SEC Chapter 207 Setting Off for the Jianghuai Region!
Chapter 207 Setting Off for the Jianghuai Region!
Good heavens, apart from Cheng Yaojin and You Junda, the two core figures of Wagang Village who stayed behind.
The remaining two, Wei Zheng and Shan Xiongxin, actually came to the Eastern Capital court.
What does this mean?
Is the intention to appoint Wei Zheng and Shan Xiongxin to official positions in the imperial court, to act as internal agents for Wagangzhai, and to have a local official set fire to the city?
"Excellent. You two, one a scholar and the other a warrior, are both truly talented and learned. I admire you greatly."
Yang Guang looked at Wei Zheng and Shan Xiongxin, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he became, as if he had really found a rare treasure.
He then enthusiastically discussed with Wei Zheng the ways of governing the country.
He only stopped reluctantly when the eunuch bowed and reminded him that it was time to take his medicine every day.
"Zilie, my health is failing me. Please take good care of these two for me."
"Yes."
Lu Xiao accepted the order and led Wei Zheng and Shan Xiongxin away from the palace, returning all the way to the Prince of Shuo's residence.
Upon returning to his residence, Lü Xiao instructed his servants to prepare a lavish banquet, dismissed his attendants, and personally welcomed the two men back.
After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the atmosphere gradually became lively.
"Let Mr. Wei speak."
Shan Xiongxin hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"This wasn't Yaojin's idea. He said having more officials means having more options, and even if Wagangzhai falls apart in the future, they'll still have a powerful backer."
Wei Zheng was also extremely helpless.
He was staying in Wagang Village perfectly fine, but Cheng Yaojin kept urging them to participate in the imperial examinations and military examinations.
"That's typical of Lao Cheng."
Lü Xiao shook his head.
It seems this fat man is still not satisfied even with the backing of the Prince of Shuo's mansion.
That's true, having multiple backers means having multiple paths to take.
"Zilie... no, I should call you Your Highness."
You know I have a grudge against the Li family. Mr. Wei said the Li family is treacherous, so I joined the imperial court first, so that one day I can deal with the Li family.
Shan Xiongxin didn't hide anything.
Wei Zheng was a visionary; he believed that Li Ju's ulterior motives were indeed ulterior.
"Alright." Lü Xiao raised his wine glass and toasted the two of them from afar.
"In that case, I wish you both a bright future in the court."
Having learned of the two men's true intentions, Lü Xiao did not say anything more.
In the blink of an eye, five days have passed.
Lu Xiao stayed at home with his wife and children, handled official business, and kept a close eye on the military situation on the Jianghuai front.
Judging by the time, Li Jing's army should be moving quite fast, and it was time for him to set off to catch up.
"Ruyi, I shall now set off for Jianghuai."
Outside the Prince Shuo's residence, Lü Xiao held her hand and spoke softly.
"You can go without worry, I'll take care of things at home. Just be careful, I'll be waiting for you to come back."
Yang Ruyi looked at him, her eyes filled with tenderness and reluctance.
"Father, please come back soon!"
Little Lü Zhen stood to the side, looking up at Lü Xiao with longing eyes.
He was secretly plotting his own scheme.
Only when his father was home would he neglect his studies and let him play freely.
Now that his father is gone, his mother will surely force him to study and write every day, and those hard days will begin again.
"Mmm." Lu Xiao lowered his head, smiled, and patted Lu Zhen's little head.
He then straightened up, bowed to Yang Guang and the others who had come to see him off, and said, "Your Majesty, I am leaving!"
A gentle embrace is a hero's grave; who wouldn't want to stay a little longer and enjoy the bliss of family life?
But a true man stands between heaven and earth, suppressing rebels and quelling rebellions for his country.
That was his duty as the Prince of Shuo and as a general.
"Zilie, be careful in everything you do."
Standing before the palace gate, Yang Guang looked at the young prince he relied on most and couldn't help but give him another word of advice.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured in Luoyang and await my good news!"
Lu Xiao raised his riding whip and flicked it in the air, making a crisp sound.
"drive!"
"Keep up!"
Behind him, Yuwen Chenglong, Ao Yu, Luo Cheng, and other trusted generals urged their warhorses on and followed closely.
"Awoo!"
A deafening tiger roar suddenly rang out, and the tiger, a ferocious beast raised by Lü Xiao, followed closely beside the group.
A group of cavalrymen left the gate of the Eastern Capital. They had not gone far when they saw three or five riders on fast horses charging towards them.
"Your Highness!"
The person approaching shouted loudly from afar.
Luo Cheng looked in the direction of the voice and his heart skipped a beat. The person who came was Zhang Gongjin, a trusted general of the Prince of Beiping's mansion!
"Your Highness, someone is approaching who seems to be looking for me. May I go and check on them?"
Luo Cheng's heart tightened, and a bad premonition arose spontaneously.
This is a trusted confidant of my father. Why would he rush to the Eastern Capital at all costs? Could it be that something terrible has happened in Beiping?
"Go ahead, there's no rush."
Lu Xiao reined in his horse and raised his hand to signal the troops to stop; he wasn't in a hurry.
Luo Cheng urged his horse forward and joined Zhang Gongjin and the others.
Zhang Gongjin dismounted and first carefully examined Luo Cheng for a few moments.
Although he seemed a little rounder than when he was in Yanshan, his complexion was rosy and he was full of energy.
This shows that their heir was not mistreated during his time as a hostage in the Eastern Capital.
That Prince Shuo, Lü Xiao, seems to be a kind and honest man.
In this way, the prince could feel a little more at ease.
"Your Highness, nothing major has happened in Beiping, so you need not worry. This is a letter written by the Prince himself, instructing me to deliver it to you personally."
Zhang Gongjin took out a well-sealed letter tube from his bosom and presented it with both hands.
"Yes, I understand. I will soon be accompanying Prince Shuo on a campaign to the Jianghuai region, and will be unable to entertain you here."
"You have had a long and arduous journey. Rest for a day or two, then return to Beiping Prefecture and inform Father that I am well and that he need not worry."
Luo Cheng took the letter, exchanged a few pleasantries with Zhang Gongjin, inquired about some trivial matters at home, and then turned his horse back to Lü Xiao's side.
"Your Highness, it's a letter from the Prince of Beiping's residence."
Luo Cheng reined in his horse, hesitated for a moment, and then handed the letter to Lü Xiao to prevent him from becoming suspicious.
After all, as a hostage, any communications with his family should have been reviewed by Lü Xiao first.
"It seems that the Prince of Beiping was worried that I would neglect his precious son, so he wrote a letter to inquire about the situation."
Lu Xiao glanced at the letter, laughed, and gently pushed it back.
"Your Highness, you can see for yourself. I trust you."
"Yes."
Luo Cheng gratefully clasped his hands in a fist salute before opening the letter and examining it carefully.
At first, his expression was relatively calm, but as lines of text came into view, his face instantly darkened.
The hand holding the letter trembled slightly from the excessive force, and the veins stood out.
Qin Qiong!
His cousin Qin Qiong, whom he had always respected, regarded as an elder brother, and looked up to as a role model.
How dare he, in the Beiping Prefecture camp, in front of everyone, anger his father to the point of falling ill on the spot!
What an act of ingratitude and filial impiety!
Luo Cheng felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and his eyes turned bloodshot with rage.