Father can be an enemy to the country

Fortunately, the Ming army's cavalry was of extremely high quality. After a bloody battle with the Lucchuan army, which was several times their own strength, they successfully covered Feng Cheng's breakout.

However, this battle also paid a heavy price, with nearly half of the troops lost, and Wang Sheng of Qianhu died in the battle. The Ming army had to suffer its second defeat after entering Yunnan.

Moreover, both defeats were due to Luchuan, which is simply a shame and humiliation!

~~

After Otao finished speaking, Zhu Zhen asked Na Zhi again with a cold face: "Then what are you doing here?"

"Seeing that Governor Feng was no match for Silunfa, and the Luchuan Army was so arrogant, I was worried that they would take advantage of the situation to attack Yuanjiang Mansion, so..." Na Zhi hurriedly replied: "So, together with Otao, we came to ask the prince for a charter. .”

"I think he escaped to the provincial capital." Zhu Zhen said coldly.

"This..." Nazhi was so embarrassed that he didn't know how to answer.

"However, the fact that you came to the provincial capital instead of surrendering under such circumstances at least shows that you are loyal." Fortunately, Zhu Zhen slowed down and said:

"You are no match for Silunfa in the first place, and I don't like to force others to do anything. I won't punish you this time, so I won't do it next time."

"Yes, thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty." Nazhi breathed a sigh of relief, kowtowed quickly and said, "I will never dare to do this again."

"Humph, get up..." Zhu Zhen said angrily. There is no way, the Ming army's military law cannot be used to treat these local officials, otherwise they will be beheaded for such behavior.

But if his head was chopped off, wouldn't all the chieftains wherever the Lucchuan army attacked would surrender? So just because he could still maintain the word "loyalty", Zhu Zhen couldn't punish him.

Otao saw that the prince did not even punish him, and that he, a defeated general who had resisted, would definitely be fine, so he plucked up the courage to ask:

"May I ask, Your Majesty, when will we send out troops?"

"The Marquis of Xiping has led his troops to defend the enemy." Zhu Zhen replied in a deep voice:

"You have also seen that the army is gathering. It still needs time to train and restore its combat effectiveness before it can go to the battlefield."

"How long will it take for the soldiers to recover that day?" Otao asked: "It's not that the official is being aggressive, but the thought of the whole family being in Silunfa's hands is like a thousand arrows piercing the heart."

"Yeah." Zhu Zhen nodded and said vaguely: "It will be almost spring next year."

"Then, we have to wait until the spring of next year before we can send troops?" Otao was a little disappointed. It has just entered the twelfth lunar month, and there are still two or three months before spring.

"That's hard to say." Zhu Zhen shook his head slowly and said, "I can only order the attack on Luchuan, but when and how to attack are all matters of the generals, and I can't interfere."

He looked at the depressed Etao and said in a deep voice: "I can only promise you that Jingdong Mansion will still belong to your Etao family sooner or later. As long as you don't treason, you will divorce with the country!"

"Yes. Thank you, Your Majesty." Otao breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, what he is most worried about is not the safety of his family, but whether the court will dislike him. Even if he takes back Jingdong Mansion, it will not be his.

After all, the wife can be remarried and the children can be reborn, but if the territory is lost, it is likely that it will no longer be his. He was relieved when he heard the prince's assurance.

"As for Yuanjiang Mansion, where is your army?" Zhu Zhen looked at that army again.

"My subordinates have already ordered them. Once the Luchuan Army comes, don't fight forcefully, but conserve your strength..." Na Zhi replied hurriedly:

"It would be quite shameful to break it into pieces and hide in the mountains."

"It's not embarrassing, this is also a way." Zhu Zhen nodded and said: "Don't worry, the Ming Dynasty's territory cannot be lost at all. Even if Yuanjiang Mansion is lost, it won't take long, and it will be regained."

"Yes, I firmly believe it." Na Zhi nodded hurriedly.

"In addition, don't stay in the provincial capital for too long." Zhu Zhen ordered again: "Go back quickly. The more difficult the time, the more you must stay on your own territory, so that people's hearts will not be scattered."

"But your lord, the whole territory of Jingdong has fallen..." Otao said with a sad face.

"Fart, can the few troops sent by Luchuan occupy the whole government? At most, they can only occupy a few major cities and important places. There are so many mountains in Jingdong, they can't occupy them." Zhu Zhen said flatly.

"That's true..." Otao nodded, understanding his mission. That's the same as that straight subordinate - drilling into the ravine.

With the imperial court and the prince as his backers, even if he was hiding in a ravine, he could still influence the leaders of various states and counties to stop them from defecting to Luchuan so simply.

The most important thing is, as the prince said, he must be in Jingdong at this time to keep people's hearts.

Otherwise, even if we rely on the power of heavenly soldiers to recapture Jingdong in the future, it will be difficult to convince the people below...

Of course, Zhu Zhen would not let them go back in vain, and gave each of them 20,000 yuan as funds for their activities.

An officer and soldier from Baihu Station were also assigned as guards for the two of them.

In addition, these officers and soldiers also shoulder the important task of military instructors to help them reorganize the army.

Normally, dispatching instructors and reorganizing the army should have been done before. However, no matter how big or small any political power is, as long as it has a certain degree of independence, the military must be under its control and cannot easily intervene.

Previously, Mu Ying was able to successfully reorganize the local soldiers in Shuidong and Shuixi. First of all, it was forced by reality. At that time, Liang Wangjun put too much pressure on him.

Secondly, the prince took action and captured the leaders of the two divisions. The two leaders are his, so why don't they just let him do whatever he wants?

Zhu Zhen really didn't have the interest or ability to make these local prefects in Yunnan his own, so he could only wait for the right opportunity.

It's impossible to reach out to someone else's army before anything happens.

~~

After the two local officials were sent away, the eunuch came to report, and the Marquis of Yingchuan and Yongchang asked to see them.

"Please." Zhu Zhen said solemnly. Then he walked outside Yin'an Palace and looked at Fu Youde and Lan Yu who came hand in hand with a smile.

"Your Majesty." The two of them bowed politely.

"No courtesy." Zhu Zhen waved his hand and asked warmly:

"Are you ready to return to the teacher?"

Unfortunately, just last month, Boss Zhu sent Changxing Hou Geng Bingwen to order Fu Youde and Lan Yu to lead the imperial army back to the court because "the generals have been away for a long time and the barbarians in Yunnan have been quelled."

Moreover, the date for the class teacher has been set, and if nothing unexpected happens, not a single day can be delayed.

"Yes, everything is ready. The troops under command are all ready to go." Fu Youde nodded, glanced at Lan Yu, and hesitated to speak.

"If you don't tell me, I will." Lan Yu said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, please discuss with the Emperor and let us postpone the class."

"But the decree has been issued, and haven't you all packed it up?" Zhu Zhen asked.

"This moment and that moment, Your Majesty." Lan Yu waved her hands and said excitedly: "Jingdong is lost, and that boy Feng Cheng is also defeated. We can't stay if we don't stay!"

"Isn't there Brother Wenying?" Zhu Zhen said with a smile.