The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 116 Proton
On the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, a north wind and heavy snow swept across the official road in the western suburbs of Xuzhou.

Xiao Yi reined in his horse and waited for the group behind him. The black horse was impatient and pawed at the frozen ground with its iron hooves.

Looking back, the procession was surrounded by a large entourage, with Liu Yun's imperial carriage adorned with canopies and necklaces, and a solemn entourage.

The emperor's ceremonial guard was brought by him; the Grand Master of Ceremonies' banners fluttered, displaying extraordinary splendor.

According to custom, a military governor could bring 300 personal guards when leaving his post. As the successor, Liu Yun also brought his family, servants, ceremonial guards, staff, officials, banners, drums, and musicians, totaling nearly 600 people.

"What worries the general?"

Zhang Mei spurred his horse over and rode alongside him, breathing out white breath as he asked, "Could it be that you're worried about the three hundred soldiers from Xuzhou?"

Xiao Yi countered, "Do I look worried?"

Zhang Mei said, "Although the general's face did not show any change, his warhorse was spitting and pawing at the ground."

Xiao Yi smiled.

He was actually thinking about the significance of this mission, feeling that Guo Wei was unlikely to pass the throne to Liu Yun, which would hinder everything and make it inconvenient to launch a campaign against Liu Chong later.

The pretext for attacking the emperor's biological father is simply illegitimate.

Therefore, before leaving the capital, he asked Wei Renpu if he wanted to kill Liu Yun, but Wei Renpu seemed to have no such intention for the time being.

"Brother Xuan Gui, what do you think is the purpose of the heir's trip?"

“I dare to guess that he will not be able to enter Kaifeng,” Zhang Mei said. “But if the commander-in-chief attacks Hedong, he may take him with him. You should know that once Liu Yun leaves Xuzhou, he is like a fish out of water. The only one we should be worried about is Liu Chong.”

Xiao Yi asked, "Are you sure the commander-in-chief intends to send troops?"

"I have heard that the Khitans are harassing Xing and Zhen prefectures."

This coincided with Xiao Yi's thoughts.

But recalling Wei Renpu's attitude that day, he didn't give a definitive answer, perhaps he still had some hesitation about attacking Hedong...

As they were talking, Lü Chou rode up from the back of the group and whispered something to him.

"General, Mr. Zhang, Xiao Tao just managed to pass on a message to me."

"Xiao Tao?" Zhang Mei asked with a smile, "That maidservant of Madam Dong?"

"Yes. She said that Liu Chong sent a secret envoy to inform Liu Yun that he planned to send a large army south to Kaifeng to protect him as he ascended the throne."

Xiao Yi thought to himself, "As expected, Liu Chong doesn't intend to sit idly by and watch his son become a puppet."

He met Zhang Mei's gaze and saw the seriousness in her eyes.

"What does the general think?"

"Ultimately, we still need Your Excellency's army to deal with this."

"Yes, all we can do is ease the situation a little."

"Brother Xuan Gui must already have a solution."

Zhang Mei said, "By sowing discord between father and son, Liu Yun became wary and sent people to resolutely oppose it."

Xiao Yi raised his hand, indicating that he would make the arrangements.

Zhang Mei then whispered to Lü Chou, "Have Xiao Tao scare Dong Shi. Liu Chong's dispatch of troops is probably not to protect the emperor, but to take the opportunity to control Bianjing and become emperor himself. At that time, Liu Yun may not even be able to become the crown prince."

“Sir, you are brilliant. I will find a way to pass on the message. I guarantee that Madam Dong will be even more anxious than Liu Yun.”

After Lü Chou finished speaking, he turned his horse around and naturally fell to the back of the group, moving closer to the servants at the rear.

That night, the group arrived at Dangshan Post Station.

After settling in, Xiao Yi sat by the window in the upper room on the second floor of the inn, looking at the map and thinking, listening to the wind howling through the bare branches of the locust tree in the courtyard.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of horses' hooves rising and rushing away. He listened intently and realized there were only two or three riders.

Before long, Lü Chou, shivering in the cold, pushed open the door and burst in with a broad smile.

"General, it's done! Xiao Tao overheard his conversation with Lady Dong, and the couple are wary of Liu Chong. Liu Yun sent his trusted confidant north overnight with his letter, telling Liu Chong not to go south, lest he disturb the local area and arouse suspicion from Lord Guo and the Empress Dowager."

Xiao Yi didn't even look up, and said, "Well done."

