Chapter 109 The Prince Who Failed to Revolt
He Fei really wanted to go back with Jia Jia, but Zhan Qing disagreed.
However, sending someone to the next city can still save time.
In the carriage, Zhang Xiaojia grabbed Xiao Hefei and said fiercely, "If it dares to disobey, you will be a eunuch for this county lady."
He Fei said in a low voice: "It's very well behaved. When you come, it looks up and thinks of you, Jiajia, let it out..."
"Jia Jia..."
He Fei sighed comfortably.
Zhang Xiaojia's face turned red, and He Fei whispered sweet words in her ear.
Zhang Xiaojia pinched him hard.
"Be serious..."
He Fei: "I haven't seen you for half a year. If I were to be serious, I would be a monk."
Zhang Xiaojia whispered, "Can it be defeated in three months?"
He Fei nodded and said, "I've modified a batch of firearms and drug-induced ammunition, don't worry!"
"Lin'er, you have to let go, but you also have to keep an eye on him." Zhang Xiaojia instructed.
He Fei listened to his wife's words and nodded seriously, "Don't worry! I know what to do. Jiajia, wait for me to come back."
"Okay, when you come back, let's go to Jiangnan to play."
After reaching the next city, He Fei went back.
Zhang Xiaojia watched him go, but could not see his figure
"Go back to Beijing."
Zhang Xiaojia returned to Beijing in a hurry. At this time, the situation in the capital had changed, and the rumors about General Mu and He Fei had disappeared.
————
He Fei led his army with unstoppable force, advancing directly towards the Liao imperial city. His tactics were flexible and varied, and his use of muskets and drug-induced bombs caught the enemy off guard. The Liao defenses were steadily broken by the Zhou army's fierce attacks, and finally, the imperial city walls were within sight.
He Fei stood at the front of the battle, his gaze sternly fixed on the towering imperial city. He knew this was the final and most crucial battle. If he could capture this city, the Liao Dynasty's rule would be completely shattered, and the Zhou Dynasty's territory would expand once again. However, he also knew that this battle wasn't just about victory; it was also about paving the way for his son, He Lin.
"Pass the order down, the entire army will rest for one night and attack the city tomorrow!" He Fei ordered in a deep voice.
That night, He Fei summoned all his generals and laid out a detailed plan for the next day's siege. He specifically placed He Lin in the main attacking force and instructed him, "Lin'er, you must personally lead the charge tomorrow. This is your opportunity, and it's also your responsibility."
He Lin nodded, his eyes flashing with determination: "Dad, don't worry, I will never let you down."
The next morning, war drums beat, and the Zhou army surged toward the Liao imperial city like a tide. He Lin, clad in armor and armed with a spear, led his elite troops to the forefront. The Liao troops on the city walls fought desperately, their arrows raining down like rain, but He Lin remained undaunted, charging ahead and inspiring his fellow soldiers to fight bravely.
Just as the siege entered a white-hot stage, He Fei suddenly ordered: "Pass the order, the entire army retreat!"
This order surprised everyone, but the military order was as strong as a mountain, and the Zhou army quickly retreated. He Fei stood at the front of the battle, coldly looking at the Liao army on the city wall, a sneer on his lips. He had long expected that the Liao army would set an ambush on the city wall, waiting for the Zhou army to enter the city and then counterattack. He deliberately let He Lin lead the charge to lure out the Liao army's ambush.
As expected, the Liao army, observing the Zhou army's retreat, mistakenly believed their morale was low and immediately opened the city gates, sending out elite troops in pursuit. However, as soon as they emerged from the city gates, they were ambushed by the Zhou army. He Fei had already laid numerous traps outside the city walls, and his muskets and drug-induced bombs were once again extremely effective, throwing the Liao army's pursuing forces into chaos.
At this moment, He Fei suddenly gave the order: "Charge the entire army! Take down the imperial city!"
The Zhou army, buoyed by morale, once again charged towards the imperial city. He Lin's troops, leading the charge, burst into the city walls. The Liao army was caught off guard, and their defenses quickly collapsed. He Lin, spear in hand, charged all the way to the palace, eventually confronting the Liao emperor before the main hall.
Seeing the situation was hopeless, the Liao emperor drew his sword and prepared to commit suicide. He Lin, with his swift eyes and hands, swiftly deflected his sword and said coldly, "Your life does not belong to you."
The Liao emperor was captured alive, and the Liao imperial city fell completely.
After the battle, He Fei deliberately "got injured" on the battlefield and handed over the command to He Lin. Lying on a stretcher, he watched his son standing on the city wall, accepting the cheers of the soldiers, and his heart was filled with relief.
"Lin'er, the rest of the journey depends on you." He Fei said in a low voice.
