Xia Gongming's expression changed, and he looked at Liu Chengzhi, who was looking at him with a faint smile, and didn't know how to reply for a while.
He didn't expect Liu Chengzhi to be so quick-thinking and sharp-tongued at the age of twelve.
He had just used filial piety to advise him not to inherit the throne in a haphazard manner and to imitate his father's character. He immediately retorted with filial piety.
Since the country must be governed by filial piety, wouldn't it be against filial piety if I disobey my father's orders?
"This... I would like to take the liberty of asking. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that he was following the command of King Bingjian and would inherit the throne immediately. Can the prince's suicide note be allowed to be read by me?"
"Why not?"
Liu Chengzhi took out a piece of fully folded rice paper from his wristband and walked to Xia Gongming and handed it over.
"Mr. Xia, here is my father's suicide note. Please read it and see if I have violated my filial piety and acted privately!"
Xia Gongming took the rice paper and looked at it carefully, carefully considering every word.
Finally, a look of regret flashed in Xia Gongming's eyes, and he held the letter in his hands with slightly trembling hands.
The handwriting, signature, and royal seal are all flawless.
The content of the letter is indeed that once he dies and passes away, his legitimate son Liu Chengzhi will immediately inherit the throne and appease the people of northern Xinjiang.
Xia Gongming tremblingly returned the letter to Liu Chengzhi.
Once Liu Chengzhi succeeds to the throne, it means that he has a reasonable status to take charge of all military and political affairs of the 27th House of Northern Xinjiang.
But the imperial court least expected to see Liu Chengzhi, Prince Bingxian's son, taking charge of the 27th House of Northern Xinjiang so soon.
However, it is useless now even if I deny it on behalf of the imperial court.
His Royal Highness Prince Bingjian has been recognized by his troops.
It doesn't matter whether the court recognizes him as inheriting the throne or not. The important thing is that he can now command an army of 200,000 tigers and wolves.
And these 200,000 tiger and wolf troops were exactly what the imperial court was afraid of.
Without the Dragon Seal and without a reasonable inheritance to the throne, he was able to command an invincible 200,000 cavalry. What kind of charm does this side-by-side prince have?
"The King of the World... King Xiangjian, I took the liberty to ask, the Northern Expedition army has already set foot on the Golden Kingdom, galloping on the grassland, and the unification of the world is just around the corner.
The Northern Expedition is just one final attack away. At this moment, the main army is still in court. Why? "
Xia Gongming did not ask Liu Chengzhi why he led his troops to flee when the world was about to be unified. Instead, he changed his words to a gentle word, just not wanting to arouse Liu Chengzhi's dissatisfaction.
"Mr. Xia, there is no need to hide and be vague between you and me.
Mr. Xia was supposed to be managing state affairs in the imperial court, but now he appeared outside Yingzhou City in northern Xinjiang. How could he not know the purpose of my return to the imperial court?
My father, who was in his prime, was assassinated and died on the way to Beijing on an imperial mission.
As the son of a human being, I think it is reasonable to seek justice for my father both emotionally and rationally.
My father's death is unclear. Does the court want to give an explanation?
Not only myself and the hundreds of thousands of brothers who lived and died in the past of my father behind me, but also the people of the twenty-seven prefectures in northern Xinjiang, they also need to come up with an explanation so that the truth about the assassination of their father can be revealed to the world. "
"What kind of explanation does King Bingjian want?"
"What the boss said, what kind of explanation I need from the king, the boss knows better than the king."
Xia Gongming was silent for a moment and looked at Liu Chengzhi expectantly: "Your Majesty, this matter cannot be decided by the official alone. Can you give the official a few days? The official will immediately send a letter to the court. At that time, he will definitely give the prince an explanation about the late king. Account of assassination.”
"Of course! As long as the court can come up with a well-founded explanation, what's the point of waiting?
One month, two months is fine, as long as there is an explanation. "
Liu Chengzhi's agreement was so smooth that Xia Gongming couldn't help but be stunned.
After a moment, Xia Gongming's old eyes were filled with joy, and he looked at Liu Chengzhi with relief and disbelief.
"Does the prince mean what he said?"
