Xia Jiang's suspicion of Yan Yujin was not unreasonable. Nowadays, most of the acquaintances and friends of King Jing's line were not in the capital. Only Yan Yujin had the ability and courage to harbor Concubine Jing.
It's just that Yan Yujin's status is a bit special. Although Xia Jiang is not afraid of offending him, Yan Que, the Marquis Yan behind Yan Yujin, even the current prince Xiao Jinghuan does not dare to look down upon.
The Yan family has been prominent for generations and has produced four prime ministers and assistants. Marquis Yan himself has many peaches and plums, and his younger sister is also a queen, making her a top-ranking relative.
If Xia Jiang rashly went to Yanhou Mansion to search for people, he might be self-defeating.
What's more, he didn't dare to search people in a big way. If anyone in the court found out that Concubine Jing, the Emperor and the Queen were all missing, the consequences would be very serious.
Xia Jiang thought for a long time and decided to go to Yanhou Mansion in person.
As the head of the Xuanjing Division, and now a popular person around the prince, it is normal for him to visit Yanhou.
What surprised Xia Jiang was that when he arrived at Yanhou Mansion, Yan Yujin personally came out with the housekeeper to greet him.
"Xia Shouzun, Yujin has missed his welcome, please forgive me." Yan Yujin saw that Xia Jiang was very calm, as if a junior meets his senior.
"Young Lord Marquis, I'm joking. I came here uninvited. Don't be surprised." Xia Jiang said with a smile, "I wonder if Marquis Yan is in the house."
Yan Yujin said calmly: "My father is refining elixirs, so we are not allowed to see outsiders."
Xia Jiang said: "In addition to visiting Yanhou, I have one more thing to do when I come here this time."
"Xia Shouzun, it's okay to just say it." Yan Yujin said.
"I discovered a group of criminal thieves who secretly sneaked into the Marquis's mansion with the intention of doing harm to Marquis Yan." Xia Jiang said, "I hope the young Marquis will do it conveniently and let people from the Xuanjing Division enter the mansion to search."
Yan Yujin was stunned and said in surprise: "Xia Shouzun wants to search my palace?"
Xia Jiang explained: "This is also for Yanhou's safety."
Yan Yujin was a little angry and said in a deep voice: "How dare you bother the Xuanjing Division, just a gangster? If someone from our Marquis Mansion finds out, they will send him to the Yamen."
Xia Jiang said coldly: "This thief is extremely cunning. The Xuanjing Division has been tracking him for a long time, but he still escaped. No one from the Marquis Mansion has contacted him, so I am worried that he may not be able to find him."
Yan Yujin's face became increasingly ugly, and when he was thinking about how to refuse, a voice sounded from behind.
"What does Xia Shouzun think of this place?"
Yan Yujin turned around and found that the person coming was his father who had not been seen for a long time.
Yan Que directly passed his son and stood opposite Xiajiang River.
"Marquis Yan." Xia Jiang knew that Yan Que had appeared and things might not be going well today.
"Xia Shouzun, did you come to my Yan Mansion today to show off your power?" Yan Que said coldly.
"Yanhou misunderstood, I am really trying to catch the thief." Xia Jiang said forcefully.
Yanque snorted coldly: "What kind of thief can actually dispatch the head of the Xuanjing Division to arrest him personally?"
"This person is extremely cruel and has committed many evil deeds outside the capital. I am worried about the safety of Yan's family, so I went there in person." Xia Jiang's attitude gradually became tougher.
"Marquis Yan has tried to stop me many times, but he wants to protect the criminal."
The people from the Xuanjing Division slowly put their hands on their weapons, as if they wanted to break into the Marquis's mansion if they disagreed.
Yan Que said coldly: "If Xia Shouzun wants to enter the house to get someone, I can't stop him, but there is a scandal ahead. If the Xuanjing Division doesn't find the person, what will happen?"
Xia Jiang said: "If no one is found, I will personally make amends to the Marquis."
"You just want to get over it with a light apology, how can it be so cheap!" Yan Que snorted coldly.
Xia Jiang said gloomily: "What should Yanhou do?"
Yanque said: "If you don't find anyone, I want you to set up two tables at the largest restaurant in Jinling, invite the dignitaries of the court to witness, and kneel down to apologize to me in public."
Xia Jiang heard that it was okay, but the two disciples behind him, Xia Qiu and Xia Chun, couldn't stand it.
