IDWBE -Chapter 343 Prince Dai Enters the Capital

“Your servant admits my fault,” the Twelfth Prince said helplessly. “Brother, I really tried my best. I couldn’t find a proper excuse to kill him. I hope Your Highness can guide me.”

After all, no matter what he said, Chen Jingzhi always agreed—never a single objection. Even carrying out the killing of the Wadan envoy was something he consented to.

He truly had no solution.

“Would you confuse right with wrong and call a deer a horse?”

Lin Yi snapped.

“Reporting, Brother, I am not that shameless,” the Twelfth Prince replied helplessly.

Chen Jingzhi wasn’t exactly a villain; he had a high reputation among scholars. If the Twelfth Prince tried anything reckless, Lin Yi might have to step in to save face and calm the scholar community’s anger.

Lin Yi frowned, “Do you value your pride—or your Yong’an Prince Mansion?”

“Well…”

The Twelfth Prince was troubled. Finally, he couldn’t help asking, “Brother, must Chen Jingzhi really be killed? Since he has been reined in, can we let him live for now?”

“Letting him live isn’t impossible,” Lin Yi stroked his chin, thinking for a moment. “But fairness demands reciprocity. The Wadan sent an envoy; we should send someone too. Let him go alone to persuade Khagan Hulagu to withdraw—then spare his life.”

“Ah—”

The Twelfth Prince froze, sighing, “Brother, that’s basically sending him to his death.”

He couldn’t understand why the Ninth Prince held such grudge against Chen Jingzhi, insisting on putting him in mortal danger.

“No, dreams are worth having. What if it succeeds?”

Lin Yi smiled.

The Twelfth Prince gritted his teeth, “As you say, Brother.”

To persuade a khan with hundreds of thousands of troops to retreat by mere words was virtually impossible!

Hulagu was no fool.

Returning like that would be a losing deal!

Seeing him hesitate, Lin Yi asked, “Anything else?”

“Reporting, Ninth Prince, the Wadan envoy has been demanding to see you these past days.”

Lin Yi snorted. “Do you think they can see me just because they demand it? Two nations at war, sparing them already shows goodwill. Keep them in line—don’t let them take advantage, or they’ll be executed to boost morale.”

“Yes, Brother, I understand.”

He still had to negotiate with these Wadan men.

Lin Yi waved a hand, “Enough talk. I’ll go fetch your Sixth Brother soon.”

“Sixth Brother?”

The Twelfth Prince was surprised. “Has Sixth Brother returned to Ankang City?”

He didn’t understand why his Sixth Brother, a petty emperor in his own domain, would come to Ankang City to suffer.

Lin Yi chuckled, “Perhaps your Sixth Brother misses me. I haven’t even sent a letter, yet he couldn’t wait to come.”

“I truly envy the bond between Ninth Brother and Sixth Brother,” the Twelfth Prince said, now shamelessly admiring himself.

Lin Yi said, “Stop wasting words. Go to the northwest gate—he should be arriving soon.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The Twelfth Prince led two guards specially assigned by Lin Yi and rode toward the northwest gate.

On the high walls stood the newly appointed Deputy Commander of the Military Affairs Office, Jiang Yi, with the new Beijing Garrison commander, Liu Kan, beside him.

He glanced at the approaching army of Prince Dai and asked Liu Kan, “Sir Liu, shouldn’t we close the gate?”

In rank, he couldn’t compare to Liu Kan.

But in guarding city gates, he was the professional.

Though Prince Dai came ostensibly to serve Lin Yi, he had thirty thousand troops behind him. If he had ill intentions, flooding the city would be disastrous.

“Hmph, Ankang City still has over ten thousand garrison troops,” Liu Kan seemed to read his thoughts and smiled. “The prince said, it’s not fear of him entering, but fear of him not entering.”

Only ten thousand?

If the city were captured, the Sanhe army from the northern frontier wouldn’t arrive in time.

Yet, hearing it was Lin Yi’s command, he immediately backed down, saying grudgingly, “We must still be cautious—not for ourselves, but for His Highness’s safety.”

Their prince could barely tell grains from chaff, much less command troops. Could they even survive?

So he strongly suggested Liu Kan block the gate.

Unexpectedly, Liu Kan said proudly, “Wherever my Sanhe army is stationed, the city gates are unnecessary.”

After Lin Yi took Ankang City, Supreme Commander He Jixiang personally reorganized the Beijing Garrison.

Anyone below third rank was dismissed.

This was the city’s defensive force; too weak, and sleeping peacefully with the prince would be impossible.

“You speak truly, Sir Liu,” Jiang Yi could find no rebuttal.

A soldier ran up the steps, “Sirs, Prince Yong’an has arrived.”

Liu Kan smiled, “Let’s go.”

The two descended the wall and saluted the prince in unison. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

“No need for formality,” the Twelfth Prince said, staring at the wide-open gate and the dust-filled approaching army. He felt the ground shake, heart racing, glancing nervously at Liu Kan and Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi lowered his head in silence. He didn’t know what to say. Liu Kan added, “Your Highness, Prince Dai and our prince are brothers. Closing the gate is not disrespectful.”

Prince Yong’an smiled, “I am here to welcome Prince Dai on behalf of my elder brother.”

He wanted to scold Liu Kan!

A fool at this moment, talking about brotherhood?

Liu Kan bowed, “We follow the Twelfth Prince’s decision.”

“Shall we go out and meet him?”

The Twelfth Prince, seeing the army approaching, still dared not step outside despite being within the walled city.

“Please!”

Liu Kan gestured.

He had no choice but to ride out.

At the moat, the army had stopped. Dust swirled, and a figure in a white robe on horseback slowly approached.

The Twelfth Prince finally crossed the moat. Before the figure drew near, he saluted, “Greetings, Sixth Brother.”

“So it is my Twelfth Brother,” Prince Dai dismounted, held the reins, and saluted. “Long time no see. Twelfth Brother, you look even more spirited.”

“Brother, you overpraise me,” the Twelfth Prince laughed. “Ninth Brother ordered me to welcome you. Please, Sixth Brother.”

“Kindly lead the way, Twelfth Brother.”

Prince Dai remounted and followed him into the city.

Ankang’s city officials beat the gongs, clearing the path, stopping at Prince Dai’s mansion.

“You are considerate, Twelfth Brother,” Prince Dai laughed heartily at his mansion.

“This is Ninth Brother’s intention,” the Twelfth Prince’s eyes turned red with envy.

Was the difference in treatment between him and Prince Dai really this great?