Chapter 536: Hedong Storm (8)

Looking at Liu Chong, Li Wanchao asked, "Your Highness, I have a doubt and hope you can enlighten me!"

"Governor Li, please speak!" Noticing the odd tone in his voice, Liu Chong watched him calmly.

Li Wanchao said, "Minister Zheng and I, following the court's orders, have brought the soldiers of our prefectures here for selection. I hear that Chancellor Fan Zhi and the imperial army officers in charge of selecting troops have already arrived in Jinyang. Your Highness is hosting a banquet—why are these two not present? This seems rather improper by the rites!"

Hearing this, Liu Chong chuckled lightly and said, "This gathering is for the officials of my Hedong. I have important matters to discuss with you two, and so I did not invite Fan Zhi and Zhao Kuangyin to the banquet!"

"May I ask what important matters Your Highness has?" Li Wanchao's mouth twitched as he raised his head to ask.

Meeting his gaze, Liu Chong glanced at Zheng Qian and said slowly, "The two of you—one a veteran minister, the other a seasoned general—have rendered great service to the Great Han with no small merit. Now the court's decree has come north with obvious intent: nominally to select elite troops, but in truth to seize power. If we comply, I fear all we have striven for in our lives—rank, wealth, honor—will turn to nothing. Even you two may not keep your positions as governors, ruling your lands in comfort and freedom!"

"In Your Highness's view, what should be done?" Zheng Qian finally spoke.

Liu Chong smiled slightly, raised his cup, and said with spirited confidence, "The authority of military governors is a tradition passed down for a hundred years. For the Emperor to alter it at will is the path to ruining the realm. As the Emperor's uncle, to protect the state, I must act actively—to submit a memorial to the Eastern Capital, asking the court to withdraw this reckless decree! In this way, the state will be secured, and you two can preserve your wealth and honor!"

Hearing this, Li Wanchao asked directly, "How does Your Highness intend to submit this memorial?"

"Jinyang now has over ten thousand troops; my son Chengjun has four thousand in Fenzhou, and Xinzhou has three thousand. Add your six thousand, plus the various tribal forces and militia—that makes a full forty thousand! Now that you two have brought your troops to Taiyuan, you can join hands with me to accomplish this great undertaking!" Liu Chong said with some excitement.

"Your Highness intends to remonstrate with arms!" Li Wanchao's eyes fixed tightly on Liu Chong.

Suppressing the anger rising in his heart at their attitude, Liu Chong raised his cup again, holding it with both hands: "You two need only drink this cup to the full, and it shall count as an alliance with me!"

Having said this, he stared hard at Zheng Qian and Li Wanchao, awaiting their reply.

Under Liu Chong's gaze, Li Wanchao slowly picked up his cup and held it before his chest, then said sternly, "What Your Highness proposes is rebellion. I swear I will not take part!"

Having spoken, he hurled the wine cup to the ground. Following Li Wanchao's action, Zheng Qian also smashed his cup. The cups struck the floor with a resounding clatter, signifying their resolute will.

Seeing this, though angered, Liu Chong was not overly surprised. He burst into laughter for a moment, then his face turned grim and his tone icy: "Since you two refuse to see reason and will not walk the same path as me, do not blame me! Since you have come to this post station, you have no choice in the matter. At this time and place, have you not the slightest self-awareness?"

"Does Your Highness refer to the hidden blades lying in wait within this station?" Li Wanchao rose from his crouch, hand on his sword, eyes cold and sharp.

"I know Governor Li is a fierce warrior! But now, your years are advanced—you are no longer what you once were. With just you and those dozen or so retainers, do you still think you can resist?" Liu Chong sneered, then suddenly called out loudly, "Men!"

As he spoke, shadows moved outside the hall, the urgent clatter of armor and weapons sounded, and men burst into the hall. Liu Chong's guard captain led them, facing Zheng and Li. Seeing this, the two men's retainers also rushed in, shielding them.

Liu Chong rose, hands clasped behind his back, wearing a smug expression, and said, "I will give you two one more chance. If you will only assist me in taking over the troops, I can spare your lives!"

"Hahaha..." Hearing this, Li Wanchao suddenly burst into laughter, casting a meaningful glance at Liu Chong: "Is Your Highness not curious why, knowing this could be a Hongmen banquet, Minister Zheng and I still dared to come with only our close retainers?"

"You merely rely on the troops under your command!" Liu Chong said confidently. "Now that you are in my custody, your remaining soldiers are leaderless. Though it may be troublesome, I can still take them in hand at my leisure!"

Unlike Zheng Qian's nervousness, Li Wanchao slowly sat up and said to Liu Chong, "Your Highness, listen outside—there should be some commotion by now!"

Liu Chong was momentarily taken aback, taking it as the man playing tricks to stall for time. He directly ordered them seized. A fierce close-quarters struggle broke out in the hall. Liu Chong was shielded to one side, watching the spectacle with interest.

Before long, from outside the post station, the killing cries that Zheng and Li had been waiting for finally erupted—swift and fierce, heading straight for the central hall. Hearing the sound, Liu Chong's face changed drastically. He immediately sent men out to investigate, while ordering those in the main hall to intensify the assault on Zheng, Li, and their retainers.

"Your Highness, disaster! The guard unit has been surrounded and ambushed! The attackers are extremely ferocious—the yabing guards cannot hold them back!" A guard came to report.

