Chapter 428: Heading North

The great plan is set. The Prince of Badong restores all of Wang Yang's authority, orders the three armies, activates the Army Supervisor's seal, and orders Wang Yang to act on his behalf!

Wang Yang leaves the tent and points troops overnight.

The Prince of Badong originally intended to go with Wang Yang, but was stopped by Li Jingxuan, who said he had important matters to report and begged the Prince to dismiss those around him.

The Prince of Badong originally wanted to ignore him, but looking at Li Jingxuan's miserable appearance with blood on his teeth, and thinking that he would still need to use Li Jingxuan after Wang Yang left, he sat down patiently and dismissed the others as requested. However, he still reminded Li Jingxuan with a stern face:

"I said before, whoever slanders Wang Yang and me again, regardless of rank, will be executed! Think clearly before you speak; I am not joking."

Li Jingxuan kowtows:

"The Army Supervisor's loyalty is clear to see!"

"Although I am dull, I can distinguish right from wrong. How dare I disturb Your Highness's ears with floating words again?"

"All previous events were my ignorance and short-sightedness, and my knowledge and consideration were not thorough."

"Now that I have received Your Highness's vast grace and been spared death, I only wish to serve with all my heart to redeem my previous crimes! How dare I spread idle words and create suspicion again?"

"What I want to state now has nothing to do with the Army Supervisor."

"It is just that I heard the Army Supervisor planning the situation and analyzing military secrets, and I also had some feelings, thinking of a strategy that can complement the Army Supervisor's miraculous strategy and achieve the great plan together!"

Hearing that Li Jingxuan was not here to slander, and that his attitude of admitting his mistakes was sincere, the Prince of Badong's expression softened significantly:

"Hmm, I am very happy that you can think this way. Both you and Wang Yang are my confidants, and I value you the most. Let the past be the past. Everyone makes mistakes; it is good to change them. Now is a time of danger, and the most taboo thing is for our own people to be divided. Wang Yang has his strengths, and you have yours. I cannot do without Wang Yang, and I cannot do without you either. As long as you work together, why worry that the great cause will not be achieved? When the time comes, high officials and generous salaries, how could there be less for you, Li Gongyu?"

Li Jingxuan acts as if he is moved to tears, thanking him for his grace and expressing his loyalty.

In an atmosphere of "ruler and subject knowing each other's hearts," Li Jingxuan begins to state his strategy:

"Although our army has the Army Supervisor's miraculous calculation, we lost the opportunity first, and the situation is already dangerous."

"The Army Supervisor's plan to take Yong and turn to Jing is indeed a miraculous move! But whether it succeeds or not, we cannot know yet."

"Even if all three provinces are taken, we should follow the Army Supervisor's words, cultivate the foundation, and restore vitality."

"But how could the court sit idly by and watch us gain momentum? They will definitely send a large army to fight!"

"At that time, we will have newly controlled three provinces, our footing will not be stable, and we may not be able to resist."

"For the current plan, it is better to send an envoy to the north to make peace with the Wei people and agree to send troops. (Referring to Northern Wei, it is to make peace)"

"If the Wei people get the opportunity, they will definitely approach the Jiang and Huai rivers and echo with us!"

"If they come out, the northern line will shake!"

"The court will be exhausted by defending the north and will have no time to look west!"

"We will take advantage of their emptiness and drive straight—"

Li Jingxuan is speaking with saliva flying when he is suddenly kicked by the Prince of Badong, rolling sideways!

Rolling several times, he hits the tent pillar, hurting so much that he is dizzy and his eyes go black!

The Prince of Badong is furious, pointing at Li Jingxuan and cursing:

"Go to hell! I thought you had grown a bit just now! But you only managed to squeeze out this load of crap!"

"No wonder they say you can't compare to one finger of Wang Yang!!! You can't compare to even one!!!"

"Wang Yang offered a strategy, saying 'take the north and take the east'! It is to take both the east and the north! If we advance, we are Liu Song; if we retreat, we can be Liu Biao!"

"And you, you dog! As soon as you open your mouth, you tell me to kneel to the Xianbei!"

"I am a dignified man, how can I be a slave to the Hu people?!!!"

Li Jingxuan feels his internal organs turning upside down, and his upper body is in great pain!

He knows the Prince of Badong's divine strength. The previous kicks, although they made him dizzy, clearly held back strength. But this kick was solid, without seven parts of strength, there were at least five, and he doesn't know if his ribs are already broken...

Li Jingxuan clutches his stomach, curled up on the ground, but still tries to lift his head, his lips trembling as he advises:

"Your Highness, it is not being a slave, it is an alliance... it is borrowing strength... they have their plans, and we also have ours—"

"Try barking again!! Try barking again!!!!"

