Chapter 321: Fortune and Honor in Danger
At night.
The wind rustles, insects chirp and birds sing.
A group of black-armored cavalrymen walked in the moonlight, approaching the north gate of Shengjing City.
The North Gate is the guarded area of Beidaying. The people in Beidaying are all old colleagues of Xiao Ning and others. Maybe they can be persuaded to switch sides.
If not, the Xiao family army, which is familiar with the combat methods of Beidaying, will be able to attack Shengjing at the fastest speed and with the least losses.
The thought of crossing swords with former comrades...
Everyone couldn't help feeling uncomfortable.
But now that it has come to this, they have no choice.
“Who is it?”
"Stop right here, or I'll kill you without mercy!"
When the soldiers on the city wall saw the cavalry approaching, they raised their torches.
Under the moonlight and firelight, the two groups looked at each other.
At the foot of the city wall, Xiao Ning raised her hand, and the troops behind her stopped. The imperial flag belonging to Dayong and the military flag with the word "Xiao" printed on it were intertwined and fluttered in the moonlight.
On the city wall, archers lined up with their bows and arrows drawn, standing at the edge of the wall, waiting for the general's order to shoot and kill the approaching people.
"Yan Qing?"
"Is that you, Yan Qing?"
It was Zhou Jiang's voice.
Xiao Ning looked up, and the two of them stared at each other from a distance. The distance was too far, and he couldn't see the expressions on each other's faces clearly.
But from the sound of it, he seemed quite excited.
Xiao Ning raised his voice and replied, "It's me. It's been three years since we last met. How are you, General Zhou?"
Zhou Jiang said: "Okay, I'm fine!"
"Yan Qing, have you finished suppressing the rebellion and are you returning to the capital? Wait, I'll come down and talk to you!"
Zhou Jiang said this and turned to leave the city wall.
A moment later, the city gate opened and Zhou Jiang strode out without even holding a weapon, looking completely defenseless.
Seeing this, Xiao Ning dismounted and strode forward to meet him.
"Aning!"
Shang Xi shouted anxiously.
Xiao Ning turned around and smiled at him, saying, "It's okay, don't worry."
Then Shang Xi saw Li Yuan and others also dismounting.
He asked, "Who is this General Zhou?"
Li Yuan explained, "General Zhou was our former superior. He treated our general very well. He is on duty today. Perhaps our general can convince him to switch sides."
Shang Xi said "Oh".
He dismounted and walked towards General Zhou along with Li Yuan and others.
As soon as the two met, Zhou Jiang opened his arms and hugged Xiao Ning.
Xiao Ning naturally did not refuse.
She also opened her arms and gave Zhou Jiang a hug in return.
The armor was cold. Zhou Jiang patted Xiao Ning's back with both hands and let her go.
"Good boy! You've been gone for three years. I miss you so much!"
"How's it going? Are you okay?"
Xiao Ning smiled and shook his head, "Of course not. General Zhou knows my strength best, right?"
After a few pleasantries, Zhou Jiang got straight to the point.
"Yan Qing, what exactly are you thinking of, leading your troops into the capital at this time?"
Xiao Ning smiled and said, "Nothing can be hidden from Brother Zhou's eyes. Since Brother Zhou dares to leave the city alone, I think he won't make things difficult for me."
Zhou Jiang said, "Yan Qing, I've never treated you as an outsider. You already know what I'm thinking, so there's no need to play dumb with me. Let's be honest. As long as you don't lose your conscience, I'll follow you in the future!"
Xiao Ning was silent for a moment, not knowing whether he should tell the truth.
Zhou Jiang had indeed said some outrageous words to her before, but he had not been influenced by her new ideas, so it was inevitable that he would think that overthrowing the Shang Dynasty was outrageous.
Not to mention whether he would still be so determined to follow her after her identity as a woman was exposed.
Shang Xi, who was standing beside her, saw her hesitation and spoke up, "Your Majesty is seriously ill, and the Second Prince has been in control of government. Now that Your Majesty has passed away, he has kept the news a secret. His heart is damned. General Xiao came to the capital to help the king quell the rebellion."
Zhou Jiang heard the voice and looked over, only to see a cold and handsome face.
"This is..."
Shang Xi said, "I am the late emperor's son, Shang Xi."
Zhou Jiang's pupils dilated.
More than half a year ago, rumors were rife in Shengjing City that Princess Duanhui Shang Xi was not the daughter of the late emperor, but his son, and that she had only been pretending to be a princess in order to earn a living under the emperor.
These remarks were severely punished by the court.
Soon after, a carriage from the princess's mansion left the palace. When the wind blew up the curtains, a gorgeous and graceful woman in a red palace dress was seen sitting in the carriage. She glanced casually out the window, looking cold and noble.
Similar remarks emerged later, but were quickly suppressed.
Zhou Jiang laughed when he heard that but didn't take it seriously. After all, there are differences between men and women in all aspects, especially in a place like the palace where there are so many people and eyes. How could such a big secret have gone undiscovered?
Even if that prince was born short and was good at disguising himself, when he was included in the royal genealogy, was the emperor blind, and were the female officials who examined him also blind?
Shocked, Zhou Jiang quickly looked at Xiao Ning.
Xiao Ning nodded slightly, "She is the former Princess Duanhui."
Zhou Jiang quickly knelt on the ground, clasped his fists and said, "Your Highness, I, Zhou Jiang, greet you!"
Shang Xi said, "No need to be so polite, General."
Zhou Jiang stood up following his false support.
What else did he not understand at this time? Xiao Yanqing sent troops late at night just to help Shang Xi fight for the throne.
As for the Second Prince's secret death...
He doesn't know whether it is true or false, nor does he care.
He only hoped that after Shang Xi ascended the throne, he would be able to carry out reforms like the previous emperor and restore the former glory.
Zhou Jiang said, "Your Highness, Yan Qing, I will have them let you go right away!"
Shang Xi looked at Xiao Ning and she nodded.
Shang Xi said, "Thank you for your help, General. If this is accomplished one day, you will be a meritorious official!"
Xiao Ning: “…”
Li Yuan and others: "..."
Zhou Jiang: "Thank you, Your Highness!"
He turned around and made a "let go" gesture towards the city gate.
The heavy city gate was opened by several soldiers working together.
Xiao Ning raised his hand, signaling the soldiers to enter the city first.
After all the soldiers entered the city, Xiao Ning and others mounted their horses and entered the city.
"Yan Qing, if you need any help, just send someone to tell me, and I will definitely help if I can!"
Xiao Ning said, "Brother Zhou, please help us guard the city gate and don't let anyone else in."
Zhou Jiang smiled and said, "Of course!"
Watching the Xiao family's troops gradually retreat into the distance, Zhou Jiang's deputy asked him, "General, is it really okay to let them into the city like this?"
It looks like he has bad intentions...
Which general would choose to lead the troops back to the capital at night, and so quietly?
It would be fine if they succeeded.
If I lose...
Then, wouldn't those of them who are guarding the city be...
Zhou Jiang looked at his deputy and smiled, "Old Wu, you are just too timid."
"As the saying goes, wealth and honor are sought through risk. Do you really want to stay in the position of deputy to the General of the Central Army for the rest of your life?"
"Can't you see the strength of Yan Qing? He is not inferior to the General Zhenbei back then."
"Look at the team he's leading. Do those guys who just came over look familiar to you? They were all the recruits he followed back then. Now, look at their aura. Not to mention the soldiers in the camp, even General Du can't compare to them."
"Ever since he showed his strength in the camp, I knew he was no ordinary person."
"Sooner or later, such people will ride on the wind and soar into the sky!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
