Green Mountain
Chapter 288 - 230, Yulin Army

Chapter 288: 230, Yulin Army

Inside the chaotic post station, the Yulin Army and Border Soldiers rushed into the room together.

Before the border soldiers could start searching, the Yulin Army also squeezed in, making the room tightly packed. They bumped each other with their shoulders, causing the armor to clatter loudly.

As a Yulin soldier passed by a border soldier, the border soldier carelessly tripped him, causing him to stagger.

The Yulin soldier glared back and drew his sword with a clang.

In an instant, the sound of weapons being drawn echoed throughout the room, where over ten Yulin soldiers and border soldiers tangled up in the confined space, like numerous gunpowder kegs colliding and ready to explode at the slightest touch.

A border soldier sneered, "What’s this? A dandy living near the Imperial City, who hasn’t even killed a single Jing Dynasty traitor, dares to draw his sword on us border soldiers? Has your precious sword ever tasted blood?"

The young Yulin soldier, holding his gleaming sword, calmly surveyed his surroundings: "Stop talking nonsense. We’ve been holding back anger for a while now. If it weren’t for the Crown Prince’s orders, we would have practiced on you long ago!"

"What are you doing, intending to kill each other?!"

When General Zhou heard the commotion, he quickly walked to the door and stared coldly at everyone: "Our border army’s swords are meant to kill the Jing Dynasty traitors, put them away!"

Upon hearing this, the border soldiers immediately sheathed their swords. However, one Yulin soldier, unwilling to let it go, kicked the border soldier who had just tripped him: "That’s for being trippy!"

"You’re asking for death!" the border soldier glared back.

At this moment, the Crown Prince, who was originally on his way to the Governor’s Mansion, turned back and stood at the door, speaking sternly: "Qi Zhenzhuo, apologize!"

The Yulin soldier named Qi Zhenzhuo argued: "Your Highness, he was the one who tripped me first."

The Crown Prince frowned: "Apologize!"

Hesitating for a moment, Qi Zhenzhuo reluctantly said, "Sorry!"

In the courtyard, Chen Ji led Zaozao out from the stables, listening to the noises inside the building, and asked Zhang Xia in a low voice: "The Crown Prince is still a Crown Prince of a country. Are the border soldiers not afraid of imprisonment for defying the Crown Prince like this?"

Zhang Xia replied: "The border army has been controlled by the Hu Family for many years, and they’ve grown too big to fail. However, Official Hu has always been impartial in the court, leading no one to provoke the Hu Family. Whoever provokes the Hu Family will push them to the opposition. Although the Hu Family seems to be in a tight spot, they are indeed the most secure."

Zhang Xia continued, stroking Zaozao’s cheeks: "The court needs the border army to be as stable as Mount Tai, so they can sleep without worry in their prosperous lands. My father used to say, whoever sits in Official Hu’s position probably couldn’t do it any better."

Chen Ji silently thought, the Hu Family remains uninvolved in conflicts, the Crown Prince is good at smoothing things over, but why did Emperor Longevity, residing deep in the West Garden Renshou Palace, have to bring them together?

...

...

After ten minutes, the soldiers thoroughly searched the post station but found no useful clues.

The Yulin Army and the border soldiers walked out of the house and lined up in the courtyard waiting for orders.

The Crown Prince spoke kindly to Chen Liqin: "Mr. Chen, you and your men have had a tiring journey, please come with me back to the Governor’s Mansion to rest."

Chen Liqin bowed: "Thank you, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince led the Yulin Army through the main hall of the post station, their white capes fluttering in the wind, exuding an imposing manner.

As Chen Ji led Zaozao past the border soldiers, he suddenly heard General Zhou ask: "May I know who is Chen Ji?"

Chen Ji’s hand clutching the reins tightened, then he politely bowed with his hands folded: "General Zhou, I am Chen Ji."

Suddenly, the Crown Prince stopped in the main hall and slightly turned his cheek. All the Yulin soldiers turned to look back and forth between General Zhou and Chen Ji.

General Zhou examined Chen Ji, his weathered face easing into a smile as he asked: "Sir, are you in good health?"

Chen Ji courteously replied: "Thank you for your concern, General Zhou, I am well."

General Zhou patted the sword at his waist: "This sword was a gift from Mr. Wang in his early years. I have always carried it with me. He was gracious to me, and now his direct disciple has come to Guyuan and nearly lost his life, truly embarrassing. If you ever encounter any difficulties in Guyuan again, make sure to come to me, and it will be more effective than seeking anyone else."

Chen Ji remained silent for a moment before responding: "General Zhou worries too much. With the Crown Prince’s Yulin Army Guards by my side, I believe there won’t be any more dangers."

General Zhou paused, glanced at the Crown Prince, then said in a lower voice: "I apologize, go back and settle down, we’ll talk another day."

Chen Ji breathed a sigh of relief and immediately led Zaozao away quickly.

Upon reaching the entrance of the post station, he saw that the Crown Prince had already mounted his horse.

Seeing him come out, the Crown Prince asked from horseback: "Is Third Young Master Chen acquainted with Vice General Zhou?"

Chen Ji smiled and answered: "Your Highness, my mentor, Wang Daosheng, is acquainted with General Zhou, but I had not met General Zhou before this."

Crown Prince gathered his fox fur coat around himself and smiled warmly, "So that’s how it is... Mr. Chen, the Chen family can really be called a family of outstanding talents, with Wenzong and Wenxiao having achieved the top scorer and second place, and also harboring a direct disciple of Mr. Wang."

