The next day.

After besieging Yunzhou City for ten days and suffering losses of tens of thousands of soldiers, the 150,000 elite imperial troops suddenly and orderly withdrew without any warning.

Despite claiming it was an orderly withdrawal, in reality, their supplies and equipment were scattered all over the ground; they were practically throwing away their armor and weapons.

Fearing that carrying too much weight would slow them down and allow the Yunzhou garrison to seize the opportunity to slaughter them, the drowning dogs were caught off guard.

On the city wall of Yunzhou, Chang Yuchun, the deputy marshal of the Longcheng army and the general who led the southern expedition, wearing a bright armor and a short sword with a ring pommel at his waist, looked blankly at the devastated and deserted Tiger Legion camp in the distance.

For a moment, he seemed somewhat at a loss.

Chang Yuchun's doubts were quickly resolved.

In the field of vision, a tall, golden figure came stepping through the frost, bathed in the rays of the rising sun.

Behind them was an army of tens of thousands of cavalry.

A scarlet yellow dragon flag fluttered in the morning breeze, its four-clawed yellow dragon lifelike.

It was Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin who arrived with the Iron Pagoda Army of Longcheng and the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.

After recognizing the visitors from outside the city, Chang Yuchun immediately ordered, "Hey you, quickly pass down the order: lower the drawbridge, open the city gates, and welcome His Highness Prince Jin into the city!"

After giving his instructions, Chang Yuchun jogged down the city wall to the city gate to greet Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin.

A short while later.

Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin, clad in golden armor, rode his horse into the city. Chang Yuchun personally stepped forward to take the reins of Chen Huai'an's yellow horse, laughing heartily as he said:

"Your Highness, when I went up to inspect the city this morning, I was puzzled as to why the Tiger Army had retreated in such a panic overnight, without even taking their supplies and equipment with them."

"But when a golden figure appeared in my sight, I immediately realized that these bandits must have been terrified by Your Highness's might and had fled in panic overnight."

Hahaha!

As he spoke, Chang Yuchun burst into laughter again.

Chen Huai'an, who had been riding a horse all morning, jumped off his horse at this moment and looked at Chang Yuchun, who had a smiling face and looked like a kind and honest older brother.

He thought to himself, "When did this number one warrior of the Ming Dynasty learn to flatter?"

"Vice Commander Chang, you may not know this, but His Highness's expedition to Tumu Fortress was not only about leading us to a great victory over the imperial army's 200,000-strong Japanese pirate force, pursuing them relentlessly, and launching a surprise attack on the Tiger Army's supply lines, but also—"

The one speaking was the young General Huo Qubing.

He deliberately kept everyone in suspense, and only after piquing the curiosity of the generals stationed in Yunzhou did he slowly reply, "We captured the dog emperor Zhao Gan alive!"

hiss!

Upon hearing this, all the generals defending Yunzhou were shocked.

Chang Yuchun said anxiously, "Then, where is that dog emperor Zhao Gan? I, Old Chang, really want to see him!"

"You're dead!"

Huo Qubing spread his hands and said, "Deputy General Chang, the emperor is really just like that. He's not some damn emperor, the Son of Heaven."

"He banged his head against the wall, and he bled."

"As a result, the impact was too severe, and he died!"

Upon hearing the news, Chang Yuchun looked regretful and said, "Oh, I missed it, I missed it!"

At this moment, Chen Huai'an finally spoke up: "General Chang, let's talk as we walk. Tell me about the situation of the Imperial Tiger Army!"

Chang Yuchun said, "Your Highness, the imperial Tiger Army is nothing more than a bunch of..."

......

Longcheng territory, located at the Beichuan Anxi Border Army Camp.

Inside the central command tent, Guo Dingfang, the General of Anxi and the General Who Guards the West, looked worried and depressed.

The Tibetan barbarians who invaded the Anxi General's Mansion's territory in Hexi and Longyou on the border of Daxin were so powerful that their vanguard was almost at the General's Mansion in Chang'an City, and they even stole the home of Guo Dingfang and the Anxi border army.

The previous imperial edict from Emperor Zhao Gan was still an order for Guo Dingfang to lead the Anxi border army to launch a fierce attack on Longcheng, with the words "the first battle is the decisive battle, and one battle will determine the fate of the world."

This is not just blind command, but also absurdity about what Minister of War Shen Guangming is doing, letting the Emperor run amok without any intervention.

If everyone were like Shen Guangming, incapable of doing anything, then becoming the Minister of War would be far too easy; anyone could sit in that position with a dog.

