Love Lock

Is Chapter 325 the real main force?
The Imperial Guards of the capital were the last core elite force of the Great Jing Dynasty. Although they were not the most numerous, they were the best equipped and had the highest loyalty.

After a tense discussion and deliberation, Emperor Jing finally selected Tang Rongyao, the commander of the Imperial Guards in the capital, to lead a total of 30,000 troops from the Left and Right Dragon Martial Armies. He ordered them to immediately muster the troops, prepare provisions and supplies, and set off to reinforce Yizhou by the early morning of the next day at the latest.

General Tang Rongyao accepted the order with a solemn expression.

Everyone knew that facing the Cangzhou King's army, which possessed terrifying "demonic weapons," this mission was fraught with peril, but with the nation in crisis, the only option was to fight to the death.

The second court session ended in a tense and anxious atmosphere. Emperor Jing wearily rubbed his temples, watching the departing officials, his unease growing stronger.

He always felt that something was wrong. King Zhao Zun of Cangzhou was unpredictable in his military tactics, and that demonic weapon was even more beyond the comprehension of ordinary people... Could Yizhou really be defended?

Last time, the 100,000-strong punitive expeditionary force suffered a crushing defeat. Can Tang Rongyao's 30,000 imperial guards really stop the unstoppable advance of the rebel army?

He shook his head, forcing himself not to think about the worst-case scenario. Now, he could only place his hopes on General Tang Rongyao and the garrison of Yizhou.

However, Emperor Jing and his court officials were completely wrong.

While they were still racking their brains over the survival of Yizhou and urgently deploying troops, they were unaware that Yizhou had already changed hands!
With Han Lei, a time traveler, assisting King Zhao Zun of Cangzhou, the ingenuity and speed of his military tactics far exceeded their expectations.

Moreover, Zhao Zun did not play by the rules at all.

Before ordering Xiao Zhengfei to lead troops to conquer Qing and Yi prefectures, he had already led 500 soldiers equipped with modern weapons past his home in the capital without entering, and went directly to Ji prefecture in the east to support the Dongguan battlefield.

Emperor Jing was completely unaware that his greatest threat was rapidly approaching another equally deadly battlefield at a speed and in a manner he could not comprehend.

...This is a dividing line for asking for votes...

In the Jizhou military camp, the banners hung low in the twilight, as if they too sensed the heavy atmosphere.

Da Jiu led his exhausted new army back to the Jizhou camp and sought help from the Jizhou garrison left behind.

The horses' hooves kicked up clouds of dust, and the soldiers' armor still bore the marks of their long journey.

At the gate of the military camp, Yang Shaojie, the commander of Ji Province, had just finished his dinner and was taking a walk when he saw an army dressed in the standard armor of the Great Jing Dynasty approaching. He immediately ordered his personal guards to be on guard.

The guards responded and returned to the camp. A moment later, the soldiers who had received the order donned their armor, took up their weapons, and stood guard at the camp gate.

Before Da Jiu's new army could approach, Yang Shaojie shouted, "Halt! Who are you? Why have you come to my Jizhou camp?"

To avoid any misunderstanding, Da Jiu immediately raised his hand to stop the group and rode forward alone.

Da Jiu dismounted and took out Emperor Jing's imperial edict from his bosom, presenting it to Yang Shaojie.

After reading the contents of the imperial edict, Yang Shaojie's expression softened. "Since His Majesty has ordered you to support Dongguan, I will immediately order people to prepare food. It will not be too late for the soldiers to continue their journey after they have had a good meal."

Da Jiu shook his head, his face showing even greater weariness. "No, General Yang, we have already returned from Dongguan."

"They're already back?" Yang Shaojie frowned slightly, seemingly not fully understanding Da Jiu's words.

Da Jiu took a deep breath, his voice heavy: "Now, Dongguan has fallen into the hands of the Eastern Ming Empire. The 150,000 reinforcements led by Marshal Li Jianyong... are probably doomed as well."

A sudden silence fell over the surroundings, broken only by the crackling of the burning torches.

"What did you say?" Yang Shaojie's face turned pale instantly. He grabbed Da Jiu's arm tightly: "What about my 50,000 brothers in the Jizhou Army?"

His voice trembled, and his fingers almost dug into Da Jiu's arm.

Da Jiu was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "When we arrived at the outskirts of Dongguan, we found that the Dongming Empire had already laid an ambush. The city was surrounded by enemy troops, just waiting for reinforcements to walk into their trap. We were powerless to turn the tide and could only retreat to Jizhou to discuss countermeasures with the general."

"Fifty thousand brothers!" Yang Shaojie slammed his hand on the tree trunk beside him, making the leaves rustle. "Those are all soldiers I personally trained!"

His chest heaved violently, his eyes were bloodshot, and anger and grief were intertwined on his face.

Just then, Qiu Zhenyu, the deputy general who had been parachuted to Da Jiu's side, stepped forward and said, "General Yang, please calm down. The Dongming Empire is coming with great force. The 100,000 garrison troops of Dongguan plus the 150,000 reinforcements have all been wiped out. We must not lose our composure now."

