Who put the yellow robe on me?

The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood, mixed with the smell of dust and sweat, which made people feel depressed.

The streets of the city were littered with collapsed houses and scattered weapons, and the soldiers were busy cleaning up the battlefield.

Jiang Chen stood high up, gazing into the distance, his eyes filled with deep thought. Behind him, Zhong Xiaodan, Zuo Yongyu, and other generals stood in a line, their faces filled with the joy of victory and anticipation for the future.

At this moment, a Daliang soldier came quickly and reported solemnly: "Your Highness, the deputy commander of the Western Regions fled to a dead end and committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

Jiang Chen was slightly startled, then turned around and asked, "When did it happen?"

The soldier replied, "Just now, when we caught up with him, his body was found in an abandoned temple in the city, with a suicide note beside him."

Jiang Chen asked, "Did anyone else catch them?"

The soldier replied, "Mammon has escaped and has been seen returning to Kucha."

Jiang Chen was silent for a moment, then sighed: "Take me to see this deputy general."

The crowd then came to the dilapidated temple. The incense in the temple had long been extinguished, the walls were mottled, and the tiles on the roof were incomplete.

The deputy general's body lay in front of the statue, his face still showing a painful expression, and a bloody dagger tightly grasped in his hand.

Zhong Xiaodan picked up the suicide note and handed it to Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen unfolded it and saw that it read:

"I have failed the Western Regions. My only way to repay the world is to die."

Jiang Chen gently closed the suicide note, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, and he slowly said: "War is cruel after all. He is also a man who is loyal to his country. He is indeed a man!"

Zuo Yongyu frowned and said, "Your Highness, this man deserves his punishment. Why feel sorry for him?"

Jiang Chen shook his head: "The winner should not be arrogant, and the loser also has his own respect."

Everyone was silent, no one spoke anymore.

……

As night fell, Xizhou City was silent.

A breeze blew by, bringing a hint of coolness and blowing away the hustle and bustle of the day.

Jiang Chen stood on the city wall, gazing at the distant sky. The stars were twinkling, and the moon hung high in the sky like a silver disk, but he couldn't calm the turmoil in his heart.

He took a deep breath, feeling the freshness of the night, but he couldn't suppress the thoughts in his mind.

"Sixteenth Prince!" Zhong Xiaodan's voice came from behind, with a hint of concern.

Jiang Chen turned around and forced a smile: "Second Young Master, have all the soldiers been settled?"

Zhong Xiaodan walked up to him and stood shoulder to shoulder, his gaze looking into the distance: "Yes, everyone is resting. We can continue our journey tomorrow."

Jiang Chen nodded, but his expression remained somewhat solemn. He once again cast his gaze into the distance, as if trying to see through the fog of the night.

"Your Highness, are you worried about something?" Zhong Xiaodan noticed his abnormality and asked in a low voice.

Jiang Chen was silent for a moment, then said softly, "I always feel that things won't go so smoothly. If the Western Regions retreat to Kucha, there might be a backup plan."

Zhong Xiaodan patted his shoulder and said soothingly, "Your Highness, you're worrying too much. We've already captured Xizhou City, and morale is high. With the help of the soldiers from Former Yan, we'll surely be able to carry on with our efforts."

Jiang Chen nodded slightly, but the doubts in his heart had not completely dissipated. He felt a hint of coolness in the night wind, as if foreshadowing something.

Just then, a burst of hurried horse hooves sounded in the distance.

Jiang Chen and Zhong Xiaodan looked at each other, and a sense of foreboding arose in their hearts at the same time.

"Your Highness, there may be something going on." Zhong Xiaodan frowned.

Soon, a messenger rode up, dismounted, knelt on one knee, and panted heavily: "Your Highness, the eunuchs have arrived outside the city with the imperial edict and the recall medal!"

Jiang Chen frowned, puzzled: "Eunuch? Imperial eunuch and recall medal?"

Zhong Xiaodan also looked puzzled: "Your Highness, should we go and greet him immediately?"

Jiang Chen thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Let's go and greet them!"

They quickly descended the city wall and came to the city gate.

In the darkness of the night, a group of people slowly approached, led by a eunuch dressed in gorgeous clothes. He held a bright yellow imperial edict in his hand and had a decent smile on his face, but a subtle flash of complex emotions in his eyes.

"Your Highness the Sixteenth Prince, I have come here on the orders of the Emperor to read out the Imperial Edict." The eunuch dismounted and saluted respectfully.

Jiang Chen returned the greeting and said, "You have worked hard, sir. Please go into the city and rest."

The eunuch shook his head and said with a smile, "Your Highness, the imperial edict is with me. I dare not delay! Please accept the order."

Jiang Chen's doubts grew even more intense, but he still bowed and replied, "Please announce the decree, eunuch."

The soldiers knelt down one after another, and a solemn atmosphere filled the air.

The eunuch cleared his throat, his shrill voice echoing through the night air: "By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor decrees. Now that there is no trouble on the borders of Daliang, you, the Sixteenth Prince Jiang Chen, are ordered to lead the entire army back to the capital immediately and receive promotions and honors. All meritorious officers and soldiers of the three armies will be promoted and rewarded. This is my decree."

After hearing the imperial edict, Jiang Chen's heart was filled with a huge wave of emotion. He couldn't help but clench his fists, and his knuckles turned white from the force.

"Your Highness, please accept the imperial edict." The eunuch smiled slightly and handed the imperial edict forward.

Jiang Chen took a deep breath, took the imperial edict, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, thank you for your grace."

All the soldiers shouted in unison: "Thank you, Lord!"

The eunuch nodded with satisfaction, then took out a gold medal from his bosom and handed it to Jiang Chen: "Your Highness, this is the gold medal of recall specially bestowed by the Emperor. Please take a look."

Jiang Chen took the gold medal and looked at it carefully.

I saw that the gold medal was made of wood, about one foot long, covered with vermilion paint, and exuded a faint wood fragrance.

It is engraved with eight large gilded characters "Writings from the Imperial Court are not allowed in the shop", which shines with gold and looks solemn and dignified.

He was filled with doubts: "Why did the Emperor summon me back to the capital at this time? And why did he specifically grant me a gold medal for recall?"

Seeing his serious expression, Zhong Xiaodan asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, what do you think is wrong with this matter?"

Jiang Chen shook his head slightly and turned to the eunuch and said, "You've had a hard journey, sir. Why don't you go into the city to rest and set off again tomorrow?"

The eunuch smiled, his tone still respectful: "Your Highness's kindness is appreciated, but the Emperor has ordered that Your Highness return to the capital as soon as possible without delay."

Jiang Chen was even more suspicious, but it was difficult to refuse: "Since that's the case, I dare not force you to stay. Take care on your journey, eunuch."

The eunuch bowed again and said, "Your Highness, take care. I'll take my leave." Then he left with his entourage.

After they walked away, Jiang Chen's face darkened. He looked at Zhong Xiaodan beside him, only to see Zhong Wenbin and the others rushing over after hearing the noise. He said in a deep voice, "There's something fishy going on here."

Zhong Wenbin frowned and said, "Your Highness, what do you mean?"

Jiang Chen raised the gold medal in his hand, a cold look flashing in his eyes. "Although this medal appears to be legitimate, upon closer inspection, there are many flaws. Furthermore, the Western Regions have not yet been pacified, so how can we say that there is no trouble on the border?"