Seeing that the prefect of Changshi City refused to let them pass, Xuanyuan Zhan raised the Xuanwu Sword and shouted, "I have the Xuanwu Sword bestowed by the Emperor here. Seeing the Xuanwu Sword is like seeing the Emperor. You will open the city gates at once, and I will forgive you! But if you are stubborn, then don't blame me for using force!"
"The Xuanwu Sword!" Upon seeing the Xuanwu Sword in Xuanyuan Zhan's hand, the soldiers on the city wall all looked at each other in surprise.
"Is this Xuanwu Sword real or fake?!"
"The Xuanwu Sword is the national treasure of our Eastern Chu!"
"Seeing the Xuanwu Sword is like seeing the Emperor; the Xuanwu Sword is a symbol of imperial power!"
"The Xuanwu Sword has always been kept by the emperors of Eastern Chu throughout the ages. How could it be with the Holy King!"
"Didn't the Holy King just say that the Xuanwu Sword was bestowed upon him by the Emperor? Does that mean the Emperor intends for the Holy King to succeed to the throne?"
"So the Holy King's rebellion was truly a frame-up, right? I've heard that the current emperor dotes on the Holy King, even bestowing upon him the Xuanwu Sword. How could the Holy King possibly rebel!"
The prefect of Changshi City was also shocked when he saw the Xuanwu Sword.
Even though he was just a prefect in a remote area, he knew what the Xuanwu Sword represented in Eastern Chu.
He had no doubt about the authenticity of the Xuanwu Sword. The Xuanwu Sword in the Holy King's hand must be real. Someone of his status would not, and had no need to, use a fake Xuanwu Sword to deceive them.
Moreover, he had long heard rumors that the Emperor had sent the Holy King to the north to provide disaster relief and suppress bandits, and had even bestowed upon him the Xuanwu Sword.
Even he knew what the Xuanwu Sword represented, so the Emperor certainly didn't. Since the Emperor had indeed bestowed the Xuanwu Sword upon the Holy King, his intentions were self-evident.
In other words, the Emperor truly intended to pass the throne to the Holy Prince, so why would the Holy Prince plot a rebellion?
Therefore, the sage king was definitely wronged in the matter of treason.
However, I heard that the Emperor is seriously ill now, and the Second Prince and the Third Prince are in control of the court. So it is obvious who is framing the Holy King, and this imperial edict is probably the work of the Second Prince and the Third Prince.
Even though he knew everything, he dared not disobey the orders of the Second Prince and the Third Prince. They had issued an imperial edict. If he did not obey, he would be disobeying the imperial edict, and it would not only be him who died, but his whole family!
Prefect Changshi looked at Xuan Yuanzhan below with a troubled expression: "This humble official believes that Your Highness has been framed, and that Your Highness has no intention of treason. I also believe that the Xuanwu Sword is real. However, this humble official really cannot disobey the imperial decree. This humble official is not afraid to die, but I have parents above me and wife and children below me. This humble official cannot risk the lives of my whole family for my sake. I beg Your Highness to show mercy and give my whole family a way out!"
Xuan Yuanzhan gave the prefect of Changshai a deep look. He understood his predicament and his reluctance to let him pass, but he still had to get through Changshai City.
"I have been falsely accused of treason, and my mother and queen have been imprisoned in the imperial prison. Therefore, I must pass through Changshi City. Unless absolutely necessary, I am concerned for the people and do not wish to wage a major war. So I am giving you one night to consider. If you do not open the city gates by dawn, then don't blame me for being impolite!"
Xuanyuan Zhan knew that the soldiers who had been traveling for two days and two nights were exhausted, so he took this opportunity to let the soldiers rest and also to give the prefect of Changshai time to consider the matter.
Xuanyuan Zhan raised his hand and shouted, "Rest where you are!"
At Xuan Yuanzhan's command, the soldiers all sat down on the ground to rest.
They were exhausted after traveling for two days and two nights, so they took this opportunity to rest, as they might have to fight early tomorrow morning.
When the prefect of Changshan saw them all entrenched outside the city gate, he was extremely panicked and completely lost.
The county magistrate beside him frowned and looked at Xuan Yuanzhan and the others below, saying, "My lord, the army behind the Holy King is estimated to be 150,000 strong. If a major war breaks out, we won't be able to hold Changshi City!"
The prefect of Changshi knew, of course, that with only 20,000 troops guarding the city, how could they possibly hold the city gates? “We have to hold them even if we can’t!”
Being unable to defend and not defending are two different things.
If they let them pass directly, it would be tantamount to disobeying the imperial decree; but if they failed to hold their ground, then it wouldn't be considered disobeying the imperial decree.
The magistrate didn't say anything more. He didn't want to die, and he didn't want to implicate his whole family.
This is truly a case of the gods fighting, and the little devils suffering the consequences.
Originally, these people in positions of power were fighting for their own interests, and they, the people below, had no say in it at all. But now, they are the ones who are truly suffering.
They are in a dilemma: to defend this city or not to defend it!
Xuanyuan Zhan and Mu Lingchen also found a place to rest.
Because he was worried about Long Jiaojiao, Xuan Yuanzhan had Ye Yun and Ye Feng guard outside the prison cart.
As soon as that woman Long Jiaojiao wakes up, knock her unconscious; the point is to prevent her from ever being conscious.
Bai Ying looked at the trembling Prefect of Changshan on the city wall and asked, "Your Highness, are we really going to attack the city at dawn tomorrow?"
They had a duty to fight the Northern Barbarians, but when it came to attacking Changshi City, they were facing their own compatriots, and they really couldn't bring themselves to do it!
Xuanyuan Zhan narrowed his eyes and said firmly, "We must pass through Changshi City, and we must pass through every city on the way to the capital!"
Bai Ying understood what Xuan Yuanzhan meant.
He also knew that the prince cared about the people. In fact, besides attacking the city, there were other methods, such as capturing the prefect of Changshai and threatening the soldiers to open the city gates.
He felt that sometimes it was better to use the methods of bandits, but since it involved an imperial edict, even if he captured the prefect of Changshai, the soldiers might not dare to open the city gate, which would be quite troublesome.
Xuanyuan Zhan hadn't slept for a long time either. He gently stroked the Bodhi beads in his hand, thinking of Su Xuening, and closed his eyes to rest.
He needs to conserve his energy. Judging from what happened in Changshi City today, the road ahead will be really difficult for him!
Even though it's difficult to travel, he has to go; he must get back to Kyoto as soon as possible!
While Xuanyuan Zhan and the others below were resting, the Prefect Changshi and the County Magistrate on the city tower dared not move an inch, much less rest.
As dawn broke, the soldiers gradually awoke in the dim light.
On the city tower, Prefect Changshi saw the sunrise gradually rising on the horizon and broke out in a cold sweat.
Soon, it was broad daylight. Xuan Yuanzhan suddenly opened his eyes, leaped back onto his horse, and looked at the prefect of Changshan, saying, "I'll give you one last chance: open the city gates or I'll attack the city!"
The prefect of Changshi looked at the vast army behind Xuanyuan Zhan and was extremely anxious, but he still refused to budge: "Your Highness, it is not that I refuse to open the city gate, but I cannot disobey the imperial decree. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Upon hearing these words from the Prefect of Changshi, Xuanyuan Zhan's face darkened: "Since that's the case, then don't blame me!"
"Attack the city!" Xuan Yuanzhan waved his hand, and the soldiers immediately rushed forward!
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