The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 433: Wind Rises in Xiaoxiang
On the ninth day of the first lunar month, Changsha was immersed in the damp and cold dusk. Fine snowflakes were carried by the north wind, rustling against the eaves of the solemn palace of the King of Chu. The charcoal fire in the palace burned very vigorously, but it could not dispel the strong smell of medicine and decay. The heavy curtains hung low, blocking the wind and snow, and also blocking the vitality.

On the sickbed, the King of Chu, Ma Yin, looked emaciated. His cloudy eyeballs occasionally moved in his sunken eye sockets, and every breath he took was accompanied by a bellows-like whine from deep in his chest. His skinny body under the brocade quilt rose and fell slightly, as if he would run out of his last bit of strength at any moment.

Kneeling in front of the couch was his second son, Ma Xisheng, who had his lips tightly pursed, his face pale, and his hands tightly clenched in his father's cold and withered hands.

Among the four people surrounding the couch, there was Gao Yu, the governor of Tanzhou, who was known as Ma Yin's adviser, with a frown on his face; Xu Dexun, the governor of Yuezhou, had a solemn expression; Qin Yanhui, the acting Taifu, had sharp eyes and glanced around; and Tuoba Heng, the Minister of Public Service, stood silently with a sad face.

The hall was dead silent, with only Ma Yin's labored breathing and the occasional crackling of the stove, which was more suffocating than the wind and snow outside the window.

A heart-wrenching cough suddenly broke the silence, and Ma Yin's skinny body arched violently. Ma Xisheng hurriedly stood up and tremblingly patted his back to help him breathe.

After a short break from coughing, Ma Yin leaned back weakly on the pillow, breathing heavily, but his eyes were fixed on the void, with deep regret: "Regret...regret that I should have done that..." His voice was hoarse, "Nanping...Panyu...I was about to pacify Jingnan and rule Jinghu. If Xiao Yan hadn't intervened, how could we have the situation today?" He clenched his skinny hands suddenly, veins popping out, "At that time, he was just a Jinghu Transport Envoy of the Liang Dynasty. If I were ruthless, I might have strangled him in Changsha..."

"What a shame... What a shame. I thought he was young and full of vigor, but I didn't expect... In just one year, he has become so powerful?" Ma Yin's voice trembled slightly, "Shu and Qi... are all in his hands. Now he is holding the emperor hostage to control the princes, and no one in the world dares to confront him... This Liang thief!" He turned his eyes suddenly to Ma Xisheng, and grabbed his son's wrist with his dry hand. With amazing strength, his eyes burst out with the last sharpness: "You want me to hand over my son? Don't even think about it! Unless you step over my dead body! What did my son do wrong?"

"Father..." Ma Xisheng's eyes were red.

"Your Majesty." Xu Dexun spoke in a deep voice, breaking the grief and anger. "I command the navy, and I know the advantages of Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River. I am not necessarily afraid of the Liang army." He suddenly changed the subject, his tone solemn, "However, the King of Qin now owns Shu and Kuizhou, and is in a high position, which naturally suppresses me. The Yangtze River is a natural barrier, and we cannot blindly trust it. The navy may be able to stop it for a while with the advantage of the terrain, but how can we resist it on land? Without the advantage of the navy, how can our Chu army be a match for the Liang imperial army on land? The national strength of Chu is far inferior to that of the Liang Dynasty. Once the war starts, if Dongting Lake is lost, Changsha City will fall in just a few months."

The cold reality made everyone in the hall feel depressed.

Gao Yu twirled his beard and let out a long sigh: "Your Majesty's love for your son is something that I feel for you. However, if we refuse to obey the imperial edict, we will be giving the King of Qin a handle to march south. I'm afraid that the prosperity of Hunan will be overturned..."

"How about forming an alliance to protect ourselves?" Tuoba Heng whispered.

"Alliance? It's just a mirage..."

Gao Yu shook his head. "Wu Wang Yang Wo has great ambitions but little talent. With Xu Wen manipulating power at home and powerful neighbors surrounding him, he has no time to take care of himself. How could he be willing to help Chu and provoke the powerful Qin Wang for no reason?"

