Youzhou City, the emperor's temporary camp.
As dusk fell, Zhao Gan finally ended his day of drinking and revelry. He dismissed all the beautiful women from the camp, leaving only the lingering scent of cosmetics and his beloved concubine, Wenren Yu, who was always by his side.
After kneeling outside the camp for an entire day, Minister of War Shen Guangming, who was almost exhausted, finally received an audience with Emperor Zhao Gan.
When Shen Guangming, shivering from the cold and pale-faced, was dragged into the camp by two eunuchs, Emperor Zhao Gan, who was lazily slumped in the center of the camp, immediately showed displeasure.
He scolded, "Liu Zhen, what's going on? Lord Shen is the Minister of War, a pillar of the nation. What if he catches a cold and falls ill?"
With that, Zhao Gan waved his hand and said, "Someone, bring Lord Shen a pot of warm yellow wine to warm him up!"
Inside the camp, Shen Guangming struggled to his feet, his teeth chattering as he said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this humble subject... this humble subject's illness is a small matter, but the delay in the Anxi military intelligence is a much bigger one!"
As he spoke, Shen Guangming finally had the opportunity to present the urgent military intelligence report from Anxi, which he had been holding for a whole day, to Emperor Zhao Gan.
Zhao Gan took the memorial from the eunuch Liu Zhen and began to read it quickly.
Shen Guangming seized the opportunity to report: "Your Majesty, the military situation on the Anxi border is urgent. The Tibetan army has successively captured several prefectures in Longyou and Hexi, not only cutting off the connection between the court and the four garrisons of Anxi, but also pointing its troops directly at the Anxi General's Office in Chang'an!"
"The Four Garrisons of Anxi are not only the foundation for our Great Xin Dynasty to deter the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, but also vital border towns protecting the Silk Road. They cannot afford the slightest mishap, Your Majesty!"
As he spoke, Shen Guangming knelt before Zhao Gan again and reported the Ministry of War's opinion: "Your Majesty, I have already discussed this with the accompanying ministers of the Ministry of War."
"The war in Anxi is of utmost urgency. Your Majesty humbly requests that Your Majesty issue an edict ordering General Guo Dingfang, the General Who Guards the West, to lead the 100,000 Anxi border troops besieging Longcheng, the fiefdom of Prince Jin, to immediately return to reinforce Longyou and Hexi and stop the Tibetan army from continuing its eastward expedition!"
"Your Majesty, this matter needs to be decided as soon as possible!"
"Otherwise, once the rebels in Longcheng and the Anxi border army go to war, it won't be so easy to withdraw and return to defend them!"
boom!
As soon as Shen Guangming finished speaking, Zhao Gan slammed the memorial he had presented onto the desk in front of him with a hard slap.
Still not satisfied, Zhao Gan stood up and overturned the table in front of him, roaring furiously:
"You Tibetan Zanpu Dama, how dare you lead your army to invade our border and slaughter the people of my Great Xin while I am personally leading the expedition to quell the rebellion! I swear I will teach you barbarians a lesson!"
Then, Zhao Gan changed the subject and said sternly, "Shen Guangming, the Tibetan barbarians are certainly hateful, but Chen Huai'an and the Longcheng rebels are even more hateful."
"I suspect that the reason why the Tibetan barbarians were able to conquer my new Longyou and Hexi prefectures in such a short period of time is because of the remnants of the Polu Army who were scattered and incorporated into the Anxi Border Army."
"This time, the Tibetan barbarians launched a massive attack with all their might, displaying a posture that their army was heading straight for Chang'an. Their purpose was to attack the city so that Guo Dingfang would lead 100,000 Anxi border troops back to its aid, thus relieving the siege of Longcheng!"
At this point, Zhao Gan paused for a moment, then continued:
"Therefore, I believe that we must not fall into the trap set by Chen Huai'an and the Tibetan barbarians in this matter, and we must not order Guo Dingfang to lead his troops back to reinforce them!"
