Records of Mysterious Things in the Southern Dynasties

Chapter 289 Reluctant to give in to each other
At the third watch, the sound of the drum was heard, and Pei Zhili, the son of Pei Sui, gently lifted the cowhide curtain and tiptoed into the central military tent.

"Father, it's late, it's time to go to bed..."

The tent was silent. Pei Zhili saw Pei Sui hunched over the table without moving, as if he had fallen asleep. Only his shadow swayed slightly on the map screen with the flickering candlelight.

"Father, go to bed and sleep..." Pei Zhili walked over and gently pushed Pei Sui's shoulder, only to see that the iron body that had intimidated the Northern Dynasty for twenty years fell straight to the ground like a bow with a broken string.

"Father!" Pei Zhili's distorted roar resounded throughout the camp. Several wind-killing lanterns outside the central army tent exploded at the same time, startling all the officers and soldiers in the camp.

"Send to the military doctor quickly!"

~~
The urgent sound of the bronze bell broke the early morning in Jiankang City.

The defenders on the city wall looked up and saw a messenger with wings on his back and a red flag in his hand, flying across the high city wall at lightning speed.

That was the highest level of military intelligence, and no one was allowed to stop it, otherwise they would be treated as treason.

The messenger with a red flag on his back flew all the way to the palace gate of Taicheng and landed there. The imperial guards guarding the gate immediately took him into the palace to see the emperor.

At this time, the emperor was holding a morning court, so the messenger went straight into the Taiji Hall, knelt down and held up the wax letter tube.

"Urgent report from Hefei Camp!"

Dong Ping hurriedly took the bronze letter box with three chicken feathers stuck on it. After confirming that the sealing wax was intact, he unscrewed the letter box, took out the military report and presented it to the emperor.

When Xiao Yan took it and looked at it, his face changed drastically and he was silent for a long time.

The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment, not knowing what kind of bad news the messenger had brought.

The whole court held their breath for a long time, and then the Minister of the Left Xu Mian asked softly, "Your Majesty, what happened?"

"Last night, Pei Sui died in the army." Xiao Yan said dejectedly, his voice full of sadness and powerlessness.

"How could this happen?" The ministers were shocked when they heard this. Pei Sui was the only famous general after Wei Rui who could give them a sense of security. How could he just disappear like that?
Many people secretly wondered, is there a curse on Shouyang City? Why did every attack go so wrong?
"Royal brother, how did General Pei die?" Xiao Hui asked in a deep voice.

"Pei Zhili found him lying on the sand table dead in the middle of the night, silent and without any external injuries. The military doctor initially determined that he died of chest pain." Tears welled up in Xiao Yan's eyes, and he sighed to the sky:

"How cruelly Heaven has treated me! It even took away my last famous commander."

"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences." Xu Mian hurriedly said in a deep voice: "The most urgent task is to stabilize the morale of the troops on the front line and quickly send a general to take over the Northern Expedition Army. At the same time, order the Gou Chen Division to secretly investigate the cause of Pei Sui's death and then make a decision."

"The Northern Expedition troops are temporarily under the command of Deputy Commander Wei Fang. As for the Gou Chen Division... Chen Qingzhi should have sent people to Hefei." Xiao Yan sighed, looked around at the ministers and said, "As for the new commander, I can't think of anyone who can replace him. You may as well recommend someone."

"Yes..." The ministers responded and looked at each other. This was the commander of the Northern Expedition, who was crucial to the fate of the country!

So some people recommended Wei Fang, some recommended Cao Yizong, and some recommended Xiahou Tan...

But Xiao Yan remained silent.

Those old officials who had served in the imperial court for many years understood that the emperor did not want to use them. Combined with Xiao Yan's previous investigation of Pei Sui on trumped-up charges and sending Xiahou Hong to Xiahou Kui, forcing him to bring his son to Beijing to plead guilty, the emperor's intentions were obvious.

It was obvious that the emperor was thinking of letting a member of the royal family take charge.

In fact, Xiao Yan had always had this idea in recent years, but the lesson of Xiao Hong's defeat at Luokou was too severe, so he only dared to put his younger brothers and sons in the rear states to hone their skills. Now his sons are still lacking in maturity, but his eighth brother Xiao Wei and ninth brother Xiao Hui are ready and have been promoted to demigods. The emperor finally couldn't help but go back to the old ways.