"Qian Liu of Wuyue? He is the most indecisive person. He knows how to protect the territory and the people. He only wants to continue the Qian family's foundation in the cracks. He will definitely not be willing to offend Bianliang for the Chu State."

"Does the King of Min know this? He owns the land of eight Fujian provinces, and although he seems to be in a safe corner, he is actually walking on thin ice. The land is small and the population is few, and he relies entirely on maritime trade. Moreover, he borders Wu Yue and Wu State, and he is most afraid of getting into trouble. This person is mature and prudent, and he only wants to play along between the King of Qin and Jiangnan, and be a peaceful princess. How could he stand up for us Chu? He is just a frightened bird."

"As for the Nanping Liu Yin brothers, after the battle of Panyu, they were already frightened by His Royal Highness the King of Qin and were not even willing to submit to him. They even regarded our Great Chu as their enemy who wanted to seize their Lingnan foundation. How could they have the idea of ​​forming an alliance?"

He looked around at everyone, his eyes fell on Ma Yin's face: "Even if we can barely form an alliance, we all have our own ulterior motives, and it's hard to make it solid, and we may even invite a wolf into the house. And the most important thing is, even if we resist, how will Xiao Yan respond?" He said word by word, "He will immediately support the prince, or even send troops to help him succeed to the throne..."

"This is not difficult to predict. Years ago, Xiao Yan had already issued an edict to establish the crown prince," Tuoba Heng continued, pulling his beard and sighing, "If the king openly disobeys now and refuses to hand over the second son, the King of Qin only needs to issue an edict to depose the second son and establish the crown prince, and then march south in the name of 'helping Chu to quell the rebellion'. By then, will Chu still be the king's Chu? It will be the fish on the chopping board of the King of Qin, and the stepping stone for the crown prince to cling to him, and Chu will exist in name only."

After saying this, he turned to Ma Yin and said bluntly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being blunt, but even if it were you, would you dare to depose the crown prince appointed by the King of Qin?"

This question made Ma Yin's face turn pale as paper in an instant.

The hall was once again dead silent, with only Ma Yin's heavy breathing. The former hero seemed to have been drained of his energy and spirit, and collapsed on the couch, tears running down his wrinkled cheeks.

"Has God doomed Chu?" He murmured, his voice full of despair. "I... I can't even protect my own son and my own foundation? Xiao Yan... What a cruel method! He is obviously my son, but now he has become a sword hanging over my head. I can't even touch him! Ma Xiyue, this rebellious son, I..."

He was speechless after all, looking at Ma Xisheng, his eyes full of pain and guilt: "My son Xisheng, father... father is incompetent!"

Ma Xisheng raised his head, choking with tears, but his voice was clear: "Father is so seriously ill, and he is dying. As a son, how can I leave his side at this time? This is not the way of a son. I... can't bear it! I beg you, father, to allow me to serve you medicine until your father's body is better..."

Gao Yu sighed, "Second Master cannot go to Bianliang. How can we repeat the old story of King Huai of Chu entering Qin?" He gathered his sleeves and pondered, "However, the King of Qin's edict is as heavy as a mountain and cannot be openly disobeyed. For now, there is only one plan: immediately select an important official as a special envoy, bring the sincere heart of our Chu State and rich tribute, and rush to Bianliang overnight."

"The envoy must be in a high position and have great power, and must show sincerity." Gao Yu looked at Tuoba Heng beside him, "Prime Minister Tuoba is mature and prudent, and has a great reputation. I think it is most appropriate for Tuoba to be the envoy."

Everyone looked at Tuoba Heng, who also said nothing, just twirled his beard and nodded.

Gao Yu then continued, "When the envoy meets the King of Qin or the Emperor of Liang, he should cry and make three statements. First, the king is critically ill. The imperial physician said that he would not survive for one day or two. This is not false. The imperial physician's order and the pulse record jointly signed by the famous doctors in Changsha can be attached as evidence. Second, as a son, the second son feels heartbroken. He serves soup and medicine by the bed day and night. He really cannot bear to be away from his father when he is dying. This is the most sincere human relationship. I beg the superior country to sympathize. Third, the Chu State is loyal to the Liang family and has no second thoughts. We are willing to offer three times the annual tribute, and we beg the King of Qin to postpone the deadline. When the king's condition improves, or... after the funeral is taken care of, the second son will come to the court to thank God for his grace."

