My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 403 The Emperor should be the one with the strongest army and the most powerful horses.
into the night.

In June, Jiankang is not only hot, but also very humid. The stuffy heat makes people feel very uncomfortable, and their bodies feel sticky.

Xiao Gang was in his own mansion, with maids fanning him from behind, but he still felt extremely annoyed.

He suddenly became the crown prince.

It was a very coincidental, lucky, and exciting experience, but it also made him feel like he was walking on thin ice.

How could he not know how his brother died?

Once suspicion between the emperor and the crown prince begins, it is impossible to stop.

This time, Xiao Yan would feel that Xiao Tong was cursing him to die.

So……

Next time, Xiao Gang might suffer the same fate.

"Prince, someone wants to see you."

"who?"

"He is the son of Yu Jianwu, the scholar of Gaozhai."

"Yu Jianwu's son? Yu Zishan?"

Xiao Gang squinted and pondered for a moment, "Didn't Yu Zishan follow Chen Qingzhi on the Northern Expedition several years ago? After being defeated and captured, he was detained in the Northern Dynasty. Why has he suddenly returned?"

The servant shook his head and simply presented Yu Xin's name card.

No wonder Xiao Gang was so nervous.

Yu Jianwu was a close advisor to the former deposed crown prince Xiao Tong, and spent many years studying with Xiao Tong.

At this time, his close association with the deposed crown prince's close advisors could easily arouse Xiao Yan's suspicion. He didn't want to provoke Xiao Yan at this juncture, nor did he want to repeat the same mistake and become the next Xiao Tong.

“Go, just say I have a slight cold and it’s inconvenient for me to see him.”

Xiao Gang sent a servant to dismiss Yu Xin, asking, "Why did Yu Zishan suddenly come back?"

But not long after, the servant rushed over again. Frustrated, Xiao Gang was about to shout angrily, "Didn't I say! I won't see you! I won't see you!"

"Prince..."

The servant whispered a few words in his ear, and Xiao Gang's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly got up and paced back and forth in surprise and uncertainty before finally gritting his teeth and saying, "Go! Invite Yu Zishan in for me."

He quickly had his maid help him tidy up before going out to meet Yu Xin.

"Meet the prince."

Yu Xin took the initiative to bow with his hands clasped in greeting.

Xiao Gang greeted him with a smile, "We haven't seen each other for many years, and I never expected you to still be as charming as ever."

After exchanging pleasantries, the two...

Xiao Gang couldn't hold back any longer and immediately spoke up, "Is what you said true?"

"Absolutely true!"

Yu Xin nodded and said, "I suppose the Crown Prince has heard of General Tian Ce."

"nature."

Xiao Gang had originally intended to offer a few words of flattery, but then awkwardly snapped back to reality.

The reputation of General Tian Ce was half built by the people of the Southern Dynasty. He was deified in one battle when facing the 300,000-strong Northern Expeditionary Army of the Southern Liang outside Luoyang.

"Your Highness must have heard about the situation in the north."

Xiao Gang nodded again.

With Yuan Ziyou dead, Erzhu Rong and the Gao brothers each installed a new emperor and are fighting each other for legitimacy. This news cannot be kept secret.

Even Chen Qingzhi's sudden departure from Jiankang to reorganize his troops and prepare for war was because he learned of this news and wanted to try the Northern Expedition again.

"However, I've heard that Erzhu Rong has been building up his power for many years and is quite formidable. I'm afraid General Tian Ce won't have an easy time."

"wrong!"

Yu Xin shook his head, "That traitor Erzhu Rong committed the heinous act of regicide. My general raised the banner of righteousness to punish the disloyal, and with many righteous men under his command, my general will surely win in the end!" Xiao Gang chuckled, "That's not necessarily true. You want to arrange a marriage for your general, isn't it because your general can't hold on any longer and wants to seek the help of our dynasty?"

"Indeed, I came for my general, but also for Your Highness!"

"Oh?"

Xiao Gang was taken aback, then chuckled again, "What does this have to do with me?"

"Your Highness, your current situation must be quite difficult."

Yu Xin spoke frankly, "If the Crown Prince can facilitate my general's marriage and persuade His Majesty not to send troops to invade Xuzhou, my general can also become an asset to the Crown Prince once the north is pacified!"

Xiao Gang shook his head, not in a hurry to reply.

Instead, he chuckled lightly, "The war in the north is still undecided. What if your general is defeated?"

Yu Xin immediately stood up and said, "If my general is defeated, he can also become an aid to Your Highness!"

"How do you say this?"

Xiao Gang became interested and couldn't help but ask a question in return.

"If my general wins the battle against the traitor Erzhu Rong, then the northern border will be unified. As my general's relative by marriage, you have such a powerful ally in the north. Even if His Majesty wanted to deal with you, he would have to think twice. If the former crown prince had such a powerful relative by marriage to help him, how could he have ended up like this?"

"Even if it really comes to that, you can escape to the north. My general will naturally protect you, Your Highness. At the very least, you can live as a carefree prince in the north."

"Of course, war is dangerous and no one can guarantee victory on the battlefield."

"If my general is unfortunately defeated, he can still become an aid to Your Highness!"

"As you know, my general is renowned throughout the land for his bravery and is extremely skilled at training troops. If my general were to flee south with his family after a defeat, he could join your ranks, Your Highness, and train troops for you. With such a valiant man as my general by your side, would you still fear that your position as Crown Prince would not be secure enough in the future?"

Xiao Gang carefully considered what Yu Xin had said.

It really hit the nail on the head, and struck him right where it hurt.

Xiao Gang felt extremely insecure because of Xiao Tong's situation.

Again.

Once an emperor develops suspicions about the crown prince, those suspicions will not diminish even if the crown prince is replaced.

On the contrary, suspicion will only intensify.

What difference does it make who is father and who is son before imperial power?

In the face of power, there is no room for kinship.

If Xiao Yan ever feels that his throne is threatened, the first one to suffer will be him, the crown prince.

Helping Gao Yu was a way to secure a way out for himself.

Moreover, what Yu Xin said was correct.

So what if Gao Yu lost?
If Gao Yu were to come and serve, even Emperor Xiao Yan would treat him with the respect due to a national hero.

After all, the Southern Dynasties lacked such top-notch military generals.

With a powerful maternal relative like Gao Yu as the crown prince, his position as crown prince would be more secure.

If Gao Yu could help me train a valiant army.

He could certainly emulate his father.

How did Xiao Yan obtain the throne?

Wasn't it just by leading troops to conquer Jiankang?
The emperor should be the one with the strongest army and the most powerful horses; is it not a matter of birth?
Xiao Gang looked intently at Yu Xin and said, "This matter... can be discussed. I will give you a definite answer in two days."

Yu Xin wasn't in a hurry.

He could tell that Xiao Gang was already interested.

Whether the marriage goes through or not is not important; what is important is to stabilize the situation here and prevent Xuzhou from being attacked from both sides in the short term.

"Then I will await news from the Crown Prince."

(End of this chapter)