Chapter 54: Secret Report From the Capital, the Emperor Leads the Army in Person

Longcheng, the residence of the Prince of Jin.

After a month, the Prince of Jin, Chen Huaian, finally led the generals of Longcheng to return home to visit relatives.

The two armies of Longcheng under his command, the Northern Expedition and the Southern Expedition, also entered a short rest period.

Since the start of the war in Longcheng two months ago, the soldiers of Longcheng have won battle after battle, and their morale is unprecedentedly high.

But what followed was that after continuous battles, the two armies of the Northern Expedition and the Southern Expedition were exhausted, and only a little rest could ensure their combat effectiveness.

In the meeting hall of the palace, Chen Huaian was discussing world affairs with Dongfang Xiao, the black-clothed old monk in Qixia Temple on Fengming Mountain, but suddenly received a secret report from the Wuning Palace of Changshan County.

"Report--"

"Your Highness, the Prince of Jin, Liu Xinwu, the Prince of Wuning, sent a special envoy to ask for an audience!"

At this time, the deep and hoarse voice of Xiao Po, the commander of the Jinwu Guard, sounded outside the meeting hall of the palace.

Chen Huaian frowned slightly. Whether he had seen him or not, he did not reply to Xiao Po immediately.

Liu Xinwu, the King of Wuning, was one of the eight kings of different surnames under Emperor Zhao Mang, the founder of the Daxin Dynasty.

He was born in a noble family in Yanzhao. During the period of "Five Barbarians Invading China", he raised money and food to recruit soldiers and fought against the Hu horses.

Later, he led his troops to submit to the Daxin regime established by Zhao Mang, and made great contributions to the recovery of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun. He was deeply trusted by Emperor Zhenwu and was named King of Wuning and given Changshan County as his fiefdom.

As the son of King Jin, Chen Huaian naturally knew Liu Xinwu, the King of Wuning in Changshan, but they were just nodding acquaintances.

The last time he heard about Liu Xinwu, the King of Wuning, was before his father, Chen Polu, went to the capital to participate in the Fengshan and Heavenly Offering Ceremony of the Second Emperor Zhao Gan.

Like Jin Wang Chen Polu, Wuning Wang Liu Xinwu, who was also a king of a different surname in the Daxin Dynasty, was also deprived of his military power by Zhao Gan on unfounded grounds and was left at home as a free and easy prince.

But Liu Xinwu was much luckier than Chen Polu.

At least, he did not die of a sudden carbuncle on his way home from the capital, and ended up dying in a foreign land.

Chen Huaian guessed that this might be related to the fact that Liu Xinwu accidentally injured his vitals during the early years of the war and left a hidden disease, and only had one daughter in his life.

"Your Highness!"

Dongfang Xiao, the old monk in black, saw that Chen Huaian had not responded, so he reminded him: "Your Highness, the special envoy sent by Wuning Wang is still waiting outside!"

After saying that, he nodded at Chen Huaian with half-closed eyes.

Chen Huaian came back to his senses and shouted to the outside of the meeting hall: "Xiao Po, announce the special envoy of Wuning King to enter the hall!"

"Announce, the special envoy of Wuning King to enter the hall!"

Outside the door, Xiao Po shouted loudly to the outside of the courtyard.

After a while, a middle-aged man dressed as a small vendor entered the meeting hall of the palace under the guidance of Xiao Po.

As soon as he entered the door, the man knelt down to Chen Huaian who was sitting on the main seat in the hall: "Zhuge Yunsheng, the steward of Changshan Wuning King's Palace, kowtows to His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin!"

"Your Highness, a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"

Chen Huaian waved his hand and said: "No need to be polite, please take a seat, and serve tea!"

However, Zhuge Yunsheng, who claimed to be the steward of Wuning King's Palace, did not sit down under the guidance of the servants of the palace after he stood up, but still stood respectfully in front of Chen Huaian.

