Transmigrated as the Princess Consort of a Fallen Nation-Chapter 96.1

Just as dawn was breaking, a confidential letter was hastily sent to the main tent of the Chen army.

After reading the letter, the Crown Prince was furious and ordered his attendant, “Quickly find Shen Yanzhi!”

After a moment, Shen Yanzhi entered the tent.

Although it was early morning and slightly chilly, others were dressed lightly, while he had a cloak draped over his shoulders, making his slender figure appear even more delicate and frail.

He bowed and asked, “May I ask why the prince has summoned Shen?”

Handing him the confidential letter, the Crown Prince said, “Dong Cheng has indeed betrayed us!”

After Shen Yanzhi finished reading the confidential letter returned by An Yuanqing, a cold light flickered in his phoenix-like eyes. “Since it’s a move that backfired, we might as well make the former Crown Prince suffer a bit more.”

The Crown Prince was impatient. “What’s your plan? Speak quickly!”

Shen Yanzhi said, “Since Dong Cheng has defected to the former Crown Prince, he must have been suppressed by their side after previously working for us.

Let’s spread the word that Dong Cheng is our man.

With a mix of truth and falsehood, it will be difficult for others to guess.

When the morale of the former Crown Prince’s camp is shaky, we can take action against him.

By framing it as if the former Crown Prince killed him, will the camp believe it?”

This plan was similar to when the former Crown Prince sent people to persuade various officials with heavy bribes.

After Li Xin learned of it, he directly killed those officials, fearing that they might surrender to the former Crown Prince.

Whether those officials would actually surrender was uncertain, but Li Xin’s direct killings chilled the hearts of all courtiers and earned the scorn of the people.

Once the rumor of Dong Cheng being a spy was released, Dong Cheng would be doomed, and all the strategists and generals under the former Crown Prince’s command would feel insecure.

After all, they wouldn’t know if they would be the next ones to be accused of being spies.

Furthermore, with Dong Da’s ten thousand old subordinates in the former Crown Prince’s hands, Dong Cheng’s old subordinates would also likely hold grievances against the former Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince listened attentively, still insisting, “I understand the pros and cons of this. Would the former Crown Prince be foolish enough to kill Dong Cheng? He would more likely find an excuse to imprison him.”

Shen Yanzhi smirked, “It should appear to others that the former Crown Prince killed Dong Cheng.”

The Crown Prince pondered for a moment. “Are you suggesting that we take action?”

As the light of dawn filled the tent, the light from the candles seemed to dim for a moment.

Shen Yanzhi’s eyes were deep and unfathomable. “Write a letter to Dong Cheng, saying that in three days, the army will attack from Hulukou and Wangwudu.

Hulukou will be a feint to distract the Chu army, while the main force will attack from Wangwudu.

Let Dong Cheng request to guard Hulukou from the former Crown Prince and say that you have a secret order to be conveyed to him in person.”

“Since Dong Cheng has defected to the former Crown Prince, he will surely inform them of our plan.

If the former Crown Prince wants to know the secret order you gave to Dong Cheng, he will likely make Dong Cheng guard Hulukou as a trick.

When the Chu army falls into our ambush at Wangwudu, we can attack Hulukou, catching Dong Cheng off guard.”

“At that time, we will spread the news that the former Crown Prince made Dong Cheng lead a thousand men to face tens of thousands of troops. Whatever the people say about this matter will no longer concern us.”

The Crown Prince laughed heartily, “Shen Yanzhi, you are truly a wise counselor! Bring wine! I want to drink a few cups with you!”

Chen soldiers frequently appeared at Hulukou and Wangwudu, indicating that they were preparing to cross the river.

Chu Chengji, who had originally planned for a sudden attack, decided to change tactics and lure the enemy instead.

He dispatched a team led by Qin Zheng to set traps near Guifire Mountain, intending to lure the crossing Chen army into an ambush.

Although Qin Zheng was not familiar with mechanical traps, Lin Zhao was an expert in this field.

