Longcheng, the residence of Prince Jin.
A month later, Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin finally led his generals from Longcheng back home to visit their families.
The two large armies under his command, the Northern Expeditionary Army and the Southern Expeditionary Army, have also entered a short period of rest and recuperation.
Since launching the uprising in Longcheng two months ago, the soldiers of Longcheng have won one victory after another, and their morale is at an all-time high.
However, after continuous battles, both the Northern Expeditionary Army and the Southern Expeditionary Army were exhausted and their troops were worn out. Only with a little rest could they ensure their combat effectiveness.
Inside the council hall of the Prince's Palace, Chen Huai'an was discussing important matters of the world with Dongfang Xiao, the old monk in black at Qixia Temple on Fengming Mountain, when he suddenly received a secret report from the Prince's Palace of Wuning in Changshan County.
"Report—"
"Your Highness Prince Jin, Prince Liu Xinwu of Wuning has sent a special envoy to request an audience!"
At this moment, the deep, hoarse voice of Xiao Po, the commander of the Imperial Guard, rang out outside the council hall of the Prince's Mansion.
Chen Huai'an frowned slightly, and did not give Xiao Po an immediate answer regarding whether he would see him or not.
Liu Xinwu, the Prince of Wuning, was one of the eight princes of different surnames under Emperor Gaozu of the Xin Dynasty, Zhao Mang.
Born into a noble family in the Yan and Zhao regions, he raised funds and recruited soldiers to start a rebellion during the "Five Barbarian Invasions" period to resist the barbarian hordes.
Afterwards, he led his troops to submit to the Daxin regime established by Zhao Mang, made significant contributions to the recovery of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, and won the deep trust of Emperor Zhenwu. He was enfeoffed as the Prince of Wuning and granted Changshan County as his fief.
As the heir apparent of the Prince of Jin, Chen Huai'an naturally knew Liu Xinwu, the Prince of Changshan Wuning, but they were only nodding acquaintances.
The last time I heard news of Prince Wu Ning, Liu Xinwu, was before his father, Chen Polu, went to the capital to participate in the Fengshan ceremony of Emperor Zhao Gan, the second emperor.
Like Prince Chen Polu of Jin, Prince Liu Xinwu of Wuning, who was also a prince of a different surname in the Xin Dynasty, was stripped of his military power by Zhao Gan on trumped-up charges and retired to his home to live a carefree life as a prince.
But Liu Xinwu was much luckier than Chen Polu.
At least he didn't die suddenly from carbuncle on his way home from the capital, ending up dying far from home.
Chen Huai'an guessed that this might be related to the fact that Liu Xinwu had accidentally injured his manhood during his early years of fighting, leaving him with a hidden ailment, and that he only had one daughter in his entire life.
"Your Highness!"
Seeing that Chen Huai'an had not responded, the old monk in black, Dongfang Xiao, reminded him, "Your Highness, the special envoy sent by the Prince of Wu Ning is still waiting outside!"
After saying that, he squinted and nodded at Chen Huai'an.
Chen Huai'an then came to his senses and shouted towards the outside of the council hall: "Xiao Po, the special envoy of Prince Xuanwu Ning is here!"
"Summon the special envoy of Prince Wuning to the palace!"
Outside the door, Xiao Po shouted loudly towards the courtyard.
Before long, a middle-aged man, dressed as a small merchant and looking travel-worn, entered the council hall of the Prince's mansion under Xiao Po's guidance.
Upon entering, the man immediately knelt before Chen Huai'an, who sat in the main seat of the hall: "Zhuge Yunsheng, steward of the Changshan Wuning Prince's Mansion, pays his respects to His Highness Prince Jin!"
"Long live Your Highness! Long live Your Highness! Long live Your Highness!"
Chen Huai'an waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities, please have a seat and some tea!"
However, after getting up, Zhuge Yunsheng, who claimed to be the steward of the Prince of Wuning's mansion, did not sit down under the guidance of the servants of the mansion, but instead stood respectfully in front of Chen Huai'an.
