Chapter 253 Prince, Shall we rebel too?
Xiao Xuance took Lao Liao's words to heart and went to the carriage shop to select a carriage. Based on the original one, he personally supervised the renovation, reinforcement, earthquake resistance, and moisture prevention.
In addition to a large carriage, two more carriages were prepared for Yang and his entourage.
Besides the carriage matter, he also had to deal with things in the capital. The Second Prince was using threats and inducements to get the Xiao family's generals to accuse the Xiao family of colluding with an enemy country and to exterminate them.
There's also the Xiao family army in the north, and the rebel army in Jiangnan...
The most troublesome area is the north, where Xiao's trusted subordinates have either been demoted or forced to retire and return to their hometowns, and have been replaced by the Crown Prince and the Second Prince's men.
Some of them were persecuted, and the information that should have been sent back by evening at the latest was delayed for three hours without any news.
After discussing important matters with his guards, Xiao Xuance stayed behind and waited for half an hour.
Zhuiying said, "Your Highness, shall I escort you back to rest first? I will inform you as soon as I have any news."
Xiao Xuance said, "Let's wait a little longer."
Such a long delay means something must have happened.
A high-pitched, mournful cry suddenly shattered the silence. A huge black shadow swept across the rooftops, accompanied by a piercing wail, "Chirp!—Eee!—"
The gyrfalcon's cry was high-pitched and piercing, filled with resentment and anger, as it circled above the courtyard.
Zhuiying walked into the yard, put his hand to his lips, and blew a short, sharp whistle.
The gyrfalcon that had been circling the roof flapped its wings and swooped down, landing on his arm. After he removed the bamboo tube tied to his leg, it flew away and landed on the railing of the corridor near the window.
Zhu Feng pushed open the window, flew into the room, and landed on Xiao Xuance's shoulder, its head drooping as if begging its master to pet it.
The restless gyrfalcon landed on its master, and upon smelling the familiar scent, its agitation gradually subsided. It lowered its head, waiting for its master's comfort.
Xiao Xuance had never seen it show such emotions before, and he had a bad feeling.
Soon, Zhuiying pushed open the door with a letter in her hand. "Your Highness, something has happened. General Gu and his entire family were murdered on their way to retire and return to their hometown."
Zhuiying handed the note to Xiao Xuance.
The guards were all shocked when the news came out.
The voices rose and fell, eagerly pressing for answers.
"Who killed him?"
"Who killed my uncle?"
"This can't be true. General Gu is so powerful, I don't believe he can die."
When they joined the army as teenagers, General Gu taught them martial arts and military strategy. He was their master, and besides the Prince of Zhenbei, he was their most respected benefactor and elder.
"I don't want to believe it's true either, but the note has two private seals, indicating that it was ambushed by bandits from Dajing."
The two private seals are absolutely genuine.
The Xiao family guards all came from the Xiao family army and knew General Gu. They were unwilling to believe that he was dead, and their fists clenched tightly.
Guard Gu Huai pressed on, “Is the information accurate? The Gu family’s ancestral home is in the south. My uncle and the others should be heading south. How could bandits dare to cross Bingzhou to kill people in the south?”
Zhu Feng told him, "It should be true. News had already come back that enemy troops had crossed the border to burn, kill, and plunder. In order not to ruin the two peace negotiations and prevent the troops from being sent out, Prime Minister Qin even had to release the captured bandits and conceal the matter from the court."
"If it weren't for the news from our brothers in the army, we wouldn't have known about this either."
Lu Xiao, with his fiery temper, slammed his fist on the wall. "Damn it! The enemy troops crossed the border into our territory to burn, kill, and loot. We captured them and then released them. What kind of logic is this? This is outrageous!"
Zhu Feng said hatefully, "If you want to blame someone, blame the court for bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Those in power don't care about the lives of ordinary people at all."
Zhuiying clenched his fists so tightly he almost crushed the bamboo tube in his palms. "The blood of the prince and the brothers has been shed in vain!"
Lu Xiao forcefully threw the sword at his waist to the ground. "The land we fought so hard to protect, how many brothers died, how much blood was shed, we returned it all in less than three months. What's the point of fighting anymore? Fighting is pointless. Let's stop fighting and go home to farm!"
One of the guards said, "You still have land to cultivate, but my land has already become the territory of the Jingguo barbarians."
“Come to my house. I’ve saved up some money over the years and bought a few acres of land for my family. I’ll give you half of it.”
“If the imperial court’s Xiao family army is transferred to the southeast to suppress the rebels, Wanyan Zonglie will not let this opportunity pass. We have planted the seeds, but I’m afraid we will be trampled by the enemy’s iron cavalry before we can even harvest them. I’m not going to do a losing business. I’d rather follow the prince to Lingnan to reclaim wasteland and farm. That’s the safest place.”
Xiao Xuance continued, "The fall of Bingzhou means that the gateway to Hedong is wide open, and the Jin army's western route can advance unimpeded. If the capital cannot be defended, the country will be destroyed and families will perish, and Lingnan will also be unsafe."
Lu Xiao asked, "If Lingnan isn't safe, where is? Are we supposed to flee to the sea and live out our lives there?"
