472: Chapter 472 Another Ghostwriting

"Breaking news! Breaking news!"

"Prince Qing has stationed a hundred thousand troops! Spear King Jiang Wanli leads the Azure Dragon Guard, watching like a tiger, intending to invade Cang Province!!"

Early the next morning, newsboys across Cang Province began shouting and selling the Northern Daily in the streets.

As residents of the Northern border, they were already very familiar with the Northern Daily.

Those who wanted to read it would naturally buy it, while those who didn't want to spend money could go to shops under the Northern Trade Alliance, where crowds gathered to look at a few free copies.

But today's headline news caused an immediate uproar among the people!

"Is it true? Prince Qing wants to attack Cang Province?"

"Is he crazy? He dares to make an enemy of the Zhenbei Army?"

"He's a prince; what is he trying to achieve?"

"It seems our Prince is still in the Yan Region. Is this bastard taking advantage of the situation?!"

"That can't be right. Prince Qing doesn't seem like that kind of person..."

The people's curiosity was piqued, and they immediately scrambled to buy newspapers to discuss the news fervently.

In Yangquan City, after a local scholar grabbed a copy, many people immediately surrounded him.

"Scholar Zhang, quick, tell us what it says!"

Scholar Zhang, with his two-pronged mustache, was surrounded like a star. He suppressed his excitement and put on a solemn expression.

"Ahem... Fellow villagers, don't be in a hurry. Let me read it first..."

Scholar Zhang took a few looks, and his expression immediately changed. "Oh? This was actually written by General Zhao Kuan himself?"

"General Zhao Kuan? Isn't he the Prince's sworn brother? He came from the Shibao Border Army!"

"General Zhao is the Prince's confidant. If he wrote it personally, then it's naturally credible."

Scholar Zhang read carefully for a while, looking enlightened. "So that's how it is... This Li Siqing is truly a hypocritical villain!"

"Don't just read it yourself! Tell us what's going on!"

The people nearby were so anxious they were scratching their heads.

Seeing that the atmosphere was right, Scholar Zhang read aloud:

"Elders of the Northern border, I am Zhao Kuan.

Disturbing you all during this busy spring plowing season is truly a matter of necessity.

Because Prince Qing has stationed a hundred thousand troops in Liang Province, and the old thief Jiang Wanli leads thirty thousand Azure Dragon Guards, poised to invade the borders of Cang Province;

At the same time, the Khitan army has crossed Alimu Mountain and is about to raid E Prefecture!

Our Zhenbei Army, under the command of the Prince, has pacified the Northern Barbarians, governed the Western Qiang, and brought peace to the region.

Recently, the Prince even personally led the army to the Yan Region to resist the Khitan.

You elders should understand that the Northern border and the Yan Region are as close as lips and teeth.

Everything the Prince does is so the Northern border will no longer suffer the hardships of war.

Yet Prince Qing has actually colluded with Khitan King Yelü Dachuan, intending to launch a pincer attack to seize Cang Province and E Prefecture.

As everyone knows, the Zhenbei Army's arsenal is in Cang Province, and E Prefecture is a key location connecting to the Khitan territory.

Once these two provinces fall and Prince Qing's treacherous scheme succeeds, the entire northern region will surely be engulfed in war, and the people will suffer!

Recalling last year, Prince Qing sent his aide Official Luo Wenfeng to negotiate with the Zhenbei Army, vainly attempting to divide the profits of the Northern Trade Alliance.

Our Prince of Zhenbei is dedicated to the people, aiming for the Northern border residents to enjoy peace, so he rejected their unreasonable demands.

Prince Qing has wild ambitions; he appeared to be dormant on the surface, but in reality, he has been watching for a long time.

Now that our Zhenbei Army's strength is depleted and the Prince has traveled far to the Yan Region, he has bared his fangs, wanting to swallow our northern military industry in one fell swoop and bring calamity to our Northern border!

Elders and fellow citizens, I, Zhao Kuan, am but an ordinary general of the Zhenbei Army.

That I am alive today is all thanks to the Prince's wise leadership, and also thanks to the concerted efforts of you elders and our army in bravely resisting enemies, repeatedly defeating the barbarians, and suppressing the rebel Prince Bai.

