Chaos reigned in the naval camp of the Great Xin Dynasty, with naval officers and soldiers fleeing everywhere.
Just as predicted by Fang Tianyao, the King of the Four Seas, when Wu Sanjia led his troops to attack the naval camp yesterday and proposed the tactic of "naval land warfare".
In naval battles, his 50,000-strong Daxin navy might be able to put up a fight, but if his navy were to fight on land like infantry and cavalry, its combat strength would be no more than that of the second-rate infantry and cavalry of the Daxin Dynasty.
Of course, such a statement is only valid when the officers and soldiers of the Daxin Navy face off against the Tiger Fleet.
If they were to face the Longcheng naval fleet of Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin, the final outcome of both naval and land battles would seem to be no different.
If there is any difference, it is that you die faster in naval battles, while you can survive longer in land battles.
For the officers and soldiers of the Longcheng Navy who broke through the Daxin Navy camp, they did not start a massacre after entering the camp. Instead, they strictly carried out the general's order of Prince Jin: those who surrender will be spared death!
Therefore, in the chaotic Daxin naval camp at this time, apart from a very small number of naval officers and soldiers who resisted and were killed, the vast majority of the naval officers and soldiers chose to surrender to the Longcheng naval forces, and there were also many who fled.
Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin rode his yellow horse leisurely along the main road of the naval camp, looking around at the camp, which had been built in the second year of the Zhenwu era of the Daxin era and had a history of more than 30 years.
The predecessor of the naval camp was the headquarters of Fang Tianyao, the King of the Four Seas who came from a pirate background, and the terrain was somewhat similar to "Liangshan Marsh".
It was nominally called a large camp, but in reality it was a small city surrounded by water on all sides.
If it weren't for the chaos of war and the lingering smoke of battle, it would be a place of breathtaking scenery.
In today's terms, it was a paradise for anglers!
However, for Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin, who was focused on finding the whereabouts of Emperor Lingwu and obtaining the Imperial Seal, he had no interest in appreciating the beautiful scenery within the naval camp.
"Report—"
"Your Highness Prince Jin, the King of the Four Seas, Fang Tianyao, has sent an envoy to say that he has found the Imperial Seal of the State and wishes to present it to Your Highness!"
Suddenly, Chen Huai'an, who was lost in thought on horseback, heard the report from Xiao Po, the commander of the Imperial Guard, which immediately pulled him back to reality.
oh?
Chen Huai'an raised an eyebrow and said, "Xiao Po, bring the person up here!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Soon, a middle-aged man dressed in a dark long robe, looking like a scholar, approached Chen Huai'an with his head bowed and knelt before him, saying, "This humble man, Fang Yu, greets Your Highness, Prince Jin!"
"Long live the Prince of Jin! Long live the Prince of Jin! Long live the Prince of Jin!"
"No need for formalities!"
Chen Huai'an remained seated on his horse, looking down at the newcomer with a knowing look, and asked, "What brings your lord to pay his respects to me?"
Fang Yu replied cautiously, "Your Highness, my master sent me here specifically to express his intentions."
"My lord has said that he is willing to lead all the officers and soldiers in the naval camp to serve under His Highness Prince Jin, and to contribute to His Highness's efforts to purge the court of treacherous officials and eliminate corrupt ministers."
"My lord also said that he has found the Imperial Seal of the State and is willing to present it to His Highness Prince Jin!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Huai'an frowned slightly and asked, "Are Emperor Lingwu and Empress Dowager Su currently in your prince's hands?"
Forehead!
Fang Yu hesitated for a moment before replying, "Your Highness Prince Jin, the Emperor and Empress Dowager are indeed with my lord at this moment, in a side hall behind the naval camp."
Um!
Chen Huai'an nodded and said, "That's excellent!"
Then, he summoned Xiao Po and said, "Xiao Po, you go with this young man and bring the Emperor and Empress Dowager to my treasure ship."
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Chen Huai'an then said, "General Qi, you should also go and make contact with the Four Sea Kings, and take full responsibility for the reception and aftermath of the naval camp's officers and soldiers."
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Qi Jiguang also stepped forward, cupped his hands in a fist and bowed to accept the order.
After giving all the instructions, Chen Huai'an turned his horse around and headed straight for the "Destroy the Japanese" warship moored at the dock.
"Your Highness Prince Jin—"
Upon seeing this, Fang Yu, who was both the envoy and nephew of Fang Tianyao, the King of the Four Seas, immediately became anxious.
In his view, shouldn't such an important matter be handled by Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin, who should personally go and negotiate with his own prince?
Just as he was about to catch up and say something more, he was blocked by the tall Xiao Po, who looked down at Fang Yu and said in an icy tone, "Mr. Fang, let's go!"
