A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 734: Chapter 734: Bayonet Fight

Zhao Junyao coldly narrowed his eyes and commanded, ”Do not act rashly. Follow him! I want to see what exactly he is trying to do!”

Xia Tingfeng saluted with a clasped fist. ”Yes, Emperor!”

Then, with a swift movement, he vanished into the night.

Xia Tingfeng did not return until midnight. Zhao Junyao sat alone in the darkened tent, waiting. He was like a statue, or a leopard that had long waited in the shadows for its prey—quiet and still, as if time itself had stopped around him.

”Emperor!” Xia Tingfeng entered as silently as a ghost and knelt before him.

”What is the situation?” Zhao Junyao turned to look at him. The clear moonlight fell upon him. His expression was stern, his gaze piercing, leaving one with no place to hide.

”The one who met him was indeed the Second Prince of the Southern Ocean, Min Tu! The distance was too great, and the seaside offered no cover, so I couldn’t get close enough to hear their conversation!”

Zhao Junyao gave a cold laugh. ”Is there any need for you to hear clearly? What he said, we can guess easily enough!”

”Hmph!” Zhao Junyao’s voice carried an endless chill. He struggled to suppress his emotions, lest he lose his reason.

Aside from Little Fifth and Little Seventh, Zhao Junqi was his closest cousin. Everyone else might have a motive to betray the Imperial Court, but Zhao Junqi—what exactly was he after?! What exactly was he after?!!

Zhao Junyao felt deeply grieved. The feeling of being betrayed by a kinsman was truly unbearable.

BANG!

He slammed his fist on the long table used for reviewing memorials. And so, another table lay in ruins.

”Emperor! What shall we do now?” Xia Tingfeng asked.

Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists. ”Proceed according to the original plan! The men will hold their positions, but we will use the latest tactics!” Zhao Junyao instructed. He had always prioritized the common people and would never trifle with their lives. Moreover, he was a ruthless and decisive emperor. Since Zhao Junqi dared to act against the Great Chu Dynasty, he was prepared to eliminate him for the sake of justice, without giving him a single chance!

If The King breaks the law, he is punished like any commoner. If an emperor cannot even uphold the order of his court, then what kind of pathetic emperor is he! So... This time, Zhao Junyao truly harbored a killing intent!

”Yes!”

After Xia Tingfeng withdrew, he secretly informed all the Generals: ’The tactics confirmed during the day are void; the Emperor has decided on new ones!’

In short, Zhao Junyao had employed a ruse. He presented one plan to Zhao Junqi but had prepared another in secret.

If Xia Ruqing were present, she would undoubtedly exclaim, ”How cunning!”

Indeed, emperors were known for their ruthless methods; otherwise, how could they bear the weight of a nation?

Zhao Junyao had become accustomed to it. Having been an emperor for so many years, he had seen and learned enough to know this all too well. The Royal Family, the emperor—for all their outward splendor, there is just as much shame and filth lurking beneath the surface. He was not surprised in the least. Some matters simply required such methods! What choice was there?!

「...」

The three-day deadline arrived quickly. By dawn on the fourth day, thousands upon thousands of sea vessels and warships had gathered at Xiahe Bay. Hundreds of warships from the Southern Ocean Kingdom had assembled in the waters three miles away. Their soldiers were waving flags and shouting, the sound of their war drums shaking the heavens.

Arubasi and Min Zhuo stood on the largest ship in the middle. They held round, telescope-like objects, peering through them for a moment before bursting into laughter. They would look again, then laugh once more, their words and laughter laced with thick sarcasm.

”Hahaha... Emperor whelp, this time I’ll let you taste my might!”

Min Zhuo laughed as well. ”Father, they say to catch bandits, first catch the kingpin. If we truly eliminate their emperor, won’t this vast land become ours, part of our Southern Ocean Kingdom?”

Arubasi gazed at the map, his eyes lighting up as he focused on the enormous stretch of land his son indicated. ”Exactly, that’s right! Son, when the time comes... I’ll make you Crown Prince! We’ll take a hundred and eighty wives, just like those Han People, and thoroughly enjoy life’s pleasures, hahaha...”

Knowing the enemy’s troop deployment and battle plans, they weren’t worried in the slightest about losing.

”I initially thought that youngster wouldn’t be sincere, but who’d have guessed he’d lay all his cards on the table for us!”

”TSK TSK, once we conquer this place, we absolutely must not treat him shabbily!”

Arubasi’s eyes flickered, and he gave a sly smile. ”Yes, we absolutely cannot treat him poorly!”

With that said, the father and son began to fantasize again, imagining how they would live on this land to savor life with the utmost delight.

「Meanwhile, on the mainland opposite Xiahe Bay.」

Zhao Junqi, clad in the Emperor’s golden dragon armor and mounted on a warhorse, stood at the very center of the formation! Xia Tingfeng, Ye Tang, Yang Chenyi, and the Seventh Prince—all young and skilled martial artists—were ordered to protect the ”Emperor” by his side. Meanwhile, General Xiao, General Liang, Yang He, and others commanded the battle from the rear of the troops. There was no waving of flags, no shouting; all soldiers stood in grim readiness. Battle was imminent.

「...」

Half a quarter-hour later, the Southern Ocean Kingdom could wait no longer. Arubasi gave the command. All their warships began to advance in unison. The enemy advanced like a horde of savage beasts, threatening to engulf the Great Chu Dynasty, striking fear into all who witnessed their approach.

What no one noticed was that a small contingent of Southern Ocean People had not joined the main charge. Instead, they veered off from the rear of their formation and landed quietly at a different location. Their goal was simple: kill the Emperor—the real Emperor! Yes, they knew the ”Emperor” within the army ranks was an imposter. The true Emperor was in the main command tent at the rear. Thus, from the outset, they had planned a two-pronged attack. One prong aimed for the Emperor, the other for the main enemy force. They were determined to conquer the Great Chu Dynasty with this pincer movement.

Unfortunately for them... the Great Chu Dynasty was not so foolish.

Scouts reported that some Southern Ocean People had landed and were heading towards the Emperor’s command tent. Xia Tingfeng and Ye Tang exchanged glances. Together with Yang Chenyi and Little Seventh, the four of them quietly slipped back. An ambush was already laid at the command tent, so they didn’t even need to bring soldiers; their presence alone would suffice!

Meanwhile, back on the main front, the battle erupted as soon as they departed. Although the Great Chu Navy Forces were not as strong as their opponents, they had superior numbers and the Archers from the Divine Engine Camp. A volley of thousands of arrows rained down, felling many of the enemy.

Furthermore, these were shallow waters, and the enemy’s large ships could not reach the shore, becoming stranded on the tidal flats. The Southern Ocean People, with their perplexing preference for close combat, leaped from their ships one after another, charging forward to engage in melee.

This wasn’t necessarily a disadvantage; it was certainly better than being crushed by the enemy’s warships. Realizing this, the soldiers of the Great Chu Dynasty surged forward. Hand-to-hand combat? Who didn’t know how to do that! Strength had its advantages, but so did agility, did it not? The outcome was still far from certain!