Chapter 415: Upright Justice to Thank the World

Xibei Daying.

Fifty thousand troops stood in orderly ranks, the soldiers grouping in threes and fives, clutching bowls and eating heartily.

Countless medicinal herbs and clean hemp cloths were constantly carried into the wounded soldiers' tents.

A long‑missed smile appeared on the soldiers' faces.

Xiao Yuanhang looked at the scene before him, a slow smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Xiao Ningxun stepped up to him: "Father, His Majesty's personally penned Edict on Suppressing the Rebellion has already been copied many times and dispatched to various regions by the Tianji Pavilion."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "Once this Edict on Suppressing the Rebellion is pasted on every city gate and street, the heads of Chen Wang and Qing Wang will surely feel the pain."

"Exactly," Xiao Ningxun laughed, "they can spin endless lies, and we can of course set the record straight. Moreover, the Edict on Suppressing the Rebellion bears the jade seal on every copy."

"Which side is legitimate will be crystal‑clear to the scholars and the enlightened common folk across the land after they read it."

"Make even more copies and shoot them into the rebel camp across with arrows!"

"Fine!"

As father and son spoke, a crisp burst of laughter rang from afar.

Tuan Tuan was chasing a colorful‑feathered mountain chicken across the camp.

The chicken, startled by her, hopped erratically and plunged headfirst into a pile of dry straw, leaving only its rear exposed.

"Miss! Catch it!" several young soldiers watched with smiles.

Gongsun Yue slipped to the other side of the straw pile: "Tuan Tuan, I'll block it for you so it can't escape this way."

Xiao Er and Lu Qi watched the two youngsters with earnest faces and couldn't help rolling their eyes—after all, it's just a chicken!

"Uh‑uh!" Tuan Tuan's little face flushed as she crouched beside the straw pile, carefully reaching out to grab.

The chicken suddenly burst out, flinging feathers onto her face, ignored Gongsun Yue entirely, and cackled away.

"Ouch!" Tuan Tuan plopped onto the ground, pointing at the fleeing chicken, "Aren't you a chicken? Why can you fly? Cheating!"

A chorus of laughter erupted.

Xiao Er hurried over, helped Tuan Tuan to her feet, and brushed the dust from her.

Xiao Ningchen was practicing with his spear not far away and shook his head helplessly at the scene.

The father and son exchanged a smile; wherever Tuan Tuan was, laughter followed.

News from the Tianji Pavilion spread like wildfire; within days, from north to south, city gates and streets were plastered with the Edict on Suppressing the Rebellion stamped with the jade seal.

"Da Xia repeatedly violated the border passes, slaughtered civilians; Prince Ning Xiao Yuanhang led his army into a bloody battle, crushing the enemy, until Emperor of Xia Gongsun Chi perished amid the chaotic troops."

"I personally led troops to aid the border passes; the rebels Chen Sheng and Xiao Jichang, however, seized the empty capital, colluded with the Empress Dowager, forged an edict to usurp the throne, and wreaked havoc on the capital—an unspeakable crime."

"Now my forces and Prince Ning's army have assembled in the northwest and shattered a rebel force of 120,000 at Luoyan Slope."

"All loyal and valiant subjects may head to the northwest to unite, and together restore the rivers and mountains!"

The realm trembled, a roar of astonishment spreading.

The common folk began to chatter:

"Did you hear? The Emperor has issued the Edict on Suppressing the Rebellion!"

"Who doesn't know? It's on every city gate, every magistrate's office, every street—stamped with the jade seal!"

"Exactly! The officers and soldiers are busy tearing them down, but so many have already seen them—what's the point of tearing them up?"

"What on earth is happening? The border war—one moment they say we lost, the next they claim we won?"

"Right! Didn't the earlier notice say Prince Ning fled the battlefield?"

"Fleeing in battle? Prince Ning has fought his whole life; when has he ever run? If he had, the people of Da Xia would have already marched in by now!"

"Indeed! If Prince Ning had run, how could the Emperor of Xia die amid the chaotic troops?"

"So it was Qing Wang and Chen Wang who, while His Majesty led troops to the border, seized the capital—that's outright treason!"

The officials also discussed:

"The wording of this edict is blunt, almost colloquial; it likely didn't come from a Hanlin scholar."

"It is a notice to the people, so it should be concise."

"Qing Wang and Chen Wang, two feudal princes, colluded with the Empress Dowager to depose and install a ruler—this act is fundamentally against humanity!"

"The original notice never dared to specify His Majesty's whereabouts; it merely smeared Prince Ning."

"Now that I think of it, isn't this suspicious?"

"Exactly! A true man born under heaven cannot sit idle while traitors ravage the realm. I'll go to the northwest tomorrow to request an audience with His Majesty!"

"I'll go too!"

"Count me in!"

A few days later, first the nearby villagers, daring enough, carried several baskets of eggs and a few pairs of cloth shoes, left them outside the Main Camp, and fled.

Later hunters arrived, bearing freshly killed wild boars, and delivered them into the camp.

