The young emperor looked at his mother's pale face. On his usually gentle and handsome face, there unexpectedly emerged the imposing aura of an emperor.
"Mother, you're over - worrying. Now the Yan army is about to be caught in a pincer movement by my troops. It will soon be in the palm of my hand..."
"Zhu'er!" Lü Baiwei said anxiously and sharply, "Xuan Yao and his Yan army have experienced many battles. The soldiers you've mobilized are just those from the princely mansions and local troops who have never really been tempered on the battlefield. They're no match for the Yan army at all!"
"You're just seeking death!" By the end, Lü Baiwei's voice was almost shrill.
The young emperor was startled by her ferocious expression, but then he dismissed it. "Mother, what are you really worried about? Me or your unrequited lover?"
As soon as these words were out, Lü Baiwei froze.
She looked at the young emperor in disbelief, her lips trembling slightly. "What... what do you mean..."
The young emperor stood with his hands behind his back, looking at her aggressively.
The young man had just grown up, and now he was a bit taller than his mother.
He lowered his eyes slightly, looking at Lü Baiwei's nervous face, and said with a gentle smile,
"I heard all your conversation with Uncle Huang in the palace that day."
"You..." Lü Baiwei looked panicked, and her steps were unsteady.
The young emperor pressed on step by step. "Mother, don't worry. I won't tell such a scandal... But you'd better not interfere in politics. This decision concerns the military and national affairs of the court. I'll overlook the fact that you eavesdropped just now. You can just go back to the Changchun Palace obediently."
"As for Uncle Huang..." The young emperor thought for a while. "I can't keep him. For the country and the family, I have no choice but to get rid of him. If I kill him, it's my fault towards you. Mother, in the future, no matter which man you take a fancy to in the palace or among the people, just ask for him. I won't care, okay?"
Since he was old enough to remember things, the young emperor had known that his mother had suffered endless grievances from Song Chengyuan.
Now that she had become the empress dowager, it was understandable for her to seek warmth from other men.
But Song Yinghuai was an exception.
Uncle Huang's power was too great. If he combined with the empress dowager, he, the puppet emperor, would never have a chance to rise!
After the young emperor finished speaking, he nodded slightly at Li Muge.
Li Muge quickly said to the eunuchs and maids standing beside him, "Hurry up and send the empress dowager back to the Changchun Palace!"
Lü Baiwei was so weak that she was supported by the maids. She staggered away.
When she stepped out of the imperial study, she suddenly turned back and said in a sobbing voice, "Zhu'er... you'll regret it!"
Who was Song Xuanyao?
Mei Gu followed Lü Baiwei and staggered back to the Changchun Palace.
As the palace gate boomed shut, Mei Gu rushed towards Lü Baiwei, who was sitting by the bed motionless for a long time, and said in a trembling voice,
"Your Majesty... the emperor has grown up. A grown - up son won't listen to his mother. Don't ruin your health in anger."
"Let's just leave Lord's matter to fate!"
In Mei Gu's heart, she secretly thought it might be a good thing if the emperor killed the lord.
Maybe this way, the empress dowager's obsession could be eliminated.
She had also heard that the lord's power was too great now. For a newly - grown emperor, this was indeed unbearable.
Maybe he had no choice but to make a painful decision!
Lü Baiwei looked up at Mei Gu and suddenly sneered. "Even you think the emperor will succeed?"
Mei Gu felt the fear deep in her eyes, and a creepy feeling slowly climbed up her spine.
She stammered, "Isn't he...?"
With wolves in front and tigers behind, the Yan army had nowhere to go. Their relatives in Yanjing were in the emperor's hands. Wasn't this enough to subdue them?
Lü Baiwei looked at these naive people and suddenly felt extremely tired.
She had fought for half her life and finally climbed to the peak.
She had only enjoyed it for two years, and now it was all messed up by these stupid people!
And among these stupid people was actually her own son!
The army had already gathered, and she could no longer stop the emperor from declaring war on Xuanyao.
Now the choice she faced was whether to save her son or Xuanyao.
After a long time, she slowly said, "Qingqing... where is that girl now? Summon the chief supervisor of the Eastern Depot into the palace and ask him to follow Qingqing. That girl must be reluctant to part with Sheng Jiangli. If we find her, we can find Sheng Jiangli!"
