Seeing his attitude soften, Yuan Li immediately pushed him back a distance, having his personal guards block between father and son, continuing to persuade, “Now that the King of Dai is captured, he can no longer harm you. Then you should think about how to resolve this difficult situation, to give yourself and those who follow you an explanation. Killing him now will only vent your anger but bring no other benefit.”
“Look at the brothers and attendants around you. They’ve done such a great thing following you. Do you want them to risk their lives too?”
Su Hexiong and Tuoba Suzhou immediately looked at Tuoba Liuxiu with tearful eyes. “Great King’s son…”
Tuoba Liuxiu opened his mouth, tears also rolling down. The anger in his chest receded like a tide.
Yuan Li sighed, patting his shoulder. “Even for Lady Zao who cares for you and Her Majesty, you should endure the anger in your chest. If you kill the King of Dai, even if Her Majesty doesn’t send troops, the Second Prince won’t spare you, nor will the thirty-two tribes following the King of Dai.”
Tuoba Liuxiu’s swollen arms completely relaxed. He dropped his hands and knelt on the ground, wailing, “My mother is dead, my mother is dead…”
Tuoba Yilu stared blankly at him. His most beloved son was also dead…
Tears suddenly fell from Tuoba Yilu’s eyes.
Seeing this, Yuan Li felt contempt in his heart. Regretting now—wasn’t it too late? At the same time, he felt vigilant. For an emperor, if one couldn’t favor the legitimate eldest son, endless troubles would follow.
After Tuoba Liuxiu finished crying, Yuan Li proposed that he guard and confine Tuoba Yilu.
Tuoba Liuxiu wiped his large palm across his face, smearing away all the tears and snot, and asked, “How does Aunt plan to handle this matter?”
Yuan Li said, “This humble servant came in haste. Her Majesty also doesn’t know the details. She only feared you’d commit a great error that couldn’t be undone, so she hurriedly sent this humble servant over without stating how to handle it.”
“However, Her Majesty’s enthronement is imminent. The Great King’s son and the King of Dai were supposed to enter the capital to congratulate her. Why not enter the capital together and ask Her Majesty to judge?”
Tuoba Liuxiu remained silent.
Su Hexiong shifted his feet slightly and asked the question he was most worried about. “Will Her Majesty release the Great King back to Pingcheng?”
Yuan Li said meaningfully, “Great King’s son, the King of Dai has someone he favors, and so does Her Majesty.”
Naturally, the person Zhao Hanzhang had always favored was Tuoba Liuxiu.
Although she had sworn brotherhood with Tuoba Yilu, the two had their own calculations and couldn’t be frank with each other. Tuoba Yilu had three sons, and Zhao Hanzhang’s feelings toward the three nephews also differed based on their relationships with Tuoba Yilu.
This wasn’t Zhao Hanzhang’s unilateral choice. Maintaining a relationship always required mutual testing and bilateral selection.
That Zhao Hanzhang ultimately had the closest dealings and deepest affection with Tuoba Liuxiu was naturally their mutual choice.
She hadn’t chosen the ultimate winner among the three brothers, Tuoba Pusgen, but chose Tuoba Liuxiu because she saw unlimited possibilities in him.
With Yuan Li’s words, Tuoba Liuxiu accepted his suggestion and decided to take Tuoba Yilu to the capital, asking the Emperor to judge this father-son dispute.
He also gave his bottom line. “If Aunt is in a difficult position, I can not return to the Dai Kingdom, but I want to take all these people from Xinping City and be at Aunt’s disposal.”
Yuan Li was very satisfied and smiled. “Great King’s son, rest assured. Although it’s said that even wise officials find it hard to judge family matters, Her Majesty is no ordinary person. She received the Mandate of Heaven and will certainly judge your family matter clearly and absolutely won’t let you suffer injustice.”
So Tuoba Liuxiu began preparing to take people to the capital.
Yuan Li naturally wouldn’t let him bring too many people to the capital. Even though he was trusted, proper rules still had to be followed.
So he could only bring two hundred followers.
Tuoba Liuxiu was very worried. “What about Xinping City? My second brother commands one hundred thousand troops. He should have received the news by now. If he mobilizes his army to return for reinforcement while I’m not in Xinping City…”
“Great King’s son, rest assured. The court’s edict to stop the war should have already been delivered to his army. You’re also taking the King of Dai to the capital. He shouldn’t dare act rashly,” Yuan Li said. “Moreover, there are General Beigong and Magistrate Shi.”
Shi Lei had originally wanted to go to the capital to watch the excitement. He’d even prepared to depart when he received Zhao Hanzhang’s telegram just before leaving.
Although he very much wanted to go to the capital for the festivities, watching the Xianbei father and son’s drama was also quite entertaining. So while the Xianbei father and son were mired in love, hate, and passion, Shi Lei quietly led his great army into the Dai Kingdom.
While father and son were engaged in mutual slaughter, he took advantage of their unpreparedness to quickly capture three cities in succession.
Due to the distance, military reports hadn’t yet reached Pingcheng or Xinping City.
