Chapter 158 In this era, she was destined to be embroiled in a city-wide storm…
The northern border, the Thousand Horse Plain.
After listening to Lin Yin and Bu Ping'er's account, Chen Liangyu bent down to add feed to the last pen of cattle. Even when feeding cattle, she still fulfilled her duty out of her heart.
"Summon Jingming to see me."
Lin Yin and Bu Ping'er bowed and said, "Yes, Commander!"
As the wind swept across the tips of the grass, even the sunlight seemed to flow with it. As the sun rose high in the sky, over a hundred silver-armored cavalrymen broke through the horizon of the vast pasture.
Shi Tan stumbled out of the dugout, and Zhang Jialing followed closely behind.
Jingming dismounted, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "Miss, please return to camp."
A junior officer, fully armed, followed closely by his side.
It was Yue Zhengyang.
Yue Zhengyang also cupped his hands and said, "Teacher, please return to camp."
The cavalrymen all dismounted and knelt down, saying, "We respectfully request that our commander return to camp!"
Shi Tan's knees buckled, and he knelt down as well, still holding what he was carrying. When Chen Liangyu was demoted to Qianji Plain, he was covered in bruises from his flogging in Yongdu. He didn't ask, but he knew these were the result of angering the emperor. However, the Grand Marshal of the Three Prefectures, who had rendered such great military exploits, had been stripped of his military power and exiled to a pasture to live with slaves. He especially wanted to ask that question:
Are you rebelling?
Shi Tan was always timid and fearful. Living in the dugout for so long, he became more and more like a field mouse. He knew he should never ask about things he shouldn't, and if someone wanted to tell him something that might be risky, he would cover his ears.
He initially thought that Chen Liangyu was doomed this time, but kicking someone when they're down was not the act of a gentleman. She was working in Qianji Plain, so he avoided running into her. He handled official business strictly and did not mistreat her. His only fear was that Zhang Jialing had repeatedly made things difficult for her and given her a hard time. Now that Chen Liangyu had returned to power, it was hard to guarantee that he wouldn't take his anger out on the entire Qianji Plain.
Several herdsmen behind Shi Tan also knelt down. Zhang Jialing felt indignant, so he steeled himself and knelt down with the others.
Chen Liangyu took the general's robe that Jingming was holding, draped it over his shoulders, and walked straight toward them.
The shoe toe kicked past the stone pool until the crawling figure came into view, then Chen Liangyu stopped and stood in front of the kneeling man, saying, "Zhang Jialing."
Zhang Jialing lowered his body even further, paused for a moment, and said, "This humble subject is here."
Chen Liangyu said, "Give me the horse."
Two days ago, a thousand warhorses were delivered, and they are temporarily under Zhang Jialing's management, but have not yet been registered. These warhorses were originally prepared by the Suzhou camp. If she wanted horses, the Suzhou Sima could mobilize them with a single document. Why should she ask him for warhorses without proper justification?
Unless, of course, she has no way to mobilize those warhorses, and has no idea where they are now!
Jingming and his hundred-odd Eagle Head soldiers only said they were respectfully inviting Chen Liangyu back to camp, but they did not produce the imperial edict that Chen Liangyu would be reinstated to his original position.
Zhang Jialing stopped crawling at her feet, straightened up, and asked a shocking question: "You want to rebel?"
Shi Tan was drenched in sweat. He stepped forward and covered his mouth, then desperately kowtowed to Chen Liangyu.
Zhang Jialing calmly removed Shi Tan's hand, looked up to meet Chen Liangyu's gaze, and said, "Two conditions: first, I want a commoner's identity; second, let Shen Yan come to see me one more time."
None of these are things worth mentioning.
Chen Liangyu agreed.
Zhang Jialing revealed the place where the warhorses were kept: "The Northwest Hebei Horse Ranch."
Chen Liangyu turned around with a flick of his sleeve and said to Shi Tan, "Consider it a loan from me."
