Ever since Chen Zhennan was rescued by Song Yunyang, Zhou Xiang had people investigate his whereabouts. Unexpectedly, the commander took the initiative to send him a message.
The guard pointed to the door. "Your Highness, the messenger is waiting outside. He says he must deliver the letter to you personally, so what do you think?"
"Quickly, bring him in!"
The guard hurriedly turned around and led the messenger into the inner courtyard.
The messenger was a young man, who looked to be under twenty-five, but he was burly and had a resolute face, making him seem like a formidable figure.
"Greetings, King of Lingnan. I am Song Yunming, the younger brother of Marshal Song Yunyang of the Great Yan Dynasty. This is a letter from Marshal Chen. Please take a look."
Zhou Xiang nodded slightly, feigning indifference with a smile, and looked the younger brother of the Great Yan Marshal up and down.
"You say you are Song Yunming, how can you prove it? And you infiltrated Dawu, aren't you afraid I'll catch you and use you to blackmail Song Yunyang?"
As they spoke, Zhou Xiang took the letter, but did not open it in a hurry, keeping his eyes fixed on Song Yunming.
"This is a jade pendant that Marshal Chen gave me before I set off. It's something he kept close to his body. Can it prove my identity?"
Song Yunming took out the jade pendant from his pocket, and Zhou Xiang hurriedly reached out and snatched it, examining it carefully in his palm.
The jade pendant is pale yellow and crystal clear. The front is engraved with the character "义" (righteousness), symbolizing the righteous army. The back is engraved with the character "陈" (Chen), symbolizing the banner of Chen Zhennan's righteous army.
"General! Where is he now? Is he safe?"
Finally, Zhou Xiang revealed his worry, his eyes filled with anxiety.
"Your Highness, please rest assured. Marshal Chen is currently in the Great Yan Imperial Palace, and my sister is by his side, protecting his safety at all times."
Zhou Xiang breathed a sigh of relief; the weight that had been hanging over him was finally lifted.
Upon opening the envelope, the letter contained very simple words, just a few lines.
After reading Chen Zhennan's letter, Zhou Xiang had someone bring over a candlestick and burned the letter to ashes.
"Brother Song, I'll keep this jade pendant for now. Go back and tell the commander-in-chief that I know what to do. Tell him to rest assured and recuperate. I've already contacted the King of Bohai and the King of Chuyue. Success is assured!"
Song Yunming nodded slightly, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture of greeting.
"In that case, I will return to report. Farewell."
Zhou Xiang hummed in agreement, then waved to the guards beside him.
"Take men and escort this brother; make sure he leaves Dawu safely."
"Your subordinate obeys."
After seeing Song Yunming off, Zhou Xiang immediately ordered the gathering of the rebelling civilians, dispersing them into various county-level military camps, and conducting military training and management according to the methods previously employed by Chen Zhennan.
The effect of the incorporation was remarkable. In just two days, the Lingnan garrison, which originally numbered only 50,000, expanded to 90,000.
"Your Highness, now that the army has expanded to 90,000, if there is no war, the military pay will probably double."
Inside the Prince's residence, the quartermaster stood before Zhou Xiang, holding a thick register in his hand.
"I know that. There's no need to rush about the money. The court will send silver over in a few days."
Zhou Xiang's memorial made it very clear: he would do things for money. If Wu Yunyin still wanted to reduce the power of the princes, then Zhou Xiang would be the pioneer who would overthrow the Great Wu.
If Wu Yunyin sends military pay, then we'll have to go even further. After all, once we have the money, it's not up to Wu Yunyin to decide how to use it.
Just then, a voice suddenly came from outside the door: "King Zhou Xiang of Lingnan, come out and receive the imperial decree!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiang's eyes suddenly lit up, and he got up and led the quartermaster out of the inner courtyard.
Outside the door, the eunuch delivering the imperial edict was holding the edict in his hands, looking at Zhou Xiang with a serious expression.
"King of Lingnan, kneel down to receive the imperial decree."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiang glanced at the eunuch, who was probably in his thirties and had an arrogant and haughty demeanor that immediately aroused disgust.
"I am the Prince of Lingnan, personally appointed by the imperial court. I have the privilege of not kneeling before imperial decrees. Read them to me."
Upon hearing the imperial decree, the eunuch who delivered it showed anger on his face, but still maintained his imperious demeanor.
"Zhou Xiang, this is an imperial edict personally issued by His Majesty. There is no rule in this dynasty that one should not kneel before an imperial edict. Kneel down to receive the edict!"
Zhou Xiang sneered, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing the eunuch's eyes: "You eunuch, how dare you be so insolent before me? Guards, slap him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, two guards immediately stepped forward and began slapping the eunuch's cheeks forcefully from both sides.
Zhou Xiang reached out and took the imperial edict, and amidst the sound of slapping, he looked at the contents of the edict.
"You want me to advance immediately? Has Your Majesty not seen the memorial? Or do you not understand the meaning of 'being paid to do something'?"
After saying that, Zhou Xiang casually threw the imperial edict on the ground and then waved to the two guards.
"Stop fighting. Go back and tell the Emperor that three million taels is only the military pay for 50,000 troops. Now that our Lingnan army has expanded to 90,000, we need to pay more."
The eunuch's face was swollen and red from the beating, with clear handprints on both sides. His mind was still reeling from the shock.
"Then, how much more military pay does the King of Lingnan want? I will go back and tell the Emperor."
Seeing this, Zhou Xiang snorted coldly. This kind of person deserves a beating. He's a sycophant who only knows how to flatter and fawn. Zhou Xiang is not the kind of person who spoils children.
"Tell the Emperor that my army of 90,000 should have required 6 million taels of silver in military pay, but given the current national crisis, 5 million taels will suffice."
Although the number shocked the eunuch who delivered the decree, he had lost his arrogant attitude.
"I understand. The first payment of three million is on its way. Your Highness, please don't worry. I will go back and relay your words to the Emperor."
These words surprised Zhou Xiang. He hadn't expected Wu Yunyin to actually be able to provide military funds, which made the next steps of the plan a bit more difficult.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you, sir. Someone, go to the accounting office and get a thousand taels of silver. Please have some tea with me."
Upon hearing that it was a thousand taels of silver, the eunuch delivering the decree immediately put on a completely different face.
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness! Your Highness repays evil with kindness. We are just petty people who look down on others. I hope Your Highness will not take it to heart."
As the saying goes, one cannot hit a smiling face, so Zhou Xiang also showed a slight smile. The other person was so humbly thanking him, how could he keep a cold face?
"Don't worry, Father-in-law. Please put in a good word for me when you get back. I'll reward you handsomely next time you come. Go and collect your money."
The imperial eunuch followed the guards to the accounting office to collect the money, while Zhou Xiang wore a sinister smile.
"Wu Yunyin, you think you can avoid disaster by spending money? It's not that simple. If you don't force me to rebel, then I'll find another reason for you!"
The next day, the convoy carrying military funds arrived in Lingnan, with not a single tael of silver missing.
Zhou Xiang was naturally happy to see the piles of silver, but he turned around and posted notices in various counties of Lingnan, asking the families of those who died in the ambush set up by the imperial court to come to the Prince's Mansion to collect their pensions.
In the main hall of the palace, news of Zhou Xiang distributing pensions and demanding another two million taels of silver reached Wu Yunyin's ears.
"Issuing compensation? Zhou Xiang has some nerve! Is he trying to announce to the world that I am the traitor?"
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