Villain: After I died, all the heroines cried themselves to sleep.

Because Pingliang Jun advanced eastward and the Wei-Zheng allied forces besieged the city gates, the gates of Xianyang were tightly closed at this time.

The general guarding the city looked at Luo Zheng's three thousand elite cavalry with both surprise and fear.

I don't know what to do.

"My lord, shall we seize this opportunity to take the city?"

Yang Zheng saw through the true nature of the city gate tower and immediately made a suggestion.

Luo Zheng glanced at him and shook his head.

"No rush, let's try diplomacy first and then resort to force."

He was acting on the orders of the King of Liang, and his return to Xianyang was perfectly legitimate.

If we launch a full-scale attack, wouldn't that be tantamount to a rebellion?

Of course, we should wait for the other side to disobey orders, and then, upholding the greater good, punish them for treason.

So Luo Zheng sent someone to knock on the gate from the city wall.

Unfortunately, the court officials were not idiots.

Soon, the city gates of Xianyang slowly opened.

Seeing this, Luo Zheng ordered Yang Zheng and others to camp outside the city, while he led his personal guards into the city.

……

At that time, the people in the court were still arguing about Luo Zheng's entry into the city.

Until several loud laughs came from outside the hall.

"Hahaha, esteemed nobles, it's been a long time!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Luo Zheng, dressed in brocade robes, striding in with an imposing gait.

Looking at the imposing Luo Zheng, everyone was secretly alarmed.

Is this imposing man Prince Zheng?

How come he doesn't match the handsome but empty-headed young nobleman he used to be?

Once they came to their senses, someone was the first to jump out and make accusations.

"Lord Hanyang has barged into the court without prior notice, brandishing his sword and shoes in the palace. This is far too audacious and disrespectful!"

"I was ordered by the King to return to Xianyang. I heard that the Lord of Pingliang in the west intends to rebel, and that the allied forces of Wei and Zheng in the east are knocking on the gates. In this urgent situation, I have no choice but to take this desperate measure."

Luo Zheng, holding the Tai'a sword, spoke with righteous indignation.

He only learned about the Wei-Zheng allied forces in the east from the city's garrison commander when he arrived.

"Now that Liang is beset by internal and external troubles, it is only natural for a gentleman to take such action, as his heart is with his country and people."

Zhao Wei suppressed his surprise and immediately spoke up for Luo Zheng.

The others looked at Right Chancellor Fan Ze.

It seems they are waiting for Fan Ze to step forward.

Fan Ze stared intently at Zhao Wei.

He had just noticed the shock and doubt that flashed in Zhao Wei's eyes when he saw Lord Hanyang.

After stroking his beard and pondering for a moment, Fan Ze slowly nodded.

"Yes, the situation is urgent, and the actions of Lord Hanyang are understandable."

"..."

The officials were dumbfounded.

Why didn't Fan Xiang object?

Zhao Wei's face, however, showed no joy; instead, it was shrouded in gloom.

Both prime ministers openly supported Luo Zheng.

Even Empress Dowager Xuan couldn't deny it.

"Let's leave this matter aside for now. Lord Hanyang, please take your place first."

"Wait a minute, I have something else to say."

Empress Dowager Xuan wanted to settle the matter peacefully, but Luo Zheng did not.

He looked around at everyone, and finally looked at Empress Dowager Xuan, who was ruling from behind the curtain, and said in a firm and resounding voice.

"His Majesty has unfortunately passed away. Did he leave any last words? Now that the Lord of Pingliang has rebelled and the Wei-Zheng allied forces are besieging the city, we should quickly enthrone a new king, stabilize the court, and fight against enemies both inside and outside the country!"

"Does Lord Hanyang intend to establish himself as ruler?"

Marquis Xiang squinted and asked.

"This is not to establish ourselves independently, but merely to quell the unrest. We urge the Empress Dowager to summon all the princes to the palace."

Luo Zhengyi replied sternly and firmly.

Empress Dowager Xuan was dissatisfied, but Fan Ze's defection emboldened Lord Hanyang.

