Chapter 13: A Great Victory in the Northwest >
ith each flash of white light, the wind that swept through the room grew stronger.Then, the entire room was filled with a whirlwind of books and paintings, swirling around Zhang Liyang in its center l...Zhang Liyang once again ran to the Zhishifang every day, inquiring about all sorts of news brought by eunuchs and guards from the Zhishifang.
As for leaving the palace, Zhang Liyang had never given up. He just never found an opportunity.
As usual, Zhang Liyang strolled among the crowd, occasionally taking out some silver coins to place bets.
"I heard General Li came back from there"
"Hey, from now on it's not General Li anymore, it should be Mr. Li Guozhu."
"Well Did you get the message"
"This news needs no further confirmation With such merit, he will undoubtedly be appointed as a national pillar by His Majesty."
"Oh well, if I had followed General Li back then, I guess I could be a military officer now."
"Don't be ridiculous, you wouldn't even amount to a footnote on the battlefield."
"Hey guys, what's up"
A sudden sound interrupted the two guards' conversation. They turned to see a young eunuch.
"Hey, you eunuch, are you interested in this military affair too"
"That's right, that's a real man's battlefield. I guess you'll never have a chance in your lifetime, haha…"
Forcing down the anger in his heart and listening to the two guards' teasing, Zhang Liyang tried hard to squeeze out a few smiles, "I have never left the palace in my life. I am very interested in things outside."
Zhang Liyang, while speaking, took out some silver coins and shoved them into the other person's hand. "A little something as a token of appreciation, consider it filial piety towards the two of you."
Feeling the weight of the silver in his hand, the two guards exchanged a knowing glance. They pocketed the money and then explained the situation to Zhang Liyang.
From the guard's words, Zhang Liyang also understood what had happened.
The northwestern border of the Great Qin Dynasty has always been turbulent, with the Ci Lai tribe constantly raiding.
Two hundred years ago, Ci Lai launched a surprise attack on the northwestern border of the Dagan Dynasty. Taking advantage of the unpreparedness of the garrison troops, he directly captured the border fortress Feilong City.
When the news returned to the imperial city, the then-Emperor of Great Qin almost died of anger. However, the then-Emperor of Great Qin did not die of anger, but many generals in the court were killed.
In the end, Emperor Dagan could only implement a strategy of "clearing the land and fortifying walls" around Feilong City to prevent Ci Lai from using it as a base to further expand his conquests southward. He also dispatched nearly 300,000 troops to tie down the forces of the Daqian dynasty, weakening their ability to restrain the other two dynasties.
At that time, the Great Qin Dynasty was almost besieged by a coalition of three other dynasties. If it weren't for the Great Qin Dynasty's desperate resistance, it might not have existed.
Under the battles that spanned over a decade, the situation of the Great Qi Dynasty gradually stabilized. However, Fei Long City remained firmly in the hands of Ci Lai, like a nail stubbornly stuck into the body of the Great Qi Dynasty.
And now, the Northwest Campaign's Grand Marshal Li Zhiyi has unexpectedly recaptured Feilong City! This undoubtedly dropped a bombshell in the court!
Even when the current Emperor of Great Yan first received the news, he couldn't quite believe it. It wasn't until he had confirmed it several times that he was sure it was true.
It is said that that night, Emperor Dagan got drunk alone and praised Li Zhiyi greatly in court. He proclaimed that Li Zhiyi was invincible and an unparalleled general of the great Dagan dynasty!
Now that Li Zhiyi has received the imperial decree, he is on his way to the Imperial City.
After the two guards finished speaking, they left. However, Zhang Liyang remained on the spot, frowning.
Although Zhang Liyang didn't get the chance to visit the Imperial Villa, he learned from these two guards that this world might be more chaotic than he had imagined.
When Li Zhiyi returned to the Imperial City, Zhang Liyang learned of it that day because the Emperor Daqian brought all his princes and princesses out of the palace to greet him. As for Zhang Liyang, he was left behind in the palace.
In the evening, there was a banquet in the palace. All the eunuchs and palace maids were busy, and the inner chamber was unusually quiet.
The banquet gradually dispersed towards the late hours, everything seemed to return to normal. Except Li Zhiyi was appointed as the National Pillar, becoming the third National Pillar General of the Great Yan Dynasty!
Just when Zhang Liyang thought this matter would gradually subside, a piece of news came that gave Zhang Liyang a chance to leave the palace.
Things are still in Flying Dragon City!
Li Ziyi reclaimed Feilong City, but that was all he did. After reclaiming it, what happened next in Feilong City was no longer Li Ziyi's concern; that required civil officials to take action.
Expanding territories and engaging in warfare are the duties of a general, while pacifying the people and ensuring their well-being are the responsibilities of civil officials. However, in the matter of Flying Dragon City, an additional condition needs to be added: that is, exercising imperial grace!
The Sky City has been away from the Great Qin for two hundred years, enough time for six or seven generations to have been born. Many things have already been forgotten.
So, in order to appease the people, a prominent figure is needed, and the best such figure would be someone from the royal family.
Since the Great Qian Emperor couldn't go to Flying Dragon City, this matter fell to those princes.
But none of the princes were willing to go.
The reason is also very simple. Fei Long City's affairs are not something that can be accomplished in a day or two, but rather take several years to complete.
For several years, who knows what might happen in the imperial city Besides, with the crown prince not yet appointed and the Emperor of Great Qin growing older, if we went to Flying Dragon City, by the time anything happened, it would be too late!
To avoid this task, the princes who were usually full of energy and always running around all disappeared one by one.
Either their cultivation had reached a critical moment requiring seclusion, or they feigned illness and stayed in bed. The emperor of Dagan was so enraged that he smashed several bowls in the imperial harem.
So when Zhang Liyang heard this news, his eyes lit up immediately. He felt that his and Mu Yinghua's chance to leave the palace had arrived!
"What You want me to go to Flying Dragon City"
In the Yuanqing Palace, when Mu Yinghua heard Zhang Liyang's suggestion, she was astonished and exclaimed in surprise.
Yes, off to Flying Dragon City!
"Why"
"Because only by going to Flying Dragon City can Your Highness escape this prison, seize control of your own destiny, and obtain the freedom you desire!"
Even the prince can start a brand new life!
Zhang Liyang's words made Mu Yinghua fall silent.
Actually, some things Mu Qinghua felt more deeply than Zhang Linyang. Before Empress Yuan passed away, those princesses would come to play with Mu Qinghua, but after Empress Yuan's death, no one came again.
The coldness of human relations had long since made Mu Yinghua feel no more affection for this heavenly family.
So, everything Zhang Liyang said really touched Mu Yinghua's heart. However, having grown up in the deep palace since she was young, she felt both curious and fearful about the outside world.
"Zhang Liyang, if I went outside, would you protect me"
"Zhang Liyang swears to protect Your Highness with his life!!!"
Seeing Zhang Liyang’s serious expression, Mu Yinghua suddenly smiled, “Alright, I’ll listen to you. I’ll go find Father tomorrow and tell him about this.” maintained a smile, but Mu Zhan really wanted to punch that face off!Mu Zhan said nothing, but after a moment of silence, he turned and came to Zhang Liyang's face."Consider this a lucky break for yo...