Watching Xia Zhen clutch at the dagger that had pierced through his face and protruded from the back of his skull, then topple backward to the ground with a “thud”—for several moments, everyone stood there stunned, staring helplessly as streams of fresh blood gushed from Xia Zhen’s head.
Not to mention Shen Yang staring in shock at Han Qian who had suddenly attacked and killed Xia Zhen—even Zhang Ping, Chai Jian, Li Chong, and Yao Xishui had no prior knowledge of the plan for the Third Prince to condemn and Han Qian to assassinate Xia Zhen. Only Tian Cheng and Xi Ren stood impassively on either side to prevent any mishap by Han Qian.
Everyone watched in extreme shock as Han Qian reached up to rub his aching side ribs where he’d been kicked, then checked Xia Zhen’s nose to confirm he’d stopped breathing. Only then did he pull the straight-spine saber from Xia Zhen’s shoulder, press it against Xia Zhen’s neck, and sever his head. Fresh blood immediately gushed forth again.
“Han Qian has executed the deserting general Xia Zhen as ordered. His head is here for Your Highness to inspect.” Han Qian, heedless of his clothing and armor being stained red with fresh blood, grasped Xia Zhen’s head and knelt on one knee before the Third Prince, holding the head high as he proclaimed.
“What is the meaning of this?” Zheng Hui stared at Xia Zhen’s headless corpse, blood gurgling from the neck stump. He pressed his hand on the saber at his waist and retreated among his escorts, demanding furiously and in alarm.
He hadn’t expected that when the Third Prince came to Xichuan together with the grain transport fleet, it was actually to lure them out of the city, then unexpectedly sever Xia Zhen’s head.
The escorts Xia Zhen had brought out watched helplessly as their commander was killed, their eyes blazing with fury.
Although most of the Guard Battalion’s young warriors hadn’t yet disembarked at this time, Tian Cheng led the twenty-some Left Section scouts who had come ashore first, pressing forward to shield Han Qian and the Third Prince while simultaneously clearing a path to allow the Guard Battalion warriors behind to disembark faster and control the surroundings.
The escorts beside Xia Zhen could only retreat in panic, drawing their weapons and forming a tight formation, preparing to fight desperately in resistance.
“Xia Zhen abandoned his city without fighting, forcing my Dragon Sparrow Army to hastily engage the Liang forces at Iron Crocodile Ridge under extremely unfavorable conditions, resulting in heavy casualties. Advisor Zheng, I ask you—by law, should Xia Zhen be executed or not?” Yang Yuanpu forcibly suppressed his inner discomfort, moved his gaze away from Xia Zhen’s blood-soaked corpse, and sternly questioned Zheng Hui.
Shen Yang could scarcely believe this scene unfolding before him, but also knew this wasn’t the time to question the Third Prince and Han Qian. Stabilizing the situation was paramount. He immediately stared at Zheng Hui and said: “Zheng Hui, your Zheng clan has been known for loyalty and filial piety, and has built illustrious achievements since Great Chu’s founding. At this moment, His Highness is holding Xia Zhen accountable for abandoning his city—it has nothing to do with you. Why are you questioning His Highness so aggressively?”
Zheng Hui had no friendship with Xia Zhen. When Xia Zhen abandoned Neixiang City and fled into Xichuan, he had inwardly despised him. But facing the immense pressure from the Liang army, he had allowed the Ying Prefecture provincial troops to withdraw into Xichuan City.
However, regarding Xia Zhen’s crime of abandoning the city, Du Chongtao had already reprimanded him. Zheng Hui had also thought the matter was settled and forgotten. He never expected that many days later, when the Third Prince personally came to Xichuan City, the very first thing would be to execute and condemn Xia Zhen.
Everything happened too suddenly. Han Qian and his group had deliberately traveled together with the grain transport fleet, unknowingly delaying their arrival at Xichuan until midnight. Zheng Hui and Xia Zhen, needing to be vigilant against Liang night raids, had led dozens of subordinates out of the city, single-mindedly wanting to quickly welcome the Third Prince’s party into the city.
Looking at his own side having only twenty to thirty escorts at this moment, how could Zheng Hui not be alarmed?
In comparison, Xia Zhen had brought out quite a few more escorts from the city. He must have had some wariness in his heart—he just hadn’t expected the Third Prince to order Han Qian to strike directly without even waiting for all his escort troops to come ashore.
At this time, the grain transport fleet moored at the dock was also in an uproar, but the Ying Prefecture convoy officials and their small force were quickly controlled by Yang Qin, Feng Xuan and others who had been closely watching them. Three men tried to jump into the water to escape, but were hunted down in the water. Their corpses were dragged onto the boats, ensuring not a single fish escaped the net.