She had no choice but to comply, wanting to see what Lord Hanyang was planning to do.

When Prince Fei and Prince Cheng entered the palace.

Okay, that's all.

Young Master Fei was thin and gloomy, while Young Master Cheng was fat with a big head and big ears.

In an instant, Luo Zheng's divine and extraordinary appearance was highlighted to the fullest.

High judgment.

Luo Zheng asked the two men for their strategy to defeat the enemy.

Gongzi Cheng stammered and couldn't answer, while Gongzi Fei sneered, indicating that even Luo Zheng himself didn't know, yet he was making things difficult for him.

"Who says I don't know?"

Luo Zheng smiled slightly; this was the moment he had been waiting for.

He spoke fluently and confidently.

"Before I returned, I had already dispatched my general Bai Jian with 50,000 troops to Chencang to block the rebel army from Xiliang and temporarily keep Guanzhong safe. As for the Wei-Zheng allied forces, we only need to send one general to defend the pass, and the allied forces will retreat without a fight."

"..."

Everyone stared wide-eyed.

Only then did they realize that Lord Hanyang had come around Chencang and had prepared in advance for Lord Pingliang's Xiliang cavalry.

In other words, the safety of Guanzhong largely depended on Lord Hanyang.

"In the opinion of Lord Hanyang, who should be king? If Prince Fei is king, we can seek help from the powerful Chu; if Prince Cheng is king, we can appease the hearts of Wei and Zheng."

The foreign ministers of Wei, Zheng, and Chu asked in return.

"Our Great Liang is at the height of its power; why should we need the interference of other countries?"

Luo Zheng smiled wryly.

He suddenly lifted his brocade robe, revealing a gleaming sword at his waist.

"The State of Chu is already struggling to take care of itself, and distant water cannot quench a nearby fire. The States of Wei and Zheng may seem powerful, but in reality, they are unlikely to be of one mind."

"If you wish to quell this chaos, the current court—"

"Who else but me?"

Luo Zheng stood tall and proud in the court, looking down on all the officials, displaying the demeanor of a hegemon.

The crowd was stunned by Luo Zheng's imposing presence and remained speechless for a moment.

But Luo Zheng continued speaking.

"Besides, the decision of who succeeds to the throne is not up to you or me, but to the King."

He revealed his final trump card, summoning Zhonglang Teng Mian to the palace.

"Your subject Teng Mian pays respects to the Empress Dowager and the Lord of Hanyang."

Teng Mian bowed respectfully.

He then presented the dying wish of the King of Liang to everyone.

"By order of the King, the throne shall be passed to Prince Zheng, with the Queen Mother, the Chancellor, and the Marquis of Xiang serving as regents."

……

The meeting is over.

The officials were still reflecting on everything that had happened in the court.

Luo Zheng had already left the main hall and headed straight for the inner palace.

The dying wish brought by Teng Mian was real, but it was left by the King of Liang before he fell seriously ill, and originally there was no mention of the Empress Dowager and others.

Luo Zheng asked Teng Mian to add the second half of the sentence in order to reduce obstacles.

After all, a true man can bend and stretch.

Once I ascend to the throne, I can deal with them however I please.

In the end, Luo Zheng was confirmed as the successor, but because of his young age, the Empress Dowager and others continued to assist him in governing.

The difference from his predetermined fate is that he now holds great power.

While pondering.

Luo Zheng had arrived at the familiar palace.

From a distance, two women in palace attire stood under the palace gate, craning their necks in anticipation.

It refers to Zhao Ji and Xia Ji.

Luo Zheng couldn't help but smile.

Just as he was about to greet them, Zhao Ji and Xia Ji noticed him and immediately transformed into two fragrant breezes that rushed over.

Luo Zheng had no choice but to open his arms and catch the two of them.

Zhao Ji and Xia Ji rushed into Luo Zheng's arms, sobbing aggrievedly.

Luo Zheng thought the two had been bullied, so he quickly showed concern for them.

"Mother, who bullied you? I'll stand up for you!"

"It's all because of you, Zheng'er..."

Xia Ji wiped away her tears.

"..."

Ok.

