Huaizhou
Chai Shilun, who established the Maritime Customs Office in Quanzhou, submitted three memorials to Emperor Jianning, requesting permission to go to the southwest to quell the rebellion, but all fell on deaf ears. Unwilling to miss this opportunity, he took a risk and secretly went to Huaizhou.
But he had no connections in the southwest and no imperial edict. The title of a prince alone could not scare the generals of Huaizhou.
After waiting all morning, no general came to see him. "I called a meeting, but not a single one showed up. These people don't even take me seriously. What bastards!"
He slammed the table in anger, "Where the hell did that old bastard Duke Lu go?" He had thought Duke Lu would be able to control the southwest, but Duke Lu had always been reluctant. Now, he had simply disappeared, leaving him constrained in every aspect of the southwest.
Lu Gang advised with a worried look on his face: "Your Highness, we came to the southwest without an imperial edict, which is a serious crime. Let's go back to Quanzhou first and wait for the emperor..."
"What are you waiting for? How can you wait? If you wait any longer, the southwest military forces will become someone else's." He knew that coming to Huaizhou without permission was a serious crime, but if he missed this opportunity, he would really have no hope of turning things around.
"But Your Highness has no imperial edict. Who among the Huaizhou garrison dares to come to see Your Highness? Anyone who dares to come is considered to be forming a clique for personal gain. The punishment will be dismissal at the very least and execution at the worst. Your Highness, we..."
Chai Shilun understood what Lu Gang did not say. The emperor did not agree to his coming to the southwest because he did not want to hand over the southwest’s military forces to him, or in other words, he did not want to give him more bargaining chips in the fight for the throne.
The anger in his heart suddenly dissipated, "Lu Gang, is it true that I have no chance of becoming emperor?"
"Your Majesty, the most important thing for us now is to return to Quanzhou first. We can't stay in Huaizhou any longer."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have something to report!"
Chai Shilun's servant's urgent voice came from outside the door. Lu Gang opened the door and let him in. "What's the matter?"
The servant took two deep breaths and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has conferred upon Prince Duan the title of Prince Duan and appointed him Grand Commander of Huaizhou. He will be coming to Huaizhou soon. And..."
Chai Shilun walked around the desk and came to the servant, interrupting him hastily, "What? Are you sure you want the Eighth Brother to come, not the Sixth Brother?"
"It's Prince Duan, no, it's Prince Duan, not Prince Rangping."
"Why is it Lao Ba?"
Lu Gang speculated, "Your Majesty has always been keen on maintaining a balance between the left and the right. Most of those who support Prince Ping are civil officials. This time, he must be trying to support Prince Duan to compete with Prince Ping."
"With the Eighth Prince's personality, what can he do? Even if Father really wants to find someone to fight against the Sixth Prince, it should be me."
Lu Gang lowered his head silently. This only meant that the emperor had never thought of supporting Prince Jin.
Chai Shilun also thought of it immediately, his face becoming more ferocious. "We are all sons. The third son is the legitimate son. I won't say much. After the eldest son died, I became the eldest son. If there is a legitimate son, the eldest son will be the heir. If there is no legitimate son, the eldest son will be the heir. The throne should be mine. Why does my father treat me like this?"
Lu Gang immediately advised: "Your Highness, let's return to Quanzhou quickly and submit a letter of apology to His Majesty. We can then slowly make plans later..."
Chai Shilun kicked Lu Gang and said, "Besides asking me to return to Quanzhou, what else can you do?"
The kick was quite powerful, and Lu Gang stumbled twice before steadying himself. He said angrily, "Your Highness, if you don't return to Quanzhou, what else can you do? The Huaizhou garrison won't listen to you, Your Highness. What's the point of you staying in Huaizhou?"
"Then what use do I have for you as my staff?"
Lu Gang also became angry, "If the prince thinks Lu Gang is useless, Lu Gang can leave the mansion." Chai Shilun has no hope of becoming emperor. If he continues to struggle, he will either be imprisoned or die. He doesn't want to die with Chai Shilun.
"You look down on me too, don't you? You're going to betray me too, aren't you?"
"Lu Gang never thought of betraying the prince, otherwise I wouldn't have to repeatedly persuade the prince to return to Quanzhou."
What Lu Gang said was right, but Chai Shilun, in his rage, refused to listen. "Then you find a solution for me. I don't want to go back to Quanzhou. I want to stay in Huaizhou."
The servant spoke before Lu Gang could, "Your Highness, the army of Southern Chen has been stationed at the border."
Chai Shilun's anger immediately turned into joy, "Really? My chance has come!"
When the Southern Chen Kingdom invaded, the generals stationed in Huaizhou were unwilling to submit to each other. At this time, Chai Shilun stood up and said that he would lead all the soldiers to protect the country's territory.
After years of no fighting, the Huaizhou garrison was not as combat-ready as it seemed. Chai Shilun was unaware of this, but the Huaizhou soldiers knew it all too well.
It just so happened that Chai Shilun came to the door on his own initiative. The generals and soldiers were overjoyed and their attitude immediately changed 180 degrees. They cooperated very well with Chai Shilun.
Chai Shilun was very comfortable with the flattery, and in order to let the soldiers know that he was a man of real talent and knowledge, he decided to take charge personally.
As a result, the first battle ended with the annihilation of 60,000 troops.
Chai Shilun was wounded by an arrow in the thigh and was carried back. While the military doctor was treating his wound, he cursed at everyone.
"What's wrong with those soldiers? How could they be so weak? The enemy's swords were raised above their heads, and they didn't know how to dodge. Are they all fools?"
Deputy General Ma Ben secretly rolled his eyes. He really didn't expect that Chai Shilun would lead his troops without any strategy at all. He would just yell "Charge!" and rush forward to kill the enemy.
Very brave, but also very stupid!
Chai Shilun was very unconvinced. "Since I was born, I have shot countless prey, but this is the first time I have been shot by someone else. Lu Gang, you will lead 50,000 troops to launch a surprise attack tomorrow."
Fifty thousand troops couldn't hide at all, so how could they launch a surprise attack? "Your Majesty, why not gather all the generals to discuss..."
"What are we still discussing? What do those idiots know?"
Lu Gang didn't want to go, so he looked at Ma Ben and said, "Deputy General Ma, you have been in Huaizhou for many years and are more familiar with the Southern Chen Kingdom. Do you have any good plans?"
If they win, the credit goes to Chai Shilun. If they lose, the blame will be all his. Ma Ben didn't want to take the risk at all. "Your Majesty, the soldiers suffered heavy losses in this battle..."
"What do you mean? Are you blaming me for my incompetence?"
"I dare not!"
Lu Gang suggested: "The prince needs to recuperate, why not send Deputy General Ma to launch a surprise attack?"
Chai Shilun immediately agreed, "Okay, Ma Ben, go and win a battle to let me see how capable you are." If he loses, he can not only blame Ma Ben for the previous defeat, but also punish Ma Ben at the same time.
Ma Ben was very hesitant. Whether he won or lost, he would not get any good results from Chai Shilun. But Southern Chen would not allow them to retreat forever. They had to fight.
Lu Gang taunted, "Deputy General Ma isn't afraid anymore, is he? Humph!"
Chai Shilun threatened, "Ma Ben, if you dare to disobey, I will report this to my father and have you treated as a deserter."
Ma Ben was in a dilemma and was about to agree when a servant's voice came from the door, "Prince, Prince Duan is here!"
The real commander-in-chief has arrived. Ma Ben breathed a sigh of relief and prayed in his heart that Prince Duan would not be as reckless as Prince Jin.
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