The Child Emperor - Chapter 126: Hostage

Prince Donghai’s anger could have turned the four men into ashes if they had been standing before him.

Zhang Yanghao, Yan Dong, and the others had fled unexpectedly, taking with them more than a dozen guards hidden in the Riverside Village. Prince Donghai found himself truly isolated this time, with only over twenty guards by his side, whose cover had already been blown, rendering them ineffective. He was left with only one choice: to immediately leave the Riverside Village to avoid the worst outcome – becoming a hostage.

With Han Ruzi’s return, chaos engulfed Riverside Village once again. Many wanted to come forward and speak, including Chao Hua, who upon hearing of his father’s murder, was filled with both grief and rage, immediately intending to seek revenge, yet unsure of whom to turn to.

Seizing the opportunity amidst the chaos, Prince Donghai quietly made his way towards the main gate, with the guards following closely behind.

It was these guards who had failed. However, Prince Donghai dared not flee alone, finding some solace in the fact that over twenty men were following him.

Han Ruzi had to deal with a flood of incoming information. Reacting swiftly, he first stopped Chao Hua from rushing out of the Riverside Village, then instructed Jin Chunzhong to speak first, trusting that he knew the most.

Jin Chunzhong didn’t know who attacked the village, how Chao Yongsi was killed, or why his father was abducted. But from his sister’s actions, he deduced some reasons and quietly recounted them to Weary Marquis.

It was at this moment that Han Ruzi noticed Prince Donghai was missing from his side. Glancing around, he saw Prince Donghai’s group of guards and gestured for Jin Chunzhong to pause, loudly calling out, “Prince Donghai!”

Prince Donghai actually had a chance to escape. A clever guard had brought the only horse from the village, and the gatekeepers recognized him as the “Emperor’s” brother, not attempting to stop him. Even if someone chased after him later, the guards could hold them off for a while.

But as soon as Prince Donghai realized that his hidden forces were gone, he became flustered. Gripping the saddle, he hesitated, and instead of mounting, asked his guards to step aside as he answered, “I’m here!”

“Things are a little troublesome, come offer your views.” Han Ruzi walked towards Prince Donghai, a large group of militia by his side.

Things were too chaotic. He signalled to Lin Kunshan with a look. Lin Kunshan hesitated and then got his men to block the exit of the village.

Prince Donghai’s hands still gripped the saddle, and he thought several times about mounting and rushing out recklessly, but ultimately gave up. When Han Ruzi and the militia approached, he lost his final opportunity, releasing his hands from the saddle. A smile flickered on his face, then realizing its inappropriateness, he immediately corrected his expression to one of seriousness.

“Things just can’t stay peaceful, can they?” Prince Donghai remarked.

Han Ruzi grabbed Prince Donghai’s arm. “Come, let’s talk inside.”

Prince Donghai glanced at the guards beside him, then at the hundreds of militiamen, including Lin Kunshan and other pugilists, especially that eccentric fellow Reckless, knowing that his opportunity had slipped away. “Alright,” he said.

Some of the houses in the Riverside Village had been burnt down, but the meeting hall remained intact. The body of the chief clerk Chao Yongsi lay there, atop a door plank inscribed with names.

Chao Hua, Jin Chunzhong, Lin Kunshan, and Reckless followed inside, while the others waited outside. The mad monk Guangding had returned to Huailing County to gather other pugilists.

Including Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai, there were six people in the room. Standing before the corpse, Chao Hua’s teeth chattered audibly. Han Ruzi said, “Chief Clerk Chao died because of me. I must avenge him.”

“With Your Majesty’s words, I am content,” Chao Hua’s voice trembled slightly.

After a moment of silence, Han Ruzi asked Jin Chunzhong, “Were the assailants from the Chai manor?”

“It’s likely,” Jin Chunzhong didn’t explicitly say ‘Chai manor,’ but his speculation aligned with Han Ruzi’s. Whoever could abduct Marquis Guiyi was most likely sent by Marquis Hengyang.

The body of Chai Yun must have been discovered by now, and naturally, Marquis Hengyang would attribute the crime to the Marquis Guiyi rather than his children.

