Chapter 593: Chapter 593

Dugu Jing was nearly driven to madness by Xie Xun’s persistence. He refused to surrender, and Xie Xun knew that haste would get him nowhere. He planned to talk Dugu Jing into submission slowly and chose not to bring up Fengyu’s condition with the Gu worm for now. From start to finish, he did not mention Fengyu or the Gu worm.

Fengyu understood Xie Xun’s plan as well—the matter of her Gu infection was extremely secretive, known to very few. Xie Xun needed Dugu Jing’s cooperation, which meant first persuading him to surrender. This could not be rushed, and Xie Xun planned to proceed step by step. However, plans often cannot keep pace with changes. Just as Xie Xun intended to take his time convincing Dugu Jing, General Chen raised the banner of rebellion in Zhongzhou, proclaiming himself king under the guise of clearing the emperor’s court. General Chen Chuan, Junior General Chen Gui, Governor Chen Min, and other clans in Zhongzhou all joined the uprising.

All sixteen cities in Zhongzhou fell, and General Gao’s fifty thousand forces tasked with guarding the capital region responded to Zhongzhou’s call and joined the rebellion. Six cities near the capital region were lost, and the fires of war reignited in Beining.

The war report reached the Capital City in the dead of midnight. Xie Xun was still under lamplight, handling state affairs. In the side hall, Lin Helin, Zhang Boju, and Gu Jiaming were discussing the intensity of the reform policies with him. The reforms had met resistance, and Lin Helin and Zhang Boju suggested slowing the pace, taking the "boil a frog in warm water" approach. Xie Xun similarly wanted to avoid pushing the clans too hard, and the group was deliberating their countermeasures.

On a stifling midsummer night, amid the light breeze and cicadas’ chirping, the heat was oppressive. Ever since Dugu Jing arrived in the Capital City, their meetings had alternated between state affairs and strategies for persuading Dugu Jing to surrender. Nights under the lamp had stretched for days. Even youthful bodies felt the strain, each man drowsy and weary—except Xie Xun, whose martial background left him in better condition. Lin Helin and Zhang Boju struggled to keep their eyes open. When the eight-hundred-mile express arrived in the audience chamber, delivering news of Zhongzhou and General Gao joining the rebellion, their sleepy haze evaporated in shock.

"Zhongzhou rebelled?" Lin Helin was stunned. While Zhongzhou was considered Yuwen Royal Family’s territory—the ancestral home of the Yuwen Clan—the region had been under their control for centuries. Every emperor stationed his most trusted brothers or sons as vassal kings to guard Zhongzhou. However, over the past hundred years, as Zhongzhou’s position as a strategic stronghold grew stronger, vassal kings stationed there began posing threats to the imperial authority, often amassing troops for rebellion. To counter this, the Yuwen Royal Family sent their most loyal and trusted aides to govern Zhongzhou instead.

The Chen Family clan, bound tightly by marriage ties and mutual interests with the Yuwen Family, had been the most faithful guardians of Zhongzhou for centuries, obeying only the emperor’s commands.

When Xie Xun ascended the throne, bringing about a new dynasty, the news provoked unrest in Zhongzhou. The Chen Family began plotting rebellion in secret. Now, amidst chaos in Jiangnan and the upheaval between the old and new dynasties, Xie Xun imprisoned Yuwen Jing’s descendants in Qiushan. Zhongzhou’s forces rose up, justifying their actions under the banner of saving the throne and clearing the emperor’s court—a righteous call.

General Gao, commanding fifty thousand troops, answered Zhongzhou’s call. Rather than advancing toward the Capital City, he moved toward Zhongzhou, taking Liu City, Xianzhou, Yang Pass, and Peng County, then marching towards Liling. If General Gao captured Liling, Shuyang, and Tongzhou, he would quickly converge with Zhongzhou’s forces. Once their armies joined, the Capital City would be encircled and isolated.

Now, General Chen Chuan commands loyalist forces from Zhongzhou, rallying righteous armies to march toward the Capital City. With great momentum, loyalists from across the land swarmed to Zhongzhou to unite with General Chen, collectively denouncing Xie Xun.

