CHAPTER 310: CHAPTER 307: COLLUSION

Gao Yu’s face grew even more sullen upon hearing Xiao Xingzong’s name.

What does Xiao Xingzong want to do at this time? When the Qi people are ready to dispatch troops to the Eight States, Xiao Xingzong suggested joining forces with him to attack Qi Land, although the Liao people dispatched troops, there has been no news until now.

Useless. He asked Xiao Xingzong several times to borrow troops, but not only did Xiao Xingzong fail to take the North, he was instead driven out by the Juma River and returned to the new city in disgrace.

If it weren’t for Empress Dowager Xiao, Xiao Xingzong would have been abandoned by the Liao people long ago.

"I want to see what he has to say this time?" Gao Yu reached out and took the letter.

Xiao Xingzong has no position to mock him. If the North falls into Liao people’s hands, how would the Qi people have the energy to deal with him?

With this thought in mind, Gao Yu slowly unfolded the letter, and upon seeing the contents, his expression instantly changed, his fingers gripping the letter involuntarily tightened.

The Chief Secretary couldn’t help but take two steps back, seeing his majesty’s eyes red and his entire body emitting an aura of murderous intent, as if with one wave of his hand, one’s life would end.

The Chief Secretary was not mistaken. As Gao Yu raised his head again, his eyes scanned the surroundings, eventually settling on the palace attendant serving him.

Gao Yu’s expression became ferocious, and he suddenly stood up. The poor palace attendant didn’t even have time to utter a single cry before Gao Yu grabbed his neck.

The struggle did not last long. Gao Yu’s hand easily crushed the fragile throat, then tossed the lifeless body away.

The corpse hit the writing desk, and immediately Gao Yu roared: "Where is Xue Shougui?"

The Chief Secretary, knowing nothing more than what was previously decreed, replied: "He should be drilling the troops."

Let him drill troops. Gao Yu’s eyes widened: "No wonder we have lost. Because someone has long harbored ulterior motives and colluded with foreign enemies."

The Chief Secretary was shocked: "Your Majesty means... General Xue?" How could that be, General Xue has followed his majesty for so long, how could he collude with Song Xian?

The Chief Secretary looked at the letter in Gao Yu’s hand: "Could it be what the Liao people said? At a time like this, Liao people’s words..."

Gao Yu said coldly: "You think the Liao people’s words are unbelievable? But I believe it’s all true. No wonder Song Xian is eager to lead troops into the Eight States, no wonder Zhang Weihe would assist Song Xian."

Gao Yu, like an enraged beast, wished to tear every person he saw to shreds, the eunuchs dared not speak or collect the palace attendant’s corpse, the Chief Secretary forced himself to remain calm: "Your majesty, what exactly did the Liao people say?"

"Nineteen years ago, Xue Shougui let Prince Guangyang’s daughter go," Gao Yu said, "and let the people from Chen Family Village take her to Qi Land, hiding her away."

The Chief Secretary stood stunned, how could that be, he almost couldn’t believe it. Once he slightly regained his senses, he immediately grasped a point: Chen Family Village.

Your majesty said "Chen Family Village," what is the connection between this "Chen Family Village" and the Chen Family Village in Zhenzhou?

Song Xian forced Emperor Qi to depose Princess Jiahui, among those involved were people from Chen Family Village, with Du Zhuo and Song Xian frequently interacting in recent months, their local merchants even engaging together in the sale of woolen goods.

To understand Song Xian, one must know these matters; hence the spies fully reported these to him, and he informed His Majesty.

Thus "Chen Family Village" would not seem unfamiliar to the Chief Secretary.

Gao Yu noticed the Chief Secretary’s contemplation, he gritted his teeth: "It’s that Chen Family Village, there’s a Xie Liangchen in Chen Family Village who is Prince Guangyang’s granddaughter."

The letter listed plentiful evidence presented by Xiao Xingzong to Gao Yu.

