He summoned all the generals to his tent.
When this was told to everyone, the camp was immediately abuzz with discussion.
"General, there's definitely something fishy going on! The Empress is full of tricks; we must be on guard!"
"Yes, Commander, the loss of the Imperial Seal is too suspicious. I think it's best to be cautious."
"shit!"
The lieutenant stepped forward and spoke in a gruff voice.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! To be a king on par with the emperor and marry the empress—who in the world can rival the Grand Marshal!"
"That's right! Commander, this is a golden opportunity, one that won't come again!"
Another general joined in the commotion.
As Zhang Xinwang listened to the discussions of his generals, he weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
This is indeed a huge temptation, but the risks are equally huge.
If it's a trap, he will be doomed.
Zhang Xinwang was having a terrible headache over this unexpected "good news".
The tent curtain was suddenly flung open, and a burly man, eight feet tall with broad shoulders and a thick waist, walked in.
He was also carrying a huge iron hammer, the hammerhead gleaming coldly in the sunlight, weighing at least fifty or sixty pounds.
This man was none other than Zhang Tianba, Zhang Xinwang's most valued general.
Zhang Tianba immediately spotted the gleaming golden tiger tally on the table.
Eyes shining:
"Big brother, what's this? It's shiny, can I take a look?"
Zhang Xinwang laughed and tossed the tiger tally over.
Zhang Tianba caught it, and its heavy weight made him grin.
I held it in my hands, turning it over and over, and my mouth was practically watering.
The strategist, Li Yun, stroked his beard, his brows furrowed.
"General, this matter is suspicious. The things sent by the Empress seem legitimate, but they lack the imperial seal, so they are ultimately not authentic."
"Besides, the silk scroll only mentions the marriage contract but doesn't set a wedding date, which clearly shows a lack of sincerity!"
Zhang Xinwang's face was grim. He tapped the table and turned to ask the scout:
"Are you sure the coalition forces withdrew? Why did they withdraw?"
The scout immediately knelt down and reported all the information he had gathered:
"Reporting to the commander, I have learned that the allied forces have indeed withdrawn, but not completely."
"They have moved to the perimeter of our army and are now stationed ten miles away, seemingly plotting against our army."
"This empress has a brilliant plan!"
Zhang Xinwang suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter filled with sarcasm.
Li Yun said with a worried expression:
"General, the Empress's move kills two birds with one stone: she forces the allied forces to retreat and shifts the blame onto us. Her intentions are despicable!"
"So what?"
A glint flashed in Zhang Xinwang's eyes, but his tone remained calm.
"Now they're all searching for that empress like mad dogs, isn't it because they covet her legitimate status?"
"She's quite cunning, using the Red Sand Army to dump this hot potato on us. But, our Zhang family has also gained a great reputation through this opportunity."
"Imperial Son-in-Law, Prince of the First Rank, these titles have all been thrown at me. Tell me, should I accept them, or should I accept them?"
"catch!"
Zhang Tianba shouted loudly from the side, still weighing the tiger tally in his hand.
"Yes, we definitely have to accept it!"
Zhang Xinwang smiled and patted Zhang Tianba on the shoulder.
"Tianba, do you like this thing?"
"like!"
Zhang Tianba grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth.
"Sure, I'll have your sister-in-law give you one too. Is that enough?"
Zhang Xinwang joked.
"Okay! Big brother! I want something even bigger than this! The biggest one!"
Zhang Tianba jumped up and down excitedly, almost hitting his own foot with the iron hammer in his hand.
Zhang Xinwang shook his head helplessly, sighing inwardly: This silly boy, that's all he's good for.
Back when he first met Zhang Tianba, the kid was being beaten up by a group of thugs.
His thin body was curled up on the ground, shivering.
Seeing his extraordinary physique, Zhang Xinwang recognized him as a promising martial arts talent and rescued him.
He took him under his wing and carefully taught him martial arts.
I never expected this kid to grow so fast and be so incredibly strong.
He can take on a hundred men, but his brain... isn't very sharp.
"Alright, alright, stop fooling around."
Zhang Xinwang said solemnly.
"Issue my military order: the army shall march to Jingzhou City to welcome your young mistress!"
"Yes, sir!"
The generals responded in unison, each one rubbing their hands together in excitement.
They had long heard that the Great Tong Empress was incredibly beautiful, with a face that could topple kingdoms.
Now that I have the opportunity to see her in person, and even share in the joy of the general, I am naturally extremely excited.
The army marched in a mighty procession toward Jingzhou City, with banners waving all the way.
Zhang Xinwang rode a tall horse, full of vigor and high spirits.
But in his heart, he was plotting how to maximize his benefits from this marriage.
Zhang's army marched ostentatiously, like a locust swarm sweeping across the land, leaving chaos and devastation in their wake.
It was said that they were going to Jingzhou City to "welcome the bride," but it was more like they were going to cause trouble.
Zhang Xinwang's real purpose for this trip was to intimidate others, demonstrate his strength, and then destroy Chi Sha and seize the national seal.
As for the empress, she must be abducted and brought home. Even if she doesn't return, the wedding date must be set.
Zhang Jiajun's cavalry swaggered through the territory of the four allied forces.
Their constant provocations and acts of recklessness along the way seem to be a declaration:
I'm now the son-in-law of the emperor, a member of the royal family. You bunch of scum, who dares to touch me?
These four countries, which were originally united to fight against the Empress, have now become a stage for Zhang's army to show off its power.
They dared not speak out in anger, and could only watch helplessly as Zhang's cavalry rampaged across their territory.
They committed arson, murder, looting, and all sorts of atrocities.
Zhang Jiajun's cavalry were all strong and well-equipped.
The warhorse he rode was exceptionally magnificent, clearly a seasoned veteran.
They advanced triumphantly, unstoppable, and completely disregarded these smaller forces.
The arrogant behavior of Zhang Jiajun's cavalry naturally attracted the attention of the Chisha Army.
General Chisha originally thought that handing over the imperial seal would settle the matter peacefully, but he did not expect that the Zhang family army would go further and even attack them.
"These bastards are going too far!"
Chisha flew into a rage inside the tent.
"We've already given them the Imperial Seal, what more do they want?"
"General, please calm down,"
Shalifei said tremblingly.
"Zhang Jiajun's move is probably not what it seems."
"What's the meaning?"
Chisha glared at him.
"They want to use this opportunity to establish their prestige, make a name for themselves, and intimidate the world."
Shalifei explained cautiously.
"The world is in chaos now, and it is a time for heroes to vie for power. The Zhang family army's move is undoubtedly a declaration to the world that they are the true kings."
Upon hearing this, Chi Sha's face turned terribly grim.
"Pass down the order," Shalifei said through gritted teeth.
"All troops on high alert, prepare for battle! I refuse to believe they can turn the world upside down with rockets at my disposal!"
However, the Red Sand Army's resistance was like a flickering candle in a storm.
Compared to the overwhelming force of Zhang Jiajun's iron cavalry, they appeared insignificant.
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