With many intertwined issues, each more difficult to resolve than the last, Han Ruzi pondered for a moment and said, “The only one who can save Marquis Guiyi is Grand Tutor Cui.”

“Huh?” Prince Donghai responded blankly, as if not understanding.

“Get some paper and a pen,” Han Ruzi instructed.

Chao Hua immediately brought over a wooden table, upon which lay writing implements and some crumpled sheets of paper. Han Ruzi said to Prince Donghai, “You write.”

Prince Donghai squeezed out a smile. “You’re overestimating my uncle’s abilities.”

“We have to try.”

Prince Donghai had no choice but to pick up the pen.

“The Weary Marquis greets Grand Tutor Cui, Grand Marshal of the Southern Army: Marquis Guiyi has been abducted by Marquis Hengyang. Please lend your hand in assistance. Our army’s chief clerk has been murdered, causing great grief to the soldiers. We also request your help in capturing the culprits and returning them to the Riverside Village.”

Prince Donghai shook his head as he wrote, “The Grand Marshal of the Southern Army is not in charge of such matters. You should approach the Capital Prefect or the Magistrate of Fufeng County. Is that all?”

Han Ruzi shook his head and continued, “In the Riverside Village, we have a volunteer army of three thousand men who wish to go to the northern border to battle the Xiongnu and defend their country. But the army lacks provisions. If the Southern Army provides one month’s provisions and three thousand sets of equipment, the soldiers will be highly grateful.”

Prince Donghai grew pale. “Are you taking my uncle to be your quartermaster? The Southern Army receives its supplies from the imperial court, where will it find the excess provisions and equipment?” But having said that, Prince Donghai wrote down these words. “Is that all”

Han Ruzi shook his head again. He continued, “With the northern invaders eyeing the south, turmoil reigns in the realm. The people await for none other than the Grand Tutor. If you raise the banner for a northern campaign, all of us, including myself, will be willing to lead our troops as vanguards. This is the presumptuous request of a brat like myself.”

The letter wasn’t long. After Prince Donghai finished writing, his entire arm was trembling. Partly out of anger and partly out of fear, he forced a smile and said, “Are you joking? My uncle won’t even look at this letter.”

“We have to try,” Han Ruzi repeated, handing the letter to Prince Donghai. “Let your guards go deliver it. They can take the horse with them. One guard should be enough for you here.”

Prince Donghai’s face turned ashen. For a moment, he was tempted to tear the letter into shreds. But the other four understood the Weary Marquis’s intentions and strongly supported him. Chao Hua and Jin Chunzong gripped their swords, their hands behind their backs. Lin Kunshan, without any weapon, took two steps back, indicating his neutrality.

Prince Donghai had truly become a hostage, used to blackmail Grand Tutor Cui.

“You’ll regret this,” Prince Donghai’s only retort was this sentence.

“As long as Grand Tutor Cui doesn’t do anything that he would regret, I don’t think I’ll have regrets either.”

Prince Donghai felt wronged to the point of tears. He suppressed his emotions and walked to the door. Gesturing, he called a guard over. “Leave one person behind, the rest may go. Ride immediately and deliver this letter to my uncle. It must be handed to him personally. Understood?”

The guard nodded blankly, glanced at the several people behind Prince Donghai, then took the letter and walked away.

“Are you satisfied?” Prince Donghai asked stiffly. Regret overwhelmed him; he should have escaped while there was still a chance. Now he had completely become a hostage.

Han Ruzi still had many matters to attend to and ignored Prince Donghai. He said to Chao Hua, “General Chao, organize the entire army, send out scouts far and wide, and report any news to me promptly.”

Chao Hua, single-mindedly seeking revenge for his father, nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Jin Chunzong, go assist. Come back to me later.” Han Ruzi had more questions to ask Jin Chunzong.

Jin Chunzong acknowledged and left with Chao Hua.

Han Ruzi then turned to Lin Kunshan. “Mr Lin, do you believe it this time?”

Lin Kunshan sighed lightly. “If people from the Chai manor were able to locate the Riverside Village, the imperial court couldn’t have been unaware. It seems that the information obtained by the Weary Marquis was correct, and the court is indeed prepared. The uprisings in the north and south of the Capital won’t succeed.”

