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Zhang Junyi was used to being arrogant and overbearing, having wielded power in Chang'an. Upon arriving at the front lines, he became even more uncontrollable. It was not just that he was unaware of Xu Zhen's identity; even if he knew, he would feign ignorance, seizing the opportunity to strike at her.
A group of Cavalry, led by Left Guard General Zhang Junyi, marched grandly towards Liaodong City, escorting Xu Zhen and others.
Xu Zhen had rushed out to save people, bringing along Zhou Cang and fourteen other guards. As dusk approached and they had not returned, Xie Anting and Xue Rengui grew anxious. They prepared a team to search for them and happened to run into Zhang Junyi, who was waiting to enter the city.
Zhang Junyi was a trusted figure of the Eastern Palace. Although Li Jue held the position of Crown Prince's Grand Secretary, everyone knew he was at odds with Changsun Wuji. The Sovereign likely did not fully trust Changsun Wuji either, which is why Li Jue was placed in that position to keep him in check, with the elderly Gao Shilian serving as a buffer.
Not all military generals were mere brutes focused solely on killing; they understood the importance of court politics. Thus, many generals close to the Crown Prince and Changsun Wuji had already gathered at the city gate.
Seeing that he was welcomed by military elites made Zhang Junyi feel proud. He pushed the Prison Cart carrying Xu Zhen and others to the front like a trophy, thinking how perfect it would be if Chief of Military Operations Li Jue came to greet him personally. After all, he had come on a royal mission to support the front lines, representing the current Sovereign!
Little did he know that initially, no one paid much attention. However, once the Prison Cart entered and they recognized it contained Xu Zhen, their faces turned pale with shock. Ignoring all decorum, they silently retreated from the city gate, and within moments, most had left as if they had seen a plague.
This was serious; who was Xu Zhen? A newly appointed Left Vanguard General and Deputy General of the Marching Army for Liaodong Circuit, she had replaced Prince of Jiangxia Li Daozong. It could be said that aside from Duke of England Li Ji, she held the highest rank on the entire front line!
Although Zhang Junyi was also a general of the Sixteen Guard, how could this arrogant man from Chang'an compare to Xu Zhen? She had risen from obscurity to Second-in-Command in less than two years!
Seeing everyone retreating, Zhang Junyi felt confused. While he was used to being domineering, he was not foolish. He glanced at Xu Zhen, who sat calmly in the Prison Cart with her eyes closed in meditation, exuding an air of composure that only fueled his anger further.
"Clearly just a low-ranking military officer pretending to be mysterious right under my nose!"
Zhang Junyi cursed angrily. After injuring many of his subordinates during their capture of Xu Zhen and her companions, he did not hold back in beating them up thoroughly for his own satisfaction. Now that they were locked in the Prison Cart, it served to establish his authority within the military so that everyone would know that not just anyone could offend him as Left Guard General!
"I am a general appointed by the Sovereign!" Zhang Junyi thought to himself as he ignored them and commanded his Cavalry to enter the city.
However, just as his team began to move forward, he noticed a troop emerging from under the city gate. The leading figures stood in formation, all clad in imposing armor, their horses radiating an intimidating aura that made one's heart race!
Xue Rengui, Xie Anting, Qin Guang, Xue Dayi, Yin Zong, and Gao He Shu were all trusted subordinates of Xu Zhen. Having trained for such a long time amidst warfare and bloodshed, each exuded an aura of lethal intent that sent chills down one's spine!
These individuals have become formidable figures capable of leading troops into battle independently. Now, gathered together, along with the might of the Divine Fire Camp and the forces of Xu Zhen behind them, they have already intimidated the two thousand inexperienced recruits led by Zhang Junyi.
These new soldiers are personal guards brought from Chang'an by Zhang Junyi. They may look impressive in their fine clothes and on their spirited horses while standing guard, but they would be of little use on the battlefield. Faced with the fierce presence of battle-hardened warriors like Xue Rengui, they dare not take a single step forward!
Zhang Junyi feels uneasy but, as a general, he puts on a show of authority and rides forward, nervously pointing at Xue Rengui and others as he scolds, "Who are you! How dare you block my entry into the city? Get out of my way at once!"
Xie Anting and Xue Rengui are both courteous individuals, unlike Zhou Cang who is reckless. Normally, they would seek clarification, but now that their Lord is being treated like a pig or dog locked in the Prison Cart, they cannot tolerate it!
Seeing their Lord imprisoned has filled many Brothers with righteous indignation, and they draw their swords in response. Xue Rengui pulls out his twin tridents from behind and points them at Zhang Junyi, his voice cold as iron: "No matter which military command you belong to, release my Lord at once, or else..."
Before Xue Rengui can finish, Zhang Junyi erupts in anger, baring his teeth as he shouts, "Or else what! Open your eyes and see who I am! If you offend the commander, I'll take you all down with him!"
Xie Anting steps forward in fury and declares loudly, "Do you know who is in the Prison Cart? That is my Deputy General of the Marching Army from Liaodong Circuit, Left Vanguard General of Xu Zhen!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Junyi's rage intensifies; it just had to be Xu Zhen!
However, fueled by his arrogance and newfound confidence from feeling something in his pocket, he bellows angrily: "If he is the Deputy General of the Marching Army, then I am the Chief Steward! Today I will see who dares to stop me from entering the city!"