Ma Xisheng, who was standing by, also clenched his fist and said, "The tribute must be extremely generous. I am willing to spend all my private savings to buy gold, pearls, jade, silk, rare treasures, Hunan tea and brocade... I must let Bianliang see the 'sincere fear' of our Chu State."

Gao Yu's eyes flashed with approval, and then he became more serious: "This is an open plot. On the surface, our Chu is extremely submissive, filial piety is evident, and tribute is heavy. Even if the King of Qin sees through our intention to delay, in the eyes of the world, our Chu has done its utmost. If he sends troops immediately, he will be inferior in morality. At least... it can buy time for the envoys to travel back and forth to Bianliang, so that the King of Qin can weigh the matter."

Xu Dexun nodded in agreement: "Okay. No matter how rich the tribute is, it cannot compare to the country. If it can buy a few months, the navy can step up its defense and the food and fodder can be transported more quickly."

Qin Yanhui, who had been silent the whole time, said in a deep voice: "This plan can only delay for a while. Who is Xiao Yan? He dared to force Zhu Wen to abdicate at the age of twenty. How could he be moved by money and tears? If he is determined to get the person, the army may arrive right after the envoy leaves. However... after all, something is better than nothing. It is indeed the only thing we can do now."

He turned his gaze to Ma Yin and said, "Your Majesty, I, Governor Xu, Generals Li Qiong and Wang Huan, are fortunate enough to be called the Tiger Ministers of the Great Chu, and we are barely able to be called the pillars of the country. At this moment, I can only make the worst plan. Now, Li Qiong leads the Jingjiang Army to Guizhou to defend the southwest, and Wang Huan controls Yuezhou, Langzhou, and Dongting. I request that you quickly summon General Wang Huan to strengthen the Dajiang defense line, and at the same time, order General Li Qiong to keep a close eye on the movements of Nanping and Raojiang to prevent any accidents."

A faint glimmer of hope ignited in Ma Yin's cloudy eyes. After nodding, he struggled to look at Tuoba Heng: "Mr. Tuoba... are you willing to serve me and the State of Chu?"

Tuoba Heng took a deep breath, took a step forward, and bowed deeply to the sickbed: "It is my duty as an old minister to go to Bianliang. I will do my best to deal with the Liang court, plead my case with tears and blood, and fight for a glimmer of hope for the king, the second son, and the Chu country!"

"Okay, go and prepare quickly." Ma Yin's voice was heavy and urgent. "According to Xisheng, the tribute must be generous and quick. Prepare a mournful and sincere apology, along with the imperial physician's pulse report... Make sure Tuoba Qing leaves as soon as possible."

Tuoba Heng took the order and said no more. He turned around and strode away. His figure quickly disappeared in the wind and snow outside the palace gate to prepare for the "Ceremony of Mourning the Soldier" that was related to the survival of the country.

Tuoba Heng disappeared outside the palace gate, but the heavy atmosphere inside the palace did not ease much. Ma Yin held Ma Xisheng's hand tightly again, and said with tears in his eyes: "My son, I'm sorry for wronging you. Father knows that you are filial..."

Ma Xisheng took a deep breath and said to Ma Yin and several important officials on the couch: "Father, gentlemen. Lord Tuoba has gone to Bianliang to negotiate, but this strategy can only delay the situation and cannot solve the fundamental crisis. I dare to ask two of my trusted aides to discuss the next step together."

Without waiting for anyone to react, he stood up and walked out of the hall.

A moment later, Zhang Zifan, Li Xingyun, and a woman with a veil lowered, followed him into the bedroom in the side hall.

Zhang Zifan, who was walking side by side with Ma Xisheng, looked calm, and his steps were steady and confident; Li Xingyun had a slightly frown on his face, with an indescribable complexity in his eyes; the woman just followed behind Li Xingyun, as if she was just an ordinary servant.

