The next day.
As dawn broke, the Longcheng Northern Expeditionary Army, personally led by Chen Huai'an, began to assemble at the temporary camp, while the auxiliary soldiers of the supply corps were also methodically collecting the tents and equipment needed for the army to set up camp.
Today, the Northern Expeditionary Army will leave the fiefdom of the Prince of Jin and officially embark on its Northern Expeditionary journey.
"Report—"
"Your Highness, General Fan has led the vanguard to scout ahead of schedule. Scouts report that the main army's marching route is normal. General Pang requests Your Highness's permission to set off."
"Yes, I understand!"
Chen Huai'an nodded and instructed the messenger, "Tell General Pang that the entire army will set off in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. There must be no delay!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Soon, the messenger hurriedly left.
At this moment, only Chen Huai'an and Sun Heling, the Imperial Envoy and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, remained in front of the central command tent.
Looking at the Longcheng Northern Expeditionary Army, which was busy preparing for its departure in the camp, Chen Huai'an once again tried to persuade them to stay, saying, "Lord Sun, do you really still want to return to the capital to report back?"
"Based on my understanding of Zhao Gan, if you go back like this, he certainly won't let you off easily."
As he spoke, Chen Huai'an turned to look at Sun Heling beside him and said, word by word:
"Or, why don't you stay here and wait until my army reaches Jinling City before coming home with me?"
“As long as you are with me, Zhao Gan will definitely think that I am the one who detained you here, and therefore he will not make things difficult for your wife and family who are still in Jinling City.”
Chen Huai'an was always grateful to Sun Heling, the imperial envoy sent by the court.
He knew that if the news of his raising an army in Longcheng to quell the rebellion and defeating Wu Qingyun's 100,000-strong Yunhui Army reached the ears of the Second Emperor Zhao Gan, the latter would surely be furious.
Those involved will inevitably be implicated, with Sun Heling, the imperial envoy who delivers the imperial edict, bearing the brunt of the consequences.
After all, it was he who delivered the imperial edict to the Prince of Jin's residence before Wu Qingyun's 100,000-strong army besieged the city.
Therefore, Chen Huai'an wanted to keep Sun Heling in Longcheng, by his side.
On the one hand, it was to protect Sun Heling; on the other hand, it was to recruit talented people from all over the world and prepare for the future when he would become the sole ruler and unify the world.
Despite Chen Huai'an's repeated attempts to persuade him to stay, Sun Heling shook his head firmly and resolutely, saying, "I thank Your Highness for your kindness."
"I, Sun, was among the top three in the imperial examination of the 23rd year of the Zhenwu era of the Great Xin Dynasty, and was personally selected by Emperor Gaozu as the third-ranking scholar. No matter how tyrannical Emperor Jian'an was, he was still the legitimate second emperor of the Great Xin Dynasty."
"Sun has been ordered to travel here, and regardless of the final outcome, he must return to the capital to report back to His Majesty and convey the true situation in Longcheng."
"As long as I, Sun, am still a third-rank official in the imperial court, I must adhere to the principles of official conduct and be loyal to the emperor. I must never allow treacherous ministers like Qin Ruhui and Wu Qingyun to deceive the emperor and cause chaos in the court!"
Sun Heling spoke these words with absolute certainty, yet he was also deeply conflicted.
Emotionally speaking, Sun Heling, who had once received the kindness of Prince Chen Polu of Jin, naturally favored the heir apparent Chen Huai'an.
Moreover, after Chen Huai'an raised troops in Longcheng and issued the proclamation to quell the rebellion, the series of policies he promulgated benefited the country and the people, and he already showed some of the demeanor of a wise ruler.
However, as a scholar and a civil official deeply influenced by traditional Confucian culture, the loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness ingrained in the bones of a scholar constantly reminded Sun Heling.
No matter how eloquently Chen Huai'an wrote his anti-rebellion manifesto, or how beautifully and loudly he proclaimed the slogans of "cleansing the emperor's inner circle, eliminating treacherous officials, securing the country, and consolidating the foundation of the nation," it could not change the fact that he had started a rebellion.
During his time in Longcheng, Sun Heling suffered greatly, torn between emotion and reason.
Ultimately, as Chen Huai'an led his troops on campaigns in the south and north, Sun Heling also made up his mind to return to the capital to report back.
He was to truthfully report what he had seen and heard in Longcheng to the current emperor, and to advise the emperor to curb his ambition and desire for glory, to govern with benevolence, and to allow the people to rest and recuperate.
