Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 456 The Great Liang Cannot Have Only One Crown Prince

The Yangtze River acts as a natural barrier, separating the north and south.

Everyone knows that the Yangtze River is a natural barrier, its surging waters having withstood countless attacks from the north, making it even more solid than the Great Wall.

After all, the Great Wall can only stop horses, not people, and this surging river is impassable for both horses and people.

But once this formidable barrier is breached, everyone instantly loses their psychological advantage.

As Li Shuang led eight hundred Red Cavalrymen from Zhuque Gate along the Imperial Street all the way to Xuanyang Gate, the entire population of Jiankang knew about it.

The enemy has arrived!

In an instant, Jiankang City was in an uproar.

The Southern Liang court had lost the ability to maintain order, and Li Shuang's side also lacked sufficient manpower to do so.

The city of Jiankang, with its million inhabitants, was plunged into a state of chaos and disorder.

Inside the Taiji Hall, the lights were on, and as Xiao Zhengde's envoy arrived, Crown Prince Xiao Gang began to berate him.

"Xiao Zhengde is a traitor who has long been colluding with outsiders."

Xiao Yan, however, was very composed at this moment and had no mind to ask about Xiao Zhengde's affairs. His mind was focused on the most pressing matter at hand.

"What does the King of Qin intend to do?"

Xiao Bing looked at the aged emperor before him with a mocking expression, but remained composed.

"The King of Qin wishes to pay homage to the Emperor!"

"Emperor?"

Xiao Yan found those two words somewhat laughable.

Does he still consider himself a subject of the Great Liang?

Li Shuang was initially appointed King of Qin by the Southern Liang dynasty, and he never returned the seal of office to them. Theoretically, Li Shuang could indeed be considered a subject of the Southern Liang.

Xiao Bing nodded slightly at this.

"Exactly!"

The courtiers in the hall stirred, but Xiao Bing's next words made the atmosphere somewhat strange.

"Just as Your Majesty was once a subject of Qi."

Xiao Yan looked at the person in front of him and frowned slightly.

Xiao Gang roared:
"Shut up, you traitor! Drag him away and behead him!"

Facing life and death, Xiao Bing remained motionless, only saying calmly:
"Your Majesty, I have one more thing to say."

"Say!"

Xiao Yan's words caused the palace guards to pause in their tracks, but Xiao Bing continued:
"The Qin King's army will arrive in less than two days. The Qin King has been fighting in the south and north for many years, defeating Erzhu, driving out Rouran, and defeating Tuyuhun. Now that he has arrived in Jiankang, the Liang army cannot defeat him. Does Your Majesty think that the garrison in the city can hold out until reinforcements arrive from all over the country? Even if they do, will they be a match for the Qin King?"

Threat, naked threat.

At this moment, no one in the entire court dared to utter a sound.

Li Shuang's attack on Southern Liang was entirely unexpected.

The garrison at Caishiji fled.

Li Shuang seized this opening and immediately made his move. With Xiao Zhengde's help from the outside, they broke through all the way to Xuanyang Gate.

This left the Southern Liang court with no time to react.

The Jiankang Imperial City had three layers of walls, but the outermost layer had already fallen.

Li Shuang's sudden arrival with his army meant that the imperial guards of Taicheng had no time to move the supplies from the granaries and armories. The emperor and his ministers in the palace were completely unaware of the current situation in Stone City and East Prefecture City, the two branch cities outside Taicheng.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan said:

"Go back and tell the King of Qin that if he truly wishes to see me as a subject, then let him come alone to pay his respects."

……

After Xiao Bing left, Xiao Gang cupped his hands and said:

“Your Majesty, Li Shuang has only eight hundred cavalry. The Imperial Guards in the capital, plus the guards of the Eastern Palace, number twenty thousand. How can we not fight them? Your son is willing to lead the troops in the city out of the city to fight them. Even if I die in battle, I will still be worthy of being the Crown Prince of Liang.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan took a deep breath.

