Chapter 560
There was a faint layer of smoke, strong stench of blood, and charred and horrifying scent everywhere . Jingdou had fallen into chaos . Other than around the Royal Palace, no one knew where else there was killing and murdering . The faintly heard sounds of killing did not come to a halt .
The Second Prince furrowed his brows and gazed at the indistinct images at the top of the Palace walls . Lowering his voice, he quietly said, "They won't be able to hold it . We'll see how long they can last . Aunt organized the matters around the perimeter of Jingdou, and all of the messengers have been killed . It is impossible for aid to come . Given Fan Xian's personality, how could he resist so bravely knowing this is futile? Usually, he would have run away a long time ago . "
Ye Zhong's armor was somewhat old . It shone with a dim light . This important Qing Kingdom military figure glanced at his son-in-law . His eyes flashed as he slowly said, "There are so many people in the Palace . How could he run?"
Anyone would have to admit that if Fan Xian, seeing that the situation was not good, led the Overwatch Council people in an escape, it would be difficult to dig him out again in Jingdou where hundreds of thousands of people lived, despite the number of soldiers under the Eldest Princess's command . Everyone acknowledged Fan Xian's power and skill in escaping .
Ye Zhong was silent for a moment and then said, "Since Fan Xian has not escaped, he must have something to rely on . "
The Second Prince's expression calmed . He had listened to his aunt's suggestion and temporarily hid his wild ambitions, standing behind the Crown Prince waving his flag and shouting . The note in his heart had been played countless times . It was only that the situation at hand was not yet settled, so he wouldn't do anything too crazy . Particularly in comparison to the Crown Prince, he was more afraid of Fan Xian's existence .
Fan Xian's attack on the Second Prince had not been purely physical . He had also done a great deal of psychological damage . The Second Prince took a deep breath and said, "Fan Xian always brings out his trump card when people least expect it . I never underestimate him…"
Ye Zhong suddenly and coldly cut across his words, "We cannot continue to conserve our strength . The Great Prince is leading thousands of imperial soldiers and guarding the Palace to the death with the Overwatch Council helping in secret . Their strength is already much more than we originally imagined . If strict orders are not given to Taiping Square and it is allowed to drag on, it could cause problems . "
The Second Prince slowly lowered his head and thought something over . This time, the Qin and Ye families had joined to form the rebel army to surround the Palace . In name, they all supported the Crown Prince's ascension . However, everyone knew, at least presently, that Dingzhou's Ye family belonged to him . Thus, the Ye family had not given their all in the numerous attacks since the morning . On Taiping Square, where the main attack was, they had also been particularly careful . They were worried they would suffer too much damage to their strength .
It was because of this that the rebel army's attacks appeared to be not connected enough . All of this made been implicitly consented to by the Second Prince .
Ye Zhong glanced at his son-in-law and said in a heavy voice, "I trust that Fan Xian had already noticed this . I think he will immediately use this to antagonize the relationship between you and the Crown Prince . I ask that you temporarily put aside your usual desires and first help the Crown Prince enter the Palace . "
The Second Prince took in a deep breath . A warm smile rose to his face . He nodded and said, "You are right . We cannot give Fan Xian any opportunities . The distrust between the Crown Prince and myself will only make the three brothers in the Palace happy . "
He turned his head to glance at Ye Zhong and said solemnly, "To have the Crown Prince and old Qin Master attack with an easy heart, I will go to the camp and ask if the Crown Prince has any orders . "
Ye Zhong furrowed his brows slightly . He knew the Second Prince was going to use himself as a hostage . He would use his safety to ensure the unity and will of the tens of thousands of rebel soldiers and not give Fan Xian any opportunity .
"Too dangerous," The Commander of the Dingzhou army slowly closed his eyes and said . "As the Deputy, I should go to the central camp to receive the military orders . I will take a few trusted soldiers with me . The Dingzhou army will be left to you to manage . As for matters concerning the attack on the Palace, there will be orders from the central camp . There won't be a situation where it will be difficult to send out military orders . "
The Second Prince said, with emotion and concern, "Father-in-law, be careful . "
…
…
Just as the Second Prince and Ye Zhong expected, Fan Xian saw that the Dingzhou troops were saving their strength . It was impossible for him to give up this opportunity to create division within their ranks . Standing on the Palace wall, he gazed in the direction of the rebel camp and once again began to call out to the Crown Prince .
At this time, the attacks at the foot of the walls were urgent . Drums sounded like thunder as the cries of killing rose up all around . Some of the rebel soldiers braved the dangers of arrows and rocks and began to climb toward the top of the wall . Even in such a tense moment and in such a brutal and dangerous environment, each of Fan Xian's words imprinted themselves clearly in the ears of all the rebel soldiers and generals of the Qin family .
He only called down to the bottom of the wall, "Old man Qin, you've lost so many people . Does it not hurt?"
Not one word mentioned the Ye family or Dingzhou army . Currently, bodies were spread out on the field . The charred remains of the rebel soldiers still emanated a vomiting-inducing smell . As long as one was not blind, one could see that in these waves of attack, the people who died were almost all soldiers of the Qin family or Jingdou Garrison . Dingzhou had not suffered many casualties .
After these words were said, the leaders in the central rebel camp paused . The Crown Prince laughed and said to the generals beside him, "Such juvenile attempt to create division . Only an idiot would believe it . "
Even a blind person could hear Fan Xian's intention in his public provocation . Only an idiot would fall into his trap and begin to guess at each other's intentions . Although the Crown Prince and Second Prince had fought bitterly in court in the past, after experiencing the Dongshan incident and under the Eldest Princess's light touch and powerful suppression, they had no choice but to be bound closely together . Both of the Li princes were not idiots . They knew that in the present situation, they had to maintain an appearance of unity and cooperation .
