Before long, messages began arriving one after another, confirming Xu Hongsheng's suspicions.
Yuan Zhongwen had indeed sent a Middle Envoy to bring Xue Xiang to the Big Dipper Palace for talks. He personally cleared Xue Xiang's name and appointed him a fully empowered Prefectural Judge, allowing him to continue commanding Kongming Island and guarding the frontier.
The steady stream of news plunged Xu Hongsheng's spirits to rock bottom. Before long, a Middle Envoy arrived and ordered him to appear at the Big Dipper Palace.
Half an incense stick later, Xu Hongsheng returned, his face ashen.
Cao Hong was still in Duoluo Hall. He had not left, and when Xu Hongsheng came in, he went to meet him. "The Palace Master prefers quiet and has no interest in governing. Since Xue the scoundrel can quell the unrest, the Palace Master will naturally put him to great use.
"But the Palace Master is already a relic of the past. It won't be long before he is just a hair's breadth away from stepping down.
"If my lord makes even the slightest move, I believe everything will fall into place."
Xu Hongsheng's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands with a loud laugh. "I lost Zhongping, but gained Cao Hong. Heaven favors this old man!"
He immediately set about drafting an official document. The material was already at hand.
The combined assault on Kongming Island by the Reverse Star Palace and Starry Sky Prefecture was the perfect ammunition.
Of course, he could not submit the ammunition himself. He would have to find someone to deliver it to the imperial court's central government.
While Xu Hongsheng busied himself organizing the written material, Xu Yi was also hard at work putting Kongming Prefecture in order.
After this battle, Li Tieya had become one of