Chapter 787: Eight Dishes

The Jin Commerce Department in Guangling had arranged many people there, and Guangling saw that issue of the newspaper earlier than Lijiang did.

After reading the weekly report, they discovered that it actually contained an article signed by Yan Hao. Bai Li Heng was more shaken by this than the Guangling King was, because Yan Hao had actually gone to Youzhou.

"One Xie Yuan, one Lu Tong isn't enough—now even the Yan clan has chosen Bai Li Jing." This is harmony achieved as well, Bai Li Heng said with a wry smile.

These people are all famous recluses who have spent their lives avoiding politics, yet now they have all come down from the mountains to serve the third prince wholeheartedly.

"Since there are no outsiders present today, I will speak freely.... Now that it has come to this, we should also begin preparing our retreat."

"Your Highness!"

Bai Li Heng raised his hand to stop them from continuing, "It's not that I am pessimistic. The third prince dares to venture deep into the grasslands, able to reach the Xiongnu Wangcheng—something unheard of in the Jin Dynasty for hundreds of years, and I have never heard of such a thing. No matter how much Le Tuo trains, we, compared to the battle-hardened Bei Jiang soldiers, are likely... vastly outmatched. Originally, I thought the third prince's only weakness and flaw was silver and grain supplies, imagining that their income would not cover expenses, leaving them struggling in wind and rain, so we might still have a chance. Now, however, it seems something has changed... He does not fear the princes' fierce reactions, dares to summon the princes back to the capital at this time, clearly intending to withdraw the feudal domains—he must have already prepared for it."

Li Xu narrowed his eyes, "Yes. Bai Li Jing will soon be heading southward."

Bai Li Heng nodded, he sighed, this day had finally come.

Shall we fight the third prince to the death?

In the study, several people fell silent for a moment; at this time, saying anything seemed wrong, and it seemed the Highness did not need hollow comfort.

Finally, Li Chang, young and full of vigor, could not hold back, "What do you mean, all of you are boosting others' morale here! What are we lacking? Just because Bei Jiang knows how to fight, does that mean he can securely hold this江山? Aside from the unseen cavalry, what else does Youzhou have? Moreover, Le Tuo said that recently, the soldiers in the army have already shown significant improvement. We Guangling and Bei Jiang have never truly clashed with real swords and spears—how do we just know we cannot win?!"

Li Xu, who had been to Youzhou, was not this naive; Bai Li Jing has much more than that.

If it were truly that difficult, how could he have constructed Yingtaizhou at this juncture?

The Guangling leadership appeared calm on the surface, but beneath it, undercurrents surged. Not long after, Bai Li Heng received the formal edict from Youzhou, ordering him to bring his entire family to Youzhou. At the same time, accompanying it was a handwritten letter from the Da Wang.

The herald, Huangmen, with a solemn expression, produced a box. Bai Li Heng took it and found inside a letter, the envelope boldly inscribed: "For the Second Brother's eyes only."

From this unrestrained handwriting, it should be the third prince's own hand.

Bai Li Heng opened the envelope, and seeing its thickness, he was somewhat surprised. Bai Li Jing is indeed a chatterbox, but now... to have this much to say to him?

Bai Li Heng had also not failed to imagine what his next face-to-face meeting with Bai Li Jing would be like—he guessed it would be things changed, people changed, all at rest, silent mutual regard. Oh, perhaps there would also be unfamiliar awkwardness. He imagined the third prince had already grown up, and he might not even recognize him. Judging others by himself, receiving such a thick handwritten letter was somewhat unexpected.

Upon unfolding and reading carefully, after turning two pages he could not help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

This time he finally found a hint of familiarity, a chatterbox leaping onto the page. The letter begins with his longing, written in a rambling fashion over one and a half pages. Then come greetings to the queen consort, including speculations about his son's and daughter's appearances, and even the horses he sent to Guangling and Er Pang are each greeted in turn...

Bai Li Heng feared missing any useful information, pinching his nose as he read another three pages of nonsense, until the sixth page, he finally saw something useful.

Li Chang, below, kept glancing repeatedly at the Guangling King, seeing him stop rubbing his temples and begin taking deep breaths, he quickly spoke up: "Your Highness, calm down! Is Bai Li Jing threatening you!"

That is indeed the case.

The Da Wang finished his idle talk, getting straight to the point with a few sentences, but the aggravation index is eight stars.

【Second Brother, I know you are now in a dilemma. If you advance, you cannot defeat the Xuanjia cavalry; if you retreat, you cannot explain yourself to yourself and the forces behind you.】 So blunt, so directly piercing the heart, Bai Li Heng saw this and had already begun taking deep breaths.

【I treat you best, I can even be kind to the Fourth Fat Boy, let alone you, Second Brother. I will make an agreement with you, Second Brother: if you insist on not returning to Youzhou, when I go south to suppress the rebellion, I will detour to visit you and exchange a few moves. If I can take Guangling's city walls within half an hour, we will hold hands and return to Youzhou together. After this battle ends, we will write it off as settled, and you may continue as the Guangling King in Youzhou.】

PS: Second Brother, wake up—what's so good about this position! Even if you seized it, you couldn't handle the恶邻 around you~ The treasury rats have starved to death, the old fogeys in court don't listen, without the Commerce Department handling overseas trade, I can barely afford eight dishes, you had better wise up!】

Bai Li Heng's face turned red with anger, yet for a moment he did not know which part to be angry about first...

Da Wang: On the way, go to Second Brother's place and give him a Chengxiang Biao Yan Xiu, let him broaden his horizons and wake up. Shan·JPG