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Jinling City, Prince Wei’s mansion.
A carrier pigeon broke the morning’s tranquility. After learning that the Southern Expeditionary Army was approaching Chuzhou, Prince Wei urgently dispatched 130,000 elite troops to reinforce it. However, with the news returned by the pigeon, his heart suddenly felt as if it had been plunged into ice water.
“Chuzhou is besieged, the situation is critical. I hope Imperial Father will dispatch a large army to rescue it. Then, with an inside-outside attack, we can annihilate the Southern Expeditionary Army in one fell swoop.” Prince Wei’s hands trembled slightly after reading the letter.
In the main hall, a group of ministers stood in two rows, civil and military officials alike looking at Prince Wei, awaiting his decision.
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is in dire straits. Your Highness should dispatch a large army to rescue him at this time,” a civil official said.
As soon as the civil official finished speaking, a general said, “Your Highness, absolutely not! This is a trap set by the Southern Expeditionary Army. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince almost took away half of Jinling City’s elite troops, yet he is now trapped in Chuzhou City. This shows that the current situation on the battlefield is not favorable.”
“If that’s the case, then we should all the more go to rescue His Royal Highness the Crown Prince,” the civil official said urgently.
Prince Wei’s expression was uncertain. The general who had just spoken was Lu Meng, the garrison captain of Jinling City. Although Xiao Han tried hard to conceal what had happened in Chuzhou, discerning people could immediately see what had truly transpired.
The situation in Chuzhou City was undoubtedly grim.
“Your Highness, it is not advisable to mobilize Jinling City’s army again at this time. Yangzhou’s Dengzhou army is also eyeing us covetously. If Jinling City’s forces are empty, it is highly likely that they will seize the opportunity to enter,” Lu Meng said.
The civil official immediately showed displeasure and said to Prince Wei, “Your Highness, if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is captured, what then? Are we to watch Prince Qi execute His Royal Highness the Crown Prince with our own eyes?”
Prince Wei’s expression was grave. This was indeed a difficult choice. After pondering for a moment, he asked an official seated on his lower left, “Have there been any unusual movements from the armies in Yangzhou and Tongzhou?”
“Reporting to Your Highness, the Yangzhou garrison has been quiet, and our informants in Tongzhou have not reported any unusual movements from the Tongzhou army,” the official said.
Prince Wei nodded. At this moment, a glimmer of hope suddenly rose in his heart. He said, “The Southern Expeditionary Army led by Lu Fei is Xiao Ming’s elite. If we can defeat the Southern Expeditionary Army, Xiao Ming will surely retreat. And the 100,000 strong army in Chuzhou City is also our Wei’s elite. If we don’t rescue them, I fear they will all die at the hands of the Southern Expeditionary Army.” Prince Wei said.
Lu Meng said urgently upon hearing this, “Your Highness, don’t you understand even now? Our army is no match for the Southern Expeditionary Army, which possesses firearms. At this point, even if more people go, it will be futile. Moreover, Your Highness’s massacre in Yangzhou has already lost the people’s support. Even if a large army leaves the city, how many soldiers would be willing to risk their lives for Your Highness? The only way now is to inform Prince Yan, Prince Liang, and Prince Zhao of the current situation. The three families were all witnesses to the truce that day. Now that Xiao Ming has torn up the truce agreement, it is an open act of treachery. The four families should jointly attack him to force his retreat, otherwise, Wei will have no hope of recovery.”
“How dare you, Lu Meng! You are boosting others’ morale and diminishing our own prestige! The massacre in Yangzhou left the Dengzhou army without food, which precisely proves Your Highness’s wise decision, and is not something you can slander,” the civil officials accused.
This scorched-earth policy was precisely proposed by the civil officials.
Lu Meng sneered as he watched the group of literati. He said, “Now, the common people of the four prefectures are all praising Prince Qi and regarding us as enemies. Doesn’t that prove anything?”
“What does a mere captain like you know?”
“Exactly, talking nonsense!”
“…”
The civil officials immediately grew anxious and gesticulated at Lu Meng.
Prince Wei was also displeased. This Lu Meng was merely a garrison captain, a petty official in Jinling City before. Now, due to the urgency of the war, all generals were summoned for discussion, yet he was speaking so boastfully.
With a soft snort, Prince Wei said, “No need to say more. The Crown Prince must be saved, and these three vassal princes also need to be contacted. You may all disperse.”
With that, Prince Wei waved his hand, dismissing the officials.
He then ordered another 50,000 troops from Jinling City to head to Chuzhou City, and at the same time sent someone to summon Xiao Qi to the princely estate.
Soon, a weary-looking Xiao Qi arrived in the main hall and simply bowed to Prince Wei.
Prince Wei, seeing this, suddenly smiled and said, “Worthy nephew, my imperial uncle merely misspoke that day. I hope worthy nephew does not mind. My imperial uncle has raised you for so many years, do you not understand this intention? This war is urgent, and my imperial uncle hopes you will once again go as an envoy to Yan, Liang, and Chang’an, to have the three families raise an army to help.”
Xiao Qi glanced at Prince Wei, a hint of undetectable mockery flashing in his eyes. He bowed and said, “Imperial Uncle, I do not mind what Imperial Uncle said that day. At this critical juncture, I naturally will not shirk my duty.”
Prince Wei breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Qi was familiar with the task, and having him go to seek reinforcements this time was naturally the most suitable choice. So he said, “This is excellent.”
“However, Prince Yan, Prince Zhao, and Prince Liang are all moved by profit. If you want them to send troops, two million taels of silver will probably be indispensable,” Xiao Qi said.
Prince Wei’s fat face stiffened. Although Jinling’s treasury was abundant, expenses had been huge lately. But seeing Wei in danger of collapse, he gritted his teeth and said, “I will have someone take you to the treasury to retrieve it.”
Xiao Qi smiled and nodded. Then he said, “Imperial Uncle, with chaos everywhere now and bandits rampant on the roads, I was almost robbed on the way to Yan last time. So, please dispatch Captain Lu Meng to escort me. I heard that Lu Meng is highly skilled in martial arts and will surely ensure my safety.”
“That’s simple enough. I will have Lu Meng summoned for you now,” Prince Wei said.
Only then did Xiao Qi nod with satisfaction.
That day, chests of silver and gold were moved from Jinling City’s treasury and transported to merchant ships at Jinling’s dock. The transfer lasted an entire afternoon. Early the next morning, Xiao Qi and Lu Meng appeared at Jinling’s dock. The two led twenty merchant ships upriver towards Yan.
After traveling fifty li, the merchant ships left Jinling City’s vicinity. At this point, Xiao Qi and Lu Meng exchanged glances. Xiao Qi said, “Kill all of Prince Wei’s men.”
“Yes, Your Royal Highness.” Lu Meng’s eyes turned cold. With a whistle, the guards on the merchant ships immediately drew their sabers and slashed at the officials accompanying Xiao Qi on his mission to Yan.
Instantly, screams of agony erupted from the merchant ships, followed by the sound of bodies being thrown into the water.
Everyone was killed. At this point, Lu Meng said, “I thought Your Royal Highness still hadn’t figured it out.”
“Jinling City will fall within a few days. If we don’t leave now, when will we?” Xiao Qi’s eyes were profound.
“So, where are we going now?” Lu Meng asked.
After a moment of thought, Xiao Qi said, “Xiao Ming has changed so much because of the Western missionaries’ teachings. I want to see what’s truly different about the West.”