"The emperor on the dragon throne is a muddle-headed, incompetent, pleasure-seeking man who disregards the lives of the people and allows his princes and ministers to collude with foreign officials and frame loyal and virtuous people. The land that our brothers fought with their blood and flesh to protect the people, including us, are all insignificant ants in his eyes."
They don't treat us like human beings, but we should treat him like a god in heaven, elevating him to a high position. After avenging the prince, I'll go back to my hometown to farm."
Every time he closes his eyes, he remembers his brothers who fought alongside him lying on the ground, trampled into mincemeat by the enemy's iron cavalry, dying a terrible death!
Gu Huai scolded him, "All you think about is farming, you coward."
"What else can we do if we don't farm? The prince didn't die on the battlefield, but at the hands of his own people. General Gu was betrayed by his own people and his whole family died tragically. A court like this should have been destroyed long ago."
Zhu Feng, who was standing to the side with his sword in his hand, suddenly spoke up: "It is time for them to die, but we cannot let Jingguo get away with it. If the Crown Prince can regain control of the military, he can negotiate or confront the court, seek justice for the Prince, and fight his way out for himself and the Xiao family army, so that the people can have a place to live!"
"You mean you want the Crown Prince to... rebel? Yes, that's good! How come I didn't think of that? He should rebel! We should support the Crown Prince to take that position!" Lu Xiao clapped his hands excitedly, picked up the knife that had been thrown on the ground, and raised it high, ready to shout.
Zhu Feng patted his shoulder and gestured with his eyes for him to wait for Xiao Xuance's decision.
Zhuiying said, "If we rebel directly, the Xiao family will be branded as rebels. Regardless of whether we succeed or not, history will forever remember us as rebels who gained power illegitimately and will be infamous for eternity."
Xiao Xuance said, "The Xiao Family Army no longer exists in the world; only the Zhenbei Army remains."
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiao could no longer contain his excitement and asked, "Your Highness, are you also thinking of rebelling? That's wonderful!"
"This matter concerns our lives and livelihoods, so we need to think it over carefully. Even if it really comes to that, now is not the time."
"Your Highness, whatever decision you make, your brothers will follow you."
"We, your subordinates, swear to follow you to the death, Your Highness!"
"I swear to follow the Crown Prince to the death!"
Xiao Xuance raised his hand, waiting for them to quiet down before speaking, "This matter concerns your lives and fortunes, and involves millions of ordinary people. One wrong step could lead to an abyss. Allow me to think it over carefully and act only after careful consideration—what we need is not a momentary impulse, but a foolproof plan!"
After his father died, he was imprisoned and suffered all kinds of humiliation. In his most hateful moment, he even thought about rebelling. Later, after spending more than a month with his family, wife and children, he gradually suppressed this idea. However, they are currently facing a predicament, and if they want to survive, there is only one way to go.
Thinking this way.
He quickly wrote a letter and waited for the ink to dry. Then he handed it to Zhufeng Zhufeng. Zhufeng took it, rolled it up, put it in a bamboo tube, and tied it to Haidongqing's feet. Haidongqing nuzzled Xiao Xuance's temples with its head.
Then he jumped onto the arm that Chasing Shadow reached out to him.
We arrived outside the courtyard.
It glanced back at its master, then turned away without looking back. With a flap of its wings, it shot into the night sky like an arrow, tearing through the thick darkness. In a few breaths, its white figure had turned into a blurry star and quickly disappeared without a trace.
"I have sent a message to my brothers in the north, instructing them to secretly protect the soldiers who have been dismissed from their posts and to rescue those who have been imprisoned. Those who wish to follow me should be allowed to come to the south."
"We're short-handed up north. Gu Huai, you take men to meet them. Have them head south in batches, not all at once, and not too far apart. That way, if anything happens to any of them, there will be someone to help. Give those who are rescued but don't want to go south a sum of money so they can go home and reunite with their families."
"Yes! Your subordinate will definitely protect the brothers and ensure their safe arrival in the south to meet the Crown Prince!" Gu Huai knew Xiao Xuance's purpose in sending him to the north: primarily to attend the funeral, and secondly to provide support.
His uncle raised him, then took him into the army, nurtured him, and helped him gain experience and achieve military merits on the battlefield. In his heart, his uncle was like his own father.
He must live well, for only by living can he avenge his master.
Xiao Xuance gave his subordinates a few more instructions and then went back. It was already late at night when he returned to the inn. The second floor was so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. He guessed that they had all gone to sleep.
He suddenly wanted to see Yun Zhaoxue.
Zhuiying tried to lift him up, but the wheelchair rolled and made a rumbling sound that would wake people up.
He slowly stood up and, holding onto the stair railing, slowly made his way upstairs.
She gently pushed open the door, walked to the bedside, and sensed no sign of life. "There's no one in the room, quickly light a candle!"
Let Zhuiying light the tinderbox and lift the curtain.
The bed was empty, with only one pillow under the covers.
Zhuiying said urgently, "Young Master, the Princess is missing. Could she have been kidnapped by bad guys?"
He pushed open the window, blew a whistle, and a dark shadow flew in through the window.
The guard knelt on the ground, begging for forgiveness, "Your Highness! I deserve to die!"
Xiao Xuance's brows furrowed, his gaze sharp. "Speak! Where did they go?"
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