The people from the Qi Yun stronghold, who had set numerous traps behind the Linyan Mountains in the past, were also experienced in this regard.

At this moment, news of Dong Cheng being a spy for the Chen kingdom reached Chu Chengji’s ears.

Song Heqing’s greatest fear had come true.

Anxiously, he discussed countermeasures with Chu Chengji and the other advisers, but they were at odds.

Some believed in preventing troubles before they happened by executing Dong Cheng to eliminate future problems, while others believed in investigating thoroughly before making a decision to avoid hurting loyalists, which would demoralize the soldiers.

Sitting in the main seat, Chu Chengji watched the heated arguments with a calm demeanor.

His face, framed by the black armor, was pale and striking, exuding a sense of strength rather than weakness, like a pine tree covered in snow, cold and restrained.

“That’s enough,” he said.

With his voice, all the arguments ceased abruptly, and the entire tent fell silent in an instant.

Chu Chengji asked, “How did the rumor about Dong Cheng being a spy first spread?”

The strategists looked at each other, realizing they had been too preoccupied with arguing about how to deal with Dong Cheng to investigate this.

Song Heqing stepped forward and said, “Reporting to Your Highness, after investigating, I found out that the rumor first originated from a Captain named Zhong Wei.”

“Send for Zhong Wei,” ordered Chu Chengji.

Soon, a rugged man with a beard was summoned to the central military tent.

Upon seeing Chu Chengji, he knelt down and greeted him, “I pay my respects to His Highness!”

Chu Chengji nodded and instructed, “Speak.”

Zhong Wei stood up.

This was the first time he had met the Crown Prince in the central military tent.

The strategists and generals inside were all dignified, and the Crown Prince sitting in the main seat exuded an imposing demeanor, making him dare not look around too much.

Chu Chengji asked, “Are you the one who spread the rumor that General Dong is a spy for the Chen kingdom?”

Zhong Wei nodded firmly. “Yes, it was me.”

Before Chu Chengji could continue questioning, Zhong Wei eagerly confessed, “A few days ago, I met a fellow townsman who had fled to the city.

We drank together at a tavern, and my fellow townsman was horrified to hear that Dong Cheng was also serving under Your Highness.

He then told me an old story: Dong Da’s uncle once served as the county magistrate of Lijun and had always been working for the rebels of Chen kingdom.

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Before Dong Cheng defected to Your Highness, his uncle visited Dong’s family with a large sum of money.”

Zhong Wei and Dong Cheng were from the same hometown.

He had served under Dong Da in the military but was expelled from the army for violating military regulations and consorting with prostitutes.

Since then, he had harbored resentment against the Dong family.

After hearing about Dong’s family matters from his friend, he returned to the military camp with the intention of spreading the news out of revenge.

Thinking that the Crown Prince had summoned him to commend him for his actions and perhaps to vent the resentment he had harbored since being stripped of his military position by Dong Da, Zhong Wei became excited and his face turned slightly red.

Chu Chengji asked, “Where is your fellow townsman now?”

Zhong Wei hesitated, “Um... After parting ways that day, I returned to the military camp, and I’m not sure where he is now.”

There was no witness to corroborate his story.

Chu Chengji remained silent, and Zhong Wei sensed that something was amiss in the atmosphere of the tent.

After the initial excitement wore off and he calmed down, he began to feel uneasy for some reason.

At that moment, someone outside the tent announced, “Your Highness, General Dong Cheng requests an audience!”

Even though he had been accused of being a spy, Dong Cheng was still bold enough to request an audience.

Inside the tent, the strategists and generals had various expressions on their faces.

Chu Chengji said, “Let him in.”

As Dong Cheng strode in, his expression was one of righteous indignation, his lips pressed tightly together as if he had been wronged.

Upon seeing Chu Chengji, he immediately knelt down on both knees and said, “Your Highness, I have been wronged!”