In the bitter cold, beads of sweat appeared on Zheng Hui’s forehead. Thinking it through carefully, although he had guarded Xichuan City without sending troops to restrain the Liang army’s attack on Iron Crocodile Ridge, he had still performed some hard service. He sensed the Third Prince probably had no intention of killing him.
Otherwise, Xichuan City would inevitably descend into chaos, making it difficult to resist a Liang army attack.
Seeing that the people the Third Prince brought had already controlled the dock, Zheng Hui bit down hard, released his grip on his blade, and—not daring to move too far forward—knelt on one knee before his escorts, expressing submission: “Xia Zhen abandoned his city without fighting—his crime is heinous. By law, he deserves execution.”
When Xia Zhen abandoned his city, if the Third Prince or even Li Zhigao had been present, they could have executed him directly under military law. But with so much time having passed, even for settling scores after the harvest, he should have been arrested and sent to the proper authorities for trial, not simply and brutally proclaimed guilty and executed like this.
However, Zheng Hui wasn’t foolish enough to quibble over these differences at this moment. What concerned him more was whether the Third Prince would use this as a pretext to implicate him as well.
“Very good,” Yang Yuanpu nodded, using as calm a tone as possible to reassure Zheng Hui: “Commissioner Zheng has defended Xichuan firmly, ensuring the territory north of the Dan River hasn’t fallen into enemy hands. You have both worked hard and achieved merit. I will memorialize my Father Emperor to request merit for Commissioner Zheng.”
“Zheng Hui failed to prevent Xia Zhen from abandoning the city. That Your Highness can forgive Zheng Hui’s fault fills me with gratitude—I dare not claim merit,” Zheng Hui said.
At this moment, seeing that Zheng Hui was stabilized, Han Qian handed Xia Zhen’s head to an escort to hold. He cupped his hands toward the Third Prince and said: “Xia Zhen, cowardly in battle and abandoning his city, was the chief culprit and has now been executed. However, the Ying Prefecture military officers were all coerced by him into abandoning the city and retreating west—they bear only minor faults. With the Liang army pressing close now, may Your Highness permit them to be temporarily assigned to Commissioner Zheng’s command to atone for their crimes through meritorious service?”
Yang Yuanpu stared at the forty-some of Xia Zhen’s followers who had retreated to a corner of the dock and sternly demanded: “Are you willing to atone for your crimes through meritorious service?”
Assigning these men to Zheng Hui’s command not only reassured Zheng Hui by clearly telling him this matter wouldn’t implicate him and would even continue to expand his military strength, but on the other hand, incorporating these men into the Guard Battalion would be difficult to put their minds at ease and might instead become a hidden danger.
Seeing Zheng Hui’s subordinates all turn to look over, with the Left Section scouts and the Guard Battalion’s three hundred young warriors all watching like tigers eyeing prey, how could these men dare to struggle desperately? They sheathed their blades and knelt one after another, expressing surrender.
Zheng Hui also looked hesitantly toward the Third Prince and asked: “Your Highness, should we temporarily confiscate these men’s weapons and armor?”
Yang Yuanpu looked at Han Qian rather hesitantly.
Han Qian shook his head slightly. Since they’d already been generous, they should be generous to the end.
Besides, these men were being assigned to Zheng Hui’s command. Even if three to five of them harbored rebellious thoughts, they couldn’t stir up any waves.
“This Marquis believes their resolve to serve Great Chu loyally remains unchanged. Since we’ve already permitted them to atone for their crimes through meritorious service, I ask Advisor Zheng to treat them equally—reward merit when due, punish faults when appropriate,” Yang Yuanpu said to Zheng Hui.
“I respectfully obey Your Highness’s strict order,” Zheng Hui said.
These escorts were all Xia Zhen’s direct subordinates. In fact, most were household troops and retainers of the Xia clan. After Xia Zhen’s execution, they were most likely to suddenly rise in resistance. After properly handling these escorts, the fifteen hundred Ying Prefecture provincial troops would be somewhat easier to deal with.
……
……
To fully dispel Zheng Hui’s inner fears and doubts, the Guard Battalion and Left Section scouts all remained outside the city. Han Qian and others accompanied the Third Prince Yang Yuanpu into Xichuan City and stayed in the Garrison Commander’sMansion that Zheng Hui had organized in Xichuan City.
“Zheng Hui is quite a person who knows how to enjoy himself!”
After entering and settling in the back residence of the Garrison Commander’sMansion, seeing quite a few handsome young men and women serving their daily needs in the residence, Han Qian remarked with feeling, thinking to himself that these young men and women were most likely forcibly captured by Zheng Hui after he subdued the two mountain strongholds.
Zheng Hui at this moment was personally leading his forces to take over the Ying Prefecture provincial troops.
With the Liang army camped just twenty li away, all unstable factors within Xichuan City had to be eliminated before daybreak to avoid giving the Liang army any opportunity to exploit.