Zhang Zifan stepped forward and bowed to Ma Yin and the other officials calmly: "Your Majesty, gentlemen. I am Zhang Zifan, and I have known the Second Young Master since childhood. At this critical moment for the State of Chu, I dare to speak frankly as the Second Young Master's aide. Please forgive me."

His eyes swept across everyone calmly, and finally landed on Ma Yin who was lying on the sickbed: "The Second Young Master has just made it clear that the matter has been discussed in the palace. Lord Tuoba's trip, with generous gifts and mourning, is a mature and prudent strategy, which can indeed buy us precious time. However..."

He changed the subject and spoke in a calmer voice: "This strategy is not a long-term solution, and it cannot solve the real Achilles' heel of the Chu State. The position of the Crown Prince was appointed by Xiao Yan, and it is difficult for the vassal states in the south of the Yangtze River to unite to resist the bully. Once Xiao Yan loses his patience, or the Crown Prince makes another move in Changsha, what Lord Tuoba brings back may not be a delaying tactic, but... a manifesto to suppress rebellion."

This blunt statement instantly made everyone in the hall look different. Gao Yu's eyes flashed as he examined this uninvited guest.

Zhang Zifan continued to analyze in a clear and logical manner: "From what you have just said, there are three reasons for the crisis of Chu: First, the power of Qin King Xiao Yan is overwhelming, and he is holding the emperor hostage to control the princes. His power is unstoppable; second, the position of the crown prince was appointed by Xiao Yan, which has become a sword hanging over the top of Changsha City and a shackle that binds the king's hands and feet; third, the vassal states in the south of the Yangtze River have different intentions and are afraid of Xiao like a tiger. Forming an alliance to protect themselves is like a mirage. This is a dilemma."

He paused for a moment, his eyes like torches, piercing Ma Yin's heart: "These three factors intertwined to form today's dead end. If we refuse the imperial edict, the King of Qin will have a legitimate reason to attack, the Crown Prince will take advantage of the situation and rise up, and the State of Chu will be overthrown in an instant; if we obey the imperial edict, the Second Prince will be like a sheep in a tiger's mouth when he enters Bianliang, and his life or death will be uncertain, and the State of Chu will also become the King of Qin's possession. No matter whether we refuse or obey, we will both end up in a dead end."

At this point, Zhang Zifan pondered for a moment, then continued, "The pain in your heart is not only the risk of refusing the imperial edict, but also the fact that the position of the crown prince was granted by the King of Qin. Although your majesty is the ruler of Chu, in the eyes of the King of Qin, deposing the crown prince he personally appointed is tantamount to declaring war. This dilemma is the reason why your majesty dares not and cannot act rashly against the crown prince."

Ma Yin's breathing suddenly became rapid, his skinny fingers tightly grasped the quilt, but he just stared at Zhang Zifan below without being able to speak.

Gao Yu sighed deeply upon seeing this, and said: "Master Zhang is very insightful. These three points are exactly the knot that our Chu State is facing right now. We, the old man, are helpless..."

"However, in this desperate situation, there is still a glimmer of hope." Zhang Zifan's voice suddenly rose, "This hope is not to refuse the imperial edict, nor to obey the imperial edict, but to allow the king to have the confidence to depose the prince without fear of Xiao Yan's immediate punishment."

"What do you mean?!" Gao Yu could no longer hold back, and leaned forward slightly. His old face was filled with suspicion and anxiety, and his voice was incredibly hoarse. "You deposed the prince without fear of Xiao Yan's questioning? Where does this confidence come from? And Xiao Yan..."

"How can we gain this confidence? The only way is to let the various vassal states in Jiangnan, especially Wu, Wuyue, and Min, form a combined force that Xiao Yan cannot underestimate. Let Xiao Yan be cautious and not dare to start a war in Jiangnan just because the king deposed a prince who was 'unfilial and unrighteous, and colluded with foreign enemies.'"

"Join forces?" Gao Yu shook his head almost without thinking, with deep bitterness and helplessness on his face. He twisted his beard and spoke in a low and tired voice, "Mr. Zhang, this idea is like looking for fish in a tree, it's a daydream. The towns in the south of the Yangtze River fear Xiao Yan like a tiger, and they all have their own ulterior motives. How can they form a joint force that Xiao Yan would be afraid of? I'm afraid that if the news leaks out, they will rush to show their loyalty to Bianliang in order to protect themselves, or even become the guide for Xiao Yan to go south. If Mr. Zhang wants to accomplish this, it may be as difficult as climbing to the sky."

