Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

......

Chen Shao led his army back to the Yellow Turban camp.

Many people, seeing that Zhang Liang was dead, dispersed and went home to their own mothers.

The rest of the people were all craving Chen Shao's porridge.

Therefore, Chen Shao successfully eliminated several troublemakers and gathered the entire army together.

Thus, after his trip, he gained another 30,000 troops.

Although they were almost all infantry.

After finishing everything, Chen Shao called over Aluminum Cloth and Hairui.

"Summon all your trusted confidants for a small meeting."

The emperor's meetings, also known as court assemblies, were a form of political gathering.

Not only were all the people present, but they were also all dressed in their newest clothes.

Full of passion and high spirits.

Soon, the station was filled with people.

Aluminum cloth held the roster and knelt on one knee:

"Your Majesty, the rebel army originally numbered over 20,000, and with the newly recruited surrendered soldiers, the total is 30,000! Please give your instructions!"

Hai Rui stood to the side, sleeves tucked in, nodding slightly with a look of satisfaction on his face.

He pondered for a moment, then bowed and asked:

"Your Majesty, now that the army has been reorganized, should we return to the capital to rest and regroup, or are there other plans?"

Upon hearing that they were to return to the capital, everyone held their breath in anticipation.

From the day I joined the army, becoming an official was my ultimate goal.

Now, suddenly being able to rise to the top in one step, and even being personally selected by the emperor, what kind of honor is this?

Chen Shao laughed:

"Returning to the capital is not urgent. You are all my trusted confidants. If we go back now, even if I promote you, there will inevitably be criticism."

"We need to do something big now!"

The first step is to produce aluminum cloth.

"This humble general will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Everyone else did the same when they saw this.

Chen Shao's words were not only reasonable, but they also portrayed them as his loyal followers, making everyone who heard them eager to serve him immediately.

Chen Shao pointed to the map hanging inside the tent.

Northeast of the capital.

Finally, it stopped in the Yanyun area, at the place marked "Lulong".

"Xiao Yan, the military governor of Lulong, was stationed in Yanyun, guarding the vital passage between the Northern Mang and the capital."

"This place leads north to the grasslands and south to the Central Plains, making it a strategic location that military strategists must contend for."

"If Xiao Yan had attacked the Northern Mang's rear army during the last siege of the city, how could the capital have been besieged?"

"His choice to remain inactive and watch from the sidelines shows that he has great ambitions. If he is not eliminated today, he will surely become a major threat in the future."

Hai Rui leaned closer and examined it for a moment.

There was some worry in his eyes.

"Your Majesty's insight is keen; Lulong is indeed a major threat."

"However, Lulong Town has a strategic location, high and thick city walls, and ample food supplies."

"If we launch a full-scale attack, we will need at least 100,000 elite troops to take the city."

"Although our army has 30,000 troops, their combat strength... is probably not as good as that of the battle-hardened border troops like those of Lulong. A hasty attack on the city would likely result in heavy casualties."

"It's not necessarily a matter of launching a full-scale attack."

Chen Shao magically produced the imperial seal from his bosom.

"I'll say it, you write it."

Everyone looked at the seal, their hearts burning with excitement.

If this thing were pressed on someone's forehead, wouldn't they instantly become immortal?

...

A moment later, Chen Shao stamped the seal on.

He rolled up the paper and put it, along with the official seal, into his pocket.

Hairui's hands trembled:

"Will this...will this work?"

Whether it works or not depends on human effort!

"Your Majesty, there is another problem. It takes quite some time to travel from here to Lulong and back. Aren't you worried that chaos might break out in the capital?"

"Han Cao and Yuwen Huagu are no pushovers. With His Majesty leading troops in the field, the palace is vulnerable..."

Chen Shao was naturally not afraid.

Even if they engaged in debauchery in the harem, it was only with Yuwen Mingzhu and Han Qingwan.

"It's good that things are a bit chaotic; even if they're chaotic, they won't be as chaotic as they were a while ago."

"Only in chaos will some people reveal their true colors, which is exactly what I desire."

