Chapter 200 Small Adjustments
"Why did he die?"
When Su Mo entered the tent and told the news about Concubine De, Xiao Beiheng's hand holding the teacup just paused for a moment and asked four simple words.
Su Mo sat down beside him and said, "His Majesty discovered that she was the mastermind behind the witchcraft that framed the Crown Prince and summoned her to testify. Concubine De was frightened and committed suicide by taking poison."
"Oh, so Concubine De has always been carrying poison with her," Xiao Beiheng slowly put down his teacup. "If that's true, Concubine De must have a huge secret, the kind she'd rather die than reveal. The person she's willing to die protecting... that person must be the mastermind."
He was not interested in how Concubine De died, but he was somewhat concerned about the person behind Concubine De.
"I don't know about that," Su Mo reached out and took a piece of cake for Xiao Beiheng from the table. "When His Majesty's Royal Guards raided the house, only the Second Prince escaped. His current whereabouts are unknown."
"Could it be the Second Prince?" Xiao Beiheng didn't take the cake, but instead placed a finger on his forehead. "De Fei committed suicide to protect the Second Prince... The Second Prince was the one who actually framed Xiao Zhuo. Is that so straightforward?"
In order to compete for the position of crown prince, the second prince framed Xiao Zhuo, which was reasonable. But I always felt that it was not that simple.
With Xiao Zhuo's intelligence, it was impossible for him not to suspect the Second Prince first, but Xiao Zhuo never caused trouble for the Second Prince.
Seeing that he didn't take it, Su Mo didn't care. She put the cake back on the plate and said, "Since Your Majesty knows that Xiao Zhuo was wrongly accused, should he be reinstated as Crown Prince? What will you do if your father still insists that you kill Xiao Zhuo?"
"If Xiao Zhuoruo returns to the throne of Crown Prince, it would be tantamount to treason for me to touch him again," Xiao Beiheng shook his head. "Once my father learns of this, he will definitely not allow me to continue this task. His messenger should be arriving within a few days."
Su Mo said, "Then our remaining goal is to pacify the two western states for our father, but Xiao Zhuo is already there. You said Xiao Zhuo also intends to occupy Xiliang. Is it appropriate to compete with him?"
"Your Highness, there is a messenger from the capital waiting outside the tent." A soldier came into the tent to report.
"Of course it's not appropriate. If we attack Xiao Zhuo, we'll be making an enemy of the Emperor. This prince isn't that stupid," Xiao Beiheng said as he stood up. "I need to reconsider our strategy for Xiliang. Momo, you go and rest first."
After seeing Su Mo off, Xiao Beiheng ordered the messenger to enter the tent.
The secret letter came from Wu Mingzi, who he had planted beside Emperor Yongde, and it also mentioned the matter of Concubine De. However, Wu Mingzi was at the scene, so the information he heard was more accurate than Su Mo's.
According to Wu Mingzi, Concubine De's death did not seem like she had taken poison of her own accord, but rather that she had been forced to drink poisoned wine by Emperor Yongde. Emperor Yongde also appeared happy at the time, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
It seems his judgment was not quite right. If the real mastermind was the Second Prince, how could Emperor Yongde have such a relaxed expression if he were still alive?
Is there some secret between Emperor Yongde and Concubine De that requires killing Concubine De to prevent it from being leaked?
Unable to guess Emperor Yongde's thoughts for the moment, he suppressed the thought. He burned the secret letter and said to the messenger, "Go back and tell General Wu that if you have any more important information, send it to me immediately."
After the messenger received the order and left the tent, Xiao Beiheng called Lin Kui over and asked his servants to fetch him some warm clothing. He then asked, "How many days will it take for the vanguard army to reach Leshan?"
Lin Kui said, "Your Highness, there are still five days."
"What about the Yan army led by Zhao Mu?" Xiao Beiheng asked.
"The scouts haven't reported back yet, but they should have reached Leshan."
Lin Kui took the cloak from the servant and said to Xiao Beiheng, "Your Highness, Zhao Mu was originally sent by Emperor Yongde to stop us. Why is he marching westward?"
Zhao Mu no longer stopped them, so they naturally followed behind.
Xiao Beiheng replied, "Jingzhou and Xirong attacked the Mei family simultaneously. I think it was Mei Dai who persuaded Emperor Yongde to agree to send troops."
Lin Kui opened Xiao Beiheng's cloak and said, "How could a mere woman like Mei Dai make Emperor Yongde obey her orders?"
Xiao Beiheng snorted and said, "Of course, you're looking down on her. Rumor has it in the capital that Prince Jing molested her and was killed by Emperor Yongde. In my opinion, it was probably her setup."
"Impossible," Lin Kui put the cloak on Xiao Beiheng and took a step back.
