The Return of the Prince

In the rainy valley, the humid air was filled with the smell of soil and grass, and the clouds and mists lingered between the mountains like smoke. This hidden valley is called "Yun Valley", located near the capital, and is named because it is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round. The terrain of the valley is complex, and the towering cliffs on both sides are like natural barriers, isolating everything in the valley from the outside world. Gao Changgong, Feng Duo, Bai Lian and his party walked carefully in the rain. The road under their feet was muddy, and the wind blew the drizzle on them, making people feel a little cold.

After walking through a dense forest, the front suddenly opened up, and Gao Changgong's most trusted personal soldiers were stationed. This is the elite he formed, with about two thousand people. The camp is hidden deep in the valley, and the glimmer of the campfire is looming through the dense leaves. There are strict sentries around it, and it is heavily guarded. The camp is arranged in an orderly manner, and the tents are neatly arranged. Although the soldiers' armor is a little rusty, their eyes are still full of vigilance and fighting spirit. Outside the tent, some soldiers were talking in a low voice, and occasional laughter broke the silence in the valley, but more people remained silent, as if they were always ready for the next battle.

When Gao Changgong and his party appeared at the entrance of the camp, the sentry in charge of the guard immediately recognized him. Although Gao Changgong was a little tired, his figure was still as tall and majestic as before. The sentinels' astonishment lasted only a moment, and then a thunderous cheer broke out: "Prince! The prince is back!" The cheers quickly spread throughout the camp, and the soldiers rushed out of the tents and gathered around Gao Changgong. At that moment, the rain seemed to stop, and the soldiers could not suppress their excitement, and the long-lost fire of hope ignited in their eyes. Gao Changgong waved his hand and looked at these soldiers who had followed him to fight on the battlefield, with a complex and deep heart. He knew that his fate was closely linked to these people.

 

Entering the main tent, Gao Changgong summoned his trusted generals. The lights in the tent were dim, and several generals had already been waiting, sitting around the table. The leader was General Li Ben, who was about 40 years old and had experienced many battles. He still had a strong battlefield atmosphere. Li Ben spoke first: "Your Majesty, the army has been anxious since they heard that you were trapped in the prison, but they dared not act rashly because of the close surveillance of the court." Gao Changgong nodded and motioned him to continue. Li Ben said in a deep voice: "The army is still stable now, but food and grass are a bit scarce. The situation on the border is unfavorable, the supply line has been cut off several times, and the soldiers' rations have been reduced by half." Other generals also echoed, mentioning the plight of insufficient food and grass and the long-term stationing of soldiers in the valley. Feng Duo interrupted: "Your Majesty, if you want to fight back at this time, the first thing to solve is the problem of military food, otherwise we brothers may not be able to hold on for long." He looked at Gao Changgong, with worry between his eyebrows. Gao Changgong listened to the reports of everyone silently, with complex emotions surging in his heart. He turned and looked at the camp outside, and vaguely saw the soldiers still busy in the rain. He knew that the morale of this army was acceptable, but without supplies and clear goals, it would sooner or later collapse.

After a moment of silence, Gao Changgong said: "We must contact the various troops as soon as possible to gather food and manpower. We can't delay any longer." His voice was low and firm, "This action is not only about my life and death, but also about the future of each of you." His words resonated with the generals in the tent, and everyone's eyes rekindled their fighting spirit.

Then, he began to assign tasks. Li Ben was responsible for leading a team to several nearby towns to find food and supplies. Feng Duo was responsible for contacting Gao Changgong's former subordinates, especially those elite troops stationed in distant places, to win their support. Bai Lian continued to use her secret network to inquire about the court's movements and try to buy time.

After the discussion, the generals took orders and left, leaving Gao Changgong alone standing in the tent. The rain outside gradually subsided, and the wind was still whistling in his ears, but his anxiety was not reduced at all.

Then he sat down at his desk and thought about which potential supporters he could send some secret letters to in order to gain some future support.