Chapter 81 - 61 Regent King’s Power_2
Li Guanyi thought back to when Xue Daoyong had mentioned Xiao Wuliang, saying that he had gone to war at the age of thirteen to deal with the Regent King’s rebellion. Li Guanyi found Xiao Wuliang’s records and searched through them, eventually finding a description of him.
[In the third year of Taiching, Prince Puyang did not respect the Emperor, absent at the state sacrifice, infuriating the Emperor who then waged war. Prince Puyang raised troops to resist the Emperor. At that time, Wuliang was thirteen and rode alone into battle, unmatched in the army.]
"Prince Puyang?"
Li Guanyi found the critical name and quickly sought the cause. It was because during Chen Country’s great sacrifice, Prince Puyang had not come to the Capital to pay homage to the Emperor, but had instead indulged privately in wine and pleasure. Thus, the Emperor, greatly angered and fearful of his martial prowess, dispatched troops to arrest him.
Essentially, it was a conflict between the local lords and the Emperor in the Capital.
This also indicated the Emperor’s lack of authority.
Xiao Wuliang was a war general under Prince Puyang, imposing and awe-inspiring.
Li Guanyi found the records of Prince Puyang.
This prince had abolished the market tax, land rent, and the head tax on city gates within his jurisdiction, much to the joy of the common people, who went on to marry their children to soldiers and officers in the army, allowing them to live near military camps.
He also demanded money and treasures from the Court, and since the Emperor had previously failed in his military expeditions and could not mobilize a large army due to Ying Country by his side, he had no choice but to accept such acts, perhaps thinking that Prince Puyang’s greed and debauchery made him easier to manipulate, thus sent emissaries with rewards and gold and silver for Prince Puyang.
The wild histories describe this using the words "Emissaries looking out for each other."