Chapter 120 - 118: Titled King Over a Split Land
Soon, Zhuang Ren, clad in armor and wielding a sword, walked in and got straight to the point.
"Everyone, this time, we’re going to welcome the Fifth Prince. Be alert and don’t let anything go wrong. If you inadvertently displease the Prince, even Immortals can’t save you!"
"Prince?!"
The Patrol Captains all felt a chill in their hearts.
They hadn’t expected that a Prince from the Imperial Palace would be coming.
Some less informed Patrol Captains looked bewildered.
They couldn’t understand why such a high and noble Prince would come to such a remote place like Donglai Prefecture.
A few Patrol Captains were thoughtful.
They suspected that their Lord Governor came from the Imperial Court and might be backed by a Prince.
Now the truth was revealed, confirming their suspicions that it was indeed the Fifth Prince backing their Lord Governor.
"It’s the crucial moment to vie for the throne; what’s the Fifth Prince doing here?" Zhou Sixin murmured softly.
Beside him, Song Changming was thoughtful.
The news that the Third Prince was about to ascend the throne had yet to reach Donglai Prefecture; not everyone was aware of it.
But Song Changming had already learned of it in advance through Liu Dingsheng.
It wasn’t hard to guess that the victorious Third Prince would not tolerate his other four brothers vying for the throne with him.
The Imperial Capital was no longer safe, so the Fifth Prince fled to this remote Donglai Prefecture as a refuge, which was understandable.
"It’s truly not good news..."
Following Zhuang Ren, Song Changming mounted his horse, still pondering in his heart.
The arrival of the Fifth Prince was bound to stir up the originally peaceful Donglai Prefecture.
Once the Third Prince ascends as the new Emperor of the Da Han Dynasty and commands the imperial army, will he leave the Fifth Prince here in Donglai Prefecture alone...?
Song Changming could almost visualize the wars that would erupt in Donglai Prefecture afterward.
The scale of this battle, looking back at the past few decades of Donglai Prefecture, would likely be the largest and most brutal!
"Well, we’ll take it one step at a time," Song Changming sighed inwardly.
If chaos was destined to fall upon the land, he only wished to protect his family from the ravages of war.
That day.
Even the Governor was riding a tall horse, personally leading the Patrol Guard galloping out of the city.
The Captain led the army stationed on the official road outside the city gates, flanking in welcome.
Song Changming rode his horse, following behind Zhuang Ren, and soon spotted a long convoy of military carts and horses several kilometers away, coming down the official road.
"Slow down!" Zhuang Ren raised his hand, and several hundred Patrol Guards slowed their pace accordingly.
Until they met the military convoy coming head-on, the Governor immediately dismounted, walked briskly forward, and bowed at a distance of several hundred meters to the golden carriage.
"Governor of Donglai, Li Yan, respectfully welcomes the arrival of the Fifth Prince!"
The Governor’s voice was loud and clear, reaching into the carriage.
"Your Highness, the Governor of Donglai is here," a Personal Guard outside the luxurious carriage reported.
"Oh, it’s Li Yan, well-meaning of him. Let him lead the way ahead, we’ll talk about anything after I rest in the city." A lazy voice came from inside the carriage.
Accompanied by some feminine whispers.
"Yes." The Personal Guard remained calm and went to execute the orders.
Soon, the convoy started moving again; the Governor intended to greet the Fifth Prince, but was blocked by the Personal Guard, and could only return to the front of the convoy to lead the way.
Song Changming looked at the long convoy brought by the Fifth Prince, afraid it was guarded by ten thousand elite soldiers!
Like an ironclad formation, no one along the way would dare provoke such an imperial army!
Song Changming was also somewhat curious about what the high and noble Prince looked like.
But unfortunately, even their Governor couldn’t see him, so it was even less likely for them, the subordinates.
No incident occurred along the way, and the army smoothly entered the city.
The Governor had already prepared a residence for the Prince, located behind the Governor’s Mansion.
This mansion was crafted from scratch by the finest artisans gathered in the county, built piece by piece.
It commenced construction a year ago.
Originally, Song Changming thought that the Governor didn’t like the Xiao Family’s old mansion and was building a larger and more luxurious one for himself.
Now it seems clear that this grand mansion was specifically constructed a year ago for the arrival of the Fifth Prince.
"Boring, they’re just making us go through the motions, what’s the point..." Zhou Sixin grumbled upon returning to the General Department.
The Prince’s Mansion scarcely needed their Patrol Guard for defense.
The Prince’s entourage of guards had already arranged the mansion so densely that even a mouse couldn’t squirm through.
Among the palace experts, just a glance from afar made Song Changming’s heart inexplicably pound.
It was like his body’s instincts warning him, as if an ordinary person faced with a beast; these people were all powerful beings he couldn’t afford to provoke.
A second glance would feel explosive.
Given the prestige of the imperial family, it is hardly difficult for them to gather a group of loyal and exceptionally skilled warriors as personal guards.
Conversely, it would be unusual if there weren’t such formidable individuals constantly protecting their safety.
