Marco Polo traveled from Aachen, the capital of the distant Carolingian Empire, and journeyed thousands of miles, bringing not only greetings from Charlemagne of the Carolingian Dynasty to Emperor Chen Huai'an of the Tang Dynasty, but also the expectation of a friendly alliance between the Carolingian Empire and the Tang Dynasty.
Along the way, Marco Polo followed the merchant caravan of the Charlemagne Empire across the ocean. After a two-and-a-half-month sea voyage, he finally arrived at the land of Liangyue in the Tang Dynasty and landed at the port outside Yangcheng, the former capital of the Nanyue Kingdom.
Marco Polo then broke away from the caravan and, with his entourage, continued overland towards Jinling, the capital of the Tang Dynasty.
This departure lasted for more than half a month.
Finally, they arrived in Jinling City on the first day of the first month of the second year of the Zhaowu reign of the Tang Dynasty.
Throughout his journey, from the moment Marco Polo set foot on the land of the Tang Dynasty, he was constantly amazed by the highly advanced technology, prosperous economy and political system displayed by this mysterious Eastern power.
On the coastal defense line of Guangzhou Port, there are rows of imposing and powerful red cannons.
It was still the Tang Dynasty's border town of Yangcheng, which was unprecedentedly prosperous and whose economic development level was in no way inferior to that of the Carolingian dynasty's capital, Yacheng.
Or perhaps it was the Tang Dynasty's unprecedented support for commercial development and activities, as well as tax reductions and exemptions for agriculture and other industries.
Furthermore, there was the relatively fair imperial examination system and the long-abolished slavery system, etc.
Marco Polo's experiences on his journey to Nanjing constantly broadened his understanding of the Tang Dynasty. While he was amazed, he also felt that this trip to the Tang Dynasty in the East would not disappoint Charlemagne's dying wish: to find a powerful partner for the Carolingian Dynasty in the East to jointly fight against the brutal Arab Empire.
This thought grew stronger as Marco Polo approached Nanjing.
In particular, upon arriving outside Jinling City, the bustling commerce, the wealthy common people, the Tang Dynasty naval fleet and warships anchored on the Yangtze River, and the Tang Dynasty army stationed outside Jinling City conducting daily drills deeply impressed Marco Polo, who had traveled a long way.
Furthermore, in his "Travels of Marco Polo," he recorded that the Tang Dynasty, located at the easternmost edge of the empire, was an unprecedentedly powerful and prosperous vast empire. Its prosperity was not only reflected in its highly developed economy, military, and science and technology, but also in the emperor's policy of benefiting the people and enabling ordinary citizens to become wealthy together...
Today, Marco Polo, who was queuing to enter the city through Xuanwu Gate, was even preparing to go to the palace to pay homage to Emperor Chen Huai'an of the Tang Dynasty with a devout, pilgrimage-like heart.
However, all of this diminished Marco Polo's impression of the Tang Dynasty after he witnessed Chen Longxiang, the first prince of the Tang Dynasty, riding his horse and wreaking havoc in Jinling City.
A dynasty in the midst of internal strife and turmoil, no matter how strong its national power or how powerful its military, is nothing more than a mirage.
It seems rather unlikely that such a great Tang Dynasty could form an alliance with the Carolingian Dynasty to jointly resist the brutal Arab Empire.
Eh—
Marco Polo gazed at the tightly closed Xuanwu Gate, then at the chaotic crowds outside the city, and finally looked in the direction where Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin had disappeared on horseback. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
It seems that the time for me to meet this young and legendary emperor of the Tang Dynasty will have to be postponed.
It's unknown whether Emperor Chen Huai'an, after experiencing this prince's rebellion, still has the mind to summon this envoy from across the ocean, the Carolingian Empire.
"Let's go back to the inn near the dock and rest for a while!"
In the end, Marco Polo, filled with endless regret and sorrow, gathered his followers and returned to the inn, also intending to take this opportunity to continue his travels around the outskirts of Jinling City.
At the same time
At the Stone City Wharf on the Yangtze River outside Jinling City, a yellow horse galloped along the official road leading to Jinling City, rampaging and crashing into many merchants and pedestrians who were unable to avoid it, leaving them dazed and complaining.
On horseback sat Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin, wielding a golden hammer, and Su Wan'er, the former empress, her face streaked with tears and still reeling from the shock.
Chen Longxiang rode his horse directly onto the "Destroy the Japanese" super warship moored at the dock, and then ordered the naval officers and soldiers left on board to lower the anchor, raise the sails, and prepare to set sail.
On the deck of the Exterminate the Japanese, Chen Longxiang watched as the ship set sail and sailed down the river. Only then did his impulsive and irritable emotions gradually subside.
Even now, Chen Longxiang still doesn't realize the enormity of his actions.
In his view, he had only killed a few hundred guards of Longcheng, and his massacre of them was for a reason. If Luo Yucheng hadn't been so blind as to dare to attack Wan'er, he wouldn't have gone so far as to kill the guards of Longcheng.
