Chapter 684: Father & “Son” Join the Fun (I)
The land close to where the Huangshui river flowed was called the Huangshui District. It was built along the borders of Chenzhou.
Ever since the imperial court issued the imperial order for all the powerful leaders in the land to join forces against their shared enemy and protect their king, armies from every placed imaginable had responded to the call and congregated there.
The assembled armies had set up their tents near Huangshui district until the campsite spread across 200 miles. The sight of their powerful combined forces was magnificent to look at.
From high-ranking magistrates to low-ranking district magistrates, there were at least twenty groups represented. A fighting force of over 40,000 n had been assembled.
Prince Changshou’s heart was troubled. He hadn’t been able to sleep in the last few days.
Who could have guessed that the armies that responded to the emperor’s call for military aid would be so shockingly nurous? From which corner of the earth had all these people co from?
Seeing as they were prepared to invade Chenzhou in collaboration with the ngs of Cangzhou, the odds had been in their favor. But who knew that his imperial brother would be bold enough to humble himself and shalessly ask for his people to protect him... When had he done anything like that before?
This had originally been a simple private affair between two brothers. No matter how ugly it turned, it should have stayed a private affair. However, since his elder imperial brother could not overco him, he’d shalessly sat on the ground and whined pitifully to the nation to send reinforcent troops... Hehehe!
Ugly family affairs should not be aired in public. These imperial brothers had made fools of themselves. Their dispute was known throughout the world!
Prince Changshou ordered his scout to continue surveying So far, the number of reinforcent troops in Huangshui District was 40,000. Their might was to be feared.
“Quickly invite County Chief ng over for a discussion...”
Prince Changshou was encumbered with so many frustrations that he was going bald. He’d also beco much skinnier since he’d last been seen.
He didn’t even know the cause of his unluckiness. Every ti it seed like his luck was about to change for the better, he was reduced back to his original state almost instantaneously.
The soldiers carefully ushered in a sullen-looking, middle-aged man dressed in conservative clothing.
When Prince Changshou saw him, he felt like he was seeing his savior, a resurrected parent. His eyes lit up imdiately.
The middle-aged man had a fine complexion. His beard neatly frad his face. His dark pair of eagle eyes appeared malicious.
When he used this pair of eyes to look at others, the nacing aura they gave off made others feel uneasy.
Once he stepped forward, the middle-aged man asked gloomily, “What is the prince anxious about?”
Prince Changshou downplayed the unhappiness within his heart. Left with no alternative, he smiled bitterly. “How can I, the prince, not be anxious? Those rebels have congregated in Huangshui with 40,000 n. If they ford an alliance with the remaining troops in Chenzhou and attack us... When the ti cos, it will be hard for even to escape. Master, how do you think I could calm down at a ti like this?”
The middle-aged man was the clan leader of the ng family from Cangzhou. He was ng Zhan, Liu She’s latter wife’s ex-husband.
When he heard Prince Changshou’s “heartfelt words,” he laughed mockingly. “An immoral gathering of n with evil intentions. You do not need to be mindful of them. The best move now would be to remain still. They will be defeated even if we do nothing. Back when Dongqing, Zhongzhao, Beiyuan, and Xichang ca together to send reinforcents to Nansheng as they fought against Nanman, didn’t the four factions of Nanman go through cycles of attacks followed by retreats to allow conflicts to arise within the four countries? Didn’t this eventually cause the alliance between the four countries to break down? Against this force that serves to protect the emperor, it wouldn’t hurt to sit back and watch them fight. This unorthodox coalesce will eventually turn to chaos.”
Having listened to these words, Prince Changshou’s anxiety was sowhat relieved.
Except... when he thought of the vast barracks covering more than 200 miles, his heart trembled uncontrollably.
No matter how logical ng Zhan’s words were, he was still worried.
ng Zhan internally despised him. However, he could not reveal his intentions verbally. “My prince, please let your heart be settled. Even if I do not consider the prince’s interests, I must consider the interests of the ng family. After all, the prince and the ngs’ fates are tied together. Only when the prince is safe and well will the ng family rise with you to prominence. Moreover, Liu She and his family are still well and alive. No matter what, I will not et my death before him.”
The murder of his son must be avenged.
