Chapter 103

Chapter 103

The two stood side by side, Qi Hanzhou staring intently at Ying Fusheng. Beside them, Ye Xuanjiu had already brought urgent news: the Marquis of Cen'an from Cen Prefecture was approaching with his troops. Qi Hanzhou calmly ordered, "Take a squad and pursue Fei Xun."

"What do you need to do?"

"Head to the city gate."

The Light Garment Guard quickly brought horses. Qi Hanzhou reached out his hand to Ying Fusheng, who looked up, momentarily stunned. He suddenly thought of his past life—back then, he had never left the Cold Palace, and all his plans for the court and his secret alliance with Qi Hanzhou had been confined within a small corner.

Without realizing it, he no longer needed to explain everything to Qi Hanzhou.

Nor did he need to ponder the motives behind their interests. With a slight grasp, Qi Hanzhou had already pulled him onto the horse.

Qi Hanzhou grasped the reins and galloped toward the city gate.

Outside Huaizhou City, the Jiangnan garrison stood in formation. Old General Chen sat astride his horse, his gaze fixed on the gathered marquises in the distance, led by the Marquis of Cen'an from Cen Prefecture.

"Old General Chen, without a special decree from the Yingtian Prefecture, the Jiangnan garrison cannot be mobilized," said the Marquis of Cen'an, eyeing the Chen Family Army's formation with a cold expression. "I have received a special decree that officials and bandits are colluding to attack Huaizhou City. Do you still intend to remain here, General?"

"Marquis, what a coincidence. I too have received a special decree to be here. Without an urgent order from the Yingtian Prefecture today, none of you shall set foot in Huaizhou City." Old General Chen ignored the threat and refused to yield the path, instead ordering his troops to block all routes leading to the city in an orderly manner.

In the distance, Huaizhou City was visible. The Marquis of Cen'an raised a hand, calming his soldiers behind him.

"Before leaving for Jiangling, the Prince of Yan had the authority to act first and report later. It seems the Prince of Yan has summoned you, Old General Chen," said an aide.

The Marquis of Cen'an mused that the Prince of Yan was indeed audacious. If the authority to act first and report later could be used to mobilize troops, then what need was there for military power? The current emperor valued martial prowess, and military power was more likely to touch his sore spot than anything else. If the Prince of Yan exercised that power today, then once Huaizhou City became a dead city, the court would offer him up as a scapegoat.

But that didn't matter. For now, the Jiangnan region's prestige was in their hands. Today's battle at Huaizhou City had to be fought.

Old General Chen remained silent, but his deputy general had already received a report.

"General, trouble has arisen. Riots have broken out in two other Jiangnan prefectures. Many scholars are gathering, claiming that corrupt officials and bandits have colluded in Huaizhou City. The instigators are mostly students of the Fei family," reported a scout.

Many marquises' troops had arrived at Huaizhou City. The Marquis of Cen'an raised his army under the pretext of quelling the Huaizhou rebellion. The scholars' voices elsewhere in Jiangnan conveniently echoed his call. If Huaizhou City truly fell into chaos, the Marquis of Cen'an's actions would align with the demands of the empire's literati. In Jiangnan, with the support of both scholars and commoners, if the court sent troops, it would be a genuine internal conflict.

"Report—the city gate is not guarded by Huaizhou officials! It seems to be bandits!"

"People are dying in the city! Bandits have broken into Huaizhou City; the streets are strewn with corpses!"

"Old General Chen, the bandits have already seized the city gate! How can you still block me here?"

Two urgent reports rang out. The Marquis of Cen'an knew the moment was ripe. He declared, "Men! Follow me to crush the bandits!"

His voice stirred the troops on both sides. Even soldiers in the Chen Family Army looked to Old General Chen, unsettled. They had been ordered to block the path, but if Huaizhou City was truly in danger, what then?

Hearing the news of bandits massacring the city, the soldiers grew agitated.

The Marquis of Cen'an pressed forward, forcing Old General Chen's defensive line back several steps. Just then, the sound of hooves rang out from a distance. Old General Chen's expression eased slightly—finally, they had arrived.

"Marquis, it's the Prince of Jin's household troops!"

