C162. News from Prince Chen.

C162. News from Prince Chen.

Upon receiving the letter, Lü He immediately began mobilizing troops with great enthusiasm.

He knew Chu Hechao leading the troops to attack the Xiongnu in early spring was a confident move, especially with the assistance of the Wuhuan people. It was clear they were set on dealing a heavy blow to the Xiongnu.

Liangzhou was often under threat from barbarian tribes, so having the opportunity to share the credit and resolve their troubles by joining this campaign was something Lü He wouldn't pass up.

He promptly raised thirty thousand cavalrymen, preparing to join Chu Hechao in the military expedition.

Chu Hechao had the largest number of cavalrymen this time, a total of fifty thousand. As he organized the troops for the attack on the Xiongnu, the entire Wen Fiefdom, along with various departments in Youzhou, coordinated closely.

Every corner bustled with activity as supplies, weapons, clothing, soldiers, and laborers were all sent to the northern border. With a single command, countless individuals and resources converged from all directions, showcasing the imperial might of the empire.

On the second day of the second month of the seventh year of Zhou Yan, a total of one hundred thousand cavalrymen split into three groups and plunged deep into the grasslands, aiming to completely destroy the main Xiongnu forces.

Upon reaching the grasslands, Lü He discovered that Chu Hechao possessed a map of the Xiongnu royal court. Delighted, he felt reassured that his decision to follow Chu Hechao was the right one.

With the map in hand, the cavalrymen had clear objectives. Chu Hechao headed straight for the royal court, while Lü He and the Wuhuan people attacked the left and right noble tribes, sparking a fierce retaliation and massacre on the grasslands.

After Chu Hechao and his troops penetrated deep into the grasslands, communication with the rear was cut off.

Yuan Li, far away in Jizhou, couldn't anticipate the situation in the grasslands. While he knew the operation was almost assured of success, he couldn't help but worry.

As he patiently awaited news from the grasslands, unexpected information arrived from the South, from the Prince Chen.

In the study,

"What?" Liu Jixin exclaimed, "The Chen Prince has taken over Yizhou and Yuzhou? Those are territories of Qin Meng and Qin Pei."

Qin Meng and Qin Pei were members of the imperial family, they were the Emperor's uncles.

The shock was palpable among the others, and Guo Mao hurriedly asked, "Zhao Daren, when did the Princr Chen take control of these two provinces?"

Standing in the center of the crowd, Zhao Ying, who had just rushed over from the grain department, wiped the sweat from his forehead and explained, "Last July, the Prince Chen accused Qin Meng and Qin Pei of showing disrespect to the Emperor and wanting to crown other descendants of the Qin family as emperors. As a result, he sent troops to attack Yizhou and Yuzhou, eventually capturing these two provinces by the end of last year. The Emperor ordered Qin Meng, Qin Pei, and their descendants to be demoted to commoners and imprisoned in the dungeons."

"The Emperor is confused," Jian Shaoning coldly thought to himself, witnessing the Qin family's internal strife, as a man who loathed the court, he felt a sense of satisfaction, "He killed his own people, and there will never be a governor named Qin in the world again."

Softly, Yuan Li commented, "Even if the Emperor isn't confused, the Prince Chen already holds the two provinces in his hands. Even if the Emperor is aware of the Prince Chen's ambitions, he has to act in self-defense."

Inside the room, a few individuals let out a sigh.

The fragrance of tea wafted gently through the air. This tea was a high-quality tea from Bingzhou, with a refreshing aroma that lifted the spirits. Although the mood of those present was heavy, the pleasant scent helped maintain a sense of composure.

Ever since they learned that the Chen Prince had taken the Emperor away, they had anticipated this day.

Using the Emperor's name to subdue "disloyalty" was indeed a clever tactic. It seemed that their lord becoming a prominent figure in the Wen Fiefdom had provoked the Chen Prince.

Although they felt tense, it was only for a moment, and they didn't harbor excessive worries.

As subordinates of Yuan Li, they found reassurance in his leadership. With the three northern provinces all under one banner and their lord's power reaching new heights, they felt no fear even if confronted by the Chen Prince.

Even if the Chen Prince wanted to incriminate them using the Emperor's authority, Yuan Li and Chu Hechao were widely recognized as loyal subjects. Furthermore, with Chu Hechao currently engaged in the campaign against the Xiongnu, genuinely serving the country and the people, the Chen Prince's leverage with the Emperor held no sway over them.

Though the Chen Prince presented a challenge, they were not afraid to confront him. However, the aggressive nature of his approach, targetting the imperial family's royal relatives first, was a departure from his usual style, leaving them surprised.

"Our lord is currently formidable, possessing ample provisions and tens of thousands of troops, along with the five-year Luo River alliance with the Chen Prince. Although the actions of the Chen Prince in the South do not immediately affect us, we must remain vigilant, or else in five years..." Zhou Gongdan began cautiously, "If the Chen Prince successfully unites the South, he will become a formidable adversary for us. The realm will be divided, and the Chen Prince will control the wealthiest regions."

Currently, the only person who could rival Yuan Li and Chu Hechao in the realm was the Chen Prince.

Taking a moment to contemplate, Yuan Li instructed, "Bring the map."

Lin Tian quickly brought the map and laid it out on the table.

Yuan Li gathered the others around and pointed to the locations of Yangzhou, Yizhou, and Yuzhou on the map, stating, "These three provinces controlled by the Chen Prince encircle Jingzhou. Once the Chen Prince firmly controls Yizhou and Yuzhou, his next target will likely be Jingzhou."

The group around the map nodded in agreement, and Xiang Hongyun, after studying it for a moment, suggested, "The top scholar in the imperial examinations is a member of the Wang family from Jingzhou. The Wangs have connections with the Jingzhou Governor Jiang Liang by marriage, why not summon the top scholar to inquire about the current situation in Jingzhou?"