"Yan Hou has been blocking the Xuanjing Division from handling the case, but he deliberately delayed the time and allowed the murderer to escape."
Yan Que glanced at Xia Chun arrogantly, not bothering to talk to him, and focused his eyes on Xia Jiang again.
"Xuanjing Division came to the Hou Mansion to arrest people for no reason, and surrounded the Hou Mansion without even saying hello." Yan Que said coldly:
"Although I, Yanque, have not asked about the affairs of the imperial court for a long time, I am still the uncle of the imperial court. Are you, the Xuanjing Division, too overbearing in your work? The prince has not yet ascended the throne as the emperor!"
Xia Jiang felt more and more that Concubine Jing must be hiding in Yanhou Mansion.
"Today, the Xuanjing Division must go into the Marquis's Mansion to get someone. I have agreed to the Marquis's request. If the person is not found, I will apologize to the Marquis in front of the civil and military officials of the court."
Xia Jiang waved his hand, and the people from the Xuanjing Division began to rush towards the Hou Mansion.
Yan Yujin was filled with indignation and wanted to block the Xuanjing Division, but was stopped by Yan Que.
"Let them go in and search." Yanque grabbed his son and said coldly: "I will definitely talk to the prince about what happened today."
Xia Jiang could not care too much at this time and personally led people into the Marquis Mansion to search for people. However, he searched for an hour and even searched the latrine three times, but found nothing.
Yan Que and Yan Yujin had been standing at the gate of the Hou Mansion, watching the people from the Xuanjing Division making their house a mess.
Xia Jiang was unwilling to give in, thinking that there was a secret room in the Hou Mansion, and he almost smashed the wall of the Hou Mansion.
As a result, after working hard for a long time, he still got nothing. Xia Jiang felt a little unable to get off stage.
"Let's go!" Xia Jiang said with a gloomy face, preparing to take people away.
Yanque sneered and said, "Xia Shouzun wants to leave now?"
Xia Jiang said unwillingly: "Tomorrow, I will host a banquet in the restaurant in person to apologize to Marquis Yan."
Yan Yujin said angrily: "Xia Shouzun, you have smashed our Marquis Mansion all over, now you can no longer just set up two tables and forget about it!"
Xia Jiang said: "Xuanjing Division will be responsible for the damage to the Hou Mansion to the end, and will send people to repair the Hou Mansion another day."
"No need." Yan Que shouted angrily: "I am not short of this little money, but what Xuanjing Division did today is too much. Master Xia will go into the palace with me personally and confront the prince!"
Xia Jiang wondered: "I have to go to other places to search, and I really can't spare the time. I will give an explanation to Mr. Hou another day."
Yanque grabbed Xia Jiang and refused to let him go. He said righteously: "Xia Shou-zun, don't even think about leaving. If you don't explain the matter clearly today, even if my Yan family goes to beat the drum of news, I won't give up."
The people from the Xuanjing Division once again faced off with the people from the Yanhou Mansion, and each even drew their weapons.
Just when the atmosphere became increasingly tense, the prince's chariot finally appeared.
"The prince has arrived."
Yanque let go of Xia Jiang.
"Master Yan Que." Xiao Jinghuan stepped out of the carriage, glanced at Xia Jiang reproachfully, and then personally apologized to Yan Que:
"Xia Shouzun did something wrong today when he arrested the bandit. For my sake, can you forgive him this time?"
Yan Que said with a straight face: "The Xuanjing Division is too domineering. Just based on a little rumor, he dared to come to my house and search the uncle's house. Does that mean that in the future, the Xuanjing Division only needs to find an excuse?"
, you can go anywhere to get someone!”
Xiao Jinghuan's face twitched, and he turned to Xia Jiang and scolded: "Xia Jiang, you are so reckless today, why don't you apologize to Lord Yan quickly?"
Xia Jiang reluctantly clasped his fists and said: "Master Yan, Xia Jiang bumped into you today. I hope you will not forget the villain's fault and forgive Xia Jiang."
Xiao Jinghuan glanced at the tense Xuanjing Division people again, and scolded: "Don't put away your weapons yet."
Xuanjing Si did not put away his weapons immediately, but looked at Xia Jiang.
"Didn't you hear what His Highness the Crown Prince said?" Xia Jiang shouted angrily.
Only then did the people from the Bounty Department put away their weapons.
