Chapter 270: Striking First

No one knew.

At this moment.

The troops of the Third Prince, Xie Ling, were supposed to be reinforcing Dunhuang, yet he led his men to change course halfway, heading straight for Rongshan Pass.

Zheng Yuxing came to welcome him. With a grave expression, he said, "Your Highness..."

Xie Ling waved his hand, and only after entering the camp tent did he earnestly cup his hands and say, "Uncle, the situation in Liangzhou waits for no one; Uncle needs to make plans early!"

Zheng Yuxing's whole body shook.

For Xie Ling to call him "Uncle" so solemnly meant that the situation had indeed reached a critical level.

In fact...

Zheng Yuxing had also been suffering recently.

Who in the world could not see the situation in Liangzhou? If Zheng Yuxing had remained motionless before, it was because he feared the plague would affect the safety of his soldiers; at that time, the situation was not particularly clear either.

However, now...

The plague had already been brought under control by the Prefect Liu.

The situation was becoming increasingly clear.

With the Emperor's promise, a King of a Different Surname—Liu Dahao was certainly a certainty.

As a result...

This Liangzhou was truly becoming complicated. The military had Zheng Yuxing, the Great General, and the Liangzhou Prefecture had Chen Ping, the Crown Prince's man. At this time, to have another King of a Different Surname, Liu Dahao, arrive...

The military side was easy to handle.

But as for the Liangzhou Prefecture, who would call the shots in the future?

Based on Prefect Liu's past character, he would absolutely never submit to Chen Ping. The beginning of this plague itself was a series of disasters caused by Liu Zheng wanting to take Dunhuang...

Given this situation.

Liu Zheng would absolutely never retreat!

At least for now, Dunhuang and Changzhou had already fallen into Liu Zheng's hands; he was like a mythical beast that only consumes and never excretes, only taking in and never letting out.

Then...

Under these circumstances.

What would happen in Liangzhou in the future was almost imaginable. Chen Ping would absolutely suffer! Chen Ping would absolutely be out of the game! This was what the Third Prince, Xie Ling, was worried about.

If Liu Dahao began to govern Liangzhou.

Of course, this was a good thing; it could uproot the Crown Prince's power in Liangzhou... but what about for him?

How would Liu Zheng handle his relationship with Zheng Yuxing, and how would he handle his relationship with him?

Xie Ling could not guarantee it.

Zheng Yuxing smiled bitterly: "Does Your Highness think that Prefect Liu will move against me?"

Xie Ling nodded and said: "The whole world says Prefect Liu is benevolent and righteous, a Contemporary Sage, heh, but who among us doesn't know that this kid is the hardest bone to chew! He is like a maggot in the bone! If Liangzhou truly falls into his hands, he will definitely purge the military, Uncle..."

Zheng Yuxing cupped his hands in wait.

Xie Ling took a deep breath: "The Liangzhou Army still has 150,000 men! We must act now! Time waits for no one; at this moment, the conflict between the Crown Prince and the Yinzhou Army is about to erupt, we should drive straight in and seize Liangzhou amidst the chaos! Uncle, at this time, benevolence and morality must be cast aside entirely; the ownership of Liangzhou depends on this moment!"

Zheng Yuxing trembled all over, falling into deep thought.

He could naturally see the current situation clearly.

However...

His perception of Prefect Liu was still decent; the two had once joined forces to fight the Xiongnu. If not for Liu Zheng, Zheng Yuxing feared he would have already lost his reputation. Since then, Zheng Yuxing had held great admiration for Liu Zheng.

As a general, one is always like this; for someone with a compatible temperament, even if they are not in the same camp, one will still treat the other as a friend.

He had never thought...

Of crossing swords with Prefect Liu.

Yet today...

He also understood that what Xie Ling said was correct. He did not want to cross swords with Prefect Liu, but Prefect Liu might not necessarily hold the same attitude toward him. The struggle for power and influence had always been this cruel. Who told him to be born into the Third Prince's camp?

But...

The plague had just subsided, and now he was to start a war again?

He sighed deeply: "Your Highness, I..."

Xie Ling interrupted him: "Uncle, there is still the excuse of fighting the plague to send troops now; any later and I fear..."