As he spoke, those strong hands landed on Fang Yu's arms.
The latter immediately winced in pain, gasping for breath, and dared not voice any objections. He could only lead the way, saying, "Generals, this way please!"
"please!"
As they spoke, the group headed toward a side hall on the hill behind the naval camp.
at the same time.
Inside the side hall on the back mountain, Fang Tianyao, the King of the Four Seas, had already taken the Imperial Seal, carved from the He Shi Bi jade, from Empress Dowager Su Wan'er's hands.
Looking at the eight characters "Received the Mandate of Heaven, May Your Life Be Long and Prosperous" engraved on the Imperial Seal, even though he was surrounded by the Dragon City Navy and his life was in danger at any moment, Fang Tianyao still felt a surge of imperial ambition and pride.
Since Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms and cast the Imperial Seal of the State, this small, square object has become the supreme symbol of imperial power throughout history.
Throughout history, the Imperial Seal of the State has been used as a symbol of legitimate imperial power during dynastic changes.
Without the Imperial Seal of the State, even if one unifies the world, future historians will record that one's rule was illegitimate.
Therefore, Fang Tianyao's acquisition of the Imperial Seal at this time was tantamount to securing a place for himself in the court of the new dynasty.
At this moment, Fang Tianyao was already fantasizing in his mind about what official position he should ask for from Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin after meeting him, using the Imperial Seal of the State as a bargaining chip to maximize his benefits.
At the very least, the title of King of the Four Seas should be preserved, right?
Thinking of this, Fang Tianyao's eyes involuntarily fell on Emperor Lingwu and his mother in the corner of the side hall, and a fierce glint flashed across his face.
Should we make Emperor Lingwu and his mother disappear before Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin arrives?
In a way, this can be considered as clearing away the last stumbling block on His Highness Prince Jin's path to the throne.
"Report—"
"Your Highness, General Qi Jiguang, the Admiral of the Longcheng Naval Force under the Prince of Jin, has arrived!"
Just as Fang Tianyao was lost in thought, the announcement from outside the side hall instantly brought him to his senses, and in the end, he did not choose to kill Empress Dowager Su and her son.
He hurriedly instructed those outside the hall, "Please come in quickly!"
A moment later, Xiao Po, the commander of the Imperial Guards, clad in armor and carrying a sword, and Qi Jiguang, the admiral of the Longcheng Navy, appeared one after the other in the side hall.
Upon seeing this, Fang Tianyao quickly got up and responded.
Upon noticing that Prince Chen Huai'an was not among the visitors, a fleeting hint of displeasure crossed Fang Tianyao's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by an enthusiastic gaze.
He greeted them with a broad smile, cupping his hands in greeting to Xiao Po and Qi Jiguang: "Generals, you have come from afar, please have a seat!"
"Someone come here, bring the tea!"
However, Xiao Po and Qi Jiguang did not seem to be very receptive to the enthusiasm of Fang Tianyao, the King of the Four Seas.
Especially Qi Jiguang, who coldly refused:
"Your Highness, I will not drink the tea. I am here on the orders of His Highness Prince Jin to discuss matters concerning the transfer of naval officers and soldiers to my Longcheng Navy. If Your Highness has nothing else to say, let us begin now!"
Upon hearing Qi Jiguang's words, Xiao Po hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, this humble general is Xiao Po, the commander of the Imperial Guard under Prince Jin."
"I am here on the orders of Prince Jin to welcome Emperor Lingwu and Empress Dowager Su. I would be grateful if Your Highness would grant me the favor of handing over the Emperor and Empress Dowager to me so that I may return and report back!"
"this--"
After hearing what Xiao Po and Qi Jiguang said, Fang Tianyao's expression became even more unpleasant.
His eyes darted around, his mind racing as he considered what to do next.
This Chen Huai'an is really showing no respect for me!
I am, after all, the King of the Four Seas, personally appointed by the imperial court. Although I am a two-character king, my status is not as high as that of a one-character king.
However, your title of peerage prince, Chen Huai'an, was self-proclaimed without the approval of the imperial court!
All things considered, aren't we evenly matched?
Besides, I have the Imperial Seal of the State, which you desperately need, and this is how you treat me?
Cough cough!
At this moment, Qi Jiguang suddenly coughed twice and said somewhat impatiently, "What, Your Highness, are you not planning to surrender to my Longcheng Navy?"
Forehead--
Faced with Qi Jiguang's aggressive attitude, Fang Tianyao seemed somewhat at a loss.
After a brief weighing of the pros and cons, he finally decided to lower his stance and said, "General Qi, is that it? How can you say that? Since His Highness Prince Jin raised an army in Longcheng to quell the rebellion..."
