Chapter 348 Storm Arises Again
Lanyue Marquis Residence.
When Mingde Emperor succeeded the throne, the princes who vied for the throne against him were enfeoffed with the title of Prince, and sent to their own fiefs of land. Later, after the case of Langya Prince’s rebellion, Mingde Emperor banished all his remaining brothers. Now, in the entire Heavenly Revelations City, only his youngest brother, Lanyue Marquis was left. Lanyue Marquis was Tai’an Emperor’s youngest prince. His consort mother was very close to Mingde Emperor’s consort mother, so Lanyue Marquis had always followed behind Mingde Emperor and Langya Prince from a young age. He was brought up by them and his relationship with them was naturally different from the rest.
"Back then, His Majesty banished all his other brothers but let me stay here. Do you know why?" Lanyue Marquis sat looking at the chessboard, holding a black stone in his hand.
"Huang-shu was brought up by my imperial father. He’s like a brother and a father to you." Xiao Se sat facing him holding a white stone in his hand.
"There’s that too. But more accurately, it’s because in His Majesty’s heart, I will never compete with him for all under Heaven. The rest of the Princes, each and every one of them were ambitious like wolves. They were constantly plotting behind his back and if they stayed in Heavenly Revelations, they’d only cause trouble." Lanyue Marquis placed his black stone on the board. "But I won't, and he trusts me. Langya wang-xiong also won’t, and he trusted him too. This kind of trust was built over decades, not overnight."
"Then why was there that case four years ago?" Xiao Se frowned slightly, and put down his own stone.
"Once a person sits in that position, they will change. Moreover, Langya wang-xiong was indeed too much like an excellent emperor. In history, anyone whose merits could threaten the throne never ended well," Lanyue Marquis said faintly.
"Is that why over the years, no matter how talented or passionate huang-shu was, you always acted in defiance of convention so as to hide your own brilliance?" Xiao Se said softly as he looked at the chessboard.
"I’ve always loved poetry and drinking, and I’m stunningly beautiful. This is not an act. This is me." Lanyue Marquis placed another stone. "When I carried out my duties as the regent of state, I did my best without the slightest reservation. All the government officials and people were full of praise too. You’re not being fair to me."
"Alright. Since huang-shu, you have the heart for the country and the people, I will tell huang-shu something," Xiao Se said solemnly.
Lanyue Marquis had just picked up a stone and he put it back. "What is it?"
"In a month’s time, an army will arrive at the city gates. Heavenly Revelations is facing imminent danger," Xiao Se said slowly.
Lanyue Marquis was taken aback for a moment, then he smiled. "So serious? What soldiers, hm? What army will arrive at the city gates."
"Langya Army," Xiao Se said each word slowly and clearly.
"Langya Army? Is there still a Langya Army in this world?" Lanyue Marquis said mildly.
"What is currently Ye Xiaoying's Beili Central Army, add in Langya Prince, and you will have the Langya Army of the past," Xiao Se said.
Lanyue Marquis raised an eyebrow. "So, even now, those people have yet to give up."
"Two hundred miles out of Heavenly Revelations City, the Wang Li Heavenly Army has 20,000 men. I believe the Tiger Tally is in His Majesty’s hands, but I’m guessing, it’s now in huang-shu’s hands." Xiao Se raised his head and looked at Lanyue Marquis.
Lanyue Marquis nodded. "Yes. When His Majesty fell seriously ill, he gave me the Tiger Tally. He also gave me his halves of the Tiger Tallies for the three Armies."
"Looks like my imperial father really trusts huang-shu very much." Xiao Se nodded. "The Wang Li Heavenly Army has 20,000 men, the Imperial Army has 3,000 men, Heavenly Revelations City has 8,000 soldiers, plus 1,200 Brave Tiger Guards. All up, that’s over 30,000 men. But, the Langya Army has about 200,000 soldiers. In the art of war, when your enemy outnumbers you by ten to one, they will besiege and annihilate. We’re in a defensive position in the city so even if we fight with 30,000 against their 200,000, we won’t be easily defeated."
"You seem to have disregarded my three halves of Tiger Tallies." Lanyue Marquis frowned slightly.
