Seeing Xuanyuan Zhan say such things at this moment, Bai Ying was both moved and ashamed: "Your Highness, it's all our fault."
Zhang Debiao also said with shame, "Your Highness, you have been accused of treason because of us, we really..."
Zhang Debiao was so ashamed that he didn't know what to say.
The other bandits around them also lowered their heads in shame.
Bai Ying glanced at Yang Feng's headless body on the ground, frowned and said, "Your Highness can hand over Bai Ying. Bai Ying killed the man, and Bai Ying is willing to take full responsibility!"
Xuanyuan Zhan was amused by his words: "You don't really think that those people accused me of treason because I offered you amnesty, do you?"
Bai Ying was suddenly stunned, staring blankly at Xuan Yuanzhan, unable to react for a moment.
Xuanyuan Zhan explained with a wry smile, "Those people have wanted to harm me for a long time. Now that the Emperor is seriously ill and unable to govern, they will definitely take advantage of this time to eliminate me. You are just an excuse for them to get rid of me. If you want to find fault, you can always find a reason. Even without you, they can find any other excuse to frame me. So this matter has nothing to do with you."
Xuanyuan Zhan then looked at the other bandits and said loudly, "Everyone, don't worry about this matter. Since I said I would recruit you, I will definitely find a way. Even if the higher-ups don't recognize you now, I do. Once the matter with the Northern Rong is over, I will return to the capital to mediate for you and I will definitely fight for your official status!"
The bandits were deeply moved that even in his current state, with his mother and queen imprisoned in the imperial prison, Xuan Yuanzhan still had the mind to care about them.
Zhang Debiao retorted, "We don't need their approval. Since only the Prince recognizes us, then we will only recognize the Prince. We will only be the Prince's soldiers, not anyone else's soldiers!"
Other bandits chimed in, "Since they've wronged the prince by accusing him of recruiting a private army, why doesn't the prince just recruit that private army and rebel against the court? Wouldn't it be better for him to become emperor himself?"
No sooner had the bandit finished speaking than another bandit glared at him and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Wouldn't that make Your Highness a traitor? The Dowager Consort and the Princess Consort are still in their hands. Your Highness must go back to rescue them!"
The bandit, however, felt that what he said made sense: "Are we just going to rescue people empty-handed? We'll definitely need to bring more people back to the capital to rescue them!"
They were all the prince's soldiers. If the prince ordered them to save people, they would save people; if he ordered them to rebel, they would rebel. In any case, they all obeyed the prince!
Bai Ying also felt that what the bandit said made sense, but he glanced at Xuan Yuanzhan's gloomy face and remained silent.
Whether or not to actually rebel is a major issue, and it ultimately depends on the prince himself.
Of course, no matter what decision the prince makes, these people will definitely follow him.
Xuanyuan Zhan raised his chin at everyone: "In short, you don't need to worry about these things. Your task now is to distribute porridge and grain to the people. Go and get busy. The people are waiting."
"Yes." Xuan Yuanzhan's words were like an imperial edict to these bandits, and they immediately obeyed and went to do their work.
Seeing that Bai Ying and Zhang Debiao were standing still, Xuan Yuanzhan was about to speak when Bai Ying spoke first: "Does Your Highness have a way to deal with the Northern Rong?"
Upon hearing Bai Ying's words, Xuan Yuanzhan immediately perked up: "You have a plan?"
Bai Ying immediately said, "Does Your Highness know that there is another secret passage that allows you to enter the Northern Lands from the Northern Rong without going through the North Gate of Beifeng?"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanzhan was startled and frowned, saying, "You mean..."
Bai Ying leaned close to Xuan Yuanzhan and whispered, "This humble general intends to lead Liuying Village to join the Northern Rong. We'll then point out their way out, and when they choose to enter through our secret passage, we'll find a way to ambush them and wipe them out in one fell swoop!"
This is not a bad idea, but Xuanyuan Zhan doesn't know what the secret passage looks like, and he's worried that if he lets a wolf in, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Seemingly sensing Xuan Yuanzhan's concerns, Bai Ying immediately said, "If Your Highness has time now, I can take you to see that secret passage, and Your Highness will understand what I mean."
Such a good method, it would be a shame not to try it.
Without saying a word, Xuanyuan Zhan said to Ye Feng, "Let them rest first, I have things to do."
As Xuanyuan Zhan spoke, he pulled Bai Ying away without waiting for Ye Feng's reply.
Zhang Debiao eagerly followed along.
The secret passage that Bai Ying mentioned is located on Tiangou Mountain outside Beifeng City.
Upon arriving at Tiangou Mountain, the group dismounted and began their ascent on foot.
“The mountain path is steep and we can’t ride horses. If the Northern Rong really want to take this secret passage, they won’t be able to go far without horses, which is an advantage for us.” Bai Ying explained as he led Xuan Yuanzhan toward the secret passage.
After walking for a long time, Xuan Yuanzhan finally saw the secret passage that Bai Ying had mentioned. It was a very narrow path, a crevice in the rocks on the edge of a cliff, barely wide enough for two people to pass at the same time. There was really no way to ride a horse.
"If you keep going straight from here, it will take about an hour to get out of this mountain. Once you get out of this mountain, you will be in the territory of our Liuying Village. Beyond that is the Northern Rong."
As Bai Ying spoke, he pointed to the top of the cliff: "We can ambush them there. We've been up there before. It looks like a lush, green area. Even if we have tens of thousands of people lying in ambush there, they won't be exposed."
Following Bai Ying's advice, Xuan Yuanzhan went up there and found it to be a good ambush location. The Northern Rong soldiers walking on the edge of the cliff below would be helpless.
Bai Ying led Xuan Yuanzhan along the mountain path again.
Sure enough, after walking for an hour, the three of them left Tiangou Mountain and actually saw Liuying Village on the mountainside.
"Your Highness can see the Northern Rong from here."
Xuanyuan Zhan looked at the spot the white eagle pointed to and nodded silently: "That's the Northern Rong."
Although it's not very clear, the Northern Rong are indeed not too far from here.
“It’s the Northern Rong. Liuying Village is located between the Northern Rong and the Northern Lands. I took this route with my brothers to Beifeng before.” Bai Ying then looked at Xuan Yuanzhan and asked, “Does Your Highness think Bai Ying’s plan is feasible?”
Xuanyuan Zhan thought for a moment and said confidently, "The Northern Rong have been attacking the city for almost ten days and have not yet been able to enter the Northern Lands. If you tell them now that there is a secret passage leading to Beifeng, they will definitely fall for it."
Bai Ying thought so too, and excitedly said, "Then Your Highness agrees with Bai Ying's plan."
Xuanyuan Zhan glanced at Bai Ying and frowned, saying, "Although you're going to surrender, your trip to the Northern Rong is still quite dangerous. Have you thought it through? Do you really want to carry out this plan?"
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