In Liaocheng, Yuguo.
Liaocheng was now occupied by the three countries of Beidi, Xirong, and Yanyun. The city was filled with soldiers who behaved lawlessly and looted everywhere, making the people of Liaocheng suffer greatly.
After nightfall, all the households locked their doors tightly and hid under their beds or in cellars, fearing that the soldiers of the Northern Allied Forces would break in and do something improper.
In the main hall of the Liaocheng Government Office, Tuoba Shi, Yelv Renya, and Dugu Lou, the commander of Yanyun, were all sitting on their chairs with solemn expressions.
"It's already the tenth day. There's still no news from Yuguo. When on earth will the emperor of Yuguo arrive in Liaocheng?" Yelv Renya frowned and said.
"In my opinion, we might as well just kill Ji Lingchuan and send his head back to Yuguo. I don't believe that the emperor of Yuguo will remain indifferent after seeing his head!"
"Absolutely not," Dugu Lou said. "Our ultimate goal is to obtain the land we want from Yuguo in a justifiable way. This war has lasted for four years, and we've lost so many soldiers. Killing Ji Lingchuan will only worsen the situation. It won't do us any good."
Tuoba Shi turned to a soldier beside him and asked, "How is Ji Lingchuan now?"
The soldier replied, "He still refuses to eat. He just sits in the room motionless."
Yelv Renya sneered, "He's really a tough guy. Well, I'd like to see how long he can hold out. It'll be a worthy death if the God of War of Yuguo starves to death in our hands."
The few of them exchanged glances and laughed. There was ambition and calculation hidden in their eyes.
At this moment, someone rushed in from outside, holding a letter in his hand. "Generals, the king of Yanyun heard that Ji Lingchuan had been captured. He's leading 100,000 elite troops and Princess Changhuan here from the imperial capital of Yanyun. They've now gathered to the north of Liaocheng. He specially sent someone to invite General Dugu to go out of the city to greet him."
"What? The king of Yanyun is already outside the city?" Tuoba Shi was startled for a moment and immediately looked at Dugu Lou.
"General Dugu, what's going on? Why didn't you inform us of this news beforehand?"
Dugu Lou was also looking blank. "I haven't received any news from the king."
Moreover, who was this Princess Changhuan? He'd never heard of such a princess before.
After calming himself down, Dugu Lou said, "Generals, please don't be impatient. I'll go out of the city to find out what's going on."
On an open ground ten li north of Liaocheng, Song Yihuan was sitting in a carriage, dressed like a royal princess.
Through the gauze curtain, she looked at the city gate in the distance. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and there was a hint of worry in her eyes.
Brother Ling, I'm here. Are you okay in Liaocheng?
To the north of Liaocheng, the troops from Yanyun were densely gathered. They were setting up camp on the spot with great enthusiasm.
Looking down from the city wall of Liaocheng, this sight made the Northern Allied Forces stationed in the city feel their scalps tingle. Dugu Lou frowned tightly as he looked at the 100,000 troops in front of him.
For some reason, he always had a faint sense of unease in his heart.
After much thought, he asked for a horse, led a small team of soldiers, had the city gate opened, and headed towards the camp.
Inside the Yanyun camp, Feng Tingyun strode towards the main tent. Wearing the imperial crown and robes, he looked even more otherworldly. Behind him followed Song Yihuan, dressed in gorgeous clothes and wearing hairpins.
Wherever the two passed, the soldiers saluted one after another. "Greetings to the king. Greetings to the princess."
Feng Tingyun didn't stop walking. He led Song Yihuan into the main tent.
"Dugu Lou, the commander of Yanyun, is a confidant of my younger brother. He's a cunning and highly skilled warrior. You'd better stay behind me. I won't let him hurt you at all," Feng Tingyun said to Song Yihuan.
Song Yihuan smiled and said, "I know, brother king."
This "brother king" was called very naturally, as if the two were born siblings.
Speaking of their current identities, it has to be traced back to ten days ago.
Ten days ago, Song Yihuan and Feng Tingyun, under the cover of their identities, successfully arrived at the imperial capital of Yanyun.
Feng Tingyun was the legitimate son of the former emperor and already had a group of followers. After returning to the imperial capital, his advisors contacted his old subordinates again.
The royal surname of Yanyun was Yun. Emperor Yunxiang had long aroused the dissatisfaction of many ministers by ignoring his alliance with Feng Tingyun and colluding with Beidi and Xirong. In the past four years, in order to compete with Yuguo, he had also conscripted many young men from the common people to join the army, which had also caused a lot of complaints among the people.
Now that they learned that Feng Tingyun was still alive and intended to take back the throne and end the war, these ministers defected one after another.
This palace coup wasn't very dangerous. In Song Yihuan's opinion, it was almost effortless.
With the support of the ministers and Feng Tingyun's martial arts skills, Emperor Yunxiang was quickly defeated in the palace coup.
In front of all the court officials, Emperor Yunxiang, with a sword at his neck, was forced to write a abdication edict and was then imprisoned in a secret room in the Yanyun Imperial Palace. The monarch of Yanyun was quietly replaced.
After Feng Tingyun ascended the throne, he took Song Yihuan to the imperial mausoleum of Yanyun to fetch the medicinal herb "Fenglin Flower" that could save Qi Lei. He also issued an edict to confer the title of "Princess Changhuan" on Song Yihuan.
They only stayed in Yanyun for five days. Then Feng Tingyun summoned his troops and headed towards Liaocheng.
Riding all the way at full speed, they arrived outside Liaocheng from the imperial capital of Yanyun in just a few days.
After Feng Tingyun sat down on his seat, Song Yihuan took the initiative to step forward and pour tea for him. Then she sat down on one side and waited for Dugu Lou's arrival.
Dugu Lou was a trusted general of Emperor Yunxiang. It was Dugu Lou who had stabilized the war situation on the front line when Yanyun allied with Beidi and Xirong. This man was cunning and good at socializing. Feng Tingyun had always disliked him.
Outside the camp, Dugu Lou led his men from the city. After dismounting, a man stepped forward to greet him and bowed. "General Dugu, you're here. The king has been waiting for a long time."
Dugu Lou looked around at the camp that was being set up in front of him, nodded, and replied, "Captain Bai, long time no see."
Then he lifted his foot and was about to walk towards the main tent with the soldiers behind him, but was blocked by Bai Xisong in front of him.
Bai Xisong said with a smile, "The king wants to see General Dugu. Naturally, only General Dugu is allowed to go. Moreover, why is General Dugu still carrying a weapon when going to see the king? This isn't appropriate, is it? Someone, remove General Dugu's sword."
Dugu Lou frowned tightly and said, "Captain Bai, have you forgotten that the king once allowed me to meet him with my sword?"
Bai Xisong looked surprised. "Really? I don't remember. Anyway, it's better for General Dugu to remove his weapon. This war has lasted for four years without a clear winner. The captured cities have been taken back by Yuguo. Now there's only this Liaocheng left. The king might be dissatisfied with General Dugu at this moment. General Dugu doesn't want to be scolded by the king for such a small matter, right?"