GSY Chapter20

The army set out, marching quickly.

 

Yuan Zheng followed the troops, dragged a deputy general, and asked him the reason for the sudden expedition.

 

The Hu people took Longsha Fort and attacked Beicang Pass. Beicang is also an important pass in the northern border. Beicang was in danger and sent out a smoke signal last night for help.

 

Yuan Zheng said, “Then there is no need for Cen Yelan to go in person. If the Hu people take the opportunity to attack Hanzhou—”

 

The deputy general said, “Your Highness, you don’t know that once Beicang is lost, Hanzhou may become an isolated city, so Beicang cannot be lost.” He hesitated for a moment and continued, “Moreover, the commander of Beicang is General Cen, Cen Yi.”

 

Yuan Zheng raised his eyebrows slightly. “Cen Yi?”

 

The deputy general refused to say more, raised his hand to salute, said, ‘I’m leaving’, and urged his horse to leave.

 

Yuan Zheng held the reins and asked Fang Jing, “His surname is Cen, is he a member of the Cen family?”

 

Fang Jing said, “The only generals in the North with the surname Cen can only be from the Cen family. He should be the son of General Cen Xi’s elder brother. According to seniority, he is considered Cen Yelan’s elder brother.”

 

Yuan Zheng understood and sneered, “Rushing to rescue in such a hurry, is Cen Yelan showing favoritism?”

 

Fang Jing hesitated and said, “The Cen family has few descendants. In recent years, only Cen Yi is left. He cannot die. If he dies, General Cen will be criticized by the world for not doing anything.”

 

“General Cen Xi’s decision to hand over the Northern Defense Army to Cen Yelan was already controversial.”

 

Yuan Zheng suddenly remembered Cen Yelan’s identity. He was Cen Xi’s adopted son and was not a member of the Cen family at all.

 

But before his death, Cen Xi bypassed Cen Yi, who was the real member of the Cen family, and gave everything to an adopted son.

 

There was a lot of discussion even in the court at that time, but it was the emperor who silenced everyone with an imperial edict. For so many years, Cen Yelan has carried on Cen Xi’s last wish, not making a single mistake, and silently guarding the northern border, making it difficult for the Hu people to advance and frightening them.

 

Yuan Zheng looked up at Cen Yelan’s tall back in front of him and inappropriately wondered how Cen Yelan had been living these years?

 

Suddenly, Fang Jing let out a strange cry, stared at Yuan Zheng, and said, “Your Highness, you don’t even know what they are going to do, yet you are following them to the battlefield and taking risks!”

 

He was so angry, “You, you are really my ancestor—”

 

“Ah Zheng ah, stop going against General Cen.”

 

Yuan Zheng said calmly, “Who is going against him?”

 

“I am the military supervisor. What kind of military supervisor am I if the soldiers are charging in the front, but I don’t even dare to go to the battlefield?”

 

Fang Jing choked and thought, Who else could you be ah? But looking into Yuan Zheng’s eyes, he dared not say anything. He knew very well that Yuan Zheng was sent to this border as a military supervisor, but he was the emperor’s favorite son and the one most likely to become the crown prince.

 

When Cen Yelan arrived, the Beicang Pass had been fighting hard for several days already, and even Cen Yi was injured.

 

Cen Yi was two years older than Cen Yelan, with a handsome and upright face, looking like a Confucian general. He had a bandage on his arm and a serious look between his eyes.

 

Cen Yi has always been famous in the army, but Cen Yelan is too outstanding, which makes Cen Yi look ordinary.

 

Yuan Zheng watched and found that the two brothers had a pretty good relationship.

 

Cen Yi said, “Ah Lan, why did you come here in person? How is the situation in Hanzhou?”

 

Cen Yelan said, “Brother, don’t worry, Hanzhou has made all the arrangements.”

 

Cen Yi welcomed them in. Yuan Zheng was a stranger, but Cen Yi knew who he was right away and bowed, “Your Highness the Seventh Prince.”

 

Yuan Zheng waved his hand. “General Cen, there’s no need to be so polite. You’ve been working hard these days.”

 

He spoke tactfully, far from being unreasonable like when he was in front of Cen Yelan. Cen Yelan glanced at him, and their eyes met inadvertently. Yuan Zheng grinned, and Cen Yelan turned away expressionlessly.

 

As the group entered the mansion, they chatted. Cen Yelan asked, “Brother, who is leading the troops this time?”

 

Cen Yi raised his eyes, looked at him, and smiled, saying, “Actually, we are old acquaintances.”

 

“Yan Le?” Cen Yelan frowned, “It’s him.”

 

Cen Yi nodded and said, “Yan Le is more difficult to deal with than three years ago.”

 

Yuan Zheng suddenly asked, “Who is Yan Le?”

 

Cen Yi said, “Your Highness doesn’t know, Yan Le is the second prince of the Hu tribe and is known as the Hu tribe’s first warrior. We have fought him several times over the years. This man is cunning and vicious, ambitious, and has always wanted to rule Hanzhou and invade our Dayan.”

 

Yuan Zheng let out an ‘oh’ thoughtfully.

 

Suddenly, a child’s clear and cheerful voice sounded, and he rushed straight to Cen Yelan, “Second Uncle!”

 

Cen Yelan stopped, squatted down, and raised his hand to catch the child who was running fast. “Mo’er, don’t run so fast.”

 

It was a child of four or five years old, delicate and fair, dressed in thick clothes and holding a wooden spear with a red tassel.

 

Cen Yi said in a deep voice, “Mo’er, have you forgotten what Father said?”

 

The child stood up straight, looked up, and called Cen Yi ‘Father’ obediently, then turned to smile at Cen Yelan, his cheeks flushed, and he was so excited, “Second Uncle!”

 

“Mo’er hasn’t seen Second Uncle for a long time already. Second Uncle never comes to see Mo’er.”

 

Cen Yelan reached out and touched the child’s head, and his cold eyes softened slightly.

 

The child held up a wooden spear as tall as himself, proudly gestured a few times, and chattered non-stop, saying, “Second Uncle, Mo’er have to practice my spear skills well. When the time comes, I will be like Second Uncle and Father, defending our country.”

 

A faint smile appeared on Cen Yelan’s face. “Good boy.”

 

It was the first time that Yuan Zheng saw Cen Yelan with this expression. Looking at the smile on his face, he was touched. Somehow, he felt inexplicably soft and couldn’t take his eyes off him.