The First Prince naturally knew of the Sheng family of Fengzhou.
However, according to what his subordinates had discovered, the Sheng family was no longer what it used to be. Not only had Qu Zhao taken Zeya Commandery, but they had also been left with very little money or grain.
They had fled to Sizhou, abandoning their armor and weapons, to seek his protection.
Under such circumstances, he naturally had no reason to show a fallen noble family any courtesy.
“Greetings, Your Highness the First Prince.” Sheng Chi bowed respectfully.
Jiang Chun’s voice was neither loud nor soft. “You may dispense with the formalities. I heard you have a treasure to present to me?”
Sheng Chi’s heart sank. The First Prince was not even willing to spare him the time for a few polite exchanges. How utterly disrespectful. If things were still as they once had been, what was a mere First Prince to him?
Suppressing his bitterness, he said, “Indeed. I have a high-yield grain variety that I wish to offer Your Highness.”
Jiang Chun’s interest was piqued. “Oh? How high-yielding is it?”
A smug look appeared on Sheng Chi’s face. “It can produce several thousand jin per mu, or even ten thousand jin.”
Jiang Chun froze for a moment. Then a cold glint flashed through his eyes. Was this man making a fool of him?
If Sheng Chi had said five hundred jin or a thousand jin per mu, he might have believed it.
But ten thousand jin per mu? Utterly absurd!
His adviser, Sun Zheng, gave a cold laugh. “Ten thousand jin? Are you joking?”
How ridiculous. The Sheng family had once been a flourishing aristocratic clan, yet after falling into ruin, they had resorted to such tricks.
Sheng Chi knew that the First Prince and the others would not believe him easily, but their questioning still stirred his anger.
“Yes and no. You’ll know once it’s planted.” He looked at Jiang Chun, his tone earnest. “Your Highness, can you provide me with some farmland? I will cultivate it myself. If the yield is not as high as I claim, I will willingly accept punishment.”
Seeing how composed he was, Jiang Chun could not help frowning slightly. Could it really produce such an astonishing yield?
Hua Yuanyi’s eyes flickered. “Your Highness, since Lord Sheng is so certain, why not let him try? If the yield truly is that high, it could save countless commoners.”
The offered step was a good one. Jiang Chun smiled warmly. “That sounds excellent. We are doing this for the people.”
Sheng Chi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and flattered him, “Your Highness is devoted to the welfare of the people. It is truly our good fortune.”
Jiang Chun modestly waved his hand. “I would not dare take the credit. I only hope that the people of Sizhou may live in peace and health.”
As he spoke, he sighed again. “It is a pity that the Jiao Army is advancing on us at every step. I fear I have the will but not the means.”
If Sheng Chi had still possessed ample money and grain, this would have been the moment to offer them up and prove his loyalty. Unfortunately, he had nothing left.
He forced a smile. “The Sheng family will certainly do its part for Your Highness. Once the high-yield grain is grown, we will donate it all to Sizhou.”
“What is the situation in Fengzhou now? And why did you come to Sizhou?” Sun Zheng asked.
He had never expected the great noble families of Fengzhou to have fallen into such dire straits.
Normally, aristocratic clans had deep reserves. Even if they were forced to flee, they should have been able to take money and grain with them. How had things come to the point where they had to sell boats and slaves just to get by?
Hua Yuanyi also looked at Sheng Chi. His troublesome daughter was still in Fengzhou.
If he had not wanted to learn more about the situation there, he would never have bothered coming to watch them put on this act.
The muscles in Sheng Chi’s face twitched faintly. After a moment, he said, “Fengzhou is currently divided between Qu Zhao and the Jinyang Army.”
He did not know that Jiang Jin had already taken Donghu Commandery, but after he had been forced to flee, only Jiang Jin and Qu Zhao remained as the major powers in Fengzhou. Saying that the two divided the region between them was not an exaggeration.
Hua Yuanyi’s grip tightened slightly around his cup.
The Jinyang Army!
So A Ruo was with the Jinyang Army?
Jiang Chun murmured, “The Jinyang Army?”
Why did that name sound so familiar?
Then he remembered. His sixth imperial sister’s title was Jinyang.
He drew in a sharp breath. “You said that apart from Qu Zhao, the only other power in Fengzhou is the Jinyang Army?”
“That is correct.” Seeing the First Prince’s expression, Sheng Chi’s eyes flickered. “Your Highness, you still don’t know? The Jinyang Army was founded by Princess Jinyang herself.”