On his way back to Jizhou, Qiu Zhenyu witnessed the panic of the people along the way and pondered the current situation. The fervor for war he had felt two days ago was gradually replaced by calm.

Yang Shaojie took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.

As the commander-in-chief of the army, he understood that Qiu Zhenyu's words made sense.

"Let's go into the camp to discuss this." With that, he strode towards the military camp and gestured to his personal guards to settle the new army that Da Jiu had brought.

Inside the central command tent, Yang Shaojie sat in the main seat, looking at Da Jiu.

“Now that Dongguan has fallen, the next battle will inevitably be a direct assault on Jizhou. With the Jizhou troops being redeployed, only 20,000 remain, plus your 10,000 new soldiers, totaling no more than 30,000.” Yang Shaojie pointed to the map hanging on the wall. “And the Dongming Empire, even after several major battles, still has at least 200,000 troops. Should we meet them head-on, or defend the city to the death?”

Everyone's expressions were solemn, and their eyes were all focused on the military map.

“We can hold the city and wait for the imperial army to come to our aid,” a military officer suggested.

Yang Shaojie shook his head: "The defenses of Jizhou are not as strong as those of Dongguan, and our food supplies can only last for two months. If we are besieged, we may not be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive."

"Perhaps we could set up ambushes along the way and use the terrain to weaken the enemy," another general said, pointing to several canyons on the map.

Qiu Zhenyu sighed: "The Eastern Ming Empire has just won a great victory, so their morale must be high and their defenses must be tight. In addition, their military strength far exceeds ours, so small ambush forces will probably not be effective."

After a moment of contemplation, Da Jiu said, "Perhaps we can organize guerrilla warfare to harass the enemy's supply lines."

Yang Shaojie shook his head again: "The Eastern Ming Empire always carries ample provisions when marching, and the logistics team of 300,000 troops is not something our small force can shake."

A long silence fell inside the tent, broken only by the occasional crackling of the oil lamp's flame.

Everyone understood the desperate situation they faced: a head-on confrontation would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock, holding out for reinforcements would likely be hopeless, and achieving a surprise victory was far from easy.

Yang Shaojie's gaze swept across the faces of the generals, and all he saw was solemnity and helplessness.

He finally sighed and said, "Let's stop here for today. Everyone go back and rest. We'll discuss it again tomorrow. I'll think about it carefully."

Just as everyone was about to leave the military tent, a soldier's urgent report came from outside.

"Reporting—King Zhao Zun of Cangzhou requests an audience!"

Upon hearing the name of Zhao Zun, the King of Cangzhou, everyone in the tent was taken aback.

Da Jiu and several of his brothers from the Big Character Team exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with barely suppressed excitement and surprise, but that light was fleeting.

The prince has arrived! They now have someone to rely on.

However, Yang Shaojie and Qiu Zhenyu, the deputy general of Da Jiu, frowned and looked puzzled.

News of Zhao Zun's rebellion had already spread throughout the various armies, and he was now officially appointed as the rebel king by the imperial court.

Why did he suddenly appear at the Jizhou camp? Could it be that the Cangzhou cavalry has already besieged the city?
Yang Shaojie strode forward and asked the messenger soldier in a deep voice, "How many men did he bring?"

"Reporting to the general, it appears there are only... only a few hundred light cavalry." "Only a few hundred?" Yang Shaojie was taken aback, exchanging a puzzled look with the others.

With only a few hundred men, it was definitely not a force to be reckoned with when attacking a military camp.

He felt somewhat relieved, but doubts still lingered. He waved his hand and said, "Please let them in."

After a moment's thought, he said, "The central command tent is too small to accommodate so many people. Gentlemen, please come with me to greet them."

Outside the tent, night was as dark as ink, and the night wind whipped the battle flags fluttering. The glow of torches swayed in the wind, illuminating a line of figures approaching from afar.

Zhao Zun, the King of Cangzhou, was seen leading the way, wearing silver armor and a black cloak embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns, his steps steady and deliberate.

He walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger; even when travel-worn, he could not conceal his imposing noble air and the commanding presence of a seasoned veteran.

Behind him, five hundred soldiers stood in solemn formation, all clad in black armor, their cloaks as dark as ink, the only sound being the cold, rhythmic rustling of their armor plates as they moved.

Yang Shaojie felt a chilling aura emanating from a seasoned veteran, which made him feel uneasy.

The two sides exchanged greetings, and the atmosphere was polite but distant.

Yang Shaojie cupped his hands and asked, "Your Highness, what brings you to my Jizhou military camp?"

Zhao Zun's gaze swept over Yang Shaojie, then over the various people behind him, pausing briefly on Da Jiu and the others.

He then spoke calmly, his voice steady and powerful: "Having heard that Dongguan is in dire straits, with the city breached and the army defeated, I have led my troops to its aid."

"Support?" Yang Shaojie was even more astonished upon hearing this.