"The Jiangnan vassals are indeed afraid of Xiao Yan like a tiger, and they all have their own selfish motives. Even if ordinary lobbyists have the tongues of Su Qin and Zhang Yi, it is difficult for them to succeed. Therefore, we need a strong medicine, a righteous cause that can temporarily suppress their selfishness and build consensus!"

Zhang Zifan suddenly turned sideways and pointed solemnly at Li Xingyun beside him: "This righteousness and honor belongs to my friend Li Xingyun. Everyone, the person in front of you is the direct descendant of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty and the orphan of Emperor Zhaozong, Li Xingyun!"

These words were like thunderclaps out of the blue, causing the hall to fall into deathly silence in an instant.

Ma Yin's cloudy eyes suddenly widened, and his body leaned forward slightly; Gao Yu, Xu Dexun, and Qin Yanhui, three important officials, all showed incredible horror on their faces at the same time, staring at Li Xingyun with eyes as sharp as torches. The air seemed to freeze, and even the sound of the wind and snow outside the palace disappeared.

Li Xingyun endured the burning and complicated gazes of the crowd and sighed. His expression was not panic, but only a kind of helplessness of being pushed to the forefront and the subsequent calmness. The woman behind him nodded slightly.

Zhang Zifan's voice broke the silence, clear and steady: "King of Chu, do not doubt it. The King of Wei represented by King of Jin Li Keyong is indeed the person in front of you, and if King of Chu still has an impression, you should remember that I am the adopted son of Li Siyuan, the former Saint of Tongwenguan. The current Crown Prince of Jin has succeeded to the throne, and he knows that Xiao Yan is powerful and difficult to control, so he sent me to assist His Highness in his trip to Jiangnan. This is true, and there is a letter from King Jin as proof." "Although the Li Tang Dynasty is dead, its name of orthodoxy is still of great importance in the hearts of scholars and people all over the world. Especially for separatist heroes such as Yang Wo and Qian Liu, the personal visit of the Li Tang prince with the slogan of "restoring the Tang Dynasty and fighting against the strong" is far more important than the Chu envoy. This is the only lever to break the deadlock in Jiangnan."

Zhang Zifan paced back and forth, talking eloquently, "Although Xiao Yan holds the power of the Liang Dynasty, the Liang Dynasty was only established by usurping the Tang Dynasty. Deep down in his heart, how could he really ignore the potential hearts of the people gathered by the 'Li Tang bloodline'? If Jiangnan really forms an alliance under the banner of the prince, no matter how powerful Xiao Yan is, he must weigh the violent backlash and moral losses that may be caused by a strong attack. This is not because he is afraid of his bloodline, but because he is afraid of the chain reaction that may be triggered."

He turned to Ma Yin and bowed deeply. "I beg the king to allow the second son Ma Xisheng to secretly escort Your Highness to the Wu Kingdom, Wuyue Kingdom, and Min Kingdom in the name of inspecting the border defense or understanding the people's sentiments. This trip is not for the Chu ministers to lobby, but for the prince of the Tang Dynasty to come in person. The second son will assist the prince as the future heir of Chu to discuss the plan to resist Liang. Only in this way can there be a glimmer of hope to persuade Yang Wo and Qian Liu to form a 'protect Tang' alliance. If the alliance is reached, the king will have a foothold and room for maneuver when he deposes the unpopular crown prince Ma Xiyue who colluded with the Liang thieves."

Everyone's eyes were filled with surprise, even Gao Yu stroked his beard and spoke without thinking, and then everyone focused their attention on Li Xingyun.

Li Xingyun slowly took a step forward under everyone's gaze. His face was no longer lively as before, but was replaced by a heavy and solemn expression as if he was being pushed forward by fate.

He first looked at Ma Yin, his voice was not loud, but it was firm and undoubted: "King of Chu, everyone. I, Li Xingyun, have no intention of fighting in this world, let alone the identity of a prince. I entered this game because of one person. My junior sister Lu Linxuan, she is now imprisoned by Xiao Yan in Bianliang. Saving her is what I must do."

