After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 826 - 816: Confidence

Huyan Ping was also entering the palace for the first time. Although he appeared calm, his heart was very tense. He squeezed his way between Zhong Yao and his eldest son, wishing he could stick to Zhong Yao.

Especially when they needed to walk a long flight of steps to the mourning hall, flanked on both sides by guards holding spears or large knives. These guards’ piercing gazes were even more intense than those of the guards on the main road of the Imperial City earlier. Huyan Ping followed Zhong Yao step by step, almost leaning onto him.

Zhong Yao: ... With such a blustery façade hiding a timid nature, can he really carry out the task of instigation?

At this moment, Zhong Yao began to doubt his own judgment.

On the other hand, the Huyan brothers, Wen and Wu, walked upwards with heads held high and a solemn expression.

Before even reaching the main hall, the sound of weeping could be heard from inside.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t plan to continue using Pingyang Palace and was not concerned about this fact, so she directly set Liu Yuan’s mourning hall in the main hall.

Those who came to pay respects all knelt on the ground, wailing towards the central coffin. Among Liu Yuan’s sons, only Liu Yi was present. He knelt in mourning clothes before the spirit, and having cried for six consecutive days, he could no longer shed tears, but his face remained grief-stricken.

Upon seeing the coffin, Huyan Ping’s emotions surged. With a loud cry, he rushed forward, knelt to the ground, pounding the earth as he wept, "Your Majesty, you, like an eagle, shielded your people. How can you leave us just like that? What are we supposed to do now..."

Huyan Wen and Huyan Wu also reddened around the eyes and knelt behind their father, kowtowing.

Zhong Yao stepped forward and knelt beside Huyan Ping, his tears pouring down. He didn’t speak much, just respectfully kowtowed a few times, then kneeled forward, touched the foot of the coffin, and cried so hard he nearly fainted.

Seeing his grief, Liu Yi felt both touched and comforted. Although he didn’t know him, he assumed Zhong Yao must also be a hero who revered his imperial father.

Those brave enough to enter the palace at this time to pay respects to the imperial father are heroes.

Zhong Yao cried until he and Huyan Ping found themselves in front of Liu Yi. Seizing the moment when no one was watching, he slipped a note to Liu Yi, hinting through Huyan Ping’s resentful dissatisfaction that they could help him escape.

Escape was not actually possible. Zhong Yao’s move was to infiltrate the Xiongnu. With Liu Yi captured and so many Han ministers captured as well, it was impossible for all to willingly submit to Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhong Yao’s task was to dig out them out, thwart their plans, and allow the Zhao Family Army to continually suppress their arrogance and make them submit.

If in the end some still refused to yield, except those who could be used in prisoner exchanges, then those who should be killed would be killed.

Zhong Yao was fake, but there were always those who were real, and among those true ones, they were divided into two types.

One type, like Zhong Yao, wanted to rescue Liu Yi, join forces in Jizhou with Liu Cong, and rally their army to revive the Xiongnu;

The other type planned a coup, intending to instigate change from within Pingyang City, kill Zhao Hanzhang, reclaim Pingyang City, and regain the peak of power.

Liu Yi thought the second idea was simply courting death. With Zhao Hanzhang’s abilities, could they successfully raise an army?

He feared they would be annihilated right as they started.

Liu Qin thought Liu Yi feared their Thunder Shocking Son and whispered, "Great King, I have investigated. Zhao Hanzhang doesn’t have much of that divine weapon. During the siege, they ended up using stones, which suggests they have exhausted that thing."

Liu Qin felt they lost unjustly; if not for that Thunder Shocking Son, they certainly wouldn’t have lost. So now that Zhao Hanzhang no longer had it, they could definitely succeed in raising an army.

Seeing Liu Yi silent, Liu Qin quickly urged, "Great King, the Crown Prince’s life and whereabouts are unknown. Our Xiongnu’s foundation is in the Fourth Prince’s hands. But we all know that besides the Crown Prince, Your Majesty favored you the most. He had even said privately that you were more suited to be our Xiongnu Khan than the Crown Prince."

"Silence," Liu Yi said with a stern face, "Father never said such a thing."

Liu Qin knelt on the ground and said, "Great King, our tribe was oppressed by the Han people until Your Majesty’s birth. Only then did we have a chance to breathe. But it’s only been four years since the founding, and now the capital is occupied by Zhao Hanzhang. If even you don’t resist, our Xiongnu will never rise again."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yi felt like a mountain weighed on his shoulders. He said, "If the General places hope in me, it would be better to place it on Fourth Brother. Currently, the Xiongnu’s foundation is in his hands."

He said, "I believe Crown Prince Brother will emerge safely. As soon as they reunite with the great army, they can re-establish the court to contend with Jin State."

Liu Yi was naïve but not foolish. He said, "Jin State now stands stable with only Zhao Hanzhang’s faction. But we hold their emperor in our hands, and most Jin Ministers are also in our hands. She may be fierce, but Jin State is fraught with crises. They have lost their emperor and will surely vie for power, which is our opportunity."

He cautioned Liu Qin, "Our Han Kingdom has the advantage that the Crown Prince Brother is still alive, and most of our Han ministers are alive. Once the Crown Prince ascends, we have a leader to unite and strike as one."

"As for me, my life and death do not matter. General Liu, do not let me hear words like this in the future."

Liu Qin’s face darkened; his relationship with the Crown Prince was poor. If the Crown Prince ascended to the throne, given his prior failure to hold the city, he feared he would not survive.

Seeing Liu Yi unmoved, Liu Qin gritted his teeth secretly. Unfortunately, the Fourth Prince was not here. If he were, he would definitely accept his allegiance.

Liu Yi was uncooperative, but this didn’t stop Liu Qin from acting under his name;

Unlike him, Xuan Yuxiu intended to rescue Liu Yi from Pingyang City. Hence, during the funeral, he made contact with a group of Han ministers. However, unexpectedly, after the funeral ended, individuals changed their minds. Some thought it better to stay than leave.

Zhao Hanzhang had a good relationship with Liu Yi and was willing to treat them well, so why not stay?

After all, Liu Yi didn’t desire to return and become emperor. Being a vassal anywhere was still being a vassal, wasn’t it?

But more were persuaded by Liu Qin to take a risk. The Xiongnu foundation still existed, so they could make a comeback. Though the emperor was dead, new replaced the old, and new ministers replaced old ones. Since they were not by the Crown Prince’s side, they could only vie for favor before the new emperor through merits.

Is there any greater merit than retaking Pingyang City?

If they could instate Liu Yi as emperor, it would be even better. They would have earned merit as those who followed the Dragon. Further, Liu Yi’s gentle nature meant serving him would be safer than serving the Crown Prince.

As a result, Liu Qin acted as Liu Yi’s spokesperson, inciting everyone to start activities and secretly unite.

In terms of confidence, Gou Xi and Liu Qin shared the same language. He acted even earlier than Liu Qin. Almost simultaneously with the news from Pingyang City, he set the time for the uprising, deciding to seize control of Yan State while hope was aflame in people’s hearts.