The fall of Dongguan was only a dozen days ago. When the news reached Cangzhou in the northwest, the journey was more than a thousand miles. Then, they rushed to Jizhou at top speed... This speed was simply unbelievable.

Could it be that Zhao Zun, this traitor, has planted spies within the imperial court?

He couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness is far away in Cangzhou, how could you learn about the battle situation at Dongguan so quickly?"

Zhao Zun would never admit it was because of a message on the walkie-talkie; his expression remained unchanged, and he had already prepared his explanation.

"As early as when the Eastern Ming Empire had deployed 300,000 troops outside the pass, I knew the situation was urgent and ordered my troops to prepare support and come here day and night."

Hearing this, Yang Shaojie felt a little relieved.

As long as this "rebel king" isn't here to attack Ji Province, everything is fine.

Moreover, if Zhao Zun really comes to our aid, even if he only brings a few hundred men, his reputation for being a skilled warrior is known throughout the land, and he will still be a helpful force.

He suppressed his doubts and asked instead, "I see. Your Highness is truly righteous. But I wonder... where is the Cangzhou army now that they have come to our aid?"

He subconsciously looked towards the darkness outside the camp, hoping to see more soldiers.

Zhao Zun raised his hand and casually pointed to the five hundred Xuanjia soldiers standing silently behind him, his tone calm and indifferent: "My five hundred reinforcements are all here."

"what?"

"Just...just five hundred people?!"

Yang Shaojie and Qiu Zhenyu were speechless almost simultaneously, their faces filled with disbelief and absurdity, as if this prince was making fun of them.

Sending 500 men to reinforce the Dongguan army, which was already at a disadvantage against the 300,000-strong Eastern Ming Empire, was like a drop in the ocean, or even laughable.

Da Jiu and his brothers from the Da Zi team finally couldn't help but smile, exchanging knowing glances.

Da Shiliu, speaking in a voice only his brothers could hear, roared with barely suppressed excitement and confidence, "No matter what, the Prince has brought reinforcements! What are we afraid of!"

Upon hearing this, the unsuspecting generals from Jizhou couldn't help but roll their eyes inwardly, wondering if these people had lost their minds or been bewitched by the King of Cangzhou.

What can five hundred men do?

In the darkness, torches crackled, and the atmosphere became subtle and complex as the two groups of people, with their vastly different mindsets, engaged in a silent struggle.

Since Zhao Zun had already arrived, Yang Shaojie thought for a moment and then gestured for him to enter. "Your Highness, please come into the tent for a meeting!"

Zhao Zun nodded and walked into the main tent, with the others following closely behind.

The centurion glanced at the five hundred soldiers who stood solemnly outside the tent, and his lips twitched uncontrollably.

He lowered his voice and muttered almost to himself, "We have 30,000 men, and we've been discussing this for so long, yet we haven't dared to attack rashly. Now the prince has only brought 500 men, and he dares to make a move? This... these aren't heavenly soldiers."

These words perfectly expressed the sentiments of many soldiers present, and a suppressed murmur immediately arose in the tent.

However, the five hundred soldiers Zhao Zun brought, along with Da Jiu and the others, chuckled at these words.

They exchanged a glance, faint smiles playing on their lips, as if they had heard some absurd joke.

Zhao Zun himself simply smiled faintly and remained silent.

Da Jiu strode forward, gently patted the centurion's shoulder, and smiled: "Since the prince only brought five hundred elite troops to reinforce Dongguan, he must have his reasons. We rough men should just listen carefully."

Zhao Zun said no more, calmly walked to the chair and sat down, his black cloak drawing a sharp arc behind him.

He steered the conversation back on track, looking at Yang Shaojie and asking, "General Yang, do you currently have any good strategies for retaking Dongguan City?"

Yang Shaojie sighed deeply, his face full of worry: "I have discussed this with General Da Jiu for a long time, but we do not yet have a perfect solution."

He looked up at Zhao Zun, his eyes filled with anticipation, "Does Your Highness have any insightful suggestions?"

Zhao Zun nodded slightly, his tone humble yet authoritative: "I pondered this briefly before I came. Although it's not a brilliant plan, it's worth a try."

He paused at this point, and the tent fell silent.

Zhao Zun continued, "Rest well tonight, and set off tomorrow. At that time..." Zhao Zun's gaze swept over everyone, "You 30,000 will challenge them from outside the range of arrows to attract the attention of the main force of the Dongming army. I will personally lead 500 soldiers to launch a surprise attack from the flank."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the tent was stunned.

The generals exchanged bewildered glances, and one of them couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Does Your Highness mean that your five hundred guards are the real main force?"

Zhao Zun nodded slightly, his large hand gently stroking the M16 hidden behind his black cloak, a faint smile still playing on his lips.

"I'm sure you've all heard that my troops are all elites," he said, his voice low but clear, "and although I only brought five hundred men, they are enough to fight against an army of ten thousand."

As soon as Zhao Zun finished speaking, a collective gasp filled the tent.

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