Yanque snorted coldly: "Xia Shouzun is really good at handling his subordinates. Don't your disciples and disciples have bad ears? You can't even follow the prince's orders. You have to speak before you put away your weapons."
Hearing this, Jamel Xiao's face also turned a little dark.
Xia Jiang wanted to explain, but Xiao Jinghuan didn't give him a chance and said directly to Yan Hou: "Today, the Xuanjing Division destroyed the Hou Mansion. I will immediately send someone to repair it. If Yan Hou is still not satisfied, I will simply give you another one."
The house."
"Thank you for your kindness, Prince. I'm used to living here and don't want to move." Yan Que said proudly:
"If nothing happens, please invite the prince back to the palace."
Xiao Jinghuan was a little embarrassed, but he also knew that Yanhou's temper was like this, so he could only return to the East Palace in despair.
Xia Jiang also returned with the prince, while Xia Chun and Xia Qiu continued to search for Concubine Jing's whereabouts.
After Yan Que returned home, he recruited his son Yan Yujin to his side.
"Where did you hide Concubine Jing?" Yan Que said to Yan Yujin as he cooked tea.
Yan Yujin was shocked and stuttered: "Father, I, I didn't hide it!"
Yanque brought a cup of tea to his son, and then said, "You still want to hide it from me, thinking that your father doesn't know the good things you have done."
Yan Yujin said dejectedly: "Father, haven't you been refining elixirs and cultivating Taoism and not asking about the affairs of the court?"
Yanque snorted coldly: "What you are doing now may destroy the accumulation of our Yan family for generations."
Yan Yujin said seriously: "Father, King Yu is not a human king. If he ascends to the throne, my Yan family will not have a good life."
Yan Que smiled slightly and said, "Are you helping Prince Jing for the sake of the Yan family, or are you helping Prince Jing because Prince Jing is your friend?"
Yan Yujin's head slowly lowered.
To be honest, Yan Yujin helped Prince Jing just for the sake of being a friend, and at the same time he felt that what Prince Yu did was a bit excessive.
Yanque shook his head, drank the tea, and said slowly: "Then do you think, in this battle, King Jing has a better chance of winning, or King Yu has a better chance of winning."
"Of course it's Prince Jing." Yan Yujin said without hesitation: "More than half of the military power in Daliang is in the hands of Prince Jing, and Prince Yu has no chance of winning."
Yan Que shook his head and said: "You can think of things, but do you think smart people like King Yu and Xia Jiang can't think of them?"
Yan Yujin said in surprise: "Father, do you mean that Prince Jing may be defeated?"
Yan Que put down the tea bowl and said: "On the surface, Prince Jing does have a large number of troops, but there are also four dangers. If Prince Jing cannot grasp it, he may indeed be defeated!"
Yan Yujin asked curiously: "What are the four crises?"
Yanque snorted coldly: "Do I still need to give you some advice for my father?"
Yan Yujin couldn't help but think carefully after hearing this.
"The only things that can restrain Prince Jing now are military rations, fame and righteousness. My son really can't think of the fourth point." Yan Yujin was confused.
Yanque sighed and said, "Prince Yu knows that there is a huge disparity in military strength between himself and Prince Jing, so why doesn't he know how to borrow troops?"
"What other troops can be borrowed in Daliang?" Yan Yujin said: "The military power in the northwest has always been in the hands of Lie Zhanying from Prince Jing's Mansion. Princess Nihuang in the south has an irreversible relationship with Prince Jing, and there is Commander Meng in the east.
Who would lend troops to King Yu when he is in charge?"
Yanque sighed and said, "Daliang is not the only country in the world."
Yan Yujin opened his mouth in shock and said, "How dare King Yu dare to risk the disapproval of the world and borrow troops from Dayu and Beiyan!?"
Yanque said gloomily: "Don't you think it's strange that Dayu and Beiyan retreated this time?"
Yan Yujin said thoughtfully: "It is indeed incredible that Dayu and Beiyan retreated because of the hot weather."
Yan Que gritted his teeth and said, "As a father, I am sure that the withdrawal of the Yan army from the Northern Chongqing is a lie. King Yu must have reached some kind of cooperation with him."
"If Prince Yu lures a wolf into the house, I will be in danger." Yan Yujin said excitedly: "Father, we should help Prince Jing!"
