Standalone Northern and Southern Dynasties

Chapter 526 The Terrifying Mirror Division

The Crown Prince Xiao Tong of Southern Liang was already very ill.

Xiao Tong's health has always been poor. He tried to persuade Xiao Yan during the Buddha's Bathing Festival this year but failed. The last time Xiao Yan sacrificed himself in Tongtai Temple, Xiao Tong, as the crown prince, knelt at the gate of Tongtai Temple for a day and a night, after which he fell completely ill.

There was no other way. Since the emperor had sacrificed himself in Tongtai Temple, the crown prince would naturally be the regent.

However, if Xiao Tong really became regent, he would probably be suspected to death, so he could only be a filial son and kneel at the gate of Tongtai Temple.

When the news of Concubine Ding's imprisonment reached the Eastern Palace, the officials in the Eastern Palace could no longer conceal the truth and could only tell Xiao Tong, who was on his sickbed, everything that had happened in recent days.

Upon hearing the news that his mother was imprisoned, Xiao Tong spat out blood and then fainted.

The officials of the Eastern Palace immediately found the emperor's grandson Xiao Huan, but Xiao Huan was too young to make any decision.

"Oh no! His Majesty has sent the Imperial Guards to surround the East Palace!"

Upon hearing the news, Xiao Huan's face turned pale. Looking at his father lying on the sickbed, he felt as if the sky had fallen.

What happened next was just like the countless times in history when fathers and sons killed each other.

On October 20th, Crown Prince Xiao Tong passed away.

When Xiao Yan heard that the crown prince had passed away, he shed a few symbolic tears, gave the crown prince the posthumous title of "Zhao Ming", and quickly handled the crown prince's funeral.

However, during the funeral, the prince's biological mother, Concubine Ding, did not attend, and the two younger brothers of the deceased prince wanted to come to Jiankang to attend the funeral, but were stopped by Xiao Yan.

This matter is very strange. You should know that the deceased prince's younger brother, the third prince Xiao Gang, is the governor of Yangzhou, not far from Jiankang.

In addition, there was a secret decree that was sent to King Xiao Yi of Chu in Jingzhou via a speedboat before the prince died, asking him to return to Jiankang immediately.

So on the third day after the crown prince's death, the King of Chu's carriage entered Jiankang City with great fanfare, which aroused discussions among all officials.

Over the years, Xiao Yan became increasingly confused, so the knowledgeable people in the court gathered around the prince.

Xiao Tong was quite qualified to be the crown prince. Like Xiao Yan when he was young, he loved literature and was respectful to wise men. He also had a good relationship with Xiao Yan in his early years, and the power of the Eastern Palace developed well.

All these officials of the Eastern Palace are now imprisoned in the Eastern Palace. Even the emperor's grandson only attended the crown prince's funeral and has never appeared in Jiankang City since then.

As Xiao Yi entered Jiankang, the situation took a turn for the worse.
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Yangzhou.

The governor of Yangzhou was the third son of the emperor, Xiao Gang.

After learning the news of the crown prince's death, Xiao Gang also became interested.

Before Xiao Gang, the second prince died young, and now the crown prince is also dead. He is the eldest of Xiao Yan's surviving sons.

Moreover, he and the crown prince were both born to Concubine Ding. Over the years, Xiao Yan did not enthrone a queen and did not get close to women, so Concubine Ding actually controlled the harem.

Originally he thought he was safe, but before going to attend the funeral, Chen Qingzhi came to Yangzhou with Xiao Yan's imperial edict and announced the edict to Xiao Gang, forbidding him to return to Jiankang to attend the funeral.

Not only was he forbidden to return to Jiankang to attend the funeral, but Chen Qingzhi even took over his Yangzhou Military Governor's Office and deprived him of his military power.

All this made Xiao Gang very angry, but when he calmed down he soon realized that this must be his father's will!
Thinking of this, Xiao Gang became frightened.

Xiao Yan had been in charge of the Southern Liang government for so long, and Xiao Gang was very clear about his father's power, which was definitely not something he could challenge.

After several days of worrying in the palace, Chen Qingzhi finally told Xiao Gang everything. "What? Mother is practicing witchcraft in the palace? Has she been imprisoned by father?"

When Xiao Gang heard the news, he felt dizzy!

It's over, it's over!

A son is honored by his mother, and both mother and son are honored. So how could he be made the crown prince after his mother was deposed?

Chen Qingzhi looked at Xiao Gang and said with some sympathy:
"Your Majesty, you may now present your apology to His Majesty."

Xiao Gang said quickly:

"Thank you General Chen for reminding me. I will apologize to my father right now! Please tell my father that I am truly loyal to him and have not been involved in the affairs of the inner court!"

Chen Qingzhi nodded. Xiao Gang was not yet born when Concubine Ding performed witchcraft, so the incident certainly had nothing to do with him, but it also caused him to lose his right to inherit the throne.

Yangzhou is very close to Jiankang, and the generals were all appointed by Xiao Yan himself, so Chen Qingzhi was not worried about Yangzhou.

But the fifth prince Xiao Xu was different.

Unlike his two obedient brothers, Xiao Xu had been fond of martial arts since childhood.

After he came of age, he was also assigned to a post outside the capital by Xiao Yan, and is now the governor of Guangzhou.

I don’t know whether Xiao Xu will be as resigned to his fate as Xiao Gang after receiving the news.

Just when the situation in Southern Liang was tense due to the fight for the throne.
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In Chengdu, the latest intelligence from the Xuan Jingsi was already on Hou Jing's desk.

Hou Jing both loved and feared the Xuan Jingsi organization.

What’s good is that Xuan Jing Si can always deliver the most timely intelligence, and the intelligence has never been wrong. This time, regarding the news of the change of succession to the throne in Southern Liang, I’m afraid many royal family members don’t know the inside story, but the intelligence from Xuan Jing Si has explained the whole story very clearly.

Hou Jing really didn't understand. Could it be that the Xuan Jing Division had become so powerful that it could place spies around Xiao Yan?
What he was afraid of was that since the intelligence collected by the Xuan Jing Division on Southern Liang was so timely and accurate, would Hou Jing's every move also be reported to the Duke of Jun?
Or am I truly loyal to the Duke!
This time, the internal problems of Nanliang are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Xiao Yi, who was guarding Jingzhou, was busy returning to Jiankang to compete for the throne. In order to enter Jiankang safely, Xiao Yi took the elite troops of Jingzhou with him. Moreover, he set out in a hurry, and the political and military affairs of Jingzhou were not explained clearly.

Now Wang Sengbian, who is guarding Kuimen, must be in a state of confusion.

In addition, through the caravans, many Jingzhou officials have secretly established connections with Yizhou, and even many caravans have shares in these officials.

These officials were already dissatisfied with Wang Sengbian's occupation of Kuimen and blocking of trade between Jingzhou and Yizhou.

Although these officials were unable to force Wang Sengbian to surrender, they were still able to secretly create obstacles and cut off the supply of Wang Sengbian's military supplies.

In addition, there was dissatisfaction among Wang Sengbian's army.

The soldiers were naturally dissatisfied as they had been on military expeditions for many years and the living conditions at Kuimen were harsh.

Moreover, after following Wang Sengbian in fighting for all those years, he did not gain any benefits at all and suffered only defeats, which was also a big blow to morale.

The sentiment of abandoning Kuimen and returning to Jingmen spread among the army.

Wang Sengbian could only suppress this rumor by force, but the suppression led to rumors spreading in the army.

Hou Jing smiled. It was time to attack Kuimen and take control of this dangerous pass in the Three Gorges!
(End of this chapter)