My house is about to be robbed, and you still want me to fight to the death? What kind of life is that?

In fact, from the very beginning, Guo Dingfang never intended to confront the Polu Army stationed in Longcheng head-on.

He was one of the few military officers in the Great Xin Dynasty who knew the fighting power of the Po Lu Army well, so he was naturally unwilling to rashly start a war with such a battle-hardened veteran.

If not for being forced to obey the emperor's decree, Guo Dingfang would have long ago turned around and led 100,000 Anxi border troops back to Chang'an.

Therefore, when the emperor ordered a strong attack on Longcheng, Guo Dingfang responded with a delaying tactic.

His 100,000 Anxi border troops had been stationed in Beichuan, Longcheng territory, for more than ten days, but had not engaged in any battle with the Longcheng garrison, nor had they fired a single arrow at the city walls.

On the contrary, after nightfall, the envoys of both armies often walked among the two armies.

The Prince of Jin's mansion sent over pigs, cattle, sheep, and aged Daughter's Red wine, which Guo Dingfang and his generals ate and drank quite a bit of.

Rather than saying Guo Dingfang came to attack Longcheng, it would be more accurate to say he came to Longcheng for a day trip.

All of this is related to the brilliant strategy of defeating the enemy by the black-robed old monk Dongfang Xiao, who was stationed in Longcheng, to "subdue the enemy without fighting."

Tonight, Guo Dingfang was drinking to drown his sorrows in his tent as usual when an uninvited guest suddenly arrived, completely changing the course of this General of Anxi and the Great General of Zhenxi's life.

"Report—"

"Reporting to the General, a special envoy from Longcheng requests an audience!"

Outside the main tent, the sound of a messenger reporting the news rang out.

Inside the tent, Guo Dingfang drank a cup of wine without looking up and said, "Please come in!"

"General Guo, it has been more than three years since we parted in the capital. I hope you have been well!"

At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from inside the tent.

Upon hearing this voice, Guo Dingfang, who was sitting at the table drinking to drown his sorrows, was struck dumb. His hand holding the wine cup trembled involuntarily, and the wine in the cup spilled all over the floor.

He looked up in disbelief, and sure enough, it was that familiar face.

That's right, the person who came was Chen Huai'an.

At that moment, Guo Dingfang's heart raced and his blood surged.

This is within the main camp of his Anxi border army. With just one order, he can surely capture the rebel Chen Huai'an alive.

By then, being granted a title of nobility and high office, as well as bestowing titles and privileges upon his wife and children, will be a foregone conclusion.

Chen Huai'an spoke again, with a hint of mockery, saying, "General Guo, are you perhaps considering whether to detain me and send me to Zhao Gan in exchange for a bright future of being ennobled and appointed prime minister?"

"Your Highness, how can you say that? Do you think I, Guo Dingfang, am that kind of person?"

Guo Dingfang finally came to his senses and greeted him with a smile, saying, "Who in the Great Xin court doesn't know the character of the late King Polu and Your Highness? I, Guo Dingfang, have always been upright and honest. How could I be a snake or rat?"

"How can I, as a subject, disobey the emperor's orders?"

As they spoke, the two were already standing face to face, no more than ten steps apart.

Chen Huai'an smiled meaningfully and said, "General Guo, from this day forward, you will no longer have the trouble of disobeying the emperor's orders!"

With that, he waved his hand and ordered, "Someone, bring the items up for General Guo to inspect!"

The next moment, Xiao Po, the commander of the Golden Guard, took Emperor Zhao Gan's golden armor and Overlord Spear from the carriage that had accompanied him and presented them to General Guo Dingfang, who was in the main tent.

hiss!

Upon seeing this, Guo Dingfang gasped in disbelief and exclaimed, "This, this is, this is the Emperor's golden armor and Overlord Spear?"

Chen Huai'an smiled and nodded, saying, "General Guo, the tyrannical emperor Zhao Gan has committed suicide in Wuzhou City out of fear of punishment. The sky over the Great Xin court has cleared!"

In an instant, the expression on Guo Dingfang's face could be described as changing with the seasons.

The next moment, he knelt on one knee and bowed to Chen Huai'an, respectfully saying, "This humble general, Guo Dingfang, is willing to lead 300,000 Anxi border troops to follow His Highness Prince Jin to quell the rebellion in the south!"

Hahaha!

Chen Huai'an laughed heartily and said, "General Guo, you are truly a hero!"