Chapter 348: Guests from Jingshi

"Imperial Father, the Northern Di are as cunning and cruel as wolves. This child fears they harbor ill intentions; this matter should be deliberated upon at length."

As the officials of Western Liang fell into silence, a voice rang out; it was Tuobawen.

Having seen with his own eyes at Tongguan the Northern Di slaughtering Western Liang soldiers, a chill had remained in his heart ever since, unable to be wiped away.

In his view, even the ancestral enemy, the Great Song, was easier to deal with than the Northern Di.

Now, with the Northern Di asking his Imperial Father to meet for an alliance at Yin Mountain, he felt uneasy.

How could Tuoba Hao not have this same worry?

It was just that, as Li Xin put it, the Northern Di would not give them time to consider at their leisure.

Mule Hongzhen's meaning was very simple: either war, or an alliance.

They even brought up the matter of Western Liang occupying the Hetao Grassland over a hundred years ago.

As a member of the Tuoba imperial family, he was naturally clear about this matter.

They had indeed betrayed the alliance back then.

This was also the reason why Western Liang had always been hostile toward the Northern Di.

Because the successive Emperors of Western Liang always felt that the Northern Di would sooner or later take back this grassland.

With Tuobahongzhen questioning the sincerity of the Western Liang people using this matter, he was powerless to refute it.

Therefore, if he rejected Mule Hongzhen's proposal, even this fragile trust would vanish completely.

"How could I not know? But at present, we must endure humiliation and bear the burden; otherwise, the danger of national extinction is right before us. Once we have nurtured our strength and restored our national power, then whether it is the Northern Di or the Great Song, we can make them pay back the shame we have received a hundredfold, a thousandfold." A fierce glint flashed in Tuoba Hao's eyes.

Tuobawen wanted to say more but stopped.

At present, there truly seemed to be no better way.

He said: "On the day of the alliance, this child is willing to lead the Western Liang army to array at the foot of Yin Mountain to ensure Imperial Father's safety."

Tuoba Hao nodded slightly.

Although he had to go, he still had to make complete preparations.

Looking toward the head-bowed Li Xin, he said: "You are to dispatch an envoy to the Northern Di again immediately,

and say that I have agreed."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Li Xin said.

Slowly exiting the great hall, he immediately summoned the Western Liang officials who had accompanied him to the Northern Di last time.

This time it was just a reply; he did not need to go in person.

Six days later.

The Western Liang envoy arrived at the Khan Court and relayed Tuoba Hao's words to Mule Hongzhen.

Waving his hand to order the Western Liang envoy to exit the Golden Tent, Mule Hongzhen said to Tiemuta: "Now, proceed according to your plan. Back then, Western Liang deceived us Northern Di people; this time, we will make them pay it back."

"Yes, Great Khan," a smug smile flashed across Tiemuta's lips.

The Northern Di people always repaid their grudges.

Even a deep-seated grudge from over a hundred years ago would not be forgotten.

If they successfully wiped out Western Liang this time, the next enemy the Northern Di would need to resolve was Yan Wang.

The death of a King of the Royal Tent and the casualties of over thirty thousand soldiers—this account was recorded clearly on the Shaman's sheepskin scroll.

Yancheng.

Today, Zhao Xu did not go to the school to lecture.

Because in the early morning, the carriage carrying Ma Yuan arrived at the gates of the Prince's Mansion.

Accompanying Ma Yuan was Mo Kuan.

"Ma Yuan pays respects to Your Highness."

"Mo Kuan pays respects to Your Highness."

In the Hui Ke Tang, Ma Yuan and Mo Kuan bowed to Zhao Xu.

"No need for formalities," Zhao Xu signaled for the two to sit.

When the two set off for Yancheng, the people of the Four Courts in Jingshi had already sent the news by fast horse.

Two days in advance, he had already known about this matter.

Ma Yuan had been to Yancheng before, and Zhao Xu had met him.

At this moment, his attention was on Mo Kuan.

Mo Di had two sons; one was Mo Kuan, and the other was Mo Yu.

However, compared to Mo Yu, Mo Kuan seemed more like his father; his speech and actions were both similar.

