CHAPTER 314: CHAPTER 311 MERITS

Xiao Xingzong wiped the dagger in his hand, the dagger’s gleam made Hu Gu squint, but the murderous intent on his face deepened. They had been in Lingqiu for quite some time, patiently waiting for the big fish to take the bait. Hu Gu was not a patient person, his palms had been itching for a while.

He wanted to kill, wanted to extract the tendons and strip the bones of that person, who dared to plant spies beside his adoptive father; the outcome should be a fate worse than death.

Xiao Xingzong hadn’t spoken for a long while, and finally, Hu Gu couldn’t help but say, "Adoptive Father, since you already know where that person is hiding, I will take men to capture him immediately and interrogate him thoroughly."

Xiao Xingzong did not respond.

Hu Gu pondered again, "Does Adoptive Father think they have accomplices and plans to wait for all of them to appear and capture them all at once?"

Only then did Xiao Xingzong raise his eyes to look at Hu Gu; if only he had Li Cong at his side now, he wouldn’t have to use so much effort to teach him.

Pity for Xiao Chi and Li Cong.

Hu Gu said, "I’ve instructed people to watch carefully."

Xiao Xingzong said lightly, "Do they know how to watch?"

Hu Gu was about to leave but stopped at these words.

Xiao Xingzong said, "Keep an eye on Dai State as well, they are all together." Although he doesn’t know yet who intends to assassinate him, he can confirm that this person is connected to those at Chen Family Village. Now, as they take the risk to assassinate him, will the people from Chen Family Village be involved? Ideally, they would be.

Xiao Xingzong tucked the dagger into his waist; having one assassin was meaningless, what he truly wanted was Xie Liangchen from Chen Family Village.

As Xiao Xingzong thought of this, Zong Pu quickly approached, "Adoptive Father, the Third Prince has arrived."

The Third Prince, Ge Kun, was Empress Dowager Xiao’s favorite grandson and the youngest legitimate son of the Emperor of Liao, eighteen years old this year. Empress Dowager Xiao sent Ge Kun to fight this battle to help him accumulate military achievements and enhance his reputation in Liao.

Xiao Xingzong welcomed Ge Kun into the command tent, inviting him to the main seat, to which Ge Kun hurriedly bowed, saying, "I’m merely a Deputy General under the General, I dare not overstep."

Empress Dowager Xiao had sought many tutors for Ge Kun, teaching this Third Prince to be quite mannerly, yet beneath the surface, Xiao Xingzong, with eyes and ears everywhere, had long known that Ge Kun’s skill in killing and scheming was not inferior to that of his elder brothers.

If there was a weakness, it was easy to exploit; Xiao Xingzong sent ample Silver Coin and women to draw this Third Prince closer.

Empress Dowager Xiao and the Third Prince were his supports in Liao. When the Third Prince ascended to the throne, his status would rise accordingly, so in this campaign for the eight states, he must assist the Third Prince in winning a victory.

Though he had previously lost to Song Xian several times, all would become insignificant after this battle.

"Still, please, the Third Prince."

Xiao Xingzong repeatedly yielded, and Ge Kun sat in the main seat, his face showing satisfaction.

Ge Kun looked at Xiao Xingzong, "What strategy does Mr. Xiao have for this battle?"

Xiao Xingzong stepped forward and pointed at the map, "Currently, Dai State is guarded by Song Xian’s men, it’s challenging for us to enter Dai State from Lingqiu, but there are troops of Gao Yu at the western Ying County. Gao Yu will let people open the Ying County passage and have the stationed soldiers there join us to attack Dai State together."

Ge Kun was surprised to see Xiao Xingzong, "Will Gao Yu agree to do this?"

Xiao Xingzong was very assured, "He will, because doing so benefits him."

Ge Kun became interested, "And after that?"

Xiao Xingzong said, "Song Xian and Gao Yu will be tangled up in battle, unable to attend to our troops. We’ll take Dai State and then garrison troops at Lingqiu, Ying County, and Shuo County. In the future, these checkpoints will belong to Great Liao."

