“Follow me!”
Liu Gonggong and Xia Shouzhong each mounted their horses and led the way.
Jia Yu led three thousand Xuanjia Iron Cavalry behind him.
“Heavy armored cavalry, where did Your Majesty get such an elite force!”
Feng Tang looked at the heavy armored cavalry disappearing in the distance, his heart filled with confusion: “And the Jia character, are they people from the Jia family?”
The deputy general beside Feng Tang’s face grew even more grim. As a seasoned veteran of the army, he could feel the terrifying fighting strength of this force without even needing to look.
The lingering stench of blood on their bodies was enough to prove that this army had seen much action.
And the thick iron armor they wore...
He had to figure out the source of this army.
Otherwise, His Highness might be in trouble.
Shortly after the Iron Cavalry left, a eunuch came galloping on horseback.
“The Retired Emperor has ordered the palace gates closed. No one is to open them without his command!”
After speaking, the eunuch looked at Feng Tang: “Where is Xia Shouzhong?”
“Your Excellency, Xia Shouzhong is with his men at the Imperial Study.”
The deputy general beside Feng Tang eagerly stepped forward, no longer caring about anything else.
“What!” The Grand Eunuch’s face changed: “Guard the palace gates, this old one will go back and report to His Majesty.”
“Guard the city gates, I will go to the Dragon Head Palace.”
Feng Tang glanced at the deputy general who had spoken, called for a horse, and rode after the eunuch towards the Dragon Head Palace.
Meanwhile, at the Dragon Head Palace...
“The Fourth Prince is waiting for nothing but Jia Yu, and the only thing he can rely on are the few thousand cavalry under Jia Yu’s command.”
The Retired Emperor’s health had improved significantly after the Mongols retreated, and he was now interested in playing chess.
A middle-aged man in brocade robes stood respectfully beside him.
After the Retired Emperor made his move, he said leisurely: “What brings you here late at night? Is it news from the Mongols, or from the Fourth Prince?”
The middle-aged man in brocade robes lowered his head and said: “Your Majesty, you ordered me to investigate Jia Yu’s intelligence, and I have just received some news.”
“Speak.”
The Retired Emperor continued playing chess without looking up.
The middle-aged man said: “After leaving the imperial city, Jia Yu encountered a Mongol force of around 8,000 men about 120 miles from the capital.”
“Under Jia Yu’s command, the Three Thousand Camp soldiers pushed the enemy back to Laishui County.
The 8,000 Mongols joined forces with the Mongol army in Laishui County, totaling over 10,000 men.”
“Wait, Laishui County hasn’t been breached?” The Retired Emperor said: “I remember Laishui County requested aid from the very start. It’s been over a month, and it hasn’t been breached?”
The middle-aged man said: “There are some Imperial Army deserters within the city of Laishui County, and they are holding on thanks to them.”
The Retired Emperor nodded upon hearing about the Imperial Army deserters. Thinking about Jia Yu, he continued to ask: “What about Jia Yu afterwards?”
The middle-aged man paused for a moment before revealing the shockingly impressive feat: “After the two Mongol forces combined, Jia Yu, seizing the opportunity when the enemy entered their camp, personally led one thousand heavy armored cavalry to charge into the Mongol army, and the two sides engaged in fierce battle.
Jia Yu beheaded the Mongol Wanhu, chopped down their banner, broke through the Mongol army, and then continued to charge into the Mongol camp, supporting the city of Laishui County.
After the battle, it was recorded that 11,300 Mongol soldiers were killed.
Plop.
The chess piece in the Retired Emperor’s hand fell onto the chessboard, and he turned to look at the middle-aged man: “Is that true?”
The middle-aged man said: “The post-battle statistics were compiled with the help of the Magistrate of Laishui County.
After the battle, the Imperial Army deserters joined Jia Yu’s forces.
Among the captured supplies, a large number of iron armor, warhorses, and 4,000 men were re-equipped.”
