Marquis Dingyuan and the Prince of Zhennan were shocked beyond measure, completely unable to believe such a huge pie would fall from the sky. They were on the verge of catching Cui Shaoting in one net. After defeating Cui Shaoting, they could turn back and deal with their group. Once Cui Shaoting was subdued, what would they count as? Practically nothing.
But now, at this critical juncture, how had Prince Gong suddenly gone mad?!
Marquis Dingyuan couldn’t understand. The Prince of Zhennan was even more incredulous. “How is this possible?! Could Prince Gong have gone mad?!”
Han Zhengqing also thought Prince Gong had gone mad. If he hadn’t gone mad, how could he do something so foolish? His strategy was seamless without any flaws. As long as Wu Feng captured Guyuan, Cui Shaoting would be a lone pillar unable to make any impact. Moreover, at that time Cui Shaoting had already rushed back to reinforce Guyuan—he couldn’t not return to Guyuan. Guyuan was where his command headquarters was located. Once this place was taken, Cui Shaoting would be completely finished.
At this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, when he thought he could completely end the Northwest affair and head straight for the capital, unexpectedly Prince Gong suddenly ordered a withdrawal!
This was simply incomprehensible! Even though he never showed his emotions outwardly, he was so shocked he widened his eyes and cursed. Then he immediately summoned Vice General Chen, having him personally go to Taiyuan. He himself couldn’t go to Taiyuan—at this time, if he went to Taiyuan, who would sit in command at Jingzhou? Without him, who knew what troubles Marquis Dingyuan and the Prince of Zhennan would stir up again. At this time with wolves ahead and tigers behind, Prince Gong had actually dropped the ball. He held back and held back, but still couldn’t hold back. He had Vice General Chen go ask for the reason. “Damn it, I racked my brains to get to this point. Cui Shaoting was about to die. Without Cui Shaoting, how long could that bunch with Marquis Dingyuan and the Prince of Zhennan hold out? Nothing but a rabble, but Prince Gong drops the ball on me at this time! This blockhead!”
Calling him a blockhead, Han Zhengqing felt it was too light. He’d never seen someone so unable to distinguish priorities. Back then, how had he managed to operate in Taiyuan for so long? Thinking about it again, it seemed understandable—actually, he hadn’t operated Taiyuan that well either. At least Bai Guan refused to submit to him, didn’t he? All his time in the Northwest was wasted—simply a useless waste of space!
If it weren’t for Emperor Jianzhang being so biased and soft-hearted, giving him all the mineral resources and tax revenues himself, he couldn’t even have achieved his current level. Simply a completely worthless waste. For the first time, Han Zhengqing wanted to seize the initiative himself. Supporting such a waste to ascend—he really couldn’t see where the hope and benefits lay. It truly made his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys ache with anger.
Vice General Chen also kept his head lowered without speaking. Following Han Zhengqing, of course there was no turning back for him. But he never imagined encountering such a waste. They clearly already had overwhelming advantage, were about to join with the Tatars to control the Northwest and eliminate old enemies, yet were shot in the back with a cold arrow by their own people. This feeling was simply indescribable. Like Han Zhengqing, he was terribly angry.
After Han Zhengqing finished cursing, he gave a sinister cold laugh, quite through gritted teeth. “Go, ask him what exactly he’s thinking to suddenly withdraw troops, not only letting Huang Yiqing take advantage, but also letting the Guyuan Commander-in-Chief defend Guyuan again!”
Vice General Chen could only rush to Taiyuan. Otherwise what else could he do?!
Originally Ye Cha could have taken advantage of Cui Shaoting being attacked from both sides to viciously stab him, but how could he stab now? Instead, Cui Shaoting waited at ease and severely dampened Ye Cha’s fighting spirit. When Ye Cha fled from beneath the Suzhou city gates, his mount was struck by one of Cui Shaoting’s arrows and he fell from his horse, nearly trampled to death by hooves. Fortunately, someone beside him reacted quickly and scooped him up—otherwise he would have died completely. Because of this matter, Ye Cha was furious and directly sent word to Ye Tan, having Ye Tan suspend attacks on Zijing Pass and Jizhou Xuanfu, demanding Han Zhengqing give an explanation—why was the intelligence inaccurate, why did their ally suddenly withdraw troops?
Prince Gong wouldn’t even see him. His heart was full of rage—how could he have the mind to see Vice General Chen, to see Han Zhengqing’s confidant?
Han Zhengqing, that petty person—he wasn’t truly helping him at all. He only wanted to use him as a stepping stone to pave the way for his own biological son. This despicable person!
This despicable person dared to deceive him like this, dared to insult him like this, treating him as a tool, wanting to drink his blood dry and eat his flesh clean. He absolutely wouldn’t let this petty person have his way so easily!
The Chief Clerk still couldn’t quite understand. Looking at Prince Gong jumping up in fury upon hearing Han Zhengqing had sent someone, he hesitantly advised, “Your Highness, that Young Master Han…” His gaze was somewhat complex. He paused before continuing, “Although that Young Master Han spoke with such certainty, this subordinate still feels there are some suspicious points. If Marquis Jinxiang truly planned to support Prince Dongping’s ascension, how could he allow Prince Dongping to remain in such a dangerous place as the capital? Even you know to bring the young princes back to the fiefdom. How could Han Zhengqing not know? Saying he wants to use you to let his own son ascend to the throne—this doesn’t quite make sense, does it?”
After speaking, he was very worried. “Moreover, now we’re clearly on the verge of victory. Once Cui Shaoting dies, why would you worry about not being able to control the entire Northwest? Withdrawing troops now—isn’t this giving Cui Shaoting an advantage?”
Prince Gong couldn’t listen. He only knew that if he couldn’t successfully rebel, he wouldn’t even have his life.
In the past when young, he felt life wasn’t such an important thing. When he couldn’t get affection, he wanted to die. When he couldn’t achieve his goals, he also felt living was meaningless. But the older he got and the longer he lived, the more he wanted to live, the more he feared death.
Moreover, he didn’t just fear death—he also feared not having power, feared not being able to have absolute authority, feared not being able to command the realm.
Now Han Zhengqing actually wanted his life, wanted to support his own son’s ascension. This was simply intolerable. He couldn’t hear any other words—what “impossible,” what “must deduce according to common sense.” If deducing according to common sense, why would he as a son rebel against his own father? Why would Han Zhengqing, doing fine as Marquis Jinxiang, rebel? Should he listen to the people Han Zhengqing sent? Listen to what they had to say?!
Han Zhi was right. Han Zhengqing could disregard even his legitimate eldest son, treasuring Prince Dongping like his own eyeball. For Prince Dongping’s sake, what couldn’t he do?! The contents of this letter were most likely true. Prince Dongping hadn’t lost his mind—he couldn’t possibly have written it himself to Han Zhengqing for his own entertainment, could he?