He added in his mind, "If things don't get out of control and those powerful families remain timid and hesitant, then we'll have no choice but to... release the Huang Dynasty!"

......

Three days later.

Chen Shao led the Yellow Turban Army and appeared fifty miles outside Lulong.

He ordered the army to remain in place, while he himself only took Alubu and Hairui with him.

Wearing a yellow turban, he swaggered towards Lulong City.

...

Lu Longcheng had already received intelligence from scouts.

They knew that tens of thousands of Yellow Turban soldiers were stationed dozens of miles away.

The city was heavily guarded, with the city walls densely packed with soldiers.

The archers, logs, and stones were all in place.

The captain guarding the city saw three riders galloping towards them from afar on the official road.

They all had yellow turbans wrapped around their heads and possessed extraordinary bearing.

He immediately ordered the archers not to fire.

Once the three reached the city walls, they shouted down:

"Who goes there!"

Chen Shao reined in his horse, looked up, and shouted towards the city tower:

"This general is Xuanjizi, a subordinate of the Yellow Turban General!"

"By order of the General, I have important matters to discuss with Lord Xiao. Open the door immediately!"

The captain was startled upon hearing this.

It turned out to be General Rengong, one of the three leaders of the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

The two families have always lived in peace...

The matter was too big for him to make a decision on his own.

He quickly clasped his hands in greeting and said:

"General Xuanji, please wait a moment. I will go and report to Lord Xiao immediately."

...

A moment later.

The city gates were wide open.

Xiao Yan personally came out to greet him.

When Chen Shao met him for the first time, he couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Although Xiao Yan was over fifty years old, he was well-maintained and looked to be in his early thirties.

Dressed in a scholar's robe, he possessed a gentle and refined demeanor.

He is more like a great Confucian scholar who appreciates tea and discusses philosophy, which is completely incompatible with the decisive and ruthless military governor.

Xiao Yan bowed respectfully from afar.

Her smile was as gentle as a spring breeze.

"I have long admired General Xuanji's name, and today I have finally met him. He truly lives up to his heroic spirit."

Chen Shao dismounted and casually cupped his hands in return.

laughed:

"Lord Xiao, I'm a rough man and I don't like these formalities."

"You've never even seen me before, and I, Xuanjizi, am hardly a renowned figure. How could you possibly have such an 'admiration' for me?"

"I have come with sincerity on the orders of the general, and I hope that the general will treat me with sincerity in return."

Ha, still a greenhorn.

Xiao Yan was speechless. This was just polite talk in the martial arts world; why take it so seriously?

But this kind of person is good too; they're much better than those scheming devils who keep going around in circles.

"Master Xuanji is indeed quick-witted and outspoken. I misspoke. A banquet has already been prepared at the manor to welcome the General!"

"No problem, no problem."

Chen Shao tried his best to project a bandit-like aura, and walked with an air of ruthlessness, seemingly unaware of his own family.

But all along he was plotting against this guy surnamed Xiao.

The Xiao family, a powerful clan in the north, wields considerable influence throughout the entire Great Yan Dynasty.

Even in the imperial court, there were quite a few officials with the surname Xiao.

Xiao Yan had three sons and one daughter.

In the early years, the sons and daughters of military governors would also study in the capital, which meant they were taken hostage.

Later, upon hearing Han Cao's words, Chen Yuan, to demonstrate his magnanimity and benevolence, actually abolished the rule.

This gradually led to a situation where they obeyed orders but not directives, amassed military power, and became too powerful to control.

Even when their country was on the verge of collapse, they chose to remain on the sidelines and watch from the sidelines.

This time, his goal was the same as Wei Bo's: to strip them of their military power and leave the Xiao family as an empty shell.

...

Chen Shao leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.

Holding a wine glass, he looked quite dashing and chivalrous.

A row of maids stood on each side of the private room.

Each of them was lightly draped in a thin veil, and their beauty was remarkable.

She was swaying her hips to the music.

Chen Shao stared at it for a long time, then suddenly slammed his wine glass on the table.

He said with a displeased expression:

"What's so interesting about this!"

"Who's dancing in clothes?!"

"Get out, all of you!"