Shen Yang signaled the maidservant who had brought tea to leave the great hall. Sitting upright behind the long desk, his dim yellow old eyes swept over Chai Jian, Zhang Ping, Li Chong and others, finally settling on Han Qian’s face. He asked in a deep voice: “Lord Han, why exactly did you instigate His Highness to undertake such a dangerous matter? Can you now reveal the answer to this old man?”
Han Qian could also be considered Shen Yang’s student, but thinking of that scene just now—if Han Qian hadn’t been able to kill Xia Zhen in one strike, it would inevitably have evolved into an uncontrollable military riot endangering the Third Prince’s life—the last trace of teacher-student affection Shen Yang held for Han Qian in his heart had also grown thin.
Of course, he now understood clearly that the so-called troop inspection was fundamentally just a deception orchestrated by Han Qian.
“Prince Liang Yong Zhu Yu is already in Wan City, and the thirty thousand Liang troops currently newly stationed in Wan City are actually disguised elite forces from Liang’s Xuanjia Capital—I wonder if this information can dispel Advisor Shen’s doubts?” Han Qian said calmly.
“…” Shen Yang sat there even more shocked, not knowing what to say for a moment. He hadn’t expected that upon learning such critical information, Han Qian hadn’t immediately informed Defense Commissioner Du Chongtao, but had first deceived them into coming to Xichuan City to behead Xia Zhen.
Shen Yang, with his exceptional intelligence, quickly understood the fundamental intention behind Han Qian’s actions. He absolutely did not approve of Han Qian risking the Third Prince’s life like this, but also knew that at this point the die was cast and beyond his ability to reverse.
Otherwise, in Xiang Prefecture City, Du Chongtao would absolutely not agree to the Third Prince sitting at the western front under such perilous circumstances.
“You didn’t mention beforehand that you would execute Xia Zhen on the spot…” Chai Jian questioned dissatisfiedly.
Had they known Han Qian intended to so decisively and ruthlessly eliminate Xia Zhen, they wouldn’t have been so hasty. They would have made more preparations to prevent any mishap.
“Not informing Commissioner Chai and Commissioner Zhang was because His Highness and I both worried Xia Zhen was too suspicious. If we had too many preparations on our side, it would instead be difficult to lure Xia Zhen into the trap,” Han Qian said. “As for why Xia Zhen absolutely had to be eliminated immediately, the reason is also simple. After Prince Liang Yong’s whereabouts were exposed, he will inevitably first thrust forces to the western foot of Dahong Mountain to raid Ying Prefecture—with Xia Zhen’s previous record of abandoning his city without fighting, once Ying Prefecture falls, what choice do you think Xia Zhen would make? Surely you can guess?”
Though Chai Jian and Zhang Ping were dissatisfied that Han Qian had once again bypassed them to act on his own authority, they had to admit what disastrous consequences it would bring to the western front if Xia Zhen chose to lead his forces to surrender to the Liang army after Ying Prefecture fell.
Dealing with Xia Zhen and the Ying Prefecture troops was indeed the first thing they needed to do.
Zhang Ping and Chai Jian had previously also been discussing how to resolve the problem of Xia Zhen and the Ying Prefecture troops. They just hadn’t expected Han Qian to act so ruthlessly and decisively.
“What schemes do you have next on His Highness’s behalf?” Shen Yang stared at Han Qian and asked in an even tone. “Should this matter also be temporarily concealed from Zheng Hui?”
“Even if Ying and Sui Prefectures fall, Huang Prefecture still lies over four hundred li away. And when Jinling sends reinforcements to Jing-Xiang, Huang Prefecture is a strategic chokepoint. His Majesty absolutely will not sit idly by and watch Huang Prefecture fall into Liang hands—viewed this way, Zheng Hui actually has no other choice. So there’s no need to conceal this matter from Zheng Hui,” Han Qian said.
As long as Huang Prefecture didn’t fall, with Zheng Hui’s family members and relatives all in Huang Prefecture, along with his subordinates’ families also in Huang Prefecture, the possibility of Zheng Hui leading his forces to surrender or fleeing south without fighting was slim. At least before absolutely necessary, Han Qian believed Zheng Hui wouldn’t make such a choice.
Otherwise, Emperor Tianyou would absolutely not show mercy toward their families and would miss the opportunity to intimidate all the generals.
“Since you know there’s no need to worry about Zheng Hui, why didn’t you first persuade Zheng Hui before killing Xia Zhen?” Shen Yang asked again.
“What His Highness needs is Zheng Hui’s loyal service, not cooperation,” Han Qian said.
Shen Yang sighed softly. Zhang Ping, Chai Jian and others were also left speechless.
They could have used more secure methods to strip Xia Zhen of his military authority and imprison him, but it absolutely wouldn’t have had the intimidating effect of that scene just now—what Han Qian taught the Third Prince was no ordinary way of checks and balances or imperial statecraft!