Gu Jiaming was visibly flustered. The fighting in Jiangnan had not been settled yet; war at this moment would be disastrous. "Your Majesty, should we send someone to negotiate for their surrender?"

"No!" Xie Xun sneered coldly. "I will lead the imperial expedition personally!"

Everyone present: "..."

A surge of warlike determination burst forth from Xie Xun’s very being. Having just crushed the Beiman forces, taken Dugu Jing hostage, arrived alone in the Capital City, seized the throne, and established himself as emperor—all within a remarkably short time—Zhongzhou had now turned against him.

He had anticipated Zhongzhou’s upheaval. Thus, before the news reached Zhongzhou, he had stationed fifty thousand cavalry troops in the Capital City overnight. These cities, he vowed, he would reclaim one by one!

Lin Helin did not fully understand Xie Xun’s military style but had heard rumors. Xie Xun, it was said, always led charges personally in battle—a trait deemed heroic and invincible by military generals but reckless and unthinkable by civil ministers.

"Absolutely not!" Lin Helin was the first to rise and object. Zhang Boju and Gu Jiaming also opposed Xie Xun leading the expedition. With external threats unresolved, Lin Helin and others advocated diplomacy—persuasion of Zhongzhou’s surrender through reason.

Xie Xun laid the map open before them. "Zhongzhou’s one hundred thousand troops are stationed at the heartland. If they join forces with General Gao’s troops, they will flood toward the Capital City. They will certainly cut off Ningzhou’s path of aid to the Capital City and seize all cities east of Zhongzhou, thereby separating the Capital City from Jiangnan. That region is Beining’s granary. As soon as the Capital City is isolated, months of siege would lead to its fall. This battle must be swift and decisive; it cannot disrupt the autumn harvest or the Jiangnan campaign. I cannot lead fifty thousand cavalry to stay back and defend the Capital City, waiting to be surrounded. The best defense is offense! General Gao’s army has reached Liling. Liling has yet to fall. The rear cities are weak, virtually hollow; they lack sufficient forces to defend them."

Xie Xun pointed to Zhongzhou’s easternmost city, Liu City, on the map. "I will lead the imperial expedition, trapping them in Zhongzhou and taking Zhongzhou back. This is the best strategy."

Xie Xun’s military acumen far exceeded that of Lin Helin, Zhang Boju, and the others. The heirs of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion seemed innately gifted with sharp tactical senses, always able to determine the optimal offense or defense in one glance. Google seaʀᴄh novel[f]ire.net

Lin Helin listened intently and said in a grave tone, "Even if we must go to war, General Cui Lansong can lead the troops. You do not need to command the expedition personally."

"That won’t do. This is my empire. I must reclaim it myself!" Xie Xun declared with unwavering arrogance, his dominance palpable. "Everyone will know who is the true ruler capable of safeguarding Beining."

After ascending the throne, Xie Xun had barely suppressed his warlike spirit, but now that it surged, it was unstoppable. Born a martial general, he had charged into battle against Beiman from the start, driven by fiery determination and an unyielding thirst for war.

With Zhongzhou challenging his authority, Xie Xun was ready to meet them head-on!

Dominant and fierce, Xie Xun was a military general to his core. Once he decided to lead the imperial expedition, even if half the courtiers in the Jinluan Palace knelt in opposition, he remained resolute.

The new dynasty had yet to establish a Crown Prince, and Ruyi was still young. Xie Xun entrusted the court’s administration to Lin Helin.

He had full faith in Lin Helin to suppress dissidents among the courtiers and clans, ensuring stability in the Capital City during his absence. Xie Xun departed with six generals, including Cui Lansong and Feng Changqing.

Flying Shadow and Nuanyang remained in Capital City to assist Zhang Boxi in commanding the Kyoto Capital Guard, Forbidden Army, and Jinyi Guard.

Fengyu did not expect Xie Xun to lead the expedition personally. Although unsettled, she did not stop him. She understood that for now, leading this war himself was the best solution. Zhongzhou had to be decisively reclaimed to crush any thoughts of supporting the Yuwen Clan. Only then could Beining be fully pacified.

"Ayu, wait for me. Before your birthday, I will return home."