Ge Kun was very pleased, but soon he had some concerns, "I’ve heard that whether it’s Song Xian or the people left behind by Prince Guangyang, they are all brave and skilled fighters."

Xiao Xingzong said, "They dare not act recklessly."

Ge Kun listened carefully.

Xiao Xingzong said, "Prince Guangyang still has descendants, and I know her whereabouts. I will send troops to capture her. With her in our hands, the people loyal to Prince Guangyang will not dare to act recklessly."

Ge Kun didn’t expect Xiao Xingzong to possess such abilities, even discovering this: "When I left, Grandmother said as long as we win this battle, she would let Mr. Xiao go to the Northern Military Command."

Xiao Xingzong quickly stood to salute Ge Kun.

Ge Kun smiled, "Mr. Xiao, you must not fail."

After sending Ge Kun back to the main tent and instructing the deputies to serve the Third Prince well, Xiao Xingzong finally showed a smile on his face; he must thank Prince Guangyang. Her death woke him up completely, making him secretly plan his own future, and now Prince Guangyang’s descendant was presented to him, paving his way to high rank and wealth.

This feeling was all too familiar, as if reliving the events of nineteen years ago.

This time, victory would be overwhelming.

...

Dai State.

Xie Liangchen looked at the letter in hand, which was sent by County Magistrate Qu.

One was sent to Song Xian, and one was delivered to her.

Receiving County Magistrate Qu’s letter, Xie Liangchen was stunned and thought maybe Chen Zhongdong had heard incorrectly, why would County Magistrate Qu specifically write to her?

Opening the letter, seeing the opening salutation, Xie Liangchen could only confirm there was no mistake.

County Magistrate Qu wrote in the letter about the current situation in Zhenzhou.

Song Qizheng had taken down Cai Rong, but several of Cai Rong’s deputies had already been instigated by the Liao people, intending to escape to Liao Land with their troops.

Song Qizheng and Qin Maoxing were cleaning up the aftermath together.

The North was stable, and there was no further excuse for Xingzhou to withhold military supplies, which were smoothly delivered to Xinzhou.

Xie Liangchen breathed a sigh of relief, yet had some doubts, would County Magistrate Qu know about her and Song Xian...

Probably not, she and Song Xian only made it clear after coming here; when in Zhenzhou, although Song Xian visited Chen Family Village several times, he didn’t show any indications publicly.

Perhaps she was overthinking; County Magistrate Qu sent this letter to her to inform her of the situation in Zhenzhou, simply out of trust.

"Sister," Chen Zhongdong entered the command tent and said, "The village chief from Wang Family Village is here."

Village Chief Wang came with Hu Zi, who also carried a wild chicken.

Hu Zi waved the wild chicken in front of Xie Liangchen, "Sister, look, this is caught from the village, it’ll be stewed for you later."

Xie Liangchen felt warmth in her heart; the villagers of Wang Family Village had nothing to eat; they finally caught something, and yet Hu Zi happily brought it to her.

She couldn’t refuse Hu Zi immediately, planning to have the chicken cooked first and then let Hu Zi take it back.

"Hu Zi, run along now," Village Chief Wang said, "I have words to speak with Miss Xie."

Hu Zi responded and quickly ran off.

Only Chang Yue guarded at the tent entrance, Village Chief Wang then said, "Is Miss Xie sending people around in the Lingqiu area? Are you looking for someone?"

Chang Yue raised his head, did Village Chief Wang see his men? Is his visit to help?

Xie Liangchen didn’t hesitate, nodded, and said, "Yes."

Her trust made Village Chief Wang a bit ashamed; on the way here, he had thought that perhaps Miss Xie wouldn’t speak truthfully to him at all. His motive for coming was to help, though it was likely he was overestimating himself; neither Song Xian nor Miss Xie considered them at all.