The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 861 The Lost Empire

Jiang Hailing slammed the table and stood up upon hearing this:

"To be honest, sir, I've long disliked Kang Guangxu and his gang! Those lackeys from Tianxin City! They've gotten so arrogant by supporting a girl who knows nothing! They want to trample us old brothers under their feet and stain their official uniforms with our blood. I'm going to kill them first!"

Liu Xuanchu stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes showing approval. He thought to himself, this warrior is really a fool. He was dragged onto the pirate ship with just a few words.

This time, Liu Wuji sent himself to Xiangyang with the plan of persuading Lieutenant General Jiang Hailing to join the army's internal support and capture the city in one fell swoop.

After all, Xiangyang is not easy to attack.

I thought this trip would be troublesome, but I didn't expect everything to go so smoothly.

When Jiang heard that the prince was about to attack Xiangyang, he expressed his willingness to be an insider of the court and agreed very readily.

"Commander Jiang is absolutely right. Emperor Guangde has been listening to slander and implementing new policies for over a decade now! Now, Great Qi is in decline. We've lost Japan to the east, Burma to the south, and I hear they're even abandoning Ryukyu! Every one of you noble sons who followed Emperor Taizu has shed blood for Great Qi, yet now you're all trembling with fear, treading on thin ice. The slightest misstep could lead to the confiscation of your property... Princess Cining has even gone one step further, demanding you pay back the income tax for the past thirty years!"

Jiang Hailing's chest was filled with anger, and he waved his fist angrily and said:

"My grandfather led his men to Beihai to expand the territory for the imperial court, but more than a dozen of his brothers were eaten by Rakshasa demons! My grandfather was lucky enough to be carried back by a tiger! My father followed Emperor Taizu into the Pass and fought Zuo Liangyu on the Qinhuai River for several months, leaving one arm in Nanjing! My eldest brother quelled the rebellion of the eldest princess and died in Shanhaiguan. Even his body was not sent back!"

"My grandfather, my father, and my brothers have already suffered all the hardships in my life when they were conquering the country! Just count on your fingers, how many years have passed, and they have already forgotten their roots! Have they let dogs eat their consciences?! They all followed the great grandfather to conquer the country, but they keep talking about new policies and reforms, and now they know how to demolish the bridge after crossing the river! The rabbit is gone, and the bow and arrow are hidden! How dare you reduce my salary! How dare you investigate my business! This is outrageous! If anyone dares to talk to me about new policies again, I will chop off his head!"

Liu Xuanchu smiled and echoed, "Tsk, tsk, tsk! It's rare to see General Jiang's unwavering loyalty and such bravery! General Jiang is the grandson of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs. Your reputation is known to everyone in the north and south. That's why the Crown Prince sent me here this time to discuss important matters with General Jiang! As long as Xiangyang is successfully captured, Tianxin City will be within our grasp! General Jiang, you will be a hero of the new dynasty!"

Liu Xuanchu's persuasion with Jiang Hailing was quite successful. Half an hour earlier, the Eastern Palace aide had just explained his purpose and was feeling uneasy when Jiang Hailing excitedly raised his arms and shouted, patting his chest and promising that he would support the Crown Prince and ensure the smooth passage of the Jingnan Army through Xiangyang. "Don't worry, Mr. Liu. I have considerable influence in Xiangyang. When the time comes, I will send people to set fire to the city. When chaos reigns, I will catch them off guard, eliminate the South Gate garrison in one fell swoop, and welcome the Crown Prince into the city!"

Liu Xuanchu clapped his hands and laughed: "Hahaha! Good! Good! Good! If there were more loyal ministers and generals like Lieutenant General Jiang, the prince would have put down the rebellion long ago..."

On that day, Jiang Hailing sent someone to escort Liu Xuanchu back to the Jingnan Army camp.

Before leaving, Jiang Hailing, the descendant of a loyal minister, emphasized to the prince's staff that the attack on Xiangyang needed to be carefully considered and should not be rushed.

Therefore, I would like to ask the Crown Prince for two more days so that I can make all the arrangements before taking action.

"The South Gate is easy, but the other gates may not be so easy to take."

Liu Xuanchu smiled and said, "Everything depends on human effort. Lieutenant General Jiang, just go ahead and do it. But let me say this beforehand: the honor of following the dragon is rare, with more than a dozen generals vying for it. This opportunity will never come again."

Jiang Bailing nodded repeatedly.

As soon as the Eastern Palace staff left, this loyal minister immediately sent someone to deliver a letter to Tianxin City, reporting to Kang Guangxu in detail about the prince's staff's attempt to persuade him to surrender.

The military and civilians of Xiangyang strengthened the city's defenses overnight and began a large-scale search for spies in the city.

(End of this chapter)