"That means they wholeheartedly support the Prince of Jin, but due to the situation and pressure from the court, they have been delayed until now to have the opportunity to join the Longcheng Jingnan Army."
After a pause, Fang Tianyao continued, "Since General Qi is busy with military affairs, I will not take up any more of your time. Let's begin!"
"Your Highness, what do you think of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager...?"
Xiao Po, who was standing nearby, hurriedly spoke up, "His Highness Prince Jin is still waiting for me on the treasure ship to take the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to report back!"
Now that things had come to this point, Fang Tianyao could no longer pretend to be stupid and try to fool everyone.
He had no choice but to turn to his personal guards and order, "Someone, please invite the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to move!"
"In that case, thank you, Your Highness!"
Xiao Po immediately bowed to Fang Tianyao in thanks, and then led his Jinwu Guard soldiers to personally take the sedan chair carrying Emperor Lingwu and Empress Dowager Su from the naval officers and soldiers.
After walking a few steps, Xiao Po turned back and asked Fang Tianyao with a big smile, "Your Highness, is there something you've forgotten that I need to pass on to Prince Jin?"
Um?
Fang Tianyao frowned, immediately realizing what Xiao Po was referring to.
Instinctively, he reached for the Imperial Seal of the State that he was carrying.
To be honest, Fang Tianyao did not intend to hand over the Imperial Seal of the State now. He was still waiting to use the Imperial Seal of the State as a bargaining chip to negotiate with Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin in order to gain more political resources and benefits!
But now, facing "Big Xiao," who seemed to have a kind and honest smile and was extremely respectful to him, Fang Tianyao really didn't dare to say a single word of dissent.
Because, out of the corner of his eye, he clearly saw that Xiao Da Ge, who was smiling but hiding a knife, had already quietly gripped the hilt of his knife with his right hand.
If he dared to utter even a single word of dissent, this big oaf would probably draw his sword and kill him without hesitation the next moment.
When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head!
Now that things have come to this, Fang Tianyao, the Prince of the Four Seas, whose situation is only slightly better than that of a prisoner, can only hope that Chen Huai'an, the Prince of Jin, is not the kind of person who would betray someone after using them.
"Oh dear, look at my memory!"
Fang Tianyao suddenly slapped his forehead, realizing something, and said, "I had already prepared it for His Highness Prince Jin, and was even planning to present it to him in person!"
"Since General Xiao is willing to do it, then I'll trouble General Xiao to make the trip for me!"
After saying that, Fang Tianyao put the imperial seal in his bosom, reluctantly took it out and handed it to Xiao Po, which was wrapped in fine gold brocade.
Upon seeing this, the latter immediately reached out to catch it.
But they found that Fang Tianyao was holding the Imperial Seal of the State tightly and refused to let go.
This move, however, could not stop Xiao Po, who was originally a flag bearer of the Po Lu Army. With just a little effort, the Imperial Seal of the State fell into his hands.
Before leaving, he waved to Fang Tianyao and said, "Your Highness, this humble general will certainly convey Your Highness's sentiments to Prince Jin!"
With that, Xiao Po waved his hand and ordered his men to lift the sedan chair carrying Emperor Lingwu and Empress Dowager Su. Without looking back, he led the commander of the Golden Guard away from the side hall of the naval camp.
Qi Jiguang seized the opportunity and said, "Your Highness, please!"
"please!"
Fang Tianyao's face was ashen, but he had to force a smile and began negotiations with Qi Jiguang regarding the defection of his Daxin naval officers and soldiers to the Longcheng naval force.
An hour later, Xiao Po returned to the "Destroy the Japanese" super warship with the Imperial Seal and Empress Dowager Su and her son.
However, he did not immediately bring Empress Dowager Su and her son to Prince Jin's tent. Instead, his Imperial Guards took the two to another cabin and treated them well, keeping them under strict guard.
Xiao Po then took the Imperial Seal of the State to Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin.
"Your Highness, I have brought back Emperor Lingwu, Empress Dowager Su, and the Imperial Seal of the State with me!"
"Emperor Lingwu and Empress Dowager Su have been arranged to stay in the next cabin by this humble general. The Imperial Seal of the State is here; please take a look, Your Highness!"
After saying this, he presented the Imperial Seal of the State, wrapped in golden brocade, to Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin with both hands.
Um?
Chen Huai'an raised an eyebrow and immediately stood up, carefully taking the Imperial Seal of the State that Xiao Po had been longing for from his hand.
Then, he gently lifted the brocade and gold cloth that wrapped the Imperial Seal of the State.
The next moment, the square Imperial Seal of the State, as if adorned with a dazzling halo, appeared right before Chen Huai'an's eyes!
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