Chapter 82 Obituary! Witness Killed
"General He Chuan led a thousand personal soldiers, escorting military equipment at night. Ninety miles outside Wangping County, Xuantu Commandery, they encountered tens of thousands of Tuoba elite troops. Following a strategic strategy, they fought and retreated to the outskirts of Wangping City... Only one in ten of the Tiger Guards survived, and He Chuan was seriously injured."
"Wangping's garrison commander, Zhao Duo, refused to open the gate, resulting in the death of all the Tiger Cavalry. He Chuan was stabbed to death by a masked Xianbei leader, his body dragged behind his horse, a horrific sight."
He Zhaojun read this battle report countless times, but still couldn't believe that her second brother, who was the most brave and warlike, would be trapped and died outside the city because the Wangping defenders refused to open the city gates.
But to the others' surprise, He Zhaojun did not break down and cry as she did when she heard the news of He Shan's death.
She just returned to Yongle Palace and performed the simulation again and again on the sand table.
"Young lady, please take care of yourself." Old Lady Bai placed the food in front of He Zhaojun's door. She had not eaten or drunk anything in the past few days and could not sleep at night. It was obvious that she had reached her limit.
There was no sound from the people in the room. Concubine Yue and Old Lady Bai exchanged a glance and sighed, "She has a knot in her heart that she can't eat. Simply delivering food to her is useless. She must be determined to find out the truth behind the death of General He Chuan in Wangping County."
Old Bai agreed and said, "Then I will go find the Third Prince."
When Wen Ziduan hurried into the palace, he saw only a panic in Yongle Palace. Doctor Sun, carrying a medicine box on his back, trotted along, asking, "How is An Chengjun? Where is she?"
Wen Ziduan hurried into the side hall and saw He Zhaojun lying on the couch, her face pale and lifeless. However, she was still holding the bamboo slips in her hand, refusing to let go no matter what.
After downing two bowls of warm, bitter medicine, He Zhaojun slowly regained consciousness. Facing Wen Ziduan, she forced a smile and said, "I'm at the Cavalry General's Mansion. Your Highness, please help me resolve this matter."
"There's no need to force a smile. It's even uglier than crying." Wen Ziduan dismissed the people around him, sat beside He Zhaojun's bed, and looked at the sand table placed in the center of the side hall.
"The fish has taken the bait. Do you want to guess who this person is?" Wen Ziduan knew that only news related to the war situation could cheer up He Zhaojun.
When He Zhaojun heard what he said, she struggled to stand up, pulled Wen Ziduan to the sand table, and began to deduce.
"Third Prince, my second brother was supposed to be escorting military equipment according to secret orders. However, he encountered a small vanguard of the Tuoba tribe and feigned defeat, retreating back to Wangping City. Wangping also dispatched a light cavalry unit to attack the Tuoba baggage train and force the enemy back."
Wen Ziduan nodded, "That's indeed what the secret decree says, but there are too many variables involved, and we don't know exactly which link went wrong."
"First, the Tiger Cavalry scouts have discovered that the Tuoba tribe lingering near Wangping is just a vanguard of less than a thousand men. Why would Second Brother engage in a head-on encounter with such a large force?"
Wen Ziduan: "Is the scout's identity credible?"
"But, this man has fought with my father for many years and is the most experienced scout in the army. It is impossible for him to be wrong or betray me."
He Zhaojun speculated, "My second brother's purpose for this trip is a secret, but the Tuoba army's goal is clear. Apparently, someone has warned the enemy, intending to ensure this fresh force never returns."
Wen Ziduan used a folding fan to place a flag on Wangping. "After this incident, Xu Kuo, the adjutant of the Gaoxian County garrison, went to take over Wangping."
"His memorial stated that Zhao Duo, the commander of Wangpingyuan, was timid and slippery. He refused to open the gates because he was afraid that the Xianbei soldiers would attack the city."
He Zhaojun was silent for a long time: "Did Zhao Duo explain anything else?"
Wen Ziduan shook his head: "On the day Xu Kuo arrived, Zhao Duo was already in prison, and he committed suicide out of fear of punishment.[44]"
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