it so they could flee the city, and Li Daoxuan had happened to pass by at that exact moment, strolling in openly without being questioned.
After entering the city, he asked around and learned that Governor Wang Ji was stationed at the North Gate, so he made his way there.
Before long, the North Gate came into view.
Atop the city wall stood a small, elderly man dressed in the official robes of a governor. Around him were only a few hundred scattered soldiers, their faces pale and their bodies stiff with fear. Outside the walls, three thousand border troops prepared for the assault, their killing intent soaring skyward.
"Wang Ji, produce our pay now, and we might still spare your life!"
Several dozen rebels shouted in unison.
"We do not wish to rebel either! Once we receive our wages, we will withdraw immediately. Any blame, I, Zhao, will bear alone!"
Wang Ji's face was filled with grief and despair.
"This official has no money to distribute," he cried. "If the imperial court does not grant me funds, what am I supposed to give you?"
Zhao Bazong roared furiously, "Then do not blame us for being ruthless!"
"Don't!" Wang Ji shouted in panic. "Do not act impulsively! Attacking the city is a capital crime!"
Zhao Bazong sneered.
"Capital crime or not, I do not care. As long as I chop off your dog head first and you go to the grave before me, it will be worth it!"
Wang Ji was left utterly speechless.
The situation had reached a complete deadlock.
At this point, Wang Ji knew that no amount of words would change anything. Any attempt at delay was meaningless. If he could not produce their pay, these border troops would never retreat.
Just then, footsteps sounded behind the city wall as Li Daoxuan climbed the stairs.
His sudden appearance startled the defending soldiers. Someone shouted sharply, "Who are you? This is a critical military situation. Do not climb the walls recklessly. Get down at once!"
Li Daoxuan replied calmly, "I am here to help Wang Ji solve his problem."
"Nonsense! This is no time for jokes. Get down immediately!"
One soldier reached out to shove him away, but Li Daoxuan seized the man's arm, turned his body, and flung him backward. The soldier was sent flying several meters before crashing to the ground.
The remaining soldiers gasped in shock. With sharp metallic sounds, countless waist swords were drawn at once.
Wang Ji witnessed everything from the city wall. He did not know whether this young man truly possessed the ability to resolve the crisis, but what choice did he have? When facing certain death, even a dying horse was worth trying to save.
He immediately shouted, "Let him come up!"
Wang Ji's subordinates hesitated, then sheathed their swords and stepped aside. With an unhurried stride, Li Daoxuan walked onto the city wall and stopped in front of Wang Ji.