Chapter Five: Leading the Troops
Yang Chengfeng arrived at Ha Ha Da Xiao, this was the happiest day he had in over a decade. Seeing Yang Zun and others' disbelieving eyes made him want to laugh just thinking about it.
"Is Your Highness pleased about something? Can you tell Ye?" A young woman dressed as a maid appeared timidly behind Yang Chengfeng.
"Is it Ye Er? You're back? How's everyone at home?" Yang Chengfeng turned his head to smile and ask Ye Er. This Ye Er was his personal maid, eighteen years old this year, a beautiful young woman, and also the person closest to Yang Chengfeng for over a decade.
"They're doing great now! Thanks to Your Highness." Yexier's beautiful eyes turned, saying: "Your Highness hasn't told Ye'er why you're so happy today."
Yang Chengfeng smiled and told Ye'er about today's events.
"Your Highness..."
"The imperial edict has arrived..." Yeh still wanted to say something, but the eunuch's voice outside the door announcing the edict interrupted her.
Yang Chengfeng and Ye'er exchanged a glance, unsure what this imperial edict meant at this time.
……
"All princes, the situation is like this. Now Northwest must have a prince to sit in an array. Which of you four princes is willing to go to Northwest?" Yang Quan asked, looking at the four princes below.
The eldest prince De Wang Yang Zundao said: "Father Emperor, I am not as brave and good at fighting as my second brother. This time going northwest is just right for my second brother."
"Big brother, your words are wrong. Who doesn't know that you're the nephew of General Wang and have deeply grasped his true teachings? This time going to the northwest isn't about charging into battle, but rather about strategic planning, so it's more suitable for you to be in charge than me."
"Second brother..."
"Big brother..."
Yang Chengfeng coldly observed from the side, and he was very clear about everyone's thoughts. However, he knew that this time wasn't an opportunity for him either, so he spoke up: "Your Majesty, I am willing to go."
Yang Quan's eyebrows were furrowed as he listened to the words of the eldest prince, Yang Zun, and the second prince, Yang Yu. But when he heard Yang Chengfeng's words, he looked at him in surprise, never expecting that he would be willing to go to the northwest since he usually didn't speak much.
It's not just Yang Guang who was shocked, but also all the high-ranking officials in the imperial court.
The eldest prince Yang Zun and the second prince Yang Yu were worried that they could not shirk their fate of going to the northwest. As soon as they heard Yang Chengfeng's words, they hurriedly said: "Fourth brother is both civil and military, this trip to the northwest is just right." As they spoke, the eldest prince Yang Zun and the second prince Yang Yu separately gave a glance to the ministers who supported them.
Those officials who supported Grand Prince Yang Yan and Second Prince Yang Yu hastened to comply.
The Emperor looked coldly at the officials below and said: "I hereby appoint Yang Chengfeng, King of Liao, as the Grand Marshal of the Wuwei Military Campaign. I have always known that you are firm, calm, brave, decisive, and deeply respected by the people, which fills me with joy. You have a natural talent, and in the future, you will surely achieve great things. In this time of turmoil, I entrust you with a heavy responsibility, and you must share my worries for the country, do not disappoint my expectations. You must firmly defend the territory, resist the rebels, and maintain peace and order. Those who abandon their posts will be punished by law, beware! Within the Wuwei region, you have full authority to handle military and administrative matters, be cautious!"
"Son and minister, take command." Yang Chengfeng knew that the Emperor would definitely give him some power when he suggested going to the Northwest, but he had no idea it would be this much.
The two princes Yang Zun and Yang Yu sneered at the news of Yang Chengfeng being appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Wei Wu Army, they didn't think Yang Chengfeng could come back alive.
Another ten-thousand cavalry of the Imperial Forest Army was appointed as the guard army for Prince Liao, expecting him to defend Wuwei till death.
The Imperial Forest Army, as the most elite troops of the empire, is responsible for guarding the imperial capital Luoyang. The total number is 100,000, with 40,000 cavalry and 60,000 infantry. Like the Forbidden Guard, it is one of the most elite troops of the Great Qin Empire and belongs to the emperor's direct lineage troops.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
……
Luoyang, Ministry of War's Grand Courtyard
Yang Chengfeng calmly looked at the names on the documents: Wang Zuwei, male, Fengyang County, Zhezhou, 28 years old, had participated in the imperial examination, later entered the Imperial Staff Department, currently serving as the commander of the Imperial Guard's Wanqi. Pan Yinglong, male, Chang'an, 30 years old, joined the army at 20, currently serving as the commander of the Imperial Guard's Qianqi...
"Your Highness, this is the list of main personnel of your Wanjiu Troop. Do you have any questions?" The officer who came to Yang Chengfeng's military department asked. Although Yang Chengfeng was a prince, this officer did not show much respect for a dying prince.
"This king doesn't understand, whatever you arrange is fine." Yang Chengfeng put down the documents in his hand and smiled.
"Hehe, then I'll go arrange it." The official had been waiting for Yang Chengfeng's words and left as soon as he finished speaking.
Looking at his back, Yang Cheng's eyes flashed with a murderous intent. These literary men were getting more and more unbearable, no matter what he was after all a prince, yet they treated him like this.
Yang Chengfeng snorted and turned to leave.
Out of the Ministry of War, Yang Chengfeng sat in a horse-drawn carriage and headed towards the Liao Wang Fu.
Quietly sitting in the carriage, Yang Chengfeng thought about the current situation. What did it mean that the Mongols were attacking now? The Great Qin Empire was surrounded by enemies on all sides, and the image of the former heavenly dynasty had long since fallen. Various countries were eyeing each other covetously, and the court officials only knew how to fight for power and profit. Local generals controlled their own troops, and with the addition of natural disasters and human calamities, the influence of the aristocratic families was growing stronger by the day. The entire empire was already on shaky ground.
Sitting upright in the carriage, his body swayed with the rocking of the horse-drawn vehicle, and Yang Chengfeng felt a thread of unease flash through his mind. At this time, the sky was even more overcast, and outside, small raindrops began to fall, not heavy, just dripping. For some reason, when the carriage turned onto the main street, the feeling of unease in his heart grew stronger, making him feel as if he had a thorn on his back.
"Calm down, must calm down!" Yang Chengfeng repeatedly warned himself, suppressing the slight fear in his heart; he had never had this kind of intuition before, extremely strong, but didn't know what it was all about, which made him very uncomfortable.
Time slipped away minute by minute, and the Liao Wang Fu was getting closer and closer. As the inner turmoil intensified, the carriage entered the imperial city, and the Liao Wang Fu was just a short distance ahead. The area was very spacious, with a two-mile distance allowing people to see the outline of the Liao Wang Fu clearly.
The imperial city should be much safer than the outside, right! Yang Cheng let out a light sigh, but still didn't dare to relax, because the unease in his heart hadn't completely dissipated. Lifting the carriage curtain, Yang Cheng asked the guard Shen Yuehua riding beside him: "Shen Yuehua, are we almost at Prince Liao's residence?"
"Return to the Liaowang Temple, after passing this corner it's almost there!" "Corner." Yang Chengfeng hummed in response, but suddenly felt a premonition and shouted: "Shen Yuehua be careful!"
At this moment, a black figure suddenly darted out from the corner, swift as lightning, with a cold glow on his hand that threatened Shen Yuehua on horseback.
