The Imperial Age 山河月明 Episode 36

If all the vassals merged, Zhu Yunwen knew that the emperor would not be able to stand on his own, so this battle had to be fought no matter what. Zhu Di's tactics were cunning. When dealing with Xiongxian and Mozhou, he took out all the troops and horses in these two places without costing a single soldier. Zhang Wu and Zhang Yu's son Zhang Fu contributed greatly to this battle. When the Marquis of Changxing, Geng Bingwen, learned of this, he was furious. In this battle, the Marquis of Changxing had already lost the chance, and he ordered Gu Cheng to lead his army back to Zhending, and three days later they would form a joint camp outside the city.

Zhu Di allowed Geng Bingwen and Gu Cheng to join forces, but Zhang Yu was puzzled. Zhu Di explained that Geng Bingwen has always used his troops cautiously. If he keeps the truth, he will definitely set up a stronghold outside the city. It is a matter of knowledge which soldiers should enter the city and which soldiers should stay outside the city. The reason why Zhu Di ignored their joint venture was to make Geng Bingwen feel that he would accept it as soon as he saw it and not dare to act rashly, and then Geng Bingwen dared to leave the entire army outside Zhending City. Geng Bingwen's troops were originally dispatched from various places, and they were not under the same command. Zhu Di took advantage of this to send troops at the right time, and the battle could be settled.

As soon as the Marquis of Changxing gave the good order, he heard a commotion outside, someone sneaked up on the camp, and seeing the scene was uncontrollable, under the cover of his subordinates, Geng Bingwen ran away, but the old general Gu Cheng was arrested. Zhu Di did not embarrass him. On the contrary, he respected him and ordered someone to release him quickly and send him to rest. Geng Bingwen planned to stick to Zhending. Zhu Di understood that he had a lot of skills in defending the city, and he decided to return to the camp immediately, instead of spending time in Zhending. Zhu Di understood that the imperial court would go all out to fight, and the Yan army’s sergeants were only 100,000 total, so they could not be beaten. Zhu Di ordered Zhang Yu to lead the army back to Peiping, and at the same time brought back the review and told Princess Yan to take good care of Gu Lao. general.

Seeing that Princess Yan treated him with courtesy, Gu Cheng finally wavered and fell to King Yan's side. On the court's side, Fang Xiaoru suggested that the disobedient be severely punished and Gu Cheng's crime should be cured. Soon, Zhu Yunwen issued an order to arrest Gu Cheng and others, and when the order arrived, they would be executed on the spot. As for the Marquis of Changxing, Geng Bingwen, after selecting another general, he will return to Beijing to listen to the investigation. Zhu Di took Zhang Yu's son Zhang Fu to see old general Chen Heng, Chen Heng was inconvenient to travel, and asked Zheng Heng to meet Zhu Di on his behalf. Zheng Heng told Zhu Di that Mr. Gu Cheng’s four sons were all beheaded by His Majesty, and Chen Heng had decided to follow King Yan to the death.

Zheng Heng told Zhu Di on his behalf that Chen Heng said that it is not appropriate to go to King Ning at this time. Since the start of the army, King Ning has taken a wait-and-see attitude. If Zhu Di came to the door hastily, King Ning might be detrimental to him. But Daning must go, but not now, when the army of the imperial court arrives, that is when Zhu Di marches into King Ning's army. Daoyan suggested that Zhu Xi let Miao Yun write a letter to Xu Yungong. Zhu Xi knew that Miao Yun would be embarrassed, but he didn’t know that she had written the letter long ago, and only hoped that Zhu Xi would save Xu Yungong’s life. Zhu Di asked her why she was sure that she would win, and Miao Yun vowed to say that since the father and the first prince, no one has been Zhu Di's opponent anymore.

Miao Yun's alienation plan took effect, and Miao Jin sent the specially cut letter to the eunuch in the palace without trace. Zhu Yunwen then saw the letter written by Miao Yun to Xu Yungong, and Qi Tai advised that Duke Wei should not be sent to attack the King of Yan. And this general's candidate naturally fell on Li Jinglong's head. Li Jinglong stopped the army at Hejian Mansion, and Xu Yungong immediately entered the palace to give Zhu Yunwen a proposal for the march. The art of war he proposed sounded good, and finally persuaded Zhu Yunwen. Zhu Yunwen immediately issued an order to Li Jinglong of Hejianfu to let him set off for Peiping immediately.