The garrison of the Prince of Jin's residence outside Huaizhou City was galloping toward them. The Marquis of Cen'an's face changed when he saw the Prince of Jin's troops. Hadn't the Fei family already contained the Prince of Jin? How could he still issue a special decree to mobilize the garrison? This wasn't part of their original plan.

Before the outcome was clear, he saw the Prince of Jin standing on the city wall. It was evident that the garrison had been mobilized by his direct order.

"The Prince of Jin's troops are limited, and Old General Chen has only brought a few thousand men," said a military advisor. "If the Fei family's plan has gone awry, our scheme is likely already exposed to the Prince of Jin and the court. You have no retreat now, Marquis. As long as people die in Huaizhou City today, we can spin the tale however we wish..."

The cold light in the Marquis of Cen'an's eyes dimmed. At this point, they had no choice but to succeed.

He was about to give the order when a sudden shout rang out—

"Stop!!!"

The Marquis of Cen'an paused and turned to look.

It was the Governor of Yingtian. Behind him came a contingent of government troops and several civil officials and censors. Censor Xiao, after many days of travel, finally arrived, his face pale. He stared at the vast army ahead. "Who dares to act recklessly? An urgent order from the Yingtian Prefecture! Old General Chen is authorized to mobilize forces under the pretext of suppressing bandits. The special decree has been announced to the world!"

The Marquis of Cen'an looked up to the high ground. He knew the Fei family's plan had failed—they had not managed to control the Prince of Jin after all!

"Your Highness, Your Servant has arrived late," said Wang Guanzhi, entering the city after days of travel, bowing to the Prince of Jin.

The Prince of Jin looked at Wang Guanzhi. "You have done well."

The garrison—the troops tasked with protecting Jiangnan's people. General Chen followed the court's orders. But if the people were in dire straits, the Chen Family Army could be mobilized. This special decree required the signature of the Jiangnan Yingtian Prefecture. The Prince of Jin was trapped, Ying Fusheng was trapped. Who could deliver the decree and have the Chen Family Army infiltrate the city in advance, coordinating from within and without?

The one to act was Wang Guanzhi.

Ying Fusheng could lay his plans in advance, but he could not foresee everything. If the situation had not deteriorated to this point, Old General Chen's early arrival would have become an opportunity for others. So a flexible piece was needed.

Wang Guanzhi was the Prince of Jin's man, and also closely connected to Zhang Wuyong.

If anyone could bypass the Prince of Jin and gain the trust of the Governor of Yingtian and the princes and marquises behind the Prince of Jin, uniting the incorruptible officials of Jiangnan, it was him alone.

With Zhang Wuyong missing and the Prince of Jin trapped, he became the move to make.

'You are familiar with the Jiangnan terrain. Avoid them and go to the Yingtian Prefecture to find Censor Xiao. He will tell you what to do.'

'His Highness's men are waiting for you outside. You need to convince the Governor of Yingtian and the incorruptible officials behind Zhang Wuyong.'

When he left with the falcon and the special decree to mobilize troops, he never expected the Prince of Yan's speculation to come true, nor that Old General Chen, upon seeing the Qi family's falcon and the secret message within, would choose to trust him immediately. Before the Yingtian Prefecture had even signed the decree, he prioritized mobilizing troops and waiting near Huaizhou City.

Outside the city gate, the Governor of Yingtian was followed by the princes and marquises of the Prince of Jin's faction in Jiangnan. His arrival signaled that those behind the Prince of Jin had received the news and secured the support of the court's Chen Family Army.

Ji Wuming stood at the city gate with the Imperial Guard. "Where is Qi Hanzhou?"

No sooner had he spoken than he saw Qi Hanzhou galloping toward him. Qi Hanzhou reined in his horse and reached out to help the person seated behind him dismount—none other than the Prince of Yan, who should have been in the Prince of Jin's residence.

Ji Wuming turned as a commotion arose from the street behind him. General Chen Shoude, who had been mixed among the wealthy merchants earlier, was leading a crowd—the civilians who should have been sheltered in the southern part of the city.

"The Prince of Jin and Chen Shoude have joined forces. The bandits in the city are under control!" reported an Imperial Guard.

"Lord Ji, I must trouble you," said Ying Fusheng, bowing with clasped hands before ascending the city wall.

"At least four groups are trying to seize the city gates—they are bandits," Ji Wuming said quietly to Qi Hanzhou. "The city gate is too dangerous. You shouldn't have brought His Highness here."