“After that, Jia Yu led 4,000 men to Zijin Pass, where he intercepted a large number of Mongols outside the pass and captured a large amount of supplies.”
The Retired Emperor stood up: “Jia Yu, Jia Yu.”
“Your Majesty!” A eunuch outside rushed in, seeing the solemn atmosphere of the palace, immediately knelt down.
“Speak!”
The Retired Emperor paced back and forth.
“Xia Shouzhong led his men to the Imperial Study!”
“The Imperial Army Commander, Feng Tang, requests an audience.”
The voice of a small eunuch came from outside.
The Retired Emperor sat down, nodding slightly. Dai Quan said: “Let him in.”
Feng Tang, clad in iron armor, walked into the hall, bowing to the Retired Emperor: “Feng Tang, pays his respects to Your Majesty.”
The Retired Emperor asked: “How is that force?”
Feng Tang had been with the Retired Emperor for over twenty years and knew what he was asking.
He immediately responded: “Extremely elite, one man to five horses, equipped with short bows, heavy crossbows, long spears, long swords, both men and horses are heavily armored.
They can charge into battle at close range and can also attack with ranged cavalry archery.
They are covered in blood, seasoned veterans.
If they have equal numbers, except for the Dragon Head Guard, no other force would be a match.”
Feng Tang’s eyes were very sharp.
“The Fourth Prince is truly fortunate.” The Retired Emperor narrowed his eyes: “If that’s the case, have Niu Jizong step aside, let the Eighth Prince in.”
“Fourth Prince, if you truly have the ability, I’m willing to give him the throne. But if you can’t stop the Eighth Prince, then it can only mean that the throne is not meant for you.”
Feng Tang felt a chill down his spine.
He never thought that after the Mongols left, the capital would be plunged into bloodshed again.
The other middle-aged men present, including the Grand Eunuch Dai Quan, acted as if they had heard nothing.
“Open the Donghua Gate.” The Retired Emperor continued: “Dai Quan, go and tell the Fourth Prince, if he does not fight, I will ensure his safe retreat.
If he fights, then let fate decide.”
Everyone in the hall knew that the Retired Emperor favored the Eighth Prince.
The Imperial Study, outside the Palace of Supreme Harmony.
A black cavalry force stood quietly lined up in the vast square.
Three thousand men, fifteen thousand warhorses, the square couldn’t fit them all. The corridors outside were filled with people and warhorses.
The Imperial Army sent by the Retired Emperor to guard the Emperor could only back down in the face of these iron cavalry.
The Emperor looked at the black cavalry in front of him, his heart filled with excitement.
“Jia Yu, Commander of the Three Thousand Camp, pays his respects to Your Majesty!”
Great Zhou generals do not need to kneel when they salute. The 6’4” tall Jia Yu, wearing silver-white armor, appeared incredibly imposing, exuding a strong sense of pressure.
“Jia Aiqing.” The Emperor grasped Jia Yu’s hands: “A strong wind reveals sturdy grass, and troubled times reveal loyal ministers.
In this current situation, you still bravely stand with me. I will not let you down.”
If you don’t count Jia Yu’s age in his previous life, he is only seventeen and a half years old based on his physical age. The Emperor, on the other hand, is already forty-five years old.
Over the years, the Emperor has seen all kinds of people, and he wouldn’t normally reveal his emotions so easily.
But in such a critical moment, someone dares to defy death and stand firmly with him.
This filled the Emperor, who has experienced countless trials, with immense gratitude.
Jia Yu’s contributions, if he does not participate in the power struggle, the position of Commander of the Three Thousand Camp is temporarily out of reach. But in a few years, it is not impossible for him to become the Commander of the Imperial Army, even the Imperial Army Governor.
“Your Majesty, whoever needs to be cut down, just give the word, and this subordinate will go and chop off their head.”
Jia Yu knew that the imperial city was in danger, but he did not know who the enemy was.
He couldn’t solve the problem, but he could solve the people who were causing the problem.