Zhao Cheng took a step back, knelt down on both knees, bowed deeply to Mu Zhaojun, and said, "Mother, I have never disobeyed you, but this time, please forgive your son for being unfilial."
Mu Zhaojun became anxious and said, "Not a single one of my sons can be missing!"
“The boss’s method is correct.” Zhao Huan put his arm around Mu Zhaojun, glanced in the direction of the valley, and said, “If Xiao Luofeng can’t create a miracle, none of us will escape.”
Mu Zhaojun was furious and broke free from Zhao Huan, saying, "Are you just going to send Cheng'er to her death?"
Zhao Huan said, “Protecting family is the responsibility of every man of the Zhao family. But you’re wrong, eldest brother. The court’s target is not you, but the Zhao family father and son. So I’m not going anywhere. I can’t walk anymore. I need to take a carriage.”
“Father…” Zhao Cheng knew that Zhao Huan was right. For the court, arresting Zhao Huan was more important than arresting Zhao Cheng.
Zhao Huan embraced Mu Zhaojun again and smiled, "Madam, I have experienced countless desperate situations in my life. Every time, I have turned misfortune into good fortune. You are leading everyone to Lingshan. Chunqin and Cai'e still need your care. You cannot act rashly."
Mu Zhaojun looked pained, but did not say anything more in opposition.
"Father, Cheng, don't worry." Yuan Yun walked over slowly and said with a firm look in her eyes, "I will help Mother take good care of everyone."
Zhao Huan nodded in satisfaction.
Yuan Yun looked at Zhao Cheng and said sternly, "Zhao Cheng, you are my man, and I still want to have your child. You must come back here alive!"
Zhao Cheng laughed and said, "Of course, you've only given me one son, how is that enough?"
Yuan Yun called out, "Heng Wenhao!"
"Here!" Heng Wenhao knelt down on one knee in front of Yuan Yun.
Yuan Yun said, "You will continue to follow the Prince Consort."
"yes!"
Zhao Cheng glanced towards the valley, his expression growing even more determined, and said, "Then let's not delay any longer, you all proceed at full speed!"
...
The sounds of fighting echoed through the valley.
The battle between Xiao Luofeng, Xu Shouli, and Du Yu in Chengdu has entered a fierce stage.
Xiao Luofeng's team's formation became thinner and thinner, and their numbers dwindled, but they fought with increasing ferocity, advancing relentlessly and compressing the Zhenhai Camp's space, denying them any opportunity to widen the distance.
The Zhenhai Camp's space was compressed, making movement very inconvenient. The soldiers squeezed in the middle were unable to play a significant role. Xu Shouli's men were also very brave, working together with Xiao Luofeng to push the Zhenhai Camp towards the center. Although Du Yucheng was clearly the pursuing side and had a numerical advantage, the situation on the field looked more like the Zhenhai Camp being caught in a pincer movement by Xiao Luofeng and Xu Shouli.
To boost morale, Fu Zheng went to the front row and fought with Xu Shouli's men.
Xu Shouli shouted from the ranks, "Commander Fu, no matter who wins today's battle, it will be a lose-lose situation. Is it worth it?"
Fu Zhengdao said, "The Emperor's will cannot be defied!"
Xu Shouli retorted sharply, "His Majesty's will? His Majesty's original intention in establishing the Zhenhai Camp was to eliminate the pirates. Now what has the Zhenhai Camp become? It has become Du Yu's private army in Chengdu!"
Fu Zheng shook his head and said, "Lord Qingdong, it was indeed an imperial decree to dispatch the Zhenhai Camp to arrest Zhao Huan and his son."
Xu Shouli said, "Now that treacherous officials are in power, all matters, large and small, inside and outside the court are handled by the Central Secretariat. Could this decree really have been issued by His Majesty? Even if it was, is it possible that His Majesty has been deceived by such villains?"
Fu Zheng thought for a moment and said, "The affairs of the palace... are too far removed from my life."
"Not far from you!"