He had assumed that the First Prince already knew about the Jinyang Army. But now it seemed that, perhaps, the First Prince truly had no idea.
Jiang Chun really had not known.
In the past, he had been ambitious and wanted to reconquer the entire Yan Kingdom, so he had indeed sent spies to Fengzhou. Unfortunately, not a single one of those spies had returned.
Later, after being beaten back repeatedly by the Jiao Army, he had abandoned any thought of reconquering the Yan Kingdom and settled for defending Sizhou.
He knew very little about Fengzhou—and likewise about Chongzhou and Yanzhou. Only neighboring Haijiazhou remained somewhat familiar to him.
His expression darkened. “You’re saying that the Jinyang Army was founded by my sixth imperial sister?”
Sheng Chi finally confirmed that the First Prince truly knew nothing.
Recalling Jiang Jin’s actions, he replied without revealing his thoughts, “That is correct. Grand General Zhou Sui and Yun Ci of the Northeastern Army are both under her command.”
Then he added with a sigh, “The princess is extraordinarily powerful. Not only has she taken three counties of Liuxiang Commandery, but by now, I fear even Feng’an County in Zeya Commandery has fallen into her hands.”
“She possesses an extremely formidable repeating crossbow. It can fire twenty arrows in succession, with a range of more than a hundred zhang.”
“More than a hundred zhang? How is that possible?” Qi Pingwei exclaimed.
As one of the military officers of Sizhou, he knew the power of bows and arrows better than most. That was precisely why he found it even more unbelievable.
Sheng Chi snorted coldly. “If she did not possess such a divine weapon, how could Princess Jinyang have established herself in Fengzhou?”
Jiang Chun’s expression grew even uglier, but he was more concerned about another matter. “Are you certain Zhou Sui is in Fengzhou? And that he is serving under Princess Jinyang?”
He had never imagined that his inconspicuous younger sister had managed to establish a foothold in Fengzhou—and had even won over Zhou Sui, the Yan Kingdom’s Grand General.
What exactly was she planning? Could a woman like her actually be thinking of claiming the throne?
How preposterous!
And the Grand General was actually willing to assist a woman?
In what way was he, the First Prince, inferior to one?
As for the repeating crossbow, he remained half-convinced at best.
After all, he had never heard of such a powerful weapon.
Hua Yuanyi was likewise stunned. It was one thing for his daughter to be part of a force led by Princess Jinyang, but the Grand General was involved as well?
Sheng Chi nodded. “That is correct.”
Then, with a hint of bitterness, he said, “I’m sure none of you will laugh at me, but the reason the noble families of Zeya Commandery arrived in Sizhou penniless is that our money and grain were all seized by Princess Jinyang.”
Hua Yuanyi pressed his lips together. Was Princess Jinyang really that fierce in her methods?
For some reason, he felt a little like laughing. He was happy that his daughter was part of such a formidable power, yet he could not help feeling vaguely worried as well.
The First Prince was not a magnanimous man, after all.
Sure enough, the First Prince’s face darkened as though it might drip ink, though his voice remained gentle. “My sixth imperial sister actually seized your money and grain? Such conduct is truly…”
From his expression, Sheng Chi could tell that the First Prince was far from pleased with Jiang Jin.
It made sense. Jiang Jin was clearly an ambitious woman, and the First Prince would naturally be on his guard against her.
Sheng Chi’s eyes flickered. “You may not know this, but Princess Jinyang’s repeating crossbow is extraordinarily powerful. It was precisely because of this weapon that she easily captured Shanguan County and Chunrong County of Liuxiang Commandery.”
The repeating crossbow had been mentioned again, and everyone straightened in their seats, taking the matter seriously.
Qi Pingwei frowned. “Where did the princess get the repeating crossbows? Could His Majesty have given them to her?”
Hua Yuanyi let out a cold snort. “If His Majesty possessed such a weapon, why didn’t he bring it out back then?”
Qi Pingwei glanced at him. “Then tell me, where did Princess Jinyang get the repeating crossbows? Don’t tell me she made them herself.”
Sun Zheng frowned. “Princess Jinyang spent all that time at Hidden Mountain Temple. How could she have made a repeating crossbow herself?”
Hua Yuanyi mused, “Could it have been a gift from one of the eminent monks of Yinshan Temple?”