As expected, when the Secretary of the Central Secretariat Lu Jue proposed: "I think that the selection of the commander-in-chief is related to the success or failure of the Northern Expedition. It should be a senior official of the royal family. Only in this way can we live up to the expectations of the court and the people, defeat the Suolu in one fell swoop, and conquer the Central Plains in the north!"

Xiao Yan's expression finally became more vivid, and he asked, "According to what you said, which important official from the royal family can take on this important task?"

"I recommend the Grand Marshal, Nanping County Prince Xiao Wei!" Lu Jue said in a deep voice: "Nanping County Prince has a broad mind, a broad vision, is well versed in military affairs, and has led troops for many years. He is qualified for this important task!"

"Well, Lao Ba is good." Xiao Yan nodded and asked, "Anything else?" "I recommend the Prince of Poyang, the General of the Cavalry, Xiao Hui!" The attendant Xiao Chen came out and said, "The Prince of Poyang suppressed the Three Wus and governed the four states. He loved his soldiers like his own sons and had outstanding achievements. He seems to be more capable of taking on this important task!"

"Old Nine is not bad either." Xiao Yan nodded with satisfaction.

Now even a blind man could see that the emperor wanted to choose one of his two younger brothers. The ministers no longer mentioned the previous candidates and either recommended Xiao Wei or Xiao Hui.

And to be fair, these two brothers are indeed capable and should not repeat the mistakes of Xiao Hong...

Therefore, the field of candidates for head coach was successfully narrowed down to either Xiao Wei or Xiao Hui.

"Ah Ba and Ah Jiu," Xiao Yan asked his two younger brothers, "Who of you is willing to share my worries?"

"I am willing!" Xiao Wei immediately stepped out of the class and said without hesitation.

"I am more willing!" Xiao Hui also went out immediately, and said, "How can a younger brother bear to let his elder brother go to the front line to work hard while he hides in the back to enjoy the comfort? So Third Brother, let me go. If I can't do it, then Eighth Brother can go."

"Don't give me that. We are the same age!" Xiao Wei glared at Xiao Hui and said, "Besides, I am much stronger than you. I have to go!"

"I go!"

"Oh my god!" The two men refused to give in to each other and started arguing in public.

Xiao Wei had a quick temper and unconsciously exuded the aura of a demigod. Divine light surrounded him, which frightened all the ministers.

Xiao Hui was not willing to be outdone. He pressed the golden belt around his waist and unleashed his divine power to fight against the starling.

The two overwhelming forces wrestled in the Golden Palace, shaking the Golden Crane Palace Lantern in front of the altar slightly. Many ministers without magical powers could no longer hold on and sat down on the ground.

"Stop, what I want is the commander of the Northern Expedition, not some scoundrel fighting for food in the market." Xiao Yan waved his sleeves, stirring up a gust of wind, instantly suppressing the two brothers who were like fighting cocks, and said in a deep voice:

"You should go back and think carefully about how you would lead the army to the Northern Expedition if you were the commander-in-chief. Then each of you should write a memorial and submit it to me. Whoever's suggestion is more reliable will be appointed as the commander-in-chief."

"According to the order!"

"Yes, Royal Brother." The two men then withdrew.

~~
In the Linchuan Palace, the smell of sandalwood curls in the study.

Xiao Hong did not attend court. He wore a light narrow-sleeved robe, sat in his study, and personally drew the blueprint of the Altar of Heaven.

Although he was not good at fighting, he was an expert at drawing and construction. After the founding of Daliang, he designed and supervised the major projects of Jiankang City.

His fifth son, Xiao Zhengli, walked in quickly and reported the news of Pei Sui's death in a low voice.

Xiao Hong was stunned for a while, then he knew who did it.

He sighed and said, "Now I believe that he wasn't just bragging."

"What does father mean?" Xiao Zhengli was stunned.

"Nothing." Xiao Hong shook his head and said in a deep voice: "Your uncle has already decided that you will take over as the governor of Danyang."

"Yes. I will work hard to bring honor to my father." Xiao Zhengli was overjoyed when he heard that.

"You have to work hard. Your top priority is to cooperate with me to repair the Altar of Heaven." Xiao Hong told his son what preparations needed to be made in advance based on the blueprint.

(End of this chapter)