The Prince of Badong points at Li Jingxuan, his veins bulging, his face ferocious!

"Family members fighting for ancestral property, even if they break their brains, it is a family matter! We recognize it whether we fight to the death or not! Who the hell invites outside thieves to come in and share the ancestral property! Do you think my head was kicked by a donkey?! I haven't done anything yet, and you are already thinking about teaching me to be a filial son and grandson to the Hu people? Aren't you surnamed Li? When did you become surnamed Buliugu? I am a great man, and you dare to let me be a grandson to the Suolu! I will chop you—"

(Buliugu is one of the Xianbei surnames, which the Prince of Badong mentioned casually. Suolu is a derogatory term for the Tuoba Xianbei at the time, calling this part of the Xianbei braid hair like "rope heads," also known as "rope-headed captives." However, "rope head" was originally a transliteration of a Hu language, and it is very likely that it did not have a negative meaning at first. Different parts of the Xianbei had different hairstyles. This issue will be written in detail later, don't believe the internet and AI.)

The Prince of Badong gets angrier as he speaks, turns around and goes to get his sword!

Li Jingxuan is scared out of his wits, ignoring the pain in his ribs, turns over, and rushes to the ground to kowtow!

The Prince of Badong stares at Li Jingxuan, his hand on the hilt, his teeth chattering! The sword is drawn half an inch from the scabbard, the cold light reflecting on his face, his murderous intent chilling.

Li Jingxuan ignores everything, kowtowing fiercely, breaking the skin in just a few times. A smear of bright red flows down his forehead, mixed with the blood from his mouth, covering his face.

The Prince of Badong finally does not draw the sword. He takes a deep breath and pushes the sword back into the scabbard:

"Get out!!!"

Li Jingxuan doesn't even bother to wipe the blood off his face, endures the pain, and escapes the great tent on his hands and feet.

After leaving the tent, he staggers and goes to find the military doctor first.

The doctor is also startled to see him covered in blood and hurriedly examines him. Fortunately, they are all skin injuries, and although his ribs hurt badly, they are not broken. The doctor bandages his forehead and boils medicine for him. He gulps down a bowl, says he is hungry, and asks the doctor for some dry rations. Then he returns to his small tent, changes his clothes, digs out his bundle, and starts packing his clothes.

But he stops just after starting, struggles for a moment, and then only takes the dry rations and his money bag, taking nothing else. He rushes to the horse trough, takes his mount, and runs straight to the camp gate!

In fact, long before Wang Yang left, he had decided to change his allegiance.

Wang Yang's miraculous strategy might indeed succeed, but first, he doesn't trust Wang Yang, and second, even if Wang Yang succeeds, so what? Wang Yang has a grudge against him and is deeply trusted by the Prince of Badong. After the success, he might take revenge. Perhaps he doesn't even have to wait for success; isn't Chen Qiming the example?

Moreover, he had long ago judged—"Wang Yang walks high and looks far, his ambition is heroic and bright, and he will never be someone who stays under others!"

Once the eagle leaves the cage and the dragon walks the sea, the Prince of Badong will no longer be able to control him!

Wang Yang served you before because you had troops!

Now Wang Yang also has troops!

With his talent, why should he continue to serve you?

Do you really think it's just because your surname is Xiao!!!

Xiao Ba's ship is going to capsize, and he must find another way out.

Where is the way out?

Surrender to the court?

No, he is a commoner and a rebel leader; surrendering is also death.

Go to the barbarian land or the desolate south, and hide in the wilderness?

Perhaps there is a chance to live, but that might be it for his whole life.

Only by going north!

Only by fighting in the north can he turn the tables!

That's why he suggested to the Prince of Badong to join forces with the Northern Dynasty!

As long as Xiao Ba agrees, he will convince Xiao Ba that he is the most suitable candidate to be an envoy!

Once he arrives in the Wei State, he will pack up Wang Yang and Xiao Ba and sell them to the Wei people together!

Both will tell the Wei people the inside story of Jing and Ying and the reality of the army! At the same time, tell the Wei people Wang Yang's strategy of raiding Yong and turning to Jing!

The Wei people have long harbored the heart to invade the south. Getting this heaven-sent opportunity, how could they give it up? They will definitely send troops and come to stab the tiger like Bian Zhuang, sweeping through Jing and Xiang!

Even if Wang Yang has world-shaking talent, what can he do? In the end, he will still have to end up in failure and sigh at the sky. Finally, together with Xiao Ba, he will be buried in the rolling river water.

And he, Li Jingxuan, will have made a great contribution and will definitely be reused by the Northern Dynasty and soar into the sky!