Chen Longxiang naively thought that Luo Yucheng had recognized Wan'er, who was shopping, as the former Empress Dowager's daughter and was preparing to capture her and take her to the palace to receive a reward!
The super warship "Destroy the Japanese Pirates" sped down the river faster and faster, and the outline of Nanjing City became more and more distant and blurry.
Chen Longxiang finally returned to the cabin, and Su Wan'er immediately buried her face in his chest.
With tears welling up in her eyes and looking pitiful, Su Wan'er said, "Your Highness, I, my unborn child, and I almost didn't get to see Your Highness again, sob sob sob!"
"Wan'er, don't cry!"
Chen Longxiang comforted her, saying, "It's my fault for not protecting you and your child. It's all that bastard Luo Yucheng's fault; he resorted to any means to curry favor with my brother and claim a reward."
"Wan'er, don't be afraid. I have already ordered the naval officers and soldiers to sail directly down the river to the sea. I will send you and your child back to the Goguryeo capital first!"
"This Marquis of Wuping, Luo Yucheng, is simply blind..."
Chen Longxiang was still cursing Luo Yucheng incessantly, venting his anger on the Wu Pinghou whose life or death was unknown, completely unaware that Su Wan'er's peach blossom eyes were filled with hatred and resentment.
Clearly, Su Wan'er did not believe that this incident was accidental, and that Marquis Wuping, Luo Yucheng, had taken it upon himself to arrest her in order to curry favor with the Emperor.
In fact, Su Wan'er knew very well that without the current emperor's approval, even if Luo Yucheng had a hundred times the courage, he would not dare to oppose Chen Longxiang, the first prince of the Tang Dynasty!
Su Wan'er thought to herself: I never thought that Emperor Zhaowu of the Tang Dynasty would be such a two-faced, despicable and shameless person.
On the surface, he agreed to Chen Longxiang's request and was willing to let the family of three go to Goguryeo to live a carefree and happy life as princes and nobles.
Behind his back, he immediately ordered Luo Yucheng to bring the Dragon City Guards to kill him to silence him!
You, Chen Huai'an, how cruel you are!
If you act unjustly, don't blame me for being ruthless!
At this moment, Su Wan'er had made up her mind to "assist" Prince Jin, Chen Longxiang, in ascending the throne and becoming emperor. She didn't care about brothers turning against each other or killing each other.
Su Wan'er only knew that the country in Chen Huai'an's hands was snatched from her son Zhao Lingwu;
Now, for the sake of the child in her womb, she must find a way to take back the Tang Dynasty from Chen Huai'an!
Previously, Su Wan'er had the will but not the ability.
But now, she has the strength to go toe-to-toe with Chen Huai'an.
Among the three armies of the Tang Dynasty, the unparalleled Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin was Su Wan'er's best trump card.
With the child in her belly as leverage, she didn't believe that the simple-minded Chen Longxiang wouldn't listen to her!
Let's look at it from both sides.
On the other side, when Ni Dingguo, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard of the Tang Dynasty stationed in Jinling City and the Earl of Lanling, received a report from his subordinates that Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin had gone on a killing spree in Jinling City and seriously injured hundreds of guards in Longcheng, including Marquis Luo Yucheng of Wuping.
Then, after news broke that he had charged into Xuanwu Gate on horseback, causing at least a hundred casualties among the Imperial Guards defending the city;
Ni Dingguo immediately assembled his three thousand elite Imperial Guard cavalry and pursued them along Xuanwu Gate all the way to the Stone City Wharf, attempting to stop Prince Chen Longxiang of Jinling City, who was causing bloodshed in the city.
As it turned out, when Ni Dingguo rushed to the Stone City Wharf, he saw the "Destroy the Japanese" warship, carrying Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin, setting sail and heading south along the Yangtze River.
At this time, dozens of warships of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet were still moored on the Stone City dock.
If they pursued the Japanese pirates along the river in time, there was still a chance to intercept Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin.
Unfortunately, the officers and soldiers of the Tang Dynasty Navy did not obey the orders of Ni Dingguo, the mere deputy commander of the Imperial Guard. They told him that if he wanted to mobilize the naval warships, he could either produce the order from the Ministry of War or the edict from Qi Jiguang, the naval admiral.
Otherwise, there's no point in discussing anything.
Ni Dingguo, who was turned away by the naval fleet, stomped his feet in anger as he watched the Mie Wa warship sailing down the river, but there was nothing he could do.
Eh—
Ni Dingguo let out a long sigh, watching the Miewo ship disappear around the bend in the Yangtze River channel, and roared in exasperation, "Your Highness, Your Highness, you have really caused a disaster this time, you've ripped the sky apart!"
"If you don't move the naval warships without authorization, there's no room for negotiation when this matter reaches the Emperor."
"But you went and transferred the naval warships away. Now, the civil officials in the court will definitely accuse you of treason."
"How are we going to handle this now?!"
Ni Dingguo waved his hand helplessly and immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to return home. He wanted to report this matter to the current emperor, Chen Huai'an, in person.
"Send word to sound the retreat and return to the city!"
"Keep everything that happened today a secret to this general. Anyone who disobeys will be punished according to military law!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
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