Must a Prince Suffer Loss Before He Can Gain Understanding?

The area in front of Zhang He's estate was in chaos early that morning.

Servants rushed frantically back and forth through the residence, making a constant racket.

Woken by the noise, the Zhang Clan members panicked when they noticed something was wrong. They shouted at the servants, demanding to know what was happening outside, but the servants only said soldiers had arrived and could offer no further explanation.

At that moment, Zhang He's estate was surrounded by numerous elite soldiers clad in armor. On a fluttering banner was written the character "Zhu."

Dust rose over the usually quiet streets, while the heavy tread of marching feet and the scrape of armor grew louder by the moment.

Large numbers of fully armed Liang State soldiers poured in from every street, spears in hand, surrounding Zhang He's estate so thoroughly that not even water could pass through.

Qingzhou's local strongman, the Zhang Clan, had become prisoners in their own home overnight.

"Quick! Surround the place! The prince orders that not a single person be allowed to escape!" A general who had once served in the Right Wing of the Longxiang Army raised his sword and roared out his orders.

Zhang He had only just gotten up, but all the commotion woke him too. He stepped into the courtyard and saw servants rushing about. Frowning, he grabbed a servant running toward him and demanded in a low voice, "What's going on?"

The frightened attendant glanced at Zhang He, but the next instant his gaze fixed on the burly, shaved-headed warrior behind him.

The warrior was clearly a violent sort, with a scar running across his face and a savage look about him.

The servant stammered, "M-My lord, we're surrounded by soldiers!"

"How dare they! Who would dare surround my estate?"

Zhang He was furious, his face flushed with anger. "Saibaotu, come with me and see what's going on. And tell everyone in the residence to grab a weapon and follow me to meet the enemy!"

"Yes, my lord."

Saibaotu's voice was low. His speech was strange and sparse, but every word carried weight.

Just then, the gates of the Zhang residence burst open. More than a dozen soldiers charged in, carrying a battering ram as thick as a siege log. The gate panels shattered beneath the impact.

Countless armed soldiers then surged into the courtyard like a tide, swiftly taking control of the entire estate.

"Who are you? How dare you barge into my home?"

Seeing them storm in without any regard for right or wrong, seize control of his clansmen and servants, and smash his fine gate with a battering ram, Zhang He flew into a rage.

"I'm on good terms with Chancellor Li! If you dare make trouble, you'll regret it!"

"Li Zhen has already returned to Bian Prefecture."

Zhu Youning strode into the Zhang residence through the main gate. The soldiers standing guard on either side immediately parted to clear a path, then bowed to him in unison.

Zhu Youning paid them no heed and walked up to Zhang He.

"You're Zhang He?"

"Your Highness, Prince An?"

Zhu Youning raised an eyebrow. "You've got a good eye."

The anger vanished from Zhang He's face. He immediately put on a fawning smile. "Your Highness, we're on the same side. There's no need for such a grand show of force, is there?"

Zhu Youning returned his smile with one of his own.

That seemed to reassure Zhang He a little, but what Zhu Youning said next quickly put him on edge.

"This prince just received a secret report that someone in Qingzhou City is plotting a rebellion. It's a grave matter, so I brought troops here."

Zhang He immediately asked, "Your Highness must have made a mistake. Who would be plotting a rebellion?"

But as soon as the words left his mouth, hundreds of armed household soldiers poured out from the rear courtyard.

One of them, brimming with loyalty and courage, shouted aggressively, "Where did you mongrels come from? Tired of living, are you? How dare you barge into Master Zhang's estate?!"

Watching the household soldiers rush toward him, Zhu Youning turned to Zhang He with a smile. "You really are a local strongman. You dare act so brazenly even in front of me. But that works out perfectly—now the evidence is beyond doubt. Zhang He, you kept a private army and turned your weapons against me, plotting rebellion. You deserve death!"

"N-No, no!" Zhang He now wanted to kill his own household soldiers. He hurriedly shook his head and said ingratiatingly, "Your Highness, this is all a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding? There's no misunderstanding!"

Zhu Youning didn't even look at Zhang He.

There was no need to. The charge of keeping a private army and plotting rebellion was already enough to have his entire clan executed.

He turned to the household soldiers behind Zhang He and said, "Listen up. Drop your weapons and you may live. Otherwise, this prince will wipe out your entire clans!"

Hearing that, how could the household soldiers possibly keep standing? They threw down their weapons and dropped to their knees.

Zhang He's face changed at once. His expression darkened as he said, "Your Highness, even a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. Must you really take this so far? Must you lose something before you can gain understanding?"

"Are you threatening me?" Zhu Youning glanced at him. "Liu Xun has already taken control of Qingzhou's military camp. Don't even think about it."

Zhang He froze. "Liu Xun, the fiercest general in Pinglu?"

Zhu Youning didn't answer him. Instead, he looked at the shaved-headed man behind him. "You can't command Qingzhou's garrison anymore. Don't tell me you think a single Khitan with Mid-Star Rank strength can take me down?"

Zhang He's face darkened. He hadn't expected Zhu Youning to have such a keen eye, seeing through Saibaotu's identity and strength at a glance.

It wasn't really a matter of Zhu Youning having a keen eye. The Khitan was simply too easy to identify.

The Khitan were nomads, after all. Though they had learned a great deal from the Han people in every respect under Yelü Abaoji's guidance, it was still easy to spot the differences.

For one thing, their hairstyles were different. The Khitan wore their hair shaved in patches, with the rest tied into braids. It was ugly, but not unlike the hairstyles worn by Japanese rōnin during the Warring States period.

Honestly, Li Zhen hadn't been wrong when he called Zhang He a fool.

He had a Khitan at his side and hadn't even bothered to disguise him. Anyone with a discerning eye would spot him at once.

If someone accused him of colluding with a foreign people, how could he possibly talk his way out of it?

But in this respect, Zhu Youning had wronged Zhang He. He wasn't afraid of people recognizing Saibaotu as a Khitan, and couldn't be bothered to care.

After all, he had been the local bully of Qingzhou. No one would dare say a word even with a Khitan at his side.

But things were different now. A prince of the Liang State had arrived, and the moment he showed up, he moved against Zhang He!

There was no way out now. Zhang He had no choice but to fight.

Zhang He immediately took a step back and shouted, "Saibaotu, attack!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Saibaotu let out a loud roar.

It boomed like rolling thunder, making everyone's ears ring.

Saibaotu was enormously built, his eyes wide and his expression ferocious. With his shaved head, he looked utterly fearsome.

"You're Saibaotu?" Zhu Youning asked, calmly facing the burly man.

"My name is Yelu Saibaotu!"

The veins at Yelu Saibaotu's temples bulged. He raised his voice and roared, "You! Die!"

His savage roar made the very ground tremble. Several of Zhang He's household soldiers, caught off balance, stumbled backward.