By comparison, Mo Yu was more lively.

"Your Highness, I have disturbed you greatly by coming today."

The two sat down in turn, and Ma Yuan bowed to Zhao Xu.

Mo Kuan, meanwhile, gazed at Zhao Xu, his eyes unable to hide his admiration.

The last time he saw Zhao Xu was two years ago, when Zhao Xu was accompanying Mi Fei, who was then Noble Lady Mi, on an outing.

At that time, Zhao Xu had a foolish look on his face, completely different from the sharp spirit he displayed today.

It was just unexpected that it had only been a year and a bit since Yan Wang went to Yanzhou.

This Imperial Prince, who was treated as a joke by everyone in Jingshi at that time, had accomplished so many astonishing feats.

Even his own father praised him highly.

His own younger brother was even serving as a general under his command.

"Censor Ma—no, Prefect Ma, these words are a bit too distant. Half a year ago, Prefect Ma and I resisted the Yuan Family together in Yanzhou; we can be considered to have experienced life and death together. Come to think of it, I have been wanting to see Prefect Ma again," Zhao Xu laughed.

Ma Yuan and Mo Kuan were about to head to Jinzhou, and their stay here was only temporary.

At present, he still had many interests in Jinzhou.

It was necessary to maintain a harmonious relationship with the two of them.

After all, the border was chaotic, and perhaps there would be opportunities for him to cooperate with the Imperial Guard in the future.

Upon hearing this, Ma Yuan revealed a face full of smiles, "This subordinate also missed Your Highness dearly; if it weren't for Your Highness turning the tide back then, Yanzhou would have been lost, and this subordinate would have been unable to shirk the blame."

Zhao Xu chuckled and nodded, "Let the past be the past; there is no need to mention it again. Since the two of you have come to Yanzhou this time, stay here for a few more days, and this Prince will host you properly."

Ma Yuan and Mo Kuan exchanged a glance; Yan Wang was so amiable that they both felt as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

In their hearts, they could not help but feel increasingly close to Yan Wang.

Mo Kuan said, "Your Highness, there is no need for such courtesy. Neither this general nor Prefect Ma are people who enjoy clamor, so there is no need for banquets and the like."

He paused and added, "Moreover, this time this general has come under the Emperor's orders to lead the Yan Pass Imperial Guard to Tongguan. If we linger in Yancheng for too long, I fear the imperial court will stir up idle gossip again."

Zhao Xu had long felt disgusted by the powerful clans repeatedly making groundless accusations in the imperial court; he said, "Why pay them any mind? This Prince is not afraid of them stirring up trouble before the Emperor."

For now, he did not want to tear off the mask with the powerful clans, only to maintain a stable internal environment for Great Song, to use this environment to conduct business and complete the accumulation of primitive capital.

This was a consideration from a strategic level.

But on a tactical level, he feared no powerful clan.

He defeated the Yuan Family, and now he had also defeated the 150,000 Xiliang soldiers.

Whether it was the Dou Family, the Han Family, or the Liang Family, what could they do to him?

Therefore, he did not care at all about how the powerful clans attacked him in the imperial court now.

After all, he believed that even if Zhao Heng had only a shred of intelligence, he would not pay attention to these powerful clans.

If Zhao Heng truly listened to the incitement of these powerful clans and took action against him.

Then, when that time arrived, it would also be the time he became completely disappointed in Great Song.

At that time, everything would be simple and clear.

He would fight for Yanzhou and fight for himself without hesitation.

"Your Highness is far away in Yanzhou and holds a pivotal position, so naturally you are not afraid, but this general is still afraid; after all, my father..." Mo Kuan sighed slightly as he said this.

Ma Yuan's expression turned gloomy.

There was still no clue as to who had secretly harmed General Mo Di.

Because Xiao Yuanshan could neither be seen alive nor his corpse found dead.

If it weren't for the clamor of the court officials at the time, he would have come to Yanzhou to investigate as well.

Mo Kuan had his reasons for being afraid, and he himself was afraid as well.

Not long ago, the dispute over the succession arose again, and the final result made him understand that Great Song was not yet decided by the Emperor alone.

PS: One chapter tonight, will make up for it tomorrow.