The messenger's announcement forced the distraught King of the Four Seas, Fang Tianyao, to force himself to stay calm.
At this moment, Fang Tianyao had no time to ponder how Wu Sanjia had managed to break through Emperor Hongxi's Yangtze River defenses and advance unimpeded to the Jiangyin naval camp.
All he knew was that if he didn't find a way to withstand the Tiger Army's offensive outside the city, once the naval camp fell, he, Fang Tianyao, would no longer be the high and mighty King of the Four Seas, but rather a prisoner like a dead dog.
Warships can be rebuilt, but if you lose your naval force, you'll lose the means to survive in this chaotic world.
"Your Highness, our navy excels in naval warfare but not in siege warfare. If the Tiger Army outside the city launches a strong attack on our camp, these simple wooden walls may not be able to hold out!"
At this moment, the vice admiral of the Daxin Navy, seeing that his prince was lost in thought and unable to come up with a plan to meet the enemy, had no choice but to bite the bullet and offer his advice:
"Your Highness," I said, "in my humble opinion, we must launch small boats to break through the siege before the Tiger Army lands and besieges the city. Once on the water, that will be our navy's domain."
"Whether it's heading north along the river to Nanjing to seek refuge with Emperor Hongxi, or sailing down the river to the sea to establish oneself as king, one can advance or retreat with ease and composure!"
"Your Highness, we must make a decision as soon as possible!"
The naval vice admiral, also a former pirate, earnestly advised his lord.
"No way—"
Suddenly, Fang Tianyao, the King of the Four Seas, who had come to his senses, roared, "This is absolutely unacceptable! If we abandon the city and flee now, we will be playing right into Wu Sanjia's trap!"
Upon regaining his senses, Fang Tianyao immediately addressed his naval officers, saying, "Gentlemen, we, the officers and soldiers of the Great Xin Navy, have always revered the Lingwu Emperor of Great Xin and have never overstepped our bounds."
"And Wu Sanjia and the Tiger Legion, also under the banner of Emperor Lingwu, marched south from Yingzhou City all the way to the capital to defend the emperor;"
"In essence, both I and Wu Sanjia are loyal generals fighting to uphold the Great Xin Dynasty and the Lingwu Emperor's empire."
After a pause, Fang Tianyao continued, "Now, Wu Sanjia is unable to distinguish between loyalty and treachery. Without asking any questions, he directly led his troops to attack my naval camp. He is trying to rebel!"
"No, I will go to the Emperor's palace right now and ask the Emperor and Empress Dowager to personally intervene and see if Wu Sanjia really wants to be this disloyal, unfilial, unrighteous, and inhumane scoundrel!"
"Guards, come with me to welcome the Emperor and Empress Dowager!"
"The remaining soldiers defending the city must not launch an attack on the Tiger Warriors outside the city before I return, lest they give others cause for criticism."
Fang Tianyao instructed, "If the Tiger Legion outside the city launches a strong attack on the camp, shout to them that I have already gone to invite the Emperor and Empress Dowager and asked them if Wu Sanjia is planning a rebellion?"
"If the Tiger Legion outside the city ignores our advice and continues to attack the naval camp, then we will launch a counterattack!"
"Did you all understand?"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
......
The naval camp, the temporary palace of the Emperor of Lingwu of the Great Xin Dynasty.
Nominally called an imperial palace, it was actually just a remote side hall within the naval camp.
The increasingly haggard Empress Dowager Su Wan'er was helping the young Emperor Lingwu wash up with the assistance of her personal maid. The mother and son had only just gotten up.
"Protect the Emperor—"
Suddenly, the sound of guards calling from outside the side hall made Empress Dowager Su's heart tighten, and she subconsciously hugged the young Emperor Lingwu tightly.
The constant fleeing had conditioned the young empress dowager to be on edge at the slightest provocation.
Soon, the door to the side hall was pushed open from the outside.
The person who barged into the hall was none other than He Changdong, the commander of the Imperial Guards, who was wearing armor and carrying a sword and had a serious expression, along with more than a hundred Imperial Guards who had been protecting the Emperor and Empress Dowager all the way from the capital.
More than a hundred armored soldiers, armed with swords, immediately took up their posts and stood guard inside the hall after entering.
He Changdong, commander of the Imperial Guards, rushed over and knelt before the Emperor and Empress Dowager: "Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, I have just received news that unidentified enemy troops are attacking the naval camp."
"This humble general has led the Imperial Guards to protect Your Majesty. If we have disturbed Your Majesty, I beg Your Majesty and Empress Dowager for forgiveness!"
He Changdong made his purpose clear in just two short sentences.
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Su immediately waved her hand, her eyes brimming with tears, and said, "General He, please rise quickly. The safety of my life and the Emperor's life depends entirely on General He!"
He Changdong stood up, cupped his hands in a fist salute, and said with a resolute look in his eyes and a firm tone, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, even if it costs me my life, I will definitely get the Emperor and the Empress Dowager out safely before the naval camp falls!"
Knock knock knock!
No sooner had He Changdong finished speaking than a series of urgent knocks came from outside the side hall.
"Protect the Emperor!"
He Changdong drew his sword and strode to the entrance of the side hall.
Outside the door came the voice of Fang Tianyao, the King of the Four Seas: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please open the door! I am Fang Tianyao, the King of the Four Seas!"
Upon hearing Fang Tianyao knocking on the door, He Changdong subconsciously turned his head to look at Empress Dowager Su.
The latter, however, shook his head at He Changdong with a helpless look in his eyes.
He Changdong immediately understood the meaning in Empress Dowager Su's eyes, which clearly revealed her distrust of Fang Tianyao, the King of the Four Seas, and her fear that Fang Tianyao would use the Lingwu Emperor as a pledge of loyalty to the enemy before the fall of the naval camp!
He Changdong nodded firmly to Empress Dowager Su once again, and then signaled with his eyes to his hundred or so personal guards to prepare for battle.
Finally, he shouted at the top of his lungs towards the door, "I wonder what brings Your Highness here to pay respects to the Emperor and Empress Dowager?"
Fang Tianyao replied anxiously, "General He, please inform them that Wu Sanjia is rebelling. He is leading his Tiger Warriors and has burned all the warships of our Great Xin Navy."
"They are currently launching a fierce attack on my naval camp. I implore Your Majesty and Empress Dowager to uphold justice for the officers and soldiers of my Great Xin Navy!"
brush!
Upon hearing this, both He Changdong and Empress Dowager Su in the hall were startled.
For a moment, they couldn't determine the truthfulness of Fang Tianyao's words.
Wasn't General Wu Sanjia leading the Tiger Warriors to garrison on the opposite bank of the Yangtze River, confronting Emperor Hongxi's troops across the river?
All of the warships of the new navy were recalled by Fang Tianyao to the Jiangyin naval camp.
Now, it is said that the people who attacked the naval camp were Wu Sanjia and the Tiger Legion, which inevitably makes Empress Dowager Su suspicious.
Outside the hall, Fang Tianyao was extremely anxious.
Seeing that there was no response from inside the hall, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue, "General He, please inform the Emperor and Empress Dowager immediately, this matter is extremely urgent!"
"If the Emperor and Empress Dowager don't step in soon, and Wu Sanjia's Tiger Warriors break through the camp and start fighting the naval officers and soldiers inside, the situation will really get out of control!"
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