Chapter 250

Han Xiao took the brocade box with trembling hands, but he didn't have the courage to open it and take a look; he was afraid of seeing the Zhenbei Prince's eyes filled with unwillingness.

At the same time, he blamed himself in his heart; even the Prince's head had to be retrieved by the Ming Army, while he had done nothing, and couldn't even defend Lin City—what face did he have to face the General?

Wei Xikang heard the conversation between the two and walked over shakily, "Give... give me Uncle's head..."

Han Xiao's eyes turned red; he knelt on one knee and offered the brocade box with both hands.

Wei Xikang took the brocade box, trembling as he opened it, and saw that once-familiar face.

The bloodstains on the head had already congealed into a dark black, and having been exposed to the wind and sun all day, it was covered in dust; the Zhenbei Prince's graying hair was messy, and the wind blew the strands against Wei Xikang's cheeks.

"Uncle... it is my incompetence... that made... made you suffer..."

Wei Xikang broke down and cried, holding the brocade box as he knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably; he seemed to be using his grief to cry out about his own hardships, and he looked as helpless as a young child.

Han Xiao also saw the Zhenbei Prince's gray hair, the tightly furrowed brows, and those eyes that remained wide open in anger and unwillingness even in death.

Remembering the teachings the Zhenbei Prince had once given him, now only deathly silence remained, and Han Xiao's tears couldn't help but fall.

The surrounding Zhenbei Army soldiers were all secretly sobbing, venting the emotions they had held in for many days.

Wei Xikang cried until his voice was hoarse, thinking of the Zhenbei Prince's heroic sacrifice, while he himself had lost an arm and couldn't even hold a sword—how could he talk about restoring Da Qian?

If not for the Ming Army arriving in time, he himself and all the Zhenbei Army would have been buried under the Xiongnu's iron hooves.

Great sorrow and self-reproach flooded over him like a tide; he was not a qualified commander, and even less a qualified heir.

He couldn't protect his status, couldn't protect his loyal generals, and couldn't even protect his own body.

Then how could he guarantee the well-being of the people?

"Your Highness, please accept my condolences," Han Xiao said in a low voice, his own voice filled with sorrow.

After a long time, Wei Xikang stood up, tore off a 'Qian' flag to wrap the Zhenbei Prince's head, and carefully placed it back into the brocade box.

After raising his head, the confusion in Wei Xikang's eyes was gone, and he said to Jiang Ze.

"Brother Jiang, I wonder if it would be possible for me to meet with Chief Jiang?"

Jiang Ze was taken aback, not expecting the other party to make such a request, but he still nodded in response: "Yes!"

"Get everyone's meal arranged, I'll be back in a while!" Wei Xikang turned his head to instruct Han Xiao.

"Your Highness, I will go with you!" Han Xiao straightened his body; although he didn't know why the Crown Prince was going, he had to back him up.

Wei Xikang shook his head and refused, "Chief Jiang will not harm me, rest assured!"

Han Xiao watched Wei Xikang and Jiang Ze leave with worry in his eyes; he was also very confused now, not knowing what he should do.

Arriving outside the camp, Wei Xikang straightened his spine and wiped the tear stains from his face with his sleeve.

Even though he had fallen to such a state, the dignity of the royal family still remained in his bones.

He could not, at least in front of outsiders, appear like a completely broken piece of trash.

Jiang Ze entered the tent first and cupped his hands at Jiang Jinshi: "Eldest Brother, the Crown Prince says he wants to meet with you!"

Jiang Jinshi was somewhat surprised; he naturally knew why Wei Xikang had come—it was nothing more than the matter of Yangguangzhai raising their flag—but he was surprised that Wei Xikang had come so quickly; he had thought they would wait a few more days to talk!

"Invite him in quickly!"

He didn't want to have a conflict with the Zhenbei Army, and Wei Xikang naturally didn't want to either; after all, the Ming Army was strong and well-equipped now, not someone to be trifled with.

Therefore, in Jiang Jinshi's view, this negotiation would happen sooner or later; it was just that Wei Xikang hadn't been able to hold his composure and had come first.

Wei Xikang walked into the main camp, looking at Jiang Jinshi with a complex expression: "Chief Jiang, it's been a long time!"

"What is Old Wei saying? Didn't we just see each other less than half a month ago?" Jiang Jinshi feigned relaxation, though in his mind he was thinking about how to negotiate with Wei Xikang.

He could send troops to repel the Xiongnu, but the Zhenbei Army had to contribute as well; there was also the issue of the ownership of the six counties of Beijiang, and he had to have at least half the territory—that was his bottom line!

Wei Xikang sat down without any unnecessary pleasantries: "Chief Jiang, I want to talk to you!"

Looking at Wei Xikang's serious face, Jiang Jinshi said to Jiang Ze: "Everyone back off two hundred meters; Old Wei and I have important matters to discuss!"

"Understood!"

Jiang Ze cupped his hands and walked out of the tent, and soon the area around the tent became quiet!

"Whatever it is, Old Wei, just say it!" Jiang Jinshi poured a bowl of hot tea for Wei Xikang.

Wei Xikang took the tea but didn't drink it, his eyes becoming sharp as he questioned: "I wonder why Chief Jiang has taken these actions?"

Jiang Jinshi met Wei Xikang's gaze calmly: "The Da Qian Emperor is incompetent, abandoning Beijiang to the Xiongnu's iron hooves; we are all people of Beijiang, what is wrong with protecting ourselves?"

"Is starting an uprising and rebellion also for self-protection?" Wei Xikang pressed step by step, his words very urgent.

Jiang Jinshi was unhurried and asked Wei Xikang in return: "Then why did you come to Beijiang, Old Wei?"

Wei Xikang was taken aback, "I..."

"Let me say it!" Jiang Jinshi sneered and stood up, "You came to Beijiang to join the Zhenbei Prince, wanting to use the Zhenbei Prince's troops to help you regain the throne.

Then can I say this—except for Beijiang...

You have nowhere else to go!"

They had just arrived and occupied the geographical advantage of a surprise attack and urban warfare. If they left the city and went onto the grasslands, it would be the Xiongnu's home turf.

"Bullshit!" After swearing, Jiang Jinshi pointed his finger at Wei Xikang, "You are just doing this for the throne; don't put on a show of being patriotic and loving the people."

If it were anything else, Wei Xikang wouldn't bother arguing with Jiang Jinshi, but these words were undoubtedly questioning Wei Xikang's character and trampling on his dignity—how could Wei Xikang endure that?

"As the heir, my actions are witnessed by all the civil and military officials; how can you question them?"

"Oh?" Jiang Jinshi showed a meaningful smile, "Then let me ask you, if you hadn't come to Beijiang, what would the people of Beijiang be like now? And what would the Zhenbei Army be like?"

This sentence struck Wei Xikang's soul; it was also a question he had been avoiding all along. If he hadn't come to Beijiang, the Imperial Court wouldn't have closed the passes, and the front lines would naturally have had life-saving grain.

Then the Zhenbei Prince might not have died, and everything wouldn't have turned into what it was today.

Jiang Jinshi continued: "You say you are doing this for the people of the world, but you should have thought of this when you first came to Beijiang.

You wanted to lead the Zhenbei Army to attack the capital; you wanted to use the lives of the Beijiang people to pave your way!

You... are the one who actively started this war!"