Outside Jiaozhou City, Xiao Po introduced himself and knocked on the door.
On the city wall, Lin Fengxiang, the garrison commander of Jiaozhou, and the soldiers and civilians on the wall finally breathed a sigh of relief when they heard that the naval army outside the city was actually the army of the Prince of Jin.
However, the soldiers and civilians defending the city did not let their guard down. They still gripped their swords tightly, acting as if facing a formidable enemy.
After all, in the hearts of the soldiers and civilians in these remote coastal areas, the fact that Prince Chen Huai'an, the heir of the Prince of Jin, had raised an army to rebel had already been widely publicized by the government.
In their view, the rebel army in Longcheng under Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin was only slightly stronger than Japanese pirates.
The only thing that reassured the soldiers and civilians defending the city was that they had never heard of the Longcheng rebels under the command of the Prince of Jin massacring the city.
Therefore, compared to the Japanese pirates attacking the city, the soldiers and civilians defending Jiaozhou at least did not have to worry that the rebel army in Longcheng would make things difficult for their wives, children and elderly relatives inside the city after the city fell.
In an instant, everyone's attention was focused on Lin Fengxiang, the garrison commander of Jiaozhou.
As the garrison commander of Jiaozhou City, who was in charge of both military and political affairs, Lin Fengxiang was undoubtedly the backbone of the city's 500 anti-Japanese soldiers and 50,000 civilians.
In this critical moment, all actions must be carried out in accordance with the garrison commander's orders.
On the city wall, Lin Fengxiang was still hesitant, unsure of how to respond to the shouts and calls from Xiao Po, the commander of the Imperial Guard of Prince Chen Huai'an, below the city.
Before he was even mentally prepared, Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin arrived outside Jiaozhou City without anyone noticing.
On the one hand, Lin Fengxiang, the garrison commander of Jiaozhou, was a third-rank military officer of the Great Xin Dynasty and was favored by the emperor. On the other hand, Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin was an out-and-out traitor.
On the other hand, the Great Xin Dynasty is on the verge of collapse. The treacherous minister Qin Ruhui and the powerful general Wu Sanjia are locked in a fierce struggle, with the Lingwu Emperor and the Hongxi Emperor ruling in the same court.
In contrast, Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin's Longcheng army was at its zenith, advancing with unstoppable momentum. After occupying half of the northern part of the Great Xin Dynasty, the southern expeditionary army had already captured Jinan Prefecture and was heading straight for Nanjing City.
Even Lin Fengxiang, the garrison commander of Jiaozhou, a minor figure on the fringes of the Xin Dynasty's court, could keenly sense that the day when Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin would unify the world and ascend the throne as emperor was not far off.
The question of what to do with the 500 Japanese soldiers guarding Jiaozhou City was already on Lin Fengxiang's mind.
However, he was not yet prepared on how to face Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin.
Outside the city, seeing that the Jiaozhou garrison on the city wall did not respond, and bound by the orders of the Prince of Jin, Xiao Po could only continue to patiently shout:
"Listen up, soldiers guarding the walls of Jiaozhou! I am acting on the orders of His Highness Prince Jin, escorting over a thousand Japanese pirates to the Jiaozhou garrison for disposal."
"If you were—"
Before Xiao Po could finish speaking, there was finally a response from the city wall.
Lin Fengxiang roared in a booming voice, "General Xiao, this humble general is Lin Fengxiang, the garrison commander of Jiaozhou. I was unaware of His Highness Prince Jin's esteemed presence and failed to come out of the city to greet him. I hope His Highness will forgive me!"
At this moment, Lin Fengxiang had already walked down from the city gate tower and leaned half his body out from the crenellations of the city wall. He continued, "General Xiao, please be patient. This humble general will immediately order the city gate to be opened to welcome His Highness Prince Jin into the city!"
With that, Lin Fengxiang waved his hand and ordered, "Men, convey my command: open the city gates and welcome His Highness Prince Jin into the city!"
"Open the city gates and welcome His Highness Prince Jin into the city!"
Soon, the soldiers guarding the city gate, having received orders, hurriedly moved the heavy objects piled up inside the gate to defend against the Japanese pirates' attack, and then pushed open the two heavy city gates from the inside of the city.