Actually, if Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t sent two telegrams in a row scolding him, Shi Lei could have captured more cities. He’d originally planned to bite off eight counties on the Dai Kingdom’s side near them.
What a pity…
Beigong Chun was no less formidable. Linghu Sheng independently led an army into the Dai Kingdom, though he didn’t attack cities or seize territory but remained silent.
After Yuan Li persuaded Tuoba Liuxiu, Tuoba Liuxiu issued orders and also sent people to meet them. Linghu Sheng’s forces then emerged and stationed themselves fifty li northwest of Xinping City. This place was only one hundred li from Pingcheng—the great army could reach it in one day of rapid march.
Tuoba Pusgen didn’t know his rear had been cut off. He couldn’t match the speed of telegrams. He’d received news of Lady Zao’s deposition and news of his father tormenting his elder brother…
He remained silent on all of it. As a son himself, his father’s actions left him completely helpless, so he just pretended not to know.
Although he was somewhat dissatisfied, feeling his father had gone too far for his third brother, his father was his father—what could he do?
But he never imagined things would turn out this way.
Tuoba Yilu hadn’t announced Tuoba Biyan’s death or revealed the palace assassination case, so Tuoba Pusgen, garrisoning the border, received the news late.
When he heard his father claimed his elder brother was disrespectful and unfilial and was mobilizing great armies to attack him, his father had already sent troops.
He was still deliberating then—should he continue playing deaf and dumb, or should he try to persuade?
Though he felt persuasion would mostly be useless.
After deliberating for two days without deciding, he was shocked to suddenly receive news that his father had sent troops and failed!
Just one day!
One battle decided the outcome!
Shocked, Tuoba Pusgen hurriedly summoned his generals to discuss whether they should return to rescue or continue pretending nothing happened and guard the border.
If they returned, how many men should be left behind, how many taken, to what extent should they fight…
Before they could decide, a heavenly envoy arrived from the other side.
Although they coveted the cities and lands across from them and had amassed large numbers of soldiers and provisions here, they still belonged under Zhao Hanzhang as a vassal state.
So when a heavenly envoy came from the other side, Tuoba Pusgen could only receive them warmly.
The envoy was Huang An. He came to convey Zhao Hanzhang’s command. “…Father and son harboring suspicions, brothers engaged in mutual destruction is a great reversal of human ethics that deeply wounds all who hear of it. Therefore, the King of Dai and his eldest son are commanded to immediately enter the capital to set things right and restore proper moral ethics…”
Tuoba Pusgen looked confused. Why was this edict directed at him when his father and elder brother weren’t with him?
But as one of the family members, Tuoba Pusgen could only receive the edict. Then Huang An said, “Second Prince, the King of Dai and the eldest son have already departed for the capital. The Dai Kingdom, after this upheaval, needs someone to oversee the chaotic situation. Her Majesty commands General Beigong and General Shi to jointly assist the Second Prince in temporarily managing state affairs.”
Tuoba Pusgen’s expression changed, and he declined. “Although there’s chaos, capable ministers like Jidan remain in the kingdom. Since Father and Elder Brother have already entered the capital, this chaos is settled. Why would this small territory still need two generals to assist?”
Huang An glanced at him. “Although the King of Dai and eldest son have gone to the capital, the common people are frightened by this shock. The Dai Kingdom’s territory isn’t peaceful. The Second Prince probably doesn’t know yet—Jidan is currently not in Pingcheng.”
Not in Pingcheng? Where then?
Huang An said meaningfully, “Second Prince, Her Majesty’s arrangement is for the Dai Kingdom’s good. Most of the thirty-two tribes were suppressed by the King of Dai’s military campaigns, with a small portion persuaded to surrender. This time the King of Dai suffered great defeat, the Dai Kingdom’s succession is undecided, people’s hearts are unsettled. Will they truly not cause trouble?”
“You mustn’t only see the swords and soldiers before your eyes while forgetting the cold arrows at your back. In any case, Generals Beigong and Shi still have Her Majesty above them. Her Majesty and the King of Dai are sworn siblings, so she certainly won’t let the Dai Kingdom suffer too much loss.”
Tuoba Pusgen didn’t believe a single word he said.
He’d witnessed how his father schemed for his cheap aunt’s territory and how that cheap aunt guarded against his father. If he were in her position, how could he not take advantage of the situation to kick someone when they’re down?
As soon as Huang An left, Tuoba Pusgen still decided to split off two army divisions—one to return to guard Pingcheng, one to go to Xinping City, taking the opportunity to seize Xinping City and unite the Dai Kingdom into one force again, while also investigating his father’s actual situation.
Although the imperial edict said his father and elder brother had gone to the capital, he still had to maintain a skeptical attitude.
He also sent people to pacify each tribe while gathering information about them. He was very afraid Beigong Chun would take advantage of the void, so he continued garrisoning the border.
Then, the division heading to Xinping City was intercepted halfway by the Xiliang Army.
Tuoba Pusgen was completely dumbfounded and demanded, “How could the Xiliang Army from Bingzhou appear at our rear?”