Shi Tan wiped his sweat: "It's good that you borrowed it, it's good that you borrowed it."
Even if he lost his life, he still couldn't make up for the shortage of thousands of warhorses!
Zhang Jialing snorted and splashed cold water on the stone pool, saying, "Believe her! She still hasn't returned the batch of military equipment she borrowed from Xiling."
"..."
The iron cavalry kicked up dust as they galloped toward the military camp.
Chen Liangyu: "Jingming!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"The flying serpent sent a message to Zhu Dong, telling my sister-in-law and Uncle Yan that if Zhu Dong's army makes any moves, my sister-in-law must hold off Feng Jiakun!"
"yes!"
Chen Liangyu: "Yue Zhengyang!"
Seeing Chen Liangyu's serious expression, Yue Zhengyang knew that he was really going to be tempered, and immediately said, "This student will obey the teacher's instructions!"
Chen Liangyu said, "I order you to return to Xiling immediately. If the Xiling army mobilizes, find a way to stop your father inside Tongmen Pass." She knew that the child was afraid of his father, but fortunately Yue Dun's group was not the key. She added, "Stop him for as long as possible."
Yue Zhengyang seemed to be provoked by the last sentence, and said as if making a vow: "This student will never let my father out of seclusion!"
"Jingming, muster the troops!"
Chen Liangyu nimbly leaped onto her horse's back, shouting, "Back to camp!"
***
In March and April, the Zhudong Tianqian River thaws, and the spring flood, carrying ice shards and silt, rushes down, with turbid waves crashing against the shore like thunder.
Yan Baizhang, dressed in a coarse cloth jacket and hunched over, clutched a smooth wooden cane in his hand as he carefully explored the old embankment of Suanzaowan in the middle reaches of the Tianqian River.
Someone shouted from afar, "Old river worker, get away quickly, it's dangerous!"
Yan Baizhang raised his hand to indicate: It's alright.
He then looked down at the embankment.
Yan Nian rode up, took the lunchbox from Rou Ze's hand, and walked closer despite the river wind.
"father."
She followed Yan Baizhang's gaze to the river. "The water level has risen a bit more than yesterday. There must be more bubbling springs at the base of the embankment now."
Yan Baizhang nodded and poked a mud pit at the foot of the embankment with his wooden cane, which was covered in bubbles. "Look here, the bubbles are rising rapidly, which means the embankment soil has been loosened by the water."
The father and daughter squatted on the bank, eating their boxed lunches. The river wind was strong, and they could occasionally bite into small pieces of sand and gravel.
Yan Nian said, "Just as Liang Yu predicted, Feng Jiakun is indeed secretly borrowing warhorses and military rations."
Yan Baizhang asked, "Have the people in the western villages all been evacuated?"
Yan Nian nodded and spat out the grains of sand she had bitten. "If the river rises again, the old dike at Suanzaowan won't hold."
Several young women in their teens, dressed in traditional Chinese dresses, walked over from the other side of the riverbank. They carried various measuring and riverbank repair tools and were talking amongst themselves.
As they drew closer, they bowed respectfully to Yan Nian and Yan Baizhang.
"I have met the teacher and Mr. Yan."
...
"Teacher, this section of the dike is showing signs of sinking. We need to keep an eye on it tonight, add more gravel and rammed earth, and reinforce it with a few more embankments."
Yan Nian said, "Then go and gather some manpower to reinforce it tomorrow."
The river workers rushed to the rescue, filling countless sandbags, but to no avail.
As dawn broke, the water level gradually decreased, and the banks were already in a state of chaos. The tributary of the Tianqian River changed course, carving out a new channel to the southwest.
Water vapor condensed on both banks of the formidable river, creating fog.
Thirty thousand troops lined up on the east bank. Feng Jiakun frowned as he looked at the scene before him in the morning mist.
The turbid waves surged, and the originally narrow river channel now stretched to the horizon. The ferry crossing that had been surveyed two days ago was also a vast expanse of water. Collapsed embankments and silt were submerged in the water, making it impossible to find a foothold.
