As the commander defending Copper Pass, Li Cunshou had one of the court's finest armies under his command. This army would accept orders from no one else, not even the Empress.
Although this army had fallen into the hands of a commander ignorant of military affairs, who had led it out of the city to fight recklessly in the open and suffered defeat at An Dushan's hands, with most of his men taken prisoner, some remnants had escaped. Now someone had forged alliances, gathered a great many comrades, and slipped into Luoyang to rescue Li Cunshou from prison.
Yuwen Xuandu had discovered this, concealed his identity, and made contact with their leader. He claimed to have connections that would let him reach the jailers and smuggle in things for a prison break. Desperate enough to seek any remedy, these men had believed the old eunuch.
Yuwen Xuandu had served two generations of emperors and had countless acquaintances in Luoyang. Afraid of exposing his identity, he had copied Wang Chong's methods and disguised himself, sticking on a beard and dusting himself with black powder until he looked every inch a tall, imposing middle-aged man.
Yuwen Xuandu's looks were actually quite good. Tall and powerful, he was no cringing, shabby figure; otherwise, he would never have won such imperial favor. His conversation was profound, and he knew Luoyang intimately. Li Cunshou's officers simply took him for a formidable local figure and gave it little further thought.
Li Cunshou's former troops were now led by Shi Langying, known as Golden-Eyed Biao, one of the Four Braves, Five Tigers, and Eight Panthers. A renowned fierce general whose strength surpassed even Qin Han's, he was a genuine First-Rank Warrior. He said quietly, "The general is to be executed in three days. If you can get