The Fourth Volume The Chu Army Chapter 68 King Huai of Chu

  Xiang Liang and Song Yi's words were like daggers drawn, and the atmosphere at the palace gate was somewhat awkward.

  Fortunately, the Imperial Guard Commander appeared in time to announce the Crown Prince's edict, and the awkwardness was temporarily broken. The crowd then proceeded to the "Grand Hall".

  The Crown Prince Xiong Xin is already seated, and everyone enters the "Grand Temple" to pay their respects!

  "We attend to the Crown Prince!" Although he had not yet ascended to the throne, Xiong Xin was still the Crown Prince of Chu. As his foster father and standing beside him, Xiong Kang became a veritable bodyguard.

  Xiong's eyes were young and tender, yet with a hint of maturity, scanning the sea of black heads before him, he boomed in a loud voice: "At ease!"

  The civil and military officials looked up, secretly sizing up the fifteen-year-old prince. The prince, in his teens, sat upright in the main seat, with a dignified and majestic air, truly having the demeanor of a noble youth. Where was the silent and unknown cowherd boy from that day? It couldn't help but make people click their tongues in wonder.

  "Xiang Qing's family, your Xiang family is a renowned general's family of Great Chu. Your father, Xiang Yan, sacrificed his life for the country, and I, as well as the people of Great Chu, remember it in our hearts. This time you rose up in Jiangdong, pacifying Si River, Donghai all the way to Pengcheng, your achievements are truly great."

  Xiang Liang was taken aback, not expecting the crown prince's first words to be praise for himself, and he couldn't help but feel a little surprised, recovering some of the face that Song Yi had just rebuked him for. Moreover, Xiong Xin's words were reasonable and extremely mature, it seemed that Yin Xu was right, this herdsman prince was not simple at all.

  Song Yi lowered his head, with a gloomy face, very unhappy. He also felt very sudden, the crown prince had always listened to her, but today he suddenly changed his attitude. In front of everyone, he first praised Xiang Liang, and even used the praise "great achievement", which was too humiliating for himself. Song Yi also realized that he hadn't been able to fully control the crown prince, was it because the crown prince had his own ideas? Or was it because of his existence and temptation? Song Yi couldn't help but look back, with a resentful gaze falling on Yin Xu's body.

  General Yin naturally noticed, smiled lightly, and ignored it. This battle temporarily belongs to Xiang Liang and Song Yi, he is not suitable to join in. Two tigers are fighting, people who have nothing to do with it should let them be, the less they interfere the better.

  Liu Bang and Zhang Liang saw clearly, exchanged a glance, with a hint of a smile at the corner of their mouths. The Crown Prince Xiong had a plan in mind, and this sentence was undoubtedly adding fuel to the flames of the impending war between Chu and Song, which was already on the verge of breaking out. Many times, a small spark can have a prairie fire effect, often making it impossible to control once it starts.

  Xiang Liang hastily and fearfully said: "Thank you, Crown Prince, for your praise. My late father and I are subjects of the Great Chu, we should repay our king with loyalty and dedication."

  Xiong Xin nodded, seemingly searching, and finally his gaze fell on Yin Xu and Chen Ping. He said: "In the past, when Shouchun City was broken, the former king was in trouble, and I wandered among the people. Today, sitting here, I have the good fortune to worship the ancestral temple and the land of the ancestors, thanks to General Yin and Mr. Chen. Without saying goodbye, they went to Jiujiang to find me, and escorted me thousands of miles to come to Xuyi."

  Song Yi's face sank again, Prince, you praised Xiang Liang for the first time, but unexpectedly pulled out Yin Xu and Chen Ping. Even so, when I escorted you to Xuyi, didn't I, Song Yi, have a share? Truly unaware of what's good for him. Song Yi was furious, his eyes almost spewing fire, but in this situation, he dared not speak, could only swallow another bitter pill.

  Yin Xu and Chen Ping hastily stood up, stepped forward to thank him, and couldn't help but be humble for a moment. Xiong Xin smiled lightly: "The merits of the two have already been recorded by Ben Jun, and after Ben Jun ascends to the throne, there will be rewards. I hope you both continue to work hard and contribute to the great Chu!"

  "Yes, I, Yin Xu (Chen Ping), will definitely die for the country and be loyal to the end."

  Yin Xuxin couldn't help but laugh to himself, thinking that not long ago, he too would habitually think in such a way and say such flattering words. Having stayed in this era for too long, it was only natural that things didn't go as desired, and people's words and hearts were no longer aligned.

  As for the reward mentioned by Xiong Xin, I don't know what kind of official position he will be granted or what gifts he will receive. Before setting out to find the legitimate grandson of King Huai of Chu, Yin Xu indeed had such an intention. Today's crown prince, tomorrow's King Huai of Chu, and future Emperor Yi, all have a sense of being the master of the world. His reward is even more justified in name, and if he has other plans in the future, he will also be less constrained by reputation and morality.

  But Song Yi's sudden appearance, and the fact that the prince often plays small tricks, it can be seen that he has some thoughts in mind when he proposes to reward himself at this time. Isn't it enough to challenge Xiang Liang and Song Yi? Why bring Ge La into this, no matter how you say it, it was Ge who found you, otherwise you would still be a cowherd, why not think of repaying kindness?