After leaving Zhenzhou, Xie Liangchen was raised in Yuezhou, and when Xiao Chi and others were captured in Yuezhou, Xiao Xingzong retaliated by killing Yuezhou people, Xie Liangchen was protected and sent back to Zhenzhou Chen Family Village.

Afterwards, Xiao Chi was captured in Zhenzhou, and the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ third, Li Cong, was also seized by Song Xian.

These events raised Xiao Xingzong’s suspicions, so he traced back to investigate Xue Shougui, who had guarded outside Prince Guangyang Mansion, and days ago, Xiao Xingzong’s people captured Xue Shougui’s legitimate son, Xue Ke.

"Xue Ke confessed that back then Xue Shougui let Prince Guangyang’s daughter escape," Gao Yu said, "Song Xian led troops to attack the city, Xue Ke sensed the unfavorable situation and intended to seek out Song Xian and Zhang Weihe, to leave the Eight States for Qi Land."

Xue Ke was indeed gone. Upon hearing this, the Chief Secretary couldn’t help but believe it might not be fabricated by the Liao people.

Gao Yu stared at the Chief Secretary: "Immediately arrest Xue Shougui and escort him to prison for interrogation. I don’t care what methods you use, I want the truth from him."

The Chief Secretary dared not delay and replied: "I shall go now."

Gao Yu’s anger hadn’t diminished in the slightest; he suddenly stepped forward, drawing his sword from the writing desk, the cold blade flashing as it carved a deep gash into the tabletop.

He had always thought the entire family of Prince Guangyang perished at his hands, yet after nineteen years, those thought long gone turned out to have been allowed to escape.

By someone he trusted as his strong pillar all along.

Gao Yu felt betrayed and played with; how many eyes of Prince Guangyang might still be hidden in this city? How many remain lurking, waiting for the chance to avenge Prince Guangyang?

Breathing heavily, Gao Yu aimed to kill them all, every single one, including Song Xian, Prince Guangyang’s granddaughter, and the people of Chen Family Village.

His mind briefly flashed with Xiao Xingzong’s strategies against Song Xian mentioned in the letter.

Right now, Song Xian has divided his forces with Zhang Weihe, intending to besiege Taiyuan Prefecture together with Zhang Weihe and Du Zhuo, but Du Zhuo hasn’t reached Taiyuan Prefecture City gates yet.

If any mishap occurs now, such as Zhang Weihe suddenly withdrawing his troops, Song Xian would be left isolated.

He would seize the chance, leading troops to attack Song Xian, capturing him.

Xiao Xingzong had a way to divert Zhang Weihe, disrupting the battle formation Song Xian had laid out.

Gao Yu’s eyes gleamed with cold light, although Xiao Xingzong was cunning, he wouldn’t deceive him at this moment; now he should join forces with the Liao people to deal with the Qi people.

With Song Xian dead here, the northern situation would change, benefiting the Liao people greatly. Moreover, the Liao people wouldn’t wish him to lose the Eight States territory as he could at least hold the Qi people in check.

Gao Yu was eager to hear the truth from Xue Shougui’s mouth, before striking at Song Xian, he wanted to apprehend all those secretly loyal to Prince Guangyang.

Starting from Xue Shougui, each one would be captured.

Gao Yu looked at the eunuch: "I want to personally interrogate Xue Shougui... and closely monitor those officials frequently involved with Xue Shougui."

The eunuch responded.

Gao Yu gripped the sword hilt tightly, as if clutching the throats of Xue Shougui and others.

Before launching his campaign, he would sacrifice these people’s heads on his banner.

...

Guangyang County.

Zhang Weihe stood atop a platform drilling troops, with more people joining the camp day by day, willing to head to Taiyuan Prefecture with him.

Slaying the Pseudo King to avenge Prince Guangyang.

The momentum appeared increasingly favorable, yet Zhang Weihe felt a bit uneasy.