In the solemn Xuanzheng Hall, the obsidian floor gleamed so brightly it reflected the light. This was the first time Xiao Ziwu had been allowed to attend court to discuss politics, simply because the matter to be discussed today involved war.
This was also the first time Xiao Ziyan had appeared in public since recovering from his injuries, standing once again in the Xuanzheng Hall.
The two men were very friendly and respectful to each other upon meeting, as if all past grievances had been wiped away, a far cry from the tense scene that everyone had imagined.
The Emperor of Liang frowned so deeply that a fly could be trapped in his brow, and the rapid tapping of his fingers on his desk revealed the turbulent emotions churning within him.
In the report submitted by Xiao Ziwu a few days ago, he listed numerous suspicions that someone in the military camp was suspected of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country.
He'd only been in the army camp for a few days, yet he was so perceptive as to detect that someone in the army had defected to the enemy? Therefore, the Emperor of Liang didn't take it seriously at first, thinking that he was just eager to claim credit and had made up this trick out of nothing.
But this very morning, an urgent battle report arrived from the border!
The Western Huan Kingdom, which had long coveted the Great Liang, sent 200,000 troops to garrison Tiger Hill, less than 50 miles from the border cities of the Great Liang.
The arrival of a large army on the border is already a blatant act of provocation by the Western Huan Kingdom!
Furthermore, Tiger Hill is located in the northeastern part of the border region of Daliang, which is the weakest point in the Daliang army's defense. The terrain is easy to defend and difficult to attack. If it weren't for the fact that someone in the army colluded with the enemy and betrayed the general's defenses to the Western Huan, the defense would have been completely destroyed.
It is absolutely impossible for the Western Huan Kingdom to have scouted the location under the heavy guard of the Liang army and then lead its army to press forward on Tiger Hill without any scruples!
It's obvious there's a mole inside!
The Emperor of Liang, who had initially disbelieved the report, became convinced of it upon hearing the battle report, and was filled with shock and anger!
The military defense arrangements were not something anyone could access; only a few veteran generals with distinguished military achievements knew about them. The emperor simply couldn't fathom what reason these veterans would have to betray the land they had guarded for half their lives and instead defect to the Western Huan!
This morning, the Emperor of Liang was so anxious that he almost fainted. He could not accept that there was a traitor in his own family, even more than hearing the news of the Western Huan army pressing on the border!
Under the instruction of the Emperor of Liang, Xiao Ziwu reiterated all the reasonable speculations written in his memorial.
Finally, he said, "Your subject is willing to request permission to go to the border to fight the enemy and protect our country's territory!"
"This matter is not urgent."
The Emperor of Liang made no comment on his final request, but instead turned his gleaming eyes to the whispering ministers below.
"My esteemed ministers, who do you think betrayed the military intelligence?" The Emperor of Liang's majestic voice echoed in the hall, leaving the officials dizzy and speechless.
The officials all exclaimed in unison, "Your humble servants are foolish and ignorant! Who would dare to speak nonsense without evidence?"
The Emperor ignored Xiao Ziwu's request to volunteer for battle. Xiao Ziyan finally felt some relief from the stifling feeling he had when he saw Xiao Ziwu standing side by side with him.
He bowed slightly, gave Xiao Ziwu a meaningful look, and then said, "Father, please forgive me. I have a humble opinion, but I don't know if I should speak it."
The Emperor of Liang said noncommittally, "Tell me about it."
Xiao Ziyan said softly, "There are people in the army who are betraying military intelligence. Although the Third Prince was the first to discover this, we cannot rule out the possibility that the Third Prince is crying wolf to clear his name."
"Of course, all of this is just my speculation, without any real evidence. I hope my third brother will not take offense."
The Second Prince spoke earnestly, which made the courtiers feel that everything he said was for the greater good of the country, and that he was completely free of any personal grudges.
The officials were in an uproar, and some whispered, "The Second Prince is right; it's not impossible."
"Why would I do this?" Xiao Ziwu's expression turned cold, his eyes flashing with a chilling light.
"Naturally, it's to provoke war, then volunteer for battle to accumulate merits for themselves, and to increase their bargaining power in the future..."
Xiao Ziyan did not finish his sentence, but he made sure everyone knew what he had left unsaid.
Incited by him, the officials indeed found his argument quite reasonable and immediately said in unison, "We beg Your Majesty to investigate!"
Yuwen Yi stepped out from the crowd of supporters, bowed respectfully, and questioned, "Does the Second Prince have any evidence for his statement? The Third Prince has only recently joined the military and has never been involved in the Western Regions war. How could the Third Prince know about such an important military defense deployment?"
In the imperial court, everyone had their own version of the truth, plus a bunch of indecisive, opportunistic fence-sitters.
They immediately felt that the Minister of Rites' words made perfect sense, and they all sided with the Third Prince.
The Emperor of Liang's expression changed instantly. He no longer believed Xiao Ziyan's earlier explanation that he had not been influenced by personal feelings. He said in a deep and cold voice, "I believe Ziwu. If you don't have evidence, don't say it again."
Xiao Ziyan stopped pressing the matter and respectfully retreated back into the crowd, though he glanced at Yuwen Yi briefly.
It seems that this Minister of Rites has sided with Xiao Ziwu.
Xiao Ziwu did not insist, but simply said, "If Father Emperor is not at ease, I will not volunteer to go into battle again."
Originally, he only thought that after winning the battle and returning in triumph, he could rightfully ask his father for a decree to grant him a marriage and bring his beloved daughter back to the manor. But now, Xiao Ziyan's few words have ruined his plans.
But there will always be other opportunities, so he's not in a hurry.
The Emperor of Liang said with a kind expression, "I am very pleased that you have such a wish, but you are still inexperienced. On the battlefield, one can not fight against many people with one fist. The flashing of swords and shadows is hard to defend against. Your father still needs to consider it carefully."
"Your subject understands," Xiao Ziwu replied without changing his expression.
Whether the Emperor of Liang was genuinely afraid that he would get hurt on the battlefield, or worried that he wanted to take all the credit for himself, he wouldn't care.
Xiao Ziwu, who longed for his father's love, died at the age of five.
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