Chapter 484: Two Kings and Ministers Being Checked
Chapter 484: The King and His Minister Being Checked (5k)
Tell me about the situation…In the side hall, there was silence for a moment, and no one chose to speak first.
The Imperial Master sitting at the head of the table looked around at everyone and said calmly:
"Since no one is talking, I will take the lead. I have summoned you all to the palace today. I believe you all know what this is all about.
Since His Majesty disappeared in Luoshan, news has been coming in from all over the country. Now, except for Linfeng, Lingnan, and Huaishui, the five vassal kings have made unusual moves, the situation is turbulent, and rumors are spreading in the capital..."
Master Dong paused for a moment and continued:
"However, the situation is not as dangerous as the rumors say. In the north, King Yanshan was restrained in Jubei City by Luo Kedi's border troops. In the west, the Duke of Zhenguo also suppressed the restless King Hejian. Along the coastal area, King Chen blocked the border, intending to stay at home and establish his own regime...
If we count carefully, the rebels that are threatening the capital are only the rebels in Jiancheng, Yunfu, and Qingzhou. Although the former two are powerful, they have not yet crossed the Huai River, and there is also Linfeng blocking them, so they are not in immediate danger. "
This speech is quite insightful.
First, we should positively acknowledge the seriousness of the situation without concealing it, then analyze it one by one to dispel the rumors and terror.
"According to what the Grand Tutor said, the most pressing issue now is the Qingzhou Army." The Minister of Justice spoke slowly:
"Qingzhou is east of the capital. Since it faces the sea to the east, there is no important border military town. Since your majesty disappeared, King Heng of Qingzhou took the lead in raising the banner of 'serving the king' and instigated a rebellion against the Qingzhou military headquarters, approaching the city almost unimpeded."
The Minister of War said calmly:
“Qingzhou’s soldiers are not strong, and their horses are not powerful. They can move forward unhindered because they occupy the terrain. Now, Privy Envoy Xue has gone to Linfeng to take charge of the overall situation, leaving the Beijing camp to move out and block the Qingzhou soldiers at the border of Qingzhou, making it impossible for them to advance an inch.
It can be seen that the Qingzhou soldiers are not a cause for concern.
In my opinion, the most pressing issue right now is not the King Heng's troops, but the fact that His Majesty is missing and the group is leaderless. The current unrest in the city is a clear sign of this."
It was exactly the same as what Zhao Duan, the Empress, Prince Jing and others had guessed, among the five rebel armies.
The Qingzhou rebels led by Prince Heng were the first to approach the capital.
However, although Prince Heng came with great enthusiasm, he was forced back dozens of miles east of the capital by the Beijing camp army and was unable to advance an inch.
Prince Heng, who was unable to break through the Beijing camp by force, repeatedly ordered the court to open the gates to welcome him in as "Prince", but was rejected every time.
However, most people in the city did not know the true strength of Qingzhou. They were already in a panic when they heard that the rebels were fighting dozens of miles away.
"I also think that the most urgent task is not to deal with the rebels, but to find His Majesty's return." Yuan Li said calmly.
As the leader of the Qingliu Party, he attracted the attention of all the officials as soon as he spoke.
The elegant and handsome Imperial Censor, with white hair on his temples, sat upright in a chair, looking at Ma Yan with a stern look:
"Sir, the Imperial Court has a way to communicate with the Shadow Guards. Can you find the whereabouts of His Majesty now?"
The eunuch nicknamed "King of Hell" was a third-rank official and sat a little further back. When he saw Yuan Li looking at him, he said with a stern face:
"The latest news from outside the capital is that Your Majesty and Zhao Shaobao appeared in the Huai River. We have not received any news after that."
After a pause, he added:
"In addition, the shadow guard reported that Mo Zhaorong and his party are safe for the time being and have returned to Linfeng. Together with the White Horse Supervisor, the Minister of Rites, the Governor of the Grain Transport and other officials, they have been hindering the rebels' progress along the way and have achieved initial results."
