Chapter 1341 - 1278: Disappointment
Tuoba Liuxiu bypassed the checkpoint and returned to Xinping City.
Just entering the city, he fell from his horse and passed out.
The tribal generals who came to receive him were in a panic and quickly asked the followers who returned with him, "What happened to the Eldest Prince?"
They fled for two days and nights, afraid of attracting pursuers, not daring to start a fire. They caught wild deers in the wilderness and ate them raw, riding two horses alternately, almost encountering intercepting pursuers, and took a long way back.
Tuoba Liuxiu only briefly passed out, recovered within a quarter of an hour, and ordered, "Mobilize the troops, I need to go back and bring my mother."
A few subordinate generals exchanged glances, agreed, and immediately went to prepare.
Tuoba Liuxiu held onto someone’s hand to stand, first stuffed a bowl of sheep’s milk and a large naan into his stomach, then said, "Send someone to investigate the forces across the river, find a way to obtain their deployment chart, this battle must be swift and decisive."
Seeing him calm down a bit, Su Hexiong then asked in detail, "How did the Eldest Prince and the Great King end up like this? Didn’t you go to Ping City to congratulate the new emperor on ascending the throne?"
Tuoba Liuxiu: "Father has long been displeased with me. Sending me here was just to pave the way for Tuoba Biyan, this time too."
He recounted the events in Ping City, and the subordinate generals were all enraged, "We are willing to follow the Eldest Prince to rescue the Princess."
Su Hexiong didn’t oppose anymore, merely said, "We will rescue her, but you should avoid conflict with the Great King. Even in battle, leave it to us. As long as you don’t intervene, there might still be a chance for reconciliation."
As they spoke, a fast horse arrived with news: "Eldest Prince, there’s news from across the river, saying... the Princess has passed away."
Tuoba Liuxiu froze, his face completely expressionless.
"Officials from Ping City have arrived, saying the Great King wants to summon the Eldest Prince."
Tuoba Liuxiu leaned on the table to stand up, swayed a bit, and asked, "Where are they?"
"They’re, they’re outside."
Su Hexiong wanted to stop him, "Eldest Prince..."
Tuoba Liuxiu pushed away his hand, eyes fixed ahead, stumbling outside.
The officials sent by Tuoba Yilu stood with their heads lowered at the side of the mud house, worried about their fate.
The Eldest Prince is not known for good temperament, and this time he is not only summoning the Eldest Prince but also conveying the news of Lady Jujube’s death, uncertain if he can safely return to Ping City.
Tuoba Liuxiu rushed out, glaring at him.
The official sighed internally, raising his hand in salute, "The subordinate Li Jing greets the Eldest Prince."
Tuoba Liuxiu immediately noticed he was Han and directly asked, "What happened to my mother?"
Li Jing lowered his eyes respectfully and said, "Lady Jujube obstructed the Great King’s guards, and with fifteen escorts... all perished in battle. The Great King has already buried them. The Eldest Prince defied the Great King and escaped with Lady Jujube, so the Great King is very angry and commands you to return to Ping City for punishment immediately."
Tuoba Liuxiu’s lips trembled, wanting to say something but unable to, his vision blurred, and he collapsed backward.
Su Hexiong and others exclaimed in shock, quickly catching Tuoba Liuxiu, carrying him back and urgently summoning a doctor.
Li Jing stood aside watching, sighed internally again, silently withdrew, planning to bring up returning to Ping City after he woke up.
However, he felt Tuoba Liuxiu likely wouldn’t go with him.
No, once awakened, Tuoba Liuxiu decided to go to Ping City, with an army.
In raging fury, he smashed everything in the house upon waking, and said to Su Hexiong, "I’m going, I’m going to level Ping City!"
Su Hexiong dared not let him go, quickly advising, "The Great King did all this to provoke you. It’s not right if you don’t go, but it’s even more wrong if you do. He can kill you with any pretext."
Others also advised Tuoba Liuxiu not to go, "Lady Jujube is dead, what good will come of going? They sacrificed their lives to save you, going to Ping City now is courting death, they would have died in vain."
Tuoba Liuxiu clenched his fists tight, "Will my hatred, my resentment just dissipate like this?"
Su Hexiong said, "Eldest Prince, go to Luoyang, file a grievance!"
"What’s the use of going to Luoyang, can the emperor manage the affairs of Dai Country?"
"The emperor cannot manage, but the emperor can decide on the Princely Heir," Su Hexiong said, "The Great King does all this, firstly to have the Xianbei tribe accept the Third Prince as successor, and secondly to confirm the Princely Heir status through the court’s endorsement."
"Go to Luoyang, the new emperor is your aunt, she always favored you. File a grievance, ensure the Third Prince doesn’t become the Princely Heir," Su Hexiong said, "The Great King will definitely vilify you before the new emperor to ensure the Third Prince becomes Princely Heir, so you must plead your case."
"But, but we don’t have an invitation," Tuoba Liuxiu said, "Without an invitation from the court, vassal kings and inspectors, local military generals can’t go to Luoyang arbitrarily."
Not only can they not go to Luoyang arbitrarily, but they can’t leave their jurisdiction to enter someone else’s territory without permission.
For example, if Tuoba Liuxiu sneaks into Bingzhou without notice, Beigong Chun could spear him without consequence.
And traveling from Xinping City to Luoyang requires passing through numerous cities, even if they sneak through, they might not find anyone in Luoyang?
Tuoba Liuxiu lowered his eyes, "I know, finding someone can be done, but... am I just to go to Luoyang like this?"
He still wanted to directly attack Ping City, rather than pitifully seek comfort and justice in Luoyang.
Su Hexiong advised him, "Think of Lady Jujube, you can’t waste your life like that."
No one thought Tuoba Liuxiu could defeat Tuoba Yilu with the meager forces of Xinping City.
Tuoba Yilu also thought so, believing with his troops and abilities, he could level Xinping City in a day if he dispatched forces.
Thus, on the verge of launching, he reconsidered, "Perhaps I can first send troops to Xinping City, settle everything then rush to Luoyang swiftly, there’s still time."
Wei Xiong immediately advised, "The new emperor is about to ascend, it is inappropriate for battles to break out now." Especially conflicts between father and son.
Tuoba Yilu snorted, "Dai Country is Dai Country, Hua Country is Hua Country, even Emperor Jin could not interfere with our domestic affairs, let alone matters between us father and son. Zhao Hanzhang just ascended; she most wishes for border stability."
"Or I could loudly proclaim myself a Jin Minister, refuse to recognize her as usurper, what can she do?"
Wei Xiong: "Great King, Dai Country cannot defeat her."
Tuoba Yilu choked, "Could she dare allow war to erupt across the land? She just ascended."
With this rebuttal, Tuoba Yilu more eagerly sought to first settle the affair, to avoid further complications in Luoyang, "Those Han are most troublesome, with complex rituals enveloping them, ironically the worst at adhering to them. What if they refuse to endorse Biyan as the Princely Heir? Better to clear domestic obstacles first, then presenting it would appear more legitimate."
For the first time, Wei Xiong deeply understood how one becomes more confused and stubborn with age.
Young Tuoba Yilu was also domineering, strictly lawful, yet open to advice, but now...
Wei Xiong was too disappointed to speak, Ji Dan beside was also disheartened, contemplating withdrawal.
Although Tuoba Yilu had the idea, he hadn’t discussed it with the subordinate generals, thus made no decision, just then, the rear palace erupted in chaos, shrieks resounded.
Tuoba Yilu was startled, then immediately grabbed his large blade and rushed to the rear courtyard.