Chapter 869: Chapter 866: Dignity
Li Mao had calculated the ti; unless Bai Qingyan could sprout wings, there was no way she could lead her troops back within May.
Seeing everyone stunned by the news of the Princess of Zhen’s return, Shen Jingzhong abruptly turned around, raised his arrow, and aid at King Liang. Fu Ruoxi and Xie Yuchang suddenly leaped up, knocking down the guards watching over them, and shouted, “Pri Minister Lu! Lord Dong, Minister Lu, run!”
“Protect His Majesty!” Fan Yuhuai shouted as he drew his sword to guard King Liang.
King Liang, wearing a heavy ceremonial robe, was pulled back by Fan Yuhuai and fell to the ground. He was then assisted by the imperial guards to retreat into the hall.
King Liang, in a fury, yelled, “Kill them! Leave no one alive! Kill them all!”
Seeing the scene, the Crown Prince stumbled to his feet and rushed to a nearby marble railing, hiding his head behind it.
The court officials kneeling before the hall, taking advantage of the chaos, got up and knocked over the imperial guards beside them, fleeing in all directions. So were killed by the guards’ swords, while others managed to escape in a panic.
Outside the hall, chaos erupted instantly.
“Report…” Another scout rushed in, crying, “Reporting to His Majesty! The Princess of Zhen is personally leading her troops in fierce battle against the Pingyang Army. The rebel armies of Yuanping and Shuoyang, seeing this, have opened the gates of Dadu City, and the Pingyang Army is now under attack from both front and back!”
Fan Yuhuai, Li Mao, and the others were wide-eyed, incredulous that Bai Qingyan could return so quickly. How many days had it been… Did Bai Qingyan sprout wings? How did she encounter no resistance from the commanders defending the cities along the way?
“Lord Fan!” Li Mao quickly squeezed to Fan Yuhuai’s side, clutching his arm. “The Princess of Zhen has returned; our hope now lies with the Pingyang Army. We can no longer hold the Imperial Palace; we must send the imperial guards out of the Imperial City to distract the Yuanping and Shuoyang rebel forces from behind. Otherwise… if the Pingyang Army is lost… our hope is lost!”
King Liang shoved away Fan Yuhuai, who was protecting him. “What do you an our hope is lost? Have you forgotten we still have leverage? Bai Qingyan has brought troops to protect the throne for my father and the Crown Prince. We have my father… and the Crown Prince. Why fear? Go… bring the Crown Prince!”
King Liang publicly claid that the deposed Crown Prince had attempted to assassinate the Emperor and that the Imperial Physician couldn’t save him, so the Emperor passed away. But in fact… King Liang hadn’t touched his father.
He had the Emperor of Jin confined, wanting to keep him alive to witness how he, even without the Emperor’s support, could legitimately solidify his reign.
He also wanted the Emperor of Jin, who refused to vindicate Consort Tong and the Second Prince, to watch how he would overturn their cases.
Although Li Mao and Fan Yuhuai had opposed it at the ti, unexpectedly, keeping the Emperor had given them an additional bargaining chip.
Soon, the Crown Prince, trembling uncontrollably and unable to stand, was dragged in by the guards.
Li Mao then said to King Liang, “Even so, we must save the Pingyang Army!”
“Fan Yuhuai, you dispatch twenty thousand imperial guards out of the city to assist the Pingyang Army. Send five thousand n to push the deposed Crown Prince onto the city wall. If Bai Qingyan dares to attack the city, throw the deposed Crown Prince down imdiately! Order these five thousand n to delay and hold the Imperial City as long as possible.”
King Liang’s voice was calm, as if everything had been pre-calculated, “For the remaining five thousand n, have them imdiately escort and everyone else to secretly kill our way out of Dadu City from the east gate. As long as we have my father in our hands, what’s the use even if they break into Dadu City! Our foundation remains!”
Li Mao did a quick calculation in his mind and nodded, “Your Majesty is right! However, this humble minister believes… if we throw the deposed Crown Prince from the city wall, it might provoke the rebels to attack even more fiercely. And… the news of the late Emperor’s demise is already broadcast; if Bai Qingyan only swears loyalty to the Crown Prince and not the retired Emperor, it will be troubleso then!”
King Liang nodded, agreeing with Li Mao’s assessnt, and instructed Fan Yuhuai to carry out the orders.
Fan Yuhuai imdiately passed on the orders.
Li Mao and Chu Zhongxing huddled together, discussing where to go. Chu Zhongxing suggested Guangling City, which had the natural defense barrier of the Guanghe Canal and was always easy to defend. However, Li Mao advocated for Luohong City.
Li Mao believed Guangling City was too close to the Yan Kingdom. It would be better to head to Luohong City on the northern side of the Guanghe Canal. Currently, with troops and provisions stationed there, and the Guanghe Canal under construction, Luohong City also had proximity to Yanwo. Once completed, Yanwo would beco a significant grain source for the Jin Kingdom, and they must not lose it!
“Although our forces are only enough to exit from the east gate, once out of the city, we should disperse in all directions… to confuse the pursuers and buy ti for His Majesty!” Li Mao pointed on the map, lowering his voice, “It’s best if His Majesty’s group travels light and quick, while other groups make a larger show to attract the pursuers! Besides you and , no one else should know His Majesty’s destination!”
King Liang didn’t pay attention to what Li Mao and Chu Zhongxing were discussing. He sat on the Dragon Throne, staring coldly at the deposed Crown Prince, who craned his neck to look outside. “What… are you hoping Bai Qingyan will break in and make you Emperor? Look at you now… begging before the court officials and even peeing your pants twice, reeking of urine! Do you think you deserve to sit on this throne?”
King Liang’s fingers stroked the Dragon Throne as if they were knives.
The deposed Crown Prince averted his gaze, feeling increasingly ashad of the cold, damp feeling below.
Peeing his pants, begging King Liang… he really couldn’t look people in the eye anymore!
But at that mont between life and death, how could the deposed Crown Prince care about dignity?
“Your Majesty…” Li Mao spoke at the right mont, “Your Majesty, Minister Lu and I have a plan. Please, Your Majesty, travel light and prepare to depart with us imdiately.”
·
Outside Dadu City.
As the black sail and white python flag erged from the rolling dust of the vast army, the commander of the Pingyang Army was already in a panic. He knew that it was Bai Jinxiu, the sister of the Princess of Zhen, leading the resistance within Dadu City, and the appearance of the flag representing the Bai family ant reinforcents for Bai Jinxiu.
Commander Wang ng of the Pingyang Army, seeing a woman on a white horse wearing silver armor, with a red cloak billowing behind her and holding a bow, imdiately felt a headache. It was indeed the Princess of Zhen leading the troops herself.
Hearing the cheers of the rebel army atop the city walls and Bai Jinxiu’s order to open the gates for a pincer attack, following warti’s spontaneous adaptability, the Pingyang Army should swiftly retreat at this mont.
However… Commander Wang ng understood that retreating would an the troops led by the Princess of Zhen entering Dadu City, putting the Imperial City and His Majesty in grave danger!
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