After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

In the stillness of the night, the firelight flickered.

Zhuang Er, who had led his army to retreat fifty miles, was sitting in his tent reading the news sent back from the front lines in Youzhou.

Upon learning of Zhu Shuan's death, the Prince of Huai was furious. If it weren't for the Prince of Huai's conquest of Youzhou, he would likely have also been implicated.

The Prince of Huai ordered Zhuang Er to immediately lead his troops back to Beifeng City to defend the city. As for the front line, he was not needed for the time being.

Upon seeing this, Zhuang Er angrily crumpled the letter into a ball.

"General Zhuang, how is the situation on the Prince's side?" the other lieutenants asked.

Zhuang Er threw the crumpled paper into the stove and glared angrily at the deputy general who had just spoken. "The Prince's side is naturally progressing smoothly. Youzhou is now in the Prince's hands."

"Great success is just around the corner!"

Upon hearing that things were going smoothly on the Prince of Huai's side, the other deputy generals were all very excited. Did this mean they had followed the right person?

If the Prince of Huai were to truly ascend the throne, they would be entitled to a lifetime of wealth and honor. If they were even luckier, they might rise rapidly in rank and be directly appointed as founding generals.

This kind of honor may only be achieved once.

Seeing their excited expressions, Zhuang Er naturally knew what they were up to!

At this point, we have no choice but to wake them up!

"What are you guys happy about now?!"

"You've forgotten so quickly? We've completely messed up the task the prince entrusted to us!"

“If it weren’t for the fact that the prince successfully took Youzhou this time, every one of us would have gone to hell with Zhu Shuan.”

As soon as Zhuang Er finished speaking, the others in the tent fell silent, their faces ashen, darker than pig's liver.
That's right. They attacked Huaizhou City with 10,000 elite troops, which had only 1,000 defenders, and failed to capture it after three days of siege. If word got out, they would probably be punished instead of asking the King of Huai for a reward!
"General Zhuang, this defeat was originally none of our business. After all, who would have thought that the Lin family army, which had been dormant for more than twenty years, would still be guarding this place?"

"Even the prince himself probably didn't expect this!"

Indeed, when the Prince of Huai learned that the Lin family army was still guarding Huaizhou City, he was both surprised and furious.

But for some reason, the letter didn't mention it at all, which made Zhuang Er uneasy.
Seeing that Zhuang Er remained silent and looked grave, one of the lieutenants felt uneasy and suggested, "General, if the prince is not satisfied with us, why don't we attack Huaizhou City again tomorrow?"

"In any case, we have at least ascertained the true strength of the Lin family army."

"This will surely make the prince understand our difficulties, won't you say?"

Upon hearing this suggestion, the deputy generals reacted in various ways. Those who agreed readily echoed the suggestion, while the rest remained silent, harboring their own concerns.

Zhuang Er stood up at this moment and sneered, "Want to continue the attack on Huaizhou City? To steal military merits?"

"We've all lost that chance!"

The lieutenants' expressions shifted slightly, and they all turned to look at Zhuang Er.

Zhuang Er pointed to the crackling furnace beside him and shouted, "The Prince has given us orders to return to defend Beifeng City immediately!"

"Let's set off tomorrow!"

Returning to defend Beifeng City? Not going to the front lines to support Youzhou!
The lieutenants were now completely disheartened. It was all that woman's fault. She was playing tricks and using sorcery. They wanted nothing more than to strangle her.

Just after Zhuang Er and his men completely withdrew from Huaizhou City, the emperor, far away in the capital, also learned of the news.

"Didn't you say that the Prince of Huai wouldn't rebel?"

"Didn't you say that the Prince of Huai was loyal and that the Lin family were the traitors?"

"Now my good royal uncle has already reached Youzhou City, and his next step is to take my head. Is this what you call loyalty?"

Inside the imperial study, the Shang emperor was furious as he faced a room full of kneeling ministers.

The ministers, no longer daring to provoke them, all lowered their heads and dared not utter a sound.

"Where is the prefect of Youzhou?!" The emperor's anger had not subsided.

The ministers still dared not utter a sound. Seeing that no one around him spoke, Chancellor Wei had no choice but to step forward and say, "Your Majesty, the prefect of Youzhou disappeared after the city fell."

"I think he was most likely captured alive by the Prince of Huai or has already died on the battlefield!"

"We can't find them!"

The emperor's face turned even greener upon hearing this, "Can't find the person?"

"That's too good for him! As the highest-ranking official of an important fortress, he didn't even have any preparation when the rebels came to his doorstep."

"What use is he!"

The Emperor's face turned red with anger. "Minister Wei, how do you think I should resolve this situation?"

Wei Xiang bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, now that the Prince of Huai's charge of treason has been established, we should naturally send troops to redress the injustice."

"Your Majesty remembers receiving a secret letter from a certain minister before."

"Perhaps he has a deeper understanding of the matter concerning the Prince of Huai. Why not consult with him to see how we can quickly force the Prince of Huai to back down!"

