Chapter 88: Killing Two Birds with One Stone

Chapter 88: Killing Two Birds with One Stone

“The Emperor’s backstabbing?” Xiao Ce asked with confusion.

“Uncle Zhong, I haven’t had a chance to ask you yet. After we left, did anyone come to assassinate us? Since I charged all the way directly here, even those Northern Desert people didn’t have time to react. Let alone those people in the Capital?”

Lin Zhong nodded and looked around.

He subconsciously glanced at Yin Pan’er, who was beside Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce said to Lin Zhong: “Uncle Zhong, Pan’er is one of us. Currently, she is helping to manage all nine cities in this region! She can be trusted!”

Warmth filled Yin Pan’er’s heart. She saw Lin Zhong was still somewhat cautious and had no intention to speak.

This woman Yin Pan’er was very clever. She understood Xiao Ce’s attitude.

Whether she heard what Lin Zhong was about to say or not was not very important to Lin Zhong anymore!

“Prince, I will go and instruct them to definitely bring out the best wine, the best dishes, and the best meat!”

With that, she left.

Xiao Ce watched Yin Pan’er leave and felt very satisfied. This Yin Pan’er was not only beautiful but also smart.

She truly pleased him very much.

Seeing Yin Pan’er leave, Xiao Ce said to Lin Zhong: “Uncle Zhong, now can you speak?”

Lin Zhong cupped his hands and bowed: “Prince, please forgive my offense, but this matter is truly of great importance…”

As he spoke, Lin Zhong began. Before Xiao Ce left, they indeed suffered several attacks.

However, all ended in failure.

Later, they seemed to have learned that the main target was not there, and no one came to ambush them anymore.

Their journey was also very peaceful. Just before they passed through Yanmen Pass, they received a Pigeon Post from the Prince of Zhenguo, Xiao Dingshan. When they reached a city in the middle, another fast horse was sent with a message.”

The Prince of Zhenguo heard that the Emperor and his people learned of Bao An’s death. The Emperor was furious and summoned some of his ministers overnight to discuss it.

It was said they had already devised a plan to deal with you.

The Prince of Zhenguo inquired for a long time, but only learned a little. It was said they planned to use the Disaster Victims to cause trouble. He also heard they had already dispatched twenty thousand troops towards Maoming City, the city situated outside Yanmen Pass at the border between the Central Plains Hinterland and the Northern Desert.

After listening to Lin Zhong’s words, Xiao Ce wore a slightly puzzled expression: “Use the Disaster Victims to cause trouble! Now this Prince has soldiers if needed, money if needed, and people if needed! They still think they can control this Prince? This is the Northern Desert, not the Capital anymore! If they push this Prince too far, this Prince will just establish a kingdom right here, so what?”

Lin Zhong nodded and said: “That is indeed the case, Prince. I also cannot think of any other methods they might have? However, what is the purpose of them sending troops?”

Xiao Ce said with a smile: “Uncle Zhong, don’t worry too much… There’s no need to fear. If soldiers come, generals will block them; if water comes, earth will cover it! After their twenty thousand troops arrive, we will defend Yanmen Pass. It won’t be easy for them to capture it! By the way, since you have all arrived, the Disaster Victims should have mostly arrived as well.”

Lin Zhong nodded and said: “The last large group of Disaster Victims came with us!”

Xiao Ce nodded and said: “Uncle Zhong, don’t worry! Everything here is under control! However, I am worried about Royal Uncle in the Capital. If you can send a letter, tell Royal Uncle to be careful over there. That Dog Emperor is inhuman! Tell him to find a way to leave there if he can.”

Seeing Xiao Ce speak like this, Lin Zhong quickly cupped his hands and said: “Prince, please be cautious with your words! No matter what, he is your Imperial Father.”

Xiao Ce spat: “If he acted like a decent human being and treated me as a son, I would still acknowledge him as a nominal father. But look at the things he has done. I thought he had finally found his conscience and wouldn’t come after me anymore. Turns out he was just waiting for an opportunity? Let me see how many dirty tricks they really have!”