If the Marquis of Cen'an truly broke through, the bandits mixed among the people could do too much damage. The city gate was the most dangerous spot. And now, with the city gate between them, the civilians and the army stood on either side.

If the gate fell, there would be no turning back!

"Your Highness!" the civilians shouted.

"He must come himself," Qi Hanzhou said.

The people trusted him, so he had to stand before them.

Ying Fusheng climbed the city wall and saw, for the first time, the scene within and without the gates. It was no longer a game of chess but a true army at the city's gates. Qi Hanzhou stayed by his side, watching as his steps grew steadier with each stride, until he stood beside the Prince of Jin.

The board that Fei Xun had painstakingly constructed—Ying Fusheng had no intention of wasting it.

Officials and bandits were in cahoots. The people of Huaizhou saw it all with their own eyes. When several corpses in Fei family attire were dragged out, the citizens of Huaizhou had witnessed everything. They had originally gathered at the Huaizhou government office. If General Chen Shoude and his men hadn't suddenly come out to protect them, the bandits' blades would've been right in their faces.

"Prefect Fei ordered the city sealed. Did they let these bandits in!? And over at Prince Jin's place, bodies were everywhere. They even dared to attack the prince. If the Chen Family Army hadn't shown up, they'd have pulled off a massacre!" someone in the crowd shouted.

People believed what they saw. Hearing the merchants' and civilians' indignation, if Assistant Prefect Fei really meant to protect everyone in the city, even grain carts couldn't get in, so where did these murderous bandits come from!

Assistant Prefect Fei was dragged up to the city gate. When he saw Marquis Cen'an's army blocked by Old General Chen and Prince Jin, his calm face went pale. If Marquis Cen'an's army had stormed in, whether they were bandits or officials would've been up to whoever won. But now, being completely blocked, with all those Yingtian officials around, would Marquis Cen'an really slaughter all these officials and civilians!

Then the whole Jiangnan officialdom would be wiped out, not just one Huaizhou City!

From the very start, Prince Yan provoking the Fei family wanted to expose the Fei family's crimes to the whole officialdom and the world! He wanted the Fei family and the scholar-officials backing them to have nothing left to say.

Inside Huaizhou City, the rest of the Fei family was brought out.

Fei Gong, the highly respected literary leader, knelt among them, along with the Second Young Master Fei and others—all those so-called "great benefactors" in the people's eyes!

Ying Fusheng glanced at Zhang Wuyong. Prince Jin barked, "Zhang Wuyong, you take over."

Zhang Wuyong and the honest officials behind him had solid proof. He just never thought he'd present this evidence in a setting like this: "I, Zhang Wuyong, and the nineteen lords behind me submit evidence to the prince, accusing the Governor of Yingtian and the Fei family behind him of colluding to smuggle official salt, allying with the Ning River bandit gangs, and bribing the Yingtian Water Transport Office. The evidence is conclusive. We ask all lords and the people of the world to clear Magistrate Qian of Ningjiang County's name!"

As he knelt, many officials behind him did the same.

When the citizens and scholars of Huaizhou saw those officials—some from Huaizhou, others from elsewhere—and remembered what these men had done in Jiangnan, some scholars who'd backed the Fei family slowly went quiet.

If they hadn't been in Huaizhou, seeing what was happening inside and outside the city, how could they have guessed it all tied back to the Fei family?

"That's Lord Zhang!"

"And behind him is Lord Wang! After the Jiangling levee broke, Lord Wang led the repairs, all the way to Jiangnan!"

Several officials from Jiangnan's officialdom petitioned for Magistrate Qian's name. The resounding voices from the city wall landed heavily. Among the Fei family, some scholars still tried to defend themselves: "Magistrate Qian was a corrupt official the court sent. Young Master Fei has done countless good deeds out in public over the years. How can he be slandered like this?"

"Are you saying that if someone does good deeds, they can make up for huge crimes with kindness? Then what's the point of Dayuan law?" another scholar couldn't take it and shot back: "So many officials have brought evidence to accuse them. Is half of Jiangnan's officialdom slandering some merchant?"

The people's long-suppressed voices grew louder. Some merchants stepped forward, saying how the city gate officers had made things easy for the Fei family, and others mentioned how using the Fei family's water routes meant never running into bandits...