Yuan Li nodded and called for Wang Qianzhi.

When Wang Qianzhi was nervously and hesitantly summoned from the Political Affairs Hall, he entered without looking around and bowed respectfully to Yuan Li. It was only when Yuan Li inquired about Jingzhou that he realized the purpose, and he replied, "Your Excellency, my family recently sent a letter indicating they are considering relocating to Jizhou due to the precarious situation in Jingzhou."

Though his words were delicate, everyone present understood the gravity of the situation. If the prominent and established families of Jingzhou were considering moving, the situation in Jingzhou must truly be dire.

After Wang Qianzhi shared this information, he took a deep breath and asked, "Your Excellency, your reputation for benevolence is known throughout the land. I wonder if you could extend aid to help Jingzhou avoid the Chen Prince's military campaign?"

The strategists exchanged glances, and Xiang Hongyun, formerly a follower of Qin Pei in Yizhou, was well-versed in the local officials, nobles, and powerful figures of the surrounding provinces. He also had some understanding of Jiang Liang's temperament.

With a flicker in his eyes, he calmly said, "The lord will only assist Jingzhou if he is willing to do so. However, the lord once made a blood oath with the Chen Prince through the Luo River alliance, agreeing not to interfere in each other's internal affairs or use military force against each other for five years. If either party violates this pact, they will be abandoned by the world."

Wang Qianzhi's heart sank, revealing a hint of disappointment on his face. Still, he followed protocol and respectfully apologized, "I have been impetuous."

Xiang Hongyun glanced at him, then casually remarked, "If the Chen Prince breaches the Luo River alliance first, the lord will have no reservations. What do you think, my lord?"

Yuan Li glanced at Xiang Hongyun, then at Wang Qianzhi, and cryptically said, "Yes. Unless the Chen Prince actively engages against me, I will have reason to mobilize against him."

Wang Qianzhi, with his keen wit, quickly understood the implications of Xiang Hongyun and Yuan Li's words.

If Jiang Liang pledged allegiance to Yuan Li, then Jingzhou would belong to Yuan Li. If the Chen Prince attacked Jingzhou, it would be akin to attacking Yuan Li, giving Yuan Li the right to defend Jingzhou openly.

Wang Qianzhi found the situation difficult to navigate.

As a person from Jingzhou, he did not want to see his homeland ravaged by war. But would Jiang Liang truly be willing to join forces with Yuan Li?

Various thoughts raced through his mind, weighing the pros and cons of aligning with Yuan Li. Soon, Wang Qianzhi realized he had no choice in the matter.

Jingzhou would either fall to the Chen Prince's forces or seek refuge under Yuan Li's protection. If Wang Qianzhi were Jiang Liang, he would choose the latter option, as aligning with Yuan Li could at least secure his position as the Governor of Jingzhou and ensure stability in the region.

Yuan Li was known for his benevolence, and Wang Qianzhi had observed his care for his subordinates and the people of the realm during his short time in Wen Fiefdom. With the realm already showing signs of division, all provincial governors would eventually have to choose sides.

Sooner or later, they would have to align themselves, and Wang Qianzhi believed it was better to ally with Yuan Li sooner rather than later, compared to the Chen Prince.

Steeling himself, Wang Qianzhi made a resolute decision, "I understand the difficulties facing my lord. Tonight, I will write a letter to send back to Jingzhou, seeking the protection of my lord."

After speaking, Wang Qianzhi did not delay and took his leave with a discerning look.

Watching his departing figure, Xiang Hongyun pondered for a moment, then took a few steps forward to bow to Yuan Li, saying, "My lord, I fear that Wang Qianzhi's letters may not sway Governor Jiang. I have had some past interactions with Governor Jiang and ask for your permission to go to Jingzhou as a mediator."

Seeing Xiang Hongyun's confident demeanor, Yuan Li didn't hesitate long before nodding in agreement. He smiled and said, "Then I leave this matter in your hands, but remember to prioritize your own safety."

With that, he assigned a thousand elite cavalrymen to Xiang Hongyun's command.

This gesture of favor was evident to all, and Xiang Hongyun, who rarely smiled, bowed in gratitude.

Once the discussion was over, the officials withdrew.

As soon as they were out, the group gathered around Xiang Hongyun. "You're usually so quiet," remarked Jian Shaoning curiously, "why are you so proactive today?"

"If I don't take the initiative, I'm afraid the Lord will forget about me," Xiang Hongyun replied calmly. "It happens that I have an old acquaintance with Jiang Biao, so I'm the only one who can handle this matter."

Liu Jixin joked from the side, "What if Master Xiang succeeds in this mission and surpasses us? What will we do?"

Guo Mao pretended to ponder for a moment before smiling subtly. "The Lord has always favored me," he said. "I believe that even if Master Xiang distinguishes himself, the Lord will not forget me."

Zhou Gongdan found this amusing and enthusiastically approached. "The Lord loves to drink wine with me the most," he said. "When I drink with him next time, I'll ask him who he favors and values more, how about that?"

As soon as he said this, he was met with glares from the others, their smiles not reaching their eyes.

Are you the only one the Lord calls to drink with him?

Five days later, Xiang Hongyun and Wang Qianzhi set off from Jizhou under the escort of a thousand cavalrymen.

By this time, it had been more than a month since Chu Hechao and his men had ventured into the grasslands. Yuan Li remained outwardly calm, seemingly confident, but in reality, he was anxiously awaiting news from the grasslands, his lips chapped from constant worry.

In the midst of his anxious wait, a large herd of cattle, sheep, and horses was suddenly brought to Yexian in early April.