Fifty-eight set out on an expedition

  Changle Front Hall

  Liu Ying raised his head, his eyes shining brightly as he looked straight into Liu Bang's eyes, "Your Majesty, I wish to request permission to lead the army in a campaign against Ying Bu."

  Liu Bang coldly said, "Nonsense. You mother and son are quite good, one wants to fight, the other doesn't want to fight. Do you think marching and fighting is fun? Can it be done just because you say so?"

  "This time it won't work," Liu Ying replied firmly. "As long as Father Emperor agrees, I'll go to Empress Dowager's place myself."

  Liu Bang was taken aback for a moment and took a closer look at his own son in front of him.

  He had grown so tall without realizing it. His forehead was wide and seemed to follow the imperial style, but his eyes were just like those of the empress.

  Liu Bang suddenly felt a pang in his heart and waved his hand, saying, "Go down, go down. If you want to fight, I'd be happy to simplify things. However, if you lose, I won't see this son of mine again."

  "What nonsense."

  The imperial decree of Emperor Gao has already been issued, and Empress Lü was so angry that her whole body trembled. After walking back and forth in the Pepper Chamber several times, she turned around and looked at her son with a tired expression. "Ying'er, you usually listen to your mother's words. Why did you act on your own this time? The battlefield is treacherous, if something happens to you..."

  "But Mother," Liu Ying knelt on the couch and looked up at her mother, "I want to give it a try."

  Lv Wei was taken aback for a moment.

  "The son knew that if he told his mother, she would love and cherish him even more, and most likely wouldn't let him go. So he went to the emperor first and asked for permission. 'Mother,' he said sincerely, 'I am going of my own accord.'"

  Lü Cuī gazed at her son in front of her, feeling a mix of emotions in her heart. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to her son obeying her every command, and now he suddenly stood before her, saying "I want to do this and that." She felt a sense of relief that her son was finally growing up, but more than that, she felt a pang of loss, as if the child who had always been under her protection was finally stirring, wanting to break free from her sight.

  On the eve of the expedition, Liu Ying was studying the strategy for this war with his staff in the East Palace. Suddenly, a palace maid reported that the Queen Mother of Chu, Liu Xiang, had come to visit and was waiting outside the palace gate.

  He came out to greet her and saw a flaxen-clothed girl standing with her back to him on the veranda in the distance, and for a moment he was taken aback.

  In memory, this cousin was always associated with bright clothes and angry horses, flying and jumping. But had to dress herself in plain-colored clothes for a year of mourning, and the whole person looked duller too.

  "Crown Prince brother." Liu suddenly turned his head, saw him, and was delighted. "I heard you're going to war today, so I came over to see you off. Are you happy?"

  Liu Ying smiled and said, "It wasn't necessary for you to go to so much trouble."

  "How can this be?" Liu Yi shook his head stubbornly, "Brother Taizi, you are going out to fight for the first time. I always think that if we are sincere, the spirits will bless us. Bless your victory." Her expression was sincere, and when Liu Ying saw it, he felt a little moved in his heart. He smiled and said, "Thank you, sister, then."

  "Right," Liu glanced back at him, his expression barely concealing his disappointment, and asked with a furrowed brow, "I heard that Zhang Xie has also been here with you, Prince, these past few days. Does he know I've come this time?"

  "I know."

  "Then he won't come out and see me?" she said sorrowfully.

  "Enough," Liu Ying turned slightly, covering up the impatience in her words. "I know you have feelings for Zhang He, but with the expedition about to depart, this is not the time for you children to be discussing romance."

  "I just knew you were about to set out on a campaign, that's why I had to make this trip." Liu Ze said with intense emotions, "You're not going for a leisurely stroll. You're going to war! I keep thinking, what if he gets hurt or doesn't come back at all? What am I supposed to do? Prince," Liu Ze grasped his arm and begged, "Can you let him come out and see me for a moment?"

  Liu Ying let out a sigh, feeling that one head was not enough for two big things. He beckoned to an imperial attendant and gave a serious order: "Immediately invite Vice General Zhang He to come over and comfort the Lord of Chu."

  Later, Liu Ying vaguely heard that Zhang He had a big fight with Liu Pi.

