The Kyushu Grand Feast was held on the first night of spring. Envoys from various countries began to arrive at the Eastern Palace. Inside Guangyang Hall, music and dancing were in full swing, accompanied by the chime of bells and the beat of drums.
The banquet was attended by nobles from all nations. The Northern Army, fearing any oversight or the infiltration of ruffians, had been on high alert since morning, maintaining strict guard.
As the banquet commenced, the hall was filled with the clinking of wine cups and sounds of merrymaking.
Xie Bei Han, clad in a deep purple python robe, sat on the high seat. He raised an eyebrow slightly as he noticed the empty position at the Great Liang section.
"Crown Prince, I, this humble King, shall toast you."
At this moment, Xiao Nan rose and stepped forward, raising his cup with a smile towards the throne. "It has been many years since I last saw the Crown Prince. You remain as distinguished as ever."
Xie Bei Han held his wine cup and scanned the guests below, raising his cup with a smile.
"For many years, Western Liang has maintained friendly relations with our dynasty. After the battle at the Wu Lao Pass, the common people in the Chaoling area suffered greatly, which truly pains this Prince."
His words carried a sharp edge, showing no deference to Western Liang.
Everyone present observed the unfolding drama with impassive expressions, no one daring to interject.
The melodic music in the hall played on, accompanied by the resonant beats of drums.
Xiao Nan's expression remained unchanged. He smiled, appearing like a jade-faced fox.
"This Kyushu has been in turmoil. The northern region of Qi's Chaoge has broken through three cities consecutively. We are gathered here in the Eastern Palace, are we not all striving for the peace and prosperity of the people? Western Liang shares the same objective as the Crown Prince; all is for the sake of the people."
This was an outrageous claim, a mockery of the highest order.
Attacking Northern Qi without just cause, causing widespread discontent in Chaoling, and then claiming it was for the people!
Shameless!
"I hear that Northern Qi, in alliance with Mobei, launched an attack on Great Liang and suffered a defeat. Warfare, you see, is a matter of constant change. Peace is paramount; we must prioritize peace."
This barbed remark caused the expressions of those present to shift instantly.
Chi Yan stepped forward, his alluring face adorned with a faint smile.
"I heard that the Western Liang King's most prized General Fengyang, for reasons unknown, died on the battlefield. It is truly a pity. The Western Liang King speaks correctly; warfare is indeed a matter of constant change. We should all value peace, lest General Zhu Long also meet an inexplicable end."
Xiao Nan raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
"With frequent wars across Kyushu, border civilians have been displaced. We are here to find a foolproof plan, for all nations to withdraw their troops and stabilize Kyushu—"
"Stabilize Kyushu?!"
Suddenly, a clear, cold voice echoed from outside. The hall fell into an instant silence. All eyes turned towards the entrance, where a group from Great Liang was slowly entering.
The man leading them wore a black brocade robe. His beauty was stunning, his demeanor icy, yet tinged with a strange smile. When he looked at you, there was a chilling, formidable aura.
To the surprise of everyone present, he was holding a cat in his arms.
This lunatic, at what occasion would he bring a cat?
"The Prince of Dingbei is fashionably late. Quite the display of arrogance."
Xiao Chi Zhan brushed past Chi Yan, taking his seat with a faint smile. "Does A-ba still have some grievance with this Prince?"
Although he was smiling, the ferocity in his eyes was terrifying.
Chi Yan gritted his teeth. "How could I dare!"
The arrival of the Great Liang delegation cast an eerie atmosphere over the entire hall.
Especially since it was widely known that Crown Prince Xie Bei Han and Prince of Dingbei Xiao Chi Zhan had a fierce altercation in Zhongzhou, causing a great commotion.
Furthermore, this time, the Prince of Dingbei had orchestrated the burial of tens of thousands of Mobei soldiers alive in Hongzhou, sending shivers throughout Kyushu.
The fact that Northern Qi was hosting this banquet for the various nations, and its underlying intentions, were clear to everyone. If this man was not brought down, the borders would never know peace, and they would eventually be suppressed by Great Liang.
Xie Bei Han, seated on the high seat, looked at the assembled guests below and smiled faintly. He then turned his gaze towards the Old Liang King, raising his eyebrows.
