Chapter 328: Chapter 318: The Traitor
Under the scorching sun of Jiaozhou City, people’s hearts were restless, and the archers on the city walls were in a state of panic.
Xie Xun had been waiting at the city gate for a full hour before it finally opened. Inside, a team of light cavalry stood on either side, but not a single one ventured out. Clad in armor and holding lances, their armor glistened under the blazing sun, appearing imposing and majestic.
Xie Xun patted Zhuifeng on the head, "Zhuifeng, accompany your master on this trip, don’t be afraid!"
Zhuifeng raised its hooves, and Xie Xun rode forward slowly into the city gate. As soon as he entered, the gate behind him shut tightly, and the Jiaozhou light cavalry watched Xie Xun warily as he rode. Suddenly, dozens of lances emerged on both sides, their cold gleam blocking Xie Xun’s path. He tightened the reins to steady Zhuifeng.
"Is this how Jiaozhou welcomes guests?" Xie Xun sneered.
"Whether the Prince is a guest or an enemy is for him to decide," said a man in a narrow-sleeved blue robe who sat on his horse in front, with a slight wave of his hand, causing the light cavalry to withdraw their lances.
Xie Xun looked at the familiar face in front of him—it was Xue Yu, the governor of Jinzhou!
"Is it you?" Xie Xun asked blandly, "What’s the governor of Jinzhou doing in charge at Jiaozhou?"
"The twelve states are interconnected; after Lord Lin Zhi’s death, the Jiaozhou State Mansion sought aid from Jinzhou. Before the court dispatches a new state government, I am temporarily handling Jiaozhou’s affairs," Xue Yu saluted on horseback, his manner gentle, "The Prince dares to attend alone, demonstrating extraordinary courage. I am in awe and utmost admiration."
In a flash, many thoughts crossed Xie Xun’s mind. Was Xue Yu friend or foe? Fengyu and Xue Yu had met several times in the West Continent to discuss the commerce between the West Continent and Jinzhou, conversing happily. Fengyu regarded Xue Yu as cautious, mild-mannered, but strategic and resourceful. While the twelve states were gradually declining, Jinzhou thrived, which spoke of Xue Yu’s excellent governance skills.
When Fengyu arrived in Jinzhou, he invited all the local shopkeepers to a feast, treating people of talent well. While the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry was in Jinzhou, Xue Yu never obstructed, providing grain and money as needed. When Feng Shu stored large quantities of grain in Jinzhou, Xue Yu never inquired, cooperating with the Su Family’s Trading House to actively stockpile grain. When help was needed in the West Continent, Xue Yu was never stingy. In the eyes of the state governments of the twelve states, Xue Yu had inclined towards Ningzhou. Commerce between several states had been booming, but after Lin Zhi’s death, why was Xue Yu administering affairs in Jiaozhou?
These civil officials with their schemes are truly remarkable, one outdoing the other!
"Prince, Lord Lin Zhi’s coffin is being buried today. Do you wish to see him off?" Xue Yu asked.
"Lead the way!"
"Yes!" With a respectful demeanor, Xue Yu led the way. Xie Xun spurred his horse to follow behind, while a team of light cavalry kept a close watch from behind. Xie Xun felt an ominous premonition in his heart.
"When did Mr. Xue arrive in Jiaozhou?"
"Just three days ago," Xue Yu replied with a smile.
Xie Xun inquired no further. After Xue Yu arrived in Jiaozhou, the city gates were tightly shut, and word hadn’t leaked out, explaining why he hadn’t received any news. The city’s citizens, perhaps knowing that Xie Xun had entered alone, gathered in droves to witness.
The long street was packed with citizens, leaving no space to move through. Rumors about Xie Xun were rampant in Tongzhou; the citizens did not know which were true or false, but they feared Xie Xun would massacre Jiaozhou. After all, Xie Xun had declared war on Jiaozhou ten days ago, urging those not wanting to die to leave Jiaozhou quickly.
Not just in Zhongzhou, the Capital City, or Jiangnan, but rumors were rampant within Jiaozhou City as well. If Jiaozhou did not submit, the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry would slaughter Jiaozhou to the last.
Seated on horseback, Xie Xun noticed the fearful, angry looks cast his way by the citizens, as if he was a heinous criminal paraded through the streets.
A criminal sentenced to death paraded through the streets probably received such treatment!
"Xie Xun, will you really slaughter all the citizens of Jiaozhou?" a voice called out suddenly from the crowd, belonging to a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old.
Xie Xun halted his horse, looking towards the crowd. The boy was raggedly dressed, his face dirty, yet had a pair of bright eyes. Seeing the sudden tension and fear among the crowd, Xie Xun said in a loud voice, "The Ningzhou Iron Cavalry never wantonly kills civilians. The rumor of slaughtering Jiaozhou is just hearsay. The Xie family has always been loyal and righteous, with our swords pointed only at the enemy, never at civilians. Today I enter Jiaozhou, bringing not a single soldier to show Jiaozhou’s citizens that rumors are just rumors. If Ningzhou Iron Cavalry harms even a blade of grass in Jiaozhou, consider it my burial place."
The citizens murmured among themselves. Xie Xun’s bravery in entering Jiaozhou alone indeed demonstrated his sincerity, and his words were convincingly sincere.
"You can talk all you want, but how can we trust the words of a rebellious traitor like you, little marquis?" came a familiar voice from the crowd. "Little marquis, have you forgotten the blood spilled that night in the Capital City? Can you count how many innocent souls you slaughtered? How do you sleep at night after you and the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry killed thousands, turning rivers of blood?"
It was Li Pengfei, formerly of the Kyoto Capital Guard.
Clad now in a seventh-rank blue official robe, he was the assistant commander of Jiaozhou’s troops, surrounded by others in state government robes, faces Xie Xun recognized from the Kyoto Capital Guard.
They had been exiled to Jiaozhou?
Though Li Pengfei showed no fear of Xie Xun, several others beside him, under Xie Xun’s keen gaze, dared not meet his eyes. Back when Xie Xun was in the Kyoto Capital Guard, he had established deep authority and presence, now even more austere and commanding.
"The four thousand Forbidden Army and Jinyi Guard surrounded Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, and we, from death, made a path through blood. What fault is there?" Xie Xun coldly retorted, "Two armies fighting, each for its own lord, life and death are in fate’s hands."
"Fate indeed!" Li Pengfei’s father, Deputy Commander Li, also perished in that chaos. "No matter how you twist it, you are a traitor to Yanyang, a rebellious villain!"
"Traitor!"
"Rebellious villain!"
Swayed by Li Pengfei’s deliberate incitement, the clamor against Xie Xun grew ever stronger!