It wasn’t just Pang Xiao and his group waiting for the Emperor’s edict—the citizens within the city were doing the same.
Ever since Pang Xiao led his troops to camp outside the city, the common people of the capital had been infused with fresh vitality. Although they could see the wounded being continuously carried back into the city for treatment every day, and there were often corpses of those who died from injuries that needed to be buried in the outskirts, everyone still felt this battle was full of hope when they heard Prince Zhongshun had returned with his army.
Who was Pang Xiao? He had made tremendous contributions in quelling Great Yan and suppressing the Southern Yan rebellion. When it came to warfare, there were probably few in the Great Zhou dynasty who could match him.
With Duke Dingguo defending the city and Prince Zhongshun leading so many troops as reinforcement, how could they still worry about the capital’s siege not being lifted?
But just when everyone was eagerly anticipating, Prince Zhongshun actually led his troops to break camp and leave!
“What’s going on? Does anyone know what happened with Prince Zhongshun? Why did he leave?”
“I don’t know. Prince Zhongshun has been waiting with his people for the Emperor’s edict all these days. Did the Emperor issue an edict telling the Prince to leave this time?”
“Impossible! With the war situation so tense now, you could let anyone leave except Prince Zhongshun!”
“You don’t know—I heard someone say that the Emperor was worried Prince Zhongshun would bring his people to rebel, so he wouldn’t let him enter the city and issued an edict commanding him to take a detour to flank the Tatars.”
“This! This is completely pointless! Flanking the Tatars? By the time we flank to the Tatars’ rear, we’ll all be dead!”
“Shh! Do you want to die?”
…
Such conversations were happening in every corner of the Great Zhou capital. The common people were furious that Li Qitian actually wouldn’t allow Prince Zhongshun to bring troops into the city to resist the Tatars. In desperation, the Capital Guards would sometimes arrest those citizens who spoke recklessly on the streets and in alleys!
But even so, the rumors persisted and instead spread like wildfire.
The Tatars had already reached their doorstep, yet the Emperor made such decisions out of jealousy of the capable—how could this not make people angry?
Ji Zeyu had grown much thinner. His extraordinarily handsome face was covered in dust, his hair was simply tied back casually, and stubble had grown on his chin. Though his elegance remained undiminished, there was a different kind of dejected feeling about him.
Hearing Ma Cheng’s low-voiced report, he nodded once without changing expression.
Ma Cheng was bold and careful. Though his face was flushed red with anger at this moment, he ultimately didn’t dare say much, only asking: “How does the Marquis see it?”
Ji Zeyu only glanced at him once before saying in a low voice: “It’s not particularly surprising.”
Ma Cheng was stunned, then a feeling of sorrow suddenly washed over him. As fellow military officers, even though he himself couldn’t be considered a famous general, seeing the two great mountains blocking his path fall to such a state, his heart inevitably felt somewhat desolate.
One was feared by the Emperor, the other was used up completely by the Emperor. As military officers, that kind of sorrow and powerlessness—if you told others about it, they probably wouldn’t even believe it.
“Marquis Dingbei.” Just then, Gao Wenliang strode over with large steps, perfunctorily cupping his hands. “This commander plans to lead ten thousand Huben Army troops out of the city for a surprise attack on the Tatars. I’ve come to inform the Marquis.”
“Plans to?” Ji Zeyu raised an eyebrow, cold light already flickering in his peach blossom eyes.
Gao Wenliang didn’t notice, raising his square chin with an extremely arrogant attitude: “Yes, the Tatars are retreating in defeat—we should strike while the iron is hot. Since the Marquis doesn’t dare, then this commander will take the lead. I believe with this commander’s abilities, plus the Huben Army’s disciplined training, we can surely defeat the Tatars greatly!”
Ji Zeyu pursed his lips and said flatly: “Prince Zhongshun painstakingly trained the Huben Army—it wasn’t for you to lead them to their deaths.”
“Ha!” Gao Wenliang laughed coldly with sarcasm: “Is that so? Even if that’s the case, the current commander of the Huben Army is still me, Gao Wenliang—personally appointed by the Emperor!”
Ji Zeyu looked at Gao Wenliang in silence. Ma Cheng had a quick temper and couldn’t help but sneer: “Who isn’t an official personally appointed by the Emperor? Are you the only one who’s a Great Zhou citizen while we’re all not?”
Realizing he had misspoken, Gao Wenliang’s eyes widened and he instinctively puffed out his chest, saying loudly: “What you’re saying—isn’t that nitpicking! What this commander means is that the decisions this commander makes are for Great Zhou’s consideration. Since the Emperor was willing to appoint this commander as the Huben Army’s commander, it shows he values this commander’s talents.”
“Is that so?” Ji Zeyu said in a deep voice. “The current situation isn’t suitable for pursuit. Moreover, the Huben Army cannot permit even the slightest meaningless sacrifice. Your opinion—this commander does not accept.”
This was the first time Ji Zeyu had so deliberately referred to himself with such a title, and only then did Gao Wenliang remember that although he was the Huben Army commander, Ji Zeyu was the Grand Marshal personally appointed by the Emperor to fight against the Tatars. When the various loyalist armies arrived earlier, the Emperor had even ordered everyone to follow Ji Zeyu’s commands.
Gao Wenliang gritted his teeth and bowed in salute: “Please consider, Marquis Dingbei…”
Before he finished speaking, Ji Zeyu waved his hand to interrupt: “There’s nothing to consider. Rest the troops for now.”
Gao Wenliang glared at Ji Zeyu, practically grinding his teeth. Meeting Ma Cheng’s mocking gaze, he immediately snorted coldly and left with a flourish of his sleeves.