Luo Zheng chose to remain obedient and let Zhao Ji and Xia Ji vent their frustrations.

Once the two calmed down and realized their rudeness, they became embarrassed and pulled Luo Zheng into the house.

Once inside, Zhao Ji and Xia Ji, one on each side, couldn't help but scold and complain about Luo Zheng.

"You promised to come back often, but you haven't come back even once. Mother thought you didn't want me anymore, Zheng'er."

"But the plank road was burned down... and I've been sending you letters all the time, haven't I?"

"Nothing is better than Zheng'er coming back in person. When the King was critically ill, Empress Dowager Xuan controlled the harem. We were so afraid and couldn't even find someone to rely on..."

"I didn't arrange for Teng Mian to help you deflect both open and covert attacks..."

"Zheng'er has grown up now and he can talk back."

"..."

Luo Zheng remained silent, simply enduring the scolding.

After Zhao Ji and Xia Ji had finished complaining, they pulled Luo Zheng to his feet and circled around him.

He examined it closely.

"I heard from the palace maids that you, Zheng'er, were so valiant and impressive in court that you captivated all the officials and ministers. Now it seems that it is indeed true."

"Yes, Zheng'er has really grown up. He's gotten taller and stronger. He used to be shorter than me, but now I'm only a little taller than his shoulder."

"Not only has he grown taller, but Zheng'er has also become much more masculine and handsome. I wonder how many women will be captivated by him."

"There are rumors circulating outside the palace that Zheng'er is indulging in extravagance and debauchery in Hanyang..."

"Zheng'er has matured now. Has he taken a concubine in Hanyang?"

Zhao Ji and Xia Ji suddenly asked.

"..."

Luo Zheng felt ashamed.

Why did this question come up?

It was just a simple greeting, but when I met Zhao Ji and Xia Ji's kind gaze, I felt a strange sense of suffocation.

To be honest, this isn't a life-or-death question...

"Uh... well, um..."

Luo Zheng scratched his cheek awkwardly.

After much deliberation, I had no choice but to reluctantly decide that it would be better to die sooner rather than later.

"I rescued a woman in Hanyang. She was all alone and had no one to take care of her, so I had no choice but to reluctantly take her as my concubine..."

"Zheng'er has taken a concubine..."

Zhao Ji and Xia Ji stared blankly.

Countless thoughts flashed through his eyes in an instant.

It seemed like pain, sorrow, melancholy, and jealousy...

Finally, it turned into a forced, fake smile.

"Zheng'er has indeed reached the age to take a concubine. When will you bring her back? Mother wants to see what kind of woman Zheng'er would like."

"So it was just taking a concubine. I thought Zheng'er had taken a bride as a bride-to-be..."

"..."

Luo Zheng was drenched in sweat.

He secretly deleted Mrs. Qing from his contacts.

The chat history was also wiped from my mind.

"Zheng'er, why are you sweating so much on your forehead?"

"Hehe... It's nothing, I was just a little nervous thinking about what happened in court just now..."

Luo Zheng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and skillfully changed the subject.

As expected, Zhao Ji and Xia Ji were concerned about him and immediately began to inquire about him with concern.

Luo Zheng downplayed the matter.

Upon learning of Luo Zheng's resounding victory, Zhao Ji and Xia Ji breathed a sigh of relief and felt much more at ease.

"Not long ago, Prime Minister Zhao wanted us to accept his favor, but Mother remembered what Zheng'er said before he left, so she refused."

"Mother once said that we should listen to Zheng'er, so we don't trust anyone but Zheng'er."

Zhao Ji and Xia Ji gently embraced Luo Zheng and whispered to each other.

"Now that the King has passed away and has broken with Zhao Xiang, we have no one else but Zheng'er. We entrust the future to you, Zheng'er."

"Don't worry, Mother. As long as I live, I will protect you."

Luo Zheng gently hugged the two of them back.

As fate would have it, Liang King Zheng remained in Xianyang and, with Zhao Wei's help, became a puppet emperor.

The court was controlled by powerful ministers and relatives of the empress, while outside, the Prince of Pingliang was like a hungry wolf eyeing the country.