His eyes swept over Zhang Zifan and Ma Xisheng, and finally fell to the north: "But what Brother Zhang said is also true. Xiao Yan's ambition is known to everyone. If Jiangnan falls into his hands again, the world will be completely unbalanced and there will be no checks and balances. By then, let alone rescuing Junior Sister, even the people of this world will be forever trapped under his power."

He took a deep breath, his eyes became sharp and determined: "Although I don't want to fight for hegemony, since I was born as a descendant of Li Tang and have been swept into this torrent, I can't just sit back and watch the mountains and rivers turn into ink. This trip to Jiangnan is to save my junior sister, and also to prevent Jiangnan from being trampled by iron hooves, leaving a glimmer of hope for this chaotic world. I am willing to use this false title of 'Prince of Li Tang' to test the depth of Jiangnan."

He paused, and his tone became extremely serious: "Of course, this trip must be kept secret. Xiao Yan must not be allowed to know in advance that I am in Chu State, let alone my movements. Otherwise, not only will my sister's life be in jeopardy, but the trip to Jiangnan will fail, and Chu State will also be destroyed immediately."

Ma Xisheng immediately knelt on one knee and said in a firm voice: "Father, I know that this trip is extremely dangerous, but for the sake of the country of Chu, for your safety, and to prevent the people from suffering, I will not hesitate to die! Please allow me to assist Your Highness. I swear here that I will do my best to protect Your Highness and promote the Jiangnan Alliance. If this fails, I will bear all the blame and will never dare to implicate you and the country of Chu."

The hall fell silent again, with only the crackling of the charcoal fire. Everyone's eyes, including Ma Yin's cloudy but suddenly focused eyes on the sickbed, subconsciously focused on Gao Yu.

The latter frowned, his eyes repeatedly examined Li Xingyun, Zhang Zifan and Ma Xisheng, and the fingers twisting his beard trembled slightly.

After a long while, Gao Yu took a deep breath, turned to Ma Yin, and bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, Master Zhang's plan is linked together, and it is a way to survive in danger, but... it is indeed promising!"

He stood up, his eyes swept through the crowd, and finally landed on Zhang Zifan. His eyes were complicated, with shock and a hint of admiration. "It was a stroke of genius to use the long-dormant 'righteousness' banner of Li Tang's prince, and to use the prince's presence instead of an ordinary envoy's identity to pry open the fear and self-preservation of the Jiangnan vassals towards Xiao Yan. Ordinary lobbyists would find it difficult to shake their fear of Liang. However, your highness's personal presence, coupled with the title of 'protecting Tang', is enough to temporarily suppress their selfishness, build consensus, and form a barrier that Xiao Yan has to consider."

He paused, turned to Li Xingyun, and said solemnly: "Your Highness's honesty in telling us your intention to save people shows your sincerity. This intention is consistent with the righteousness of 'protecting Tang', and it is also the motivation for Your Highness to take the risk and go south. You can trust it. And the 'absolute secrecy' that Your Highness emphasized is the key to the success or failure of this plan. I have nothing to say."

Gao Yu finally looked at Ma Xisheng who was kneeling on the ground, with a trace of relief in his eyes: "Second Young Master, as the future crown prince, secretly assisted the prince and went to the dangerous place in person. This kind of responsibility and weight cannot be replaced by others. If this move is successful, it will not only free the prince from the shackles, but also win the recognition and respect of the allies in Jiangnan for the Second Young Master. It is a ray of hope for both the country and himself."

He bowed deeply to Ma Yin again and said, "Your Majesty, this plan is as fraught as walking on thin ice, but it is the only way out of this desperate situation. I second your proposal and implore Your Majesty to make a quick decision!"

At this moment, the woman with the veil behind Li Xingyun spoke for the first time, her voice cold and clear.

"Your Highness is right. As the saying goes, things should be done in secrecy. My bad guys also said that the more complicated the situation in Jiangnan is, the safer Miss Lu will be in Bianliang. Xiao Yan... needs her as a bargaining chip."

