After getting off the carriage, Zhu Yu walked straight toward Lu Xiaoyun.
As soon as Lu Xiaoyun saw Zhu Yu, a smile bloomed on her face. She quickly put down the blueprints, left the pavilion, and hurried a few steps to stand in front of him, tucking the stray hairs behind his ear.
"Why did you come out? There are so many people today."
Zhu Yu looked up at her, his phoenix eyes filled with starlight: "Yes, I missed you, so I wanted to come and see you."
Lu Xiaoyun took his hand and led him to sit in the pavilion: "Wait for me a moment, it will be ready soon."
"good."
Shen Guangming, sitting in the carriage, looked at his wife with a puzzled expression. Could it be that this couple was about to get back together?
When have I ever seen His Highness Prince An treat a woman like this? Just now, the way he looked at Miss Lu was full of doting affection.
Madam Shen suddenly understood and realized that "Miss Lu" had misunderstood her earlier. She hadn't come to remind them of her relationship with General Qi, but rather to bring her daughter and General Qi together.
Madam Shen was overjoyed and winked at Shen Mingguang. Shen Mingguang indicated that he understood and told Madam Shen to rest assured.
The next morning, after the court session, Shen Mingguang went to see the old emperor alone.
...
Five days later, the Chen delegation accepted the almost harsh conditions proposed by Zhu Dan.
With the surrender of Chen, the old emperor's edict has reached the southern border, ordering the Duke of Zhenguo to return to the capital immediately to receive his reward. The Lu family army will be temporarily led by Deputy General Huang to continue guarding the southern border.
Just as Lu Yucheng's wedding was imminent, the Duke of Zhenguo handed over his affairs to his deputy general and then returned to Shengjing City with more than ten people.
The 120,000-strong Western Mountain military camp of the Duke of England had only arrived in the southern border region five days ago, and had not even had a chance to participate in the great battle with the State of Chen.
The military achievements of defeating the State of Chen and capturing more than ten cities from Chen had absolutely nothing to do with them.
The old emperor reprimanded them for their slow march. Fortunately, the Lu family army was brave enough; otherwise, if this had led to the defeat of the Great Zhou, they would have been guilty of a crime for all time.
The Xishan Military Palace was renamed the Yan Army and immediately set off to the northwest to guard the border between the Great Zhou and the Northern Qi.
Duke Du Kaiyuan of England was furious upon receiving such an imperial edict. The journey from Mucheng to the southern border was over 1,200 li, and it would normally take about 20 days to reach the destination by marching at full speed.
However, just a few days after they set off, some people contracted the disease, which slowed down the march. The army doctors were helpless, and four or five hundred people died in just a few days, with people getting sick every day.
When he issued the order, thousands of people were burned to death, but he dared not report it, otherwise it would have been a heinous crime that would have resulted in the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan.
...
At that time, the Duke of England had only been in office for three to five days when he received the emperor's decree to travel to the southern border.
"My lord, what should we do? More than a hundred people have died today. If the epidemic is not brought under control, our army of 120,000 will be wiped out before we even reach the southern border. You need to come up with a plan as soon as possible."
"Yes, Your Excellency, most of the medicine we brought is for treating external injuries, and now even that is running low. This disease is spreading rapidly, and if we don't find a good cure soon, we will all die!"
"That's right. Fortunately, only the Third Battalion is currently infected. If we delay any longer, people in other battalions will also get sick in a few days, and then it will truly be out of control. Your Excellency, we can't wait any longer, you must make a decision quickly!"
Inside the command tent, the Duke of England sat at the head of the table, with his lieutenants below him, all sighing and lamenting, creating an extremely heavy atmosphere.
The Duke of England looked grim; in just over ten days, he appeared several years older, with many gray hairs appearing at his temples.
When the epidemic was first discovered in the army, the Duke of England immediately sent a memorial to the palace. However, half a month has passed, and he has not yet received any decree from the emperor. There has also been no news of the imperial physicians and herbal medicines that should have been sent.
"If you ask me, we should just leave them in this deep mountain forest and let them fend for themselves," someone suggested.
"No! What if they go out and bring the disease out?" Someone immediately objected.
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Report!" Just as everyone was making a ruckus, a loud shout came from outside the command tent and reached everyone's ears.
The Duke of England jumped up from his chair, thinking that the Emperor had finally sent a decree.
Upon seeing a soldier enter the commander's tent, the soldier knelt on one knee and loudly proclaimed, "Reporting to the Duke of Ying, the Second Prince Zhu Heng has rebelled, and Shengjing City is in chaos!"
"What!" Everyone looked at each other in disbelief, never expecting that Zhu Heng, who usually only knew how to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures, would dare to rebel.
"What is the situation in Shengjing City now? How is the Emperor? Did the Second Prince succeed?" someone asked eagerly.
The soldier shook his head: "Our men can't get into Shengjing City. We only know that the capital is in chaos. The Second Prince Zhu Heng has a private army of 50,000 men, and the Left Prime Minister Ren Yushan and the Prefect of Mucheng Lin Yuanqing are also the Second Prince's men. Even the Imperial Guards are under the Second Prince's command!"
The Duke of England ordered: "Send men to investigate again immediately, and report back as soon as you have any news!"
The soldier accepted the order and left.
Everyone in the command tent wore a solemn expression. No wonder the emperor hadn't sent any imperial decrees, and no wonder even the imperial physicians and herbs hadn't arrived. Something so serious had happened.
The Imperial Guards are all the Second Prince's men, does that mean the Emperor is dead?
"Lord Duke, is it possible for the Second Prince to succeed?"
The Duke of England shook his head: "It's hard to say. Our army has withdrawn from Shengjing City. If we were to send troops back from Annam City to reinforce it, the palace would probably have been under Zhu Heng's control long ago. He dared to rebel, so he must have been prepared."
"Originally, with the Northern Army present, Zhu Heng wouldn't have dared to act rashly. It's just a pity that the Emperor is too suspicious. Ah, since that's the case, then we don't need to rush to the Southern Frontier. Let's wait and see who wins and who loses."
"So, what should we do next? The chaos in Shengjing City won't be quelled anytime soon. If the Second Prince loses, that's fine; the Emperor will remember your memorial and will eventually send a physician and medicine. But what if the Second Prince wins?"
Upon hearing this, the Duke of England gritted his teeth, his face darkening as he swept his gaze across the crowd. He then ordered, "Tonight, have the cooks prepare extra meat and send some wine to the soldiers of the Third Battalion, so they can have a good meal tonight."
Eat your fill before you hit the road!
"Lord Duke, you mean..."
"At midnight tonight, set fire to the three camps! I cannot afford to lose all 120,000 troops; this is the only option now!"
The imperial court couldn't save them; he could only save himself!
Everyone's expression changed; the entire Third Battalion had a full five thousand men!
After someone in the third battalion contracted the disease, the entire army halted operations. At the time, there was a fear that the epidemic would spread to other battalions, so they were stationed in a canyon.
The area is surrounded by high mountains on both sides, with only two narrow exits to the north and south for delivering food every day.
That night, the north wind howled, and the sky was pitch black with not a single star in sight.
The canyon is flanked by towering slopes, with dark clouds pressing down on them, making one feel gloomy and almost unable to breathe.
The soldiers of the Third Battalion were overjoyed at the unexpected treat of wine and meat, unaware that it would be their last meal in this world.
Just as midnight arrived, a deluge of arrows flew into the canyon, and in an instant, the entire canyon was filled with cries and screams.
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