Chapter 125: The General in Red, Escorted Back to the Capital

"The princes in the capital are mostly elderly; in all likelihood, the Emperor has sent one of his own sons to lead the campaign in person! With the imperial court in such turmoil, the princes are locked in a bitter struggle for the throne, forming cliques and engaging in endless infighting. It is hard to say which prince has been appointed as the Great General of the Left Wei Guards."

After their initial relief, the two men knitted their brows, their hearts filled with speculation and apprehension.

As the vanguard approached, the golden banner embroidered with dragons became increasingly clear. Eight fiery-red stallions, magnificent and powerful, pulled a war chariot draped in imperial silk, stretching a full zhang in length.

The East Gate swung wide. The Demon-Slaying Battalion, led by Grand Protector Lei, formed ranks to greet the arrival. Horns blared, and the city garrison surged with renewed morale.

As the imperial chariot reached the gate, a fierce, middle-aged man clad in crimson dragon armor and a flowing cape stepped out. He stood at the front of the carriage, looking down with an arrogant smile.

"I am Lei Wanshan, Grand Protector of the Anxi Protectorate. Xun Kang, General of the Wandering Cavalry of the Demon-Slaying Battalion, pays his respects to Your Highness, the First Prince!"

Lei Wanshan and General Xun were shocked; they never imagined that the one leading this expedition would be the First Prince himself!

The First Prince, enfeoffed as Prince Hong, was in his forties—the most valiant and skilled in martial arts among all the princes. It was rumored that because his mother was of low-ranking bureaucratic birth, he had never been favored. Furthermore, he harbored great resentment over the Second Prince being named Crown Prince, and his temper was notoriously foul.

"Hmm?" The First Prince arched a brow. He recognized Lei Wanshan; he had heard of this man’s bravery, decisiveness, and unwavering loyalty, which was why he had been appointed as the Grand Protector of Anxi, a second-rank official.

As for Xun Kang, he had also heard of him—the most formidable in cultivation among the Wandering Cavalry generals, though he had been relegated here after a defeat in the final round of the Seven Nations Tournament.

"Protector Lei, why are you here? Has the Anxi Protectorate already fallen? And where is the Grand Protector of the Beiting Protectorate? Why has he not come to greet me?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, I am ashamed. The Anxi Protectorate was breached the day before yesterday, and I retreated here after my defeat."

"Reporting to Your Highness, the Grand Protector of Beiting and his generals were assassinated by enemy agents. I sent a report via messenger hawk to the imperial court six days ago."

Xun Kang was puzzled as to why the First Prince remained unaware of these events.

"Hmm?" The First Prince frowned slightly. A report sent six days ago, and yet he had received no word? This was outrageous!

"Enter the city," he commanded coldly before ducking back into his chariot.

The two generals bowed and stepped aside, following the carriage toward the Grand Protector’s residence.

Roughly estimated, the Left Wei Guards army brought by the First Prince numbered at least three hundred thousand. Combined with the existing garrison forces of the two protectorates, there were over four hundred and fifty thousand troops in total.

Once they reached the inner hall, the First Prince dismissed his attendants, leaving only Lei Wanshan, Xun Kang, and two arrogant-looking young generals in red robes standing with their arms crossed.

Earlier, the two men had clearly seen two silver-armored veterans, yet even they had been dismissed, which spoke volumes about the status of these two red-robed generals in the eyes of the First Prince.

"Protector Lei, what is the meaning of this? You commanded twenty thousand elite troops; how could you be defeated so easily? Do you know your crime?"

"Yes, I acknowledge my crime. I submit myself to Your Highness's punishment." Lei Wanshan bowed, offering no further explanation.

The First Prince frowned and nodded.

"Guards, take Protector Lei into the prisoner wagon. Escort him back to the capital today and hand him over to the Three Chief Ministries for sentencing."

"Your Highness, Protector Lei is a celebrated general of the Northwest. With enemy forces from two nations watching like tigers, they could attack Beiting at any moment. Why not allow him to redeem himself through meritorious service?" Xun Kang pleaded, cupping his hands.