Seeing Lin Zhong’s worried expression, Xiao Ce comforted him: “Uncle Zhong, just rest assured completely. With the Emperor and his dog-brained followers combined, they are no match for this Prince to play with.”

Lin Zhong looked at Xiao Ce’s confident expression and felt relieved.

Having witnessed Xiao Ce’s capabilities throughout their journey, his expression softened a bit.

…

In the Capital, inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Xiao Dingbang sneezed twice while sitting on the dragon throne. Beside him, Consort Hui wore an unpleasant expression.

She said with concern: “Your Majesty, are you alright?”

Xiao Dingbang waved his hand: “It’s nothing! Are you here because there’s news from the Northern Desert region?”

Xiao Yang said with a grim face: “Reporting to Imperial Father, yes. The spies I stationed outside Yanmen Pass sent a Pigeon Post! An army of sixty thousand has crossed Yanmen Pass and entered the Northern Desert Region! All three hundred and thirty thousand Disaster Victims have already crossed over!”

Xiao Dingbang said with a stern expression: “Good! Then we can close the net now! That waste must be feeling smug and self-satisfied! If I hadn’t let him off once, could he have accomplished all this so smoothly?”

Consort Hui knelt to the side and said to Xiao Dingbang: “Your Majesty, you must capture him alive! Flay him a thousand times! My brother fought a bloody battle in the Northern Desert, draining his heart’s blood against the people of the Turkic Kingdom. Who would have thought that waste would behead him on charges of rebellion! He even threatened the officials there to jointly submit a memorial. This is a challenge to Your Majesty!”

Xiao Yang also knelt: “Yes, Imperial Father. Xiao Ce must have done it on purpose! He thinks after going to the Northern Desert, it’s far from the mountain and remote from the Emperor, and Imperial Father can’t deal with him anymore! The first thing he did after arriving was kill Your Son’s maternal uncle! He is coming after Your Son! He is also coming after Imperial Father!”

Previously, Xiao Ce, together with all the officials and Noble Clans in the Northern Desert, sent a memorial to the Emperor, stating that Bao An colluded with the enemy and committed treason, and to appease the people’s hearts, he was beheaded.

This memorial had both witnesses and material evidence. It made Xiao Dingbang suffer a loss he couldn’t speak of again!

However, Xiao Dingbang believed it was all fabricated by Xiao Ce! He thought Xiao Ce was challenging him.

Xiao Dingbang listened and nodded: “Don’t worry. I am not foolish. After General Bao An went to the Northern Desert Region, the Northern Desert never lost an inch of land. How could I not know his merits? Before, wasn’t I just waiting for them to move all the Disaster Victims over?”

Then Xiao Dingbang called over a nearby Eunuch: “Draft an edict!”

“Posthumously confer the title of Marquis of Zhenbei upon Marshal Bao An, hereditary in perpetuity!”

“Due to the influx of a large number of unregistered Disaster Victims into the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, for the stability of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures! Command General Xing Daorong to lead troops, twenty thousand strong, to garrison Maoming City and guard crucial routes! No one is permitted to enter or leave the territory of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures!”

“Then send my secret letter to the Noble Clans of the Northern Desert. Tell them to gather evidence of Xiao Ce’s rebellion. Whoever obtains evidence, I grant them the authority to execute a prince. Whoever kills the Rebel King Xiao Ce with evidence, I will appoint them as the ruler of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures!”

Xiao Dingbang issued three Imperial Edicts in succession. This was what they had discussed.

The first edict aimed to tell the world that Bao An was not a traitorous general as Xiao Ce claimed.

The second edict: The Emperor knew Xiao Ce was trading with Central Plains merchants using Immortal-grade goods like Tianshan frost sugar and Fine Salt. By firmly guarding Maoming City and cutting off Xiao Ce’s escape route, Xiao Ce in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures would be like a trapped beast. Remember, Xiao Ce also brought three hundred thousand starving Disaster Victims. Without a steady supply of food, in less than a week, they would surely revolt.

