“What exactly is going on? Do you know something but are all hiding it from me?”

During last night’s banquet, some subordinate commanders had coldly mocked Lin Zongjing and others. Only then did Li Zhigao learn that after Li Chong escaped back, he had been claiming everywhere in camp that Han Qian had deliberately concealed Wen Ruilin’s identity as a Liang spy, causing his father Li Pu and court ministers to fall into the trap, with the navy’s main force destroyed at Hongze Lake.

At that time, Yang En, Li Pu and others were all present. Li Zhigao couldn’t make a scene about anything and could only watch helplessly as Lin Zongjing and others left in indignation.

Early this morning he had matters to attend to in Lujiang City. Only when he rushed back to Bijia Mountain main camp at night did he find time to summon Yao Xishui, Deng Tai and others into his tent to inquire about the matter.

“Although I resent being schemed against by Han Qian, I’m not someone who doesn’t know what’s urgent and what’s important…” Yao Xishui said aggrievedly, indicating this matter had nothing to do with her.

“I specifically sought out some people to ask today. Li Chong spreading these words just happened to evade us few people,” Deng Tai said. Seeing Li Zhigao’s face dark as water, his tiger eyes hiding deep anger, with a gravely serious expression, only now did he realize this matter was extraordinary. Sitting behind the desk, he quietly defended himself: “And other commanders have always been prejudiced against Marquis Qianyang. Even if they didn’t take these words seriously when hearing them, they just laughed it off, didn’t treat it as a matter, so no one reported it…”

“You people, you people.”

Li Zhigao helplessly slapped his forehead.

Although he believed Yao Xishui and Deng Tai wouldn’t fail to distinguish priorities and get mixed up in this matter, he viewed Yao Xishui and Deng Tai as his right and left arms in Shuzhou. He handled myriad affairs daily with no time to pay attention to overly minor details, yet Yao Xishui and Deng Tai had actually allowed such a huge loophole in this matter. He deeply felt powerless.

Now he didn’t know what to say. His hands propped on the desk, he stared at Yao Xishui and Deng Tai in anguish, demanding answers.

“Wen Ruilin escaped from my hands. Now these rumors have first spread in Shuzhou. Tell me, what will Han Qian think after learning of this? Do you think the Jianghuai situation isn’t rotten enough, that it can continue being disrupted? Could it be that if we truly force Han Qian out of Jianghuai, we’ll have the ability to independently control Jianghuai’s prefectures?!”

No matter how foolish Yao Xishui and Deng Tai were, they knew that parting ways with Tangyi forces at this time absolutely didn’t accord with Huaixi’s interests. Facing Li Zhigao’s interrogation, they couldn’t defend themselves.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t heard the rumors. They just harbored deep resentment toward Han Qian in their hearts. Hearing such rumors unfavorable to Han Qian, they subconsciously had indulgent thoughts and didn’t impose restraints. They hadn’t expected that during last night’s banquet, someone couldn’t restrain themselves and directly cold-mocked Xuzhou people, enraging and driving away Lin Zongjing and others.

At this moment, facing Li Zhigao’s interrogation, they had no way to defend themselves.

“Should we send someone to Tangyi to explain to Han Qian?” Su Hongyu sat beside Li Zhigao. She extended her snow-white wrist to gently stroke his shoulder and asked softly. She thought that matters having reached this point, they always had to think of ways to resolve it.

“How to explain? How can it be explained clearly?” Li Zhigao exhaled a long breath and asked in a muffled voice. “Will Han Qian believe I didn’t know? Wen Ruilin escaping from our hands already leaves a hundred mouths unable to explain clearly.”

At this time, a guard came in to report: “Duke Changguo has already retired to rest. He says whatever matters there are can wait until tomorrow to discuss—Duke Changguo also said that tomorrow he plans to set out to return to Jinling to plead guilty. If there’s nothing that absolutely requires his discussion, tomorrow he’ll directly cross the river to the south bank without coming over to bid farewell.”

Li Zhigao waved his hand weakly. He had come back wanting to invite both Li Pu and Li Chong over to inquire about the specific situation, but Li Pu and Li Chong avoided seeing him. They might even directly return to Jinling tomorrow. What could he do?

Li Zhigao could only signal the guard to withdraw first.

It hadn’t even been a full month since withdrawing troops from beneath Chaozhou City. Li Zhigao currently was only frantically reorganizing military preparations in Shuzhou and re-establishing a new defense line on Chaozhou’s western flank, while Li Pu also still remained in Shuzhou without returning to Jinling to plead guilty.

Of course, Emperor Yanyou Yang Yuanpu also hadn’t issued an edict summoning Li Pu to quickly return to Jinling to pursue responsibility.

Under such circumstances, even though Li Zhigao acted on the Empress Dowager’s handwritten edict, firmly holding military power of Huaixi Forbidden Army in his hands, he still couldn’t restrict Li Pu’s personal freedom.

Moreover, Li Pu was still his “father,” and was still the current Empress’s father, His Majesty’s father-in-law.

Now that Li Pu had found an excuse to shirk responsibility and wanted to bring Li Chong back to Jinling to “plead guilty,” what could he do?

