Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Duo was startled: "Is Shan Jing one of your people?"
So, does that mean he also controls the Imperial Guard?
Speaking of the Imperial Guards, Xuan Yuanzhi said confidently, "So as long as you also pledge allegiance to me, then the Imperial Guards and the city's protective army will both be mine. I control two of the three armies, so this capital city will definitely be under my control."
Xuanyuan Duo pursed his lips and remained silent.
And you know what? If he also submits to him, then the Imperial Guard and the city's defensive forces will indeed be under his control.
He controlled two of the three most important armies in Kyoto, so his chances of seizing the throne were indeed very high.
But thinking of Xuanyuan Yu, Xuanyuan Duo frowned again and said, "Third brother still has the Su family army. If the Su family army helps third brother to seize the throne, then third brother's chances of winning will be much greater."
The strength of the Su family army is beyond doubt. Not to mention the two armies, even the three armies support the second brother. As long as the Su family army stands on the third brother's side, I'm afraid the three armies will all be in vain.
Xuanyuan Zhi, however, did not take it seriously: "The Su family army is indeed powerful, but it is currently in the hands of Father Emperor. Consort Su handed over the military seal of the Su family army to Father Emperor. As long as Father Emperor does not delegate military power, the Su family army will not listen to the third son."
Xuanyuan Duo frowned: "But the Su family army is, after all, from Consort Su's family..."
Before Xuanyuan Duo could finish speaking, Xuanyuan Zhi scoffed disdainfully, "The Su family army is surnamed Su, but the third brother is surnamed Xuanyuan. If the third brother can command the Su family army, then Xuanyuan Zhan can too. So don't attribute the Su family army to the third brother."
He had heard that the Su family army was very difficult to control. Even Su Renyi was only a nominal commander in the Su family army back then. He couldn't command the Su family army. Otherwise, the Su family army wouldn't have stopped moving around after Su Renzhong died.
This shows that Su Renyi is not capable of commanding the Su family army. If Su Renyi is not capable, then what right does Xuan Yuan Yu have to command the Su family army?
Xuanyuan Duo: "But the third brother said that the Su family army is in his hands."
He had previously asked the third brother about the Su family army, and at that time the third brother had confidently said that the Su family army would be at his service.
Xuanyuan Zhi, however, did not believe this at all: "What use is his words? When the time comes, the Su family army will have to take his command."
Xuan Yuanzhi glanced at Xuan Yuanduo as he spoke: "Anyway, aren't you still nominally one of Lao San's men? Just stay by his side and see if he can really command the Su family army. Then you can make the final decision."
His thoughts were immediately exposed, and Xuan Yuanduo swallowed nervously, hurriedly saying, "That's not what I meant. I said I would submit to you, so naturally I'll be your person from now on. How could I be so fickle?"
Now that the second-in-command has control of the Imperial Guard, it's not entirely without a chance. Since he's boarded the second-in-command's ship, he naturally can't afford to capsize easily.
As for the third brother, he is still nominally the third brother's man. Until the very last moment, as long as the third brother still has a chance to turn things around, he certainly cannot easily betray the third brother.
He needs to be on the right foot in both of these boats for the time being.
Xuan Yuanzhi understood Xuan Yuanduo's thoughts all too well, but he was too lazy to expose him.
For now, as long as Xuanyuan Duo is willing to join his crew, that's enough. He'll have plenty of ways to control him later.
Xuan Yuanzhi raised his cup to Xuan Yuanduo again, saying, "Brother, rest assured, if I ever ascend the throne, I will never mistreat you! You will be my right-hand man!"
The word "Royal Brother" softened Xuanyuan Duo's heart.
Yes, his second son is also his own brother, and he has indeed neglected him too much over the years.
Xuanyuan Duo quickly raised his cup, clinked it with Xuanyuan Zhi's, and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.
After a few drinks, Xuanyuan Duo thought of something else: "Now you and the third brother are fighting to the death in the capital. What if Xuanyuan Zhan comes back and Father Emperor sides with him? Wouldn't all your efforts for the third brother be in vain?"
Before Xuanyuan Zhan left the capital, his father had always favored him.
Now it seems that Father has come to his senses and has allowed the second and third sons to oversee the country at the same time. But what if Xuanyuan Zhan returns and Father reverts to his old ways? Wouldn't the second and third sons then have no chance?
Xuan Yuanzhi narrowed his eyes coldly: "Therefore, we need to sit on the throne before Xuan Yuanzhan returns."
“This…” Xuan Yuanduo looked at Xuan Yuanzhi in shock.
How can you be sure that this can be done?
Father's health does seem to be failing, but there's no guarantee that Father won't pass away before Xuanyuan Zhan returns.
Moreover, even with his father's passing, there's still his third son vying for the throne, so he might not necessarily be able to ascend to the throne.
Xuanyuan Duo suddenly realized something and looked at Xuanyuan Zhi in disbelief: "You wouldn't be thinking of..."
Having his thoughts read, Xuan Yuanzhi chuckled dryly, "How could I? I'm not like Xuan Yuanyu. I would never harm Father!"
Even if he were to do it, he wouldn't make it so obvious; he could shift the blame elsewhere.
Fearing that Xuanyuan Duo might overthink things, Xuanyuan Zhi quickly added, "Xuanyuan Zhan has left the capital, and it's not like he can just come back whenever he wants."
Xuanyuan Duo looked at Xuanyuan Zhi in surprise again.
What does the second brother mean by this? Has he sent assassins to intercept Xuanyuan Zhan?
Isn't Xuan Yuanzhan's martial arts skill quite formidable? Would assassins be effective?
...
Xuan Yuanzhan, who was feared by the brothers Xuan Yuan Yu and Xuan Yuan Zhi, finally arrived in the North.
There are five cities in the North: Beian, Beitong, Beiming, Beiqiu, and Beifeng. All of them are located in the northernmost part of Eastern Chu, so the people of Eastern Chu collectively refer to these five cities as the North.
After running for more than half a month, Xuanyuan Zhan finally arrived at the first city in the north, Beian City.
Seeing the endless stream of refugees heading south, Ye Yun quickly caught up with Xuan Yuanzhan: "Your Highness, there are so many refugees along the way. I'm afraid the cities in the north are all empty."
Xuanyuan Zhan frowned as he looked at the rows of refugees begging at the gate of Beian City.
They did see many refugees along the way, and they could understand their plight.
With famine on one side and bandits on the other, life was indeed very difficult. Fleeing elsewhere might be the only way to survive.
And those sitting at the city gate will probably head south in a few days.
"Let's go into the city first and then talk about it."
Xuanyuan Zhan kicked the horse's flank and led Ye Yun into the city.
As expected, there were countless refugees in Bei'an City, all dressed in rags and crammed together on both sides of the shops.
The sight of Xuanyuan Zhan and Ye Yun riding tall horses quickly attracted the attention of most of the refugees.
However, most of these refugees were weak and sickly, and seemed to lack the strength to even come and ask Xuan Yuanzhan and the others for help.
As Xuanyuan Zhan and his group walked along, they found that almost all the shops in Bei'an City were closed, and many doors and windows were even smashed. It was estimated that the refugees were so hungry that they had no choice but to enter people's shops to find something to eat or something of value.
Or perhaps it was the work of those rampant bandits. Now, the North is not only home to these refugees, but also an unknown number of bandits.
Suddenly, a scream came from outside the city.
"The bandits are coming!"
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