Zhao Zhen sent the Imperial Guards to settle in the military camp first, while he and the other princes were escorted by military officers into the city to win the favor of the people.
After they went inside, the soldiers on guard at the city gate exchanged a glance, and the city gate closed silently.
The princes all had delicate skin and tender flesh, which contrasted sharply with the appearance of the common people on the border, making it clear at a glance that they were noblemen.
They quickly attracted the attention of the people, and the noise gradually subsided.
Zhao Zhen, riding a tall horse, dressed in fine clothes and exuding an air of nobility, began a passionate speech to the people.
"I am the Third Prince Zhao Zhen. I have come to the border to guard the city by imperial decree. With me here, there is no need to be afraid. I, Zhao Zhen, will definitely drive back the Japanese pirates and restore peace to the people of the border."
After Zhao Zhen finished speaking, he deliberately paused for a while, waiting for the people's gratitude and flattery.
However, the expected scene did not occur; the place was quiet and the atmosphere was eerie.
The people exchanged glances, and when they looked at Zhao Zhen again, their eyes were filled with hatred and disdain.
So this is the Third Prince who colluded with Japanese pirates to murder General Huo and handed over four border cities to the enemy. How shameless!
If it weren't for the female general's heroic efforts in annihilating the Japanese pirates, they would all be dead by now.
This guy actually dares to say he's here to fight the Japanese pirates? He thinks he's stupid, but they already know.
The people didn't say anything, they just watched him perform quietly.
After a long silence, Zhao Zhen lost face and coughed lightly. Just as his lackey was about to smooth things over, Zhao Zhen realized that no one had responded.
Then a little girl said in a childish voice:
"Mother, weren't the bad guys already chased away by General Sister? Why does this brother say he's here to fight the bad guys too?"
The woman quickly covered the child's mouth and looked at Zhao Zhen warily.
Zhao Zhen was petrified, and the others weren't much better off.
What do you mean by "the bad guys were all driven away by the general sister"? Who are the bad guys? And who is the general sister?
What happened in these twenty days?
The princes looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion.
Several military officers, unable to contain their excitement, dismounted and inquired of the people:
"Are you saying the Japanese pirates have been driven back? Who drove them back? Which general?"
When this was mentioned, the people were filled with pride and gratitude: "Naturally, it is General Huo Wushuang, the only daughter of the Great General, General Wushuang."
The princes were shocked. Huo Wushuang? Was this the Huo Wushuang they knew and had fawned over?
How could she possibly have such abilities?
Wait, wasn't she missing? How could she be at the border?
“Impossible.” Zhao Zhen frowned. “How could Huo Wushuang have that ability? Don’t talk nonsense.”
A tall, dark-skinned man couldn't hold back any longer and spat at Zhao Zhen: "Pah! You traitor, where do you get the nerve to question General Wushuang?"
Zhao Zhen's gorgeous clothes were stained, but he didn't have time to pay attention to it. Instead, he was intimidated by the words "traitor" that the man was talking about.
"You audacious scoundrel, what are you saying? Who is the traitor?"
"Everyone knows who colluded with the Japanese pirates to betray the country. Moreover, the Japanese pirates were not driven away, but completely wiped out."
His voice choked with emotion: "General Wushuang led the Huo family army to massacre 200,000 Japanese pirates, leaving no survivors. We no longer have to live in fear."
"Yes, we don't have to be afraid anymore."
"Thanks to the female general."
The entire Japanese pirate army was wiped out? Huo Wushuang did it? No, that's impossible.
Zhao Zhen froze on his horse.
Several military officers danced with joy: "Is this really true? That's wonderful! The Great General has a worthy successor! Our Great Sheng has gained another war god."
"However..." the military officer asked again, "What do you mean by traitors?"
The people all looked at Zhao Zhen, their expressions filled with contempt and hatred.
Before they could speak, a clear, melodious female voice came from afar: "Let's have our military supervisor, Lord Kang, tell everyone."
The crowd automatically parted to both sides, and the female general, dressed in silver armor, rode on horseback, holding a red-tasseled spear in one hand and a rope in the other.
At the other end of the rope hung a disheveled man, being dragged along by a horse, walking unsteadily.
"Peerless General".
"Sister Wushuang".
The people, who had previously looked at Zhao Zhen with hatred, now collectively showed genuine smiles to the female general.
"That's... Kang Hai?" Zhao Zhen exclaimed in surprise.
He was already surprised enough to see Huo Wushuang like this, until he saw who the man tied up with rope was.
"Huo Wushuang, how dare you! Kang Hai is the military supervisor personally appointed by the Emperor. How could you treat him like this? Do you even respect the Emperor?"
Qi An pulled out his whip and, without saying a word, lashed it at Zhao Zhen's mouth.
With a "slap," Zhao Zhen covered the lower half of her face and screamed in agony, blood seeping from between her fingers.
"What's with the dog barking? It's so noisy!" Qi An said.
One of the princes pointed a finger at Qi An: "You...you dare to beat a prince? Are you trying to rebel?"
Qi An lashed out with his whip, and with a twist and a pull, he flew off his horse, clutching his arm and rolling on the ground screaming in agony.
Qi An withdrew his whip, and a severed hand fell to the ground, covered in dirt.
Qi An sneered: "What are you, daring to point at this general and yell at me?"
Even though the military generals disliked the princes, they had no choice but to step forward and stand in front of them.
"Miss Huo, let's talk this out. Don't resort to violence. You'll be held responsible for injuring the prince."
Qi An asked the military officers, "Do you generals know who you are protecting? Do you know what they have done?"
Qi An pulled the rope, and Kang Hai fell to his knees.
Next, in front of everyone, Kang Hai once again exposed the sordid agreement reached between the Zhao imperial family and the Japanese pirates.
He's been terrified of Qi An these past few days, and he's gone into even more detail than before.
Even though they had already seen the proclamation sent by Qi An to the people, hearing Kang Hai's words in person still made them tremble with fear.
"If I hadn't come to the border, the four border cities would have already been handed over to the Japanese pirates by our emperor, and all the people present would have been slaughtered."
"Tell me, should they have been killed?"
"They should be killed!" "Kill them!" The people shouted deafeningly.
"You're spouting nonsense! How could Father Emperor collude with Japanese pirates? You forced Kang Hai to talk nonsense, you traitor! How dare you slander His Majesty!"
Qi An produced evidence: a jade pendant and a secret letter. The jade pendant had the character "真" (zhen, meaning true) in the center.
The princes' faces turned deathly pale instantly.
The Third Prince wanted to say that those weren't his, that these weren't the tokens of their trade with the Japanese pirates, but he was rendered speechless by Qi An's whip.
Ata scoffed at him: "Who cares what your token is? If our boss says so, then it has to be so."
Qi An continued, "Our emperor, in order to eliminate the great general who has protected the country for more than 20 years, did not hesitate to collude with Japanese pirates, cede territory, and betray the people."
Do such royalty deserve our loyalty?
The generals, their eyes bloodshot, slowly stepped aside.
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