Chapter 1 When the Eldest Prince Entered Yingdu

When the Eldest Prince entered Yingdu, announcing that the war had entered a new phase, the atmosphere on the left flank army became heavy.

Three military advisors and nine garrison commanders were executed simply for the sake of rectifying military discipline. The Eldest Prince, abandoning his amicable demeanor on the road, wielded the Emperor's sword and personally oversaw the executions.

Subsequently, he even beheaded a general for disobeying orders.

Although the general of the local army could not compare with those in the Northern and Southern Pacification armies in terms of status, he was still a general!

He was killed just like that!

Hundreds of people were implicated, all exiled to the penal labor camps to build roads and bridges.

Only then did the various warlords of the left flank army realize that the Eldest Prince truly had the Ji family's blood flowing through his veins!

The Ji family was ruthless, not only to foreign races. A hundred years ago, generation after generation of Ji family emperors father died, son succeeded, personally leading expeditions into the desert. For a long time, the Yan Kingdom did not have to worry about clan expenses because the Ji family men fought on the battlefield, and very few returned alive.

Internally, the Ji family was also ruthless. The current Emperor trampled on the aristocratic families, causing a river of blood. Century-old families and scholarly clans were uprooted.

The Empress's family and the families of other princes were slaughtered by the Emperor's decree.

Deng Jiu Ru wasn't stupid. As a family in the military, his position as head of the family proved his ability. But people, due to the changing situation, their position, and a bit of "self-righteousness" that everyone inevitably has, tend to believe they're "special."

Which led him to become arrogant at the start.

The Eldest Prince did not act against Deng Jiu Ru because Deng Jiu Ru, sensing the unusual atmosphere when the Eldest Prince was about to reorganize the left flank army, immediately panicked.

The old general knelt naked before the Eldest Prince's tent, holding a whip, begging the Eldest Prince for punishment. Where was the roguishness of before, when he pretended to be crazy and used the Eldest Prince's name to ask the locals for food and people?

Others thought the old general was trying to force the palace with a feigned retreat, but the old general was even more ruthless. When the Eldest Prince greeted him with a smile and asked, "General, have you misunderstood Wujiang?"

The old general shaved off his beard and hair, showing his attitude of atonement in this way.

This was an act of throwing one's own face into the mud and then repeatedly trampling on it, a nearly desperate and harsh move.

Therefore, because Deng Jiu Ru directly admitted his mistake, the Eldest Prince's purge of the left flank army did not trigger any resistance. Within the Yan army, harmony was still maintained for the war against the outside.

Some insightful observers, or those watching from the sidelines, sighed after seeing this drama, saying that it was worthy of the Deng family, which had survived the trampling of the aristocratic families. This ability to observe the weather was truly admirable.

At the same time, everyone couldn't help but feel a little strange.

The development of large families and their marriage alliances with the imperial family had always been the best choice to ensure wealth and safety in the future. How did it become a death warrant in this dynasty?

The rectification of the left flank army was still very effective. Under the Eldest Prince's "thunder," the left flank army did indeed become a "good boy," and with the start of a new round of battles, the left flank army had been conscientiously completing all the military orders issued from the command tent.

So, killing people cannot completely solve a problem, but it can make the problem less necessary to solve.

………

At this time,

Deng Jiu Ru in the left flank army's main tent had just received news from the front that the army he had sent to feign an attack had found enough ferries and had unexpectedly crossed to the other side first. At the same time, the rebel army originally stationed on the other side had surrendered.

This was equivalent to opening the gates of the Wangjiang defense line and welcoming him in.

But Deng Jiu Ru did not rush to order an advance. On the one hand, he continued to maintain the speed of reinforcing the other side and required the troops crossing the river to fortify their camps. At the same time, he sent some troops to investigate the surrounding areas on the other side.

On the other hand, he quickly sent messengers to the central army's main tent to report this military situation to the Eldest Prince.

This was not because Deng Jiu Ru had been completely frightened by the Eldest Prince's disciplinary stick, to the point of being timid and hesitant on the battlefield. Rather, as a veteran general and head of the Deng family, how could he not have some real skills?

His caution at this time was out of a veteran general's instinct.

Things were going too smoothly, so smoothly that the old general felt uneasy.

Of course, a great opportunity was placed before him, a chance to shake the entire war situation with one battle and seize the greatest credit. For the left flank army in its current situation, this was naturally extremely important.

But in any case, he had to report to the central army in order to obtain support from the central army.

Military intelligence from across the river continued to pour in.

Batch after batch of armored soldiers and warhorses were sent to the other side, and camps were constantly being built there.