Xu Shouli shouted, "You were once a member of His Majesty's Imperial Guard, and the Commandant of Zhenhai Camp personally appointed by His Majesty. Don't you understand His Majesty's intention? His Majesty kept you by Du Yucheng's side so that you could keep an eye on him and not let him run wild!"
"How difficult was it to establish the Zhenhai Battalion? How hard-won were the victories it achieved in Jingdong and Jiangyang Counties?" cascoo.net
"Do you really want to watch Zhenhai Camp be wiped out like this?"
"Captain Fu! Wake up!!"
Fu Zheng was stunned; he was indeed moved by what Xu Shouli said.
When the imperial edict arrived in Yunjing County, he was already resistant to it.
His goal was to drive out the pirates in one fell swoop. Even though the pirates had gained momentum and the Southern Zhou had intervened, disrupting the pace of the offensive, it was not without a solution.
Since the Southern Zhou has intervened, the Zhenhai Camp can seek help from the Zhennan Border Army.
Even if we take a step back, we can still ask Cai Qiong and Deng Fugui for help.
When Zhenhai Camp was established, His Majesty said that in times of emergency, Duyu Chengdu had this authority, and the three prefectures of Jingdong should actively cooperate with Duyu Chengdu.
Instead of considering how to deal with the pirates, Du Yucheng immediately withdrew his troops after receiving the imperial edict and went on a rampage to attack the Zhao family.
He's gone mad.
Seeing Fu Zheng remain silent, Xu Shouli pressed his advantage and shouted, "Fu Zheng, you are the captain of Zhenhai Camp. You have influence. If you are willing to stop the war, countless soldiers can survive and countless families will not be broken."
At this moment, a soldier beside Fu Zheng said, "Captain Fu, I am not afraid of death, but Marquis Qingdong is right. Zhenhai Camp is meant to deal with pirates. I would rather be killed by pirates than live in internal strife!"
boom!
Fu Zheng's head was buzzing, and he was shocked by these words.
Even a soldier could explain this, yet I couldn't understand it!
Fu Zheng was a decisive man; he immediately raised his hand, signaling the soldiers in the front row to retreat.
"Brothers, stop fighting!"
The soldiers looked at each other, weapons in hand, unsure of what to do.
Fu Zheng then looked at Du Yucheng and called out from afar, "Commander Du Yu, let's cease hostilities!"
Du Yucheng angrily said, "Fu Zheng, do you know what you're saying?"
Fu Zheng said, "Let's stop the war. The pirates haven't been eliminated yet, and Dajing still needs the Zhenhai Camp!"
Du Yucheng questioned, "Fu Zheng, are you going to defy the imperial decree?!"
Fu Zheng said solemnly, "Let's cease hostilities first. After we return to the palace, His Majesty will decide whether I disobey the imperial decree!"
"You've rebelled too!"
Du Yucheng raised his halberd, pointed it at Fu Zheng, and shouted, "Fu Zheng has betrayed us! Kill him!"
Most of the people around Fu Zheng were his confidants. Some others, though loyal to Du Yucheng, dared not make a move, while others simply did not want to fight anymore and in their hearts approved of Fu Zheng's ceasefire, so they all stood there motionless.
Enraged, Du Yucheng charged at Xiao Luofeng with his halberd, roaring, "I, Du Yucheng, am utterly loyal to the Empire! I led you to wipe out the pirates of Jingdong County and drive them away from Jiangyang County. This pursuit of the Zhao family is by His Majesty's decree! The pirates are despicable, but the traitors are even more so! Those who trust me, those who remain loyal to the Great Jing, follow me and fight your way out!!"
"kill!!!"
Without hesitation, the vanguard of Zhenhai Camp followed Du Yucheng and continued fighting. The central army paused for a moment, but most of them continued to advance with the vanguard.
Only the rear guard and a small portion of the central army remained in place.
Xu Shouli was not afraid at all. He stepped out of the ranks, walked up to Fu Zheng, and said, "Captain Fu, you are a meritorious official of Dajing and the savior of Zhenhai Camp. Give my men a way through."
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