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

Chen Jing chuckled smugly and pulled a small cloth bag from his pocket.

Inside was half a bag of bright yellow powder, which emitted a strange fragrance when brought close to the fire.

"Don't be so surprised. I'll get you something even better."

He pinched off a small amount, sprinkled it on the mutton, and then tossed it over.

"Try it! I recently discovered a divine substance called cumin."

"This stuff is a perfect match for roasted lamb."

The soldier took another bite, his eyes widening in disbelief.

The smell is so delicious, it instantly brought tears to my eyes.

"Your Highness, I don't know what good deeds I did in my past life to be able to follow you."

"I will follow Your Highness for the rest of my life, sob sob sob."

A group of soldiers huddled around a campfire, eating heartily.

"Your Highness, you're living like a god here, hunting and roasting meat every day, enjoying the scenery of this valley. Why keep thinking about those unpleasant things?"

"In one's lifetime, there are very few people in the whole world who can live as freely and unrestrained as Your Highness."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jing gazed at the distant horizon, his tone somewhat disdainful.

"How can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan?"

To be a carefree, leisurely king, living like a pig?

That's a good-for-nothing prince.

Chen Jing was someone who almost became emperor, and he was very powerful in the capital. How could he be at ease here?

"This world originally belonged to my Great Yan, and to the Chen family."

"I'm not looking for trouble; I'm just trying to take back what I've lost."

After saying that, he gave a self-deprecating laugh:

"Ugh, what's the point of talking to you bunch of soldiers? All you know how to do is eat."

He's said this hundreds of times.

The people around didn't react much, and chaos ensued again.

Suddenly, everyone seemed to be startled.

They all stood up in unison.

In a panic, he frantically wiped the grease off his lips.

Chen Jing laughed heartily:

"Is it really necessary for you all to be so averse to hearing such startling words from me?"

"Your Highness is right! How can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan?"

A loud laugh came from behind him, and Chen Jing hurriedly turned around.

But then he saw that Wang Yuanji had somehow appeared behind him.

He was laughing, a hearty laugh, but he was in a bad mood; his laughter looked worse than crying.

Wang Yuanji strode over, kicked aside the sheep bones on the ground, and sat down imposingly next to Chen Jing.

He waved to the people around him, signaling them to step back.

"This world belongs to the Chen family, that's well said! In the past, I fought on all sides, and countless heads rolled wherever my blade touched, all to protect the Chen family's empire!"

"But Your Highness, Chen Shao is pressing you relentlessly, exiling you to this remote place, trying to provoke you and me into a life-or-death struggle."

"If provocation is useless, then we will resort to military force and wage war without declaration."

"Without warning, troops were dispatched to Hedong, causing widespread devastation and leaving tens of thousands of people displaced."

"Your Highness, this empire belongs to the Chen family, not Chen Shao. If we continue to let him run rampant like this, it won't be long before the Great Yan empire is completely destroyed."

Chen Jing, unsure of his meaning, gave a perfunctory reply:

"yes."

He certainly didn't like Chen Shao. Ever since he came to Hedong, he realized more and more that Chen Shao had just been fooling him back then.

The idea that he would pass the throne to himself and even write an edict is pure nonsense.

If he truly cared about himself, he should have entrusted the Imperial Seal of the State to him for safekeeping.

Wang Yuanji clasped his hands in a fist salute to him:

"It's hard for me to keep the prince under house arrest here."

"I have been negligent towards Your Highness before, and it was my fault. I apologize to you here."

Chen Jing waved his hand: "It's alright."

"The commander was also considering my safety."

Wang Yuanji suddenly let out a long sigh.

"Unfortunately, the retired emperor was imprisoned at the time and had not even issued an edict of succession before Chen Shao and the empress dowager beat him to it."

"The order of seniority has always been the same since ancient times. Everyone in the world recognizes this principle, but Chen Shao pretends to be confused."

"Your Highness is the eldest son of the late Emperor; the throne should rightfully belong to you."

Chen Jing was already slow-witted, and this made him even more confused. What exactly did Wang Yuanji want to do?

"Your Highness!"

Wang Yuanji then changed the subject:

"It is true that the world belongs to the Chen family, but the throne does not belong to Chen Shao."

"If he had been a dutiful emperor who served the country and its people, that would have been fine, but instead he started wars everywhere, incurring the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people."

"Fortunately, Heaven took pity on you and drove you all out. What I never expected was that Your Highness and I fell in love."

"Your Highness, the nation is on the verge of collapse and the country is in dire straits. We need you to step forward."

"Chen Shao has ventured deep into enemy territory alone. If Your Highness were to raise your voice, I would gladly risk my life to help Your Highness reclaim the throne!"

"What?"

Becoming emperor was an obsession Chen Jing had since childhood.

Despite being the eldest son of the emperor, he was not as dashing and debonair as his father.

A son who does not resemble his father is guilty of a great sin!

The long-standing dislike he suffered from Chen Yuan fueled his obsession, eventually leading to a morbid distortion.

So much so that he dared to openly provoke Chen Shao in the main hall on the very day Chen Shao ascended the throne.

Chen Jing was thrilled by Wang Yuanji's flattery.

"We beg Your Highness to step forward, save the people from this calamity, and prevent the collapse of the dynasty!"

"this..."

"Your Highness, if you do not seize a gift from Heaven, you will surely suffer the consequences!"

"good!"

Chen Jing slapped his thigh and stood up.

"I will trust you today. If you help me reclaim the throne, I will appoint you as the Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Realm, and the land of Hedong will belong to your royal family for generations to come."

"Since Chen Shao is unrighteous, he shouldn't blame me for being ruthless!"

Driven by overwhelming desire, Chen Jing had completely lost himself.

Wang Yuanji laughed heartily.

"Since Your Highness has given your approval, there is no time to lose. This humble general will immediately muster the troops and accompany Your Highness on the expedition."

"So soon?" Chen Jing was startled.

Although I don't want to admit it, what they did also constitutes a rebellion.

Do you have to send out a letter or make a manifesto to start a rebellion?

"Your Highness, Chen Shao's army is in Liaocheng and has not yet had time to rest. We must take advantage of their unstable foothold and attack them in one fell swoop."

...

Having persuaded Chen Jing, Wang Yuanji immediately rode back to camp.

He convened a meeting of all his generals and strategists to discuss matters.

Finally, a strategy that everyone believed in was formulated:

They launched a full-scale attack on Liaocheng.

Leave no way out, burn your boats.

The Hedong Army is an elite force, and when facing the Great Yan, especially the newly established Iron Fist Army, they possess the inherent pride and confidence to contend with it.

However, the army set off three hours later.

Using the name of Chen Jing, the Prince of Hedong, and the pretext of "Fengtian Jingnan" (a proclamation of the suppression of rebellion), they...

Notices were posted along the way, saying that Chen Shao plotted to usurp the throne and forced the late emperor to commit suicide.

This expedition is to help the eldest prince reclaim his rightful place in the throne.