The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 514

After a six-day forced march, Zhou Chu and his Xuanwu army finally arrived in Datong.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

As a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Zhou Chu's subordinate, Yu Hai knew that Zhou Chu was coming long before the Xuanwu Army set off. He had been keeping an eye on the movements outside Datong City. As soon as the Xuanwu Army appeared, Yu Hai received the news and hurriedly came to pay his respects.

"Yu Hai, how dare you!"

Zhou Chu looked at Yu Hai with a cold smile on his face.

Upon hearing this, Yu Hai broke out in a cold sweat.

"What do you mean by this, sir?"

Yu Hai asked, his face full of confusion.

"Lin Zhixin had barely left Datong when the Mongols attacked. Do you believe that no one tipped them off? When I left Datong before, I purged almost all the merchants in the city who were colluding with the Mongols. Now that this has happened, you still ask me what I mean?"

Zhou Chu looked coldly at Yu Hai and said seriously.

Upon hearing this, Yu Hai immediately knelt down in front of Zhou Chu.

"My lord, I am innocent! A while ago, many people from the Prince of Jin's residence came to Datong to do business, and I dared not interfere with them."

Yu Hai was covered in cold sweat and wished he could prostrate himself before Zhou Chu and the emperor to express his loyalty.

"The Prince of Jin's residence!"

As Zhou Chu muttered these words, he immediately understood who had colluded with the Mongols. Perhaps it wasn't the Prince of Jin's mansion that was behind it, but the Prince of Jin's mansion must have paved the way for these people.

"Go, arrest everyone associated with the Prince of Jin's residence."

Zhou Chu looked at Yu Haidao.

With a major battle imminent, Zhou Chu could not allow anyone to stir up trouble in his rear. Only by controlling these people could Zhou Chu feel at ease. As for how to deal with them, that was the emperor's business.

"Yes, sir, I will do it right away."

With Zhou Chu's order, Yu Hai immediately felt reassured and led his men to arrest the man.

After dismissing Yu Hai, Zhou Chu led the Xuanwu Army straight to the garrison.

The garrison troops in Datong number nearly 30,000. After more than half a year of training, although the intensity of the training is far less than that of the Tiger Legion or the Xuanwu Legion, their combat strength is now completely different from what it used to be.

"Who goes there, sir? I pay my respects to you."

The soldiers on guard duty were about to ask Zhou Chu's troops what they were doing there, but upon seeing Zhou Chu, they were overjoyed and quickly left their posts to respectfully salute him.

"Lead the way."

Zhou Chu glanced at the man and said.

"Yes, my lord."

After saying this, the man led Zhou Chu's black horse into the military camp.

This demonstrates Zhou Chu's control over the Datong garrison troops. Zhou Chu didn't even need any military tally to take over these 30,000 troops, and every one of them was extremely grateful to Zhou Chu.

Of course, that's what they say, but Zhou Chu would still follow all the proper procedures; otherwise, if the matter reached the emperor's ears, it wouldn't be a good thing.

"I have been ordered by the Emperor to take over the troops of Datong Garrison, to guard Datong, and to repel the invading enemy."

As Zhou Chu spoke, he took out the imperial edict that the emperor had given him.

Upon the issuance of the imperial edict, all the soldiers of the garrison immediately knelt down.

"Alright, get up. It's just a formality."

As Zhou Chu spoke, he put the imperial edict away.

The officers then stood up and came to Zhou Chu.

"Why did you leave Datong, sir? The soldiers miss you very much."

A captain approached Zhou Chu, speaking with a hint of flattery.

Hu Zongxian and the others following behind were deeply shocked by this scene, especially the scene of entering the military camp. They knew very well what it meant: Zhou Chu had not used any imperial order, yet the sentries on duty personally led their teacher's horse and held the stirrups. This meant that their teacher had absolute control over the garrison army in front of them.

Hu Zongxian thought back to what his teacher had done in Datong and instantly understood. His teacher had helped these garrison soldiers settle their long-overdue military pay, and each garrison soldier had made a fortune as a result. They were probably extremely grateful to their teacher.