novelhk Chapter 656 Farewell
Chapter 656 Farewell
Zhou Chang suddenly realized that the enemy commander's head had been taken, but why was Jiang Meng still missing?
Just then he asked Zhou Tang, who was carrying a human head as a "treasure", "Where is General Jiang? Why hasn't he come back?"
Zhou Tang said: "General Jiang personally led his men to chase the remnants of the enemy army, and asked me to bring back Anqiu's head first and present it to Your Highness."
"Did you cut off this head or...?" Zhou Chang was confused.
Zhou Tang replied: "General Jiang led his troops to snipe the main force, and I succeeded in a sneak attack. This head was originally presented to General Jiang, and it was General Jiang who asked me to bring it back to present to His Royal Highness Prince Yi."
"Uh..." Zhou Chang didn't understand. The commander's head had already fallen to the ground, so why was Jiang Meng still chasing him?
But when facing Zhou Tang, he could only criticize him in his heart, and instead he had to praise Zhou Tang for being a good person.
How come such a person never stood out in front of Lin Fang before?
Zhou Chang didn't dare to look at the bloody head from beginning to end, mainly because he was afraid of having a nightmare at night.
He quickly turned his attention back to rewarding the three armies: "Good, very good, this is all thanks to General Jiang and the soldiers, and everyone will be credited later. Zhou Tang, you are definitely a safe vanguard."
"Thank you, Your Highness Prince Yi." Zhou Tang thanked him and stood up and raised the head high again. "Did all the soldiers hear that? Your Highness Prince Yi gave a generous reward. The silver recovered from the bandits will be used to reward the soldiers for their hard work over the past few days."
People in and outside the city cheered again.
Whether a victory is achieved by luck, chance or strategy, it is just the beginning.
After everyone cheered enough, Zhou Chang did not forget to show off Wang Fengzheng.
She wanted to use this victory to send King Xian back to Jindu.
Zhou Chang went down from the city wall and went to King Xian’s mourning hall first.
Several of King Xian's capable men who had served him during his lifetime were already waiting there.
They had all learned that a great victory had just been won at the front, and their faces showed a complex mixture of sadness and joy. The way they saluted Zhou Chang was somewhat more respectful than the previous perfunctory and indifferent gesture.
Zhou Chang took a quick look, but could not find the most familiar Wu Ling and Han Hui among the crowd. In order to wait for Jiang Mengtong to preside over the meeting, she casually asked, "Are you all going to send Brother Xian back?"
Several trusted and capable men looked at each other, seemingly unable to make up their minds.
Zhou Chang didn't ask any more questions.
Jiang Meng had always said that he lacked capable generals, but he had left the generals under King Xian's command idle.
Seeing the group of generals and officers of all ranks outside the mourning hall, most of them wearing silver helmets and bronze armor, and each of them looking mighty and capable, he wondered if Jiang Meng would be short of manpower if they all left.
Not long after, Jiang Meng led the crowd over with serious expressions.
Zhou Chang hinted twice, but Jiang Meng did not understand his meaning.
Zhou Chang had just won the first real war in his life. He was in a very good mood and did not want to be disturbed by other trivial matters. He lit a stick of incense in front of King Xian's spirit and went to his previous courtyard.
Although Prince Yi and Prince Xian did not have much brotherly love, now that Prince Xian is gone, Prince Yi has to put in more effort to look good.
Zhou Chang had just entered King Xian's courtyard.
The two deputy generals that King Xian relied on the most, Wu Ling and Han Hui, came out to greet him. Wu Ling held the armor and sword that King Xian wore when he was alive, while Han Hui held a pile of books.
The two of them saluted hurriedly.
Zhou Chang had just been shaken by Jiang Meng, and he didn't know what else to say, so he could only ask dryly: "Have you packed up Brother Xian's things?"
Wu Ling stepped forward with a sad face and said, "Your Highness Prince Yi, I cannot bear to see Your Highness Prince Xian go like this, and I want to see you off, but I also want to complete Your Highness Prince Xian's unfinished ambition and serve the country. I will stay here and follow Your Highness Prince Yi to drive out the enemy and defend the Lin Kingdom."
"You want to follow me?" Zhou Chang had long forgotten Wu Ling's words this morning.
However, although she often saw Wu Ling these days and had become familiar with him, she had never thought of recruiting him for her own use.
Wu Ling said firmly: "I beg Your Highness Prince Yi to give me a chance to serve the country."
Apart from anything else, Wu Ling is actually very good at talking.
Zhou Chang had no objection and just turned around to look at Jiang Meng who followed in.
Jiang Meng's frown faded and he nodded slightly to Zhou Chang: "Your Highness is a first-rank military officer appointed by the imperial court. Whether it is promotion or transfer, Your Highness can make the decision."
Jiang Meng's words were polite, but Zhou Chang didn't dare to take them seriously.
But Wu Ling was full of sincerity.
As the saying goes, one more person means more strength.
Zhou Chang had no reason to refuse: "Since you have this intention, then stay and serve General Jiang. The same goes for the brothers outside. Those who want to stay and continue fighting can stay and listen to General Jiang's orders. Those who want to send Brother Xian back can go back."
"Thank you, Your Highness Prince Yi." Wu Ling finally achieved his wish.
After Zhou Chang finished speaking, he was about to walk inside and take a last look at the residence where Xian Wang Fengzheng lived before his death.
"Report——" Suddenly the communications officer outside came with an urgent report.
Yifeng knelt on one knee in front of Jiang Meng and presented a letter with both hands: "General, the Ministry of War has sent an urgent order from His Majesty."
It was a royal letter written by the emperor. Unlike ordinary letters, a feather was stuck on the seal, and it seemed to be specially addressed to Jiang Meng.
Zhou Chang had never been in the military, but at least he had worked in the workplace in his previous life. Without waiting for Jiang Meng to speak, he showed that he was not interested at all: "It is urgent to report. Brother Jiang goes first, and we will send Brother Xianwang together later."
Jiang Meng took the letter, nodded slightly to Zhou Chang, and then left with his troops.
Zhou Chang casually dismissed the others: "You all go down first. I want to sit here alone for a while and say goodbye to my brother Prince Xian."
Wu Ling bowed and withdrew, holding King Xian's armor and sword.
Han Hui lowered his head, holding a pile of books, and was about to follow Wu Ling out.
Zhou Chang saw at a glance that the title of the top book was "Essentials of Military Strategy", and he remembered the two books he had borrowed before, so he asked: "Are these all military books?"
"Yes, these are the military books written by His Royal Highness Prince Xian during his lifetime." Han Hui held the book in his arms without looking up.
"These books... are all the ones that Brother Xian Wang read during his lifetime?" Zhou Chang wondered whether he should keep them all for his own reference.
Han Hui didn't even raise his eyelids, and answered with a single word in a cold tone: "Yes..."
"Then leave them all here for me to see." Zhou Chang, with the shamelessness of "stealing books is not stealing", then "asking for books is not asking", spoke directly.
Han Hui raised his head slightly and showed hesitation.
"What? Do you suspect that I can't read?" Zhou Chang, who was a man of few books, walked towards the main hall and sent the others who followed him to the courtyard away, "You all go down and get ready first. General Han, stay here. I have something I want to ask you."
Although Prince Yi had never had a study partner, he knew from his memory that the princes' study partners were all children of noble families with status and position and from official backgrounds.
Han Hui seemed silent on the surface, but deep down he looked down on Prince Yi. However, it was appropriate to ask him some questions.