He Lin stood on the city wall, overlooking the newly captured imperial city, feeling a mixture of emotions. He knew his father had deliberately "injured" himself to give him the credit and allow him to legitimately take over the army. He took a deep breath, turned to the soldiers, and shouted, "Today's victory belongs to every soldier! Your blood will not be shed in vain, and your sacrifice will be remembered forever! Swear allegiance to the Emperor! Swear to defend the Great Zhou!"
The soldiers shouted in unison: "We swear to be loyal to the emperor until death! We swear to defend the Great Zhou until death!"
He Lin smiled slightly, knowing that this was only the first step towards greater power. He looked up into the distance, as if he saw his mother's smile in the capital.
"Mom, I didn't let you down." He Lin said in a low voice.
At the same time, He Fei lay on the stretcher, silently thinking about his next plan. He knew that although the war was over, the struggle for power had just begun.
He must return to the capital as soon as possible and work with Zhang Xiaojia to pave the way for He Lin's future.
"Jia Jia, wait for me to come back." He Fei said softly, with a hint of determination in his eyes.
A month later, He Fei recovered from his injury and returned to Beijing with a large army. The emperor and his ministers personally went out of the city to welcome him.
The emperor sat on the dragon throne, looking gently at He Fei who was standing in the center of the hall. The hall was brightly lit, with civil and military officials standing on both sides, and the atmosphere was solemn and warm.
He Fei was dressed in a prince's dragon robe, his expression respectful yet calm. He bowed slightly and saluted the emperor: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty live long and long."
The Emperor smiled faintly and raised his hand to signal, "Jingwen, there's no need for formalities. You played an indispensable role in this battle against the Liao Dynasty, and I am deeply pleased. Today's banquet is both to welcome you and to celebrate the expansion of our Great Zhou's territory."
He Fei lowered his head and said, "I dare not take credit for this battle. This battle was entirely due to the wise decision of the emperor and the bravery of the soldiers. I have only done my humble part."
The emperor nodded, his eyes filled with approval. "Jingwen is modest, and this comforts me greatly. However, merits and demerits will be judged by all, and I will certainly reward you today. However—" He paused, his tone teasing, "You are already a prince, and there is no more title or reward you can be given. This puts me in a difficult position."
Everyone in the hall murmured as they heard this. He Fei was already a prince, a high-ranking official. Although the emperor's words were a joke, they also spoke the truth.
He Fei looked at the emperor and blinked, "Your Majesty, I do have a favor to ask."
The emperor raised his eyebrows. This unfortunate brother wouldn't want to bring his mother back to the imperial farm and then take his mother Jia Jia to the south of the Yangtze River, right?
"Oh? Tell me about it."
He Fei took a deep breath and said slowly, "I have been fighting for eight years and have not been by Mother's side. I have not been able to fulfill my filial duties for many years. Now that the war is over, I would like to take Mother out of the palace and live with me. I would like to take Mother and Jiajia to Jiangnan for a year to enjoy the beautiful scenery and share the joy of family."
As soon as these words came out, the hall was suddenly silent. Everyone looked at each other in surprise. No one expected He Fei to make such a request.
They should have known it earlier. The Princess of Lin'an has been doing a lot of shopping in Kyoto these days and said she wants to go to Jiangnan for fun.
Although taking my mother out of the palace is not a big deal, it also involves royal rules.
However, Prince Jing has made such a great contribution that the royal family will agree.
The emperor was silent for a moment, looking at He Fei with deep eyes, "Oh! Mother has been in poor health recently, so it's not possible for her to go to Jiangnan now."
After a long pause, he slowly spoke, "Jingwen, I shouldn't have stopped you from making this request. However, Mother has been unwell lately, and winter is coming soon. You should take Mother to visit Jiangnan in March next year, but a year is too long, how about three months?"
He Fei smiled happily and said, "Royal brother, that's great. Mother has always wanted to visit Jiangnan and see the mountains and rivers of the Great Zhou."
The emperor pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the hall until it finally landed on He Fei. He smiled faintly, his tone tinged with emotion, "Jingwen, you are so filial, how can I not fulfill your wish?" He paused, a smile flashing in his eyes, "I agree. However, you must remember that although Jiangnan is wonderful, don't forget to return to Beijing."
A hint of joy flashed in He Fei's eyes, and he quickly bowed and saluted: "Your humble servant thanks the Emperor for his grace! Your Majesty, rest assured, your humble servant will definitely return to the capital later, if not earlier, to help Your Majesty with your worries."
The emperor held the wine glass and said, "This younger brother will not take the mother and Jia Jia out to have fun. It will take three to five years before they return to the capital."
"Okay, it's settled. Everyone, don't be formal at today's banquet, just drink to your heart's content!"
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly relaxed, and everyone raised their glasses to congratulate He Fei. He Fei returned the greetings one by one, but his mind had already flown to Jia Jia. As he thought about the upcoming scenes with Jia Jia, a smile appeared on his face.
