Chen Huai'an recognized him immediately. The man riding in through the simple gate of Tumu Fort, clad in golden armor and wielding a long spear, was none other than the current emperor, Zhao Gan, the second emperor of the Great Xin Dynasty.

Chen Huai'an especially remembered Zhao Gan's golden armor and the Overlord Spear in his hand, which gleamed coldly in the afterglow of the setting sun.

This was the personal weapon of the late Emperor Zhao Mang, and it was made by the same craftsman as the halberd wielded by Chen Huai'an. Both were forged from meteorites falling from the sky.

The spearhead is sharp enough to kill with a single touch, and its weight is immense enough to kill with a single sweep.

Even the golden armor Zhao Gan was wearing was exactly the same as the golden armor Chen Huai'an was wearing.

Both of these suits of armor are unique in existence.

Thirty years ago, the late Emperor Zhao Mang and Prince Chen Polu of Jin, wearing identical sets of golden armor and wielding the Overlord Spear and the Fangtian Halberd, forged by the same craftsman from meteorites, became sworn brothers in front of the Guandi Temple.

He vowed to sweep away the Five Barbarian tribes and restore the Han people's rule.

Back then, the two brothers Zhao Mang and Chen Polu, who were loyal and spirited, fulfilled their oath with their lives, fighting side by side on horseback, and finally established the Han Dynasty, Xin, with an unprecedentedly vast territory.

The brotherhood between the late Emperor Zhao Mang and Prince Chen Polu of Jin has been adapted into a storytelling performance and become a legendary tale.

Now, both Emperor Zhao Gan, the second emperor of the Great Xin Dynasty, and Chen Huai'an, the heir apparent of the Prince of Jin, are now locked in irreconcilable conflict, wearing the same golden armor worn by their fathers and wielding the same weapons they used to defend against foreign aggression.

Both of them knew very well that today's battle would be a fight to the death!

"Traitorous minister Chen Huai'an, step forward and speak!"

Suddenly, Zhao Gan, who was riding his horse proudly at the gate of Tumu Fort, shouted domineeringly at Chen Huai'an, who was also riding his horse proudly at the front of the two armies, several thousand paces away.

Fearing the distance was too great and that Chen Huai'an might not hear, Zhao Gan even issued a special decree ordering the Imperial Guards behind him to shout in unison:

"Traitorous minister Chen Huai'an, step forward and speak!"

In an instant, the howls of the Great Xin Imperial Guards echoed for miles around the desolate Tumu Fortress in the autumn wind.

Just as Chen Huai'an was about to spur his horse forward, he heard the admonition of his subordinate generals:

"Prince Jin, you mustn't!"

"Your Highness, beware of a trap!"

Pang Xianchu and Fan Wuji, generals of the Longcheng Polu Army who were familiar with the character of the reigning emperor Zhao Gan, immediately rode forward to stop him.

The young General Huo Qubing also rode forward, his heroic and masculine face filled with righteous indignation, and volunteered, "Your Highness, this humble general is willing to go into battle in Your Highness's place and go to the front lines to meet this dog emperor Zhao Gan!"

In contrast, General Wang Jian appeared much calmer and more composed.

He silently estimated the distance before speaking:

“Your Highness, if we launch a siege now, my Qin elite troops can advance to Tumu Fortress within half an incense stick’s time and bring them within the range of the ballistae. Your Highness need not risk your life!”

"Your Highness, the General is absolutely right. The dog emperor Zhao Gan is already trapped. It will not be too late for Your Highness to interrogate the dog emperor when I lead my troops to break through Tumu Fortress!"

"Your Highness, give the order!"

In an instant, the generals of Longcheng under Chen Huai'an were all eager to try their skills.

At this moment, Zhao Gan, who was riding proudly outside Tumu Fortress, shouted again: "What, Chen Huai'an, are you afraid of me?"

"Aren't you trying to mislead the people and claim that you are acting on the late emperor's edict, wielding the Golden Whip to quell the rebellion?"

"Strike down the tyrannical and incompetent rulers above, and the disloyal officials below!"

As he spoke, Zhao Gan actually spurred his horse and rode alone towards the camp of the Jingnan Army in Longcheng.

"I, Zhao Gan, the newly established Emperor of the Great Xin'an Dynasty, am right here waiting for you to come and punish me for being a tyrannical and incompetent ruler. Do you have the guts to step forward?"

"If you don't have the guts, then obediently lay down your weapons and surrender to me. I will spare you the punishment of being slowly sliced ​​to death, and instead have you torn apart by five horses. How about that?"

Hahaha!

As they spoke, Zhao Gan's domineering and violent laughter echoed throughout Tumu Fortress.

Amidst the laughter, Zhao Gan further rebuked the Imperial Guards who were following closely behind to protect him: "Kang Yang, without my order, none of you are allowed to step forward."

"I want to see which of these treacherous officials dares to step forward and defy my imperial majesty!"

After saying that, Zhao Gan suddenly kicked the belly of his Akhal-Teke horse. The horse, in pain, immediately reared up and galloped wildly across the buffer zone between the two sides.

At this moment, Zhao Gan, who stepped forward alone to challenge them, did have some of the temperament of Emperor Zhenwu, Zhao Mang.

However, his actions terrified Kang Yang, the commander of the Imperial Guard, and a group of Japanese pirate guards.

Kang Yang was extremely anxious, but he dared not disobey the emperor's will, so he could only pass on the order: "Pass on my order, archers and crossbowmen, if any enemy soldiers dare to offend the emperor, kill them without asking for permission!"

"Imperial Guard Cavalry, all of you must be on high alert and ready to accompany me out of the city to protect me at any time!"

"Your humble servant obeys the order."

Orders were issued and quickly spread throughout Tumu Fortress. The imperial troops stationed there immediately sprang into action, ready to support Emperor Zhao Gan, who had come forward alone to challenge them.

at the same time.

Within the Longcheng Jingnan army camp, Chen Huai'an naturally noticed Zhao Gan's arrogant behavior, as he single-handedly stepped forward to challenge him and the Longcheng Jingnan army's authority.

He immediately decided to meet with Zhao Gan in order to subdue the enemy without fighting and demoralize the imperial army.

Chen Huai'an said, "All generals, listen to my command! The entire army is ready for battle. No one may act without my order, and not a single arrow may be fired."

"Anyone who disobeys will be executed without mercy!"

After saying that, he gently patted the belly of the yellow horse he was riding, and the horse immediately understood and galloped off.

Seeing this, the other generals of Longcheng said no more, but silently issued orders to organize their respective armies and be ready to deal with any emergencies.

All the generals knew very well that since the dog emperor Zhao Gan dared to go to the meeting alone, they, as his subjects, could not hold Prince Jin back.

Especially at times like these, morale is more precious than gold!

Thump thump thump!

Thump thump thump!

For a moment, on the vast battlefield of Tumu Fortress, which spanned several miles, only the monotonous sound of two warhorses galloping wildly and the howling of the already biting northwest wind remained.

Both generals held their breath, their eyes fixed on the buffer zone between the two armies, not daring to blink.

Until, inevitably, the two tall figures, both clad in golden armor, met on the desolate battlefield.

Sigh—

Accompanied by the sound of their warhorses halting, Emperor Zhao Gan and Prince Chen Huai'an, the two protagonists of the "Jingnan Campaign" of the Xin Dynasty, finally met.