Chapter 467: The Emperor Arrives in Yan City

Latest URL: Yanguan.

While Zhong Li protected Zhao Heng as they headed toward Qin Pass.

Zhao Xu officially took the final step of this East-West coordinated plan.

After Chang Wei returned, he rested briefly.

On this day, he ordered the Yanguan army to march out of the city.

They formed ranks outside the city, confronting the Northern Di camp.

The tactics were the same as those used when attacking the Black Iron Royal Tent.

This time, they likewise used War Chariots to form a Chariot Formation, moving toward the Northern Di camp.

Zhao Xu did not follow the army into battle, but instead stood on the city wall, observing the battlefield through a Telescope.

Seeing Yanguan open its gates, the soldiers filed out one after another.

The Northern Di camp immediately showed signs of activity.

Cavalry surged out from the tents like a tidal wave.

Light Cavalry split into left and right flanks, closing in on the Chariot Formation.

However, these Light Cavalry seemed to have no intention of attacking the Chariot Formation.

It seemed they were only there to harass the Chariot Formation; they would run within a hundred meters, fire a round of Arrow at the War Chariots, and then flee.

Then they would run back to harass them again.

Yet at such a distance, the Northern Di's Arrow had almost no effect on the Chariot Formation.

The Chariot Formation continued to advance forward.

Seeing this, some Northern Di cavalry seemed intent on testing them, entering within fifty meters.

At this moment, Flintlock Infantry moved from inside the Chariot Formation to the outer sides and formed ranks to fire.

The Northern Di cavalry fell from their horses instantly.

Seeing this scene, a smile appeared at the corner of Zhao Xu's mouth.

The combination of War Chariots and Flintlock Infantry had quite the feel of modern infantry-tank coordination.

While the War Chariots protected the soldiers,

the soldiers were also protecting the War Chariots.

While Zhao Xu was observing the battlefield.

Lamu was ordering the soldiers in the camp to break camp and head toward Ning City.

When over a hundred thousand Yan Wang troops came out of Yanguan, he had a premonition that something was very wrong.

Yan Wang had sent soldiers to raid Ningjin Dusi and had also dispatched a large army to confront him.

This was a deliberate attempt to take back Ningjin Dusi.

At present, only his royal tent was confronting Yan Wang.

If other Great Song troops were here, he would have the confidence to fight them.

But the Black Iron Royal Tent had already suffered at the hands of Yan Wang's Chariot Formation, and he did not want to repeat the same mistake.

Moreover, he was very clear that the Northern Di's advantage lay in archery and horsemanship.

Fighting to the death against Yan Wang's Chariot Formation would undoubtedly cause them to lose the mobility of their cavalry.

Using his own weaknesses to fight Yan Wang's strengths.

Thinking of this, he immediately made a decision.

He would have the cavalry harass them to obstruct the Chariot Formation from closing in on the camp.

Meanwhile, he prepared to retreat to Ning City to lure Yan Wang into deep territory.

Once Yan Wang pursued, he would leverage the Northern Di cavalry's advantage to contest the supply lines with Yan Wang's cavalry.

At that time, he would like to see how Yan Wang's troops would respond.

"Hmph, Yan Wang, if you have the ability, then send your men over." Lamu sneered, turned, and left.

On the city wall.

Zhao Xu noticed the movement in the Northern Di camp and saw the Northern Di tents breaking camp and heading north.

His expression was calm and unruffled.

This matter was within his expectations; unless the Northern Di king in the opposite camp was a fool.

Otherwise, he would not fight him to the death.

Constantly luring him deep was the correct strategy.

However, how could he truly place his own troops in danger?

This time, he was merely creating pressure for the Northern Di.

It was enough for Lamu to send the news of his troops leaving Yanguan to Mule Hongzhen.

Therefore, next, he would have his own troops march slowly, covering a few miles a day, then stop to rest for a day or two, and then continue north.

But this distance would not exceed the safety line in his heart.

Qin Pass.

While Zhao Xu was feigning an attack on Ningjin Dusi, Zhong Li and his party were still racing for their lives.

After two days of trekking.

At noon on the third day, Zhong Li and his party arrived at the foot of Qin Pass.

