CHAPTER 1092: CHAPTER 599: BREAKING CAMP (PART 2)

The young priestess was sitting by the stove, staring eagerly at the roasted sweet potato, when she suddenly looked up and saw Zhao Douan approaching. She adjusted her glasses and asked, "Did you deliver the things I asked you to deliver?"

Getting straight to the point... Zhao Douan helplessly replied, "I did. Are you still not confident in my ability to get things done?"

Only then did the rest of the people look over. Commandery Princess Xu Junling wrapped in a red and white cloak, her neck encircled with white fur that made her face appear smaller, quickly walked over with short steps and greeted, "Greetings, Governor."

During this period, Zhao Douan was staying in the Royal Mansion, using "retreat and breakthrough" as an excuse to hide away for long periods.

He would only occasionally come out to meet people, have meals, and inquire about the situation in the city, so Xu Junling wasn’t surprised by his comings and goings.

"So, where is the Prince?" Zhao Douan didn’t waste words and went straight to the point.

Squatting by the stove, the Princely Heir Xu Qian, holding a charred stick, stood up abruptly and puffed out his chest, "My father is taking a nap. What urgent matter do you have, Governor? You can tell me; I can represent the Royal Mansion..."

Xu Junling didn’t even look at her brother and said, "I will take the Governor to see Father."

"Very well. Also, send someone to call Yuan Feng over for a meeting," Zhao Douan said calmly.

Xu Qian: "..."

...

After a short while.

Zhao Douan was sitting in the inner hall of the Royal Mansion when Prince Huaian, who hurried over after his nap, arrived.

"What is the Governor here for?" Prince Huaian hurriedly inquired, not daring to be careless.

Now, the entire Jingchuan City was under the court’s control, and Zhao Douan’s position here was akin to that of the Emperor.

Zhao Douan first raised his hand, motioning for the Prince to sit, and then calmly said, "The negotiations in the Capital have failed. His Majesty has detained the delegation and is preparing for full-scale war. This Governor has pledged a military order to eliminate Prince Jing within three months starting from spring. Time is of the essence, and arrangements need to be made immediately. Prepare yourself."

"Bang!" Prince Huaian had barely touched the edge of the chair when he suddenly heard this news and almost fell. Fortunately, Xu Junling quickly supported him, while Xu Qian, who followed curiously, stood by, dumbfounded.

"Is what the Governor said...true?!" Prince Huaian steadied himself, a look of astonishment flashing across his plump face.

Zhao Douan sat upright in the main seat and cast a cold glance at him, saying flatly, "Does the Prince think this Governor is joking with you?"

"N-no, I wouldn’t dare." Prince Huaian instinctively replied, and then broke out in a cold sweat.

Far away by the Huai River, the news he received was not timely, but he knew there were negotiations in the Capital.

Now, Zhao Douan announced the result of failed negotiations...which was plausible as it was one of the possibilities. However, defeating Prince Jing by spring...that statement seemed abrupt and almost inconceivable.

At this moment, Prince Huaian couldn’t help but look meaningfully at Zhao Douan, thinking:

Could this Governor be feeling high-spirited after a chain of victories, especially after killing Xu Jingtang? Otherwise, why would he have such unrealistic notions?

It must be understood that Xu Jingtang’s swift defeat was filled with coincidences, not only due to Zhao Shixiong’s rebellion but also because of his thousand-mile pursuit of Zhao Douan, involving the Heavenly Master Mansion. If Xu Jingtang had not been so reckless in the first place, had not insisted on pursuing to Zhengyang Mountain, and had instead chosen to deal with the army and then retreated to develop in Yunfu Road, he wouldn’t have died.

Such coincidences cannot possibly be replicated by Prince Jing.

"Governor...it’s just that it’s sudden. I’m momentarily surprised...is it possible..."

Zhao Douan replied calmly, "Is the Prince questioning this Governor’s plan? Or, when you initially pledged allegiance to the court, did you not mean your words about assisting in the eradication of rebels?"

These words carried significant weight.

Xu Junling quickly responded, "My father absolutely does not mean that. Whenever the Governor needs our assistance, the Huai’an Prince Mansion will not hesitate and will go all out."

"Yes, go all out." Prince Huaian quickly added.

He was truly afraid, as his wavering personality was well known. Now that the negotiations had failed, if Zhao Douan deemed them untrustworthy, then obliterating the entire Huai’an Prince Mansion would only be a matter of minutes.