Lu Chou smiled smugly, touched his cheeks which were red from the cold, and said, "Hehe, if that's what the general says, then my appearance has served its purpose."

"Yes, yes, you're the most handsome among my men."

"After all, they are your soldiers, General."

"Go."

Lü Chou didn't leave, hesitating as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

Xiao Yi, annoyed that he was blocking the candlelight, said, "Spit it out if you have something to say."

"General, Xiao Tao overheard some news while she was with Madam Dong, and I don't know whether I should tell her or not."

"explain."

“Then I will just repeat what Madam Dong said.” Lü Chou said in a soft, high-pitched voice, “General Xiao must have had an affair with Empress An. If we show them kindness, it won’t be difficult to win them over.”

Xiao Yi remained silent and continued looking at his map.

He had initially found An Yuanzhen somewhat annoying, but recently, when he compared her to Liu Luan, both of whom were Shatuo people, their personalities were completely different, and she actually seemed a little bit cute in comparison.

Liu Yun said, "Show him favor? I'll do him an even greater favor. My little sister has taken a liking to him, I'll make him her son-in-law." Dong Shi said, "But in my opinion, he has no interest in my little sister." Liu Yun said, "Is there anything my little sister has her eye on that she can't have? Once we're in Kaifeng, just watch as my little sister takes An Shi's life with her white knife and red knife..."

Xiao Yi raised his head.

Lu Chou was inexplicably frightened and trembled, then hurriedly said, "General, I was just relaying what you said."

"understood."

"General, are you looking at a map of Hedong? I have an idea." Lü Chou said cautiously, "I think Liu Luan is in love with you, General. Why don't you persuade her? You'll get both a beauty and intelligence on Hedong..."

Xiao Yi interrupted him with a displeased look.

He was too lazy to say much, but seeing that Lü Chou was also handsome, he asked, "Many people admire you, can you tell what you want and what you don't want?"

“I,” Lü Chou said, bowing his head, “have always accepted all comers.”

"If a woman is admired and forced into a relationship, is it a joy or a sorrow?"

Lü Chou asked, "What is the general's intention?"

“If she uses the pretense of ‘admiring’ me to do things that harm me, then she is my enemy, and I will never tolerate it.”

Lu Chou stiffened and said, "I understand. General, you are worried about Empress An and her other lovers..."

"Get out."

The lights were turned off, and Xiao Yi lay down fully clothed.

That night, he dreamed of An Yuanzhen, who kept asking him if her skin was whiter than Liu Luan's. In the end, An Yuanzhen died in his arms, crying sweetly.

"Waaah... I died so unjustly..."

Outside the palace, someone kept banging on the door, wanting to bury her in Yingling. "Bang, bang, bang."

Xiao Yi opened his eyes. The sky was already slightly bright, and someone was knocking on the door.

The door opened, and there was Liu Luan, who had dressed up and whose appearance was quite different from her personality.

Why that look? Do you hate seeing me?

"Yes."

"I don't care, here you go. I haven't finished speaking yet, this is a gift from a Shatuo woman, made by her own hands..."

Xiao Yi glanced at her palm and saw that it was an arrowhead made of animal fangs. He said directly, "No."

After saying that, he walked straight out.

Liu Luan insisted on giving it to him, chasing after him and yelling, "Why don't you want it?!"

Ignoring such unreasonable words, Xiao Yi ordered his soldiers, "Stop her and don't let her get close to me."

"Let go! Hmph, I'm giving you something, and if you dare refuse, next time I'll shoot it into your neck!"

"..."

Traveling all day.

In the evening, the group entered Songzhou territory.

Scouts arrived ahead, saying that the imperial court had sent people to welcome the heir apparent.

Everyone initially thought they were civil officials, but as the snow dust rose, a troop of cavalry, about five hundred men, carrying the banners of the Imperial Guard, galloped in.

Upon getting closer, Xiao Yi recognized the leading general as Liu Tingrang.

The two teams met up, the two men met, looked at each other and laughed heartily.

"Brother Liu has been promoted to commander?"

"It's not as good as your inner palace. Come on, let's find a secluded place to talk."

The two then rode their horses to a hilltop overlooking the official road.

After confirming that no one was around, Liu Tingrang said with a serious expression, "The commander-in-chief has led the army north to Chanzhou."

"Khitan? Hedong?"

Liu Tingrang did not answer, but said, "You don't need to bring Liu Yun to the capital. Just go directly to Chanzhou to see the commander-in-chief."

