Chapter 138 - 136: Young Prince
This morning, a cavalry squad suddenly arrived, causing the city gate guards of the County City to become extremely tense, drawing their sharp blades and setting up defenses.
"Blind fools! How dare you be disrespectful to His Highness!" The leader, a broad and powerful general, shouted angrily from his horse.
His voice was rough, like a thunderclap bursting in this place, frightening the city gate guards.
Protected by hundreds of Armored Warriors was a luxurious carriage, pulled by three majestic white horses, decorated with gold and jade, and carved with dragons and tigers.
A cold male voice came from inside.
"Xiong Dang Mountain, why delay at the gate? Hurry up and get inside!"
Upon hearing this, the general immediately turned back and responded.
"Into the city!"
Three hundred cavalry guards escorted the carriage towards the city gate.
"Wait, you!" The city gate guards were still confused about the situation.
"Get out of the way!" The general swept his Long Spear, directly knocking several guards aside, sending them flying in all directions.
The citizens entering and exiting the city gate witnessed this, and none dared say anything, quickly moving aside and staying far away.
It was only then that a guard finally recognized the luxurious carriage, which bore the imperial Family’s exclusive emblem.
This was a royal entourage!
This discovery shocked them.
"Why didn’t you say so earlier, causing us to be hit for no reason!"
"It’s not like we did anything wrong, it was the general’s overbearing behavior!"
"Alright, say less to avoid trouble..."
"..."
Inside the Governor’s Mansion, Governor Li Yan was discussing important matters with Zhuang Ren when a Personal Guard suddenly rushed in.
"Lord, someone from the imperial Family has arrived!"
"What?" Li Yan was somewhat surprised, as he hadn’t received any notice to greet them.
"Which member of the imperial Family?"
The Personal Guard shook his head, "I don’t know, they didn’t send any notice, they are now heading towards the Governor’s Mansion."
Li Yan exchanged a glance with Zhuang Ren beside him.
"Go, quickly gather the County Governor and the Captain and come with me to greet them." Li Yan said, tidying his Official Uniform and putting on his Official Hat.
Zhuang Ren hesitated briefly, but still said, "Lord, at this critical moment, the arrival of someone from the imperial Family is most likely concerning the Imperial Court’s army."
"Yes, that’s probably it." Li Yan nodded.
"I just fear..." Zhuang Ren wanted to say more, but at this time, the imperial Family’s entourage had already arrived outside the Governor’s Mansion.
The two could only rush out to greet them.
"Who are you?" The general, still mounted high on his horse, did not dismount, glancing at the two who emerged.
"I am Song Changming, the Governor of Donglai Prefecture, here to greet you." Song Changming bowed and saluted.
"Governor Li Yan, long time no see." A voice came from inside the carriage.
Li Yan and Zhuang Ren were just familiar with the voice, their expressions slightly changed.
"So it is His Highness Chu Huai gracing us with your presence, forgive me for not greeting you from afar." Li Yan immediately said.
The curtain of the carriage window lifted slightly, revealing a fair-skinned young man’s face, his long narrow eyes sweeping over the two saluting.
"Not bad, you still recognize me. This time, I didn’t notify you, so there’s no sin in that, you may rise."
The two finally straightened up, seeing two graceful maidservants descending from the carriage, holding parasols, waiting respectfully for the master to step down.
The man, dressed in luxurious attire, exuded an aura of nobility that commanded respect.
"Let’s speak inside." Chu Huai said calmly.
"Yes, Your Highness, please come inside." Li Yan promptly and respectfully ushered him in, with the general and several Personal Guards following closely.
In the grand hall of the Governor’s Mansion, Donglai’s senior officials gathered together.
Sitting lazily in the main chair, Chu Huai, resting his head on his hand, calmly surveyed everyone present.
Behind him, two maidservants fanned him, while the general stood imposingly like an iron tower, full of authority.
"This is a decree from the father king; from now on, I will govern Donglai Prefecture. You must all follow my command and jointly resist the incoming enemy. Understand?" Chu Huai straightforwardly stated his purpose.
"This..." The county officials were all shocked at this, then quickly looked at their Lord Governor.
This effectively stripped the Governor of all his power.