"On the contrary, I shall immediately issue an edict ordering Guo Dingfang to attack Longcheng and strive for a swift victory!"
"Someone come and draft an imperial edict for me!"
Shen Guangming said urgently, "Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!"
Zhao Gan said, "Shen Guangming, you don't need to persuade me anymore. I have been fighting alongside the late emperor since I was fifteen. I have fought in more than a hundred battles. If I can't even see through the tricks of Chen Huai'an and the Tibetan barbarians, then I am not worthy to sit on this dragon throne!"
"Draft an imperial edict!"
"Issue General Guo Dingfang, the General Who Guards the West, and General Li Jingyu, the Flying General, to immediately lead their troops to attack Longcheng and Yunzhou upon receiving this decree. Instruct the two of them—"
"The first battle is the decisive battle; one battle will decide the fate of the world!"
Then, Zhao Gan added, "In addition, the army will cease its rest and set off early tomorrow morning to rush to Yunzhou and join forces with Li Jingyu's Tiger Army."
"The imperial army must press on with unwavering resolve and not give Chen Huai'an and the Longcheng rebels any time to catch their breath!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
......
The next day.
As dawn broke, Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin, who was in Wuzhou City, received urgent intelligence from his vanguard scouts—200,000 Japanese pirate troops who had reached Youzhou, along with Emperor Zhao Gan's 20,000 imperial guards, had set off ahead of schedule and were heading towards Yingzhou along the original marching route.
At this moment, only 20 hours had passed since Chen Huai'an led his army to Wuzhou.
Chen Huai'an made a decisive decision and ordered the entire army to stop resting and set off immediately.
Just as the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) arrived, the Longcheng Jingnan army was fully prepared.
Chen Huai'an rode his yellow horse, standing proudly before the three armies.
Behind them stood the Ironclad Cavalry, Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, and Qin Warriors, all in full formation.
Prince Liu Xinwu of Wuning, and Liu Ziyu, the military commander of the Tiger Guard of Wuzhou City, saw him off outside the city.
With tears in his eyes and an excited expression, Liu Xinwu looked at Chen Huai'an and said, "Huai'an, if I were ten years younger, I would have followed you to Tumu Fort today to whip the tyrannical emperor and kill the treacherous officials!"
As he spoke, Liu Xinwu shook his head reluctantly and continued, "Alas, time waits for no one!"
Liu Ziyu, the adjutant standing to the side, could not hide his excitement and eagerly volunteered, "Your Highness Prince Jin, why don't you let me serve under Your Highness as a vanguard general!"
"My two thousand personal guards, though not as brave as Your Highness's army, are by no means cowards."
"This humble general has spent many years in Wuzhou and knows the Tumu Fort area very well. If I am fortunate enough to serve Your Highness, I will never hold back the Jingnan army!"
Hahaha!
Faced with the heartfelt words of Liu Xinwu and his son Liu Ziyu, Chen Huai'an, riding on his yellow horse, simply burst into hearty laughter.
Then, he cupped his hands to the two men and said, "Uncle, General Liu, I appreciate your kindness, but for me, it is far more important for you to stay in Wuzhou City than to fight with me at Tumu Fortress!"
"so--"
Chen Huai'an then changed the subject, saying with an air of dominance, "When I return victorious, I will drink with you all until we are all thoroughly drunk!"
"Let's go!"
After saying this, Chen Huai'an turned his horse around and said sternly, "Issue my order: the entire army shall march!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Soon, the 33,000-strong Longcheng army, bathed in the morning light of the rising sun after the snow, rode their warhorses and left Wuzhou City in an orderly fashion, heading straight for Tumu Fort, more than 200 miles away.
At the same time.
General Huo Qubing, who personally led the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry vanguard scouts, also successfully eliminated the scouts left behind by General Li Jingyu in the Tumu Fort area, completely eradicating the mobile sentry posts of Emperor Zhao Gan and the army suppressing the rebellion.
"Report—"
"Reporting to the general, enemy forces have been spotted ahead!"
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