The people gradually quieted down, while the dissenting voices got louder. Most of Huaizhou's citizens had been saved by Chen Shoude, but there were still innocent civilians on the streets who hadn't made it and lay dead. They suddenly realized—if the city hadn't been taken today, and the bandits had taken it, even if Old General Chen had shown up, by the time the city fell, many of them would've been dead already.

Was the Fei family really that righteous? Then why did all this happen?

Back when Huaizhou City let people come and go normally, there hadn't been any incidents of bandits killing civilians. But after the city was sealed, everything changed.

"At the time of the Ning River salt case, Magistrate Qian had actually presented evidence too..." a citizen sobbed: "Magistrate Qian was a very good man. One year, when natural disasters prevented us from paying taxes on time, he allowed us to postpone for two months. When merchants' cargo ships capsized on the river, he led people to salvage the goods from the river."

"But they said officials and merchants colluded, that Magistrate Qian took bribes to do things."

"A wrongful case! It was clearly the Fei family colluding with others to frame Magistrate Qian!"

The voices within the city swelled. Fei Gong, kneeling and forced down, had a livid face. Assistant Prefect Fei looked panicked. According to their plan, if the citizens of Huaizhou City had died, no one could have spoken out. But now, these protected citizens had become the loudest voice in the entire city.

Outside the city, the stationed troops heard the rising clamor from within. The sound crossed the city wall, reaching beyond.

Thousands upon thousands of soldiers stood outside the gate, hearing everything. Marquis Cen'an and those behind him exchanged uneasy glances. Hadn't the bandits been massacring the city? Why were there so many people inside Huaizhou, and now all the voices were overwhelmingly in favor of Zhang Wuyong and his officials? If they marched in now, they would have to kill all these people to cover everything up...

"What the hell is Fei Xun doing?!"

"We can't find Master Fei. He was attacked by Qi Hanzhou, and his whereabouts are unknown. Our intelligence reports that... Light Garment Guards seem to have appeared beside Qi Hanzhou."

Light Garment Guards! When did the Qi family send troops to Jiangnan? The Fei family hadn't told them a single word!

So, was today's scene in Huaizhou City a trap set by the Fei family, or were others deliberately luring them into a snare?!

Below the city wall, Qi Hanzhou looked down. Beside him, Ying Fusheng stood calmly.

He had specially ordered Wang Guanzhi to act because this man was well-known enough among the honest officials and Prince Jin's faction. Without Censor Xiao alone maneuvering, so many officials couldn't have been gathered, nor could the Governor of Yingtian's special order have been obtained.

The armies of Marquis Cen'an and the other marquises dared not advance a single step. Now, with the Fei family's schemes, the matter of Huaizhou City had reached a peak of public outcry. If Chen Shoude hadn't protected the city today, if Prince Jin's defending forces had been dismantled, and the massacre completed, Marquis Cen'an's actions would have been enough to trigger internal unrest in Jiangnan.

The prestige of the Fei family and those behind them was too high. If the Fei family died, they could incite Jiangnan scholars to righteously rebel. Then, with the Prince of Qin of Western Shu joining in, Jiangnan would descend into chaos. Prince Jin and his officials would be at a disadvantage. It was a carefully laid grand scheme, almost closing in from every direction, with no way out.

"Marquis Cen'an, the events in Huaizhou City today are the result of the Fei family's collusion among officials, merchants, and bandits. Lord Zhang has conclusive evidence. Prince Jin's men were imprisoned by Assistant Prefect Fei under the pretext of being thugs." Ying Fusheng looked down at the massive army from his height. His voice wasn't loud, but every word was relayed through others, landing in everyone's ears: "You were worried about Huaizhou City, but now the masterminds have been caught. You're not thinking of still entering this city, are you?"

This was practically asking him to his face: The whole world is watching. Do you want to come in front of everyone—and what for? To slaughter the city in plain sight?

Marquis Cen'an's face turned ashen.

The military advisor warned: "Marquis!"

Prince Jin looked at his nephew beside him. The Fei family's connections ran deep. That was why Ying Fusheng had to use Fei Xun's situation first, to dismantle the Fei family's prestige in Jiangnan, leaving these princes and marquises with no ground to stand on. Even if they feared being purged and truly wanted to rebel, they couldn't act at this moment, burdened with the world's condemnation. If they did, they would only have to fight like cornered beasts.