Investigative reports were also sent back one after another.

On the other side of the river,

no traces of enemy ambushes were found.

Several generals and military advisors under his command were asking for battle, because if they didn't take this opportunity to completely tear open the gap, and the barbarians reacted by sending troops to block the gap, then everyone would have to return to a stalemate.

But Deng Jiu Ru still did not issue an order for a large-scale crossing.

Faced with repeated inquiries from his subordinates,

he only answered one word:

"Wait!"

………

"Your Highness, our Yan soldiers are indeed not accustomed to naval warfare," Li Fusheng said.

In front, a new round of offensives had just ended. In the end, the Yan army that had forced a crossing failed to gain a foothold on the other side and was forced back again.

The Eldest Prince nodded and said, "Fortunately, neither the barbarians nor the rebels understand naval warfare."

"Indeed," Li Fusheng echoed.

Neither of the military commanders showed any emotion about the recent setback. The current stalemate was intended to attract the attention of the rebels and barbarians on the opposite bank.

The real winning move was to sneak across a few hundred cavalrymen, thereby eroding the entire defense line. When that happens, it will naturally collapse with a single push.

Wangjiang was so long, how could the enemy completely defend it?

It wouldn't be right to say victory was assured, but at least the overall situation was on their side, so there was no need to panic too much.

"The barbarians are not using their full strength. It seems they are planning to retreat at any time," Li Fusheng said.

"Yes, so the morale of the rebel army on the other side is getting lower and lower. If we wear them down for at most ten more days, they will collapse on their own."

"Ten days is a bit long."

"It doesn't matter, we can afford to wait."

"Report!!!!!!"

At that moment, a messenger from the left flank army delivered the military intelligence sent by Deng Jiu Ru.

The Eldest Prince opened it and his brow immediately furrowed.

Then,

he handed the intelligence to Li Fusheng beside him.

"Hey, the old guy actually succeeded? No, could it be a trap?"

The Eldest Prince shook his head and said, "Deng Jiu Ru is capable in battle. He hasn't been careless or rash."

"In that case, Your Highness, we don't have to wait ten days."

The Eldest Prince stood with his hands behind his back, without speaking.

A huge gap had opened before him. Should he take it or not?

Although a steady, methodical approach was his established policy, and he had been implementing it since the expedition, it would be too foolish and pedantic to watch the opportunity slip away.

"Your Highness, even if the barbarians want to drive Deng Jiu Ru's men back into the river after they cross, they won't be able to do so in a short time, right?"

The Eldest Prince still didn't speak.

Soon,

the second and third pieces of military intelligence from the left flank army arrived.

The situation across the Wangjiang River was now very clear. No enemy ambushes were seen in the vicinity.

In fact, even if there were ambushes, the Yan army's left flank army should be able to withstand them, given their combat strength.

Even if the county soldiers' combat strength wasn't as strong as the Northern and Southern Pacification armies, they were still troops under the Black Dragon banner. In terms of morale, they weren't bad.

The combat strength of the barbarians and rebels had been clearly assessed through the previous encounters. There was a comparison of their quantity and quality.

Military intelligence was like fire.

The Eldest Prince knew that there wasn't much room left for him to think and deliberate.

Moreover, at its root, warfare was different from playing chess. No matter how slow and methodical, no matter how experienced and steady, in the end, one had to cut off the opponent's neck with a knife and be splashed with blood. This was the unchangeable essence of war.

It was unrealistic to maintain a lukewarm approach from beginning to end.

The Eldest Prince took a deep breath,

and ordered:

"Order Deng Jiu Ru to cross the river. Order Li Bao's unit in front to reorganize another crossing. Pin down all the enemy troops in Jade Plate City.

Li Fusheng!"

"This subordinate is here!"

"Order you to lead ten thousand iron cavalry to the left flank army to provide support. At the same time, order the right flank army in the rear to move closer to the left flank army, and put pressure on the Chengguo army, feigning an attack and crossing the river downstream!"

"This subordinate obeys!"

The right flank army was not large, mainly composed of imperial guards, and had been placed in the rear as the rearguard.

Now that he had decided to act,

he could no longer hesitate. A lion uses all its strength to hunt a rabbit. Today, he would shatter the Wangjiang defense line!

"At the same time, find a way to contact the various troops that have already infiltrated to the other side and launch an attack in advance!"

"Yes!"

………

Upon receiving the Eldest Prince's military order, Deng Jiu Ru immediately slammed the table,

drew his saber, and chopped the table in front of him in half.

The bald old general roared:

"Cross the river, cross the river!