  "It's inexplicable." Zhang He complained angrily, and only when he was extremely angry did this young man show a lively life. "She doesn't know where she heard that I'm on good terms with the eldest daughter of the Xuanping Marquis' manor, and she actually asked me if I have intentions towards her." "A Yan?" Liu Ying said in surprise, "What joke is this, A Yan is only a few years old?"

  "Yes." Zhang He smiled slightly, "How old is that little girl?"

  "Besides," Liu Ying said curiously, "the Chu State's eldest princess is not only beautiful but also the legitimate daughter of the King of Chu. Before Ruyi was born, she had always been the number one beauty in the Liu family. She has deep feelings for you and has been devoted to you for many years, why don't you like her?"

  Zhang hesitated for a moment and sighed, "The heart's inclination or aversion is indeed beyond control."

  "Alright, alright." He waved his hand and said, "At this time when our great army is on a military expedition, let's focus our minds on the rebels in Huainan.

  Xin You day, suitable for going out, suitable for fighting against evil spirits.

  This day is the day when the great army sets out on an expedition.

  More than 2,000 pieces of fine steel made scales densely stacked like fish scales, the chest and back were fixed with a hidden line, only exposing a very short strap, which was finely able to solidly protect; while on the arm and waist, a positive line was used, making it possible to move flexibly. Chen Hu stroked the tray above, where the icy armor was gleaming, sighed, turned around and put the fish-scale armor on Liu Ying. Under the helmet's tassel, Liu Ying's face was heroic and majestic.

  Liu Ying hung his sword at his waist, held his wife's hand and smiled, "Don't worry. I will win this battle and come back safely."

  When he finished speaking, he let go of his wife's hand and walked out of the inner chamber, out of the East Palace, and out of the Chang Le Palace gate.

  On top of the Que Gate, in the middle of the watchtower, Emperor Gao of Han Liu Bang gazed intently at his son clad in armor. "Go." He waved his hand.

  Then the Grand Commandant Zhao Yao, holding the Tiger Tally, walked down from the top of the Gate of Heaven, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince." He smiled slightly and bowed his back, making the kneeling prince look even lower.

  Liu Ying reached out and picked up the right half of the tiger tally from the black lacquer tray lined with dark-colored brocade. He held it reverently in his hand, and under the direct sunlight at noon, the four silver characters "Huainan Right One" shone with an unusual light.

  "The young prince thanks the emperor for the imperial edict. This time, I will definitely not disappoint the emperor's expectations." He bowed his head and got on his horse, waving his hand to signal "Departure". The northern army officers, dressed in bright black armor, followed him with their spears, marching through the streets of Chang'an, heading straight for Bashang.

  "Your Majesty," Zhao Yao said with a smile. "The Crown Prince has gone far away."

  "I know." --- "I know." Liu Bang tapped the railing of the watchtower with his hand, "I wonder if I did something wrong."

  "'Your Majesty says so,' Zhao Yao said with a flattering smile. 'As the Son of Heaven, how can Your Majesty be wrong?'"

  Liu Bang smiled slightly, not minding what he said, and continued to gaze at the smoke left behind by the Northern Army in the distance. "Xing'er's victory would make me happy, but it would also solidify his position as crown prince; if he loses...if he loses...he is my own son after all, can I really bear to see him so humiliated?"

  At three o'clock in the afternoon, Liu Ying arrived at Xingyang. The drums and horns sounded together, and the Hu Jiaolong whistle blew loudly. The gate of the Xingyang military camp opened wide, and Fan Kuai, Marquis of Wuyang, led a group of generals to welcome him out and pay their respects to the crown prince with military etiquette.

  "It is in the military camp." Liu Ying waved his hand and said loudly, "Only the military position will be discussed, not the crown prince. I have no difference at all."

  Fan Qiao smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Yes, General Liu." Under the armor, a robust face with a beard was lifted up, and the two men looked at each other and laughed together.

  "Your Majesty is still quite benevolent towards the Crown Prince." In the commander's tent, Fan Kuai pointed to the map on the table and said, "There are a total of 9,000 troops in the Xingyang military camp. The general has also brought another 1,000 northern soldiers. Furthermore, he has mobilized the vassal states' armies and released all the prisoners nationwide. The Kingdom of Huainan is merely exerting its national strength; although Ying Bu is skilled in battle, can the Han army be easily defeated? It will surely be a walkover."

