Chapter 198: Dispatching Troops

"What, what did you say!"

Yancheng.

The Prince's Mansion.

Mo Yu grabbed Ma Yuan's collar tightly, refusing to let go.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

Ma Yuan was being choked until he couldn't catch his breath; he looked as if he were about to cry.

Upon arriving in Yancheng, he had told Yan Wang the news of Mo Di's suicide.

"Nephew Mo, no one expected things to turn out this way. Although there are many suspicious points regarding General Mo's suicide, there is currently no way to uncover any clues within it."

Zhao Xu signaled to Chang Wei, and Chang Wei pulled Mo Yu away.

"Father, Father..." Mo Yu's hands were forcibly pried open by Chang Wei, and bean-sized tears fell from his eyes.

He seemed to have lost all his strength at once, leaning against Chang Wei's shoulder, his mouth merely murmuring incessantly.

Then, he suddenly widened his eyes and charged at Ma Yuan again, "It was all of you, all of you! For ten years, my father has been dutiful and devoted to the country, yet you bunch of court officials not only turned a blind eye to my father's merits but instead criticized him at every turn. Now, you even slander my father for colluding with Yan Wang to rebel!"

"I tell you, I came under Yan Wang's command at my father's instruction because he felt disgusted by the faces of people like you. Today, I am rebelling!" Mo Yu shouted incessantly.

But his voice came to an abrupt halt; Chang Wei had knocked him unconscious.

Zhao Xu's expression was grim.

This was not directed at Mo Yu, but at Ma Yuan.

This investigation was an order from the Imperial Court.

As an Imperial Prince, he could only cooperate.

But for such a major incident to occur during the investigation, it definitely originated from the people who had come to investigate.

"This Prince absolutely does not believe General Mo would commit suicide, because both this Prince and General Mo are innocent. There is absolutely no such thing as suicide out of fear of punishment; this is slander."

"Moreover, under the heavy protection of the Gongting Jinjunjun, General Mo was killed. There is definitely a traitor among your people," Zhao Xu said coldly.

Ma Yuan's face was dark, "Although there is no concrete evidence, this old official believes that His Highness and General Mo are innocent, and the Yuan Family definitely has a problem..."

His words were not yet finished.

Suddenly, someone rushed in hurriedly; it was Xu Ke.

At this moment, Xu Ke's face was deathly pale, looking as if the end of the world had arrived.

"Your Highness, the Yuan Family has rebelled! They attacked the Gongting Jinjunjun in Fanyang and are now marching toward Yanguan!" Xu Ke shouted.

"What!" Upon hearing this, Ma Yuan sat down on the ground with a thud.

Now he suddenly felt that everything was so absurd.

Why did they have to suspect Yan Wang and Mo Di?

If they had pointed directly at the Yuan Family from the beginning, how could there be today's disaster?

Chang Wei and the other generals all had solemn expressions.

General Mo was dead, and the Yuan Family had rebelled.

The current Yanguan was facing the greatest danger since the founding of the Great Song.

Furthermore, if the Yuan Family rebelled, it was equivalent to confirming the fact that they had colluded with the Northern Di people.

At the same time the Yuan Family marched on Yanguan, the Northern Di army was likely also closing in on Yanguan.

"Your Highness, we must immediately send troops to rescue Yanguan," Chang Wei said in a deep voice.

Lv Chang, Zhong Li, and other generals nodded solemnly.

"Your Highness, we are willing to die on the battlefield to protect Yanzhou," Zhong Li stepped forward and said, cupping his hands.

"This humble general as well," Lv Chang also stepped forward.

Then Chen Hu, Qin Shan, Bai Shang, and other generals stepped forward one by one.

"Yanzhou has reached its most dangerous moment; please make the decision, Your Highness!" the generals said in unison.

Ma Yuan scanned the generals of Yan Wang one by one.

He suddenly burst into tears and knelt before Zhao Xu, "Your Highness, at this moment, only you can turn the tide in Yanzhou."

Zhao Xu was silent for a long time; did he have any other choice?

Losing Yanzhou was equivalent to losing his fief.

Losing his fief, his fate would only be miserable.

Therefore, he had no other choice.

"Bring this Prince's Armor," Zhao Xu said.

Feng'er and Luan'er had been guarding outside the door.

The two of them had heard the commotion inside clearly.

Upon hearing this, the two wiped away their tears secretly, but still went to the backyard to fetch Zhao Xu's Armor.

Right there in the Council Hall, Zhao Xu changed into the Armor,

And put on his sword.

The generals' eyes were burning with intensity.

This time, they would fight side by side with Yan Wang once again.

"Father..."

Just at this moment, Mo Yu slowly regained consciousness.

Opening his eyes, he immediately drew his sword, intending to strike Ma Yuan.

Zhao Xu shouted: "Enough! The Yuan Family has rebelled; now is not the time for you to settle personal grudges. General Mo is dead, but Yanguan still needs someone to take charge of the overall situation. You are the son of General Mo and a general at Yanguan; currently, only you can command the generals at Yanguan to hold the city to the death."

"Yuan Li has rebelled." Upon hearing this, Mo Yu was shocked.

Influenced by his father for many years, he instinctively believed that the current priority should be to defend Yanguan.

He glanced at Ma Yuan and sheathed his sword.

Zhao Xu continued, "Return to the camp immediately and order the thirty thousand soldiers to set out for Yanguan."

"Yes, Your Highness." Chang Wei turned and left.

They had been preparing all these days, and all supplies were ready, so they could depart immediately.

Zhao Xu said to Liu Fu again, "The Yuan Family is making a desperate gamble; I fear they will turn Yanzhou upside down, and it is hard to guarantee that the Rich Clans of other commanderies will not stir up trouble. I leave Shanggu Commandery and Yan Commandery to you."

"Rest assured, Your Highness, this official is also prepared to die in battle." A calm smile hung on Liu Fu's face, "Being able to follow Your Highness is this official's greatest fortune in this life."

Zhao Xu grasped his hand and nodded heavily.

Then he strode out of the Council Hall.

Outside the door, Feng'er and Luan'er had teary eyes.

Gently stroking each of their heads, Zhao Xu smiled at them, said nothing, and continued walking forward.

"Your Highness, take this." Luan'er chased after him and stuffed a silk pouch into Zhao Xu's hand.

Feng'er wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, "Your Highness need not worry about us, just go."

Zhao Xu gripped the silk pouch, took a deep look at the two of them, and turned to leave.

This sudden situation had exceeded his expectations.

He himself did not know what the outcome of the war would be.

But as Yan Wang, he had to fight for everything he protected.

One hour passed.

The soldiers of the North Camp had all finished assembling.

In the ranks, one hundred Siege Cannons mounted on gun carriages and twenty Field Artillery pieces for Eight-Jin Shells were particularly conspicuous.

Unlike in Shanggu Commandery, the Artillery this time was not covered with cloth.

Its heavy metallic texture was daunting just to look at.

The movement of the army drew the attention of the commoners in Yancheng.

The news of the Yuan Family's rebellion also spread.

As the army slowly moved along the main street and exited through the East Gate, the streets were lined with commoners who had come to see them off.

They knew that this time, Yan Wang would once again go to war for them.

But this time, the enemy they faced was far more powerful than ever before.

"Long live Yan Wang!" someone shouted from the crowd.

Then, this phrase erupted into the clouds like a volcanic eruption.

Countless commoners shouted, their necks turning red and their throats aching, yet they refused to stop.

The loud sound could be heard even after the Prince's Personal Army had marched far away.

Amidst these shouts, the soldiers looked at Yan Wang in his military attire on horseback, their expressions gradually becoming resolute.