Whether the left flank army and the many Yan generals can still stand tall in the future depends on today!

Everyone, show your skills and your bravery. Tell your men not to always yearn for the Northern and Southern Pacification armies who can eat and drink well every day.

Since you are all men, this general will give you a chance today to prove to the world with the sabers in your hands that

Yan

has more than just the Northern and Southern Pacification armies who can fight.

The Yan army

are all brave warriors!"

"This subordinate obeys!"

"This subordinate obeys!"

Soon,

ferries and pontoon bridges were being used to their maximum capacity, and armored soldiers and warhorses were being transported to the other side.

For safety, Deng Jiu Ru himself and his general's flag had crossed the river early and planted it in the center of the military camp being built.

There was no need to act rashly. As long as his army was entrenched here, it would have completed its mission.

After crossing the river, some impatient generals began to "crave more," taking the initiative to request permission to lead their troops to explore other directions. Some even shouted that they were willing to be the vanguard and take Jade Plate City directly.

But the old general remained unmoved.

He knew that

not making mistakes at this time was the greatest contribution.

If the Eldest Prince had been as steady as an old dog in every step since he had led the army on the expedition,

then Deng Jiu Ru, the general,

was truly steadier than an old dog!

………

The Wangjiang River had a tributary that led directly to Jade Plate City, like the capital, as a waterway passing through the city.

Now, a small boat was floating on this river. Originally, this was a pleasure boat. In peaceful times, the courtesans of Jade Plate City would sing and dance on the boat to attract guests to board.

Of course, one had to pay a hefty tea fee before boarding.

Now, no one knew who had kidnapped the original owner of the pleasure house to be someone's plaything. This pleasure boat also seemed a bit deserted, no longer having its former vibrancy.

"I have long heard that the Three Jin region, especially Jade Plate City, is the most romantic. Who would have thought that it would fall to this state today?"

A young man stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the desolation around him, and couldn't help sighing.

Beside the young man sat a middle-aged man with long hair and brocade robes. The man's face was as smooth as jade. As soon as he sat there, he naturally exuded an air of romance.

At this time,

the barbarian king Gou Moli came out of the pleasure boat, walked to the deck, bowed to the young man respectfully and said:

"As long as the war stops, in two or three years, the songs will come back, and people will continue to dance. The scene of the past will be the same as it was then.

At that time, little Gouzi will invite you to visit here again and listen to the crisp sound of raindrops falling on the plate."

The young man turned around curiously, looked at the barbarian king, and said:

"It's also very interesting. You can be considered a majestic snowfield overlord, but you have to deliberately humble yourself. What, do you feel happy looking at the person in front of you like a pig?"

As he said that,

the young man pointed to Jade Plate City behind him,

"Those two fools are still living in a drunken stupor, living for the moment, hehe, haven't you tricked them?"

Situ Yi and Situ Jiong had already begun to give up on themselves in the face of the Yan people's entry into the war and the fierce fighting on the Wangjiang defense line, feeling that they were powerless to turn the tide.

"Look at what you're saying. Little Gouzi has long admired the Xia civilization. As an uncivilized barbarian, shouldn't I feel inferior?

This so-called king or overlord is just a child's game in the eyes of noble people like you. How can I take it seriously or use it to assert my status?

At best, little Gouzi is just a wild dog. Even when standing in front of noble people, I am still afraid of offending them, so I am feeling uneasy."

"Forget it, I won't waste my time arguing with you here. They should be crossing the river, right?

Hehe, the Qian people have always called the Yan people Yan dogs, so this time I want to see if you, this wild dog, can bite those Yan dogs to death!"

The barbarian king immediately patted his chest

and vowed:

"Watch me, woof woof!"

The dandy long-haired man sitting next to him immediately laughed,

really amused by the barbarian king's shamelessness.

"That's interesting, that's very interesting."

The man pointed at the barbarian king and said:

"You are very interesting, very interesting."

The barbarian king immediately turned to face the man and said:

"It would be great if you think it's interesting. I heard that you once forged a Longyuan sword for the Sword Saint..."

"What, do you want one too?"

"How could I, how could I? How could someone as lowly as me deserve to use a sword made by you?

But, if you have some scrap metal or something, and are willing to give one to me, little Gouzi, I would be grateful to tears.

You don't know, if the people under me knew that I had received your reward, they would surely light up their eyes and desperately try to please me in order to get the divine weapon you bestowed."

The dandy man shook his head and said:

"You don't need a sword anymore."

"Hmm, why?"

The man smiled "hehe"

and said:

"Because you are already very *jian* (贱 - base/lowly, but also homophonous with 剑 - sword)."