si-mexico Chapter 2223 We must save them all!
Chapter 2223 We must save them all!
Guan Yun turned to Chu Ning, his tone solemn: "Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard monitors the entire country, penetrating every nook and cranny. Have you discovered anything about Prince Xuan's recent movements, especially his dealings with the Scorpion Clan?"
"How exactly did he get involved with the likes of Helian Hui and Gongsun Yi? Is there some other hidden story behind it?"
Guan Yun's question hit the nail on the head.
All eyes turned to Chu Ning once again.
Yes, Chu Xuan's rebellion was by no means an isolated incident; there must have been clues to it.
When Chu Ning heard the name "Chu Xuan," his already gloomy face turned even colder.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the wilderness outside the city, now occupied by the rebels and the Scorpion Clan, as if he could see through the tents and into the sight of the royal uncle he once trusted.
His voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth, yet it reached everyone's ears with crystal clarity, revealing the chilling truth:
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard... has indeed verified this."
He spoke slowly, each word like an ice bead hitting the ground: "Right after the Battle of Black Stone Fortress, when our army had just won its first victory and the Tang army under Guo Ziyi was in retreat, Chu Xuan had already secretly met with Helian Hui, the Khan of the Scorpion Clan."
A collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the crowd atop the city wall.
After the Battle of Blackrock Fortress?
That was precisely the time when the Chu army was riding high and Chu Xuan was supposed to do everything he could to contain Gongsun Yi according to plan!
He actually started making contact with the enemy at that time?
Chu Ning continued, his voice laced with suppressed anger: "Not only did he make peace in private, but he also used swift and decisive means to control the chief strategist accompanying the army—Mr. Su Tingmei."
"Mr. Su?"
Feng Mulan gasped in shock, her face instantly turning extremely pale.
Su Tingmei's name was known to everyone in the Chu army's high command.
Although this person held no official position, he was Chu Xuan's most important strategist. He was learned, insightful, and highly respected among the soldiers and civilians of Youzhou. He made many contributions to stabilizing Youzhou and planning military affairs.
More importantly, Su Tingmei is not a blindly obedient person; she has her own integrity and principles.
Controlling Su Tingmei is tantamount to cutting off any possible dissenting voices under Chu Xuan's command, and it also means that Chu Xuan has completely gained absolute control of the Youzhou army.
"good."
A hint of regret and coldness flashed in Chu Ning's eyes: "Mr. Su tried his best to persuade him to no avail, and was instead placed under house arrest."
"Chu Xuan used this to intimidate the Youzhou army and completely control the troops."
"Subsequently, he reached an agreement with Helian Hui, and may even have offered him great benefits, persuading Gongsun Yi's army, which was originally confronting him at Black Stone Fortress, to come here together."
"Their goal from the very beginning was not just to rescue Li Shiming, but also to annihilate me, along with my main army, under the walls of Jianghuai City!"
"What he chose was to cooperate with the Scorpion Clan, stepping over the corpses of me and the 100,000 soldiers of Great Chu, to sit on the throne he has long coveted!"
Although the truth was cruel, Chu Ning's clear logic in revealing it dispelled the fog in everyone's minds, leaving only cold anger and lingering fear.
What a meticulously planned conspiracy!
"So... how is Mr. Su now?"
Feng Mulan hurriedly pressed for answers, her tone filled with worry.
She admired Su Tingmei's character and talent.
Chu Ning remained silent for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "According to the last vague news, Chu Xuan spared his life out of consideration for old friendships and perhaps also out of respect for Mr. Su's reputation in the military."
"He was simply imprisoned in the central military camp, completely cut off from all contact with the outside world."
He paused, his gaze sharpening and resolute, and said with unwavering certainty:
"Therefore, what I need to do next is not just to rescue General Han Xing."
His voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable determination, echoing across the city walls:
"Mr. Su Tingmei, I must save him too!"
These words sent a jolt through the hearts of all the generals.
Saving Han Xing is already a difficult task.
They also had to rescue Su Tingmei, who was under the strict guard of the traitorous king, from the enemy camp.
This is undoubtedly extremely difficult and dangerous.
But seeing the emperor's resolute and determined gaze, no one raised any questions.
They knew this was not just about saving two people, but also about making a declaration to Chu Xuan, and to all traitors and enemies:
The counterattack of the Great Chu Emperor is about to begin!
He will never abandon either a loyal minister or a righteous man!
Two hours passed slowly yet swiftly amidst the tense standoff and intensive preparations inside and outside Jianghuai City.
As the sun rose higher, it dispelled the morning mist, but it could not dispel the invisible yet heavy pressure that permeated the air above the battlefield.
Within the Chu army camp, a light cavalryman quietly rode out from the west gate, the messenger on horseback dressed in the attire of a civil official.
He was not wearing armor, but held aloft a small flag symbolizing negotiations. With a solemn expression, he headed towards the most conspicuous Tang army dragon flag tent at the junction of the Tang army and the Youzhou-Scorpion Clan allied forces.
Along the way, countless eyes—those of the Tang army, the Youzhou army, and the Scorpion Clan cavalry—stared at him with vigilance, curiosity, or hostility.
But he kept his eyes straight ahead, steadily controlling the reins as he navigated through the jungle of spears, halberds, and banners.
Finally, escorted by a team of elite Tang soldiers, he arrived outside Li Shimin's imperial tent.
After a brief but rigorous inspection, the messenger was led into the tent.
The atmosphere inside the imperial tent was heavy.
Li Shiming was not seated in a high position, but stood in front of a huge map of the Jianghuai region, his finger unconsciously pointing at a certain spot.
His face was still pale, but he seemed to be in much better spirits than the night before, and the deep, calculating look that belonged to an emperor returned to his eyes.
Below the tent, Zhang Wu and several other trusted generals stood solemnly on both sides, all eyes focused on the Chu envoy who had entered the enemy camp alone.
The envoy, neither servile nor arrogant, bowed to Li Shimin according to etiquette, and then presented a letter sealed with sealing wax with both hands:
"This foreign subject has come on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor of Great Chu to present a letter of state and to discuss the exchange of hostages with His Majesty the Emperor of Tang."
A eunuch stepped forward, took the letter, checked it, and then presented it to Li Shiming.
Li Shiming took it, removed the sealing wax, pulled out the letter inside, and slowly unfolded it.
The letter was written by Chu Ning himself, with strong, powerful strokes that seemed to penetrate the paper, carrying a sharp spirit that refused to bow down even in adversity.
The content is concise, gets straight to the point, and contains little fluff.
Li Shiming's gaze wandered over the letter. When he saw a certain spot, his eyebrows twitched imperceptibly upwards, and the corners of his mouth seemed to twitch slightly, revealing a mixture of amusement and scrutiny.
"Tomorrow at noon, ten miles away, at Changtingpo."
He read the key information from the letter in a low voice, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet imperial tent.
He naturally knew about Changtingpo.
Located about ten miles southwest of Jianghuai City, it is a relatively open, slightly undulating hillside with a good view. It is named after an abandoned post station pavilion on the hill.
This location is not too close to either side's main camp, and there are no natural defenses nearby, making it difficult to ambush a large army. However, it is a traditional choice for conducting such sensitive transactions.
Chu Ning's choice of this location was clearly deliberate, aiming to ensure safety while also demonstrating that he had no ulterior motives.