All the way south, only staying in Shangzhou, and then preparing for several days of food and grass before continuing on.

  The military situation was urgent, and after it was confirmed that the Crown Prince could adapt to the boat, the entire troop transport fleet sped up.

  "The light of the imperial court shines on this expedition. All grain and fodder in every province are now first-class military supplies."

  This is a fact, Di Qing has been fighting for many years, and he knows very well about the military supplies provided by the prefectures along the way. Never before has it been like this. Not only are there high-quality goods, but everything that people eat and horses chew is complete, even including spices that never appear in the army.

  This is what military needs... He knew it wasn't because of Guangnan's situation, but the real reason was the Crown Prince.

  The local officials' treatment of passing soldiers is almost a well-known fact, but no one in the imperial court pays attention to it.

  Mixing sand, shortchanging weight and measure are common practices, and sometimes even rotten and inedible old grain is sent to meet military needs.

  Along the way, chatting casually about everything under the sun, Di Qing discovered that the Crown Prince was very approachable and seemed to have a military air about him. So even with his cautious nature, he would unintentionally say some true words.

  Of course, he still knew that Lv was a civil official and some things could be chatted with the prince, but they had to be behind Lv's back.

  "Look ahead, think positively."

  Zhao Xi is not foolish and can understand many things. Besides, this kind of situation is not rare, it has happened in every dynasty throughout history.

  This time, there was little mention of Guangnan. Even when there were relevant war reports from the Guangnan postal station after landing, they would only be read and sighed over, without further comment.

  It is impossible to get a true picture of the situation from the reports, whether it is about the terrain and water features of Guangnan or the actual situation after the main force arrives.

  But what the reports say is mostly that another city was breached by bandits today, who abandoned the city and fled, and who sacrificed their lives for the country. There's not a single word to boost morale, but rather it makes the soldiers' hearts even more fearful.

  Guangzhou has been besieged for over a month and is still holding out, which is the only comforting news in recent days.

  You led a rebellion starting from April, marching eastward and first capturing the Hengshan stronghold. With the stored supplies, you generously rewarded your followers, attracting many to join you.

  The governor of Yongzhou, Chen Gong, did not report or prepare for the attack. In a hurry, he set up defenses and rewarded his troops when reinforcements from Binzhou arrived during the intense battle, resulting in the loss of Yongzhou and many officials being killed, wounded or captured.

  You thief, repeat your old tricks again, and once more plunder the national treasury, increasing the crowd to over 20,000.

  At this time, Nong Zhigao declared independence and established the Daliang Kingdom. At that time, various prefectures in Guangnan also submitted their own reports to the imperial court.

  Chao Tang ordered Yu Jing and Sun Ben to lead a relief force. Before the reinforcements arrived, the bandits retreated east along the Yu River.

  Hengzhou abandoned the city, Guizhou abandoned the city. Sun Kang, the governor of Xunzhou, fought hard to resist, but after the city was broken, there was no news.

  You rebelled in June and broke into Gongzhou, another city abandoned and fled. Then, Tengzhou abandoned the city, Wuzhou abandoned the city... Abandoned city, abandoned city, abandoned city!

  Later on, Zhao Xie no longer looked at the memorials to the throne, all of which were about abandoning the city. You Zhong's army was not like a hot knife through butter, but rather had an unimpeded and smooth advance!

  Zhao Xi worried that he couldn't hold back, and when he arrived in Guangnan, he would hang all the officials who were not killed by Nianzhi Gao in the places where they governed, letting the common people and heaven see these so-called scholars who didn't care about their subjects!

  The entire Guangnan West Road, nine prefectures, from Yongzhou all the way east to Duanzhou, only Liujiang, Fengchuan and Kangzhou resisted. Sun Kang's whereabouts are unknown, while Cao Kan and Zhao Shidun died for their country.

  This is the battlefield, the rotten Guangnan battlefield.

  Zhao Xi couldn't bear to look or listen anymore. For several days, the atmosphere in the entire cabin had been chilly, and those shameless officials had chilled everyone's hearts.

