The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1221 - 1199: Seemingly Close but Actually Distant

Chapter 1221: Chapter 1199: Seemingly Close but Actually Distant

The deputy generals also objected.

They still have nearly twenty thousand men now; is this mountain really that easy to approach?

Even if they are not afraid of wild beasts due to their numbers, the mountain forests are not like flat roads. With the line of march unable to stay connected, it’s all too easy to lose one’s way, and they also can’t guarantee they would be able to make it out.

Even the best local hunters have never made it across these dense forests to Mianzhou, who knows what’s inside?

They would rather risk their lives to fight for a way out than take the foolish risk of traversing the forests.

So the deputy generals advised, "Prince, let’s fight our way out, your subordinates are willing to lay down their lives to protect you."

The Prince of Yizhou then sighed and said, "Then I’ll have to trouble you generals. If we succeed, you will all surely be the primary contributors to the founding of the nation."

The soldiers were filled with surging emotions upon hearing this.

The Prince of Yizhou also mentioned the Empress Dowager and several high-ranking ministers in the court that were supportive of him.

He said, "The Crown Prince has been married for many years and has yet to have a child; the Third Prince is also full of ambition. All the ministers are extremely anxious. Moreover, the old followers of my eldest brother and Third Brother have also been in contact with me. The situation in the court is overwhelmingly favorable. We just need to take Maozhou, Mianzhou, and Yizhou, then uprisings can occur everywhere."

Pei Ziwen lowered his gaze, showing an excited expression on his face along with the other deputy generals, but his heart was calm, with more worries than ripples.

These deputy generals, having trained in the valleys for a long time, knew little of the outside world, not even aware that the Prince of Yizhou had already been defeated and captured previously.

This uprising could hardly be said to be a well-prepared and unhurried effort by the Prince of Yizhou. It was more of a forced, hasty mobilization out of desperation.

If secrecy is not maintained, leaks will occur. Can an uprising still succeed once secrets have been revealed?

At this moment, Pei Ziwen recalled what Old Master Guan, his good friend, had once said, "The world has been in chaos for a long time, the common people yearn for peace. If the Prince misses the opportunity, it’s simply a case of unfortunate timing. You should advise the Prince to act in accordance with Heaven’s will."

"Going against the will of Heaven will lead to no good end."

"Ziwen?" The Prince of Yizhou couldn’t help but raise his voice. Pei Ziwen snapped back to reality and quickly bowed, "What are your orders, my Prince?"

The Prince of Yizhou frowned, "What are you thinking about? Why did you not respond even after I called you several times?"

Pei Ziwen managed a wry smile, "I beg your pardon, my Prince. I am getting old and it’s rare for me to be awake this late, so... "

The Prince of Yizhou then took his hand with a sigh, "It is my lack of consideration, my apologies, Ziwen."

"To serve the Prince is our fortune..."

The two exchanged reassurances, and then the Prince of Yizhou pulled Pei Ziwen aside as they headed back to the main courtyard, sharing some confidential words, "I have already instructed Xin’an and XinPing to keep silent about the capital’s news. A thousand days of training for the army is for just one day of battle; at this crucial moment, we must not dampen the morale."

Pei Ziwen gave his assent.

But as they say that, the Prince of Yizhou himself is worried.

The deputy generals and soldiers know nothing, so they can be blindly confident, but the Prince of Yizhou cannot be so.

He still doesn’t understand, "Dongxi Village is one thing, back then the remnants of the Xiang Family weren’t completely eradicated, so it’s understandable there was a leak. But how did people find out so quickly about Maozhou here?"

No sooner had he entered the mountains than the troops were dispatched, and they were ambushed and annihilated. It definitely wouldn’t have happened so precisely without prior knowledge.

Pei Ziwen also frowned, "That is indeed strange. The military in Maozhou has always been strictly managed, and with Governor Zhang providing cover, it really shouldn’t have been leaked."

