Chapter 655

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“Prince Yan is dead! Prince Yan is dead!”

A guard protecting Prince Yan shouted out, and the other guards immediately looked at Prince Yan, who lay in a pool of blood. At this moment, all the guards lost their will to fight, and they fled in disarray.

And after the guards collapsed, the soldiers also lost their will to fight. Now that Prince Yan was dead, who would still be willing to fight for him?

Soon, the news of Prince Yan’s death spread throughout Yingzhou City with the scattered soldiers. Under the influence of this news, the Yan army fell into chaos.

Cui Shang’an keenly noticed the change in the Yan army. He immediately led his soldiers to launch a fierce attack. At this time, the already demoralized Yan army continuously retreated, and more and more Huainan army soldiers poured into the city.

While the Prince of Huainan attacked Yingzhou, Li San arrived in Bozhou. According to Xiao Ming’s plan, the Fourth Prince should also die as Yingzhou City fell.

After meeting with the heads of the Tian and Ji families in Bozhou, Li San brought up the matter of killing the Fourth Prince.

“Kill the Fourth Prince!” Tian Wen said, shocked.

Ji Tong, the head of the Ji family, also showed a surprised expression. He said, “Commander Li, is this truly His Imperial Majesty’s order?”

Li San’s eyes darted around. Killing the Fourth Prince was naturally Xiao Ming’s idea, but this matter could not be pinned on Xiao Ming. After all, fratricide was an unrighteous act, and in the future, it could even become a reason for attack.

So he said, “This matter can only be understood, not explicitly stated. However, if the two of you accomplish it, you will naturally please His Imperial Majesty. As for whether or not to do it, that’s up to you two.”

Tian Wen and Ji Tong exchanged glances. Both were intelligent men and understood Li San’s meaning.

“In that case, Commander Li, please allow us to discuss it,” Tian Wen said.

Li San nodded, “In that case, I won’t disturb you two.” With that, Li San turned and left.

At this point, Tian Wen said, “It seems this is His Imperial Majesty’s intention, but His Imperial Majesty does not wish to bear the crime of fratricide.”

“That’s right. However, if we kill the Fourth Prince, and His Imperial Majesty turns against us later, our fate might not be good either.”

“That’s true, but if we please His Imperial Majesty this way, the status of our two families will also be secured,” Tian Wen said with some anticipation.

Ji Tong pondered for a moment. He said, “However, I have a solution. Rashly killing the Fourth Prince is naturally a heinous crime, but if we charge the Fourth Prince with a crime, imprison him, and then he commits suicide in prison out of fear of punishment, wouldn’t that have nothing to do with us?”

“That’s right! Brother Ji is indeed brilliant! In that case, we will host a ‘Hong Gate Banquet’ for the Fourth Prince this noon,” Tian Wen chuckled.

Ji Tong also smiled at the same time.

At noon, the Fourth Prince arrived with his guards as arranged. Tian Wen had prepared a banquet in his mansion, waiting for him and his personal generals. In the side rooms on both sides of the main hall, Ji Tong led his private forces, awaiting Tian Wen’s signal of dropping a cup.

“Thank you for your kindness, Master Tian!” The Fourth Prince cupped his hands.

Tian Wen said kindly, “Your Royal Highness has been in Bozhou for over a year, and it is truly shameful that I have only now found time to invite Your Royal Highness and your generals for a banquet!”

“You’re too kind, Master. It is rather I who doesn’t understand the rules and didn’t visit first!” The Fourth Prince sat down directly. He was very happy, as he was about to become the new King of Yan.

After a pause, the Fourth Prince asked, “Master Tian invited us here to discuss the governance of Bozhou. I wonder what you wish to discuss?”

Everyone took their seats. Tian Wen said solemnly, “A few days ago, common people complained to me that quite a few fertile lands were forcibly seized by Your Royal Highness and incorporated into imperial estates. Moreover, Your Royal Highness also privately levied taxes on them. I wonder how Your Royal Highness explains this matter?”

The Fourth Prince’s expression instantly stiffened. The other household generals immediately fell silent, their faces filled with alarm.

He had indeed done this. To be frank, he didn’t trust Prince Yan or these powerful families in Bozhou. So, taking advantage of driving away Prince Yan, he seized land and levied taxes to fill his own treasury for conscription.

After all, for him, without a trustworthy army, he would always be a puppet of these powerful families. However, the land he seized belonged to King of Yan and the Crown Prince of Yan, as well as officials who had fled with them.

He had originally thought that the Tian family and the Ji family would turn a blind eye, but he never expected Tian Wen to bring this up now.

His eyes darted around, and the Fourth Prince said with a forced smile, “What do you mean, Master?”

“What do I mean? Your Royal Highness, the matter of Prince Yan has not yet been settled. It’s unknown whether you will be the King of Yan. At this time, it’s inappropriate for Your Royal Highness to seize land. After all, the land now rightfully belongs to His Imperial Majesty. As the Governor of Bozhou, I have no choice but to intervene.”

“Governor of Bozhou? Master, you jest. Since when did you become the Governor?” The Fourth Prince sneered repeatedly.

Tian Wen then took out the imperial decree that Li San had brought. He said, “This is an imperial decree. His Imperial Majesty has already appointed me as the Governor of Bozhou. As the Governor of Bozhou, I am responsible for managing His Imperial Majesty’s imperial property.”

The Fourth Prince was greatly alarmed. His eyes narrowed. Xiao Ming had enfeoffed Tian Wen but ignored him. He suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart, so he said, “Governor Tian, everything requires evidence. You can’t just convict me based on the nonsense of a few unruly common people!”

Tian Wen said coldly, “Then I will make you truly convinced. Men, bring the ledgers!”

As Tian Wen’s words fell, the door of the side room suddenly opened. Ji Tong, leading his private forces, rushed out and surrounded the Fourth Prince and his generals.

This scene made the Fourth Prince and his generals’ faces turn pale. He vaguely understood something. He sneered, “Xiao Ming is truly cunning. He has endured for so long, and now he is finally going to make his move on me.”

“Hmph, here’s the ledger that records all your crimes!” Tian Wen pointed to the ledger in his hand. “What else do you have to say?”

How could the Fourth Prince willingly surrender? Now that he had fallen into Tian Wen’s trap, he still maintained his composure: “Governor Tian, don’t forget, we are all ants on the same rope. Do you think His Imperial Majesty will spare you in the future? This imperial edict can make you Governor today, and take your life tomorrow. If that’s the case, why bother? If you and I work together, this state of Yan will still be ours to command. At that time, wealth and glory will naturally be enjoyed endlessly.”

“Ridiculous! Do you think your privately recruited forces can be a match for His Imperial Majesty? You’re playing a good game, but how could we collude with the likes of you!” Tian Wen said at this point, “Fourth Prince, your ambition is evident. Blame it on your greed. Not only do we know about this private recruitment of soldiers, but His Imperial Majesty also knows it perfectly well.”

With that, Ji Tong immediately had his private forces detain the Fourth Prince and his entourage and imprison them in the dungeon.

The next day, Li San received news that the Fourth Prince had committed suicide in prison out of fear of punishment.

At this, he immediately dispatched the Secret Guard to the dungeon to confirm. Indeed, as Tian Wen had said, he sneered twice. Tian Wen and Ji Tong were indeed old foxes.

Now that the Fourth Prince was dead, they only needed to eliminate Prince Yan and his son, and Yan would be pacified.