Seeing Li Zhigao sitting there looking utterly exhausted, Yao Xishui couldn’t bear to watch and said: “Han Qian employs troops extremely courageously in Tangyi. He extremely needs Huaixi troops to help pin down Chaozhou defenders. I think even if unfavorable rumors about him spread, he couldn’t possibly break with us—and Li Chong was merely resentful of Han Qian’s schemes and spoke rashly for a moment. Even if Duke Changguo brings him back to Jinling, court ministers won’t believe his words. I think this matter may not necessarily have any immediate impact.”

“Let’s hope so!” Li Zhigao stood up with his hands propped on the desk and said: “You all go back and rest first. What impact this matter will ultimately have, perhaps we’ll only know after father and the others return to Jinling.”

“Li Xiu and Li Chi may follow Duke Changguo back to Jinling tomorrow. Should we…” Deng Tai asked.

Li Xiu and Li Chi were the most outstanding young generation commanders of Zhedong Prince’s Mansion. The over one thousand cavalry they led in breaking out could be said to be the foundation of Zhedong Prince’s Mansion. Shouzhou forces with several times the cavalry couldn’t keep them—their battle capability could be said to be unmatched in this era.

Whether Yao Xishui or Deng Tai, they all hoped they could remain for use here, and hoped they could become core forces assisting in commanding Huaixi Forbidden Army.

The problem was, if Li Zhigao didn’t step forward to persuade them to stay, Li Chi as Duke Changguo Li Pu’s youngest son, and Li Xiu as Duke Changguo Li Pu’s legitimate nephew, they might really possibly withdraw to Jinling with him to rest and reorganize.

Of course, as their stepbrother and cousin, Li Zhigao stepping forward to persuade them to serve in Huaixi Forbidden Army was also proper and justified.

“Right Shenwu Army’s casualties were too tragic. If they want to return to Jinling to rest and reorganize, I can’t bear to persuade them to stay. Besides, if I truly keep them in Huaixi, regarding the rumor matter, I’ll have even less way to explain.” Li Zhigao said bitterly.

“After the battle situation stabilizes, Marquis Qianyang may not truly still be so important. Before the battle at Puyang River mouth, Han Daoming and Han Daochang led Han clan sons across the river to Tangyi. If we continue to sit and watch them expand their power, perhaps we’re destined to one day part ways in the future,” Yao Xishui said.

“Han Qian completely controls the Han clan. Perhaps he’s long had thoughts of becoming independent, but now is not the time for us to part ways…” Seeing that although Xishui kept saying she knew priorities, her vigilance toward Han Qian was ultimately too strong, Li Zhigao couldn’t help but earnestly admonish her, not wanting her to create more complications.

“…” Yao Xishui nodded, indicating she understood this point. Thinking of something, she added: “Xu Jing returned to Jinling and rested for nearly a month. A few days ago he found Madam, hoping to serve under Elder Brother’s command…”

“Good. If he can come over to direct scouting matters, I’ll have another assistant.” Li Zhigao knew Xu Jing still had some ability and agreed to him taking a position in Huaixi Forbidden Army.

Even though this Li Chong matter had him in complete disarray, the people he could use were too few. He still needed to win over officers like Xu Jing, Zhou Shu, and Zhou Yuan from the original Marquis Xinchang’s Mansion faction for his own use.

Precisely because of this, he found it even harder to clear himself regarding this Li Chong matter. From the current situation, he could only first observe how things developed, to see if there would be possibility in the future to explain a bit and ease relations with Han Qian.

Li Zhigao caught between advancing and retreating, inevitably harbored wishful thinking, while for people like Yao Xishui and Deng Tai, they firmly believed Han Qian would swallow this bitter pill of injustice and didn’t take this matter to heart.

The next day, at first light, the clear morning glow revealed the outlines of mountain ridges near and far. Yao Xishui, together with Su Hongyu, Deng Tai and others, accompanied Li Zhigao and Yang En to the riverside to see off Duke Changguo Li Pu, Li Chong and others who were about to cross the river to Tongling on the south bank, then change horses to rush to Jinling.

The boat Li Pu and the others were to board hadn’t even left the riverside’s crude dock when a scout ship came rapidly to shore like an arrow released from a bow. Two soldiers jumped off the ship and reported to Li Xiu: “Marquis Qianyang claims Duke Changguo’s Mansion has slandered his name. He’s ordered our brothers remaining at Wushou River mouth detained, and also says he’ll dispatch warships to come find Duke Changguo and demand justice!”

“What!”

When Li Xiu and Li Chi led troops breaking out of the enemy encirclement, over fifteen hundred men and horses had withdrawn to the Yangtze shore.

The night before last, Lin Zongjing led Xuzhou naval camp’s battle camp and only transported Li Xiu, Li Chi and the first batch of over five hundred men and horses to Bijia Mountain main camp. More troops still remained at the camp at Wushou River mouth waiting for Xuzhou naval camp to free up ships for transport.

The soldiers who came by scout ship to report were subordinates Li Xiu had left at the western foot of Daci Mountain at Wushou River mouth. Their armor and weapons had all been confiscated, and they rushed over unarmed to spread the warning.

Who would have thought Han Qian would directly order these troops detained, and also dispatch warships to come demand justice?

Not to mention Li Xiu and Li Chi were caught off guard, not knowing how to respond to the current situation—even Li Zhigao and Yang En stood there stunned, not having expected Han Qian would have such a strong reaction to the rumor matter.

“Han Qian acting so guilty—could it be he wants to engage in major hostilities with Huaixi Forbidden Army?” Li Chong at this time furiously and desperately questioned in a stern voice.