The Blood Crown - Chapter 83

While Liang Wang’s envoy was negotiating with Liang Guang, a group of dead soldiers sneaked into the city with the intention of rescuing Liang Wang’s grandson from prison. Fortunately, the security inside and outside the city was temporarily under Feng Ye’s control, preventing them from succeeding.

Liang Wang’s attempt to rescue the prisoner failed, and he agreed to surrender as long as the court promised to protect his honor and wealth.

But Zhao Fuyi learned from the spy planted among the rebel army that Liang Wang was pretending to surrender but actually planned to launch a night attack when they were least prepared.

Upon receiving the intelligence, the navy from Jiujiang had already set out in formation. Zhao Fuyi decided to outsmart Liang Wang by promising him while deliberately relaxing the guard.

One deep night, Liang Wang’s army sailed against the current, launching a surprise attack on the rebel navy. The rebel army pretended to be defeated and fled in panic, leading Liang Wang’s navy into a narrow waterway called Buxi Bay, where another branch of the waterway was nearby. In the pitch-black waters, a hundred warships were lying in ambush.

Liang Wang’s navy chased the rebel army to Buxi Bay and fell into the trap. The ambush warships emerged in full force, cutting off Liang Wang’s navy, which was caught between two fronts. Despite several attempts to break through, they were unable to escape and were on the brink of annihilation. The rear army had no choice but to retreat, intending to escape back to Dongting Lake.

However, by this time, the reinforcements from Jiujiang had arrived and breached the weakly defended Dongting Lake camp, completely cutting off the rebel army’s retreat.

The battle lasted from deep night until dawn, with the sound of cannons and the glow of fire on Dongting Lake. The Xiang River was dyed red for ten miles, and the killing intent soared into the sky.

When Yan Sikong and Feng Ye woke up early in the morning, they had already received the news of the victorious battle. The rebel army had won, and Liang Wang, knowing his inevitable fate, committed suicide by sword.

Upon hearing the news, Yan Sikong sat weakly in his chair, unable to move for a long time.

Feng Ye excitedly shouted, shaking Yan Sikong’s shoulder, “We’ve won! We’ve won!”

Yan Sikong heaved a sigh of relief, his voice trembling, “That’s great, we won. We won.” He felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and his breathing became smooth.

With the victory of the rebel army, the plan to suppress the fiefdoms would surely succeed, and with Liang Wang’s death, there would be no evidence against Ge Zhong. This was the best outcome!

There was jubilation in the city of Jingzhou, and Liang Guang had already begun preparations for a victory banquet. Zhao Fuyi and Di Rong’s armies would return to Jingzhou to rest and wait for the imperial decree to decide how to deal with Liang Wang’s relatives.

Yan Sikong had already taken advantage of Feng Ye’s absence to sneak his forged letters into Liang Wang’s study. When the rebel army returned to the city, they also brought back all the captives and everything from Liang Wang’s camp.

The news quickly reached the capital, and Emperor Zhaowu was overjoyed. He ordered Liang Guang and Zhao Fuyi to thoroughly investigate the collaborators of Liang Wang’s rebellion, and to avoid suspicion, officials from the two lakes were not allowed to intervene.

Zhao Fuyi immediately raided Liang Wang’s residence and found a large number of correspondence, including all the letters he brought back from the rebel camp at Dongting Lake. He handed them all to Liang Guang, who naturally handed them to Yan Sikong and Xu Kai to sort out.

Yan Sikong surreptitiously mixed his forged letters among them.

He and Xu Kai stayed up for several days and nights sorting through the documents. Xu Kai was the first to discover the forged letters, and he was shocked and pale, hastily picking up the letters and standing up in a panic.

Yan Sikong asked in confusion, “Brother Xu, what have you discovered?”

With some jealousy towards Yan Sikong, Xu Kai naturally wouldn’t give him a chance to take credit at this moment. He quickly rushed out, “I must immediately inform Lord Changshi.”

Yan Sikong showed a faintly sinister smile and got up to follow, “Brother Xu, it’s late at night. You’re disturbing Lord Changshi’s rest…”

“I can’t worry about that now.”

Xu Kai quickly found Liang Guang, who was also investigating the case by candlelight and had not yet rested. When Yan Sikong arrived, he saw Liang Guang holding the letters, looking shocked and fearful.

Yan Sikong asked, “Lord Liang, have you discovered any major suspects?”

Liang Guang glanced at Yan Sikong and handed him the letters.

Yan Sikong opened them and widened his eyes, “This… this is the governor…”

Liang Guang made a hushing gesture, “This matter is of great importance. We need to report to General Zhao immediately and make plans.” He put away the letters, “Before that, do not leak a word, otherwise, it will be on your heads.”

The two of them quickly bowed, “Yes.”

Back in his bedroom, Yan Sikong did not rest but lightly knocked three times on the wall. Soon, there was a response from the other side.

After a while, Feng Ye pushed the door in quietly and closed it softly behind him, “You’re back so late again.”

Yan Sikong’s expression was solemn, “Something big is about to happen.”

“What’s wrong?” Feng Ye asked.

Yan Sikong whispered, “Xu Kai, it’s been discovered that Ge Zhong had exchanged correspondence with Liang Wang.”

“Could it be that Ge Zhong was also involved in the rebellion?” Feng Ye exclaimed, “Then why did Liang Wang keep him under house arrest?”

“From the letters, it seems that Ge Zhong is deeply implicated. Liang Wang promised to grant Ge Zhong the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Household and a position among the Three Excellencies once the plan succeeded.”

Feng Ye furrowed his brow deeply, “Has Xu Kai compared the handwriting?”

“He has. It matches Ge Zhong’s handwriting,” Yan Sikong said gravely. “Tomorrow, Lord Changshi will discuss this matter with General Zhao. Ge Zhong is the governor of the two lakes and a senior minister of the court, a key figure in border defense. This matter is not trivial.”

“Maybe these two played out a deception together. You had doubts before, why Liang Wang didn’t kill Ge Zhong or imprison him, but only kept him under soft detention. If he’s rebelling, there’s no need to treat Ge Zhong so graciously. Perhaps that’s the answer,” Feng Ye speculated.

Yan Sikong sighed, “I did find it suspicious at first, but I didn’t expect…”

Feng Ye snorted, “That Ge Zhong deceived me when I was young, blatantly lied about military provisions. Maybe it was all intentional on his part.”

“This matter troubles me greatly,” Yan Sikong said. “If these two were indeed plotting rebellion, and we were still staying safely in the city…” He made a realization, “The dead soldiers who attempted the prison break, you’ve been unable to trace how they infiltrated the city. Perhaps they were Ge Zhong’s men, already inside the city from the beginning.”

Feng Ye clenched his fists in anger, “This Ge Zhong, his crimes deserve death.”

Yan Sikong patted Feng Ye’s shoulder, “If Ge Zhong is truly involved in rebellion, General Zhao and Lord Liang will surely uncover the truth.”

Feng Ye said in a low voice, “In the case of Liang Wang, thirty thousand soldiers were killed or injured, and the people of the two lakes suffered greatly. These traitors and rebels, none of them can be spared!”

Yan Sikong nodded, “You’re right, not a single one can be spared.”

Got a bit delayed today, only wrote a bit. Will try to make it longer tomorrow. (End of Chapter)