As soon as Prime Minister Wei finished speaking, the other ministers were suspicious. Why was this old man bringing up the messenger official when he was just sending troops?
Could it be that even at this point, Prime Minister Wei is still thinking of sending his own people up to higher positions?
Prime Minister Wei paid no attention to the various looks from his colleagues behind him; he was determined to do it this way! If he didn't do it this way, the matter of the Prince of Huai would remain unresolved, or perhaps even the fate of the Shang state would remain unresolved.

The Emperor naturally knew who Prime Minister Wei was referring to!

"Is Hai Chengming in the capital?" the emperor asked.

Eunuch Fu bowed and replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Lord Hai is in the capital."

"Last month I said I was taking leave to return to Kyoto, and I haven't gone out since."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's face contorted with rage. "Hmph! The situation is critical, and he's now trying to distance himself from it all."

"Issue my order: immediately summon Hai Chengming to the palace to offer his remonstrance!"

"Yes!"

Eunuch Fu hurried out of the Imperial Study to deliver the order, and Hai Chengming appeared in the Imperial Study in less than an hour.

Hai Chengming also received news of the Prince of Huai's rebellion, and he felt both secretly pleased and uneasy.

However, he knew that the emperor would definitely summon him!
When the Emperor summoned him, he explained that his reporting of the secret letter was a meritorious act. Unexpectedly, Lin Yunche had inadvertently helped him.

Hai Chengming stood beneath the Imperial Study, feeling no fear whatsoever.

"Hai Chengming, just as you said in your secret report, the Prince of Huai has indeed rebelled."

"Since you know he's planning a rebellion, you must also know his military strength and plans!"

"How about I give you 30,000 men, and you go and force the Prince of Huai to retreat?"

Hai Chengming hadn't expected that the Emperor's summons wouldn't be to inquire about the Prince of Huai's military strength, but rather to directly order him to lead troops to repel the enemy. His heart sank, and he frantically searched his mind to see if he was capable of this task, but the excitement on his face was still evident.

Prime Minister Wei coughed lightly. "Lord Hai, the Prince of Huai has now occupied Youzhou."

"His army of 100,000 is advancing with unstoppable momentum. If you can force the Prince of Huai to retreat, you will be relieving the Emperor of his urgent crisis. After the matter is accomplished, the Emperor will surely reward you."

What are you still hesitating about?

After Wei Xiangguo finished speaking, he gave Hai Chengming a deep look, and Hai Chengming's head suddenly went blank.

A fine layer of sweat suddenly appeared on his forehead, and he immediately reported to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, although I have studied some military texts, I am still just a civil official."

"I am quite knowledgeable in governing a prefecture and enriching its people, but I am afraid I am incompetent in leading troops into battle."

The Emperor's expression darkened slightly. "Haiqing, you don't need to belittle yourself."

"I have seen the defense maps of the Prince of Huai that you sent me. They are very profound and full of hidden meanings. I can tell that you know some military strategy. Now that there are no suitable candidates in the court for the affairs of Youzhou, I think you should not refuse."

Hai Chengming's mind went blank again when he thought of the defense maps Lin Yunche had given him.

He had seen those pictures before. Did they hold any profound meaning or infinite mystery?

Hai Chengming swore he didn't see anything.
At this moment, he finally began to feel afraid. Not to mention that he only had a superficial understanding of military strategy, the fact that the Prince of Huai now had an army of 100,000 attacking Youzhou was alarming.

How could he possibly withstand the Emperor's 30,000 troops?

If he couldn't resist and suffered a defeat, allowing the Prince of Huai to become emperor and dominate the land, then what was he?
A thorn in the side of the new emperor, a sinner in the long river of history.
Hai Chengming felt he couldn't bear the consequences, let alone the fact that he had never led troops into battle before.
"Forgive me for my incompetence! I am unable to share Your Majesty's burdens!" Hai Chengming knelt down and kowtowed.

The emperor was truly enraged at this point, "You cannot share the burden! Nor can he!"

“You ministers usually speak eloquently and logically, but now it’s your turn to step forward!”

"They've all turned into cowards again!"

"What use are you to me!"

"Why don't we all go and get a hundred lashes now and take off these clothes?"

Hai Chengming was terrified when he saw the emperor's fury; his back, soaked with sweat, felt chilly.

He couldn't be punished too harshly! Hai Chengming thought to himself, and then gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, although I am not capable of leading troops into battle, I can recommend someone!"

The Emperor asked in a cold voice, "Who is it! You probably just sent someone randomly to save your own life!"

Hai Chengming knelt on the ground and shook his head, "Your subject dares not!"

"I am not making this recommendation lightly; I am recommending the person who drew the defense plan!"

The Emperor was slightly surprised. "Defense map? You mean you weren't the one who drew the defense map?"

Hai Chengming quietly wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "The memorial was drafted by your subject, but the person who drew the defense map was someone else."