  Yin Xu secretly despised him, his heart as clear as a mirror. From the time of the alliance with Xue's land, he had been destined to be involved in it from the start. The affairs of the world are helpless, once you get involved, being self-righteous is forever impossible.

  Xiong Xin said to Song Yi: "Song Ai Qing, tell everyone about today's gathering of officials."

  Song Yi's expression improved, and Xiong Xin arranged for him to become the main person in charge of discussing politics, which gave him some comfort and restored his dignity.

  "Ah!" Song Lingyun stood up, cleared his throat, and assumed a dignified posture. "Today, I have gathered everyone here to discuss with you all that the Crown Prince will ascend to the throne on June 10th, an auspicious day, in Xuyi, and restore the Great Chu. What do you all think?"

  "In the grand hall, there must be some whispering going on. Today is already June 5th, which means it's just five days from now. As for discussing, that's nonsense. When speaking in front of the prince, do you still need to discuss? Can't you just say it directly? Why bother with such a grand and majestic tone?"

  After a while, no one in the hall objected. Song Yi smiled lightly: "Since everyone does not object, this matter is settled. The second thing is the title of the crown prince's ascension to the throne. What are your opinions?"

  In the hall, they whispered to each other again. The title mentioned by Song Yi should be considered a posthumous name, which is usually given by the succeeding emperor after the emperor's death as a final evaluation. Now that Xiong Xin is about to ascend to the throne, this matter needs to be discussed. It seems that it is a special period and a special case, so Xiong Xin can be considered an exception!

  Song Yi spoke first: "I, Song Yi, propose that our king's honorific title use the character 'Wu', and be called Chu Wu Wang. The Qin people are arrogant, and the foundation of Great Chu was once destroyed in an instant. Now we have the opportunity to restore the country. After Your Highness ascends to the throne, you will have to take on the mission of resisting the violent Qin and reviving Great Chu. We cannot avoid using military force, so I propose using the character 'Wu'."

  Chu Wu Wang? This is the definition given by Song Yi to Xiong Xin.

  This title is also acceptable, with military power to establish the country. Liu Bang's descendant Liu Che was none other than the famous Emperor Wu of Han! Expanding territory and achieving great military successes. After the reigns of Wen and Jing, the Western Han dynasty reached its peak. However, this "Wu" character seems to have a bit of an implication of exhausting the army or being derelict in duty, as in the case of the Zhengde Emperor's posthumous name Ming Wu Zong.

  However, in a special period, an era of contending for power through military force, it's not bad. But when these words come out of Song Yi's mouth, they're not the same thing. The date of ascension to the throne has already been set by Song Yi alone, even if there is a nod from Xiong Xin, but the various righteous army lords do not think so. How can everything be decided by you, Song Yi?

  Xiang Liang naturally was the representative, only heard him say: "The Crown Prince is young and intelligent, wise and brilliant, I propose to call him 'Chu Rui Wang'. In times of crisis, Great Chu needs a wise and intelligent ruler, this is the country's good fortune."

  The two sides confronted each other again, and the people in the hall were basically divided into two factions, arguing endlessly over the titles of "Rui Wang" and "Wu Wang". Song Yi and others cited the precedent of Zhou Wu Wang, quoting classics and canons. The faction led by Xiang Liang was not weak either, making extensive references. Some people even mentioned that Zhou Wu Wang Ji Fa died young, accusing Song Yi of having a disloyal heart and cursing the king. This accusation was a bit too much, and Song Yi couldn't help but sweat on his forehead. Xiong Xin sat steadily in his position, watching from the sidelines without getting involved.

  Song Yi saw that things were not going well and looked at Liu Bang beside him, thinking to himself: "Liu Baigong, what do you think? What are your views on our king's title?"

  Liu Bang originally had no intention of helping, silently keeping to himself, but was unexpectedly pointed out by Song Yi. In fact, they didn't have much of a relationship, and today was just their first meeting, Song Yi thought Liu Bang wanted to fawn on him, so naturally he would "submit" to show some sincerity.

  Liu Bang was shocked, and in the midst of danger, he had no choice but to seek help from Mr. Zifang. Zhang Liang saw this and hastily spoke out to assist his lord, saying: "Zhang Liang sees General Yin with a thoughtful expression, a smile on his face, it seems that he already has an idea."

  A hot potato that nobody wants to take, it's better for someone to throw it away early.

  Song Yi furrowed his brow and asked symbolically, "General Yin, which title do you think is more suitable?" The people in the hall involuntarily looked at Yin Xu, Xiang Liang secretly smiled and thought to himself: You're asking for trouble!

  Yin Xu remained deaf to the debate among the crowd, remembering that in history Xiong Xin succeeded his grandfather and was still called King Huai of Chu. As for "Wu Wang" and "Rui Wang", there was a natural rejection. At this moment, Song Yi suddenly asked, Yin Xu had not paid attention to it beforehand and was not prepared.

  Seeing everyone staring at him, Yin Xu thought for a moment and said: "King Huai of Chu!"