How could I have such a stupid son!

Do you even consider whether these 20,000 men are capable of fighting a war? They're either ceremonial soldiers or scions of noble families; they're just accumulating experience in the Imperial Guard.

This is about saving face.

The truly capable soldiers in the Imperial Guards were all from Sichuan and Chongqing.

Who are the men under Li Shuang's command? They've been through thick and thin, and they kill without blinking an eye.

Xiao Yan thought this to himself, but he still had to comfort him.

"I already know that the Crown Prince is loyal and brave. However, the Crown Prince is the foundation of the country and should not be moved lightly."

At this moment, Xiahou Kui stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Qin is brave and cannot be defeated by force. I believe we should send more troops to guard the granary and armory. We must not allow the Prince of Qin and that traitor Xiao Zhengde to seize them. Only in this way can we wait for the arrival of the army to come to the aid of the emperor."

"This is the correct reasoning."

After he finished speaking, no one in the court noticed that they had changed their address for Li Shuang from "Da Ye Shuang" to "King Qin".

Of course, even if someone notices it at this point, no one will point it out.
-
"That old scoundrel Xiao Yan actually wanted the Prince of Qin to go and pay his respects alone."

After hearing Xiao Bing's words, Xiao Zhengde was furious, as if he were the one Xiao Yan wanted to see.

Li Shuang, however, didn't care. After listening to Xiao Zhengde's words, she instead comforted him:

"Your Highness, you mustn't do this."

"His Royal Highness?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhengde's face broke into an uncontrollable smile, but then Li Shuang said:
"Your Highness's throne comes from His Majesty. How can you be disrespectful to His Majesty? If outsiders were to hear this, wouldn't it be a breach of filial piety? How could you be worthy of being the Son of Heaven?"

Xiao Zhengde was even more delighted upon hearing this.

"King Qin, when shall we attack the capital, capture Xiao Yan, and force him to abdicate in my favor?"

"We are currently short-handed and must wait for Hou Jing to arrive with his rear army. Your Highness, please rest assured and return to Danyang to gather troops. We will first take Stone City and Dongfu City before discussing the matter of Taicheng."

Xiao Zhengde was even more pleased upon hearing this and said:

"King Qin, I will go to Danyang immediately."

Xiao Zhengde left, and Li Shuang cursed as she watched his retreating figure.

“I knew this fellow had a bad reputation, but I never imagined it was this bad. When I asked him to summon the ministers and officials outside the capital, not a single one came.”

Xiao Bing, standing behind Li Shuang, also sighed.

"Xiao Zhengde had a very bad reputation among the people and in the court, so this is understandable."

Xiao Zhengde was one of the four most notorious villains in Jiankang City, and he was known for committing all sorts of evil deeds.

He not only betrayed Liang and had an affair with his own sister, but also gathered outlaws to rob, kill, and steal on the road.

As for adultery with other men's wives and daughters and violating the law, it was commonplace.

Li Shuang shook his head and said:

"If such a person is still highly valued and appointed as a king or general, how can the Liang Kingdom not perish?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bing asked:
"Does Your Majesty wish to eliminate him?"

"It's not the right time yet. He's of extremely poor character, but he has a lot of people like him under his command. He's still useful now."

"I am only worried that Xiao Zhengde and his henchmen will take advantage of this opportunity to wreak havoc on the people of Jiankang. These debts will eventually be settled with the Prince of Qin."

Li Shuang smiled and said:
"It's alright, I already have someone in charge of these people."

Just then, a bugle call came from outside the tent.

"Your Majesty, I am not late, am I?"

Hou Jing hurriedly entered the main tent, looking very anxious.

"Why did you come so soon?"

Hou Jing's bright eyes sparkled, and a simple, honest smile appeared on his face.

"I'm not afraid that if I arrive late, I won't be able to grab any good stuff."

……

(End of this chapter)