The following day, at the White Tiger Hall.
Zhang Tao, Wu Shangzhi, Yang Chao, and Zhong Meng stood solemnly and obeyed orders.
Zhao Muyun briefly conveyed the spirit of the secret edict from Xijing, and then said:
"His Majesty has urged me to return to the capital. The defense of the Central Plains and the Southeast will be entirely entrusted to the four of you. Zhang Tao will be in charge of administration, Wu Shangzhi will be in charge of the military, and Yang Chao and Zhong Meng will assist him. There are a few things you must remember."
"Please give your instructions, General!" The four men bowed.
"Firstly, pacifying the local areas is the top priority. We should reduce taxes and levies, recruit refugees, and restore production. Without the people, there is no country; if the people's livelihood is unstable, everything else is meaningless."
"Secondly, the army should be reorganized and trained, but the people should not be disturbed. Among the surrendered soldiers, the strongest and most capable should be selected to supplement the ranks, and the rest should be properly dismissed and resettled. The troops stationed in each prefecture and county must strictly abide by discipline."
“Thirdly,” he said, looking at Zhong Meng, “naval training cannot be neglected. The safety of the Yangtze River defense line, the Huai River, and the Grand Canal is of paramount importance. You must put in a lot of effort to quickly build up combat capability.”
Fourth, pay close attention to developments in Jiangnan, especially Chen Youhai in Fujian, and... at sea.
Zhao Muyun's expression was serious. "Xiao Cheyun is in Huainan. You must maintain contact with him and support each other. If there are any major changes, you can act accordingly, but you must report to Xijing and me in time."
"This subordinate understands! I will certainly not fail the General's trust!"
The four responded in unison, deeply feeling the weight of their responsibility.
After giving his instructions, Zhao Muyun summoned Yang Chao, Li Mao, and others who were about to escort the prisoners back to the capital. He repeatedly urged them to be careful on the road, to keep a close watch on the serious criminals, and to handle matters such as how to deal with the imperial court's rewards after arriving in the capital.
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the last batch of tasks were completed.
Zhao Muyun's belongings have been packed simply.
He stood in the courtyard, gazing at the capital city that had just been recaptured but had not yet fully recovered its vitality.
"I'll be leaving tomorrow," Fan Bingbing said softly as she came to his side.
“Yes.” Zhao Muyun nodded. “It’s just a temporary departure. We will return once the new capital is completed and His Majesty moves north. The capital will then have a completely new look.”
"It definitely will," Fan Bingbing said firmly.
As night fell, Zhao Muyun gave the military camp one last inspection.
Seeing the anticipation on the faces of his soldiers as they packed their gear and cleaned their weapons, he felt a slight stirring in his heart.
After months of fighting, they finally achieved victory.
Although challenges still lie ahead, at least for now, he can return home with victory and glory to see his family and the young emperor who trusts and relies on him.
On the sixth day of the seventh lunar month, at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the east gate of the capital city was opened wide.
Banners fluttered in the wind, and armor gleamed brightly.
The 70,000-strong army marched out of the city, stretching for miles like a giant steel dragon, slowly moving along the official road where the snow had not yet completely melted.
Zhao Muyun, clad in silver armor and a black cloak, stood on a jet-black warhorse in front of the farewell pavilion outside the city gate.
Zhang Tao, Wu Shangzhi, Yang Chao, Zhong Meng and other officials and generals who stayed behind, as well as many gentry and commoners from the capital who rushed to the scene after hearing the news, gathered on both sides of the road to see them off.
"Take care, General!"
"Respectfully seeing off the General on his triumphant return!"
"May the General have a safe journey!"
The calls rose and fell.
Zhao Muyun clasped his hands in greeting from his horse, paying homage to the crowd seeing him off and to the city.
His gaze swept over the majestic city walls, past the eaves of the distant palace, and finally returned. He spurred his horse, turned around, and joined the forefront of the marching column.
His elite guards led the way, followed by a specially made prison wagon procession carrying serious criminals such as Li Jingang and Ma Zongliang, under the close watch of Yang Chao and Li Mao.
Following them were the main forces of various battalions led by generals such as Guo Luo, Murong Chunhua, Huan Wu, Namtso, Mezang Epang, Lin Yuan, Liu Yi, and Xi Sheng.
In the middle of the procession were also supply wagons loaded with important books, albums, and ceremonial items that had been inventoried from the capital's treasury.
Fan Bingbing changed into ordinary bodyguard attire and rode a horse behind Zhao Muyun.
The army marched in strict discipline, with little noise except for the rhythmic sounds of footsteps, horses' hooves, and wheels rolling.
But the triumphant spirit of returning home still lingered over the entire team.
Dozens of miles from the capital, the roadside gradually became desolate.
The traces of war are everywhere: abandoned villages, barren fields, and occasionally a few returning refugees can be seen struggling to find their way back among the ruins.
Whenever he saw this scene, Zhao Muyun would order some of the dry rations he carried with him to be distributed, and have the military scribe record the location so that he could provide relief in the future.
The first day of the march went smoothly, and they set up camp at the pre-arranged post station.
The next day, while crossing the pontoon bridge over the river, they encountered a small group of unidentified bandits who attempted to attack the supply train. The bandits were quickly dispersed by patrolling cavalry, and several were captured and killed.
Interrogation revealed that they were merely deserters who had taken advantage of the chaos to loot, and that their actions were not organized.
Zhao Muyun ordered the prisoners to be handed over to the prefectures and counties along the way for disposal, and the army continued to advance.
The journey was tedious, but for the soldiers who had been away from home for more than four years, every step meant getting closer to their hometown and their loved ones.
Despite the strict military discipline, a growing sense of anticipation could still be felt within the ranks.
Zhao Muyun remained silent for most of the time as he rode his horse, observing the scenery along the way and contemplating the situation.
Fan Bingbing would occasionally ride closer on horseback, whispering reports of scattered information gathered by the night watchmen along the way, or handing them water pouches.
On the evening of the third day, the team arrived at Yanshi County, east of Shanzhou, and set up camp.
This place was once a battlefield where the Fengtian Army and the Yin Army fought back and forth. It was severely damaged. The county town was small, so the army had to set up a series of camps in the open space outside the town.
Inside the central command tent, Zhao Muyun, along with generals Guo Luo, Yang Chao, and Li Mao, were examining a map and determining the subsequent route.
Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats and the shouts of guards came from outside the tent.
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