The scout exclaimed in alarm, "General, the riverbank at Suanzaowan has collapsed! The river has widened for several miles, the original ferry crossing has been washed away, and the river channel has shifted to the west!"
Feng Jiakun slammed his palm on the broken log beside him, about to order the construction of a pontoon bridge to cross the river, when his military advisor stepped forward and bowed, saying, "General, the current here is swift, and forcing our way across is too risky. It would be better to go north along the east bank of the river and bypass the diverted section."
Feng Jiakun asked, "Would it take several more days to take the detour?"
The soldier said, "If we speed up the march, it will only take two more days to cover the distance."
Feng Jiakun gritted his teeth and nodded: "Pass down the order, the entire army will detour along the riverbank and march north!"
***
The camps stretched out in a row, set up in this desolate and uninhabited area of Qingfeng Ferry.
The ferry crossing has been abandoned for a long time, with only broken stakes and tattered cables remaining, a far cry from its former glory.
This place is the last strategic location before entering Yongdu where the army can rest and recuperate.
Zhao Mingqin lifted the curtain and entered, followed by several trusted captains.
Heng Miao questioned, "Zhao Mingqin, what do you mean by this?"
The guards tried to resist, but were held down by Zhao Mingqin's men, with sharp blades pressed against their waists.
Zhao Mingqin said, "The road to defend the emperor is fraught with danger. Your Excellency is in poor health and has suddenly fallen ill and is bedridden. From today onwards, I will lead the entire army and continue the march toward Yongdu."
Heng Miao angrily drew his sword, the blade reflecting the cold light of the lamplight. "Zhao Mingqin, are you one of the Princess's men?"
Zhao Mingqin stood upright, neither avoiding nor denying the allegations.
Making the situation clear means Hengmiao guessed correctly.
Heng Miao's lips twitched, and he nodded repeatedly, "You've been hiding it well!"
Everything makes sense now.
After Heng Jinan regained control of the southern border, he flogged Heng Miao and exiled him to guard a reservoir. Heng Miao harbored resentment for several years before finally seizing the opportunity presented by the Yongdu coup, when the emperor ordered him to lead troops to defend the capital. However, Heng Miao had already been stripped of his military power, and few were willing to follow him. Only a few of his former subordinates, who had been demoted and exiled to the margins and were feeling frustrated, were willing to follow him.
Zhao Mingqin's willingness to lead the Xuanjia cavalry with him was unexpected. With these three thousand elite cavalry, the army finally looked much more organized and no longer like a hastily assembled group.
Heng Miao said, "You have falsely claimed military orders. I can execute you on the spot!"
Zhao Mingqin raised his hand, holding the military tally in his palm.
That was something Zhao Mingqin had "kept safe" for him during his daytime inspections, but now it had become evidence of the other party's power grab.
Zhao Mingqin said, "My lord, please calm down. I was only doing this for the greater good. Please rest and recover. Once this matter is settled, I will naturally clear your name."
"You traitor! The princess has no imperial edict or seal, and is not of legitimate lineage. What can she give you? What benefit do you gain by risking your life to be loyal to her?"
Zhao Mingqin said calmly, "If you have wasted two thousand days and nights in the darkest of times, and then someone appears who pardons your entire clan from their sins and appoints you as general before you have achieved any merit, you will understand why some people would swear to be loyal to the death."
"Get out of my way!" Heng Miao pushed away the people blocking his way and rushed out of the tent. He was about to shout that he was not sick and that Zhao Mingqin had treasonous intentions, but when he saw the people outside the tent, he couldn't make a sound.
It wasn't his old subordinates, nor was it the Xuanjia Cavalry.
A line of silver-armored cavalrymen stood in formation, each with an eagle's head on their shoulder.
The woman in the lead was Heng Yang.
The Eaglehead Army of the North.
Could it be that Chen Liangyu is already in Yongdu?