The ministers rioted.
They didn't care much about the life and death of Mochou and others, they only cared about the life and death of the empress.
Initially, after the empress disappeared, Mo Chou and her ministers realized that they had to let the people in the capital know that the empress was not dead, otherwise there would be chaos.
Therefore, at that time, Eunuch Hai contacted the shadow guard and passed on the news that Zhao Duan was protecting the empress and had not been arrested yet.
This is also the key to the stability of the court: if the empress is really dead, how can the ministers sit down to discuss? The city gates were opened early to welcome the prince into the capital.
"Your Majesty is blessed by heaven. Now that we have entered the Huai River, it won't be long before we return to the capital." An official from the imperial party was delighted.
"Let me make it clear first that I sincerely hope that Your Majesty is safe and sound, but given the current situation, it is meaningless to just say nice things.
Your Majesty is far away in Huaishui. When will he be able to return? And whether he can return? All of these are unknown. Even if he returns, it may not be certain..." Someone said sarcastically.
"What is your intention in saying this?! Have you defected to the rebel king?" A young official was furious and stood up to scold.
The latter retorted:
"I only care about the country, unlike you who dare not face the situation at this time."
"Do you want to die? His Majesty is still here! When you come back, I will definitely report you!" An imperial censor joined the battlefield.
"Haha, Censor Chen, you don't have to wait for His Majesty's return if you want to submit a memorial to the emperor. The same goes for submitting a memorial to the Grand Tutor." An attendant sneered and joined in the war of words.
For a moment, it was as if a powder keg had been ignited. The two sides started arguing, and the entire side hall was as noisy as a vegetable market.
"quiet!"
After listening for a while, Master Dong's face turned gloomy, his hair and beard trembled as he shouted angrily:
"If you want to make a noise, get out. Did I call you all here today just to listen to your noise?"
All the ministers were silent and the atmosphere was depressing.
Yuan Li coughed lightly and said:
"Now is not the time to argue about these things. Although Your Majesty is in danger, with Young Master Zhao's support, you will be able to turn danger into safety and return sooner or later.
Besides, Linfeng is still in the hands of the court. As long as Your Majesty can enter Linfeng, it will be safe. As for us, we are the ones who eat the emperor's salary. Before that, we can only guard the capital for Your Majesty. The Qingzhou soldiers are not a concern for the time being. Instead, rumors are spreading in the city, and people are uneasy...
The Grand Master summoned you all here today, presumably to ask you to go back and contribute yourselves to stabilize the situation. At least before His Majesty returns, the order in the city must not be disturbed."
All the ministers agreed with this view.
Yuan Li suddenly looked at the old rival who was sitting opposite her and looked very old and dying:
"Li Xiang, don't you have anything to say?"
Li Yanfu, who had been silent since entering the palace, opened his squinting eyelids and smiled:
"I agree with what Lord Yuan and the Grand Master said, so let's do it."
After the three top ministers spoke up, things went much more smoothly.
It is nothing more than assigning tasks to various restless places in the city in order to stabilize the overall situation.
Soon after, the court meeting ended and the ministers left.
Yuan Li and Grand Tutor Dong were the last to leave. The former looked at the empty side hall, stood up and said:
"Although the ministers agreed verbally, many of them were already panicking."
Master Dong sighed, his exhaustion evident: "How could I not know that?"
It is difficult to lead a team when people’s hearts are scattered. This truth is true both in ancient and modern times.
All they can do is try their best to maintain it.
"Li Yanfu has been too quiet lately."
Yuan Li suddenly spoke. The sunlight shone in from outside the hall, and his tall shadow fell obliquely on the smooth floor tiles.
Master Dong, whose hair and beard were all white, glanced at him:
"Some of the people who spoke ill of the emperor at today's court meeting must have been secretly arranged by him."
Yuan Li looked out of the palace with a deep gaze: "I'm not referring to these little tricks in the court."