The old emperor had sent such a useless person. What an embarrassment!
He signaled to a guard behind him. The guard nodded and hurried away.
"My Lord, General Yelü, under orders from my father, the Emperor, went to Hongzhou to discuss matters concerning Chaoge. He has not yet returned. It has always been the custom that envoys are not harmed in times of war between nations. I wonder if my Lord has brought him back with him?"
The moment the words were spoken, the hall fell into a hushed silence.
Who didn't know that the Prince of Dingbei was arrogant and tyrannical, having dared to kill an envoy and even spread the news? He was practically acting with such audacity as to disregard all of Kyushu.
Xiao Chi Zhan smiled, stroking the cat in his arms. "Yelü Hong broke my Liangzhou, slaughtered my Great Liang's people, and advanced all the way. This Prince has yet to demand the person from the Crown Prince. Let us sit down and properly discuss the matter of Liangzhou. Why is the Crown Prince asking me for someone?"
Xie Bei Han smiled. "Chaoge was broken, and General Yelü personally went to Hongzhou to see my Lord. Is my Lord telling me that he did not meet him?"
"I have a slight recollection, but did he not go to Liangzhou later? Oh, yes, I heard that Liangzhou has recently been plagued by bandits. Someone was attacked within the city and died a tragic death."
The chilling, bloodthirsty smile plunged the entire hall into a deadlock. No one dared to pick up their chopsticks again.
Xie Bei Han curved his lips into a cold smile.
"The Crown Prince may as well go to the border to recall his people. During this grand banquet, let us thoroughly clarify the matter."
Chi Yan raised his cup and looked over with a light smile. "My Lord speaks with an empty mouth and a gift for twisting words. General Yelü personally went to Hongzhou and was detained by my Lord. This is truly inappropriate. My Lord should release the person before we can discuss matters."
Tan Tai Ye glanced at the Mobei individuals opposite him and directly interjected.
"A-ba should speak with evidence. We, Great Liang, have come here with sincerity to discuss. Do not slander us with baseless accusations."
Xie Bei Han's lips tightened. He watched the verbal sparring below with great interest, showing no inclination to intervene.
"Crown Prince." A guard hurried over from behind and whispered into his ear, "We have surrounded nearly three thousand people. The Prince of Zhenbei has been at the military camp outside the city."
So it was the Prince of Zhennan!
Xie Bei Han sneered. He had finally managed to capture this mole.
Tonight, his Eastern Palace was truly lively.
"Let them in. Let them cause a ruckus."
He enjoyed watching a good show the most!
The guard continued, "There is also one more matter. A-ba has also dispatched assassins to intrude into the rear offices."
Upon hearing this, Xie Bei Han's expression turned slightly cold. He swept a detached glance over Chi Yan below.
It was merely the death of tens of thousands of soldiers. Did the people of Mobei dare to cause trouble in his Eastern Palace? They were simply seeking death!
"Give the order to intercept them. Those who do not comply shall be killed without mercy!"
Foolish!
With tens of thousands of soldiers at the gates of Yanjing City, if that lunatic were to die in his Eastern Palace, the disaster would be endless. These idiots, unable to defeat their opponents, were instead creating more trouble for him, a pile of messes!
"Yes." After a pause, the guard asked again, "What about the Old Liang King's people? How should they be handled?"
"Naturally, they should be allowed in to watch the show."
Using this opportunity, he would completely eliminate Xie Nan Chen and resolve this useless impediment, saving himself the trouble of plotting against him.
The assassination of Great Liang's Prince of Dingbei would be enough for him to deal with.
He wanted to see how the old emperor would protect him when Great Liang applied pressure!
"Yes."
Xie Bei Han looked down at the lively scene below with a sinister gaze, taking a sip of wine, a smile playing on his lips.
"Your Excellency, a military official, yet your tongue is quite nimble."
Chi Yan maintained a smiling demeanor, but the hand holding his wine cup turned pale.
Tan Tai Ye let out a loud laugh. "It seems that the Great Desert is truly lacking. If A-ba does not mind, we can send a few more princes to the capital to study."
Damn it, this stinky man, his tongue was as sharp as a dog's.