Speaking of Governor Zhang, both of them fell silent again, knowing that the situation in Maozhou City was probably more perilous than hopeful.

The years of planning by the Prince of Yizhou were ruined overnight. He pursed his lips tightly and clenched his fists, saying, "I regret not going back many years and completely eradicating the families involved."

The whole affair began because of the descendants of Bai Qi and Zhou Yin. While confined in the palace, the Prince of Yizhou had regretted it more than once.

At that time, they should not have spared the Bai Family simply because they were a minor noble house from Longzhou, out of fear that the matter would escalate.

Pei Ziwen also felt regretful, but it was useless to regret now, and back then they couldn’t ascertain Zhou Yin’s identity.

Even if they had exterminated the entire family of Bai Qi, they would have still missed Zhou Yin.

Who would have thought that the people of Qili Village could be so audacious to weave such a colossal lie for the whole village?

The Prince of Yizhou asked, "It’s one thing for Longzhou, which is not within Jiannan Road, but have you sent someone to Mianzhou, Luojiang County? You must exterminate the Zhou Family completely, leaving no future troubles."

Pei Ziwen hurriedly said, "My Prince, now is not the right time. Once you’ve taken Mianzhou, it’s not just the Zhou Family, the entire Qili Village will be at your disposal. Why the rush?"

After receiving orders from the capital to assist the Prince of Yizhou, he had ridden day and night, enduring the rough journey back here. Just yesterday evening, he had just entered the mountains, and early this morning he had to dispatch troops to seize Maozhou. While they were still waiting for news, retreating soldiers came back reporting they were ambushed...

Where could he find the time to send someone to pursue his private vengeance?

In Pei Ziwen’s opinion, focusing on the private vendetta against the Zhou and Bai Families was unnecessary. Once they had succeeded, or even halfway succeeded, taken Longzhou or Mianzhou, you could kill or flay whomever you desired at that time.

Right now, it was truly not worth expending manpower and effort on such matters.

Back in the capital, he did not quite agree with leaving so many to kill just two youths.

But seeing that the Prince of Yizhou could not swallow the bitterness in his heart and wanted to establish his authority, he selected the best fighters to bring out of the capital, leaving the rest behind.

Considering the assassination of two young men with insufficient foundations, these assassins should have been sufficient, and he even ordered the killing of their relatives in the capital as an extra gift for the Prince of Yizhou.

At this moment, he had no idea whether they had succeeded or not.

The reason why the Prince of Yizhou specifically sought a conversation with Pei Ziwen was to reassure him, as apart from his own sworn fighters and guards, Pei was the only one who knew the real situation.

Regarding Dongxi Village, he did not openly inform the commanders but hinted that the inspectors had discovered the village, thinking it was filled with bandits. Therefore, Suizhou and Mianzhou lent troops to capture everyone.

He hoped that Pei Ziwen could solidify this case and not reveal their current dire situation.

Pei Ziwen felt that the situation was not so easy to conceal. The commanders were no fools; their troops had been ambushed as soon as they set out—who would believe that everything was going well outside?

Yet Pei Ziwen still smiled and agreed.

The Prince of Yizhou was not without feelings of lament. He sighed and said, "If only Old Master Guan were still here."

Pei Ziwen lowered his gaze, not telling him that Old Master Guan did not support the idea of him raising an army.

In fact, the Prince of Yizhou was truly unfortunate, or rather, everyone brought onto this ship by the Prince of Yizhou was unlucky.

At that time, the Emperor and Third Prince were locked in fierce combat, with the majority of the courtiers embroiled in this struggle, and even the Crown Prince’s officials were split. Some sided with the Third Prince, while others had high hopes for the current Emperor.

Of course, since the former Crown Prince favored the Third Prince, most of his people chose the Third Prince.

While they were so intensely engaged in their struggle, eager to join in, the Fifth Prince was appointed Prince of Yizhou and sent to his fief.