In those wise eyes, which were full of poetry and books, there was a bit of pleading that was about to speak but stopped.

Seeing this, Chen Huaian waved his hand again and ordered: "You all go down!"

In the meeting hall, the two servants in the palace who were responsible for watching the tea and pouring water hurriedly took the order and left.

In the hall, Zhuge Yunsheng still didn't speak, and the corner of his pleading eyes clearly glanced at Dongfang Xiao who was wearing a black robe.

Obviously, this Zhuge Yunsheng must have been ordered by Wuning King Liu Xinwu to report to Jin King Chen Huaian. The matter was very serious and no third person could be present.

Haha!

Chen Huaian saw Zhuge Yunsheng's worry and laughed heartily a few times, but did not let Dongfang Xiao escape temporarily.

He said frankly and solemnly: "Zhuge Yunsheng, you can say whatever you want. Master Dongfang is my mentor and we are like father and son. There is no need to avoid it!"

Uh...

Zhuge Yunsheng hesitated for two seconds, and finally smiled bitterly and said: "Your Highness, I am here on the orders of King Wuning to disturb you. I have something to tell you and something to ask for!"

"Oh?"

Chen Huaian became interested and asked: "What do you want to tell me and what do you want?"

Zhuge Yunsheng said: "Your Highness, my prince received a secret report from the capital. The news that your highness raised an army in Longcheng to quell the rebellion under the banner of "clearing the emperor's side and eliminating treacherous officials" has been known to the emperor of the current dynasty!"

"The emperor is extremely angry and has instructed the Ministry of War to formulate a strategy to quell the rebellion. He will personally lead the army to Longcheng to quell the rebellion!"

When speaking, Zhuge Yunsheng's eyes never left Chen Huaian for a moment.

He seemed to be observing the young prince, wondering how he would react when he learned that the emperor was going to lead the army in person.

Haha!

However, Chen Huaian, who was sitting on the main seat in the meeting hall, showed no fear on his face when he learned that the second emperor Zhao Gan was going to lead the army in person and go to Longcheng to suppress the rebellion. Instead, he laughed out loud.

Chen Huaian laughed and said, "What did I think it was? Isn't it that Zhao Gan was going to lead the army in person and come to Longcheng to fight with me?"

"I knew about this a long time ago, but——"

As he spoke, he changed the topic and continued: "I still want to thank King Wu Ning. In any case, he is the only person in the entire Daxin court who informed me of this matter."

"This king has recorded this feeling!"

It turned out that a few days ago, Chen Huaian had received news from the spy who was stationed next to the Minister of Rites, Sun Heling, in the capital, informing him that Emperor Zhao Qian was about to conquer the country in person.

That's why he invited black-clothed monk Dongfang Xiao to the meeting hall today to discuss world affairs.

However, King Liu Xinwu of Wuning dared to risk the disapproval of the world and send a special person to Longcheng to inform him of such confidential information from the court. This indeed surprised and touched Chen Huaian.

But more importantly, he was curious about what Liu Xinwu wanted.

For Liu Xinwu to show such sincerity, what he wants must not be simple.

Then, he said to Zhuge Yunsheng: "Zhuge Yunsheng, I already know what King Wu Ning ordered you to tell me. Let me tell you what King Wu Ning wants from me?"

Hearing this, Zhuge Yunsheng put away the manuscript he had prepared before meeting Chen Huaian.

Facing this young prince who was both powerful in his city and skills, Zhuge Yunsheng knew very well that the plan that King Liu Xinwu of Wuning told him before leaving would definitely not work in front of King Chen Huaian of Jin.

Only by treating each other with sincerity can we have a chance.

thump!

Zhuge Yunsheng suddenly made a plop and knelt down in front of Chen Huaian, with a sad expression on his face and said in a sincere tone:

"I hope His Highness the King of Jin will show mercy and help my prince to save Liu Shujun, the princess of Wuning Palace!"