No matter how simple a plan, once it is turned into direct speech and falls into someone's ears, it will have some effect on their emotions, particularly on the generals under the old Qin Master . Although they knew what effect that Fan Xian wanted to achieve, they still couldn't help but feel a glimmer of rage . Up until now, the Qin family had carried out most of the attacking while the Dingzhou army basically stood and watched coldly from the side . How could the Qin generals feel good about this?
After he stole the banner back, Gong Dian had been standing two spaces beside the Crown Prince . At this time, his expression became unnatural as if he felt a sliver of remorse . Everyone had seen the Dingzhou army's actions and knew that Ye Zhong and the Second Prince must have their own agenda . Although it wouldn't have any major effect on the current matter, the Qin Family had to be angry .
The Crown Prince glanced warmly at Gong Dian and said, "Fan Xian already knows that he is out of options . That is why he would take such a useless action . As they say, if you face strange things fearlessly, they will lose their strangeness . There are only those people in the Palace . With my army already here, as long as we don't fall into chaos, we will eventually succeed . I hope everyone will work hard . "
"Yes, Your Highness . " The generals around him all bowed uniformly . They knew what the Crown Prince said was the right way . One should engage in battle in an orthodox way and win through unorthodox means . If the right way was magnanimous and powerful, what need was there for unorthodox means?
The Crown Prince managed to shatter Fan Xian's words . The generals began to go about their work . The Crown Prince said something to the old Qin Master in a low voice . At the same time, he turned his gaze toward the top of the wall .
Suddenly, a fast rider with a banner arrived and announced in a high voice before everyone's gazes, "Deputy Commander Ye Zhong is here to ask for the Crown Prince's orders . "
The Crown Prince's eyes lit up . To the side, the Old Qin Master suddenly opened his eyes wide . Cold light glinted within them, but he immediately calmed down . The main situation was already settled . The old Qin Master couldn't help but begin think of his only son, Qin Heng . Just what disaster had befallen him at Zhengyang Gate? Why had he still not returned? Although Ye Zhong had come abruptly, the old Qin Master was only slightly startled .
The old man guessed as to why Ye Zhong had come . He was not worried at all that Ye Zhong would steal any of the Qin family's military merit . What was known as "following the Emperor," the work the Qin family did to place the Crown Prince onto the throne was something impossible to ignore . As long as the Crown Prince took the throne and became Emperor, after the old Qin Master's death, there would still be at least decades of peace .
The Crown Prince's slight shock and surprise were because of other thoughts . He knew that Ye Zhong had come so that Fan Xian's words would not affect the major plan of calling on the soldiers . This show of respect to him and Ye Zhong's care toward the greater picture suggested a different light to the Crown Prince .
Fan Xian had placed the empress dowager and two others as idols at the top of the wall and had caused the Crown Prince and old Qin Master to engage in a vigorous conflict . In the end, the Crown Prince forcefully suppressed the ideas of the Qin generals . But, another idea grew in his heart—an idea Fan Xian wanted him to have .
A few days ago, the Crown Prince and empress dowager had discussed matters of death a number of times . They could never make up their minds as to whether or not to let the Qin family lead troops in Jingdou . They were afraid that in the future, the military would be a sole power . Seeing the situation now, the Crown Prince knew that in the end, he was not his father . His influence in the military was too weak . He had to find ways to equalize matters .
Ye Zhong's abrupt arrival gave the Crown Prince a sliver of hope . Ye Zhong was the Second Prince's father-in-law . Logically speaking, he should be the person the Crown Prince was most wary of . However, the Crown Prince did not believe the alliances in this world would continue on forever . Everything was related to loss and gain . It had nothing to do with feelings and family . He was the true Crown Prince and was about to take the throne . It would do the Ye family much more good to support him than the Second Prince .
He did not expect the Ye family would abruptly turn and support him . These were things that needed to be considered much later, but he had discovered their potential .
The Crown Prince thought bitterly in his heart as he looked at the group of people at the foot of the wall . They were all people who had turned against the Emperor and virtue . What was there that they wouldn't do?
Ye Zhong entered and bowed formally to the Crown Prince and reported the battle situation in Taiping Square . His trusted soldier had been kept away out of the camp . Although the Qin family would not guard against him, they would also not allow him to bring in his personal guards .
The old Qin Master narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded toward Ye Zhong in greeting . Ye Zhong's face was slightly dark . His expression was very composed .
…
…
The attack on the palace continued . Arrows flew in all directions . The sounds of killing never stopped . The Imperial Army was already showing clear signs of loss . However, the Palace walls were tall and strong, and the Palace gates were blocked with rocks and mud . It could still hold out .
Fan Xian narrowed his eyes as he watched the deaths happening in front of his eyes . No one knew how he felt in his heart . The Great Prince had already tidied his light armor and taken the sword at his waist down before accepting, from his personal guard, the long knife he used on the battlefield . He passed silently behind Fan Xian, who suddenly stretched out his hand and pulled on his arm . In a low voice, he said, "Let me go instead . "
"I admit that you are more powerful but leading soldiers in an attack is not the same as one person carrying out an assassination," the Great Prince furrowed his brows and said . "It is better if I did such things . You watch the top of the wall . I'm putting my mother's life in your hands . "
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login