After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

What a pity...

Beigong Chun was not far behind, as Linghu Sheng led an army into Dai Country, but he did not lay siege, instead remaining silent.

After Yuan Li persuaded Tuoba Liuxiu, Tuoba Liuxiu gave orders and sent people to assist, allowing Linghu Sheng’s forces to advance unimpeded, setting up camp fifty li northwest of Xinping City, just one hundred li from Ping City, reachable by a day’s forced march.

Tuoba Pusugen was unaware that his retreat had been cut off. He was slower than a telegram, only receiving news that Lady Jujube had been deposed and that his father had troubled his eldest brother...

He remained silent, feeling powerless against his father’s actions as a son, so he pretended not to know.

While harboring some dissatisfaction, thinking his father had gone too far for the sake of the third brother, he was, after all, his father. What could he do?

But he never expected the situation to end up like this.

Tuoba Yilu did not announce Tuoba Biyan’s death nor the assassination incident in the Royal Palace, so Tuoba Pusugen, stationed at the frontier, received the news late.

By the time he heard that his father claimed his eldest brother was disrespectful and unfilial, and thus was dispatching the army to attack him, his father had already mobilized the troops.

At that time, he was still hesitating, wondering whether to continue pretending to be deaf and mute, or to try and dissuade him?

However, he felt that dissuasion was unlikely to succeed.

After two days of hesitation, he had yet to make a decision when suddenly news arrived: his father had mobilized the troops and not only that, he had failed!

In just one day!

One battle determined the victory and defeat!

In shock, Tuoba Pusugen hurriedly gathered the subordinate generals to discuss whether they should return to rescue or continue guarding the frontier as if nothing had happened.

If they were to return, how many forces should be left behind, how many should be taken with them, to what extent should they fight...

Before they could decide, an Angel arrived.

Although they coveted the cities and lands opposite, having amassed a large number of soldiers and provisions here, they still belonged to Zhao Hanzhang as a vassal state.

Thus, with the arrival of an Angel, Tuoba Pusugen had to warmly welcome them.

The Angel was Huang An, who came to convey Zhao Hanzhang’s orders, "... Family conflicts and brotherhood betrayals violate human ethics, causing great distress upon hearing, thus ordering the King of Dai and his Eldest Prince to immediately enter the Capital, to restore order and rectify morals and ethics..."

Tuoba Pusugen looked confused as to why the decree was directed at him when neither his father nor his elder brother was with him.

But as a family member, Tuoba Pusugen had to accept the decree, and then Huang An said, "Second Prince, the King of Dai and the Eldest Prince have already set off for the Capital. After this chaos, Dai Country needs someone to manage the disorder. Your Majesty orders General Beigong and General Shi to assist the Second Prince in temporarily managing state affairs."

Tuoba Pusugen’s face changed, and he declined, "Although there is chaos, within the country, there are still capable ministers like Ji Dan. Since Father and Elder Brother have already entered the Capital, this chaos can be considered settled, why would such a small place still require two generals to assist in governance?"

Huang An glanced at him and said, "Although the King of Dai and the Eldest Prince have gone to the Capital, the people have been frightened, and Dai Country is unstable. The Second Prince may not know this, but Ji Dan is not currently in Ping City."

If not in Ping City, then where?

Huang An said meaningfully, "Second Prince, Your Majesty’s instructions are for the benefit of Dai Country. Over half of the Thirty-two Tribes have been suppressed by the Dai King leading the army, and the remaining have been persuaded to surrender. Given the King’s great defeat, with no established noble title within Dai Country, and people’s hearts unsettled, are you certain there will be no turmoil?"

"You must not only focus on the visible swords and forget the hidden arrows behind. In any case, General Beigong and General Shi are still under the pressure of Your Majesty, and since Your Majesty and the King of Dai are sworn siblings, surely Dai Country won’t suffer too much."

Tuoba Pusugen didn’t believe a word he said.

He had witnessed his father’s schemes against his nominal aunt’s territory, just as he had seen how his nominal aunt was wary of his father. If he were in the same position, how could he resist adding insult to injury?

Once Huang An left, Tuoba Pusugen still decided to divide his forces into two: one to return to guard Ping City, and the other to advance to Xinping City, seizing the opportunity to capture it, and to unify Dai Country, while also verifying his father’s specific situation.

Although the imperial decree stated that his father and elder brother had headed to the Capital City, he maintained a skeptical attitude.

At the same time, he sent people to appease the various tribes, gathering information about them, still wary of Beigong Chun taking advantage of the situation, and thus continued to defend the border.

Then, the army sent to Xinping City was intercepted halfway by the Xiliang Army.

Tuoba Pusugen was utterly bewildered and questioned, "How did the Xiliang Army from Bingzhou end up behind us?"