Chapter 103: The Change of Kingdoms (I) Update
When Chi Zhan stood up, more than a dozen officials in the hall stood up from their seats and lined up behind him: "All follow the orders of the Crown Prince!"
Feng Ming, the Crown Princess's younger brother who always followed Liu Ziling, naturally did not want to be left behind and took the oath with everyone else.
Liu Ziling looked around, and the narrow eyes of the Liu royal family, which were very noticeable on him, narrowed slightly.
His eyes suddenly flashed, and he stood up, holding the table.
"Alright. For the sake of the Great Zhou Dynasty's hundred-year reign, and for the people of the thirty-six counties, I will fight this battle even if it means death!"
He walked down and first helped up the white-haired Chi Zhan and Chi Qing, the second son of the Chi family who was beside him.
"Everyone, please stand up quickly. Since we are going to fight, I hope you will discuss the major plans with me!"
Liu Jian also realized that the prince was bound to break out, and Qin Feng commanded the guards in Yanjing City to be on guard at all times.
They naturally hoped that their chances of victory would be greatest when reinforcements from outside Yanjing arrived. However, Liu Ziling and his men were clearly not fools.
Qin Feng received Liu Jian's imperial edict and resumed his post as the nominal commander of the imperial guards and the central army. At this time, he was standing opposite the two sons of the Chi family outside the imperial city.
"Chi Qing! Your Chi family has received the royal grace of the Zhou Dynasty, yet today, you are committing such a rebellious act! Are you, the Chi family, worthy of the Holy Ancestor Emperor and the current emperor?"
How could Chi Qing listen to him? He was equally filled with indignation. "My Chi family has always been loyal to the Holy Ancestor Emperor and his bloodline, and to the foundation of the Great Zhou Dynasty! The current emperor is headstrong and self-righteous, and for years he has indulged in war, causing chaos among the people and leaving the Great Zhou Dynasty in ruins. The Chi family is dedicated to the Great Zhou, and my eldest brother Chi Mu has even led three expeditions, yet he has ended up dying unjustly in the northwest! How can the emperor explain this? Even a monarch should reflect on himself, but the emperor? Not only does he refuse to repent and admit his mistakes in governance, but now he is turning his father and son against each other!"
"We never intend to rebel, we simply want to protect the future wise ruler of the Great Zhou Dynasty and ask His Majesty to repent and mend his ways! If His Majesty can do so, we will withdraw our troops immediately!"
Qin Feng refused without a second thought and scolded: "You're dreaming!"
"As a subject, you fail to uphold the proper code of conduct for a subject and a son, and instead openly rebuke your sovereign! And you even dare to claim you're not a rebellious lunatic!"
Naturally, neither side could convince the other.
Chi Qing immediately gave an order: "Protect Da Zhou, protect the prince!"
Qin Feng also issued a military order: "Protect the emperor and wipe out all the rebels!"
A violent clash unfolded within the city of Yanjing, leaving the surrounding civilians terrified. This decisive battle within the capital was tantamount to close combat, a test of numbers and combat power.
Outside the tightly closed gates of Yanjing, another battle between the two sides broke out almost at the same time.
Chi Zhan personally guarded the city gate outside the city, fighting against Yu Hui, the captain of the second guard of the central army who was about to attack the city.
Although Yu Hui belonged to the Qin family, he did not want to get involved in the struggle for the throne and the royal family.
The emperor's actions over the years, as well as his three consecutive years of excessive military spending, which exhausted national and people's resources and resulted in the loss of soldiers and generals, still made him want to retreat.
However, just before Chi Zhan gained full control of the four city gates, Liu Jian sent a transfer order out of Yanjing to the Second Guard Camp of the Central Army, where Chi Zhan was stationed a hundred miles away, ordering him to enter the capital to defend the king.
His unit was the only remaining force guarding the capital. If he did not respond to the imperial edict at this time, he would be unable to explain himself afterwards.
But Chi Zhan was a founding general of the Great Zhou Dynasty whom he had always admired. During these confrontations, he hoped more than anyone else that the troops Liu Ziyan brought back from the border could return to the outskirts of Yanjing as soon as possible to rescue the capital.
In this way, he can retreat to the second line and no longer be caught in the middle.
Today has finally come the day when we have to go to battle, and Chi Zhan is leading the team personally. Yu Hui has no choice but to bite the bullet and order the soldiers to go to the battlefield.
Not only did he have no intention of confronting Chi Zhan with all his strength, his soldiers were also not much behind. How much combat power could such a passive army have?
In less than half a day, the Central Army's First Guard led by Chi Zhan ended the battle with almost no casualties on both sides.
Chi Zhan looked at Yu Hui, who was being escorted to his front by his soldiers, and asked him, "Have the soldiers of the Second Guard of the Central Army not been trained for a long time? They are so useless."
Yu Hui knelt on the ground, his hands tied behind his back. He looked up at Chi Zhan on his horse. After being asked this question, he actually chuckled: "Isn't it because General Chi, you are still as powerful as ever?"
"Tsk, what a playful smile." Chi Zhan looked at him coldly: "Take him back to the city and keep him under custody!"
"yes!"
After Yu Huiren was taken away, Chi Zhan did not stop for a moment and ordered his men to organize the troops and return to the camp to prepare to support Chi Qing and the prince in the city.
At this moment, a soldier from the army came to report.
"Report—"
Chi Zhan stopped his horse.
"General Chi, our army has received an urgent private letter from the Xiguan Marquis Mansion!"
Chi Zhan's white eyebrows twitched. "Xiguan Marquis Mansion? Who is the letter addressed to?"
"It's for General Chi! We've checked it out, and the envelope is safe. There's no poison or powder on it."
At this time, what kind of urgent letter would the Xiguan Marquisate, which is in the opposing camp with him, send to him?