Heng Yang, dressed in military uniform and holding a long sword, said, "Brother, the situation is settled. Surrender!"
Heng Miao was placed under house arrest in the main tent, lying down and gazing at the felt tent roof.
At some point, daylight broke through the night, and a hazy gray-white light seeped in through the gaps in the tent, illuminating a corner of the tent ceiling.
Outside the tent, Zhao Mingqin loudly proclaimed, "The Marquis entrusted me with the urgent task of defending the emperor, which cannot be delayed. He has appointed me to temporarily assume the position of commander-in-chief."
Although the soldiers had doubts, they saw Zhao Mingqin holding the military tally, and the army doctor and Heng Yang, a woman from the Heng family, "confirmed" that their commander was seriously ill. They had no choice but to obey the order and break camp.
Zhao Mingqin reined in his horse and asked Heng Yang, "Madam, has General Chen returned to Yongdu?"
If Chen Liangyu returns, Ping'er should already be in the city.
Heng Yang smiled and said, "Soon."
That means it hasn't arrived yet. But what about this eagle-headed armor?
Heng Yang said, "It's not surprising that the Marquis of Yongdu's mansion found a few suits of armor. It's just that the guards in the house wore them to scare you, brother."
***
When the Eagle Head Army reached Helu Town, Chen Liangyu ordered them to rein in their horses and proceed slowly through the town.
Suddenly, a flash of cold light appeared on both sides of the alley, and seven or eight dark figures darted out. Several figures in black, carrying short blades, rushed forward, their blades cutting through the mist, heading straight for Chen Liangyu on horseback.
They are all moves designed to kill with a single blow.
Even with the Eagle Head Army nearby, they dared to assassinate him, showing they were prepared to die.
Bu Ping'er reacted swiftly, drawing her sword to parry. Chen Liangyu dodged the oncoming blade, drew her longsword from her waist, and with a sweep of the blade, killed an assassin instantly. As the assassin's head rolled away, Chen Liangyu noticed the dragon pattern embroidered on the back of his collar.
The remaining assassins surrounded them and attacked.
Surrounded by battle-hardened soldiers, Chen Liangyu was momentarily stunned before drawing his sword and retaliating.
Within moments, the remaining assassins were all killed.
The last man lunged forward with all his might, but after only three or five rounds, Chen Liangyu turned and pressed her sword against his throat, applying a little force...
Chia-Nan collapsed to her knees, clutching her neck, her eyes wide open.
Chen Liangyu arrived at Helu Town earlier than expected. She arrived before even seeing Yue Dun, the Earl of Chengyang. The imperial edict would take time to reach the northern border; even with the fastest horse, there was no reason for it to arrive so early! Moreover, the emperor's decree did not order her to lead the Eagle Head Army; it only commanded her to return to Yongdu alone to report.
The only plausible explanation is that she left the northern border before the imperial decree arrived.
Unable to wait for the Earl of Chengyang, he had no choice but to take a desperate gamble and intercept him as ordered by imperial decree.
Chen Liangyu sheathed his sword. The last assassin was still alive when a muffled bell tolled from the direction of Yongdu.
Chen Liangyu raised her hand to quiet things down, and silence fell instantly.
Count them one by one.
The bell tolls twelve times, signaling a national mourning.
"emperor……"
Jianan's eyes bulged as he struggled to lift his gaze for one last look at Chaoyongdu. The city walls remained magnificent and tall, bathed in the golden-red glow of the setting sun.
But this city, this world, is about to change hands.
His hand fell to his side, and his neck slowly tilted to the side.
The figures of the Northern Iron Cavalry had appeared at the end of the official road. Chen Liangyu, wearing eagle-head armor, stood against the wind, his warhorse kicking up dust, and the ranks behind him were as disciplined as iron.
The capital was in turmoil, and imperial power was in the hands of others.
Those who return stained with blood are destined to forge a new era amidst the turmoil of this city.
Author's Note: The final chapter is currently being revised...
Thank you for reading this far!
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