In those wise eyes, brimming with the air of someone well-read, lay a hint of hesitant pleading.
Seeing this, Chen Huai'an waved his hand again and ordered, "You may all leave!"
Inside the council hall, two servants from the Prince's residence, responsible for serving tea and water, hurriedly left to carry out their orders.
Inside the hall, Zhuge Yunsheng remained silent, his pleading gaze lingering on Dongfang Xiao, who was clad in a black robe.
Clearly, Zhuge Yunsheng was acting on the orders of Prince Wu Ning, Liu Xinwu, and the matter he was reporting to Prince Jin, Chen Huai'an, was of utmost importance, and no third party was allowed to be present.
Ha ha!
Chen Huai'an noticed Zhuge Yunsheng's worry, laughed heartily a few times, but did not ask Dongfang Xiao to leave.
He said frankly and solemnly, "Zhuge Yunsheng, please speak freely. Master Dongfang is my mentor, and we are like father and son. There is no need to avoid him!"
Forehead......
Zhuge Yunsheng hesitated for two seconds, then finally smiled wryly and said, "Your Highness, I have come here on the orders of Prince Wu Ning to disturb you. I have something to tell you and something to ask of you!"
"oh?"
Chen Huai'an became interested and asked, "What do you want to tell me? What do you need to ask of me?"
Zhuge Yunsheng said, "Your Highness, my master has received a secret report from the capital that the Emperor is aware of Your Highness's recent uprising in Longcheng under the banner of 'purging the court of corrupt officials and eliminating treacherous ministers'!"
"The Emperor is furious and has ordered the Ministry of War to devise a strategy to quell the rebellion. He intends to personally lead the expedition to Longcheng to suppress the rebellion!"
As he spoke, Zhuge Yunsheng's eyes never left Chen Huai'an for a moment.
He seemed to be observing how the young prince would react when he learned that the current emperor was going to personally lead the expedition.
Ha ha!
However, when Chen Huai'an, who was sitting in the main seat of the council hall, learned that the Second Emperor Zhao Gan was going to personally lead an expedition to Longcheng to quell the rebellion, he showed no fear on his face. Instead, he burst into laughter.
Chen Huai'an laughed and said, "What do you think it is? Isn't it just that Zhao Gan wants to personally lead an expedition to Longcheng to test his skills against me?"
"I already knew about this, but—"
Then, he changed the subject and continued, "I still have to thank Prince Wu Ning. After all, he is the only person in the entire Great Xin Dynasty who informed me of this matter."
"I will remember this favor!"
It turned out that several days earlier, Chen Huai'an had received a message from the capital, sent by a spy planted by Sun Heling, the Vice Minister of Rites, informing him that Emperor Zhao Gan was about to personally lead an expedition.
That's why he invited the black-robed monk Dongfang Xiao to the council hall today to discuss important matters of the world.
However, Chen Huai'an was indeed somewhat surprised and moved that Prince Liu Xinwu of Wuning dared to defy public opinion and send a special envoy to Longcheng to inform him of such confidential information from the court.
But more than anything, it was curiosity about what Liu Xinwu was asking for.
For Liu Xinwu to show such sincerity, what he seeks must be extraordinary.
Then, he said to Zhuge Yunsheng, "Zhuge Yunsheng, I am aware of the matter that Prince Wuning instructed you to convey. Now, tell me, what does Prince Wuning want from me?"
Upon hearing this, Zhuge Yunsheng put away the prepared speech he had prepared before meeting Chen Huai'an.
Facing this young but shrewd and capable prince, Zhuge Yunsheng knew that the advice that Prince Wu Ning, Liu Xinwu, had given him before his departure would not work in front of Prince Jin, Chen Huai'an.
Only by treating each other with sincerity can we have a glimmer of hope.
thump!
Suddenly, Zhuge Yunsheng knelt down before Chen Huai'an with a thud, his expression filled with grief, and he said earnestly:
"We beg Your Highness Prince Jin to have mercy and help my lord by saving Princess Liu Shujun of the Wuning Prince's Mansion!"
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