Chen Liqin hurriedly responded, "Your Highness flatters us too much, my son is not accomplished enough to be considered outstanding."

Crown Prince earnestly said, "Mr. Chen, do not be so modest. The Chen Mansion is truly a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers."

Suddenly, Chen Wenzong asked, "Your Highness, now might not be the time for pleasantries. I have something I am unsure whether it is appropriate to discuss?"

Chen Liqin frowned, "Wenzong, you must not be disrespectful to His Highness..."

The Crown Prince raised his hand to stop Chen Liqin, looking towards Chen Wenzong, he said, "Brother Wenzong, feel free to speak your mind."

Chen Wenzong bowed to the Crown Prince and said, "Thirty-four members of my Chen family were assassinated by villains, and this matter cannot simply be ignored. Though they were only servants sold to the Chen family, they were nonetheless thirty-four living souls who should not just die in vain."

The Crown Prince earnestly replied, "Brother Wenzong, do not worry, I will ensure the Chen family gets a proper explanation. In fact, before coming to the station, I had already dispatched a member of the Yulin Army to ride swiftly out of the city. Upon his arrival at Tianshui County, he will expedite a memorial to the Imperial Capital using the express service of the station, covering a distance of six hundred miles in haste. By then, the Emperor will certainly dispatch the Jiefan Guard and the Spy Department to thoroughly investigate this matter."

Chen Wenzong sighed with relief, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

...

...

The streets of Guyuan at night, devoid of vendors, were much more spacious than during the day.

The Yulin Army was guarding the Crown Prince and the Chen family members at the front, while Chen Ji and others slowly followed behind.

Xiao Man, riding a small pony, came forward to complain, "Third Young Master, that General Zhou really doesn’t understand the situation. Coming up to chat with you at this time, isn’t he putting you in danger?"

Chen Ji replied indifferently, "He might just be straightforward by nature and not aware of the implications... After all, I am of low status, and there is no point for him to harm me."

He judged that General Zhou’s approach was indeed unintentional, but it was not possible to delve into what the other person was thinking at the moment. He only hoped that this wouldn’t make the Crown Prince suspicious of him.

Suddenly, a Yulin Army soldier rode back, laughing as he walked side by side with Zhang Zheng and Axia, "Brother Zhang, Axia, it’s been a long time since we parted in the Imperial Capital."

Axia rode on, not even glancing at him, and coldly replied, "Qi Zhenzhuo, ’Axia’ is not for you to call, address me as master."

Qi Zhenzhuo laughed, "Now that you are no longer a master at the Imperial Academy, and I am no longer a student, why make it so formal? How come after all these years, your temper is still so cold?"

Zhang Zheng said irritably, "My sister doesn’t want to deal with you, scram!"

Qi Zhenzhuo frowned, "Zhang Zheng, speak politely. I’m not afraid of you anymore!"

Zhang Zheng said with a half-smile, "Relying on your ancestors to enter the Yulin Army, do you really think you’re something special now? Fine then, when we are back in the Imperial Capital, gather your men, and I will call Yangyang and the others. We’ll train on West City Peace Street, and whoever loses takes a swim in Shichahai Lakes, and if he doesn’t, he’s a coward!"

Qi Zhenzhuo’s expression darkened, "Calling on the Divine Machine Camp, what skill is that? What does Yangyang and the others’ prowess have to do with you?"

Zhang Zheng grinned, "Being able to connect with someone is my skill. If you don’t get lost, once we’re back in Imperial Capital, I will have people wait on the days you rest, and if you dare, never go home!"

Qi Zhenzhuo’s expression changed several times, ultimately he said coldly, "I initially wanted to remind you to not get too close to the border army, to avoid getting implicated. But it seems I was just making a fool of myself dealing with you and your sister."

With that, he spurred his horse and without looking back, caught up with the Yulin Army.

After he left, Chen Ji, with a hint of interest, observed Zhang Zheng and teased, "Brother Zhang seems somewhat unfamiliar today."

Zhang Zheng shyly responded, "Back in the Imperial Capital, I often got into trouble, which is why my mother insisted on keeping me close in Luocheng. I have since reformed; just now, I was only trying to scare him a bit."

Chen Ji laughed, "Why haven’t I heard about this from Brother Zhang before?"

Zhang Zheng reflected, "I used to take pride in those past incidents, but later on, comparing them with yours, they are simply not worth mentioning, so I felt embarrassed to bring them up, not that I intentionally hid them."

Chen Ji suddenly changed the topic, "The Yulin Army doesn’t seem very impressive, do they?"

Axia explained, "The Yulin Army is mainly used for Royal rituals, consisting mostly of noble children. If you are talking about the most formidable forces, they are the Longevity Army, the Five Armies Camp, and the Divine Machine Camp, collectively known as the Imperial Three Camps, totaling one hundred and seventy thousand troops."

Zhang Zheng added, "You see that General Li Xuan around the Crown Prince, who looks well put-together, is actually a son-in-law of the Qi family. The Qi Zhenzhuo we just scolded, related to the Qi family, his father also once served in the Yulin Army."

Chen Ji suddenly realized, "No wonder the Yulin Army members all dress so splendidly; they are actually the Guard Army."

However, just then, a solitary sound of horse hooves came from the dirt road behind them.

Everyone turned back only to see a yellow-brown horse galloping towards them.

In the next moment, General Li Xuan’s complexion changed, and he urgently said to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, that’s Wang Guang’s horse!"

Judging by the time, Wang Guang should have been on his way to Tianshui County.

Yet now, the horse had unexpectedly returned, but the rider was nowhere to be seen!