He didn't come here to reminisce about the past nor was he in the mood to do so. The difference in status between them wasn't worth his time. Of course, he had something to say.
Shang Jianxiong was still unwilling to let go of the Shang Dynasty, and Long Xiu was also feeling embarrassed. He decided to ignore the Shang Dynasty and directly ask Meng Shanming to come out of the mountain to stabilize the army's morale and clean up the mess. He wanted to compete with Luo Zhao of Song!
Huang Lie blinked. So this was the reason.
Meng Shanming didn't beat around the bush either. "I'm old. I lost both my legs to save His Majesty. I'll never be able to stand up again. I can't mount a horse or draw a bow. I'm just a crippled old man who will be laughed at. How can I calm the army down? The one who can calm the army down is in His Majesty's prison! "
Since things had come to this, he didn't need to be polite anymore. Forbearance was useless. Moreover, Niu Youdao had given him instructions.
These words came from his heart. They were crippled to save Shang Jianxiong but Shang Jianxiong didn't want to let them go.
Gong Lince didn't mention the people in the Celestial Prison. "Commander Meng is too modest. The heroic Fierce Martial Guard has reappeared in Nanzhou and won again and again. Isn't this Commander Meng's contribution?"
Meng Shanming denied flatly. "It has nothing to do with me. It's all the Prince's credit."
Gong Lince said, "Commander Meng, you are also an old official of Yan Kingdom. Are you willing to see Yan Kingdom being erased?"
Meng Shanming said, "I'm old. It doesn't matter if I'm willing or not. What's important is whether you are willing to see Yan Kingdom being erased. If you insist, no one can save Yan Kingdom."
Gong Lince said, "Meng Shanming, you are going too far."
Meng Shanming said, "Master Gong, King Ning is dead. If Prince Yongping also dies, I will have nothing to worry about. I can only risk my life to fight you!"
Gong Lince said Slowly, "Why do you want to die?"
Meng Shanming said, "Kill me if you dare … Southern Province will rebel!"
Hearing this, Huang Lie broke out in cold sweat for him. He didn't expect this crippled old man to be so unyielding when facing Gong Lince.
Gong Lince said coldly, "If that's the case, you'd rather die than come out and take charge of the situation."
Meng Shanming replied, "You can't say that. As long as Prince Yongping returns and gives the order, I will do my best to help."
Gong Lince stared at him silently for a while, "I will consider Marshal Meng's opinion." Finishing, he turned and left.
"Mr. Gong," Meng Shanming shouted.
Gong Lince stopped and turned his back.
Meng Shanming said, "Now that the war has come to this point, whether it's the troops controlled by the imperial court or the feudal lords, they have no choice but to focus on the outside world. The Yan nation was no longer facing the suppression of a rebellion, but the conquest of one or even two nations. Someone had to be in charge of the Yan nation's army deployment in order to have a chance to resist the enemy. Otherwise, it would be useless no matter who it was. Also, I have a request! "
With his back facing him, Gong Lince said, "Speak!"
Meng Shanming said, "Xiao Yao Palace Master Long promised that regardless of whether Prince Yongping succeeds in suppressing the rebellion or not, he will let the imperial court restore the Prince's title!"
Gong Lince didn't turn around. After a moment of silence, he didn't say whether he agreed or not. Instead, he stepped over the threshold and left.
Huang Lie quickly followed to send him off.
After a while, a large bird soared into the sky and left.
…
In an empty hall in the Imperial Palace of Yan Jin, Shang Jianxiong's hair was disheveled and his feet were bare. He held a large brush and was crazily splashing ink on a large piece of white paper on the ground. His eyes were red and he was sweating profusely. The words he wrote were like those of a crazed demon. His feet were already dyed black by the splashing ink in the bucket.
Tian Yu stood at the side and had a sorrowful expression on her face.
At this moment, the prison door opened and Shang Chaozong walked out in tattered clothes and blood stains all over his body.
When he saw the dazzling sunlight outside, he subconsciously covered his eyes with his hands.
He wasn't unfamiliar with this feeling. It wasn't the first time he had experienced it. Moreover, it was in the same place.
The same place and the same experience mixed together. For a moment, he couldn't tell the difference between the past and the present. Everything that happened in Nanzhou seemed like a dream.
Although the iron shackles had been removed, his steps were still unsteady.
No prison guards dared to approach him. It was rare to see someone who could come out alive after being imprisoned twice. Moreover, they had heard that the last time he came out, he killed the guards at the capital's gates. Thus, when they saw his unsteady steps, no one dared to help him up.
This time, it was impossible for Lan Ruoting to appear to welcome him. What welcomed him was a row of eunuchs from the palace.
A eunuch took a step forward and read the imperial edict in front of Shang Chaozong.
The edict said that the matter had been investigated. The previous crimes against Shang Chaozong were all false accusations. For example, the plundering of the army's rations had been proven to be false. It had been investigated that Shang Chaozong didn't swallow it up. Instead, he sent all the rations to the frontlines to be used as supplies to quell the rebellion.
In short, the imperial court was in the right. Whether he was guilty or not depended on the mouths of a few people. It could be seen how lax the Yan imperial court's laws were.
The main point of the edict was that Shang Chaozong had made great contributions in quelling the rebellion and defeated the rebel army in Cangzhou. He was conferred the title of Mediocre Prince and was given the position of Governor of the Yan Punitive Campaign. He could command all the Yan troops outside the capital region.