After the banquet, He Fei left the palace.
I saw Zhang Xiaojia waiting at the imperial gate. When he came out, he ran over and hugged Jiajia tightly.
"Jia Jia, I'm back!"
"Brother He, welcome back"
He Fei smiled and nodded: "The emperor has approved it. We can take mother out of the palace and go to the south of the Yangtze River."
Zhang Xiaojia's eyes flashed with joy, but then he became a little worried: "Brother, did you really agree? You won't go back on your word, right?"
He Fei held her hand and said firmly, "Jia Jia, don't worry. Since the emperor has agreed, no one will dare to say anything. We just need to arrange everything, and we will set off in March next year."
Zhang Xiaojia nodded, her eyes full of anticipation: "Okay, let's go to Yangzhou in March with fireworks. The scenery of Jiangnan is beautiful, and mother will definitely like it."
He Fei smiled and held her in his arms: "Jia Jia, you have worked hard these years. When we get to Jiangnan, let's relax and spend some leisurely time."
Zhang Xiaojia leaned in his arms and whispered, "As long as I can be with you, it doesn't matter where we go."
When the two men reached the city gate, they saw a crowd of people gathered around a notice, discussing it. The guard squeezed into the crowd and took a closer look. He saw that the notice read: "The Liao Dynasty has been pacified. The Emperor has granted amnesty to the entire nation and exempted taxes for three years as a token of His Majesty's great grace."
Zhang Xiaojia was moved when she heard the notice. She turned to look at He Fei and said, "Brother, with three years of tax exemption, the people can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
He Fei nodded, with some approval in his eyes: "Your Majesty, this move can indeed win the hearts of the people. The Liao Dynasty has just been pacified, and the people have experienced years of war. It is time for them to recuperate."
Zhang Xiaojia looked at the smiles on the faces of the people around her and felt relieved. She gently held He Fei's hand and whispered, "Brother He, have we completed our mission?"
He Fei smiled and said, "It's almost half done."
Zhang Xiaojia said excitedly, "Brother He, since you're not going to court tomorrow, how about we go hunting in the mountains?"
"good!"
"Brother, you won't curse!"
"No way! I told you at the banquet that I wanted to rest for a year, and my royal brother didn't object! But you won't have the energy to go hunting tomorrow."
Zhang Xiaojia understood instantly, what a jerk.
He Fei returned to the palace and directly drove away the servants in the main courtyard.
He pulled Jia Jia to make waves and didn't care about the lewd behavior in broad daylight.
This commotion lasted for three days. He Fei only stopped when the emperor called him back to the palace.
————
He Fei strode into the Chuigong Palace with a sullen face. He was filled with resentment. After eight years of fighting, he finally had a vacation, but his brother summoned him back to court at a single word. As he walked, he muttered, "Where's the promised one-year vacation? My brother is breaking his promise!"
Inside the palace, Eunuch Mai saw He Fei coming in angrily and hurried forward to greet him. He said respectfully, "Prince Jing, His Majesty is having lunch in the back hall and has prepared a portion especially for you."
He Fei snorted coldly and walked straight towards the back hall, still complaining: "Little Maizi, my royal brother is deliberately trying to make me uncomfortable!"
In the back hall, the emperor was leisurely enjoying his lunch. He didn't even raise his eyelids when he saw He Fei enter angrily, continuing to pick up his food slowly. He Fei didn't hesitate, plopped down across from the emperor, picked up his bowl and began to eat. Eight years of military service had conditioned him to eat like he was fighting a battle, and his speed was astonishing.
The emperor glanced at him, watching him wolf down his food. Unconsciously, the anger he'd felt for his absence from court subsided. He put down his chopsticks and said calmly, "Jingwen, the war with the Liao Dynasty is over, but there are still a host of governance issues to address. Didn't I promise you that I would take Mother and Jiajia to Jiangnan for three months next March? You must attend court tomorrow and share my worries."
He Fei swallowed the food in his mouth, looked up and glared at the emperor, his tone full of grievance: "Royal brother, I haven't been with Jiajia for eight years. Now I have finally returned to Beijing. If I don't accompany her, what if she divorces me? You can't let me be a bachelor!"
Upon hearing this, the Emperor couldn't help but laugh out loud and shook his head. "You little bastard, you only know how to use Jia Jia as an excuse. Then I will transfer He Lin back to the capital and not let him be responsible for the subsequent affairs of the Liao Dynasty. Is that okay?"
He Fei waved his hands when he heard this. "No, no, no, my Royal Brother! Lin'er finally has the chance to be on his own. You can't transfer him back. If Jia Jia knew that I lost my job because of laziness, she would be furious with me."
The emperor raised an eyebrow and looked at him with a half-smile: "Then what do you say? I can't let you stay at home with Jiajia all the time, set off fireworks at night for a thousand taels, and leave all the affairs of the court to me alone?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