"Still not strong enough..."
Song Changming sighed inwardly, increasingly feeling that Donglai Prefecture was becoming more dangerous.
It was as if a once peaceful little fish pond had suddenly been invaded by tiger sharks and dragons.
The former harmony was gone for good.
That evening, in the private room of Huaman Building.
Song Changming looked at Lu Zheng in front of him, feeling a strong sense of emotion.
"After being away for nearly two years, I didn’t expect to have a day to return." Even someone as reticent as Lu Zheng couldn’t help but express a rare sigh while drinking with Song Changming.
"Brother Lu, I imagine you’ve experienced quite a lot." Song Changming noticed a long scar on Lu Zheng’s neck.
This was undoubtedly acquired after leaving Donglai Prefecture.
Though it appeared to be an old scar, its location was quite life-threatening.
Had this wound been any deeper, he probably wouldn’t be seeing Lu Zheng today.
Lu Zheng downed a large bowl of clear wine, then nodded and said, "After leaving Donglai Prefecture and venturing into the outside world, only then did I realize how vast the world is and filled with experts. My skills don’t even rank."
As he spoke, Lu Zheng touched the scar on his neck and said, "I’ve gained from this wound."
"Gained?" Song Changming raised his eyebrows, looking at him with some confusion.
"Gained a lesson and an insight into life and death..." Lu Zheng said slowly.
Song Changming nodded; he too had experienced life-and-death moments twice and understood somewhat what Lu Zheng meant.
It’s likely that whether in mindset or skill, Lu Zheng had significantly improved from this life-and-death experience, hence saying he gained from it.
In fact, upon meeting again, Song Changming could sense the various changes in Lu Zheng, not just the obvious scar.
His essence, qi, and spirit had also become more restrained and composed. If Lu Zheng had been a war saber brandished in the past, advancing forward invincibly,
now, Lu Zheng is a concealed saber in its sheath; before it is drawn, one cannot fathom how sharp and powerful it is.
As the two conversed and drank, Song Changming gradually came to understand more about Lu Zheng’s experiences after following Gu Wenhui to the Imperial Capital.
Song Changming downed a cup of wine, then suddenly said, "So Lord Gu lost the gamble?"
In his view, Gu Wenhui sided with the Fifth Prince, but now the Third Prince was about to ascend to the throne, while the Fifth Prince fled to Donglai Prefecture.
Going by this outcome, it was clear that Gu Wenhui lost his bet.
"No." Lu Zheng shook his wine bowl and shook his head, "Lord Gu foresaw long ago that the Third Prince would ascend to the throne."
"Then why?" Song Changming was puzzled.
Knowing the Third Prince would become emperor, yet not choosing him, what was the reason?
"Firstly, the Third Prince’s power was already established at that time. Even if Brother Gu joined him, it might not count as adding a glamor. Secondly, Brother Gu never intended to earn the achievement of supporting a prince to the throne; he had other plans." Lu Zheng explained briefly.
As for what Gu Wenhui’s other plans were, Lu Zheng did not disclose any further, and Song Changming prudently did not inquire more.
After all, it was a major issue for them, and for Lu Zheng to share this much was already quite generous.
There wasn’t any possibility for more details.
Song Changming initially wanted to ask more about the Fifth Prince, but Lu Zheng didn’t have much information either, only knowing that the Fifth Prince wasn’t merely avoiding the Third Prince’s pursuit in fleeing to Donglai Prefecture.
Instead, he intended to use Donglai Prefecture as a base to stage a comeback!
Simply put, the Fifth Prince still wanted to stir up trouble, unwilling to let go of the throne so easily.
"Changming, be prepared from now on; Donglai Prefecture is no longer the same." Lu Zheng said solemnly.
"Hmm, I know." Song Changming nodded.
This is more than just different.
The Fifth Prince marched into County City so ostentatiously, in the most straightforward way, informing everyone that this place was now his.
From then on, all of Donglai Prefecture was to be marked as an imperial domain.
Furthermore, if this Fifth Prince went to extremes, directly dividing the land and declaring kingship without regard for the rule of the Imperial Court of the Imperial Capital, openly opposing the Third Prince, the consequences would be unspeakable.
It would be like roasting the entire Donglai Prefecture over open flames.
In light of this, Song Changming indeed needs to prepare.
Not just mentally, but also with practical actions.
If in the future Donglai Prefecture becomes a turbulent place, he must also quickly find a way for himself to leave, ensuring a way out for the future.
As for following this so-called Fifth Prince to build achievements and careers, he never considered it.
Not to mention that the Fifth Prince he’s never met might not be a true wise sovereign, worthy of his service.
He hasn’t had any grand ambitions in that regard.
The reason he’s in the government as a military officer is to rise steadily in times of peace, to enjoy wealth and prosperity, rather than to risk his life for great achievements in troubled times.
Unless he possesses the power to walk through chaos unscathed, he must prioritize safety and peace above all.
Seek fortune and avoid misfortune, to secure a place of tranquility in tumultuous times as much as possible.
...