Zheng Yuxing laughed loudly: "Since Your Highness has already made up your mind, why ask me, Zheng Yuxing?"

"Uncle..."

Xie Ling heard the emotion in Zheng Yuxing's voice.

Zheng Yuxing gave a bitter smile and turned away. At this moment, one could faintly see that this old general, who had guarded Rongshan Pass for over thirty years, the Pingdi General who had dealt with the brutal Xiongnu for thirty years, the old general who had once made the Xiongnu tremble with fear and made the common people feel at ease just by hearing his name, was now somewhat hunched, his temples turned white.

His hand gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist was trembling slightly.

No matter when.

He had never thought that one day, his own soldiers, his own swords, would strike at his own brothers, would strike at the heads of the Longyan people he had spent his whole life protecting...

"Your Highness..."

"This general obeys!"

Zheng Yuxing gave the order.

The 150,000 Liangzhou soldiers guarding Rongshan Pass slept with their weapons, waiting for dawn.

A single sentence from Liu Zheng.

Directly left the Crown Prince and his group of advisors dumbfounded.

The Crown Prince panicked instantly: "Prefect Liu, what should this palace do?"

Chen Ping is finished!

For him, this is absolutely a massive blow! He dared to run rampant in Liangzhou like this only by relying on Chen Ping; otherwise, the forces on the Third Prince's side would definitely be above his.

How could he not panic?

Liu Zheng chuckled: "Crown Prince, you should remain still, station your troops outside the city, do not get involved in Chen Ping's crimes for now, and do not plead for him. When necessary, kick him while he is down, and the matter of the Xiongnu can also be brought out together to show your own innocence!"

Xie Fang nodded hurriedly.

Just kidding...

Chen Ping is about to have his nine generations executed, so how would he dare? Last time, with the Xiongnu affair, he had already taken a massive risk. This time, since he has been caught red-handed, he must certainly distance himself.

"And then?"

Xie Fang asked anxiously.

Liu Zheng smiled: "The Third Prince will certainly send troops to join the fun and completely purge the Crown Prince's forces..."

"He..."

The Crown Prince was furious.

Liu Zheng continued to smile: "Crown Prince, you can strike first to gain the advantage and hold the Third Prince accountable!"

The Crown Prince's eyes lit up: "How to hold him accountable?"

Liu Zheng gave a mysterious smile: "Wen Yang is still in prison; he can die..."

Crown Prince Xie Fang gasped.

Dead men tell no tales?

Framing someone?

Striking first to gain the advantage?

Splashing a bucket of dirty water all over Xie Ling!

The Crown Prince slapped his thigh, overjoyed: "This plan is wonderful!"

Just at this moment.

A Scout came to report.

"Your Highness, Your Highness..."

"The Emperor has proclaimed to the world that Chen Ping has deceived the monarch and acted against his superiors, maliciously spread the plague, and is guilty of Great Evil, punishable by the execution of his nine generations!"

"Guilty of Great Evil, punishable by the execution of his nine generations!"

Crown Prince Xie Fang felt as if struck by five bolts of lightning upon hearing this, cold sweat pouring down.

How fortunate!

How fortunate that he did not move to attack the city, and how fortunate that he did not move to kill this Prefect Liu! Otherwise, he would never be able to wash himself clean even if he jumped into the Yellow River!

He stood up abruptly: "There is no time to lose, set the trap immediately!"

Liu Zheng smiled and took out a piece of white cloth from his person, upon which a blood letter was written in blood. He handed it to the Crown Prince and said: "Sign it, Wen Yang..."

"Bitterly complain that Zheng Yuxing used his power to pressure others, forcing him to deliberately release refugees to incite chaos in Liangzhou! When Wen Yang's affair was exposed, Zheng Yuxing feared the matter would be revealed, so he brought his army to the border!"

"Why would Zheng Yuxing do this?"

Everyone asked.

Liu Zheng narrowed his eyes: "He fears the Yinzhou army is too powerful, and his status in the military will not be secure!"

"Wen Yang will hang himself in the prison tonight!"

The entire room was filled with the sound of gasping.

Ruthless!

Who says Prefect Liu is benevolent and righteous?

This is truly ruthless!