The third edict: They wanted to use the hands of the Noble Clans in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures to eliminate Xiao Ce! With the rule of the Northern Desert as the reward, those Noble Clans would definitely respond.

Consort Hui reminded: “Your Majesty, wasn’t it to capture him alive?”

Xiao Dingbang shook his head: “They can flay him a thousand times while he is in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures. You must know the Prince of Zhenguo still holds considerable prestige in the army. If he insists on protecting him, I fear complications might arise again. It’s better to kill him directly in the Northern Desert Region. By the time he finds out, what’s done cannot be undone, and he will be powerless.”

Xiao Yang reminded: “Imperial Father, they must interrogate him to reveal the location of the Immortal Mountain. If we can obtain the Immortal Mountain’s location and control it ourselves, it would certainly become another major source of financial revenue for the Xiao Kingdom.”

Xiao Dingbang nodded: “Correct! Hmph… That waste is quite lucky. He actually managed to befriend some Immortal.”

Consort Hui said from the side: “Your Majesty, your humble consort believes his talk of an Immortal is just an excuse. If he possessed such things before, he would have revealed them long ago. The people we had monitoring him before never heard of it… Clearly, he only obtained them just before leaving!”

Xiao Dingbang’s expression shifted slightly: “My beloved Consort, are you suggesting the Prince of Zhenguo gave them to him?”

Consort Hui nodded: “Correct. The Prince of Zhenguo has been fighting battles north and south all these years, traversing every inch of the Xiao Kingdom’s land. Clearly, they privately discovered this Immortal’s cave dwelling and hid it! For their own use! This explains why we never heard of such things before. As soon as Xiao Ce left, these things appeared.”

Xiao Yang, seeing the changing expressions on Xiao Dingbang’s face, continued: “Yes… Imperial Father. Moreover, Your Son heard they were recruiting soldiers among the Disaster Victims under a good name, but according to reports from spies, those troops are all high-spirited and vigorous, moving in unison. They don’t seem like new recruits at all, but rather like seasoned veterans trained for many years!”

“And there are rumors saying those troops are all old soldiers privately hidden by the Eighth Imperial Uncle!”

Hearing this, a flash of coldness appeared in Xiao Dingbang’s eyes: “Quickly investigate this news. If we can obtain solid evidence, this time I can not only eliminate that waste Xiao Ce but also pull out that thorn in my side, Xiao Dingshan! That would truly be killing two birds with one stone!”

Xiao Yang cupped his hands and said: “Imperial Father, actually it’s quite simple! Once we capture that waste, then make him write a confession. Wouldn’t that suffice to confirm the Eighth Imperial Uncle’s crime? Know that secretly hoarding troops is a crime punishable by being torn apart by chariots!”

A flicker of excitement flashed in Xiao Dingbang’s eyes: “Would that waste confess?”

Xiao Yang said: “Imperial Father, do you really believe it was his own ability that allowed Xiao Ce to reach the Northern Desert Region unscathed? He is a waste known to all. The reason for his smooth journey this time was all because the Eighth Imperial Uncle’s Confidant, Lin Zhong, accompanied him, wasn’t it?”

“Lin Zhong taught him along the way, and with the Eighth Imperial Uncle’s protection, he was able to remain safe and sound. Now that we cut off their supply route for provisions, they will surely fall into chaos! That waste is as timid as a mouse. Once captured by the Noble Clans’ people, he will likely be scared out of his wits even before any torture is applied.”

“Your Son knows that waste inside out. At that time, let alone making him betray the Eighth Imperial Uncle, we can make him say whatever we want him to say!”

Xiao Dingbang nodded with satisfaction: “Then you hurry and give the orders. If you can succeed in removing both that waste Xiao Ce and Xiao Dingshan this time, you will have the foremost merit! Once that waste Xiao Ce and that stubborn old Eighth are dead, I can openly appoint you as the Crown Prince, and no one in the court will dare to object!”