At this moment, Lin Fengxiang, the garrison commander of Jiaozhou, who had rushed over from the city tower, was the first to walk out of the city gate. He led his five hundred Japanese soldiers to line up and assemble, respectfully welcoming the Prince of Jin.
As the city gates opened, Xiao Po ordered his Imperial Guards to lead the way into the city and take over the defenses at key locations to guard against any assassination attempts against Prince Jin.
Xiao Po, the commander of the Golden Guard, suffered two major losses in this matter.
If it weren't for Chen Huai'an, who remembered Xiao Po's outstanding military achievements during the defense of Longcheng, he would probably have sent Xiao Po back to the central army camp to carry the flag long ago.
Therefore, Xiao Po, who was reappointed as the commander of the Imperial Guard for the third time, dared not be careless in protecting the Prince of Jin's safety.
Losing his position as commander of the Imperial Guards is a small matter, but if he were to accidentally cause even the slightest harm to His Highness Prince Jin, Xiao Po would not be able to atone for it even if he died a hundred times!
After the Imperial Guards had everything ready, Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin, clad in golden armor and riding a fine yellow steed, slowly rode over, surrounded by Admiral Qi Jiguang and a group of naval officers.
Upon seeing this, Lin Fengxiang, the garrison commander of Jiaozhou, and his entourage, who had been waiting outside the city gate, immediately stepped forward and knelt before Prince Jin.
"This humble general, Lin Fengxiang, garrison commander of Jiaozhou, pays his respects to Your Highness, Prince Jin."
"Long live the Prince of Jin! Long live the Prince of Jin! Long live the Prince of Jin!"
Amidst shouts of "Long live the Emperor!", Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin rode his horse into Jiaozhou City.
In the evening, a public trial was held at the garrison headquarters for a group of Japanese pirates led by Sakai Takaaki.
It was only then that Lin Fengxiang, the garrison commander of Jiaozhou, and the people of Jiaozhou learned that it was Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin who had saved them from disaster.
If it weren't for the intervention of the Longcheng naval fleet, the 50,000 people in Jiaozhou would have been wiped out when the 5,000-plus vicious Japanese pirates landed.
What made Lin Fengxiang even more fortunate was that, between the corrupt and decadent Daxin Dynasty and the powerful Prince Jin, he led five hundred soldiers from Jiaozhou to defend against Japanese pirates and made the right choice.
Otherwise, the 30,000-strong Longcheng naval fleet could flood Jiaozhou City with a single spit from each of its members.
At the public trial, Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin sat in the main seat of the garrison headquarters without hesitation, with a plaque bearing the inscription "A Clear Mirror Hangs High" above his head.
Lin Fengxiang, the garrison commander of Jiaozhou, sat respectfully to the left of Chen Huai'an, while Qi Jiguang, the admiral of the Longcheng Navy, sat to his right.
The pirate leader, Sakai Takaaki, and a group of pirate chiefs had been bound hand and foot by naval officers and soldiers and escorted to the government office to kneel in several rows.
Outside the garrison headquarters, the city's residents crowded around to watch the spectacle.
Among them were many victims who had suffered greatly at the hands of Japanese pirates.
Although Chen Huai'an sat in the main seat of the garrison headquarters, he did not usurp the position or act as the garrison commander of Jiaozhou. Instead, he addressed Lin Fengxiang to his left:
"Lord Lin, as the garrison commander of Jiaozhou, you are the official in charge of the people of Jiaozhou. This case of judging the Japanese pirates will be entrusted to you!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Upon hearing that the Prince of Jin had specifically asked him to judge the Japanese pirates, Lin Fengxiang immediately stood up and bowed to Chen Huai'an with clasped hands to show his respect.
Then, addressing the Japanese pirates, led by Sakai Takaaki, who were already dead and helpless, he declared: "These Japanese pirates and scoundrels have repeatedly violated the coast of our Great Xin, burning, killing, and plundering our people. They are extremely vicious and their crimes are heinous..."
"According to the Great New Laws, he should be beheaded and his head displayed to appease the people and deter other pirates and outlaws!"
"Guards! Drag these Japanese pirates out of here! No need to wait until noon tomorrow, behead them right here at Caishikou!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
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