Now that the lives of our Northern border people are becoming stable and prosperous, someone wants to reignite the flames of war, all because they are jealous of the Prince's virtue and covet the growing wealth of the Northern border, vainly attempting to take it for themselves!

I, Zhao Kuan, swear to lead the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army to fight the rebels to the death to protect the peace of the Northern border!

I ask the elders and people of the Northern border to rest assured. We, the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army, swear to fight the Li family rebels to the end, defend our homes to the death, and live up to the people's trust!"

After the letter-like article was read, many people at the scene already had tears in their eyes.

"Just because our Prince's surname isn't Li, the Li family can't stand to see him doing well?!"

"In the end, the Prince has carried half the country on his own shoulders. Who wouldn't be envious?"

"We've only had a few days of good life, and some people are already getting restless!"

"I know that Official Luo Wenfeng. He's Prince Qing's top aide. I saw their carriages when I was in Baishui last year."

"Is there any need for doubt? General Zhao is from the Shibao Border Army, peerless in loyalty and bravery. Besides, with the army pressing upon the borders, the facts are right before our eyes. How could it be fake?"

"No, I'm going to the recruitment office right now. Even if I can't go to the front lines, I have to do logistics for the Zhenbei Army in the rear!"

"I'm going too! Whoever doesn't want us to have a good life, we won't let them have it easy either!!"

For a time, across the Northern border, the voices of disdain for Prince Qing grew more intense.

And public support for the Zhenbei Army rose to new heights.

Even General Zhao Kuan became very popular. Many people discovered that he was a descendant of the Zhao family of the Cold Iron Guard and the nephew of Zhao Yunting. Everyone remarked that he was truly a scion of a prestigious family.

By evening, in the study of the Prince's Mansion in Baishui City.

General Zhao Kuan sat there with an embarrassed expression. His deputy Xu Zhen, along with Old Yu and Xie Yu, who had come for the meeting, were clearly holding back their laughter.

"Sister-in-law, this 'Zhao Kuan's Letter to the Elders of the Northern Border' has completely pushed this old brother into the eye of the storm."

General Zhao Kuan had finally experienced what Prefect Sun Zhao felt back then. From the moment the newspaper was released, he could no longer walk outside.

The looks people gave him were all "Keep it up," "You can do it," "We support you," "The General is truly amazing"...

Xiao Qingxuan lit some agarwood and was calmly drawing talismans.

No matter how busy she was, she practiced this skill every day.

The Purple Mansion Thunder Curse was different from other techniques. While Lin Xiao could help her increase her internal power, she had to perceive the subtle mysteries of the talismans herself.

"I did ask Brother Zhao, and it was only after he agreed that I had it published in the newspaper."

General Zhao Kuan thought to himself, *You are the Empress; if you speak, how could I not agree?*

"I'm naturally not blaming you, sister-in-law, it's just... I don't deserve this reputation. After all, the article was your handiwork."

Xiao Qingxuan smiled faintly. "Brother Zhao, there's no need to be modest. The reason I used your name is that you are upright, have outstanding achievements, and your seniority is convincing."

"Although I ghostwrote the article, every sentence is the truth. Isn't that what you think, Brother Zhao?"

"Haha, I'm honored that you think so highly of me!"

General Zhao Kuan said happily, "Exactly. The best thing about this letter is that it's based on facts. Even if Prince Qing knows he's being framed, he won't be able to clear his name."

Xiao Qingxuan chuckled. "My husband once said that compared to the truth, most people prefer to believe what they see and hear."

"When Prince Qing decided to invade Cang Province at this time, whether he actually colluded with the Khitan is no longer important."

"I simply told the people of the Northern border what is happening now, so that their hearts could be united."

General Zhao Kuan nodded. "The Qing Kings Army, after all, isn't a barbarian tribe. To fight them, we indeed need a righteous cause."

"Your move allows the soldiers to have no worries. After all, we are a righteous army."

Xu Zhen, who was on the side, sighed. "That being said, our military strength is still too thin."

"The Qing Kings Army are all elite soldiers with years of real combat experience, and the Azure Dragon Guard is one of the Five Great Cavalries."

"Meanwhile, our most elite units are still guarding Mobei and the Western Qiang..."

As soon as the issue of military strength was mentioned, Zhao Kuan and the others all looked worried.