That strange man said his fate was "profit lies in the fourth prince, merit rises in Western Chu."

At that time, he thought the fourth prince was good for him, so he joined Xiao Ba.

When Xiao Ba was appointed Jingzhou Inspector, he was even more convinced that the opportunity had come! This is also one of the reasons why he strongly encouraged Xiao Ba to raise the army!

But now he understands that the so-called "profit lies in the fourth prince" does not necessarily mean the fourth prince is good for him, but that his profit comes from the fourth prince! Without Xiao Ba, how can he sell him to the Wei people for profit?

As for "merit rises in Western Chu," that is not to make contributions for Xiao Ba, but for the Northern Dynasty!

Unfortunately, Xiao Ba did not agree with his strategy of connecting with the Northern Dynasty, so he could not be an envoy, and could only settle for the second best and defect to the north alone!

Wanting to run away, tonight is the best time. Because Wang Yang and Xiao Ba are pointing troops and deploying overnight, and the camp is full of messengers and soldiers coming and going, no one will pay attention to him!

Especially since the Prince of Badong is angry with him now, maybe he won't find out he is missing until after the troops are divided and Wang Yang sets off!

By then, he will have flown far away!

And his actions were not monitored like Wang Yang's! In everyone's eyes, he is still the powerful Advisory Counselor! Entering and leaving the camp gate, who dares to stop him?

First, pretend to be Xiao Ba's order, return to the building ship to get the token, then choose a good route, avoid the Jing army, go north all the way, and run straight to the Wei border!

Li Jingxuan chose the timing very accurately. The military orders were constant that night, and Li Jingxuan went out with the messenger. The guards at the gate thought he had a special mission and didn't even ask! And as the Prince's confidant, after boarding the building ship, he orally conveyed Xiao Ba's order, urgently took the passage token, and crossed the river on official business, which was also extremely smooth! They even sent ships to escort him!

No one thought that this confidant of the Prince, the "number one" favorite in front of him, would fake a military order and betray his master!

Li Jingxuan went smoothly all the way, and his mind quickly chose the best and only safe route! Originally there were several routes to choose from, but Wang Yang's plan to raid the land for grain just happened to block his way north. (Chapter 425 "Taming the Tiger": "First, dispatch mobile troops to raid the land and collect grain to sustain the army. On the north bank, from Zhouling to Huaihui, west to Yundu, and east to Taibai Lake.")

For safety, he could only go through East Yunmeng and towards Dunshuikou.

(Map above)

Still the same map as last time, with a few new strokes. That diamond is Taibai Lake. Taibai Lake has two tributaries, one into the Han River and one into the Yangtze River. The one into the Yangtze is in the south, I

(Explanation of the map above: I didn't draw the one in the south, only the one entering the Han River in the north. That cross star is Tunshuikou. The heart is the battle of Lushan, which means Li Jingxuan can only walk from the middle, through the eastern part of Yunmeng in the Taibai Lake area, which is the arrow part. The reason it is called Yunmeng in the Taibai Lake area is because there are two Yunmengs in history, and the place is large, and the interior occupies different areas, each of which is called Yunmeng.)

Although the ancient Yunmeng marsh is difficult to walk, it just happens to avoid the mobile troops raiding the land! As long as he grits his teeth and walks through it, reaching Dunshuikou, the road ahead will be open and accessible in all directions!

The rabbit that has escaped the net cannot be roasted again!

Li Jingxuan is full of confidence!

But what he doesn't know is that after Wang Yang left the tent, his first military order was to secretly transfer He Ji, the commander of the Left Guard Battalion, straight to Dunshuikou!

——————

Note: Chapter 413 "Achieving Ambition": "Later, when the army went on an expedition, He Ji returned to Feng Quanzu's department, belonging to the land vanguard sequence... After taking Baling, Wang Yang reorganized the army, and the battalion where He Ji was (in the Southern Dynasty military system, above the team is the battalion) was assigned to Li Zaifu's command in the Left Guard Battalion."

He Ji was transferred away from Feng Quanzu's department, which certainly had the meaning of saving his life, but why was he transferred to the Left Guard instead of the Right Guard?

The Prince of Badong's army went from west to east, and the Left Guard was the north bank. If you look closely at Wang Yang's previous military orders regarding the transfer of troops and generals on the north bank, you will know that Wang Yang had long been concerned about the army on the north bank, including the promotion of Li Zaifu. And once the troops were divided to go north, it was naturally based on the troops on the north bank. Therefore, transferring He Ji to the north bank was not only to block Li Jingxuan, but also a microcosm of Wang Yang's advance arrangement of "usable soldiers and generals." ===== CHAPTER 429 =====