By this time, many cavalrymen were left with only one horse.

Looking up at the towering Qin Pass, the corners of Zhong Li's and many soldiers' eyes were moist.

They finally completed the mission entrusted to them by Yan Wang and returned successfully.

"Si Province Shepherd Ma Han pays respects to the Emperor."

No sooner had Zhong Li and his party entered than Ma Han hurried over.

For the past few days, he had often come to the ramparts of Qin Pass to gaze eastward, hoping that Zhong Li and the others could return safely.

Yet even so, in his heart, he did not hold much hope for Zhong Li's mission.

Now that Zhong Li had returned and even successfully rescued the Emperor, he was naturally quite shocked.

"Hahaha... rise." Zhao Heng laughed heartily, showing none of the wretchedness he had in Xian City.

At this moment, he seemed once again to be the Great Song Emperor sitting upon the Dragon Throne in Jinling City.

He then said, "I have traveled a long distance over these two days and am somewhat weary; you are to prepare a residence and ready some Wine and food."

In Xian City, he had been unable to eat or sleep well, and for the past two days, he had been jolted on horseback, eating only the Roasted Flour carried by Yan Wang's soldiers.

Upon hearing this, Ma Han replied in the affirmative.

The Second Prince also let out a heavy sigh of relief now that he had escaped danger.

He puffed out his chest and raised his head, recovering the dignity of an Imperial Prince.

Yet the commoner's clothing on his body caused the Ma Family generals to feel disdain.

There was no doubt that this Second Prince had wanted to pose as a commoner to muddle through.

Zhao Heng noticed the expression of the Ma Family generals, glanced at the Second Prince, and gave a light huff, "Why don't you go take off those clothes? You are a disgrace."

Only then did the Second Prince remember, and he was greatly embarrassed.

Feeling somewhat ashamed and annoyed, he thought to himself, you, this Emperor, are not much better.

Weren't you scared enough to almost wet your pants back in Xian City?

He said these words in his heart, but dared not reveal them.

He could only reply in the affirmative repeatedly and slinked away, asking Ma Han to prepare a set of clothes for him.

They rested at Qin Pass for one day.

Zhao Heng then had Ma Han prepare a temporary imperial carriage for him, and set off for Yancheng.

"Father Emperor, this son still believes it is appropriate to return directly to Jinling; why must we go to Yan Wang's fief?" Upon learning that Zhao Heng was truly going to Yancheng, the Second Prince kept trying to dissuade him.

He did not want to go to Yancheng at all.

The Northern Expedition had been a disastrous defeat, yet Yan Wang had turned the tide and performed such a miraculous feat.

He did not want to see Yan Wang's smug face.

Furthermore, he and the Sixth Prince had bullied Yan Wang the most when they were in Jingshi.

He worried that Zhao Xu would take the opportunity to retaliate against him.

After all, this ninth younger brother of his, who used to be cowardly, was now quite bold.

"Hmph, if not for you disturbing my mind during this Northern Expedition, how could there have been such a crushing defeat? When we return to Jingshi, I will settle this account with you myself." Zhao Heng heard this and gave an angry huff.

He then said, "The fighting for this Northern Expedition has not yet ended; if I flee back to Jinling now, how will the people of the world view me? Furthermore, Yan Wang traveled thousands of miles to save me, and his fief is only two or three days' journey away; would it not chill his heart if I did not pay a visit?"

In truth, he had other calculations in his heart.

The fighting in the Northwest this time had been so poor that even he himself blushed.

By heading to Yanzhou, he also had the intention of claiming credit.

He was currently on a personal expedition, and Yanzhou was also a battlefield; if he went, this merit would naturally fall partly upon him.

If Yan Wang could also lift the siege of Xian City, then this Northern Expedition would not have been lost too uglily.

The Second Prince's mind was currently filled only with returning to Jinling, so he naturally did not consider these things.

Upon hearing this, he had no choice but to hold his tongue.

The next day.

Under the escort of Zhong Li and the Ma Family troops, Zhao Heng's imperial carriage headed toward Yancheng in a grand procession.

Because the imperial carriage traveled slowly, after more than five days, the party arrived at Yancheng.