Yan Que slowly stood up, looked out the window, and said: "The war is about to begin. The battle that really determines the fate of Daliang should start soon. We can only wait and see what happens."
Yan Yujin frowned and said, "Father, you have always taught me to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic. Why are you so hesitant at this time?"
Yanque sighed and said, "I made the wrong choice to be a father once, and I can't make the wrong choice again this time."
…………
Northern Territory.
Not long after Wang Gang led an army of 400,000 to the south.
The 400,000 troops of Dayu and Beiyan retreated and returned to the border of Daliang again.
This time Dayu not only sent the most elite imperial troops in the country, Beiyan even sent the most elite cavalry troops.
Moreover, a steady stream of additional troops from both countries is on the way. The most conservative estimate is that the total number of troops invested has reached more than 800,000.
At this time, only very few troops were stationed in the northern border of Daliang. The armies of the two countries successfully crossed the northern defense line, entered the hinterland of Daliang, and reached the Huaihe River area.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Eight hundred thousand troops are stationed in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River, so vast that they can't be seen to the end.
Tuobatao, the commander of the Chongqing Imperial Army, as the commander-in-chief of this coalition, allowed the army to temporarily rest and prepare tools for crossing the river. He did not choose to cross the river rashly.
This time when he invaded Daliang, Tuobatao had never had it so easy. Not only did he have an army of 800,000 men, he was also supported by the prince of Daliang. There was no decent resistance along the way and he fought directly to the edge of the Huaihe River.
But Tuobatao was not dazzled by the victory. The less resistance there was, the more strange he felt, so he allowed the army to rest temporarily.
Also, in this invasion of Daliang, Dayu sent 500,000 troops and Beiyan sent 300,000 troops. It was a cooperative relationship, but both sides were on guard. Tuobatao was always a little incapable of commanding.
He wanted to take advantage of the opportunity of being stationed to integrate the army. At least half of the main beam was not captured, and the two sides could not fight in a nest.
It's just that some people don't want to give Tuobatao a chance to integrate the army.
On the second day after the 800,000-strong army was stationed, a Daliang army suddenly appeared on the other side of the Huaihe River, with the word "Jing" written on its flag.
After Tuobatao received the news, he immediately sent a message to the three armies to prepare for war with all their strength. However, his order was still a step late. The army from the other side rushed over the river and attacked. At this time, the 800,000-strong army had not yet reacted.
When Tuobatao heard the report from his subordinates, he thought there was something wrong with his ears.
"Running on the river?!" Tuobatao said in disbelief: "Why are you so faint?"
The soldier who was delivering the order also looked horrified at this time and said: "Commander, I really didn't lie to you, the cavalry of Daliang, they, they really rushed over on the river, and many people saw it."
Tuobatao frowned, and then heard the cry of killing.
"Daliang people came over so quickly?" Tuobatao ran out of the camp in surprise, and then found that the coalition forces were in chaos.
There were even more fires burning along the river bank, and the sound of war drums was deafening.
Wang Gang personally led 30,000 Liang cavalry, marching across the Huaihe River, charging all the way into the coalition positions.
Tuobatao felt that there was a natural danger in the Huaihe River that could be defended, so the defenses on the river bank were empty.
In addition, when the coalition forces saw the Daliang cavalry coming across the water, they were all too shocked to react, and were caught off guard by Wang Gang.
Thirty thousand cavalry were like an awl, piercing into the coalition position.
The 800,000-strong army immediately sat in a huddle. In addition, the coalition forces had poor coordination and no one could command the overall situation. Everyone followed their instincts and retreated. As a result, people trampled on others and horses trampled on people. The more they trampled, the more chaotic they were, resulting in numerous casualties.
Tuobatao realized something was wrong and quickly gathered his imperial army, hoping to reorganize the army and fight again. After all, Wang Gang only had 30,000 cavalry at his disposal. As long as they could withstand the first wave of impact, the coalition forces would still have a chance to turn defeat into victory.
However, Wang Gang did not give the enemy any chance at all. Suddenly another large army appeared behind the coalition forces, led by Meng Zhi, and kept firing rockets at the coalition forces.
When the rocket falls into the coalition forces, it will explode, like thunder from the sky, and once again knock down those who were beaten by the imperial army.
The horses were frightened and ran rampant in the military camp. The already chaotic army immediately became even more chaotic. Many soldiers did not die at the hands of the enemy, but were accidentally injured by their own people.