---
After Xu Buyue left the outskirts of the capital, Zhu Xiao and the others led the army and continued for more than two hundred li. They went out of the territory of Shangjing. Instead of taking the shortest route back to Yanjing in the direction of Pengcheng and Jiaodong, they turned towards Pengze and stopped to rest.
As it was getting dark, the soldiers quickly set up fires and tents.
In the central army tent, Zhu Xiao and the others gathered.
In front of them was a sand - table map.
Tan Xiong pointed at the sand - table and said, "When the lord handed over the military power of the capital army, he had already anticipated that the young emperor and Li Muge had more than just taking back the capital army in mind."
"Yesterday, when the princess chased us to the outskirts and brought Second Master's words, it was confirmed that the young emperor and Li Muge might really have murderous intentions towards us."
"So, they must have set ambushes at the city gates and passes leading to the Yan region recently. Once we enter the city, we'll be caught like turtles in a jar."
Zhu Xiao's finger tapped on the various city passes on the sand - table. "It's very dangerous to go straight north into the Yan region, but the lord has arranged a detour for us..."
He pointed in the direction of Pengze. "Cross Pengze, enter Sichuan, then turn into the Qin region. Go out through Tongguan and then enter the Yan region from outside Shanhaiguan!"
Fang Kuan leaned over to take a look and couldn't help laughing. "Interesting! Two years ago, we divided our troops into two groups through Tongguan and Yanmen Pass to encircle the Tartars. Now it's our turn!"
Ma Mo also laughed. "Fortune changes. This year it's our turn. We're being encircled now and have to break through the passes like a stray dog!"
Zhang Ce blew his beard and glared. "What stray dog breaking through the passes? Do we need to break through when we get to the Qin region? Just think about who the governor of the five provinces in Shaanxi and Gansu is. Won't Xiao Rencheng let us pass when he sees us?"
Master Guangzhi stroked his beard and trembled with laughter. "The lord is really resourceful. Before leaving the capital to exterminate the Tartars, he pointed out a good place for Lord Xiao. Now it's our path to success."
Tan Xiong said, "That's true, but we still have a tough battle to fight in Pengze and Sichuan. We must capture the cities in these two places before we can enter the Qin region!"
The roads in Sichuan are more difficult to traverse than climbing to the sky.
This battle won't be easy.
And precisely because of the natural barriers in Sichuan, the King of Sichuan has always remained neutral and doesn't obey the imperial orders.
Especially towards the young emperor, a young upstart, he is even more disdainful.
This has given the Yan army an opportunity.
There are no ambushes in Sichuan.
As for Pengze in front...
Ma Mo glanced at the large lake disdainfully and laughed. "The late emperor's troops were not familiar with water battles. As long as we board the ships, the pursuers behind will be helpless."
Zhu Xiao said, "We're not good at water battles either, but with the princess's promise of support yesterday, we don't have to worry. The princess will surely make the Xu family army hold back the capital army's pursuit!"
Under the pitch - black sky, a warhorse galloped like a meteor through the small path.
The man on the horseback was dressed in black and had black hair. The wind blew his hair back wildly.
At the beginning of the evening watch, the man and the horse entered the Qin region.
The city of Chang'an was bustling. The melodious sound of silk and bamboo instruments came from afar, making it seem like a city that never sleeps.
On Changhua Road, the man's warhorse stopped in front of the mansion of Xiao, the governor of the five provinces in Shaanxi and Gansu. The steward at the door immediately stepped forward, took the reins from the man's hand, and said,
"Lord, Lord Xiao has been waiting for you and the army in the mansion."
Song Yinghuai was wearing a black cloak. Before entering the mansion, he looked back at the magnificent lights in the distance. His face was calm and composed.
In the main hall of the Xiao Mansion, Xiao Rencheng had been waiting inside.
Seeing Song Yinghuai come alone in a hurry, he couldn't help but be a bit surprised.
"Why did you come so fast? Didn't you say you were leading the Yan army into the Qin region? My sentries just reported that your troops have crossed Pengze, passed the Yangtze River, and are now going downstream towards Sichuan."
"I was thinking whether to send troops to cause some trouble at the border between Qin and Sichuan to make it easier for you to pass through Sichuan."
"Why did you suddenly appear out of nowhere, and alone?"
Song Yinghuai took the tea from Lan Jinqin. Without having time to drink it, he took out a painting from his bosom and showed it to her, asking anxiously,
"Miss, is the person in this painting your younger brother, Lan Guifan?"