Chapter 362 The Return Journey

Fortunately, the military doctor treated him in time and saved Zhao Qianhu's life. However, his wound was quite deep, and due to the hot weather, Zhao Qianhu could not mount a horse and had to be carried all the way to Taiyuan.

The next day, Wei Shao and Zhao Qianhu together persuaded the remaining soldiers to surrender.

For the remaining soldiers, it didn't really matter who they fought for.

However, they all missed their families. After Lin Changning promised to bring the soldiers' families to Taiyuan, these people had no more worries.

Nobody wants to die if they can live.

Moreover, all the commanders were dead, and the only remaining commander had defected to the enemy. There was no point in these ordinary soldiers persisting any longer.

The remaining people surrendered to the King of Chu almost without hesitation, following Zhao Qianhu.

This was a somewhat unbelievable achievement for Li Mingde, who had been surrounded by this group of people just a few days earlier and was now completely helpless.

Unexpectedly, a young general sent by the King of Chu led him to a counterattack and annihilate the enemy army.

It was still somewhat unbelievable to him.

After meeting up with Lin Changning, their conversation became more polite. Previously, they were polite because Lin Changning represented the King of Chu, but now it was more sincere, showing their admiration for Lin Changning.

After the battlefield was cleaned up, Li Mingde sat on a rock that a soldier had brought over and handed a flask of fine wine from his waist to Lin Changning.

"Today's great victory is entirely due to Lin Qianshi's plan. We came out simply and didn't bring any good wine. We only have this pot left, which can be considered strong liquor. Please have a taste, Qianshi."

Lin Changning took the wine pot handed to him by Li Mingde, smiled politely at the man, and said, "Today's great victory is all thanks to the young master's trust in me. Without the young master's trust, this battle would have been difficult to win."

As he spoke, he opened the wine jug, tilted his head back, and took a sip.

"Good wine!"

Li Mingde looked at the man and smiled: "What are your plans next, Assistant Commander?"

Lin Changning wiped his mouth with his sleeve and handed the wine jug back to Li Mingde: "Two thousand men in a team, retreating from different cities to Taiyuan. My men will guide your men."

Li Mingde nodded, saying that the people who were going to lead the way for Lin Changning would inevitably be scattered. He could see Lin Changning's sincerity, and since the two had just won a great victory together, he had no more concerns.

"Inspector Lin, shall I go with you?"

Lin Changning nodded and looked at Li Mingde with some doubt: "Of course we're together. This rendezvous is a mission, and protecting the Crown Prince is also a mission."

Li Mingde thought about it again and realized that it was indeed the case. If something happened to him halfway through, the morale of these soldiers would probably collapse.

After cleaning up the battlefield, the group rested in the woods during the day. At night, Lin Changning organized the men and prepared to retreat back to Taiyuan.

We found places to rest during the day and traveled during the cool nights, which made us quite fast.

In just six days, Lin Changning led Li Mingde all the way to Taiyuan. However, since the city gates were closed at night, Lin Changning simply led a group of people to camp outside the city gates.

As soon as it was light, they entered the city with Li Mingde. They were probably the fastest group to arrive, as the others had not yet caught up.

As dawn broke, Lin Changning called on the others to prepare to enter the city.

As they approached the gates of Taiyuan, Li Mingde's expression became noticeably unnatural. Although the court had deliberately made things difficult for him in Daxing, he was ultimately the one who caused it, and he had acted somewhat unethically at the time.

Seeing the man's somewhat embarrassed expression, Lin Changning smiled reassuringly and said, "Young Master, don't worry, the Prince doesn't eat people."

As he spoke, he turned his head away. Over the past few days, Lin Changning had come to know that Li Mingde was quite capable, and perhaps because he was now receiving help from others, he was behaving rather humbly.

He treated him and his subordinates with courtesy, was not a difficult person to get along with, and did not have the typical problems of a rich kid. He ate and lived with them and seemed to treat his subordinates quite well.

He didn't have any ill feelings towards people, but seeing that they were a little nervous as they approached the gates of Taiyuan, he deliberately made a few jokes.

Li Mingde shook his head and chuckled: "Minister, don't tease me."

Lin Changning smiled at the people, rode his horse and led the way towards the city gate. When they arrived at the city gate, several soldiers guarding the city nervously gripped the hilts of their swords and came forward. When they saw Lin Changning's face, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at the two thousand troops behind Lin Changning, he asked, "A junior officer? What's this?"

Lin Changning tossed out his waist token, which the soldiers at the gate caught, glanced at, and handed back, still watching the soldiers led by Li Mingde behind him.

Lin Changning looked at the somewhat embarrassed officers and soldiers and continued, "The one behind is the heir of Prince Sheng. His Highness asked me to go and meet him."

The soldiers at the gate were a bit stubborn; they stretched out their hands and asked Lin Changning for a written order.

"Well, Commander, the city is under martial law now. Without an imperial edict or warrant, I'm in a difficult position..."

Lin Changning scratched his head. When he came out, Taiyuan City wasn't under such tight security. Could something have happened recently?

However, they did not bring the warrant with them when they came out, so it is likely that the warrant was with the commander.

For a moment, Lin Changning was at a loss. He turned to look at Li Mingde, then turned to look at the soldiers standing guard at the city gate.

She sighed silently, "If they can't get in, I can at least get in."

The soldier nodded blankly and said honestly, "The clerk can certainly do it, but the people behind him..."

Lin Changning nodded to the man, then turned and rode his horse to Li Mingde's side: "The city gates are under martial law now, and we can't enter without a written order. Why don't you wait for me, Your Highness? I'll go back to the headquarters to get the written order and take the men in."

Li Mingde hadn't expected things to turn out this way. When they arrived at the city gate, they were told that it was under martial law. He couldn't help but wonder if something had happened.

Or perhaps the King of Chu didn't want to accept them?

Thinking of this, Li Mingde gave a bitter smile. It was true that these people and soldiers were now a hot potato wherever they went.

It was only natural for the King of Chu to renege on his promise.

Fortunately, everyone has escaped.

Lin Changning saw the bitter smile on Li Mingde's face and knew that the man had misunderstood. He coughed lightly and reminded him, "Young Master, if the Prince did not want to take you in, he would not have sent us on this trip. Something must have happened in the city recently, which is why the city gates are under martial law. There are 10,000 Bentley employees in total. No matter what, the Prince would not leave you at the factory gate. Otherwise, wouldn't he be planting a time bomb for himself?"

After saying that, Li Mingde's face flashed with a look of understanding, and he nodded. That made sense. Now that they were all at the gates of Taiyuan, if the King of Chu really went back on his word, then this group of people would become a big problem in the King of Chu's fiefdom.

Whether they become outlaws or seize cities, the King of Chu will be the one who suffers.

Thinking of this, Li Mingde looked at Lin Changning with more trust in his eyes: "I'll trouble you to make the trip, Assistant Inspector."