Xiao Beiheng reached out and pulled the laces of his cloak, saying, "Of course, Prince Jing has always been cautious. How could he suddenly and brazenly flirt with Emperor Yongde's favorite concubine? It's completely unreasonable."
"Then Emperor Yongde doesn't know?"
"Even if he knew, what would happen? Emperor Yongde was so reckless. He probably killed Prince Jing first and then realized something was wrong." Xiao Beiheng tied his cloak and put on his helmet. "Okay, let's not bother with another woman anymore."
Lin Kui opened the thick windproof curtain for Xiao Beiheng. Xiao Beiheng walked out of the big tent, and Lin Kui followed behind.
Scattered snowflakes drifted across the bluish-white sky, and the Dingbei Army, like a long black dragon, passed through the tents and marched westward.
Xiao Beiheng looked towards the west. "In the south, there are 200,000 Jingzhou troops, and in the north, there are 200,000 Xirong troops. The King of Xiliang is dead, and Mei Pu is a cripple. Do you think Xiao Zhuo can win against those remnants of his army?"
Lin Kui thought for a moment and replied, "Others can't do it, but Xiao Zhuo may be the only one who can do it."
"Oh, you have so much confidence in him?"
After all, Lin Kui was on his side, and he was surprised to hear that Xiao Zhuo was spoken so highly of.
"Your Highness, Xiao Zhuo has been in the army since he was sixteen, winning countless battles against the Northern Di. If Emperor Yongde hadn't called him back mid-campaign, he might have already pacified the Northern Di and returned victorious. Now that he's in Xiliang, he's fought in numerous battles, both large and small, and has never been defeated. I feel... the only one who can compare to him is you, Your Highness."
Xiao Beiheng laughed and said, "Lin Kui, you are so hesitant. Do you think that I haven't fought as many battles as Xiao Zhuo and am not as good as him?"
"I spoke out of turn." Lin Kui quickly admitted his mistake.
Xiao Beiheng snorted and turned his head away.
Lin Kui was right. Xiao Zhuo had been through hundreds of battles, but this was his first time commanding the Dingbei Army, and he had no record to show for it. His father had always considered him inferior to Xiao Zhuo, and this was probably one of the reasons.
Now even Lin Kui thinks that Xiao Zhuo is better than him, which is something he cannot tolerate.
In order to change the minds of his father and subordinates, he must rely on his strength and battle record to prove that he is no worse than Xiao Zhuo... No, he is better than Xiao Zhuo.
A scout from the west rode in the opposite direction of the army's march. He came to Xiao Beiheng, jumped off his horse, saluted, and said:
"Your Highness, His Majesty has decreed that Xiao Zhuo be made King Zhao, ordering him to suppress the rebellion in Jingzhou. All necessary food and fodder will be provided by the imperial court. The royal flag has been raised in Leshan, and Zhao Mu is handing over 50,000 Yan troops to King Zhao."
"What?" Xiao Beiheng and Lin Kui asked at the same time.
"Your Highness, Emperor Yongde has made Xiao Zhuo a king and ordered him to attack Jingzhou. This clearly means he wants to use this military achievement to restore Xiao Zhuo's position as crown prince." Lin Kui asked, "What should we do?"
"My goal remains the same: to pacify the two states," Xiao Beiheng said. "It's just that my strategy needs to be adjusted slightly. Now that Xiao Zhuo has an army and the Xiliang army is supporting him, we can't touch him."
Lin Kui rolled his eyes and said, "Your Highness, why don't we just sit back and watch the fight. Let Xiao Zhuo fight Jingzhou on his own."
"Impossible!" Xiao Beiheng suddenly raised his voice.
Lin Kui was startled and said quickly, "Your Highness, your goal is to pacify the two states. In my humble opinion, we should first let them fight to exhaustion, and then we can reap the benefits."
"Then shall we just stand here and watch Xiao Zhuo show off his prowess? Why would this prince travel across half of the Yan Dynasty to come to Xiliang? Is it just to admire Xiao Zhuo?"
Lin Kui stuttered, "Then...then..."
Xiao Beiheng waved his hand and said, "Don't be so naive. Prepare a gift and send it to Leshan by messenger. Tell them that this prince congratulates King Zhao on his vindication and is willing to share his worries and help him fight against the Western Rong."
"Ah?" Lin Kui was even more confused now. "We are going to help Xiao Zhuo fight against the Western Rong?"
"Now that Xiao Zhuo is King Zhao, he's ordered to attack Jingzhou." Xiao Beiheng lowered his voice. "The Mei family is the softest target, and they're protected by Xiao Zhuo. Besides attacking the Western Rong, who else can we fight?"
The two were talking when Su Mo ran over and said happily, "Bei Heng, you said you wanted to send a gift to Leshan?"
"Well, Momo, why are you so happy?"
"I also want to go with the messenger."
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