In fact, when Ma Yin heard the word "bad people", the shock and doubt on his haggard face turned into a determination to go all out.

He struggled hurriedly to sit up, and Ma Xisheng and Zhang Zifan rushed forward to support him.

"Okay...Okay!" Ma Yin looked at the woman behind Li Xingyun, but didn't say much. He just tried to speak to Li Xingyun, "For the country, for the people...I thank you, Your Highness!" He nodded in the direction of Li Xingyun. The latter also sighed and bowed.

Then, he suddenly grabbed Ma Xisheng's arm, and in front of Gao Yu, Xu Dexun, Qin Yanhui, three of his most trusted confidants, and Li Xingyun and others, he lowered his voice and said, "My son Xisheng, come here..."

He nodded to Gao Yu, who understood and solemnly took out an ancient, heavy bronze tiger talisman with his body temperature from his sleeve and placed it in Ma Xisheng's hands with both hands.

"This is the tiger talisman for mobilizing the inner camp of Tanzhou." Ma Yin's voice was particularly low. "The three thousand elite soldiers in this camp are all veterans who have followed me for many years. They are loyal and only obey this talisman. For this trip, select a group of one hundred elite soldiers and disguise them as caravan guards."

His voice suddenly became cold: "This camp is assigned to you, not for the trip to Jiangnan, but for, for Changsha. If your elder brother Ma Xiyue, while I am seriously ill, knows that you refused the imperial edict to leave the country, and wants to collude with Xiao Yan's envoy to force the palace to seize the throne and sell out the country for glory..."

Ma Yin was stunned for a moment when he said this, and then he closed his eyes in pain. When he opened them again, he was filled with murderous intent. "My son Xisheng... you must clean up the mess for your father and the State of Chu. You must not be merciful! You must not let this rebellious son hand over the State of Chu to Xiao Yan! Do you understand?!"

Ma Xisheng's whole body trembled, and his hand holding the tiger talisman suddenly tightened, his knuckles turning white. He nodded heavily, and said in a choked voice: "I understand."

Ma Yin fumbled and took out a warm jade pendant, and stuffed it into Ma Xisheng's pocket: "When you meet Xu Wen of Wu and Qian Liu of Wuyue, don't lie. Just say: 'I am old and will die, but Xiao Yan's heart of annexation will not die. If Chu is destroyed, how can Jiangnan survive alone? The lips and teeth are cold, I hope you will think deeply.'"

"There is one more thing." Gao Yu reminded Li Xingyun and the others, "Zhu Jin of Wu is the main force of Wu to attack Liang. Although he led the navy to invade last year, he also has a life-and-death feud with the Zhu family of Liang Dynasty. He will definitely weigh the pros and cons. Your Highness and the Second Young Master should respect this person."

"Thank you, Mr. Gao, for the reminder." Zhang Zifan and Li Xingyun said in unison.

------

At the same time, in Bianliang, in the side room of the Prince of Qin's mansion.

The snow outside the window in Bianjing was denser than that in Changsha, silently covering the blue bricks and black tiles. There was no stove in the room, and the coldness was quietly spreading. On the table, in a Ru kiln tea cup that looked like the sky after rain, the green tea soup was steaming.

Lu Linxuan sat on the stool at the bottom of the table, her posture still straight, but the once innocent and lively expression between her eyebrows had been replaced by a quiet stubbornness. She was wearing a plain lilac dress, the material was better than the one in Taiyuan, but she didn't like it. Her hands on her knees unconsciously stroked her cuffs, her eyes were a little confused and nervous, and the only movement was to occasionally glance at Yu Youshu who made her feel a little relieved.

In fact, she spent the Spring Festival these days with Yu Youshu.

Xiao Yan sat in the main seat, not wearing royal clothes, but just casual clothes, which made him look like a jade with a gentle temperament. He was playing with a white jade chess piece in his hand, his eyes fell on the chessboard, as if immersed in an invisible game of chess. The side room was so quiet that one could hear the footsteps of the royal servants passing by outside.

"Miss Lu, are you used to being here?" Xiao Yan finally spoke. His voice was gentle, without any emotion, and his eyes never left the chessboard.