"A gentleman says that a horse is hard to catch, and the 240,000 cavalry behind this king can prove it."
Looking at Liu Chengzhi's solemn expression, Xia Gongming took a long breath, bowed and saluted Liu Chengzhi.
"Your Majesty really has the righteousness and righteousness of his father. I admire you very much. Please accept my respect.
Please send an order to the prince to set up camp outside the city, and your subordinates will return to the city immediately to send a message to the capital. "
"Wait!"
Just as Xia Gongming was about to turn around, his heart trembled when he heard Liu Chengzhi's words, and he looked at Liu Chengzhi in surprise.
"Does the prince have anything else to say?"
Liu Chengzhi smiled lightly and said to Yingzhou City: "Mr. Xia, it seems that the king and his brothers are unable to settle in Yingzhou City to rest. Setting up camp outside the city is not a problem.
But what about the food and grass consumed by this army every day? Shouldn't the boss give me an explanation?
The king is not allowed to return to his own fiefdom, and he is not given food and grass. I am afraid that this matter will be hard to talk about in public and private matters, and in terms of emotion and reason.
We can't let this king and his 200,000 cavalry wait outside hungry! "
Xia Gongming looked at Liu Chengzhi suspiciously, and couldn't help but wonder if Liu Chengzhi was defrauding him of food and grass.
Give it, just in case the army immediately turns around and starts attacking the city after receiving the food and grass. Not only will it be impossible to retreat from the enemy, but it will give Liu Chengzhi the confidence to fight for a long time.
Don't give it, the army may attack the city immediately because of hunger.
Xia Gongming, who had been overjoyed just now, immediately became melancholy. After pondering for a long time, he looked at Liu Chengzhi hesitantly.
"May I ask how much food and grass the prince needs?"
"How about three months first? After all, I really don't know how long Mr. Xia's negotiation with the court will be delayed."
Xia Gongming exclaimed: "Three months!"
"Yes, three months! Otherwise, I can't guarantee what the two hundred thousand hungry elites will do."
"This... three months of food and grass is too much. Twenty days, twenty days. I promise to give the prince a reasonable explanation. I don't need to report to the court. I can make my own decisions and let the officials in the city use the hanging method." How about bringing out twenty-five days’ worth of food and grass in baskets to supply the soldiers’ daily necessities?”
"My lord, I cannot say that I will not show any mercy to my lord. After all, my lord is an old friend of my father. Although the younger generation will inherit the throne, you do not dare to disapprove of my venerable lord.
Two months.
No matter how little you say, don’t talk! "
"My lord, two months' worth of food and grass is not a small amount. I really don't dare to take the initiative and come up with so much food and grass."
Liu Chengzhi frowned slightly and gently stroked the handle of the knife at his waist: "Sir, since you can't make the decision, I can only lead my troops to take a detour to Beijing and find someone who can make the decision."
Xia Gongming's heart skipped a beat, and he started pacing back and forth looking at Liu Chengzhi's dull eyes.
"How about an hour? How about I give the prince an answer in an hour?"
"Yes, I have spoken in advance and will not wait until it is too late."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will definitely abide by the agreement, Your Majesty, I will do it later."
Xia Gongming bowed to Liu Chengzhi, and ran toward the gate of Yingzhou City with the hem of his official robe in hand at a speed that was not suitable for his age.
Liu Chengzhi looked at Xia Gongming's retreating figure and walked towards Cheng Kai and the others with a hint of doubt in his eyes.
"Uncles, wouldn't it be better for us to bypass Yingzhou and go to the capital directly? Why do we do such a meaningless act?"
Cheng Kai and the other two looked at each other, then walked towards the distance with the three brothers Liu Chengzhi surrounded.
"Your Highness, the prince's decision has its own profound meaning. We just have to act as ordered."
Liu Chengzhi glanced at his eldest brother and third brother, who were also confused, and nodded silently to Cheng Kai and the other six.
As Xia Gongming ascended toward the city wall in a hanging basket, the earth trembled and the soldiers of the Sixth Guards of the New Army outside the city immediately got on their horses, drew their weapons and looked towards the north.
