The Emperor's actions truly broke his heart. The day after the envoy arrived, his mother passed away, her last thoughts clinging to the name of the Crown Prince.
Prince Liang endured this with all his might, his heart aching every time he recalled it. After all, his son had been raised by his mother until the age of six, and their bond was profound. Without seeing him, his mother could not rest in peace.
If he could, he would have raised the banner of rebellion, marched on the capital, and overthrown the Emperor.
He suppressed the anger simmering within him, gave his mother a grand and elaborate funeral, and politely saw off the envoy and the imperial physicians. Upon his return, he intensified his training of his troops.
A few days later, Prince Lu paid him a personal visit. In the past, Prince Liang would never have involved himself in such matters, but now his attitude had changed. He discussed strategies with Prince Lu at length, and they eventually reached a mutual agreement.
When the Emperor's secret guards informed him that Prince Liang's heir had not left his chambers for several days, the Emperor was startled. He immediately summoned the Imperial Guards to investigate.
However, only servants remained in Prince Liang's mansion; the masters had long since vanished. The servants, when questioned, claimed ignorance. Finally, a secret passage was discovered in Prince Liang's heir's room, with an exit concealed within a dried-up well in a small courtyard.
There, they found the clothing of Prince Liang's mansion servants, clearly indicating they had disguised themselves and fled the city.
Upon hearing the report from his subordinates, Huangfu Xingchen knew something was amiss. Without time to bid farewell to Wu Caiwei, he immediately led his men away through the secret passage.
This incident made him realize the importance of intelligence work. Even now, he did not fully understand what was happening, only that he had to hide.
By the time they reached the secret base deep in the mountains, half a day had passed. As dusk approached, a servant emerged from the capital to inform them of the events unfolding there.
Huangfu Xingchen gazed at the dark, oppressive sky and muttered to himself, "The heavens are about to change."
"It is said that heroes emerge in troubled times. I believe with the master's intelligence and resourcefulness, he will surely carve out a path for himself amidst this chaos. An Yun and I pledge our lives to follow you." An Feng's tone was tinged with excitement. He saw great talent in the heir, and felt that hiding in the capital was too stifling; he should make a stunning debut.
An Yun nodded in agreement. He could sense that their era was about to dawn.
Huangfu Xingchen knew their thoughts well, but he could only pity the common people of this world. After all, it was always the civilians who suffered the most in war. How many would be displaced, how many would perish overnight? The world's turmoil was already apparent, and a conflict was inevitable sooner or later. He just hadn't expected it to come so suddenly.
For a long time to come, they would have to live through battles. He did not want everyone confined to the mountains, as they would need food and drink. If war broke out, he feared even the grain in the capital would become an issue. After all, priority would be given to the various masters and officials in the palace, and money would not buy what was needed.
He studied the map for a long time and decided on a proactive approach. He set his sights on Prince Zhao's territory of Youzhou. The reasons for choosing this location were twofold: firstly, Prince Zhao was the weakest among all the vassal kings and was bound to be annexed by others; secondly, Prince Zhao's fief was remote and not economically prosperous, making it less desirable to others. By occupying it, they could recuperate, and Youzhou was a strategic transportation hub, allowing for both offense and defense.
His subordinates had thoroughly scouted this mountainous region. They set off directly from the mountain and walked for several days before emerging. Further ahead lay the last county under the court's jurisdiction, Lin County.
Under the cover of darkness, they scaled the city walls and proceeded to the county yamen, taking the magistrate hostage and compelling him to obey them.
The magistrate was a cowardly man who owed his position to someone in court. He had come to enjoy his life, not to risk it. Faced with such a situation, he hastily agreed to all of Huangfu Xingchen's demands, willing to do anything as long as his life was spared.
Initially, Huangfu Xingchen intended to spare his life, but seeing his demeanor, he realized the people here must have been heavily extorted by him. He eliminated him and, using his credentials, ascended the city walls.
The soldiers on the wall immediately laid down their weapons and surrendered. After all, they numbered only five hundred, while the opposing force was several times their number and each possessed extraordinary martial skills. They were no match for them, and moreover, they had elders and children to care for, living in hardship and already dissatisfied with the court. How could they risk their lives for him now?
They captured this city, firstly to pass through and secondly for supplies, as their provisions had long since been depleted.
Among the five hundred prisoners, many were willing to join them. Years of harsh taxation by the court had left many families destitute. Many had lost their relatives and wandered the world, unsure where to go, and thus joined them. As for those with attachments who wished to return home, Huangfu Xingchen understood, and even gave each of them one tael of silver as they departed.
They kowtowed to him earnestly, filled with gratitude. His subordinates took control of the city walls and proceeded to open the county yamen's granary, emptying its contents. Horses were requisitioned, and after a night's rest, they departed the next day.
They deliberately took the back roads and occupied the small county town, eventually reaching Youzhou. This area was remote and barren, and Prince Zhao did not pay it much attention, which proved advantageous for them.
With the experience gained from previous encounters, they easily took control of Youzhou. After his observation, the prefect had some merit and a compassionate heart. At this time, he was in need of capable individuals, and the prefect was a pragmatic man willing to show loyalty. Huangfu Xingchen immediately kept him on.
Prince Zhao was greatly shocked to hear of Youzhou's fall. He could not fathom why Prince Lu's heir would take an interest in his territory. Fearing an attack, he immediately ordered increased patrols and strengthened defenses.
The prefects of other states also prepared for battle, but no matter how long they waited, they did not see him.
Prince Zhao did not understand his intentions and personally penned a letter, sending it by messenger to inquire about Prince Lu's intentions. Huangfu Xingchen directly informed him that his only aim in occupying the territory was to recuperate, with no intention of expanding his domain.
Prince Zhao found this understandable. After all, Prince Lu had long since abandoned his heir. The Crown Prince who had escaped the capital was captured by the Emperor, and this one's escape spoke to his astuteness and the possession of a superior force.
Prince Zhao himself was not particularly capable, otherwise, the region under his administration would not be so barren. Upon receiving Huangfu Xingchen's letter, he breathed a sigh of relief. As long as his leisurely days were not disturbed, he was content to muddle along and had no desire to reclaim his territory by force.
Regardless of the sentiments of the various factions upon hearing of Huangfu Xingchen's movements, he had no time to concern himself with them. He was wholeheartedly focused on governing the area well, making it a granary and ensuring the people lived in happiness.
The day Huangfu Xingchen departed, Wu Caiwei heard rumors that the Emperor was about to deal with the vassal kings. The Imperial Guards had surrounded the residences of all the vassal kings, and she feared he had not received the news and had not escaped, causing her great anxiety.