"Give it to me."
The messenger handed over the letter in his hand.
Chi Zhan immediately opened the envelope and took out the letter inside.
When he saw the handwriting on the letter clearly, his eyes widened immediately!
this……
This is the handwriting of his son Chi Mu!
He couldn't wait to read on. The content of the letter was very simple. Chi Mu recounted the experience of his troops in the Eight Tribes, such as the frame-up by Liu Ziyan, the casualties of his troops, and how they were finally saved from annihilation thanks to the young Marquis of Xiguan who led his troops across the border to rescue them.
Finally, he told Chi Zhan not to worry about him, and that he would rush back to Yanjing as soon as possible to help the Chi family and the prince.
After reading this letter, the elderly Chi Zhan couldn't help but have his eyes cloudy.
Chi Mu is not dead! His son is still alive! This is really great...
Young Marquis Xiguan, she actually sent troops to rescue Chi Mu. She should have known that Crown Prince Liu Ziling would definitely not tolerate her in the future...
In the midst of the war, he temporarily suppressed these doubts.
Knowing his son was still alive, Chi Zhan felt even more resilient. He waved to the army, "Return immediately and support the Crown Prince!"
Prince's Mansion.
On the street outside the mansion, the second son of the Chi family and his men were guarding the line with all their might.
The palace's several gates were not easy to breach by force, and both sides were temporarily at a standstill.
However, the situation began to reverse significantly when Chi Zhan finished the battle outside the city and returned to provide support.
Along with Chi Zhan's return to the city, he also brought back a piece of news that excited everyone -
Chi Mu is not dead! He was rescued by the young Marquis of Xiguan and his troops, and is now recuperating in Xiguan!
The soldiers' morale soared. The prince's army, which was already in an advantageous position, made a concerted effort and tried its best to press towards Liu Jian's army led by Qin Feng from all directions.
Seeing that he was no match for his opponent, Qin Feng had no choice but to give an order and retreat to the palace.
The palace gates were opened and soldiers poured into the imperial city like a tide. A large number of soldiers who stayed behind did not have time to lock the palace gates and were blocked outside the imperial city.
The situation of the battle between the two sides and the news about Chi Mu were quickly sent back to the Prince's Mansion. At that time, Liu Ziling was sitting in the courtyard, the Crown Princess was holding her young son in her arms, and her younger brother Feng Ming was accompanying her.
In the courtyard, a pot of fresh tea was lit.
Outside the mansion gate, one could still hear faint shouts and cries of killing, but inside this room, it was completely quiet.
The soldiers were the first to report that they had gained the upper hand, had driven Qin Feng and others back into the imperial city, and had completely besieged the imperial city.
Liu Ziling was not surprised at all. He listened to the soldier calmly without any joy on his face.
He picked up the teapot with steam rising from it and raised his hand to refill the Crown Princess's empty teacup.
The soldier reported again: "General Chi received a personal letter from General Chi Mu. General Chi Mu is not dead. He and other soldiers were rescued by the young marquis of Xiguan and brought back to Xiguan to recuperate."
Feng Ming was the first to get restless: "The young Marquis of Xiguan saved General Chi?"
Liu Ziling was slightly stunned, the teacup overflowed, and the amber tea scattered all over the place.
The Crown Princess took the tea stove from Liu Ziling with one free hand, and the maid beside her hurriedly bowed and carefully wiped the tea off the table.
The soldier replied, "General Chi said that General Chi Mu's letter stated so. After his injury heals, he will lead his troops back to the capital immediately."
Feng Ming's eyebrows twisted into a big knot. He looked at the prince and then waved his hand and said, "I understand. You can go down."
After the soldiers left, Liu Ziling wiped his hands and said, "General Chi is still alive. This is a good thing."
Feng Ming disagreed, "But why did the one who saved him have to be that young Marquis of Xiguan, Liu Ziye! General Chi has received such a great favor from Liu Ziye. In the future, when Your Highness conquers Xiguan, will you still dare to appoint Chi Mu with confidence? Will the people of the Chi family still wholeheartedly help Your Highness to attack Xiguan? Sigh..."
He lowered his head: "General Chi, it would be better for him to die in the Eight Tribes..."
There was a crisp sound of "Snap".
Liu Ziling looked at him with a slightly cold expression: "Don't talk nonsense! Chi Mu and I have known each other since childhood, and I always believe him!"
Feng Ming quickly stood up and knelt to apologize: "I have spoken out of turn. Please punish me, Your Highness!"
The Crown Princess watched quietly without saying a word. She only ordered the maid to remove the broken teacup in front of the Crown Prince, clean it, and replace it with a new one.
After a moment, Liu Ziling suppressed his anger and waved towards Feng Ming, who was kneeling on the ground: "Forget it, get up. This won't happen again!"
"I understand. I will be careful with my words and actions from now on!"
The third day of the siege of the palace.
The southeast palace gate was finally breached. It was only a matter of time before the soldiers entered the palace, broke through the second palace gate, and went straight into Liu Jian's hall.
By the early morning of the fifth day, the 150,000 reinforcements had not yet arrived in Yanjing, but Liu Jian could no longer hold on.
On that day, the last line of defense of the palace gate was broken, and Qin Feng was captured alive, tied up and held on the green jade bricks outside the main hall of Chengde Palace where Emperor Liu Jian, Liu Ziyan's biological mother and the empress dowager were staying.
A lonely palace, surrounded by soldiers.
The battle situation was set. Liu Ziling put on light armor and walked slowly from the line of troops.
He stepped onto the stone steps in front of the temple.
The main door of the hall opened in response, and the guards protected the prince behind them.
Separated by several layers of guards, Liu Ziling and Liu Jian, who was sitting in the middle of the hall, faced each other from a distance.
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