Chen Qingzhi, the Tang Dynasty's envoy who ventured alone into the enemy camp, was detained by Chen Longxiang, the regent of the Daxin Dynasty, and imprisoned in a tent within the rebel camp at Nanpu Port.
Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han, who was imprisoned, didn't care at all and even had the leisure to hum a little tune in his tent!
In Chen Qingzhi's view, he had already achieved his goal for this trip.
Even if Chen Longxiang detained him, and even if the latter might harm him in a fit of anger, Chen Qingzhi didn't care at all.
He knew that after his persuasion in the rebel army's central command tent, the rebel generals, including their commander Chen Longxiang, had already begun to waver in their thoughts and emotions toward rebellion.
Even if a major battle to quell the rebellion is inevitable in the end, at least it can be guaranteed that the determination of these rebel generals to resist will not be as firm and intense as before, and there is a possibility that they will defect in the face of battle.
In comparison, what does it matter if Chen Qingzhi dies?
Besides, Chen Qingzhi cannot escape responsibility for the current situation.
If he had been more decisive and resolute in resolving the scandalous affair between Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin and the former empress Su Wan'er when he discovered it, the situation would not have deteriorated to the point of being unmanageable.
At the same time.
On the waters near Nampo Port outside the Goguryeo capital, hundreds of warships of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet were constantly sailing on the sea.
After Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin rebelled, he took control of all the warships and naval officers and soldiers of the Tang Dynasty's navy that were stationed on the Goguryeo Peninsula, so that the Tang Dynasty's navy in Jinling was left with only a few dozen warships and some naval officers and soldiers.
If it were any other emperor, it would probably be very difficult to assemble a large expeditionary naval force again in a short period of time.
However, for Emperor Zhaowu of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Huai'an, who possesses the "Born to be an Emperor" system, rebuilding a fully-fledged Tang Dynasty naval fleet in a short period of time is a piece of cake.
The Tang Dynasty's naval fleet that set out to quell the rebellion in Goguryeo consisted of more than 500 warships of various types and more than 200,000 naval officers and soldiers. In addition, there were 300,000 infantry and cavalrymen who came from the Liaodong Peninsula. The total force of 500,000 to quell the rebellion was completely overkill.
Of course, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an's decree for the imperial army to launch a heavy attack was not solely for the purpose of quelling the rebellion of Prince Jin Chen Longxiang.
More importantly, the Tang Dynasty wanted to conquer the four islands of Japanese pirates in one fell swoop after suppressing the Goguryeo rebellion, and plant the royal flag of the Tang Dynasty on the four islands of Japanese pirates and the Ryukyu Islands.
Let's get back to the main topic.
On the deck of the Zhenyuan, the flagship of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet, Chang Yuchun, the Duke of Wei of the Tang Dynasty and the Grand Marshal of the Eastern Expedition to Suppress the Rebellion, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing towards the direction of Nanpu Port.
Standing beside Chang Yuchun were Qi Jiguang, the Admiral of the Navy and Duke of Dingguo, and Lan Yu, the Marquis of Anxi and General of the Eastern Expedition.
Chang Yuchun asked without turning his head, "How long has it been since the Duke of Han left?"
Without hesitation, Lan Yu replied, "Reporting to the commander, the Duke of Han has been sailing alone in a small boat into the enemy camp for three hours now!"
Um?
Upon hearing this, Chang Yuchun frowned and said, "It seems that the Duke of Han has already met with the rebel commander Chen Longxiang and has been detained by him!"
"I told you long ago, Chen Longxiang can disregard brotherhood and the dignity of the royal family to rebel and restore the previous dynasty. How could he, the Duke of Han, possibly persuade him to surrender with just a few words?"
After a pause, Chang Yuchun continued, "Now things are really messed up. Not only did we fail to persuade the rebels to surrender, but we've also gotten ourselves into trouble."
"If I were to order the navy to launch a full-scale attack, I would have to be hesitant and fear harming the Duke of Han!"
Eh—
After saying this, Chang Yuchun couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
But just a moment later, his heroic and resolute face regained its usual calm and decisive expression.
Then, he turned to look at the vanguard general Lan Yu and said sternly, "Lan Yu, how is the plan for a strong attack on Nanpu Port that I asked you to prepare?"
"Reporting to the Commander—"
Lan Yu cupped his hands in a fist salute and said, "The 20,000 vanguard soldiers are ready. They are just waiting for the commander's order to immediately board small boats and, under the cover of the Shenji Battalion's red-coated cannons, launch a landing operation towards Nanpu Port!"
Um!
Chang Yuchun nodded in satisfaction, then looked at the setting sun and said, "Lan Yu, pass down the order: the vanguard battalion will rest for one night and launch a strong attack on Nanpu Port at dawn tomorrow!"
Lan Yu immediately accepted the order and said, "This subordinate obeys!"
Immediately, Chang Yuchun issued another order: "Naval Admiral Qi Jiguang, listen to my command—"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Pass down the order: all the large warships of the naval fleet shall quietly approach Nanpu Port after nightfall, and at dawn, the red-coated cannons shall open fire at full power to cover the vanguard battalion's beach landing!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
......
That night.
Inside the royal palace of Goguryeo, the young regent Chen Longxiang waited anxiously in the bedchamber of Empress Dowager Su Wan'er.
Every now and then, palace maids would hurry back and forth between the inner palace and the outer palace.
Inside the inner palace, Su Wan'er's wails could still be heard.
That's right, Su Wan'er is about to give birth!
The reason Chen Longxiang was in such a hurry to return to the capital from the camp at Nanpu Port was because he received news that Su Wan'er was about to give birth. That's why he put aside all military affairs at the front and rushed back to the palace in the capital.
Despite rushing, they finally managed to return before Su Wan'er gave birth.
Unexpectedly, Su Wan'er showed signs of becoming difficult to deal with. Several hours had passed, and she still hadn't given birth to a prince for Chen Longxiang.
In his desperation, Chen Longxiang even considered pushing the door open and going in to check on Su Wan'er's condition.
In the end, she was pushed out by the experienced midwife, who disregarded the risk of being beheaded by the regent, and she could only wait anxiously outside the palace.
"Report—"
"Your Highness, urgent military report from the western front!"
Just then, a messenger rushed over, about to report the urgent military report from the western front to Regent Chen Longxiang, when a thunderous shout rang in his ears: "Get out!"
Immediately, Chen Longxiang roared furiously, "Didn't I say that from now until the Queen Consort gives birth, I don't want to hear anything else?"
"If there's any situation at the front, let them handle it accordingly. Anyone who dares to bother me with this again will be dragged out and executed!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
After angrily berating the messenger, a restless Chen Longxiang once again arrived at Su Wan'er's palace, only to bump into the midwife who was giving birth.
The latter said anxiously, "Your Highness, summon the imperial physician! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"
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