Lu Linxuan raised his eyes and looked at him with clear eyes: "Your Highness the Prince of Qin didn't invite me here just to ask me if I am used to living here, right?"

Xiao Yan gently dropped a black piece, making a crisp sound: "Whether you are used to it or not, you have to ask. After all, you are different. But it is a bit disappointing, your senior brother seems to have forgotten you."

Lu Linxuan's heart suddenly tightened, but he tried his best to remain calm: "Senior Brother... has his own way to go. Your Highness, using me to contain him may not work as you wish."

"Contain?" Xiao Yan finally raised his eyes and looked at Lu Linxuan. His eyes were calm, "Maybe, but I prefer to call it... 'ensure'."

He picked up the teacup and blew away the foam. "Make sure he doesn't make some... overly impulsive choices that are not beneficial to others or himself. So if Miss Lu is not used to it, she should always bring it up."

His words were gentle, but to Lu Linxuan's ears, every word was like a needle.

"Brother, you have your reasons for doing things." Lu Linxuan's voice tightened slightly, with a barely perceptible tremor, "King Qin is a man of great talent and strategy, why would he embarrass us, the little guys in the martial arts world?"

"A nobody?" Xiao Yan chuckled, put down his teacup, and finally looked away from the chessboard, looking at Lu Linxuan with interest. "Miss Lu, you may not know how important you are. If you are not careful, you can make half of the world go against me, and you can also make Li Xingyun willing to get involved in this chaos. For someone like you, I would rather be a nobody."

He shook his head slightly and sighed, "You are very important, Miss Lu. To me, to this chaotic world, and to Li Xingyun. You may have been an idle piece, but you were forced into my hands and became the key move. It's really smart."

The side room fell silent again. Xiao Yan continued to play chess by himself. Lu Linxuan, who was brought here by Yu Youshu for no apparent reason, felt a little confused. Yu Youshu only said that Xiao Yan suddenly wanted to see her, and after he came, he really just wanted to see her.

But inexplicably, Lu Linxuan seemed to understand that he was not only a prisoner, but also a delicate balance point in the game of multiple parties. It even seemed that he was a difficult and helpless existence for the man in front of him.

------

Changsha, a snowy night.

At the Dajiang Wharf in the middle of the night, the wind and snow were even stronger. The cold wind blew up the snow foam, whipping my face like a knife. Dongting Lake was pitch black in the night, and the waves were surging.

A medium-sized cargo ship flying the flag of an ordinary trading company was bobbing in the waves, waiting to set sail.

Several figures hurriedly boarded the ship in the snow. Li Xingyun was dressed in dark cloth and a bamboo hat, covering most of his face; Zhang Zifan was dressed in white as a scholar, with an upright posture; Ma Xisheng dressed as a wealthy businessman, wrapped in fur, but could not hide the fatigue and solemnity between his brows. Nearly a hundred strong men were busy and silent on the merchant ship, moving quickly.

Before boarding the ship, Ma Xisheng stopped and looked back at the dimly lit Changsha City in the snow, which looked like a dormant giant beast. The snow blurred his vision and he could not see the outline of the city. He was silent for a while, and then he kowtowed three times silently and heavily in the direction of the palace on the cold dock.

Li Xingyun stood at the swaying bow, watching the scene with complicated eyes, then turned around and looked towards the north, towards Bianliang. The wind and snow blinded his eyes, and there was only endless vastness, which made him powerless and awe-inspiring.

Zhang Zifan stood beside him, silently unfolding a map depicting the waterways and cities of Jiangnan. He gently stroked the locations of Yangzhou and Qiantang with his finger, and stood silently beside Li Xingyun again. After waiting for a moment, when Ma Xisheng boarded the boat, he nodded slightly to the captain.

The merchant ship untied the ropes, and the sails were inflated with difficulty in the strong wind. The ship swayed and struggled as it sailed into the snow and darkness of the vast Dongting Lake.

Far away from the dock, a carriage stood quietly in the snow. Several people gathered around Shi Yao, holding their hands in their sleeves, staring at the boat that was going farther and farther away for a long time, and finally turned back silently, got on the carriage and left. The carriage merged into the dark night, leaving no trace, as if it had never stopped.

(End of this chapter)