Chapter 196 Returning Home.
On the third day, Qi Rong and Qin Zhong arrived in Baoding with their men.
Almost as soon as they arrived at the city gate, someone immediately went to report to them.
Qi Rong and his troops waited outside the city gate for almost the entire morning, but the gate still did not open.
It was rather strange that they had been waiting all morning, and Qin Zhong was almost losing his patience.
"Damn it! We've been waiting all morning, what's going on?"
Qi Rong shook his head. He didn't know what was going on either. He had somehow managed to stop the King of Chu's personal guards outside the city.
It's really hard to understand.
"Set up camp where you are and wait outside the door."
Qi Rong ordered the troops to be quickly reorganized. He felt something was amiss about the matter, but they didn't know what had happened in the city, so they could only wait and see.
Inside the city—
The Duke of Qi feigned difficulty and advised the old prince at the head of the table: "Your Highness, so it is true that my unfilial son is disobedient, but it is not right to leave him outside the city and not allow him to enter."
Li Youkang took a sip of tea and gently shook his head: "Brother, don't worry. It's just leaving them out for a day. Nothing serious will happen."
A hint of hesitation flashed across the Duke of Qi's face, but he was overjoyed inside. With the battle at the front lines at a stalemate, he had volunteered to come here because he had heard that his eldest son was leading the team from Taiyuan.
I used to think that this rebellious son had died in Daxing, but now I think it's a pity.
At that time, there was no food, no people, and no money. It's amazing that this rebellious son survived.
However, this time, things might not be so easy.
Li Youkang was sent by the emperor to keep order. The sudden mobilization of some of the personal guards of the princes from various regions to retake the border cities naturally required someone of high status who was difficult to control.
He had become acquainted with this man when he arrived, and the two had been on good terms in the capital. Li Youkang also had a lot of opinions about his unfilial eldest son.
This time, he didn't even need to provoke Li Youkang; he directly started making things difficult for the Chu King's personal guards, blocking them outside the city.
We'll do a little more maneuvering on the frontier then. Hmph, you might have escaped last time, but you won't be able to escape this time.
"Your Highness has taught my unfilial son a lesson, and I will remember it forever."
As he spoke, the Duke of Qi began to flatter the old prince. The two appeared to be on good terms, but Qi Rong and Qin Zhong outside the city were growing increasingly impatient.
It was clearly a show of force, and Lin Changning's expression was not good either. The court had summoned them here, but they were not allowed to enter when they arrived at the gate. It was simply unreasonable.
Lin Changning, seeing Qi Rong's darkened face, suggested, "Commander, why don't we retreat thirty miles and pretend to be heading back to Taiyuan?"
Seeing the way these people were looking at him, Lin Changning explained, "Although the city may be trying to make things difficult, they probably wouldn't dare to actually turn us away, otherwise they would be punished."
Why don't we send someone to shout that since the city gates won't open, then we don't need the King of Chu's personal guards. Let's head back and then lead our troops 30 li to the rear.
If they come out to stop us, then we'll go into the city. If they don't, then it's intentional to make things difficult for us. We'll petition the court to return home. In that case, neither option will be our fault.
Qin Zhong thought for a moment and thought it was feasible: "Prince Qi, why don't we do as Xiao Lin suggested?"
Qi Rong nodded: "Then Xiao Liu, go to the city gate and shout something, and see what the people there say?"
Lin Changning nodded, and led a group of men, riding to the city gate: "Our Chu King's personal guards have been waiting here for most of the day. Haven't they greeted the higher-ups yet? Should the city gate be opened or not?"
The generals above looked down, somewhat embarrassed. They knew it was wrong to stop people at this time, but the old prince had given an order to open the city gates tomorrow, without giving a specific reason.
Thinking of this, the general reassured him, "Our men have already gone, and the city gates cannot be opened for the time being. Why don't you wait a little longer, Commander?"
Lin Changning, sitting on his horse, snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and said with an icy expression, "I don't know what you mean by stopping us outside the city? We came here to provide assistance on His Majesty's orders, but now you won't even give us a reason and you've stopped us outside the city. We can't even enter the gate. I really don't understand. If you don't need the Prince of Chu's personal guards, we'll head back home."
After saying that, he mounted his horse and prepared to walk away.
The generals on the city wall initially thought Lin Changning was just saying things in anger, but when they saw Lin Changning return to the ranks and reorganize them, seemingly preparing to leave, they became anxious.
"Commander, please don't worry. I'll send someone to inform them again right now. Please wait a moment!"
Qin Zhong and Qi Rong rode on their horses. Qin Zhong snorted coldly, "Since Baoding doesn't welcome us, then we won't bother making a fool of ourselves. There's no need to announce our arrival. We've been waiting here all day, so let's head back today."
After saying that, he led his people outside.
The generals on the city gate tower were sweating bullets. They hadn't expected the King of Chu's personal guards to leave so suddenly. If they were to be blamed by their superiors, none of them would be able to bear the consequences.
After all, it was the emperor who ordered the Chu King's personal guards to come to the rescue, but it was the old prince who ordered that no one be allowed to enter the city. Do we need to say who is more powerful?
The old prince might not necessarily take responsibility for them, but it is a fact that the Chu prince's guards refused to let them in when they arrived at the gate. If these people really left, they would be in real trouble.
The general immediately ordered the men behind him to quickly consult the old prince. Upon receiving the order, the soldiers rushed to the garrison without stopping, hurriedly preparing to report.
After being led into the tent, he clasped his hands and knelt on one knee: "Your Highness, the Chu King's guards said that if we don't open the gate, it must be because we don't need them. They are about to head back to their residence and have already traveled a mile. Please make a decision quickly, Your Highness: should we open the city gate or not?"
The old prince's heart skipped a beat, and the teacup in his hand fell to the ground with a thud. He seemed not to have expected the Chu King's guards to be so resolute, turning back home after only leaving them waiting for a day.
If this person really leaves, the emperor will surely blame him.
Thinking of this, the old prince, disregarding his robes soaked with tea, hurriedly grabbed a man and walked out.
"Go, go, lead me to the city gate, and quickly stop them."
One has left. If this sets a precedent, what will happen if the remaining prince's guards receive the news and none of them come?
These people were unwilling to go to war in the first place, and if the King of Chu's personal guards left first, some of the other guards might also abandon their posts halfway and not come back.
His crime will be much greater then.
Led by the Duke of Qi, they hurriedly rode out of the city gate. After ordering the gate to be opened, the old Prince Li Youkang saw that the Chu King's guards had already traveled more than ten miles ahead and quickly chased after them.
"Wait, wait!!!"
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