Chapter 1070: Chapter 1062: Ambush (Part 2)

This battle continues from the one fought years ago.

Only by winning, and winning beautifully, can we wash away the shame of the Flying Tiger Army’s annihilation.

Marquis Dongxiang’s decision will not be opposed by the Prince, nor by any other soldiers.

Only Su Chong, he didn’t want to escort Xie Jingchuan back to the Capital.

He wanted to stay at the border.

Yet, as the Lieutenant General of the Flying Tiger Army and the orphan of the Late Heir of Duke Chong, he was the most suitable person for this task.

The next day, Su Chong led six hundred Flying Tiger Army soldiers to escort Xie Jingchuan back to the Capital.

From the moment they left the camp, countless Daqi civilians threw rotten eggs and leaves at Xie Jingchuan along the way.

...

Meanwhile, at the border, after returning to the Nanliang Military Camp, the Nanliang envoy also brought back the news of Duke Huguo’s assassination.

This news shocked Xie Jingchen and Dong Chenglang deeply.

Especially General Shi, who never expected his formidable enemy would be eliminated so easily.

The Heir of Duke Huguo wanted to attack Nanliang to reclaim his father’s body, but General Shi disagreed.

Rushing into battle would only bury innocent soldiers unnecessarily.

The Heir of Duke Huguo believed General Shi’s words were mocking his father, and cursed him while pointing at General Shi’s nose. Dong Chenglang almost fought with him.

Finally, Xie Jingchen suggested that following Marquis Dongxiang’s plan might lead to retrieving the body of Duke Huguo.

The deputy general under Duke Huguo took two soldiers to the Daqi camp.

Daqi wanted them to admit they were Daqi people.

They endured the humiliation and admitted it.

Daqi soldiers did not stop them, allowing them to enter the camp and take Duke Huguo’s body away.

No one cared where they took the body.

The deputy general dragged Duke Huguo’s body back to the Nanliang Military Camp, and the Heir of Duke Huguo donned mourning attire and personally escorted it back to the Capital.

The Heir of Duke Huguo left, leaving his subordinates leaderless, and although General Shi hadn’t formally pledged allegiance to Zhao Xu, he verbally acknowledged it.

Zhao Xu had a good relationship with Daqi, and General Shi felt that continuing the battle held little prospect of victory, thus he made excuses about needing recovery time to lower the flags and wait for further instructions from the court.

The news of Duke Huguo’s assassination was slow to reach Nanliang’s Capital, and the first to return was the news of the million silver notes being stolen.

Yes.

Duke Huguo was captured by Daqi, and Marquis Dongxiang demanded a hundred thousand gold bars for his release. Despite being angry at Marquis Dongxiang, the Emperor of Nanliang needed to rescue Duke Huguo.

The Nanliang Court contributed five hundred thousand, while the Duke Guardian Mansion contributed another five hundred thousand.

Virtually a few hours after receiving the news, a guard from the Duke Guardian Mansion rushed to the border with a million silver notes to pay the ransom.

But halfway there, the million silver notes were hijacked.

Without the silver notes, Daqi would never release anyone.

The guards from Duke Guardian Mansion, uncertain, dared not delay, urged the local government to find the silver notes, then hurried back to the Capital to plead guilty and raise funds.

During the Emperor of Nanliang’s furious outburst, the news of Duke Huguo’s assassination also returned.

Yes.

The million silver notes were hijacked by Zhao Xu’s men.

The truth about the Flying Tiger Army’s annihilation sixteen years ago was revealed, Marquis Dongxiang also captured Duke Huguo alive, and General Shi secretly pledged allegiance to Zhao Xu. It was also time for Xie Jingchen to end his undercover life.

Zhao Xu wanted to clear the name of Donglin Prince Mansion, which was Xie Jingchen’s maternal family, and as Prince Zhenbei of Daqi, he couldn’t openly aid Zhao Xu, so he had to assist covertly.

Consider this million silver notes as borrowing flowers to offer to the Buddha.

Xie Jingchen instructed Dong Chenglang to send a message to Zhao Xu, advising him to ambush on the road.

To raise an army against the court requires not only manpower but also wealth, and as for Marquis Dongxiang, if Nanliang could spend a million to rescue Duke Huguo once, they would spend again.

The money would merely arrive at Marquis Dongxiang’s hands a bit later, which allowed Duke Huguo to remain longer in Daqi’s camp, giving Marquis Dongxiang time to cool his anger.

A strategy that serves two goals.

Xie Jingchen never expected that Marquis Dongxiang would rather spare Duke Huguo’s life than take money.

Right now, the Zhao Family was as delighted as could be for getting that million silver notes.

Zhao Xu had gone to Beimo and had not returned, and the ambush of Duke Guardian Mansion’s guards, the robbery of the silver notes, was Zhao Xiang’s decision.

After acquiring the silver notes, Zhao Xiang felt that Zhao Xu befriending Dong Chenglang was indeed no mistake, always thinking of him.

Additionally, Zhao Xiang had met Dong Chenglang several times in the Capital, initially considering him unreliable, but unexpectedly, his military experience had matured him considerably.

Zhao Xiang was worried about his daughter’s marriage because raising an army might take three to five years without success, and his daughter couldn’t waste those years.

Zhao Xiang and Madam discussed and decided on Dong Chenglang as a son-in-law.

Xie Jingchen always wanted Dong Chenglang to accompany him, to taste the flavor of being a Prince Consort, but before he started to pair them, Dong Chenglang had already caught Zhao Xiang’s eye...

After the million silver notes were robbed, the news returned to the Capital and spread to the border.

Dong Chenglang was happy for Zhao Xu and felt Xie Jingchen was a brother worth recognizing.

If it weren’t for Xie Jingchen’s reminder, Dong Chenglang never thought to send a letter to the Zhao family, instructing them to ambush halfway!

Though it was just a message, that message was worth a million silver notes.

Wouldn’t Zhao Family bear this considerable favor of his?

A few days later, Xie Jingchen felt it was time to leave, and before departing, he bid farewell to Dong Chenglang and Young Master Shi.

Just as he was about to speak, an unexpected guest arrived at Nanliang Military Camp—

The Prince of Nanliang.

After the soldiers reported, Dong Chenglang and Young Master Shi furrowed their brows simultaneously.

The Crown Prince?

Why did the Crown Prince suddenly come to the camp?

Wasn’t he supposed to prepare to marry Princess Beimo?

Even if he "adored" Princess Beimo, it wouldn’t be to the extent of welcoming her at the border, right?

Full of doubts, they decided to greet the Crown Prince at the camp.

After walking a few steps, Dong Chenglang remembered Xie Jingchen was looking for him and turned back to ask, "Brother Li, what urgent matter do you have to discuss?"

"Nothing," Xie Jingchen replied.

"Really?" Dong Chenglang was skeptical.

"...Just that staying in camp is uninteresting, and I want to visit a nearby town."

"That’s all?" Dong Chenglang chuckled lightly.

"I thought it was something significant; after meeting the Crown Prince, I’ll accompany you to the town."