Even if it means losing his head in the end, he would not hesitate.
Shouldn't dying for one's principles, whether in literature or in battle, be the lifelong pursuit of a minister?
As for the kindness and favor shown to the late King Chen Polu, Sun Heling had already repaid it the moment he risked his life to deliver the imperial edict to the Prince of Jin's residence before the army of General Wu Qingyun in the Northwest was about to invade.
Seeing Sun Heling once again resolutely and decisively reject the suggestion to keep him in Longcheng, Chen Huai'an could only sigh helplessly and shake his head, saying:
"Lord Sun, since you are determined to leave, I will not force you to stay!"
As he spoke, he shouted towards the outside of the tent, "Someone, bring up what I prepared for Lord Sun!"
Soon, Xiao Po, the commander of the Golden Guard, walked into the central command tent carrying a tray covered with silk and stood straight in front of Sun Heling.
Sun Heling frowned and looked at Chen Huai'an with a puzzled expression.
Chen Huai'an smiled and said, "Lord Sun, please open it and take a look!"
Upon hearing this, Sun Heling hesitated for a long time before finally reaching out to lift the silk covering the tray.
What came into view was Chen Huai'an's own writing, "The Manifesto for Pacifying the Rebellion and Punishing the Rebels," as well as the secret correspondence between Wu Qingyun, the Northwest General, and Timur, the Khan of the enemy state.
Chen Huai'an still smiled and said sincerely, "I know that Lord Sun has been honest and upright all his life, so giving you gold, silver and jewels and silks would be too vulgar, and Lord Sun may not accept them."
As he spoke, Chen Huai'an stood up and walked to Sun Heling's side. He took out the proclamation of rebellion bearing the seal of the Prince of Jin, as well as evidence of Wu Qingyun's treason, from the tray in Xiao Po's hand, and continued:
"To die for one's principles, whether in literature or in battle, must have been Lord Sun's lifelong pursuit, right?"
"Lord Sun risked his life to deliver the news of the Emperor's change of my title to Prince of Beihai to Prince Jin's residence ahead of time. He has done a great favor for me and my family. Such a favor cannot be expressed in words of thanks."
Since Lord Sun insists on leaving, then I will grant him the opportunity to remonstrate with his life and make a name for himself in history!
After saying that, Chen Huai'an unceremoniously shoved the two letters in his hand into Sun Heling's hands.
Then, without looking back, he walked out of the central command tent.
Just before leaving the main tent, Chen Huai'an suddenly paused, turned his back to Sun Heling, and said:
"Lord Sun, from now on, no matter what the circumstances, the gates of the Prince of Jin's residence will always be open to you!"
"Xiao Po, escort the lord here on my behalf!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
......
Jincheng.
This place is only a hundred miles away from Longcheng. It is not only an important supply town for the Yunhui Army's provisions and fodder, but also the first obstacle for the Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army to march south and capture Yunzhou.
At this moment, the Yunhui Army soldiers stationed in Jincheng were yawning and leaning against the crenellations of the city wall, chatting and joking around.
Suddenly, the bluestone pavement on the city wall seemed to move.
The soldiers guarding the city gate, checking the passing civilians and merchants, suddenly noticed that a bowl of clear water on the table had instantly become rippling.
Just as the Yunhui Army soldiers guarding the city were wondering what was going on, they faintly heard the sound of horses' hooves, like thunder.
Thump thump thump!
Thump thump thump!
Seeing this, the centurion guarding the city wall rubbed his sleepy eyes and then leaned over to look around.
Upon seeing this, the centurion was almost scared out of his wits on the spot.
On the official road leading to Jincheng, a dark mass of cavalry was charging at high speed towards the city, their iron hooves pounding the earth.
In a daze, the garrison commander seemed to see a scarlet four-clawed yellow dragon flag fluttering in the wind and moving at high speed in the charging cavalry.
"Enemy attack—"
The next moment, the centurion's scream in panic and fear cracked!
Almost simultaneously, Chang Yuchun, the most valiant general of the Ming Dynasty, who was charging at the forefront of the cavalry with his horse drawn and sword in hand, roared:
"Chang Yuchun, the Deputy Marshal of the Longcheng Army and the General Who Conquers the South, is here. You must all leave the city and surrender immediately to avoid death!"
"Surrender immediately outside the city to avoid death!"
Behind them, 20,000 elite cavalry roared in unison, their howls soaring into the sky with a force that seemed to swallow mountains and rivers.
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