In the end, Shang Jianxiong still held back. He didn't let Shang Chaozong restore his hereditary title of King Ning. Instead, he gave him the title of Mediocre Prince, or Mediocre Prince for short!
He didn't give him the military power of the Grand Marshal. Instead, he created a temporary position of Governor that Yan didn't have. It seemed like he was on par with the Governor of Song, Luo Zhao.
In front of the edict, Shang Chaozong closed his eyes as he listened. A cold smile appeared on his face. Suddenly, the title of Governor of the Punitive Campaign popped up behind him and could command all the Yan troops. He opened his eyes abruptly.
Under the sunlight, he squinted his eyes again.
He realized that something must have happened to Yan. Otherwise, how could Shang Jianxiong let him go so easily and even gave him such great military power?
He had been in prison for many days. He didn't know how the situation outside had changed.
As soon as he received the edict, a eunuch immediately brought him to take a bath, apply medicine, and change his clothes. After that, he was brought to the military headquarters to understand the current situation and the military situation.
…
Amidst the green mountains and clear waters, the disguised Niu Youdao returned. He returned to his secluded residence from the capital. When he saw the expectant Guan Fangyi, Niu Youdao tore off his mask.
He threw the mask to the indifferent Guan Fangyi under the tree. Then, he untied the sword hanging from his waist and casually stabbed it into the ground.
Guan Fangyi snorted coldly. She was slightly dissatisfied. "Acting so secretive. I wonder what kind of shameful things he has done."
She was rather curious as to why Niu Youdao often entered the city alone. That place was too dangerous for Niu Youdao, let alone when he was alone.
For the time being, Niu Youdao wouldn't tell her about his contact with Gao Jiancheng.
Niu Youdao chuckled. "What shameful things can I do? I'm just going to inquire about information. You are so beautiful and have such a good figure. Your disguise is also easy to be recognized. It's really inconvenient to bring you along."
Guan Fangyi couldn't help but laugh. Then, she coldly said, "It's easy to say such nice words. If you are afraid of being recognized, can't you get someone else to accompany you?"
Niu Youdao didn't dwell on this matter. "Let me tell you a piece of good news. The imperial court has released the Prince and promoted him to a hereditary Prince. He will also be the Governor of the Punitive Expedition. He will be in charge of the mobilization of Yan's troops during wartime!"
"Ah!" Guan Fangyi was very surprised. "Really?"
Niu Youdao nodded. "There is no mistake. It has been announced to the world at the first instance. Immediately pass the news to Meng Shuqing and let him prepare. "
Guan Fangyi sighed. "Sister Shuqing and the others in Nanzhou can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
Niu Youdao naturally knew about this. After Shang Chaozong was captured, they were extremely anxious. The troops in Nanzhou almost rebelled. It was him and Meng Shanming who suppressed them.
"Also, inform Gongsun Bu to immediately return to Meng Shanming's side. I want to know the situation of the war at all times."
"You still don't want to show yourself? How long are you going to hide? "
"It's better to lie low until the wind blows. We are not strong enough. We can only keep a low profile and hide in the dark. It's best if we can't be seen or touched. Once we are in the light, we can't guard against too many open spears and hidden arrows. It's better to let others guard against us. "
"This old lady is as beautiful as a flower and as beautiful as the moon. Following by your side, I look like a thief who can't see the light. Don't you feel wronged?"
"I'll get used to it if I feel wronged. There is one more thing. Tell Meng Shanming that the cultivators in Dajin might harm him and the Prince. Tell him to be careful. "
Guan Fangyi was alarmed. "What's going on?"
Niu Youdao said, "I feel that something is wrong. Just in case. When we return to the battlefield, immediately kick the cultivators of Dajin out of the game. Anyway, we can't give them any chance to take advantage of us."
This caution had something to do with his meeting with Gao Jiancheng in the city. After Gongsun Bu and the others left the army, he could not fully understand the current situation of the army. But with Gao Jiancheng's help, he not only knew the situation of the army, but also the situation of the court.
The information provided by Gao Jiancheng aroused his vigilance. The cultivators of Dajin were working but not doing their best!
If it were someone else, he might not have such a reaction. But when the people from Dajin were slightly abnormal, he immediately thought of Shao Pingbo. He dared not let down his guard against Shao Pingbo. Shao Pingbo was too dangerous. If something went wrong, he would be taken advantage of. Therefore, he quickly responded without any reason!
…
Although he did not meet with Shang Jianxiong in the palace, Shang Chaozong quickly figured out Yan's current situation. He was shocked and finally knew the reason for his sudden change.
Although he had suffered a series of tortures in the prison, he did not care about it. He was not in the mood to do so for the time being. He did not have any complaints. Faced with Yan's precarious situation, he quickly entered the role of the Governor of the Punitive Expedition.
The first military order he issued was to order the 100,000 cavalries of the Southern State to return to the war. At the same time, he appointed Meng Shanming as the Great General of the Eastern Punitive Expedition. He directly gave Meng Shanming the power to kill first and report later. Anyone who disobeyed the order could be killed first and report later!
He knew that when the morale of the army was low, it would be difficult to be deterred without an iron fist!
However, the generals in the Imperial Council strongly opposed his action. They were worried that he would take the opportunity to purge the people of the court.
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