Not only the military command but also the governance rights within the county.
Zhuang Ren sighed inwardly, realizing this was indeed the case.
The Imperial Authority had descended, completely controlling their power over life and death. With one word, they could strip these high-ranking officials of all their power within the county.
If they didn’t comply, they would be opposing the entire power faction represented by the Fifth Prince.
They had no choice but to agree.
Seeing Governor Li Yan silent, Chu Huai turned and casually asked, "What do you think, Governor Li?"
"I naturally follow Your Highness’s arrangements." Li Yan bowed and lowered his eyes.
"Very well. Today, I speak plainly: in the future, under my governance, if anyone is found lagging behind, they will be severely punished. I hope none of you will disappoint me." Chu Huai spoke thusly.
"Yes!"
The officials felt a mountain of pressure, sweat seeping from their soles.
The pressure came partially from the words the prince spoke and partially from the imposing general behind him.
The general’s mere glare filled the room with fright, with no one daring to meet his gaze.
Everything was already decided.
In one official meeting, Donglai Prefecture’s leader was replaced.
The meeting ended, and the officials dispersed.
In the evening, at Li Mansion.
In the courtyard, Li Yan and Zhuang Ren drank together, the atmosphere somewhat gloomy.
Both were in low spirits.
Li Yan waved his hand, dismissing the servants in the courtyard.
"Back then, we welcomed the Fifth Prince into Donglai Prefecture, providing troops and resources to conquer the southern Six Prefectures, achieving great merits. Now his decree, what does it signify, it truly chills the heart!"
Zhuang Ren slammed his empty wine cup on the table, expressing dissatisfaction.
Li Yan also shook his head, letting out a deep sigh.
A sudden arrival of a member of the imperial Family, without even a word, had stripped him of all his authority. To say he had no opinion was impossible.
In the depths of the Governor’s heart, a faint resentment silently fermented.
He only wanted to ask one question: Why?
However, this was a question he couldn’t ask, as asking would lead to having his head removed.
"Even if there is great dissatisfaction with this matter, it must be restrained. He is the king, we are the subordinates, and only when this king recognizes our achievements, can they truly be considered achievements, otherwise they amount to nothing."
Li Yan’s fingers gently tightened around his wine cup, speaking sullenly.
"No matter what, the greater good must be prioritized right now; the Imperial Court’s army will soon arrive, and Donglai Prefecture must be defended, or else all will amount to nothing."
Three days passed like this, the Imperial Court’s army arrived within Donglai Prefecture, and with swift speed captured Qinghe County as a bridgehead.
Then, the Fifth Prince’s army in Donglai Prefecture promptly arrived near Qinghe County, beginning to engage in probing confrontations around the county and along the Qing River, assessing each other’s strength and tactics.
Although the flames of war hadn’t reached the County City, nearly everyone was focused on the battles near Donglai Prefecture’s border.
A multitude of anxious citizens worried about what tomorrow would bring.
If possible, none of them wished for their previously peaceful lives to be completely disrupted, nor did they want to experience the ravages of war.
At the Liu Residence, a new chess game began.
"Changming, what do you think the outcome of this battle will be?" Liu Dingsheng asked.
Song Changming shook his head; he clearly understood Liu Dingsheng was referring to the battles at Donglai Prefecture’s border.
But he was unfamiliar with warfare and lacked any intelligence reports from the two armies. Even if he answered, it would merely be a blind guess.
"What do you think, elder?"
Liu Dingsheng, while playing chess, replied: "The Imperial Court comes with great momentum, and that Young Prince is new to Donglai Prefecture, immediately seizing power, likely to make mistakes and ultimately unable to withstand the Imperial Court’s elite cavalry.
This battle, Donglai Prefecture’s fall is a highly probable outcome!"
This was Liu Dingsheng’s genuine view; thus, he had prepared to avoid the flames of war and leave Donglai Prefecture.
He pessimistically concluded that the Fifth Prince’s faction under his command would be unable to resist the Imperial Court’s army’s sweeping force.
And initially, this was indeed how events unfolded, with Donglai Prefecture’s accumulated troops beginning to retreat and the battle lines gradually collapsing over several days.
However, at this moment, a sudden great fire changed the situation...