Although there was fighting in Beifeng before, the digging of the river channel was not delayed at all!
The soldiers who had previously dug the canal had all been transferred to fight in Beifeng. The people couldn't help with the fighting, but they were more enthusiastic about digging the canal than before. More and more people spontaneously joined the canal-digging army, and they didn't even want wages, as long as they could fill their stomachs.
The people worked in two shifts, digging day and night. Their speed was no slower than when the soldiers were there. So, in the blink of an eye, almost a month after the Northern Rong's attack, the river channel was almost completed.
Xuanyuan Zhan was very pleased to see everyone's hard work gradually coming to an end, but he was still a little worried. He looked at Ling Lang and said, "Now that the Northern Rong have retreated, after this battle, they should not invade again for a long time. I hope you can keep a close eye on the digging of the canals in the North. Now that there is no one in charge in the North, I cannot leave with peace of mind."
Ling Lang felt somewhat ashamed. He had indeed been focused on the military affairs of the Zhenbei Army and had rarely cared about the lives of the people in the north.
He was well aware of the plight of the North, yet he failed to offer useful policies and suggestions like the Prince did to help the people of the North overcome their difficulties. In fact, the Zhenbei Army did not even address the banditry in the North.
It was his narrow-mindedness that led him to act like the prince, wholeheartedly devoted to the North and its people. Perhaps the North wouldn't have fallen into such a predicament.
Ling Lang bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, leave these matters to this humble general. This humble general will urge them to complete the connection of the river as soon as possible, bring in water as soon as possible, and help the people of the North get rid of the drought as soon as possible."
He couldn't let the prince leave in peace. Even if it wasn't for the sake of the people of the North, he had to take on this responsibility for the prince's sake!
Xuanyuan Zhan nodded in satisfaction, then patted Ling Lang on the shoulder with satisfaction: "You are very good, upright and incorruptible. If you could care more about the people, you would become an even better general!"
Ling Lang lowered his head in shame: "Thank you for your teachings, Your Highness. From this day forward, I will reflect on my actions in accordance with Your Highness's words and will certainly live up to Your Highness's expectations!"
Xuanyuan Zhan smiled: "Now that I've handed over the northern lands to you, I can return to the capital with peace of mind."
Xuanyuan Zhan didn't sleep all night, wandering around various places in the North.
He led his men to inspect the prison, the river, the granary, and even the mountain path that Bai Ying and his men had taken. Only after confirming that the path was blocked by several large rocks, thus completely severing contact with the Northern Rong, did Xuan Yuanzhan truly feel at ease.
Although he had only been in the North for less than two months, he quite liked the place. The people here were very kind and loved their hometown.
With these people working so hard to build their hometown, the North will eventually be able to get rid of its current predicament.
Xuanyuan Zhan gave Ling Lang many more instructions before returning to gather the army.
This time, in addition to bringing back 100,000 reserve troops from Kyoto, he also wants to bring back 40,000 troops from the White Eagle's Northern City.
Regardless of whether Xuan Yuanzhi and Xuan Yuanyu acknowledge the 40,000 Northern City soldiers, he certainly does, and he will report their achievements this time!
He also has to take back the three thousand Imperial Guards who were ordered to kill him!
Soon, Mu Lingchen gathered all the soldiers together.
Xuanyuan Zhan looked at everyone and said, "I have come to the North to provide disaster relief and suppress bandits by imperial decree. Although the disaster is still ongoing in the North, the river channel will soon be dredged, and the disaster situation in the North will be alleviated soon. However, some things have happened in the capital. They have misunderstood me and accused me of treason, and have imprisoned my mother and the Queen. This matter is of great importance, and I must return to the capital as soon as possible. Therefore, I will take you all back to the capital at daybreak!"
Xuan Yuanzhan then looked at Bai Ying and the others: "Although the capital has not yet recognized your identities, in my heart you are already the Northern City Army, the true soldiers of Eastern Chu. Are you willing to follow me back to the capital?"
Bai Ying immediately bowed: "We have long been the prince's soldiers, so naturally we will go wherever the prince goes."
All the soldiers of the Northern City also shouted, "We are willing to follow the Prince."
Upon hearing their words, Xuan Yuanzhan quickly raised his hand and said, "You are not my private soldiers, but soldiers of Eastern Chu. You are not to listen to my words, but to the Emperor's words!"
Xuan Yuanzhan's words silenced Bai Ying and the others.
They mustn't speak carelessly, or they might bring a devastating disaster upon the prince.
However, in their hearts, they were not anyone's soldiers, but only the prince's soldiers!
After speaking, Xuan Yuanzhan looked at the three thousand Imperial Guards: "Although you were ordered to kill me, I do not wish to die. You will return to the capital with me this time. I will explain things to Xuan Yuanyu and Xuan Yuanzhi myself when we get back. I believe they will not make things difficult for you."
Having personally experienced the war against the Northern Rong, the three thousand imperial guards now understood even more the preciousness of life, the hardships faced by the Holy King, and his sense of national righteousness.
"We will all obey Your Highness!"
They would eventually have to return to Kyoto, and going back with the prince would be the best option.
Even if they ultimately have no other choice, they can seek help from the prince.
The prince seems kind and courageous; he should help them.
Xuanyuan Zhan, along with Mu Lingchen, Bai Ying, a miscellaneous army of soldiers, and a prison cart carrying Tuoba Xiong, left the city in a grand procession.
Ling Lang and a group of officials from the North came in person to see Xuan Yuanzhan off.
The people of the north also spontaneously came to see Xuanyuan Zhan off.
"Your Highness, are you leaving the North already?"
"Your Highness, can't you stay? The North needs you!"
"Your Highness, the North cannot do without you. Please stay and live here permanently!"
Xuanyuan Zhan was deeply moved by the enthusiastic people and said loudly, "I am also reluctant to leave the North, but I am now being misunderstood as treasonous, and my mother and queen are still imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. I must go back and explain things clearly. After these matters are resolved, I may return."
After all, his mission was to provide disaster relief and suppress bandits. The bandit suppression was over, but the disaster relief was not yet finished. If the disaster in the north was still severe and could not be alleviated, he would definitely have to come back.
Hearing Xuanyuan Zhan say this, the people knew that he had to return to the capital. After all, the Empress Dowager and the Princess Consort had such a big incident, and the fact that the Prince had been able to hold back from returning before was because he had stayed in the North due to the war.
Now that the war in the north has been resolved, it is indeed time for Your Highness to return and rescue the Dowager Consort and the Princess Consort.
When the people realized they couldn't keep Xuanyuan Zhan, they all knelt down and kowtowed to him as he left.
"Your Highness's great kindness to us, the people of the North, is something we will never forget. We, the common people, have no way to repay Your Highness's kindness, so let us kowtow to Your Highness and see you off!"
"Respectfully seeing off Your Highness!"
Wherever Xuanyuan Zhan went, the people of the north all sincerely kowtowed to see him off.
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