Watching Gao Wenliang stride away from the city tower like flying, Ma Cheng said worriedly: “This person is best at scheming and maneuvering. He might go complain to someone. If it reaches the Emperor’s ears, it’ll probably change in flavor.”
Ji Zeyu looked toward the area below the city indifferently: “Let him.”
Ma Cheng thought about it and couldn’t help but laugh. After all, the court was currently relying heavily on Marquis Dingbei—could the Emperor really entrust the entire matter of resisting the Tatars to that incompetent Gao Wenliang? The Emperor wasn’t stupid either.
The deployment of 280,000 troops stretched extremely long—the front had already departed while the rear hadn’t yet received orders. Pang Xiao sat on his horse by the roadside, holding his long blade in one hand and the reins in the other, letting his horse Wu Yun restlessly stamp its hooves as he watched the orderly formation pass by.
Behind Pang Xiao, Huzi, Tang Xiu, and the other hundred elite Tiger Guards all had dark expressions. Their hearts full of displeasure had almost materialized. But because Pang Xiao was present, everyone forcibly restrained their emotions and didn’t show them.
Huzi had followed Pang Xiao the longest and deeply understood his temperament and character. Just looking at his back, Huzi knew the Prince’s mood must be bad right now. The Prince and Princess loved each other so deeply, and the Princess was four months pregnant—they should have been able to enjoy family happiness together. But time and again they were forced to separate due to the Emperor’s decisions. When the Princess needed companionship most, the Prince could never be by her side—the Prince must be extremely anxious.
“Your Highness.” Huzi rode his horse forward and said in a low voice: “Right now we’re outside the city and our great army hasn’t even completely departed yet. With just one command from Your Highness, this situation could end. I believe with our 280,000 troops, plus Your Highness’s command, taking the capital would be as easy as flipping our palm.”
Pang Xiao looked back at Huzi once and said in a low voice: “Don’t mention this matter again. This battle I’m fighting is so that Great Zhou’s common people won’t be enslaved by foreign tribes—this is the most important matter. As for other things, we’ll discuss them after clearing out the foreign enemies.”
“Yes.” Seeing Pang Xiao’s mind was made up, Huzi knew further persuasion would be useless, so he obediently nodded, then smiled and said: “Your Highness, rest assured. Now you have everyone’s support—whatever decision you make, we all support it.”
This was almost explicitly saying they supported Pang Xiao seizing the throne.
Pang Xiao maintained his stern expression without speaking, so Huzi said no more and retreated.
Pang Xiao had no mood right now to think about seizing any throne—he was worried about Qin Yining.
Although he had arranged sufficient guards and there were people to protect and care for Qin Yining, Pang Xiao still couldn’t put his mind at ease.
He now only wanted to quickly end this war, return peace to the realm, and let his Yining live a stable life without having to wander about like this anymore.
Qin Yining had left the capital without taking any roundabout route to avoid detection—the group headed directly toward Jingang.
Bingtang said with some worry: “Princess, shouldn’t we hide our tracks? This servant is worried the Emperor’s people will track us directly.”
Qin Yining smiled: “It doesn’t matter. We can’t completely hide anyway. Even if we avoid them now, when we reach Jingang later, we’ll still have to live under people’s watchful eyes as before, and the Emperor’s people will still be able to find us.”
“What can we do about this?” Bingtang frowned with worry. “With the Prince not by your side, what if the Emperor moves against you?”
“Naturally we must guard against that.” Qin Yining pulled her cloak tighter and smiled: “When the time comes, we’ll naturally think of a solution. Even if we hide here and there, it won’t be of much use.”
Bingtang and Ji Yun both nodded. Qin Yining was right—the most skillful response wasn’t simply hiding, because hiding would always lead to being found by the Emperor’s people. What they needed to do was stay in the open and think of a graceful way out.
“The Princess has always been so calm and intelligent, resourceful and wise.” Bingtang sighed. “If it weren’t for the Princess being clever and decisive in making decisions for many matters, we people would probably have met with disaster sooner or later.”
“Since I brought you all out with me, I must take responsibility for all your lives. I’m just doing everything within my ability. However, I do feel that ever since becoming pregnant, my mind hasn’t been working as well.” Qin Yining said self-mockingly, “Is there any way to supplement my brain?”
Ji Yun and Bingtang were stunned for a moment, then both giggled with laughter.
“The Princess is joking again. Naturally there are such methods—we’ll start eating them once we settle down.”
The carriage was filled with laughter, which also infected those escorting and protecting them outside the carriage. Originally everyone had been somewhat downcast about being forced to leave the capital. But now they felt that as long as they followed the Princess, they would have a path to walk.
Without realizing it, the influence that Qin Yining, a woman, had on them was already no less than the influence Pang Xiao had on them.
Deep in the palace, Li Qitian listened to reports from countless palace eunuchs and confirmed that the Pingnan Army outside the capital had completely broken camp and left, heading toward Jiashao Valley to follow his edict and flank the Tatars. He couldn’t help but breathe a great sigh of relief.
Fortunately Pang Xiao hadn’t been stubborn about insisting on entering the city, otherwise their sovereign and minister would have had a dispute that would ultimately have been laughed at by others.
Consider Pang Xiao tactful.
“Your Majesty.” A scout hurried in, knelt on one knee and cupped his hands: “We’ve discovered that Princess Zhongshun didn’t follow Prince Zhongshun. Just now we saw her heading toward Jingang. I heard there were quite a few medicinal materials in the carriage, saying she was going to Jingang to prepare for protecting the pregnancy.”