Countless aspiring individuals arrived at Xibei Daying one after another.

"Tuan Tuan!" a familiar voice called out.

Tuan Tuan looked up: "Sister Luo! Grandpa! Uncle Luo! Why are you here?"

It was the young leader of the Canal Gang, Luo Zhenjiang, and the father‑daughter pair of the Bridgehead Gang.

She ran over with a rapid patter, grabbing Luo Hongli in a tight hug.

Luo Hongli patted her head: "Little girl, we came looking for you!"

"We saw the Edict on Suppressing the Rebellion in Jiangzhou, learned that Prince Ning was here, and guessed you must be here as well."

Tuan Tuan happily grabbed her hand to go find Xiao Ningxun: "Third Brother! Sister Luo and the others are here!"

Old friends reunited, overjoyed.

After hearing Xiao Ningxun recount the whole saga of the border war, several of them sighed in amazement.

Luo Zhenyue and Luo Zhenjiang bowed their fists and said, "Third Young Master, if there's anything we can help with, please feel free to speak."

Luo Hongli held Tuan Tuan and asked, "Little girl, what would you like to eat?"

"Sister came in a hurry this time and didn't bring any tasty food, but since I know you're here, whatever you want, sister will get it for you!"

Tuan Tuan's little head drooped: "Sister Luo, I miss mother. They are still in Jingcheng, locked up by villains."

Luo Hongli looked at Xiao Ningxun: "What's this?"

Xiao Ningxun sighed and recounted the matter of the Prince's Mansion.

Luo Zhenjiang, upon hearing, exclaimed, "These beasts! To treat the families of meritorious officials like this!"

"Third Young Master, as long as it's a waterway, the Canal Gang can handle it; Jingcheng's An Ding River is the main route for transporting grain into the city."

"As for people, as long as they're alive they need grain; I can lead people via the waterways into Jingcheng to gather information."

Xiao Ningxun rejoiced, "Excellent! Thank you, Luo, the gang leader!"

Luo Zhenyue asked, "Are we still short of provisions? Our Bridgehead Gang can work with the Canal Gang brothers to bring the grain ashore, then hand it to the Horse Gang to transport here."

Xiao Ningxun was even more delighted; the provisions needed for tens of thousands are huge, and the Horse Gang members are truly busy.

"Please stay for a day; I will send someone to inform Brother Xie, the leader of the Horse Gang, and we will meet again this evening."

Tuan Tuan looked around: "Where is Brother Jiu? I'll go fetch Brother Jiu! Okay? Sister Luo."

Luo Hongli's face flushed.

Xiao Ningxun saw this and said, "Attendants! Please have the guests rest first."

"Yes!"

That evening, Prince Ning personally held a banquet, entertained these Jianghu allies, and arranged everything properly.

Leaders of three Jianghu sects—one from the south, one from the north, and another—met for the first time and felt an instant kinship.

Xiao Ran hid in the tent, pretending he was not there.

The next day, after seeing them off, Chu Yuan entered Xiao Yuanhang's main tent.

"Prince, I, a humble monk, intend to return to the Guoshi Residence."

Tuan Tuan hurriedly went over and grabbed his hand: "Master! Please don't go!"

Chu Yuan patted her little head: "They dare not touch the Guoshi Residence; I will just say I have returned from wandering the clouds."

"I will go back first; when you later enter Jingcheng, I can then assist."

Tuan Tuan burrowed into his arms without speaking, simply reluctant to let go.

Xiao Yuanhang exchanged a glance with his sons, all nodding; Chu Yuan's words were indeed reasonable.

Xiao Ran stepped to the desk, picked up the brush: "National Preceptor, please deliver this letter to Chen Hao."

Xiao Ningchen furrowed his brow: "Chen Hao? That son of Chen Wang?"

Xiao Ran wrote while saying, "Chen Hao was my study companion, grew up with me. He is not close to Chen Wang, I trust him."

Xiao Ningxun pondered briefly: "Chen Hao has been in Jingcheng for years; indeed he is not close to Chen Wang."

"But his father, the prince, this time is charged with the grave crime of treason; his situation is delicate, he may not be willing to help us."

"He will!" Tuan Tuan suddenly said, "Brother Chen Hao is a very good person!"

Xiao Ran nodded: "Tuan Tuan is right."

Xiao Yuanhang said, "Since Tuan Tuan says it's possible, then we trouble the National Preceptor."

In the days that followed, provisions were plentiful, people's hearts rallied, and the Main Camp became livelier each day.

That evening, the camp's bonfire blazed, and the scent of meat filled the air.

Soldiers beat their shields and sang hometown ballads.

Suddenly, a swift horse arrived at the Main Camp gate, delivering the notice that everyone in Jingcheng already knows.

Xiao Yuanhang read aloud: "…At the third quarter of noon, outside the Zhengyang Gate, the Ning Prince's household will be publicly executed, to appease the world."

Tuan Tuan's face turned ashen: "Mother!"