This led to years of internal strife in the Liang Kingdom, and Zhao Ji and Xia Ji were also manipulated, dying one after another in this long-lasting civil war.

Luo Zheng would never allow such a thing to actually happen.

He wanted to achieve complete success in one battle.

Seize power in the Liang Kingdom as quickly as possible.

……

In the following days, Luo Zheng, as the Crown Prince, took over the administration of the court.

He first went to see Teng Mian to ensure that the palace was under his control.

Afterwards, he personally went to visit Zhao Wei, feigning politeness to keep him calm.

He then secretly met with Fan Ze.

This old man is Zhao Wei's political enemy, but not Luo Zheng's mortal enemy.

It will still have value in the future.

Of course, Luo Zheng did not forget to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Xuan.

The powerful relatives of Chu, represented by Empress Dowager Xuan and Marquis Xiang, were the most influential force in Liang.

Not to mention Xuan Luo, the most mediocre of the four generals, who is still working under the command of Xiang Hou, the Grand Commandant.

Luo Zheng used his encounter with Shen Xie in Hanyang as a starting point to bring the two closer.

They expressed their willingness to establish friendly relations with the State of Chu.

They also promised to form a marriage alliance with the State of Chu in the future.

As for Madam Wei...

Luo Zheng also took some time to go and check it out.

Contrary to the impression of her as mean and jealous.

Madam Wei was surprisingly easy to talk to.

Thus, Luo Zheng briefly smoothed over relations between various factions and completely seized control of the court.

The first problem to solve is the pincer attack by the rebel army of Xiliang and the Wei-Zheng allied forces.

News has come from the east that the Wei-Zheng allied forces have broken through Hangu Pass.

"The Marquis of Xiang said with a dark face."

Luo Zhengfu's forehead.

Are you sure you're not joking?

Even with Bai Jian holding out, Hangu Pass was breached?

"Hangu Pass cannot be lost. We must send General Xuanluo to repel the Wei-Zheng allied forces and retake Hangu Pass."

Luo Zheng made a decisive decision.

Marquis Xiang nodded in agreement, and then immediately brought up another matter.

"Xuanlu led his troops to repel the Wei-Zheng coalition, leaving the west with only limited support to deal with the Xiliang rebels."

The implication is that Luo Zheng's Hanyang Army was the only main force against the Xiliang cavalry.

Marquis Xiang had serious doubts about whether the relatively unknown Bai Jian could hold out until reinforcements arrived.

"Lord Xiang, do not worry, I have great faith in General Bai Jian's abilities."

Luo Zheng feigned confidence and vouched for his subordinates.

Although he doubted whether Bai Jian could hold out, he even sent Yang Zheng's three thousand elite cavalry back to provide reinforcements.

Even if he was an incompetent general, he was still loyal to him.

As the ruler, his job was to protect the other side as much as possible and maintain stability in the rear.

This allows them to focus on fighting on the front lines with peace of mind.

Although Marquis Xiang had his doubts, seeing Luo Zheng's confidence, he said nothing more.

In any case, losing would damage Luo Zheng's prestige.

A few days later, while everyone was discussing the war in the court, an urgent report suddenly came from the west.

Luo Zheng felt a little uneasy when he thought about the guarantee he had made a couple of days ago.

Holy crap, the tables have turned so fast, right?

"I hereby inform the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince, and all gentlemen that a battle report has arrived from Chencang."

The messenger said breathlessly.

"Lord Pingliang... the rebels of Western Liang..."

"But have the rebels from Xiliang entered Guanzhong?"

Empress Dowager Xuan voiced the concerns of the court officials.

"No...it's Lord Pingliang...the Western Liang rebels...they've been defeated!"

The messenger took a deep breath and reported loudly.

"Our army has achieved a great victory!"

"ah?!!"

The entire court was in an uproar; everyone was stunned.

Luo Zheng was also completely bewildered.

Did Bai Jian win?

They still won by a large margin.

Isn't this a slap in the face?

Could it be that Bai Jian's talent is actually that he will always win when things are going well?