Prince Gong had gone mad. The Chief Clerk and Zou Yanzheng stood under the corridor eaves, exchanging glances with each other, unable to say a word. At this point, what was there left for them to say?
The sounds of table-slapping and chair-throwing from inside shocked their eardrums with wave after wave of noise. They looked at each other, both helpless and desperate, yet they had completely extinguished any thought of going to persuade him. At this point, what was there to persuade? There was nothing good left to persuade about. Having fallen out with Han Zhengqing and unable to contact the Tatars—sooner or later they would all be wiped out in one sweep. Truly stupid, so stupid it was simply beyond reason!
They looked at each other and shook their heads. Zou Yanzheng especially couldn’t wait to turn around and leave. Before, he had thought to perhaps wait a bit longer to see how the situation developed before leaving, but now—what situation was there left to observe? With Prince Gong creating such chaos in heaven and earth, if he didn’t leave now, he’d just be waiting for his whole family to die!
Who knew that just as he turned past the covered corridor and descended the steps, he would run into one of Wu Feng’s adjutants rushing in with urgent, hurried steps—bang, bang, bang—gasping for breath and somewhat panicked, shouting directly: “Trouble! Big trouble! Trouble, Your Highness! Guangping has also been lost!”
Zou Yanzheng kept his head down like a quail, stepped past him, and walked even faster. Even after leaving the courtyard gate, he could still hear even more earth-shattering sounds coming from Prince Gong’s room.
Prince Gong kicked over the table with one foot. The brush holder and inkstone on top rolled all over the floor, letters scattered everywhere. Both his eyes were red as he looked at the visitor, grinding his teeth: “What did you say?!”
The adjutant knew Prince Gong’s temper had been terrible recently—even Wu Feng would be beaten or cursed at a moment’s notice. Frightened into stammering, after a long while he finally stuttered out like a firecracker suddenly doused with water: “Guangping Prefecture has been taken, and Huang Yiqing is about to attack into Ping’an County.”
Once Ping’an County was attacked, all of Taiyuan would be completely exposed within Huang Yiqing’s sphere of influence.
Prince Gong glared at him, repeatedly calling for someone to fetch Han Zhi, yanking over the map. The more he looked, the more he frowned.
Just days ago they had held every advantage—how had it become, in such a short time, that they were constrained everywhere, their forces collapsing like a landslide? He couldn’t understand. His brows were furrowed so tightly they could almost pinch a fly to death. In a wave of irritation, he simply rolled up the map and threw it to the ground, jumping up and down in fury: “You’re all incompetent!”
The adjutant wanted to cry but had no tears, feeling utterly wronged. This Highness seemed to have lost his mind. He didn’t even think—when things were going well and they should have been advancing triumphantly, he insisted on withdrawing troops from the Guyuan side. Once troops were withdrawn, wouldn’t morale be affected? Who didn’t know Han Zhengqing had Tatars backing him, and moreover, they only had Han Zhengqing and the Tatars as allies? With their ally gone, enemies on all four sides—who wouldn’t be afraid?
Han Zhi arrived quickly, calm and composed, not caring in the slightest that Prince Gong was like a man-eating lion. Unhurriedly, he picked up the map and said softly: “Your Highness, I’ve heard everything. You needn’t be anxious.”
How could he not be anxious? Prince Gong couldn’t hold back and cursed aloud: “Bastards! They’re all useless bastards!”
Han Zhi still wore a trace of a smile as he persuaded him: “We’ve already reached this point. Continuing to fight hard against Han Zhengqing isn’t the solution. I’m afraid he’ll soon collude with the Tatars and set his sights on us.”
“Then what should we do?!” Prince Gong felt exceptionally irritable. He always felt something was wrong somewhere, but when he tried to think carefully, he felt as if his head was about to explode, hurting terribly, with no clue whatsoever.
“Don’t worry about Huang Yiqing’s side for now. We might as well do a favor and release these people. Once they’re out, Han Zhengqing won’t be able to act so arrogant anymore.” Han Zhi slowly rolled up one of his sleeves, his slender fingers with distinct knuckles pointing to Changning on the map: “Marquis Dingyuan and Prince Zhennan are both tough characters. Moreover, both these men have old grudges with Han Zhengqing. As soon as they get an opportunity, they fundamentally won’t let Han Zhengqing off.”
Prince Gong’s advisors, hearing the news, were nearly driven mad with anger, completely unable to understand how Prince Gong had become so foolish. These recent days they had taken turns trying to persuade him, but were either cursed at thoroughly or kicked out without face.
Prince Gong had already fallen out with the court, raised the banner of rebellion—he could only walk one path to the end. Even if he died, he should die on the path of rebellion. But halfway through, just because of Han Zhi’s few words of instigation, he turned against Han Zhengqing midway. Now he had made enemies on both sides, enemies everywhere—this was simply courting death!
But when they went to the council meeting that evening, they discovered Prince Gong fundamentally hadn’t called them to discuss affairs at all. Clearly he had already made his decision—the documents were all written, ordering Changning to release the prisoners.
Everyone looked at each other in dismay. The most senior and steady, the Taiyuan Prefect, smiled bitterly, unable to describe exactly what flavor filled his heart. For Prince Gong’s sake, he had served as bait, deliberately luring Prince Zhennan to take the hook, nearly getting Prince Zhennan killed.
But now, this fool Prince Gong had rebelled halfway and then stopped! Fine, he said after killing Han Zhengqing they would continue rebelling—this was simply laughable enough to knock someone’s teeth out. He didn’t even think that once Han Zhengqing was defeated at the hands of Cui Shaoting and the others, would they still let him rebel?
Others continued chattering, still unwilling to give up as they approached to persuade. He fundamentally didn’t waste his breath anymore.
“One cannot plan with this foolish youth!” He swept his sleeves and walked out the door, took a deep breath, glanced at Han Zhi leaning against the doorframe with a half-smile, laughed coldly, and walked away.
Sun Ergou secretly approached, looking at his retreating back and scratching his head, wearing an honest and loyal appearance: “Big brother, will these people mutiny?”
Han Zhi was quite indifferent, crossing his arms and laughing lightly: “If they mutiny, they mutiny. What’s to fear?”
Anyway, once this document went out, Han Zhengqing would absolutely be unable to continue swallowing his anger—he would definitely fall out with Prince Gong. As for what happened to Prince Gong in the end, he was too lazy to care. Of course, if there was no mutiny, Prince Gong could still continue to have the effect of disgusting Han Zhengqing.
Sun Ergou made an acknowledging sound and scratched his head again: “Then do we still continue staying in Prince Gong’s mansion? We’re…” He looked around furtively: “We’re pirates. If we get caught, we’ll be beheaded…”
This person had saved him many times, had only him in his heart and eyes, was quite foolish and reckless with his life. Back when following Wang Lun, there had only been Wang Lun. Now following him, there was only him. Han Zhi treated him the same as Guan Shan. Hearing this, he patted him: “Right now there’s a rebellion going on—who has time to care about us? Keep staying.”
This stay lasted until they heard the news that Marquis Dingyuan and Prince Zhennan had broken through the siege.
This wasn’t strange either. Prince Gong himself had been stupid enough to open the convenient door wide. Marquis Dingyuan and Prince Zhennan were such shrewd figures—how could they not seize the opportunity? This time they took advantage to break out of Changning. In the middle, they had even encountered Tatars once. It was said they had killed all those thousand-plus Tatars, then set fire and burned them until only bone ash remained.