Zhang Junyi's fury escalates as his men draw their swords. Amidst shouts and neighing horses, they prepare to force their way into the city!
Xue Rengui and others refuse to back down. Just as tensions rise and conflict seems imminent, a thunderous reprimand echoes from the City Wall!
"You are the Chief Steward? Then who am I!"
Zhang Junyi instinctively wants to retort but looks up and is instantly stunned!
For standing atop the City Wall is none other than Li Jue, the commander-in-chief of this campaign against Liao!
Li Jue did not know when he had arrived at the City Wall. He understood the Sovereign's intentions well; sending Zhang Junyi here was certainly not for reinforcement, but to pave the way, as the Sovereign was about to personally visit Liaodong City!
At such a critical moment, he naturally did not want the Sovereign to see his camp in disarray. Thus, he only wished to keep things peaceful. However, he never expected that Zhang Junyi would be so arrogant!
Li Jue had always been aware of the ways of governance. Over the past decade or so, he had not competed with others in court but had instead acted as a reserved and humble person. He never imagined that this reckless junior would dare to be so presumptuous. How could he maintain his dignity as Chief Steward?
Zhang Junyi realized he had offended the Chief Steward and hurriedly restrained his men, dismounted, and lowered his head, waiting for Li Jue to come out of the city. Cold sweat had already soaked his back, and he loathed Xu Zhen to the core!
"This Xu Zhen is deliberately concealing her identity to make me look foolish in front of Li Jue!" Zhang Junyi thought angrily. Just then, Li Jue approached and pointed at the Prison Cart, saying, "What is going on here? How could my Deputy General of the Marching Army from Liaodong Circuit be in your Prison Cart?"
Zhang Junyi gritted his teeth and swallowed his anger. In his heart, he had cursed Li Jue a thousand times but verbally twisted the facts and embellished the story, making Xu Zhen out to be a bandit who disregarded military discipline!
"You are talking nonsense!" Zhang Suling, straightforward by nature, could not tolerate such baseless accusations against a good person. Furious at Zhang Junyi's slanderous claims, she immediately recounted the entire situation. Caesar and Gao Huizhen remained as indifferent as ice sculptures.
Li Jue understood Xu Zhen's character well. If it weren't for the urgency of the situation, he wouldn't have acted rashly. He was well aware of the nobility in Chang'an City and had long heard of Zhang Junyi's notorious reputation. At this point, if he could not see through the truth, then all his years would have been in vain.
He also did not expect that his hard-earned patience over more than a decade would be ruined by such an arrogant brat like Zhang Junyi. Having stepped onto the battlefield in Liaodong had already stirred up his youthful blood; there was no need to endure any longer. He immediately ordered Zhang Junyi.
"Whoever tied her up should release her."
Although this command was domineering, on the battlefield of Liaodong, before the Sovereign arrived in person, wasn't Li Jue essentially the highest authority? Who would dare disobey?
Zhang Junyi's face turned bright red, like a freshly boiled shrimp or crab. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he could only endure humiliation and unlock the cage for Xu Zhen and others.
Xu Zhen remained expressionless as she moved her numb wrist. Suddenly, she slapped Zhang Junyi down to the ground. He touched his mouth and found several teeth missing; jumping up in anger to draw his knife, he was kicked away by Xu Zhen!
"I can't be bothered to argue with you. As a military leader, you actually dared to forcefully take a daughter and bully your comrades! You just happened to encounter me; if it were someone else, wouldn't you have faced dire consequences?"
Li Jue frowned upon seeing Xu Zhen so impulsive. Although Zhang Junyi was arrogant and disregarded others, he was still a person appointed by the Sovereign. Disrespecting him like this would inevitably provoke the Sovereign's displeasure. While he could ignore the Crown Prince's feelings, he could not disregard the Sovereign's.
However, Zhang Junyi got up again, pulling out a yellow silk scroll from his bosom, holding it up to his chest and displaying it all around. He raised his head high and shouted angrily, "The Sovereign has issued a decree! All of you kneel and receive the order!"
Upon seeing that decree, Li Jue couldn't help but think to himself that no wonder this young man was so ostentatious; he indeed carried an imperial edict. The Sovereign must have already set out for Liaodong City to oversee the battle.
Fortunately, Li Jue was alert and did not immediately launch an attack on Liaodong City; otherwise, he would have stolen the Sovereign's thunder.
Years ago, Sui Yangdi had suffered defeat at the hands of Liaodong City. The current Sovereign wielded both grace and power across the seas and commanded respect in all directions. How could he miss the opportunity to personally lead an expedition to Liaodong? This decree must be intended to pause the offensive until the Sovereign arrived in person before launching another attack.
Xue Rengui and others were not like Xu Zhen; seeing all of Zhang Junyi's soldiers kneeling down, they dared not act recklessly. In an instant, only Zhang Junyi, Xu Zhen, and Li Jue remained standing.
Xu Zhen's eyes turned red. The thought of kneeling to Zhang Junyi filled her with rage, yet she could not disobey orders. Her teeth clenched tightly as Zhang Junyi held his head high like a victorious rooster.
At this critical moment, Li Jue stepped in front of Zhang Junyi, snatched the edict from him, turned back towards the city, and left behind a single sentence: "Your troops can camp outside the city."
Li Jue was no ordinary person; even when receiving an edict, he had the privilege of being seated during an audience. Zhang Junyi truly did not know how high the heavens were or how deep the earth was!
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