After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

The original Governor-General of Jiangbei was Marquis Shangguan Xie.

A month ago, the Empress reassigned Shangguan Yun, the former commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, as the Governor-General of Jiangbei, in charge of all affairs in Jiangbei.

Marquis Shangguan Xie, the governor of Zhenguo, focused on military affairs and moved his headquarters to Liuhe City, where he commanded the Jiangpu and Liuhe armies.

The Great Liang Dynasty governed the military through civil administration, and Shangguan Yun's position had already passed to his father, Shangguan Xie. Shangguan Xie, however, was quite content with this position.

Many censors in the court also submitted memorials, saying that it was inappropriate for the state to have the Shangguan father and son, one a civil official and the other a military officer, commanding Jiangbei.

But the Empress dismissed them all with the words, "There is no need to doubt the Great Wall of Daliang."

As for the position of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, it was taken over by Yan Yuqing, the former Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Half an hour later, Prince Jing, Zhu Enbai, and Jia Shi'an were ready.

King Jing was dressed in a white python robe and wore a crown, walking with a leisurely and composed demeanor.

Jia Shi'an, dressed in a scarlet official robe, with piercing eyes, and the two of them, one in front and one behind, had already boarded the carriage.

Ning Nan also had a scarlet official robe, but he didn't plan to wear it or socialize with officials from Jiangbei.

I only plan to enter the city in my everyday clothes.

Riding on a large, snow-white horse, whose body had recovered from seasickness, the horse proudly raised its hooves.

Ning Nan stroked the white horse's mane as he slowly rode along, mingling with the procession entering the city.

The white horse, with its horseshoes tackled to prevent slipping, left a trail of hoofprints on the somewhat muddy official road.

But they were all swallowed up by the hoofprints, mule tracks, and human footprints that followed.

He and his white horse were followed closely by more than twenty riders.

A white-bearded man dressed as a servant suddenly spurred his horse forward, galloped to Ning Nan's side, and said in a low voice:

"You were doing just fine as the cult leader, why did you quit...?"

The implication, of course, is 'Why should the cult leader's token be returned?'

Of course, there is probably another hidden meaning here, which is 'why not try to utilize the Heavenly Principle Sect'.

Ning Nan squeezed the horse's belly with his legs and shook his head, saying, "As the top scholar of the Great Liang Dynasty, I have read extensively in the classics and always put sincerity first. I never take what is not mine."

The man with the graying beard raised his eyes, revealing a pair of youthful eyes, and scoffed, "Tell the truth!"

The Imperial Son-in-Law Ning turned and glanced at the white-bearded man, saying, "Commander Xiu, you'd better think about how you're going to tell your brother the truth later."

The man with the white beard widened his eyes, stroked his beard, and said urgently, "Even in this state, my brother still recognizes me?"

Ning Nan looked at him with eyes full of pity: "Have you forgotten what your brother does? He's the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Does he need to see you before he recognizes you?"

Ning Nan estimated that the whereabouts of the seventh son of the Marquis of Zhenguo, who had secretly run away from the capital with the delegation, had been in Shangguan Yun's hands from the moment he boarded the ship.

Shangguan Xiu, disguised as an old servant, gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with suspicion and uncertainty, but he felt that what this guy said was right.

After crossing the Yangtze River and arriving in Jiangpu City, it's not necessarily the case that we can head north. My elder brother might just leave us in Jiangpu City.

Ning Nan said, "I've already told you. When I get to the north, I'll go and find out about Qin Qianshi. You can just wait for me in Nanjing."

Shangguan Xiu retorted angrily, "What does my wanting to go to Beijing have to do with Qin Heipi?"

Ning Nan shrugged: "My wife said that Vice Minister Qin has done a great service this time. When she returns, she will bestow a marriage upon him."

"With whom?"

"How would I know? He's probably a well-bred, honest, and obedient son of a powerful family. My wife says that with Commander Qin's personality, he'd probably never marry unless a marriage is arranged for him. A disobedient commander of the Imperial Guard who keeps running away from Nanjing is definitely not suitable."

Shangguan Xiu took a breath, his eyes filled with suspicion and uncertainty. Ignoring the man's ramblings, he turned his horse around, snorted, and said, "I'm going to find my fourth brother."

Having said that, he pulled on the reins and rode his horse to the back of the group.

Ning Nan watched his retreating figure, unable to persuade him, so he could only sigh helplessly and turn to look at the city gate that was right in front of him.

This majestic city of Jiangpu will soon be home to the three sons of the Marquis of Zhenguo.

The eldest son was naturally Shangguan Yun, the lord of the city.

Then there's Shangguan Xiu, one of the only two legitimate sons, who secretly ran away to Jiangbei.

The third was Shangguan Zhao, the new chess master of Daliang, who was exceptionally appointed by Jia Shi'an as the logistics officer of the mission.

That is, Xiuxiu's fourth brother.

A chorus of greetings rang out from the city gate. Ning Nan saw Prince Jing, dressed in a python robe, alight from his carriage, with Jia Shi'an following closely behind.

A group of high-ranking officials in scarlet robes were welcoming Prince Jing and Vice Envoy Jia at the city gate.

The long queue came to a stop.

As far as he knew, the Northern Dynasty delegation had already entered the city before them.

Ning Nan held the reins, and the big white horse beneath him snorted a few times.

The question Xiuxiu asked was actually something he had discussed with Cuicui's wife in Nanjing.

In the end, he decided to meet the old cult leader, ask some questions, and then return the so-called cult leader token.

This is too strange.

Xiuxiu thought she could use the Heavenly Principles Sect to stir up trouble in the Northern Dynasty.

However, the Heavenly Principle Sect can only be considered "unorthodox," not "orthodox."

Without establishing a strong position for the Great Liang against the Northern Dynasties, the Heavenly Principles Sect would likely be of little use.

With the Eight Banners and Green Standard Army suppressing it, the Heavenly Principle Sect could not establish its own territory in the Northern Dynasty; it was merely water without roots.

In recent years, the Northern Dynasties have launched a series of reforms with ruthless methods, resulting in a full national treasury and very few instances of the army being short of pay. It would be difficult for them to produce a Li Zicheng.

So let alone establishing territory, the Heavenly Principles Sect couldn't even coerce bandits, making it difficult to achieve anything.

This is one of them.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the bridle and glanced at Xu Xiyin beside him.

Secondly... is the issue of 'trust'.

He couldn't trust this kind of power that had been inexplicably thrust into his hands.

If someone is entrusted with an important task, but then turns against you at a crucial moment, we'll be completely helpless.

"Young Master," the female Taoist priest Xu Xiyin said calmly, "after entering the city, will we head straight to where the delegation is staying?"

The young master needs to practice calligraphy, so she needs to prepare the finest brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for him.

Ning Nan shook his head: "I won't go yet."

Xu Xiyin turned her head and glanced at him.

"Let's go check on the wounded soldiers' camp first."

The high-ranking officials at the city gate had already entered in high spirits.

The long queue started moving again.

Ning Nan squeezed his legs together, gave two shouts, and the white horse neighed and continued on its way.

Over the years, the city gates of Jiangpu City have been raised and thickened at any cost, making them comparable to the city walls of Nanjing.

Although this is the southern city wall, it does not directly face the northern army.

Ning Nan also noticed that many places on the city wall were scorched black, and there were many pits and holes, like those made by cannons. There were also many traces of arrows and holes.

The sun has already set in the west.

Dim bonfires were lit on both sides of the city gate.

Qian Sijin and his Imperial Guards, along with Er Laizi and his household servants, each took out torches and lit them.

The shadows of men and horses slowly passed through the city gate.