"Who is it?" The emperor's eyes lit up.

"It is Lin Yunche, the prefect of Huaizhou!"

After Hai Chengming finished speaking, Prime Minister Wei showed a relieved expression, but the faces of the other court officials turned extremely ugly.

"Lord Hai, have you gone mad?!"

"Who are the Lin family? They are traitors who colluded with the Northern Dynasty!"

"The fact that they are alive is already a great favor from the Emperor. How can you recommend them to lead troops to repel the Prince of Huai? Isn't that inviting a wolf into the house?"

The other ministers all nodded in agreement, "Yes! This is like inviting a wolf into the house, or drinking poison to quench thirst."

Hai Chengming's eyes widened, and he turned around angrily, asking, "What collusion with traitors from the Northern Dynasty?"

"He wasn't last year's top scholar in the imperial examination, so when did he become a traitor!"

But after Hai Chengming asked this question, and seeing the expressions of Prime Minister Wei and the Emperor, he immediately understood.

His arrogant subordinate was actually a descendant of the Lin family army from back then?
The person his daughter, Shengyang, desperately wanted to marry turned out to be from the Lin family.
Hai Chengming felt his head buzzing even more. He never expected that his daughter would fall for a traitor, and what if Lin Yunche really became his son-in-law?
Then won't the Hai family also be implicated?
Hai Chengming dared not think any further; he now deeply regretted mentioning Lin Yunche earlier.

"Your Majesty, I was unaware that he was a descendant of the Lin family army."

"minister"

Before Hai Chengming could continue, the Emperor leisurely said, "I know Lin Yunche you're talking about!"

"He is the top scholar of this imperial examination, handpicked by me. His status needs no further explanation from others!"

Hai Chengming suddenly realized something. He secretly looked up at Prime Minister Wei, who calmly said, "Your Majesty is wise. Lin Yunche has drawn up the defense plan and has the ability to lead troops into battle. He can indeed be entrusted with this task."

"I'm sure everyone here acknowledges the strength of the Lin family army!"

Before Prime Minister Wei could finish speaking, a voice of opposition arose: "Absolutely not!"

"Your Majesty, the Lin family army's rebellion is still ongoing. Now is a time of national crisis; how can we possibly employ such people?"

"If we must talk about capable generals, isn't Marquis Cui of Zhaonan also capable of leading troops into battle?"

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, knowing that these old fogies would object, and then looked up at Marquis Zhaonan.

"Lord Cui, what do you think?"

Lord Cui clasped his hands and bowed, "Your Majesty, although I am skilled in leading troops, I do not actually have much knowledge of the terrain in the northern border."

"In order to have a good chance of winning, one must have a sufficient understanding of the local terrain and climate."

"Lin Yunche was born in the north, so his understanding of the terrain and climate goes without saying."

"Furthermore, the Lin family has a deep-seated karmic ties with the Prince of Huai, and no general in the Lin family army can compare with the Prince of Huai in terms of military tactics!"

"As for the accusation of treason, for more than 20 years, the Lin family has relied on its reputation to guard the harsh northern border."

"It is precisely because of them that the Northern Dynasty's army has been hesitant to attack our country."

"Now that the Prince of Huai has rebelled, the Northern Dynasty will surely harbor wolfish ambitions and be eyeing us covetously!"

"Therefore, we must resolve the matter of the Prince of Huai swiftly!"

"May I ask you all, is it possible for you to do this?"

"I don't know if you can do it or not, but I can't!"

Marquis Zhaonan's words silenced all the court officials present. Everyone in the court knew that when it came to leading troops into battle, besides Marquis Cui, it was the Lin family army.

Lord Cui's decision to disregard the national crisis and directly recommend the Lin family army has earned him the contempt of some ministers.
Seeing that the discussion was almost over, the Emperor gave Eunuch Fu a look.

Eunuch Fu walked out of the study and soon came in with a secret letter.

The Emperor reached out, took the secret letter, glanced at it, and tossed it to Prime Minister Wei, saying, "Pass these around and read them!"

The ministers were completely bewildered. Weren't they supposed to be recommending generals? Why were they suddenly being shown something?
Prime Minister Wei quickly finished reading the secret letter and passed it on to the next official.
In less than a quarter of an hour, all the ministers in the imperial study saw the contents of the secret letter.

How is that possible? Lin Yunche actually managed to defeat the King of Huai's more than 10,000 elite troops with only 1,000 garrison soldiers left in Huaizhou City!

This. How is this possible!

Wei Xiang stepped forward and said, "No matter how impossible it may seem, it is still a fact!"

"Your Majesty, I affirm your decision to reinstate the Lin Family Army to protect our northern border and our land!"

Lord Cui then stepped forward, "I second that proposal!"

Hai Chengming gritted his teeth and stood up, "I second that proposal!"

"Very well! Then convey my decree: reactivate the Lin Family Army!" (End of Chapter)