Xiao Wuchen looked at the hand reaching out to him.
Going back to the capital with Xiao Jingcheng meant that he would be on the opposite side of his father, Xiao Yixuan and the others.
However, even if he chose to go after Xiao Yixuan, he would only end up being a dog in Xiao Yixuan's hands like before, working like a beast of burden for him while being deeply guarded against, not even getting a drop of the broth.
He couldn't help but think that in the matter of plotting against the crown prince, he had been kept in the dark by Xiao Yixuan from start to finish, not getting a single hint.
Did Xiao Yixuan not want him to be involved?
No. Perhaps, Xiao Yixuan was planning to shift all the blame onto him when things went wrong, making him take the fall.
Otherwise, why would Xiao Yixuan have been willing to give him power and let him investigate this case?
As for their father, needless to say, he had never had him as a son in his eyes from beginning to end.
So, following Xiao Jingcheng wouldn't be worse than before. But glory and wealth always needed to be fought for, didn't they?
Xiao Wuchen grasped Xiao Jingcheng's hand. His jet - black pupils were now filled with determination.
"From now on, wherever elder brother goes, younger brother will follow."
After confirming Xiao Wuchen's stance, Xiao Jingcheng then sent someone to find the small contingent of Pei's army guards who had returned with Xiao Wuchen today.
Everyone had changed into clean clothes and drunk the ginger soup. When they came to the main hall and saw the living Xiao Jingcheng sitting in front of them, there was still an inevitable look of strangeness on their faces.
Knowing that they had questions in their minds, Xiao Wuchen took the initiative to say, "You should all know what happened to the crown prince some time ago. The body that appeared in Dongli Town was actually not the crown prince. It was someone trying to spread the news of the crown prince's death with that body in order to seize the position of the crown prince."
Xiao Wuchen specifically emphasized the words "the position of the crown prince", and the implication in his words was self - evident.
"I need to tell you that not long ago, the Prince of Mu led the military governors of Hexi, Lingyang and Luozhou to rebel. Now he has occupied the capital and proclaimed himself emperor.
The Great Sheng Dynasty has undergone a great change, and the country is in turmoil. After the Prince of Xuan heard the news, he left us and fled without even leaving a message. If it weren't for the crown prince bringing the news to me, we might still be kept in the dark until now!"
Xiao Wuchen sneered, "You belong to Pei's army and are not the subordinates of me, a powerless idle prince. If you want to leave Dongli Town and follow the Prince of Xuan, neither the crown prince nor I will stop you. Just leave on your own."
After Xiao Wuchen finished speaking, he quietly looked at everyone.
Everyone was extremely indignant at this moment.
"Such a big event has happened in the capital, but the Prince of Xuan didn't even think about fighting back to the capital. He just ran away. It's really too much!"
"The Prince of Xuan is really irresponsible. He is not as brave and resourceful as the crown prince who almost lost his life."
Sergeant Cui silenced the voices below, stood up and said in a deep voice, "Since we have been left behind, it means that in the eyes of the Prince of Xuan, we are nothing. Even if we catch up with him now, we won't be reused. It's better to stay and be at the disposal of the crown prince and the Prince of Ning."
Xiao Jingcheng looked up at them, "Do you all really think so?"
Everyone nodded vigorously.
"Even if you have privately heard that I am the bastard son of the queen and the Prince of Mu, you still won't change your minds?"
There was a look of embarrassment on everyone's faces, obviously they had also heard this rumor.
Finally, a guard with a mole on his chin spoke up, "Since the crown prince was framed, it means that the rumors some time ago were spread to slander the crown prince's reputation. We believe in the crown prince and the queen."
"From now on, we will be the soldiers under your command!"
"Yes, that's right!"
Xiao Jingcheng nodded and told everyone about the rising water in the Caisang River, "I have sent people to notify the villagers in the town one by one to pack up their things and leave as soon as possible."
Xiao Wuchen remembered the people he saw when he returned to the town and then understood that they were all arranged by Xiao Jingcheng.
"I have also arranged carriages and horses in the west. Someone needs to escort them to prevent chaos on the way. Natural disasters are ruthless and time waits for no one. We must transfer all the villagers in the town to a safe place before dawn."
"Before you joined the army, you all had good fields and houses in your families. Some of your ancestors might have been peasants. You should be most able to understand the pain of houses being destroyed, good fields being ruined, family members being separated and going hungry.
"What is the purpose of joining the army? It is to have enough to eat, to defend the country and to be able to protect our own family members!
"If we turn a blind eye to the sufferings of the common people, then when our own family members suffer in the future, no one will reach out to help. Since you are the soldiers of the Great Sheng Dynasty, you should hold up an umbrella for the people of the Great Sheng. That is the meaning of joining the army."
These words touched many people. Sergeant Cui shouted loudly, "Fight to the end for the people and for the world!"
Everyone followed Sergeant Cui and shouted three times. Xiao Jingcheng nodded in satisfaction, divided this group of guards into three teams and gave them instructions one by one. Then everyone got up and rushed into the rain curtain without hesitation.
For a moment, only the two brothers were left in the room. Xiao Wuchen looked at Xiao Jingcheng, "What does elder brother want younger brother to do?"
Xiao Jingcheng said, "Transferring people overnight, with so many people and different minds, without someone in charge, there will surely be chaos. But the people in Dongli Town have never seen me and don't know my identity. It may be very difficult to gather them."
Xiao Wuchen immediately understood, "Does elder brother want me to announce your identity in public?"
Xiao Jingcheng nodded, "Most people in Dongli Town know you. You are a prince and have the most authority in the hearts of the common people. They won't doubt your words. Only you can make me 'come back from the dead' openly."
Xiao Jingcheng had wasted so much time in the Liuxiang Tower. By now, Zhao Hu's subordinates had almost notified everyone in the town.
Xiao Jingcheng and Xiao Wuchen were wearing straw capes and riding on horses. They looked up at the street.
There were already many villagers on the road, holding their bags, dragging their families and hurrying forward in the heavy rain.
"I just went to the river myself. The water has really risen. What those people said is true. If we don't leave now, it will really be too late!"
"Wanniang, Ling'er, hold on to me tightly. The road is slippery in the rain. Be careful not to get separated."
The voices of the villagers came through the rain. Everyone was in a hurry and didn't even notice the two of them.
Xiao Jingcheng turned his horse's head and rushed towards the west of the town. Seeing this, Xiao Wuchen closely followed behind him.