"Hmm? As the Great General of the Western Expedition and the Supreme Commander of the Northwestern military, my words are military law. General Xun, you have overstepped your bounds by interfering in local military and political affairs. I have yet to punish you for that—how dare you question my orders?"

"This subordinate dares not. Please forgive me, Your Highness. I was only thinking of the battle situation, and I hope Your Highness will reconsider."

"Hmph. Although you are at fault, you have also performed deeds. Your merits and demerits cancel each other out. I will not pursue this further for now, but I hope you will act with caution in the future and not overstep again."

"I obey your command!" Xun Kang sighed inwardly, truly unable to understand why the First Prince was so insistent on punishing Protector Lei.

Lei Wanshan had not expected that his endurance and hope to slaughter the enemy and avenge his fallen men would lead to this. He was about to be led away by two lieutenants.

Just then, a lieutenant rushed into the hall, kneeling to report.

"Report! A man claiming to be Han Chong, a guerrilla general of the Demon-Slaying Battalion, says he has urgent intelligence to report—it is a matter of utmost priority!"

"What? General Han! He is still alive?" Xun Kang and Lei Wanshan exchanged glances and exclaimed, unable to hide their joy.

"Oh? Send him in," the First Prince said impatiently.

General Han was brought in.

After discovering the intelligence regarding the strange beast-cavalry of the Shule and Beilu nations, Han Chong had ridden back to the Beiting Protectorate that very night. Having arrived this evening, he happened to see that the Left Wei Guards had already occupied the city, and without waiting to gather more information, he had hurried to the Protectorate residence.

However, as soon as he entered the hall, he felt the stifling atmosphere, and seeing the two lieutenants about to take Lei Wanshan away filled him with fury.

"General Han, the commander of the Left Wei Guards and the Great General of the Western Expedition is His Highness, the First Prince. Hurry and pay your respects," Xun Kang prompted.

The First Prince! Han Chong was stunned. He had not expected the imperial court to send the First Prince to reinforce the Northwest. This showed the importance of the region, but it also suggested that the court had no other capable generals to deploy.

In previous dynasties, princes were rarely sent as commanders-in-chief. Firstly, princes were often pampered and undisciplined compared to veteran generals. Secondly, swords had no eyes on the battlefield, and the slightest mishap would throw the imperial court into turmoil!

"Subordinate Han Chong pays respects to Your Highness."

"Rise." The First Prince scrutinized Han Chong, wondering why Generals Xun and Lei had been so surprised to find him still alive.

"Reporting to Your Highness, I went to Anxi and uncovered crucial intelligence. The Shule and Beilu nations have deployed two strange armies. It is said that one is the Tiger-Eagle Flying Cavalry and the other is the Yak-Elephant Heavy Cavalry, each numbering twenty thousand. Counting the reinforcements from both nations, they now number over a million! They will attack Beiting soon. I hope Your Highness will make preparations early!"

"Oh? Understood."

The First Prince nodded slightly, exchanged a knowing look with the two red-robed generals, and waved his hand to signal Han Chong to step aside, before gesturing for the lieutenants to take Lei Wanshan away.

Han Chong and Xun Kang looked at each other with suppressed anger, but the latter shook his head slightly, signaling Han Chong not to act rashly.

Watching the dejected and crestfallen Lei Wanshan, Han Chong felt a bitter sting in his heart.

He never thought that such a renowned general of the Northwest, who had even been willing to die for the city, would end up in such a state!

"Reporting to Your Highness, the enemy is at the gates. What crime has Protector Lei committed that warrants such treatment?"

"Audacious! Who do you think you are? A mere fourth-rank guerrilla general—how dare you question my orders?"

"Han Chong, hurry and step back! Do not provoke His Highness!"

"Brother Han, do not make futile arguments for the sake of a man like me. I truly bear the burden of military defeat. His Highness's judgment is not biased."

...

Han Chong lowered his head and bowed, his mind racing.

"Reporting to Your Highness, there is one more thing I forgot to mention."

"Oh?"

"While the forty thousand enemy troops outside Beiting were marching toward Anxi, Protector Lei and I devised a plan to wipe them out completely. Therefore, Protector Lei’s merits outweigh his faults; he should not be punished, but rather rewarded."