Tang Dynasty: To win Yang Guifei, they asked Emperor Xuanzong to die.

Chapter 128 The Failed Night Raid

"Young General, don't be discouraged," a group of sycophants began to fawn over Shi Chaoyi after Shi Siming left. "Although the General taught the young general to be humble, it doesn't mean he's denying the young general's abilities. The young general is mighty, and we are all willing to serve him like dogs and horses!"

With just a few words, the group of people had the young Shi Chaoyi so flattered that he was completely carried away.

He's made up his mind to pull off something big.

This time, I absolutely have to make my father look at me with new eyes!

Thinking about it, he turned over and got up.

He went to several nearby tents, found a few junior officers with whom he was close, and said, "Gentlemen, I have a great opportunity to earn merit. I'd like to invite you all to join me. What do you say?"

The young players were only fourteen or fifteen years old, a time when they were full of vigor and vitality.

Hearing Shi Chaoyi say this, they were all tempted and readily agreed.

That night, the darkness was deep, and a cold wind howled outside the city.

Shi Chaoyi, wearing a heavy cloak, stood among his confidants, his eyes gleaming with eager excitement.

"Tonight is our chance to shine!" he said in a low voice, his tone full of confidence. "Yanxing Gate is the closest to our territory and is the Tang army's weak point. Now that so many days have passed, they must be complacent. Even if they rack their brains, they would never expect us to launch a night attack here!"

Several lieutenants nodded in agreement, their voices rising and falling in unison.

One of the attendants flattered, "Young General, you are brilliant! With your wisdom, you will surely achieve a resounding victory this time and save face for the army!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Chaoyi's lips curled into a smug smile, as if victory was already in his grasp. He waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to prepare for action.

One hundred elite soldiers quietly set off, their footsteps light as they approached Yanxing Gate.

They wore dark armor, blending into the night, their weapons occasionally gleaming coldly in the moonlight. However, Shi Chaoyi was unaware that high above Yanxing Gate, a pair of sharp eyes had already been watching them!

"They've moved! Just as Your Highness predicted, Shi Siming's army couldn't hold back and wanted to strike first!"

The general in charge of guarding Yanxing Gate lowered his voice, his tone revealing excitement.

"Pass down the order: proceed according to plan!"

Immediately, a mobilization was launched inside Yanxing Gate.

The guards worked in perfect unison, silently moving into their respective ambush positions.

—For the past few days, they have outwardly appeared to be keeping a low profile, not maintaining a high level of vigilance at the city gates, but in reality, they have not relaxed their guard for a single day. To prevent fatigue at night, they strictly follow Li Mao's orders, changing shifts every two hours.

At this moment, every soldier maintains high energy and vigilance.

Let alone Shi Chaoyi's makeshift team, they could fight against Shi Siming even if he personally led the troops.

Meanwhile, Shi Chaoyi led his troops towards the city gate. Seeing the silence around him, he became even more smug. —Look what he just said! The Tang army has absolutely no strategic thinking; they've become lax in their defense of the city gates in just seven days. At this moment, Yanxing Gate is deserted; they've probably already withdrawn.

Tsk tsk, Father really overestimated his opponent.

Thinking it over, Shi Chaoyi whispered the order: "Set up ladders and attack!"

The elite troops sprang into action, several ladders were quietly erected, and the soldiers struggled to climb them. However, just as they had all reached the top of the city wall and were preparing to plant their flags, a sharp whistle pierced the night sky.

"Enemy attack!"

The Yanxing Gate was instantly illuminated, and the guards appeared in unison at the edge of the city wall, their bows and arrows aimed at the enemy soldiers who were climbing.

Shi Chaoyi: ? ? ? Where did they come from?

"Fire arrows!"

At the command of the defending general, a rain of arrows poured down like locusts.

Upon seeing this, Shi Chaoyi's expression changed drastically.

He hurriedly shouted, "Retreat! Retreat now!"

Unfortunately, it was too late; the guards at Yanxing Gate had already surrounded them.

The lieutenants frantically tried to organize a retreat, but were thrown into disarray by a hail of arrows, and many soldiers were captured before they could escape. Shi Chaoyi himself was in a sorry state and was eventually captured by several guards.

At daybreak, Shi Chaoyi was escorted to the outside of the palace.

"Your Highness, the garrison at Yanxing Gate has successfully repelled the enemy and captured their general, Shi Chaoyi!" A soldier knelt down to plead for his life, his face filled with barely concealed excitement.

When Li Mao heard the news, he was discussing the attack plan for Mingde Gate in the south with Guo Ziyi.

He looked up, a hint of unexpected joy flashing in his eyes.

These days, I've been thinking about how to deal with that cunning old fox, Shi Siming.

But to everyone's surprise, Shi Chaoyi pulled off a treacherous scheme, delivering himself right to their doorstep! It was like finding a needle in a haystack, only to have it fall into their lap without any effort at all.

"Such an unexpected surprise?" Li Mao smiled slightly, turned around and walked out of the hall. "Bring him up!"

Shi Chaoyi's special status naturally prevented him from entering the inner court.

Li Mao tidied his clothes and hairstyle before going to the main hall to see him.

A short while later, Shi Chaoyi was escorted to the main hall.

He was covered in mud and looked extremely disheveled, but he still raised his head defiantly and glared at Li Mao.

"You're just lucky!" Shi Chaoyi sneered. "My father's army is pressing in. You can hold out for a while, but not forever! It's just six city gates. I'm only here to test the waters. My father will take them back sooner or later."

Li Mao smiled slightly, his eyes full of contempt.

"Shi Chaoyi, your father might not be as arrogant as you," he said slowly, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "If Shi Siming knew that you had acted on your own initiative, leading troops in a night raid on Yanxing Gate only to be captured, I wonder what he would think?"

Shi Chaoyi's face turned pale and then red. He gritted his teeth and said, "Don't bring up my father. Your father even fled with his family. What does that prove? If you have the guts... if you have the guts, then kill me!"

Li Mao chuckled, stood up, and walked towards Shi Siming.

"Kill you?" He shook his head. "You underestimate me too much. Do you think I'm a fool like you? I have a great use for you. Your father wouldn't want his precious son to die in the Daming Palace."

Li Mao made no attempt to conceal the fact that he wanted to take Shi Chaoyi hostage.

He had no reason not to take advantage of such a hostage offered to him so readily.

Shi Chaoyi gritted his teeth: "You!"

However, Li Mao ignored him and turned to Guo Ziyi beside him, saying, "Keep an eye on this man. He is Shi Siming's own son. Make sure he can make the most of his abilities."

Guo Ziyi immediately ordered his men to take Shi Chaoyi away and imprison him.

Before being taken away, Shi Chaoyi still shouted unwillingly, "Li Mao, if you have the guts, fight my father fair and square! Don't resort to these underhanded tricks!"

Li Mao laughed. What kind of gentleman is there on the battlefield?

"Ziyi, it seems our plan to conquer the southern cities... needs to be changed." He and Guo Ziyi exchanged a glance, their faces full of confidence.