Baekje Peninsula, South Coast.
There was heavy snowfall, and the sky and the earth were completely white.
Along the long coastline, the north wind howls and the cold is approaching.
An uninvited guest with a embarrassed look came to Xiao Zheng's tent.
The messenger of Baekje Donghae Guard.
"General Xiao, the war on the east coast is urgent. I apologize for your uninvited visit."
The messenger Yun Chui's words were so-so, but Xiao Zheng tried hard to listen but could still understand him.
"It doesn't matter." He was looking at the letter in his hand and replied casually: "The military situation is important. Please tell the messenger directly."
The messenger breathed a sigh of relief.
"General Xiao, the Japanese pirates have been attacking fiercely recently, and they are not stopping day and night. The east coast is almost undefendable. Our general has asked the capital for reinforcements, and we also hope that you will send troops to reinforce from the sea."
Xiao Zheng was noncommittal.
He looked hesitantly at the flying snow outside, "In this weather, are Japanese pirates still coming across the sea?"
It’s almost the New Year now.
The twelfth lunar month of winter is the coldest time, and everyone, including the Japanese pirates, should stay at home to recuperate.
"Yes." The messenger nodded heavily, his face looking very ugly.
"In previous years, the Japanese pirates would go ashore and rob and then retreat. Last year, they were relatively fierce and directly besieged our capital for more than two months; this year, the Japanese pirates can be said to be crazy. The Chinese New Year is about to come, but the East China Sea is still full of ships. "
"And they, from the generals to the soldiers, seemed to have taken the wrong medicine. They ignored the casualties and almost stepped on the bodies of their own people and rushed to the shore."
"If our soldiers hadn't fought tooth and nail to resist, I'm afraid the east coast would have changed hands long ago..."
Xiao Zheng read the letter in his hand again, but he was dubious.
In late summer, he led the East China Sea garrison to the peninsula.
At that time, the southern sea was densely populated with Japanese pirate ships.
Later, the Japanese pirates forced their way in.
However, it was ineffective in front of Xiao Zheng's dense position, and they had to stop and retreat after leaving a large number of corpses.
After more than a dozen battles, it was already late autumn, and Xiao Zheng thought they would return to their homeland after winter.
Unexpectedly, he switched to the east to pinch Baekje's soft persimmon?
"General Xiao, the battle situation on the east coast is really critical. Before we set off, our general said that if the situation on the south coast eases relatively, please be sure to send troops to support us."
Xiao Zheng looked at the heavy snow outside and frowned.
"Look at the weather, the northwest wind is blowing all the time."
"If the Japanese pirates really landed on the east coast at this time, they would be in a headwind position. Unless their general is confused, it would be unwise to launch a large-scale attack at this time, which is no different from giving away a person's head."
"I believe they will die out soon."
The messenger was speechless and could only repeat dryly after a while.
"General Xiao, I don't know whether the Japanese pirate generals have lost their minds or taken the wrong medicine. Anyway, the current situation on the east coast is that the Japanese pirates are attacking desperately. It seems that no matter how many people die, they will not stop until they breach the coastline. "
"Please also ask your army to lend a helping hand in time to save our soldiers in danger. In the future, Baekje will repay Yunchui's great kindness even if he is devastated."
Xiao Zheng remained silent and just walked around the tent several times in deep thought.
"I have come all the way, and it is not easy to defend the south coast for your country."
"This place is very far away from the east coast. With heavy snow on the land and strong winds roaring on the sea, it is really inconvenient for the army to move, and it is really not suitable for a long-distance attack."
"Let's do this." He called Xiao Yong, "Take the two of you and the messenger to the east coast to see the military situation there. If the situation is really critical, we will consider whether to provide support."
"Yes!" Xiao Yong responded.
The messenger's face was filled with despair, and he tried hard to lobby several times, but Xiao Zheng never said a word.
After a long sigh, he could only leave with Xiao Yong.
As soon as the group left the camp, Chen Xiuzhu led his staff into the Chinese army's tent.
Gu Min
"His Royal Highness King Qi!" Xiao Zheng quickly came up to salute.
"The weather in Baekje is very cold. If something happens to you, you can ask someone to come over and inform the general. The general will stay in your tent before the meeting and listen to orders. There is no need for you to come here in the wind and snow, Your Highness."
Chen Xiuzhu was noncommittal, walked over to the stove, sat down and started warming himself.
"Sit down!" He pointed to the seat next to him, "I heard that Baekje's Donghae Guard just sent someone over to ask for help?"
Uncle!
Hearing this title, Xiao Zheng perked up.
Time flies by like a white horse, and another year passes in a hurry.
If he doesn't work hard, I'm afraid the plaque on the door of his house will soon be taken off.
Xiao Zheng sat down and complimented: "Your Majesty is well-informed. The general also just sent the messenger away."
Although he has been in Baekje for the past six months, he is not completely ignorant of the situation in Xingji City.
Among the eight adult princes of Emperor Changxing, excluding the deceased eighth prince, only Chen Xiuzhu in front of him did not return to the imperial capital.
The other princes left the impoverished frontier almost as soon as they received the emperor's order and couldn't wait to return to Star City.
Although Chen Xiuzhu was not in the imperial capital during the New Year and holidays, he lost the advantage of being close to the water.
But Xiao Zheng had a vague feeling.
Perhaps it was precisely because Chen Xiuzhu was the only prince who had not returned to Xingji City that he left a deeper impression on Emperor Changxing.
Especially several months after the princes returned to the imperial capital, there was still no information about the appointment of a prince, which made Xiao Zheng believe that he was right.
Therefore, he was even more respectful in front of Chen Xiuzhu at this time.
"If the east coast of Baekje is really as tragic as the messenger said, what are you going to do?" Chen Xiuzhu asked.
"This..." Xiao Zheng pondered.
"Your Highness, I have been ordered by the Ministry of War to support Baekje, and I have always kept two principles in mind."
oh?
Chen Xiuzhu was very interested, "What criteria?"
Xiao Zhengzheng.
"First, we must clear the name of my Yunchui army and beat up the Japanese pirates. From now on, whenever the Japanese pirates hear the word Yunchui, they will be scared to retreat."
"Second, when the war ends, Ben will hope to bring back the brothers who came out together as much as possible and deliver them alive into the hands of their parents."
As he spoke, Xiao Zheng couldn't help but puff up his chest.
"In the past six months, Japanese pirates have tried to log in at our defense line 13 times. However, they were hit hard every time and had to retreat after leaving behind numerous corpses."
"I feel that I have not disgraced the empire!"
Bang bang bang!
Chen Xiuzhu applauded with a smile on his face.
"I have seen everything my uncle said."
He said with emotion: "Under the leadership of my uncle, the soldiers repeatedly defeated the Japanese pirates and caused heavy casualties. This has indeed demonstrated the majesty of our Yunchui Empire."
"I believe that my father who is far away in the imperial city will definitely see my uncle's contribution."
Xiao Zheng breathed a sigh of relief, but soon straightened his expression.
"Excuse me for speaking frankly. The battlefield is so dangerous. Your Highness, who is rich in gold, should stay away from the battlefield and sit in the capital of Baekje."
However, Chen Xiuzhu not only did not go to the capital of Baekje, but when he saw the fierce fighting ahead, he rushed forward with his guards.
Xiao Zheng was almost scared to death several times.
"No problem!" Chen Xiuzhu smiled and waved his hand.
"Since I have arrived in Baekje, I am not here to be a spectator. Since the soldiers can charge into the battlefield, I can naturally do the same!"
"They're just Japanese pirates, not worth mentioning!"
