The substitute prince: Reported the emperor's brother at the beginning

As for whether to return to Beijing during the Spring Festival.

In fact, it depends on what the old emperor means.

Ning Yi naturally didn't want to go back, to avoid the old emperor causing any more trouble.

He got the news from the intelligence department. People around the old emperor reported that they often heard the old emperor dissatisfied with the 30,000 cavalry trained by the sixth brother.

The old emperor had no interest in the temporary army of prisoners organized by the Sixth Prince.

But those 30,000 cavalrymen were deadly.

I always feel that the 30,000 cavalrymen are tools that Lao Liu wants to control and threaten his throne at any time.

For this reason, Ning Yi didn't bother to care.

You can't let me disband the cavalry that I worked so hard to assemble just because of your dissatisfaction, right?

These 30,000 cavalrymen were soldiers collected from all over the place, and the officers were also appointed carefully.

They also replenished their own money and food, and even found ways to organize and select the best military equipment.

Now you are dissatisfied and want to take it back?

It's simply impossible.

The New Year is approaching, and Ning Yi has also received a letter from the old emperor, asking him to return to Beijing to celebrate the New Year.

Qin Haifeng said worriedly, "Your Highness, if we return to the capital, I hope nothing will happen at Hushan Pass."

"Of course not." Ning Yi said without any worry: "As long as our base and private army are not discovered in the capital, everything else will be easy to deal with."

Up to now, Ning Yi’s private army has not been discovered in the capital.

Because Ning Yi's private army, except for the western area of Hushan Pass, is scattered in the mountains everywhere.

The others were scattered along the way to Jizhou, becoming bandits who occupied the mountains and became kings everywhere.

The base is also a group of iron mines on the surface, with mining everywhere.

Then they made a small amount of military equipment and immediately distributed it to the armies in various places.

Even those transported towards Hushan Pass were only some firearms, which were not valued by anyone.

It can be said that Zeng Zhizhong did a very good job. On the surface, these were just a few mines of the Sixth Prince. There were just a bunch of captives or able-bodied men mining everywhere.

Moreover, they were protected by the Yongying Camp guards of the Beijing Camp.

It was the Spring Festival and heavy snow was falling outside, so the entire Hushan Pass was closed for a few days.

The stored coal was transported in large quantities to various camps.

All kinds of supplies should be distributed as much as possible to ensure that the army can celebrate the New Year smoothly.

Ning Yi led his guard battalion to a reduced strength of 500 people. In addition, Qin Haifeng led hundreds of guards and took Zeng Rou back to Beijing in a carriage.

Ning Yi returned to Beijing in a low profile as he didn't want to alarm anyone.

Of course, the officers guarding the city would quickly report to the emperor along the way.

The old emperor was relieved when he heard that the sixth prince had returned with only a few hundred guards.

To the old emperor, any son who controlled a large army was a major threat.

Ning Yi returned home first, and Yang Ziqin and Ajiu ran out to greet him. These two legitimate princesses burst into tears when they saw him.

Ning Yi hugged them both and said with a smile: "My dear husband, I am back safely. I am not missing any limbs. Why are you crying?"

The beautiful Yang Ziqin immediately complained in his arms: "Husband, please don't talk nonsense. It's New Year's Day, it's unlucky."

They waited and waited, and finally their husbands came back. Only with Ning Yi around did they feel at ease.

Ah Jiu's eyes darted around Zeng Rou beside him: "Oh, it's been a while since I last saw you. Zeng Rou is already married."

Zeng Rou blushed at this and immediately bowed: "This servant greets the two princes' wives."

No matter how long she served Ning Yi, her identity was Ning Yi's personal servant.

Even though she has become Ning Yi's woman, she has not yet been named a concubine.

What's more, even if she is a concubine, she must pay her respects to the two legitimate princes' wives.

Yang Ziqin glanced at her and ignored her.

In Yang Ziqin's eyes, Zeng Rou was highly valued by the Sixth Prince, who wanted to take her with him even when he went to war.

But she also thought it through. Zeng Rou would always be a servant, of humble origin, far from her status.

It's better than the group of vixens around His Highness.

Ning Yi said with a smile: "Come on, come on, this prince hasn't eaten yet. The family is finally reunited, let's have a good meal."

When I returned home, the environment was much better than that at Hushan Pass.

Even though he lived in the best place in Hushan Pass, how could it compare with the prince's palace in the capital.

But in Ning Yi's heart, he felt that the capital city was actually very unstable.

It’s not as reassuring as Hushan Pass.

But Ning Yi also knew that now was not the time to fall out with the old emperor, otherwise the barbarians would seize the opportunity to move south at any time.

By then, the Dawu Kingdom will be in chaos.

Only by dealing with the barbarians first and then suppressing the old emperor can the internal affairs of the entire Dawu Kingdom be properly rectified.

For two consecutive days, he naturally enjoyed family happiness with his wives.

Ning Yi partyed every day and night, and it seemed like he missed those days very much, and had no ambition at all.

The day before the Spring Festival, Ning Yi, as a prince and the commander of Hushan Pass, went to the capital in a dragon robe and brought gifts.

Today, we are here to celebrate the Spring Festival for the old emperor.

A large number of officials came, and even the princes' wives came in fancy clothes.

Ning Yi led the two beautiful princesses into the palace, immediately attracting everyone's attention.

This is the prince and hero who resisted the barbarians' attack at Hushan Pass.

Naturally, he is also a person who is often discussed in the capital.

Someone saluted Ning Yi with a smile, and Ning Yi just nodded slightly.

He stood in front and just glanced at the prime minister who had his eyes closed and looked drowsy.

They seem to have a normal relationship.

It seems like there is not much connection.

The second prince next to him was also accompanied by two beauties, both of whom were crown princesses.

Looking at Lao Liu, the Second Prince's face turned grim. He forced a smile and said, "Lao Liu, you were incredible at Hushan Pass. You resisted the barbarians' attack and forced them to negotiate peace with us. Such a great achievement is unmatched."

Ning Yi glanced at him and sneered in his heart, knowing that this showed that the Second Prince was still seriously dissatisfied with him.

After all, it was he who caused the Second Prince to become a puppet between two sides. He cannot offend anyone and must obey both sides.

Like a mouse in a bellows, being squeezed from both sides.

What the Second Prince meant by this is that you, the Sixth Prince, are so powerful that no one can compare to you, right?

Isn't this a deliberate attempt to flatter someone?

Ning Yi said calmly, "Second brother, I also lost the battle at Hushan Pass and was scolded by the emperor. The real heroes were those generals appointed by the emperor himself and the soldiers who fought bravely."

"Of course, if Second Brother also wants to achieve great feats for the Great Wu Nation, why not come with me to Hushan Pass after the New Year?"

The Second Prince smiled on the surface, but in his heart he snorted coldly and shook his head slightly: "Forget it, brother, I know nothing about military affairs."

"I'd rather not mess with you. But Lao Liu, you led a group of captives and actually defeated the barbarians so badly that they had to bow their heads. This is unprecedented."