"When the time comes, the Central Army Tiger Tally will be a piece of scrap metal. Once the Langya Army gathers, the Beili Central Army will no longer exist. When the soldiers of the Langya Army are at the gates of Heavenly Revelations, the Upper Army and the Lower Army can naturally lead their troops here in the name of saving the country! According to the law, by then, the Tiger Tallies in huang-shu’s hands will also become useless," Xiao Se said slowly.
"So, what you’re saying is that the Tiger Tallies in my hands are all useless?" Lanyue Marquis shook his head helplessly. "When the time comes, the Langya Army will be at our doorstep. We seal the city and defend. In the end, both sides will suffer great losses. Then, the other two armies will rise up in the name of saving the country, sweep up the remnants of the Langya Army outside the city, then force us to open the city gates?"
"We would have driven away a ferocious tiger only to let in two hungry wolves." Xiao Se nodded. "Although the tiger is ferocious, it has the style of nobility. The hungry wolves, though, they’ll eat us up and not even spit out a bone."
"His Majesty has no military might." Lanyue Marquis shook his head. "If Langya wang-xiong were still here, this would never happen. The general can lead the army, but the Emperor must stabilise all under Heaven."
"If it were only the two generals acting on their own, they wouldn’t dare do this. Standing behind them must be someone from the Xiao Clan imperial family. In Heavenly Revelations City, there are a few little Princes, and outside, there are another seven or eight old Princes. As long as his surname is Xiao, he can be the Emperor." Xiao Se stood up and looked up at the sky. "But if he can’t, he’ll have to die."
"Do you need the Tiger Tally in my hands?" Lanyue Marquis solemnly.
"I have a bold idea." Xiao Se turned around and said, "I wonder if huang-shu is willing to listen?"
"Will it help me to repel an army of 200,000?" Lanyue Marquis chuckled.
"The Langya Army has 200,000, the Upper Army has 160,000, and the Lower Army has 140,000. I can help you repel an army of 500,000!" Xiao Se declared loudly.
Outside Heavenly Revelations City.
Two horses trotted in slowly.
The two riders were both carrying a large bookcase on their backs, dressed in white, and holding a book in their hands, pretending to read it seriously. If it weren't for the fact that the two men had not a single iota of resemblance, they would definitely have been mistaken for father and son.
Two fully-grown men were sitting on their horses, but the one walking ahead and leading the two horses was actually a child who looked less than ten years old. The child was wearing old clothes while leading two big horses on his own, looking rather pitiful.
"Young master, where are we going?" The page boy asked lazily.
The young scholar put down the book in his hand. "Wasn’t it written on the map given to us by the grandmasters? We go to Heavenly Revelations City, Directorate of Astronomy."
The page boy clicked his tongue impatiently with a ‘tsk’ sound. "I know it says Directorate of Astronomy, but do you know how to get there?"
"This is also my first time in Heavenly Revelations. How would I know? How about we go have a drink at Diaolou Mansion first?" The young scholar smiled.
"Coming to Heavenly Revelations, you must first go to the Directorate of Astronomy and pay your respects to the State Preceptor. Don’t worry, I’m very familiar with Heavenly Revelations City." The middle-aged scholar smiled. "Follow me."
"Shifu, you’re familiar with everywhere we go!" The young scholar exclaimed in awe.
"I left home to study at the age of seven. For thirty years, the world was my home and I travelled to all places under Heaven. Of course I’ve seen more of the world than you two. Over ten years ago, I was invited to Heavenly Revelations, and spent a few years as the Chancellor of the academy. Back then, I loved to visit the State Preceptor. The Directorate of Astronomy is this way." The middle-aged scholar pointed to the right.
"It's this way." A kind-sounding voice suddenly drifted into their ears, as if coming from a long distance away. However, the citizens around them didn’t seem to hear anything odd.
The middle-aged scholar looked to the left and smiled. "Did I remember wrongly?"
"Mister Chancellor didn’t remember wrongly. It’s been over ten years and the Directorate of Astronomy has opened another official residence." The kind voice drifted over from afar.
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