Chapter 621: Great Filial Son

On the way home, the King's joy was plain to see. He took the young officers from the army out riding, enjoying it immensely, and when he had nothing to do he would detach from the unit to tour the surrounding commanderies and counties, ostensibly to understand the people's livelihood.

That fellow was happy every day, and Xie Yuan couldn't bear to expose him. Each day those two hundred big characters successfully let him refresh the Northern Border's papermaking technique, which was improving by leaps and bounds, thin and not prone to bleeding.

Fine, very fine.

The King arrived at Expansive Agriculture, and also planned to take Xiao Jin to his maternal uncle's house to mooch a meal; for this Wei Shen retreated three lodgings, firmly refusing to go again.

"How can you, cousin, not go? We're both real relatives; passing by the Yang family, how could we not go see the maternal uncle? You're being unfilial~"

Wei Shen recalled the previous banquet and said sincerely: "You and Xiao Jin not going is the filial thing, right? Believe me, the time is too short; the Yang family doesn't have any grain or fodder to scrape, and I estimate they haven't even recovered from the last time."

The King: ……

Stop spouting big truths!

"What do you think I am? But after thinking, I still won't stay, after all the time is a bit tight. Moreover, my status is different now, so don't bother having the maternal uncle meet my carriage."

Wei Shen: ……

The King passed through the southern part of Expansive Agriculture Commandery without stopping, continuing on the road. But his route, you know, was increasingly veering to the southeast. At this time, few people had gone out on long journeys, and nobody had a map as detailed as the King's. Even Xie Yuan, who had traveled out many times, didn't notice any problem with this road, until one day the King suddenly approached him and said: "Just now I received news that the Prince of Runan killed the envoy sent to proclaim my edict. He himself has not yet left his fief, and has no intention of going to Everlasting Peace to plead guilty. He has already defied the edict; isn't that tantamount to rebellion?"

Xie Yuan thought for a moment and felt there was nothing wrong with that; the Prince of Runan had already made his choice, so even if we used troops in Runan come spring, it would be justified. Of course, if the Prince of Runan weren't in a hurry.

If the other side were to rush north this winter, he wouldn't be surprised. Especially this good disciple of his, who loves to stir up trouble for no reason, insists on going home for the New Year, thereby hanging the empty city of Everlasting Peace over the heads of all the rebel kings.

He nodded while thinking, then saw the King opposite him shudder; Xie Yuan only felt something was wrong, then heard the King joyfully say: "Exactly! Besides, Runan isn't far away either; to proclaim my edict and, along the way, suppress the rebellion in Runan!"

Xie Yuan: ……

"Delaying isn't good; let's just settle Runan along the way, go home and have a good New Year, how about that?" the King said, face full of excitement.

Xie Yuan suddenly realized, he had always felt something was off, but now it seemed to be resolved.

So that's why we've been going so long and still haven't reached Luoyang—it turns out we'd been taking a detour off the original route all along!

Besides, it makes sense that this fellow would bring ten thousand cavalry back to the Northern Border! Others don't understand the King, but he should realize: this fellow isn't the type to love showiness, so why would he spend money for no reason to bring an extra ten thousand cavalry back to Youzhou, when Youzhou already has that kind of cavalry!

He usually doesn't meddle in military affairs, yet he actually believed that the King was recalling the cavalry for Northern Border defense.

"May I borrow Your Majesty's map for a look?" These days they hadn't passed any major cities, camping out each day, only occasionally sending people out to purchase supplies; he should have raised his guard earlier. The King kept saying they brought so many cavalry to avoid entering cities and disturbing the populace, but since the Great Jin, aside from the Northern Border, had no reliable official roads elsewhere—everything was equally desolate—it was all deliberate, and he hadn't realized anything was wrong. Now thinking about it, the Northern Border's iron cavalry is disciplined; how could they disturb the people!

The King, also a bachelor, feigned ignorance: "What map? I didn't bring one either."

Xie Yuan: "……How far is it to Runan? Have we already passed Ying River?"

The King pointed with his hand: "Ying River is already to our north; Runan is just ahead~"

Xie Yuan: "……Your Majesty! There are still officials' families behind; is Your Majesty taking a detour to bring them to attack Runan?"

The King didn't care: "Throwing them halfway down the road, carrying all that stuff—isn't that outright testing the mettle of all kinds of bandits? I'm also doing it for their safety."

"Would bringing them to assault the city be safe?"

The King was quite confident about this: "Chancellor, you're giving the Prince of Runan too much credit; rest assured, we also brought gunpowder crossbows—failure is impossible." He had brought ten thousand cavalry, which was already quite a favor to the relatives.

Knowing that this fellow had planned everything since setting out from Everlasting Peace, whether the Prince of Runan killed the envoy or not, the result would be the same. It's hateful that the Prince of Runan doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth; he actually handed a ladder to the King.

With the King messing around like this, Xie Yuan no longer wanted to be Chancellor at this moment, saying: "Please call me Mister."

The King exclaimed on the spot: "You didn't say that hearing 'Mister' makes one's chest feel stuffy, so you don't allow it to be used!"

Xie Yuan: ……

Before, hearing him call 'Mister' back and forth gave him heart palpitations; now even being Chancellor is no good……

The King's plot was exposed, and he immediately stopped bothering to hide it; the officials, having seen the world, soon noticed that the city ahead looked vaguely familiar… this city… isn't it Yu Province?

How did we end up here? Will the imperial procession still get lost?

They weren't confused for long; soon word came from the rear, and the whole troop fell into panic.

Wei Shen watched the bustle of the panicked crowd, then intentionally went back to report to the King.

"When we attacked Everlasting Peace, these people all stayed home, seeing nothing of the grand spectacle. This time I'm bringing the family along to watch; next time I do something, they'll jump out and give it a try!"

Wei Shen deeply agreed: "Exactly!"

Xie Yuan: ……

From then on the King stopped pretending, and the marching speed surged; the troops rushed nonstop toward Runan, after all, it really was urgent to go home for the New Year, while the civil officials were worn to a frail state from all the turmoil.

Three days later, at dawn just breaking, they set out; the civil official squad that had been marching all the way to midnight the previous day was still in a hazy, dreamlike state when suddenly they heard the rumble of thunder; just as everyone thought the heavens were changing, they saw a mass of black cavalry pressing up from behind.

Before, the Mysterious Armor Cavalry had always trailed at the very end of the whole troop; they could occasionally see the regular-attire patrol cavalry units, the main force being invisible, only knowing they were bringing up the rear, which still gave a sense of security.

Now, the Mysterious Armor Cavalry revealed their true selves; everyone saw that the cavalry pressing up were fully armored, no longer just regular-attire, even the warhorses' bodies were wrapped in armor, and on their heads protruded a sharp, cold-glinting spear.

Those with clear minds realized: the front was probably Runan, with no escape.

Sure enough, upon inquiry, this place was already not far outside Runan City.

Cheng Taichang glanced at the panicked grandson, sighed, and said: "His Majesty bringing us here shows his confidence; he'll easily take Runan. Eldest, take Cheng Yi forward, let him gain some experience, don't let him suffer this fright for nothing."

Cheng Yi felt the sky collapse.

Still have to go up front to watch? Are you kidding me, ancestor?!

【Family members, these few days I have matters in the 3D world, big matters, so I really have no time, I'm absent. Starting tomorrow I'll return~】