"That’s good. Rest assured, I won’t make things difficult for you. The court still wishes to treat sincerely surrendered Vassal Kings well. Those like Prince Hejian and Yanshan King, who aren’t sincere, need to be eradicated." Zhao Douan reassured him with a calming pill, and then said, "What you need to do is still to utilize the network and foundation the Huai’an Prince Mansion has accumulated over the years at the Huai River to help the court gather intelligence. By the way, have you received any information on Prince Jing’s movements that I asked you to investigate earlier?"

Prince Huaian hurriedly said, "Yes. The detailed information has been compiled and is in my study. Qian’er, go fetch it immediately."

Why is it me...and not my sister? Clearly, I’m the Princely Heir... Xu Qian felt extremely wronged.

"Aren’t you going yet?" Xu Junling glared at him.

"...Oh." Xu Qian left unwillingly.

Prince Huaian forced a smile and continued, "Apart from some details, generally there hasn’t been much change from before. After Xu Jingtang’s defeat, Xu Wen further contracted his defense line, giving up some unimportant areas. Currently, he’s in a standoff at Hu Ting with the imperial army led by Xue Shence."

Hu Ting...

Such a familiar name.

Zhao Douan was momentarily lost in thought, recalling that when the court opened trade, it was at Hu Ting.

At that time, he had been an imperial envoy, traveling south along the Grand Canal with Eunuch Hai and others, arriving at Hu Ting, where he first battled with Xu Jinglong on the water and also first crossed paths with Senior Brother Qingshan, Duan Shuiliu.

Their initial meeting with Prince Huaian also took place at the Da Feng Tower there.

And the assassination attempt by Prince Jing against Zhao Douan over Yansuo Lake was the real starting point of their enmity... Yes, Princess Consort Lu Yan’er, the dark piece, was also planted then.

Unexpectedly, after such a long time, he was now heading to the Eastern Front, and the first stop was again Hu Ting.

Prince Huaian continued, "Oh, there’s something else, quite unusual. The latest intelligence reports that Prince Jing has suddenly acquired a mysterious strategist, whose origin is unknown, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. There’s not even a name, only that he shares the surname Xu, holds a high status, is very close with Prince Jing Xu Wen, and has been involved in many matters at Hu Ting. However, the extent of his involvement is still under investigation."

A mysterious person? Also with the surname Xu? Could he be some relative of Prince Jing’s family? Surely not an illegitimate child of his...

Zhao Douan pondered, involuntarily letting his imagination run wild.

Over six hundred years of rule by the Great Yu Dynasty, generations of offspring have spread, and there are numerous royal descendants with the surname Xu scattered about with a slew of distant relatives. Zhao Douan couldn’t immediately think of a clue.

At this time, the sound of footsteps and the clang of armor came from outside the hall.

Xu Junling quickly went to open the door and saw the square-faced Yuan Feng, leading a few local civil servants and military generals, hurrying over in the courtyard.

Before they even entered the door, they loudly asked, "Governor, you’ve summoned us, is something amiss?"

Zhao Douan didn’t even lift his eyelids, gesturing for everyone to sit in the room first, and then inquired about Zhao Shixiong’s whereabouts.

"Reporting to the Governor, things are going smoothly over on General Zhao’s side. They have already occupied most of Yunfu, and in recent days are besieging the Mu Prince Manor’s Princely Heir. If not for the limited number of troops, Yunfu might have already been fully subdued by now," Yuan Feng reported.

Zhao Douan nodded, not surprised.

Without a leader, a flock of sheep, no matter how large, could be chased like a pack of stray dogs by a single lion.

"Very well, since there’s no need to worry about Yunfu, prepare to break camp and head north to Xiping Road after the new year," Zhao Douan instructed calmly.

"Alright, finally heading to the Huai River’s Eastern Front; we’ve long been eager... Eh?" Yuan Feng was first excited and then stunned, looking blankly at Zhao Douan, "Governor, where are we, the Five Army Camp, going?"

"To Xiping Road." Zhao Douan’s expression remained indifferent, disregarding their astonished gazes, and said calmly, "Negotiations have failed, and full-scale war has erupted in Xiping and Iron Pass. After spring, the Western Regions people are also likely to enter the pass. The Huai River is some distance from Xiping, and travel in winter is slow. You must set out as soon as possible."

Then, he recounted the scene in the Golden Throne Hall.

After listening to the entire account, Prince Huaian, Yuan Feng, and others fell into silence.