  "Does the Crown Prince believe what Marquis Wuyang said?" After Marquis Wuyang left, a person emerged from behind the curtain of the tent and said calmly.

  He wore a white robe with his hair tied up in a crown. A small, exquisite green silk pouch hung from his waist, and the whole person looked clean and refreshing.

  Liu Ying was not surprised. She smiled slightly, "What does Mr. Xu mean by this? The Marquis of Wuyang is my closest uncle, there's no reason to deceive."

  Xu Xiang smiled and said, "I don't dare say that the Marquis of Wuyang has deceived the Crown Prince. I'm just saying that the Crown Prince shouldn't take this battle lightly because of a single conversation with the Marquis of Wuyang."

  Liu Ying removed his armor and handed it over to Zhang Ji, asking sharply, "Sir, didn't you say earlier that Ying Bu had four reasons for certain defeat? How can you now contradict yourself?"

  Xu Xiang smiled slightly, "This is one time and that is another. Even if Ying Bu has thousands of reasons to lose, not a single one is due to the Han army underestimating him. At that time, the crown prince couldn't be certain whether he wanted to go to war or not, so naturally I had to strongly advise against it; now that the crown prince has decided to take to the battlefield, being cautious of the enemy is always a good thing. As the crown prince's strategist, I will of course plan everything with his best interests in mind."

  "Does Mr. Xu understand war?" Liu Ying asked sharply.

  "I don't understand," Xu Xiang said calmly. "But the outcome of this battle is largely due to non-military forces."

  Liu Ying suddenly smiled, "The power of war and non-war, isn't it absurd?"

  "Not absurd." Xu Xiang's gaze was like a sharp knife, staring straight into Liu Ying's eyes. "Can the Crown Prince recall the reasons why the Four Hoary Heads of Mount Shang opposed his leading the army?"

  "Didn't the teacher refute them one by one?"

  "There are very few things in this world that can be absolutely right or wrong. I think the prince should take the field, and to this day, my opinion has not changed, but I must also let the prince know that it is much more difficult for him to take the field than for Your Majesty."

  Mentioning Emperor Gao, Liu Ying was taken aback for a moment and said warmly, "Father Emperor has been through countless battles and finally became the emperor. It's only natural that as his son, I'm not as capable."

  "No." Xu Xiang shook his head, "Your Majesty has been through a hundred battles, but that doesn't mean you understand war."

  "Xu Xiang----" Liu Ying slapped her hand on the table and stood up, "How dare you."

  The young man pointed his finger at the crown of his head, and Xu Xiang's eyes did not blink as he said lightly, "These words were not spoken by me, but by the Marquis of Huaiyin. The Marquis of Huaiyin once said that Your Majesty is not good at commanding troops, but good at commanding generals. Does the Crown Prince think that your methods of commanding generals are superior to those of His Majesty?"

  Liu Ying sat in front of the desk, slightly dejected, "Cannot."

  "So when Your Majesty leads the army, nine out of ten victories are due to your own efforts. With many soldiers and a strong general, it's easy to win. But when the Crown Prince leads the army, he has to spend five times as much effort just to get the other generals to trust him, and even then it's not enough. That's why I say that for the Crown Prince to lead the army is several times more difficult than for Your Majesty."

  The candlelight flickered, Liu Ying sat in the tent for a long time, suddenly raised her head, but Xu Xiang had already left the tent.

  On the second day, in the Wuque military camp, sacrifices were made to Chi You, praying for the Han army's victory over the rebel forces. The flags were raised and the army achieved a great victory. After that, the main force set out towards Huainan.

  In the Xuanping Marquis's residence, Lu Yuanlong Gongzhu held three-year-old Zhang Yan and walked in the courtyard, unknowingly wandering thousands of miles.

  "Mother, mother." Zhang Yan called out repeatedly.

  "Ah." Lu Yuan suddenly came back to himself.

  So the answer is revealed, it's Bao Yue.

  In short, some families are happy and some are worried about this result.