Daqing's attack went exceptionally smoothly, encountering almost no fierce resistance, and the vanguard force pried open the city gates of Hengxian.
"General, just as the secret report said, Heng County has been captured in one fell swoop." The soldier who came to deliver the news was excited. "His Highness the Crown Prince has already led the vanguard into the city."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Song threw his head back and laughed. From then on, he was no longer a military general without merit.
"Good! Organize the troops and follow me into the city."
Hengxian County.
Gu Qingling was trembling with excitement. The defeat in Hengxian had been ended in his hands, and his position as crown prince would only become more secure and indestructible.
But as Gu Qingling stepped into Heng County, the further she went, the more she felt something was amiss.
Why are there no people from Heng County?
"Your Highness, it must have been Da Ning who captured them all."
Suddenly, Gu Qingling's right eyelid began to twitch wildly.
A gust of sandstorm blew up, and the city gates suddenly slammed shut. The crowd, terrified, surrounded Gu Qingling, shouting, "Protect His Highness the Crown Prince!"
From the shadows, hundreds of arrows were aimed at Gu Qingling, and Ling Hai walked out with a smile.
"We urge the Crown Prince of Daqing to accompany us to Daning. If you do not go, all the people of Heng County will die."
As Ling Hai finished speaking, soldiers from Da Ning escorted some civilians out.
The people, shackled and weeping, knelt and begged Gu Qingling to save their lives.
“We, Da Ning, promise that we are only inviting you to visit us and will not harm your life. As long as you come with us, we will release these people.”
Ling Hai looked at Gu Qingling with a mocking gaze; this was the speech that the madam had specifically instructed him to give.
"You, Da Ning, deliberately set this up to make fun of me!"
Gu Qingling didn't even glance at the common people, her eyes bloodshot with anger. "If Father Emperor knew, he would surely raise an army to annihilate Da Ning."
"Hahahaha? Annihilate my Great Ning?"
Ling Hai seemed to have heard a joke, "As long as you don't surrender, every half incense stick's time, a citizen of Heng County will have their head rolled."
"Their lives and deaths are entirely in Your Highness's hands."
A gleaming blade was already pressed against the necks of the people of Heng County. Xu Dong spoke in a high-pitched voice, "Insolence! Your Highness is of noble status, how can you fall into the hands of Da Ning?"
"Your Highness, please save us...please save us!"
The people's cries for help did not move Gu Qingling at all. Under the protection of the crowd, Gu Qingling slowly walked backward until she was almost at the city gate, at which point Ling Hai's patience completely ran out.
With a wave of his hand, arrows shot out towards Gu Qingling's surroundings.
Seeing the soldiers around her fall to the ground one by one, Gu Qingling looked at the city gate in horror. Why hadn't Zhao Song and the others come to rescue her yet?
Before an incense stick had burned, Ling Hai walked leisurely to Gu Qingling and said, "General Zhao, you must have been stopped outside the city gate."
Gu Qingling was led away with her hands tied behind her back. Ling Hai turned to look at the desperate people and said, "Untie them."
"You...you're not going to kill us?" Shi Ping asked in a trembling voice. He was the newly appointed magistrate of Heng County, and he had only been in office for a few months when he encountered such a thing.
In order to protect the women, children and elderly in Hengxian County, he gave up his escape and was captured here.
"Are you Shi Ping, the magistrate of Heng County?" Seeing that Shi Ping remained silent, Ling Hai walked up to him and squatted down. "Our young master specifically instructed that the people of Heng County be treated well."
"You should do your job as the magistrate of Heng County well, and you will be rewarded with wealth and honor in the future."
Shi Ping stared blankly at Ling Hai's departing figure. Soon after, all the Hengxian people who had been arrested were released, and the sound of family members crying as they reunited rang out. But Shi Ping kept pondering Ling Hai's words.
Young master...
When did Da Ning get a young master...?
On the other side, Zhao Song, who was immersed in joy, was defeated and forced to flee by the Da Ning soldiers who were lying in ambush.
Hundreds of thousands of troops were no match for tens of thousands of elite soldiers.
Ling Ku gripped his spear tightly. The protector had specifically emphasized that this battle must terrify those scoundrels from Daqing.
"Fight hard, whoever kills the most people, I'll personally pour him drinks tonight!"
Ling Ku raised his arms and shouted, and the soldiers of Da Ning, as if injected with chicken blood, rushed towards Da Qing's troops in a swarm.
......
"What?"
In the imperial court, Gu Heng was scheming how to take away Jiang He's military power after Zhao Song's triumphant return when a military report arrived by express courier. Gu Heng's expression changed instantly.
"Our army was ambushed, suffering 70,000 casualties. General Zhao was hit by several arrows, and His Highness the Crown Prince... His Highness the Crown Prince was captured alive..."
The soldier who came to deliver the message still had dried blood on his forehead, but in the next instant, Gu Heng, enraged, ended his life with a single blow.
"Anyone who reports false military information will be executed immediately!"
Gu Heng was so angry he was panting heavily, and none of the officials dared to utter a sound. Only after Gu Heng calmed down and slowly sat back on the dragon throne did a military officer speak softly:
"Your Majesty...why not send the imperial physician to check on the Marquis of Dingyuan's illness?"
If they don't go to Marquis Dingyuan by now, Daqing will be in grave danger!
Meanwhile, at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence, Ling Shan helped Gu Lin slowly walk to the lakeside.
“You’ve been here for days now. You’re so old, yet you’re still the same as before.” Gu Lin sat down with some difficulty. Jiang He turned to look at Gu Lin, but eventually moved aside to make Gu Lin more comfortable.
"He went out even though he hadn't fully recovered."
Jiang He smirked, "You wouldn't be planning to die in the Marquis's mansion and then cling to me, would you?"
Gu Lin reached out and punched Jiang He in the chest. "Can't you wish me well for once?"
"Gu Lin, who exactly are you?" Jiang He hadn't slept well for several nights, her eyes bloodshot. "Ayu said you bear the fate of countless people on your shoulders."
"In the Battle of Hengxian, Daqing suffered a crushing defeat."
Gu Lin did not answer Jiang He directly, but said, "Daqing suffered 70,000 casualties, and Gu Qingling was captured alive."
"But Jiang He, not a single civilian died in Heng County."
The long silence made the air feel even hotter.
"On the battlefield, swords have no eyes, and the lives of soldiers are uncertain, but I will not harm any innocent civilians of Daqing." Gu Lin's words made Jiang He's eyes widen. "Is that enough?"
"The ruler of the Great Ning Kingdom, Emperor Zhaoyuan?"
"It's me."
The next second, the knife was held against Gu Lin's neck.
"uncle!"
Gu Qingyan happened to come from the palace. Gu Heng specially sent him to check on Jiang He's "illness" and wanted him to persuade Jiang He to lead the troops again.
"Put the knife down first." Gu Qingyan, suppressing his pounding heart, snatched the knife from Jiang He's hand, then glanced at Gu Lin's neck. "Uncle, things aren't as you think."
After saying that, she gave Gu Lin a reproachful look.
The Empress Dowager specifically said that she would slowly tell Uncle the truth, so why can't this person wait even a moment longer?
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