Master Dong's heart skipped a beat: "You mean, he might..."
Yuan Li shook her head and smiled:
"Perhaps I am thinking too much. With Li Yanfu's personality, he is probably thinking about how to place bets to maximize his benefits. If the throne is really taken by someone else, how can he seek to survive the calamity safely?
No, maybe the Huaishui Li family has already bet on different princes at the same time."
Master Dong narrowed his eyes and stared at him:
"What about you? Do you, Yuan Li, believe that His Majesty can come back and stabilize the situation?"
Yuan Li smiled faintly, walked out without answering.
Grand Tutor Dong watched him leave. He was the only one left in the empty hall. The imperial tutor remained silent for a long time and closed his eyes.
Yuan Li reminded herself to be wary of Li Yanfu.
But... can we really trust Yuan Li and the Qingliu Party behind her?
……
……
Li Yanfu walked out of the palace, and with the help of servants, he got into the carriage and returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Along the way, he closed his eyes and took naps to save energy.
Since the beginning of this spring, Li Yanfu's health has not been good. Some of his old physical ailments have recurred frequently. Although he is much younger than Dong Xuan, his energy and spirit are getting weaker every year.
At least that's how he appears to outsiders.
After returning to the mansion, Li Yanfu undressed with the help of servants, took off his court robes, and changed into his favorite loose red robe. He then went to the study to look through official documents.
"Master, it's time to drink ginseng soup."
The study door was pushed open, and a woman in her thirties with a respectful look walked in, holding ginseng soup.
Place it on the table in the study.
Li Yanfu put down the book, looked up at her, nodded, picked up the spoon and drank it sip by sip.
This woman was a concubine of the prime minister of the current dynasty. Li Yanfu's wife had been dead for many years and he rarely took concubines. This third concubine was one of his former "students".
She never competed for favor, was low-key and docile. Although she had no official status, she was deeply loved by the elderly Li Yanfu. Even the young cabinet ministers did not dare to act rashly in front of this concubine who did not compete for favors.
"Is there anything else?" Li Yanfu asked while drinking ginseng soup.
The concubine nicknamed "Xiao Yue" whispered: "Yinglong is here."
"Tell him to come in."
"it is good."
Xiaoyue walked out, and after a while, the study door opened.
Li Yinglong, a young cabinet minister who was nearly forty years old and had a rather sinister appearance, led a servant and stepped into the threshold:
"Father, someone is coming to our house."
After he finished speaking, the middle-aged man behind him, who was disguised as a servant but was actually a servant of the Huaishuidao Li clan, knelt down with a plop:
"I am here on the orders of my clan to deliver a message to the Prime Minister."
The Huaishui Li family is the aristocratic family behind Li Yanfu. "Speak."
"Yes, my family has sent a message saying that Prince Jing and Prince Mu have both crossed the Huai River and will arrive in Beijing soon. I beg you to consider the family's honor and safety... If you can control the court and the capital, and wait for the princes to arrive in Beijing, you can wait for the price to be sold, and plan for the Li family to survive for a hundred years..."
In the study, the prime minister and his son listened quietly to the message from the servant.
"Got it, go out." Li Yanfu waved his hand expressionlessly.
The servant kowtowed again, stood up and walked out of the room.
"Father, let's do it. The situation is critical now. If we wait until the kings' armies invade the capital, it will be too late."
Li Yinglong seemed a little excited. "Let alone my family, the people below me have also been restless these days. If you don't agree, I'm afraid..."
Li Yanfu looked at him coldly: "Are you the one who is getting agitated?"
Li Yinglong's forehead was covered with cold sweat, and he was speechless. But at this moment, he suddenly gritted his teeth and mustered up his courage:
"Father! Over the past year, the Empress has repeatedly attacked us, and the people below are really demoralized. We have been patient and the Empress' power has continued to grow. Now she has disappeared, and I guess she will never come back.