Prince Donghai gritted his teeth. “You would rather believe the Empress Dowager than my uncle? Are the hundred thousand troops of the Southern Army mere decoration?”

Lin Kunshan smiled. “Do you think we’re betraying Grand Tutor Cui?”

“Aren’t you?”

“Heh, if Chancellor Cui had a reliable source of information, he would probably abandon this plan too. The Weary Marquis’s suggestion is actually not bad. Grand Tutor Cui should petition for to lead his army to war. That way, he would at least save the Southern Army, and perhaps, even control all the Chu troops in the north.”

Prince Donghai wanted to rush forward and slap Lin Kunshan hard. The promised coordination between the north and south of the Capital had vanished. Grand Tutor Cui couldn’t execute the original plan. But all he could do was grunt in frustration.

Han Ruzi said, “Please explain to the other pugilists. Those willing to stay and accompany me to the northern border are welcome. Those who are unwilling, I won’t force them. They should beware of the court’s pursuit in the future.”

“Haha, in the pugilist world, who isn’t wanted for some reason or another? They’re not afraid of the court’s pursuit. It’s just a pity that such a big plan had to be abandoned halfway. There will inevitably be sighs of regret.”

“Some matters are more urgent than others. Resisting the Xiongnu is more important than vying for the throne.”

Lin Kunshan nodded with a serious expression. “I’ll contact my mentor as soon as possible and hear his thoughts.”

“I also hope to hear his guidance.”

Lin Kunshan walked away.

These people might be able to temporarily stabilize the precarious situation at the Riverside Village, especially Lin Kunshan. As a fate seer, he had once persuaded many people to support the deposed emperor, and he might be able to persuade them to follow the deposed emperor to the northern border.

Reckless stayed by Han Ruzi’s side. With him around, Prince Donghai behaved himself.

There was something Han Ruzi had been wanting to ask, and now he finally had the chance. “Was Kuang Caiyi… truly a traitor working for the imperial court?”

Reckless coldly stared at Han Ruzi. “Do you need to know?”

Han Ruzi nodded slowly. He couldn’t yet bring himself to accept the sacrifice of innocent lives.

Reckless stared at Chancellor Cui for a moment. “Kuang Caiyi ran a shop but secretly engaged in usury, relying on the influence of the pugilist world and the government. Many debtors were driven to ruin. This is no secret. If you’re willing, you can send someone to inquire. Someone like him is very likely to be bought off by the imperial court.”

So that was the reason why Reckless killed Kuang Caiyi.

Han Ruzi smiled. “I believe you.”

Reckless snorted. “You harbor lofty ambitions yet possess womanly compassion—I don’t believe in you. When you’re a hundred li away from the Capital, that’s when I bid farewell.”

Han Ruzi’s face reddened slightly. He hadn’t managed to win over someone like Reckless, and that was indeed his failure. “How should I thank…”

Reckless walked aside and sat at the table, seemingly more interested in the corpse on the door plank.

Prince Donghai shook his head. “Womanly compassion, indeed, that’s your biggest problem. It may gain you some support from servants and commoners, but you’ll lose the support of true warriors.”

Reckless wasn’t won over, and Prince Donghai’s failure was even more complete than Han Ruzi’s.

“You’ve lost the best opportunity, and it was the only one,” Prince Donghai finally spoke directly to Han Ruzi. “Will the Empress Dowager let you go? Whether you ask for permission to lead troops to the north or not, the outcome will be the same.”

“As long as news spreads that I’m assembling a volunteer army for a northern campaign, the Empress Dowager won’t openly kill me.” Han Ruzi believed that the Empress Dowager wouldn’t risk creating another issue by openly executing him, as she wanted to divert the Southern Army’s attention to the northern campaign.

“You can’t even leave this remote village. What news could you possibly spread?” Prince Donghai scoffed.

Han Ruzi was indeed troubled by this.

Jin Chunzong hurriedly ran in. “There’s someone outside the camp claiming to be the Weary Marquis’s martial arts instructor. He goes by Du Motian.”

Han Ruzi was overjoyed. If it were Du Chuanyun or Zhang Youcai, they might have only come to protect him. But Du Motian could very well bring news from Yang Feng, which was exactly what Han Ruzi had been hoping for.

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