Retreat, and there was still a way out—today's matter could be framed as concern for the people.

But not retreating meant rebelling in front of the world!

The Embroidered Uniform Guards stood by. Ji Wuming remained silent, but his gaze never left Ying Fusheng since he appeared on the city wall: "This Sixth Prince, when in the capital, truly kept his brilliance hidden."

Qi Hanzhou didn't respond.

From the night he petitioned the emperor to go south to Jiangnan, he could only walk this one path.

Above and below the city wall, separated by the gate, Marquis Cen'an's troops grew restless.

Spies from other marquises among the soldiers looked to Marquis Cen'an, waiting for his decision.

"If we retreat today, the Fei family's reputation is utterly ruined," Marquis Cen'an said darkly.

He understood the calculation all too well. If they withdrew, it would essentially admit to the charges of collusion between officials and bandits, and the scholars would have no way to "reverse" the verdict for the Fei family.

"This scheme at Huaizhou City—we can't defend the Fei family anymore."

The advisor earnestly said: "Advancing means rebellion; retreating only means losing."

When Fei Xun failed to carry out the massacre, this was already a lost game. Not only lost, but it handed Prince Yan a perfect opportunity, bringing together the previously divided honest officials of Jiangnan and the imperial court.

Below the city wall, Marquis Cen'an's troops didn't move.

The honest officials of Jiangnan officialdom looked at the young prince who wasn't yet twenty. Their greatest fear was that submitting solid evidence would come to nothing—that once the Fei family fell, the marquises would revolt, Jiangnan scholars' outcry would overwhelm the region, and military conflict would leave fields of dead. But now, with righteousness as their banner, Old General Chen and Prince Jin's residence stood firm. Prince Yan had no military power, but he had used one matter to bind the imperial court's and Prince Jin's troops together.

The voices within the city grew louder. The people's cries drowned out those of the Fei family's scholars. Zhang Wuyong's irrefutable evidence spread with his shouts. His voice choked with emotion, yet he clearly repeated every charge of the Ning River salt case—each crime, each piece of evidence spoken aloud, echoing.

Behind him, the gathered honest officials pleaded their case.

The factional struggles in Jiangnan—between princes, honest officials, the imperial court, and corrupt officials—were framed by the righteousness of Jiangnan's people, becoming in this game two sharply divided sides. If Marquis Cen'an dared to advance, Prince Jin and Old General Chen would hold out to the death until imperial reinforcements arrived.

And Marquis Cen'an and his allies would gain no justification, only the world's condemnation. Even if they had colluded with the Prince of Qin of Western Shu, they wouldn't dare choose this moment—it would make them outright rebels!

Not a single soldier or horse would enter Huaizhou City today.

Qi Hanzhou glanced sideways. The young man's resolute tone echoed in his ears. He had changed a lot since the Jiangling levee breach. So when he came to Jiangnan, the strategies he devised considered almost every possibility, needing to adapt to the enemy's moves. From the moment he set foot in Jiangnan, this was almost a gamble—and he still had to use the situation to show everyone it was the right time.

Since he had no troops, he had to legitimately borrow from Prince Jin and Old General Chen;

Because he had no evidence, he had to find a way to persuade the incorruptible officials of Jiangnan to step forward.

The situation, reputation... Liu Dafu's courtroom let Zhang Wuyong take the first step. Then Huai Prefecture City was besieged, Censor Xiao maneuvered, and Wang Guanzhi's actions drove the second step. Finally, in front of the commoners and scholars, the third step was taken.

Old General Chen shouted, "Marquis!"

The roar of the people surged, and Old General Chen's troops stepped forward.

Marquis Cen'an ground his teeth. He looked up and saw the youth on the city gate, without the frail appearance rumored. A titular prince with no military power, yet at this moment he could make half of Jiangnan's officialdom halt for him, and let the tide of the people's voices drown out the Fei family's years of influence.

Ying Fusheng called out again, "Marquis!"

The troops of Old General Chen and Prince Jin took another step forward.

Finally, after repeated urgings from his strategist, Marquis Cen'an waved his hand, and the soldiers behind him had no choice but to retreat.

"Fall back!"