Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power-Chapter 492 - 489 Kill One

Xie Liangchen returned to the Familiar Medicine Institute, Song Xian was leading troops outside, and food and medicine had to be continuously sent over. Everyone in Zhenzhou who knew medicine was now in the Official Medicine Bureau and Familiar Medicine Institute.

Everything was in perfect order, with no panic due to the war.

Everyone was busy, almost everyone was working, from now on, there was no time for business, no time to earn Silver Coin, and even less time to repair houses or do personal affairs.

Everyone was committed to one battle, and before this battle stopped, none of them would cease their efforts.

So, it was not just Song Xian and the Song Family Army fighting, but the entire North following Song Xian into battle.

Xie Liangchen watched this, pondering in his mind, where Song Xian’s first battle would be?

This differs from his previous life, in the past Song Xian had to deal with the Wang Family and several Military Governors before he could mobilize the entire North, now even before going on an expedition, everyone was united.

The first to initiate battle, likely wasn’t Song Xian, but Du Zhuo, Du Jiedu.

Du Zhuo had already departed for the Northwest two days ago, he was taking the Du Family troops to first deal with Prince Lu.

Before Du Zhuo set off, he had first written a letter for Zhang Chi.

Since the Emperor became gravely ill, Prince Qi rebelled, the court had not dispatched reinforcements to Zhang Chi. Zhang Chi, relying solely on his troops, pursued Prince Lu in the Northwest, achieving some results but also losing many men.

Watching as the encirclement around Prince Lu shrank smaller and smaller, but with insufficient personnel and military resources, Zhang Chi’s troops were almost immobilized.

"Has the court replied yet?"

"No."

Within a day, Zhang Chi almost asked three or four times, but his requests for aid felt like a stone sinking into the sea, waiting without a trace of response.

It’s as if heading towards a dead end.

Zhang Chi sensed the morale in his troops gradually crumbling, even his Deputy General suggested letting Prince Lu have a way out. Simply because the Emperor was gravely ill, Prince Lu was a Yang Family descendant, so perhaps the court officials thought similarly, otherwise why not send reinforcements, now even cutting off military supplies.

If the Emperor passed away, maybe Prince Lu wouldn’t be considered a rebel anymore, it might be better to leave a trace of hope, for Prince Lu and for themselves.

How many men and horses have been lost capturing Prince Lu?

Trusted aides died one after another around him, just as Prince Lu’s final breath was seemingly in reach, the men around him were thinking of giving up.

Is this fear of Prince Lu, or a loss of confidence in the court?

Just as Zhang Chi was about to walk into a dead end, Du Zhuo’s letter made Zhang Chi see a glimmer of hope.

Du Zhuo brought reinforcements and provisions, ready to assist him in capturing Prince Lu.

Zhang Chi was full of confidence, Du Zhuo’s letter stated he would arrive at the army camp in two days. Zhang Chi gathered his commanders to discuss the matter, but the tent was silent.

Everyone had an expression of indifference, almost as if none believed that reinforcements would arrive in two days.

The court had promised reinforcements and provisions, such documents had been issued more than once, but when the agreed hour arrived, not a shadow could be seen.

Fortunately, they requisitioned provisions from nearby government offices, otherwise, the army dispatched by the court might starve to death here.

Come to think of it, it’s laughable, the government offices hadn’t received any official documents from the court and wouldn’t provide them with food, these proper troops actually had to rely on half-stealing, half-robbing to eat.

It seems the court has collapsed, how chaotic must the Capital be to result in such outcomes?

But this time, Du Zhuo truly came.

Two days, timely with no delay, Du Zhuo’s troops appeared in front of Zhang Chi.

General Zhang, who had been battling on horseback for a long time, felt a pang in his nose, and his eyes started reddening.

"General Zhang," Du Zhuo said, "you’ve worked hard in battling Prince Lu."

"Not at all," Zhang Chi replied, "it’s all for the court, ultimately still needing Du Jiedu’s help is truly embarrassing."

Du Zhuo’s arrival brought supplies and medicine to the army, causing a burst of joy throughout the camp.

Du Zhuo said, "Has General Zhang located Prince Lu’s hideout?"

Zhang Chi nodded, the Emperor still had significant trust in Du Jiedu, no wonder he sent Du Zhuo, but before proceeding he had to clarify.

Zhang Chi asked, "Was it the court that dispatched Du Jiedu?"

Du Zhuo nodded and then shook his head, followed by a long sigh: "It’s hard to say, you know the Emperor is gravely ill, the court is now in chaos, there are no formal documents, the message came from Li You."

Though without formal documents, Du Zhuo produced a letter bearing the seal of the Commander of the Palace.

Upon seeing Li You’s seal, Zhang Chi finally felt at ease, urgency governs the situation, he couldn’t rigidly adhere to the old regulations, first he had to resolve the current predicament.

Zhang Chi led Du Zhuo to view the map, informing him of Prince Lu’s hiding place.

Du Zhuo said, "I understand you’re tired, General Zhang, but to prevent Prince Lu from escaping, we must prepare for two days and then set out to capture him."

Zhang Chi replied, "Alright, we’ll set out in two days."

With so many troops, definitely able to capture Prince Lu.

A day later, Zhang Chi assembled the troops.

Zhang Chi looked pleased at his troops, knowing that they could depart in another day. Thanks to Du Zhuo’s assistance, the preparation went smoothly, Du Zhuo’s medicine was very effective, his medical workers treated the wounded excellently, and their hemostatic medicines were better than those used before. Even Zhang Chi couldn’t help but ask Du Zhuo for two bottles.

Furthermore, the wool felt worn by Du Zhuo’s soldiers was very warm...

Total Du Zhuo’s troops stood beside theirs, the difference was vast, seeming as if they did not come from the same court.

Zhang Chi looked enviously: "Is the wool felt worn by soldiers a military resource?"

"Yes, our Northern military resource," Du Zhuo replied, "sent several months ago to the Ministry of War, requesting to include it in the Daqi military supplies, but still awaiting response."

Zhang Chi said, "I heard you also have finished medicine for horses?"

"Not quite finished medicine," Du Zhuo explained, "just some processed drugs to mix into fodder."

Zhang Chi shook his head: "Such a comparison makes it seem I’m clueless about everything."

Du Zhuo patted Zhang Chi’s shoulder: "It’s nothing, really, all minor matters. You’ll become familiar after a while, we have some wool felt left, just right to distribute among General Zhang’s soldiers."

Zhang Chi felt deeply moved: "How can I accept this?"

"We’re all part of one family," Du Zhuo said, "no need to differentiate."

Eating their food, drinking their drinks, and wearing their clothing, Du Zhuo’s words were true. Yet, everyone was a military general of Daqi, why would Du Zhuo say: all part of one family.

This saying was a bit odd, but on deeper thought, perhaps it was Du Zhuo’s way of expressing closeness.

After resting for another day, the army set off to capture Prince Lu.

Indeed, with reinforcements, everything went smoothly, soon encircling Prince Lu in the mountains.

Prince Lu, no matter how formidable, couldn’t truly be omnipotent. Before nightfall, Zhang Chi saw the injured Prince Lu trying to break through with a dozen men. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Zhang Chi was ready to lead his troops to capture him when Du Zhuo suddenly appeared, without any hesitation, ordered the archers to shoot arrows.

Wave after wave of inexorable arrow shots rushed towards Prince Lu.

Within moments, Prince Lu was struck by several arrows.