“It was the eldest son who coordinated with them from the inside, opening the passage. We received no information at all.”
Before Tuoba Pusgen could even grit his teeth, news from Pingcheng also arrived quickly, and it was worse. “You said what? Pingcheng has almost become an empty city? Jidan took thirty thousand households from around Pingcheng and disappeared?”
“Do you even hear what you’re saying? Thirty thousand households, not three households—how could so many people possibly disappear into thin air? Where is General Wei? He’s Father’s Left Guard General. Doesn’t he know anything about what happened in Pingcheng?”
“General Wei followed the Great King on campaign and was also scattered. His current whereabouts and survival are unknown.”
Bad news came one after another. “Second Prince, the White Tribe Xianbei have rebelled and already captured Loufan, Mayi, and Yinguan—three cities. Other tribes are also restless, colluding with the White Tribe Xianbei.”
“Second Prince, Shi Lei, Shi Lei has entered the Dai Kingdom and captured Fanzhi, Que County, and three other cities in succession…”
Tuoba Pusgen’s head swelled. At this moment, he finally couldn’t help but complain about Tuoba Yilu. “Why did Father have to send troops against Elder Brother?”
Of course, he wouldn’t say why his elder brother resisted their father—only a coward stands still to be beaten.
At this point, with Tuoba Liuxiu not having killed Tuoba Yilu, in his heart, his elder brother still held more reason.
The other tribes and ministers of the Dai Kingdom thought the same. For this reason, while some tribes took the opportunity to rebel, it remained within controllable limits—within Zhao Hanzhang’s controllable limits.
At this moment, Tuoba Pusgen finally understood Huang An’s hint.
If he took advantage of Tuoba Yilu and Tuoba Liuxiu going to the capital to forcibly occupy the Dai Kingdom, then Beigong Chun and Shi Lei would send troops simultaneously. He would not only have to deal with domestic rebellion but also two formidable enemies.
Right now, he could only cooperate with Beigong Chun and Shi Lei, following Zhao Hanzhang’s command, to have the capacity to quell the White Tribe Xianbei and other tribes’ rebellions.
Tuoba Pusgen gritted his teeth and finally chose to follow the edict, sending people to request Beigong Chun to come discuss matters together, while also sending a letter to Shi Lei in the northeast, requesting his help in maintaining stability in the Dai Kingdom’s northeastern region.
As for the three cities he’d occupied, Tuoba Pusgen just pretended not to know.
Receiving his letter, Shi Lei still felt regret for a while, saying to Zhang Bin, “He’s too obedient. If he’d sent troops to attack me in anger, or written to scold me, how wonderful that would have been.”
Zhang Bin smiled. “My lord, don’t provoke him. The new Emperor’s enthronement is imminent. We should be more prudent.”
Shi Lei asked very curiously, “What do you think—will the new Emperor let Tuoba Liuxiu inherit the Dai Kingdom, or take back the Dai Kingdom? If it’s the former, I’m not returning these three cities I’ve captured.”
Saying this, he also felt some regret. “The youngsters ran too slowly and only captured three cities. Alas, if it weren’t for the White Tribe Xianbei rebelling and occupying those three cities before us, we actually could have taken two more.”
Zhang Bin lowered his eyes in thought for a moment. “Upon the new Emperor’s enthronement, she’ll naturally bestow grace upon the various vassal states. Even though the Dai Kingdom has the handle of father-son mutual destruction, she’ll still choose someone to inherit the royal title.”
Shi Lei nodded—he thought the same. “The throne will most likely fall to Tuoba Liuxiu. Tuoba Yilu will either be killed or imprisoned. Playing it this way, Tuoba Liuxiu will certainly follow her lead from now on.”
Reaching this point, Shi Lei felt endless regret. “The Dai Kingdom still hasn’t returned to Youzhou.”
But Zhang Bin shook his head. “Not so. My lord forgot one thing—the new Emperor greatly cherishes the common people. The Dai Kingdom’s people suffer hardship. I believe the Dai Kingdom will return to Youzhou, or at least, it absolutely cannot continue with harsh punitive laws as under Tuoba Yilu’s governance.”
Shi Lei greatly trusted Zhang Bin and never doubted his vision. His eyes brightened as he asked, “How might this be accomplished?”
Zhang Bin shook his head. “I also don’t know.”
But he believed Zhao Hanzhang should be able to figure out a way.
Zhao Hanzhang had prepared long ago.
As soon as Yuan Li sent a telegram back saying Tuoba Liuxiu was willing to bring Tuoba Yilu to the capital, she immediately judged this case in her heart.
Of course, to make it legal, reasonable, and proper, she also gathered her trusted ministers and held three days of meetings.
Finally, everyone found legal, reasonable, and proper explanations for the immoral (ahem) method she’d devised.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t think her method was immoral at all. In later dynasties, royal titles being constrained was normal.
The fief would still be managed by the court, and one could only use a portion of tax revenue—this was already passive privilege from merit. Where’s the immorality in that?
Now, everything was ready. They only waited for the father and son to enter the capital.