On this trip to Yongli Station, Liu Chong had brought half of his guard battalion, but that was still fewer than three hundred men. Judging by the commotion outside, the attacking force was considerable.

Hearing the report, a hint of pallor spread across Liu Chong's face. He roared, "What is going on? Everything inside and outside Jinyang is under my control—where did these troops come from?"

"They are the court's imperial army!" Another yabing officer rushed in, panic-stricken.

"Impossible!" Liu Chong looked incredulous, growing even more flustered: "The imperial army is under surveillance in their barracks—how could they have moved out? Where is Li Chan?"

"General Li is leading men in resistance! Your Highness, the situation is critical. We will fight our way through and escort you back to the city. Once back in the city, you can rally the yabing guards to suppress this rebellion!" Liu Chong still had some loyal followers.

"Right! Right, right!" Liu Chong hurriedly responded.

At this moment, Zheng Gong stepped forward again, his face full of solemnity, and advised, "Your Highness, you must not. The night is dark and the wind high; the situation outside the station is unclear, and blades have no eyes. The imperial army numbers only five hundred. Better to have the palace guards hold the station and protect Your Highness. Simply send someone to fight their way out and summon the yabing guards at the city walls to come to the rescue!"

"Yes! Yes! What you say is right!" Hearing Zheng Gong's words, Liu Chong found them reasonable and immediately instructed the officer: "Did you hear that? Immediately notify Li Chan to send men to summon the yabing guards for reinforcement!"

"Yes!"

At this time, Li Wanchao, with the dozen or so men remaining after the fierce fighting, was shielding Zheng Qian and fighting their way out of the hall. Li Wanchao lived up to his reputation for valor—though nearly fifty, his martial skills well practiced, he could still leap forward with his sword raised. The flustered palace guards of the prince's household could not stop him, and he broke through.

The killing cries outside continued. Liu Chong sat in the station hall, unable to sit or stand still, his face pale with fear. He had a mind to go out and look, but his courage had already failed him. His mind was a muddle of confusion—he could not understand what was happening, why the imperial army had suddenly attacked Yongli Station, and why the yabing guards Li Chan had arranged had not followed orders to block and control them.

Time kept passing. The killing cries outside were weakening, the commotion diminishing, and the reinforcements he awaited showed not the slightest sign.

Until at last, the outside fell quiet, and the few dozen remaining palace guards were driven into the hall. Following them, the imperial army poured in, led by none other than Zhao Kuangyin. His handsome face was stained with blood, his gaze cold and stern, fixed directly on Liu Chong. Li Wanchao and Zheng Qian followed at his side.

"Zhao—Zhao Kuangyin!" Liu Chong's voice trembled as he demanded guiltily, "You—how dare you! How dare you lead troops to attack and kill my guards? Are you plotting rebellion?"

"Your Highness knows well who harbors rebellious intent! I am merely carrying out the imperial decree to suppress a revolt!" Zhao Kuangyin said calmly, then tossed a severed head before Liu Chong.

"Li Chan!" The head rolled over, revealing a blood-soaked face. Liu Chong was both shocked and furious: "You dare to kill my Hedong yabing officer without authorization!"

Ignoring Liu Chong, Zhao Kuangyin looked at the thirty-odd soldiers remaining in the hall and said sternly, "Will you not lay down your weapons? Do you truly wish to resist to the end and make enemies of the court?"

Zhao Kuangyin's gaze was extraordinarily sharp—no one who met it dared look back. The guards were hesitant, glancing at each other, then all looking toward Liu Chong.

"Lay down your arms! Otherwise, no quarter!" Zhao Kuangyin bellowed.

Overawed by him, one guard dropped his blade, and the rest followed suit, casting down their weapons one after another.

Seeing the situation fully under control, Zhao Kuangyin directly ordered them taken away. The hall fell completely silent. Amid the smell of blood, the aroma of wine and meat still lingered, but the scene was one of utter chaos.

The ranks parted, clearing a path. Li Shaoyou walked in slowly, stepping through the mess, one footprint at a time, followed by a dozen or so soldiers of the Wude Office in black.

"It's you!" Liu Chong naturally recognized Li Shaoyou.

Scanning the area a few times, Li Shaoyou looked at him, clasped his hands, and said, "Imperial Uncle, circumstances compel me to be discourteous. I beg your forgiveness for the disturbance!"

Liu Chong's lips trembled. Thinking of the Wude Office and seeing Li Shaoyou with his own eyes, a flood of information surged into his mind. He seemed to understand something, yet in the end could not grasp it.

"I know the Imperial Uncle has many questions, but at this moment, stabilizing the overall situation in Jinyang and even Hedong is what matters most! Once the situation is settled, we can catch up on old times!" Li Shaoyou said calmly, then turned his head and instructed Zheng Gong: "Zheng Gong, help the Imperial Uncle into the carriage and return to Jinyang at once!"

"After returning to Jinyang, gather all the officials in the city to assist Chancellor Fan in calming the people and stabilizing the government offices. And in the name of the Regent's Office, take control of the Hedong yabing guards!"

"Yes!" Zheng Gong dared not delay and hurriedly acknowledged.

Seeing the two of them respond so naturally, Liu Chong's face paled another shade. He pointed at Zheng Gong: "You—you—"

Taking a deep breath, Zheng Gong lowered his head and said, "This official is ashamed!"