  "Your Highness, Cao Zhi has ordered someone to learn how to roast fish and told me to invite Your Highness to eat the roasted fish."

  For several days, the Crown Prince has been alone in his cabin, without a word.

  It was still the day when we just boarded the ship, His Highness the Crown Prince roasted fish for everyone to eat, presumably because he liked it. Now seeing that His Highness is not pleased, even his appetite has decreased a lot.

  The guards were worried, so they learned from the example of the palace and roasted some fish, inviting Wang Zhongzheng over...

  His Highness went on an expedition, and sternly refused the ceremonial guards and palace maids who attended him. Only Wang Zhongzheng and Li Xian were allowed to attend him closely. Seeing that His Highness was too worried to eat or drink, they also became anxious.

  It's best for people not to waste others' kindness, even if they are your subordinates.

  Zhao Xi didn't force a smile, but still came out of the cabin.

  "Alas, for a hundred years the imperial court has nurtured scholars, with the duty of shepherding the people. At the same time, it should also be to guard a place where the people can live in peace. Abandoning the city and abandoning the people, what is the use of nurturing them?"

  Zhao Xi has never spoken such intense and clear words before, the emotions of disgust, hatred, disdain, and even killing with pleasure are undoubtedly revealed in his speech.

  "Your Highness, your behavior has already disgraced the name of scholars..."

  Lü Gongzhu didn't know how to respond to the Crown Prince's words. He was a scholar, a member of the literati, and yet every military report he received described the evil deeds of his fellow scholars.

  It was not just him, Han Cong, Su Song and Wang Tao also had nothing to say in response to the crown prince's questioning.

  The imperial court has treated scholars and officials so well, throughout the various dynasties, there has never been such treatment. And what the governors of Guangnan West Road have done is truly shameful to the entire scholarly community.

  Even they, as fellow officials, couldn't help but harbor murderous intentions. Not to mention Your Highness...

  "In vain I have been a minister, in vain I have been a husband, in vain I have been a father, and even in vain I have been a man! What use is it to keep me?"

  During this period of accumulation, Zhao Xi really had a murderous heart.

  "Your Highness, our imperial court does not kill scholars and officials..."

  Lü Gongzhu could feel the murderous intent of the Crown Prince at this moment, even more intense than when he had let the Prince of Ru Nan really die.

  But the Crown Prince absolutely cannot handle this matter in such a way. Leading the Imperial Guard on an expedition has already made the civil officials vigilant, and there are not a few who say that the Crown Prince is fond of military affairs.

  If at this time, the Crown Prince really abandoned the city and escaped before the war, no matter how sufficient the reason is, it will also cause a rift in the relationship between the Crown Prince and the civil officials.

  The reputation accumulated by Yushilin over the years may be ruined overnight.

  Those who abandon their posts have already tarnished their records. Even if they have impressive qualifications and excellent performance evaluations, they will not be reused again.

  It's not worth losing one's own reputation because of a despicable person!

  Zhao Xi shook his head, unsure whether to believe Lü Gongzhu's words or unable to understand the ancestral laws, or perhaps he had listened to Lü Gongzhu's persuasive reasoning.

  It's not necessarily beheading someone to be called murder, killing one's heart is more refreshing than killing a person.

  Zhao Xi wouldn't really go and kill these officials, but letting them off like this would be unprofitable for himself. Only making them live with no hope is the right way.

  Once again there is news of war, it's neither good nor bad news.

  You bandits have been besieging Guangzhou for a long time without success, and were heavily defeated by the governor of Yingzhou, Su Jian... This only means that your advance has been blocked. But just this point is already the most comforting news since the entire Guangnan Rebellion began.

  At the same time, also contrast with those who abandoned the city and fled...

  Su Song finally breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, he knew his family members and they shouldn't be the kind of people who would abandon their children without care. However, the entire Guangnan Prefecture had abandoned the city and fled, and it was inevitable that the officials and staff would reach a consensus, which in turn affected his uncle's decision.

  It's okay, didn't lose Su family, also didn't touch Hei Shi Lin. Can still stand up straight in front of Prince Taizi.