Xiao Yi's mind raced, and he thought to himself, "Just as I thought."

Liu Yun served two purposes: first, to lull Liu Chong into a false sense of security; and second, to be taken into the army as a hostage should troops be dispatched, so that he could be used in a critical moment.

"General Guo, or the vanguard?"

"Yes, lead a detachment westward from Huazhou, through Meng and Jinzhou, to take Jiangzhou and lock down the southern gateway to Jinyang."

Xiao Yi took out his silk map and unfolded it on horseback.

As expected, Guo Wei's northward march wasn't due to the Khitan invasion. So, what would happen to the main force after it reached Chanzhou? Why did he bring Liu Yun with him?

"here."

Liu Tingrang leaned over and pointed at the map with his finger.

Xiao Yi nodded and said, "Luzhou."

"The commander-in-chief is probably planning to personally lead the main force through Chanzhou and Xiangzhou, and then directly attack Luzhou from Fukou Pass. This is the throat of Hedong, a strategic location that military strategists must fight for. Once it is captured, Liu Chong will be trapped like a turtle in a jar. Let us take Liu Yun there, perhaps to persuade the Luzhou garrison to surrender, thus saving us the losses of attacking the city."

Having clarified the reasons, we can now discuss what to do.

Xiao Yi reminded him, "Liu Yun has brought three hundred elite soldiers; they are not easy to deal with."

"If we capture Liu Yun, I don't believe they can turn the tables," Liu Tingrang said. "There's Qingyang Post Station thirty miles ahead. Tonight, while their soldiers are off duty and asleep, you take Liu Yun and relay his orders. I'll lead the troops to control the situation. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy."

"He'll be wary of you, so why don't we wait until we reach Songzhou?"

"Speed ​​is of the essence in war. The commander-in-chief has only given us three days to reach Chanzhou. We can't wait any longer."

"it is good."

Once the agreement was reached, the two returned to their respective teams.

Xiao Yi remained calm and had Zhao Shang hand over the reins, leading Liu Yun's carriage to Qingyang Post Station.

Night falls.

However, things did not go according to Liu Tingrang's plan. The appearance of his well-armored and menacing elite cavalry made Zhang Lingchao very vigilant.

That night, they camped at Qingyang Post Station. Zhang Lingchao personally set up sentry posts, dividing his guards into two shifts to take turns on duty. The entrances and exits of the post station were guarded by Xuzhou guards.

Seeing this, Xiao Yi advised Liu Tingrang, "Since you are already on guard, taking forceful action may inevitably result in casualties. It would be better to wait a while and wait until they lower their guard against you."

Liu Tingrang frowned and said, "Once we've calmed Liu Yun down, I'm afraid Liu Chong will realize what's going on. Now that we're out of Xuzhou, we're like fish out of water; let's capture him first!"

Just as Xiao Yi was about to speak, he saw Lü Chou approaching from afar.

"General, something bad has happened. Xiao Tao said that Zhang Lingchao has been trying to persuade Liu Yun, but Liu Yun is hesitant again. He has discussed with Dong Shi the idea of ​​returning to Xuzhou with more troops."

Liu Tingrang said decisively, "We can't wait any longer, let's take him down!"

“Alright.” Xiao Yi also said decisively, “According to the plan, let’s split up and carry out our tasks separately.”

"Let's do it."

Xiao Yi immediately summoned twelve soldiers and went to the main courtyard of the post station where Liu Yun was staying.

Inside the courtyard, torches crackled softly, and more than twenty Xuzhou soldiers stood at attention, swords in hand.

Dong Yi had just come out of the courtyard, his eyes filled with worry. When he saw Xiao Yi arrive, he quickly stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "General, what's going on with those five hundred soldiers?"

Xiao Yi said calmly, "It is perfectly normal for the court to send people to welcome the heir apparent. Why are you so afraid? There are still 50,000 imperial guards in the capital. I will discuss this with Your Highness."

"His Highness does not wish to see you."

Xiao Yi took out an item and handed it over, saying, "Please give this to Your Highness."

"This is?"

"With the Imperial Guard's tally in hand, what does Your Highness have to worry about?"

"Please wait a moment, General."

Dong Yi's hospital admission announcement.

Xiao Yi waited, blowing on his hands to avoid being too stiff when he made his move.

He thought to himself, "Liu Yun went from being the adopted son of Emperor Gaozu to a hostage as soon as he left Xuzhou. The world changes in an instant. It really is all about strength."

(End of this chapter)