Then, he turned his angry gaze toward Zhong Wei and continued, “This man once served under my father’s command.

Because he repeatedly violated military regulations and consorted with prostitutes, my father stripped him of his military rank, punished him with eighty lashes, and expelled him from the camp.

He has harbored a grudge against my Dong family ever since!”

By bringing up this old incident, Zhong Wei’s face couldn’t help but reveal some guilt.

He retorted, “Dare you say that before you defected to His Highness, your uncle didn’t visit the Dong family with a large sum of money?”

“He did.”

Dong Cheng’s firm declaration left everyone in the tent at a loss.

Seeing that he had confessed to the accusation, Zhong Wei was overjoyed. “What more is there to debate?”

Dong Cheng laughed bitterly, “When my uncle left, he took the exact same amount of money with him. Why didn’t you mention that?”

He then turned to Chu Chengji and bowed deeply. “Your Highness, please order an investigation by the local authorities to verify my words.”

Dong Cheng had falsely claimed to defect to Chu Chengji’s side to avenge his father’s grievances, but he had never accepted any money from the Crown Prince.

Even if he were to defect, he would not tarnish the Dong family’s reputation.

Chu Chengji glanced at Zhong Wei and ordered, “Since the truth has yet to be ascertained, and you have slandered a military officer, do you plead guilty?”

Zhong Wei was completely panicked now.

Hearing that Dong Cheng’s uncle had indeed taken the money, which he had no idea about, he knelt down and begged for mercy, “I plead guilty, I plead guilty!”

Zhong Wei also knelt down several times and turned to Dong Cheng, saying, “General Dong, forgive the ignorance of the lowly one. Please spare me this time!”

Ignoring him, Dong Cheng turned to Chu Chengji and requested permission, “Your Highness, now that I am accused of being a spy for the Chen kingdom, I beg you to allow me to lead the troops into battle. Even if I die in battle, I would rather not bear this false accusation!”

His passionate speech moved many of the military officers present.

Chu Chengji gave him a meaningful look and said, “Permission granted.”

Dong Cheng immediately expressed his gratitude and bowed deeply, “Thank you, Your Highness!”

Chu Chengji glanced at Zhong Wei and ordered, “Take him out and give him fifty lashes.”

Immediately, some Guard entered the tent and dragged Zhong Wei out.

In discussing strategies to counter the enemy, Chu Chengji initially intended to have Dong Cheng and Lin Yao defend the Mangwu Crossing together, while he himself would lead troops to defend the Hulukou Crossing.

As the name suggests, the Mangwu Crossing was difficult to navigate, with swift currents in the Yangtze River and rocky cliffs on both sides making it unsuitable for marching troops.

It was, however, advantageous for defense.

On the other hand, the Hulukou Crossing was a wider waterway, more suitable for naval warfare.

Dong Cheng insisted on defending the Hulukou Crossing, claiming expertise in naval warfare.

Eventually, Chu Chengji allowed him to defend the Hulukou Crossing alongside himself.

In the following days, troops were deployed to fortify their positions.

Dong Cheng noticed a significant number of troops stationed at the Hulukou Crossing.

Thinking that the current Crown Prince had mentioned in his letter that the attack on Hulukou Crossing was just a feint and fake, with the real army crossing at Mangwu, Dong Cheng remained silent, intending to see Chu Chengji suffer defeat when the battle began.

Little did Dong Cheng know, Chu Chengji had already sent scouts to investigate the situation across the river at Mangwu Crossing.

The Chen army had created a grandiose spectacle with banners and flags, making it seem like a large army was crossing there.

However, most of these banners were merely a bluff, and the actual number of troops was much fewer.

Chu Chengji then devised a plan to deceive the Chen army.

He instructed Lin Yao to also set up banners and flags in the forests on their side of the Mangwu Crossing, misleading the enemy into believing that they were facing a substantial force, thereby diverting their attention and forcing them to concentrate their troops at Mangwu Crossing.