He needed to behead Liu She personally. Then he would offer Liu She’s son’s flesh and blood to appease ng Liang’s spirit in the heavens.
To achieve this goal, ng Zhan placed a huge bet on Prince Changshou.
Only a victory was acceptable. He must not fail.
40,000 troops and horses had been sent to defend the king. This indeed presented a challenge. However, these powers had so weaknesses that wouldn’t be impossible to overco.
If Prince Changshou followed his plans, he could guarantee that Dongqing’s imperial family would not live beyond that year’s spring season.
With ng Zhan’s assurance, Prince Changshou was finally at peace.
anwhile, at the Huangshui river barracks...
The chilly wind blew rcilessly. The soldiers’ spirits were soaring with the anticipation of war. Although the tents around looked like they were connected, they actually functioned to protect and defend against each other. The camp was not completely in harmony.
Huang Song had arrived in Huangshui District half a month before. He’d set up his camp and settled down with Liu She as his neighbor. He dropped by Liu She’s camp frequently. If one observed his posture when he paid respects to Liu She, if not for the campsite with its weapons and armory, Liu She would have thought he was in the wrong place.
On this day, Huang Song finished training the soldiers before going to visit Liu She.
As Liu She ward himself with the heat bag, he listened to reports from outside and sighed helplessly.
As part of the assembly with the common goal to protect the king, they were bound to et. He felt bad for dismissing Huang Song.
Therefore, Liu She told the soldiers who guarded his tent, “Invite County Chief Huang over.”
Did you hear that?
County Chief Huang!
If any of his family mbers had been officials, this process would have been much easier.
Huang Song’s grandfather, Huang Tan, served as a capable, trustworthy eunuch by the emperor’s side. He helped the emperor to secretly sell official titles and ranks to turn so profit. The money he “earned” was all given to the emperor to spend lavishly and build his private accounts. After learning this, Huang Song had decided to ride the opportunity given to him by his grandfather and secured an official title for himself.
Consider the short ti it had taken for Huang Song to be promoted from Diyang District Magistrate to Chief of Maode County.
He was a youth with great accomplishnts and much success.
Initially, he’d expected Huang Song to drop in, but he’d never expected to see a follower behind him.
Liu She sat on the seat of prestige within the tent. He briefly knitted his brows together as he glanced at the youth beside Huang Song.
Cheng Jing, Cheng Youmo.
A humble gentleman, tall and slender, he exuded upright energy and honor.
Even though the young man was adorned in plain, mature clothes, standing next to Huang Song, he held a commanding presence. It was as if he was born to be a star.
He glanced at Huang Song, then at Cheng Jing. Liu She secretly curled his lips.
When he saw Cheng Jing, he imdiately knew that Huang Song had co for other reasons. It wouldn’t be easy to make him leave.
Indeed, this was expected...
“Uncle Liu, your nephew has co today because I have matters to discuss with you.”
Huang Song displayed the proper mannerisms as a junior. He was neither rude nor overly humble. He behaved as a neighboring junior who was paying respects to an elder.
He furrowed his brows. “What’s the matter?”
Huang Song discreetly shot a glance at Cheng Jing who was behind him. Liu She noticed this and signaled to Cheng Jing.
“Pardon your junior, Cheng Jing. I would like to ask the magistrate a question.”
He considered this matter extensively and vaguely understood what Cheng Jing ant. However, he still wanted to test his threshold.
“Go on and ask.”
Without beating around the bush, Cheng Jing asked him directly, “From the Magistrate’s viewpoint, do you think the upcoming eting can salvage the coming disastrous situation?”
Liu She sneered. He was neither provoked to anger nor did he express any emotions. He only evaded the matter.
“Powers from all across the land have congregated together. It is a coalesce of almost 30% of Dongqing’s total military strength. Isn’t that enough to save the country?”
Unexpectedly, Cheng Jing replied, “By inciting conflict in peaceful tis, responding to the call to protect the emperor is legitimate. But the armies are disunited, Prince Changshou. This betrayer of the country has ceased to act. Instead, he chose to sit back and watch them fight internally... If we don’t find a solution to unite their hearts, when disunity already abounds coupled with Prince Changshou sowing discord, I’m afraid that the call to defend the emperor will end in naught. Does Magistrate Liu think this outco is an impossibility?”
Reviews
All reviews (0)