Even if she really comes back, without her celestial cultivation, what chances does she have of winning?
The sky of the Yu Kingdom is definitely going to change. With the kings here, our Li family cannot become the emperor, but if we can find a minister who will follow us, we will have great potential...
If you don't do it, others will. Who can guarantee that those powerful people in the city don't have the same idea? We have to act quickly. If it's too late, everything will be over!"
Li Yanfu waved his sleeves expressionlessly: "Get out."
Li Yinglong gritted his teeth and advised:
"Father, what are you still hesitating about? Before, Xue Shence was in the city, and the chances of winning were not great, but now he has also left the city.
As long as you nod, the two commanders of the Jinwu Guard and Qianniu Guard in the Imperial Guard will support us, and with the help of the assassins we have raised in the capital over the years, it will be easy to control the court now..."
"go out!"
Li Yinglong sighed and stomped away.
In the study, only Li Yanfu, who was wearing a red robe and a white jade belt, was sitting upright, staring at a decorative palm-sized knife on the desk, in a daze for a long time.
……
……
Just when people in the city were in panic and undercurrents were surging, everyone thought that the empress was still fleeing.
Outside the south gate of the capital, on the wide official road, a horse-drawn carriage was going against the flow of people, heading towards the city gate.
Zhao Duan used a disguise mask to change his appearance again. This time he pretended to be a coachman. While waving the whip, he looked at the carriages and horses on the road and said:
"Your Majesty, do you really want to enter the city in a low-key manner?"
Inside the carriage, after recovering his cultivation and taking the Disguise Pill to temporarily change his appearance, Xu Zhenguan sat cross-legged in meditation. Hearing this, he said calmly:
"Now that I'm back, I'm not in a hurry to show up. I'll first quietly enter the city, understand the situation, and then return to the palace. Wasn't it the same when you captured Zhuang Xiaocheng from Binhai Road and brought him back to Beijing?"
No, why are you competing with me... Zhao Duan was helpless.
After the empress was promoted, she traveled incredibly fast, although the celestial beings in this world could not "travel across the vast ocean in the morning and reach Cangwu in the evening" and could not travel a thousand miles in an instant.
However, flying with a sword can ignore geographical barriers and still greatly shorten the time to return to Beijing.
The emperor and his ministers rushed all the way without stopping in Linfeng, and arrived near the capital before dawn. However, the empress asked them to enter the capital in a low profile and find out the situation first.
"But the problem is, I don't think we are being low-key at all."
Zhao Duan sighed softly and pointed his whip at the large number of people heading out of the city on the official road.
In the past, the number of people entering and leaving the city was about the same.
But now it is completely different. At a glance, most people are leaving the city, and there are very few entering the city.
"It seems that the news of the rebels' rebellion has spread throughout the city. At this time, we should block the city gates and prohibit entry and exit." Xu Zhenguan looked at the scene outside the car window with a worried look on his face.
"The current situation only shows that the imperial court's orders have not been strictly enforced."
No, you are putting it mildly. It should be said that the law enforcement system failed... Yes, without a leader, the court must be in chaos. Moreover, if a brick is thrown down in the city, it can hit seven or eight dignitaries...
In this situation, if the powerful want to escape from the capital, there is always a way... Zhao Duan sighed softly and smiled bitterly:
"However, if we think positively, it at least means that there is no major chaos in the capital, otherwise the basic order would not be maintained."
As they were talking, the king and his minister arrived outside the city gate. Zhao Duan had several fake identity passes on him that made it easier for him to pass through customs, so he was able to enter the city safely.
"Your Majesty, where are we going next?"
Zhao Duan was driving on the streets of the capital.
I was pleased to find that the order in the city was better than I expected.
It seems that only a small number of people escaped from the city.
Xu Zhenguan was also at a loss for a moment. She had lived in the palace all year round, so where could she stay outside?
If I were to say that there was a place outside the palace that I was familiar with and had lived in before, there was one...
"Go to your house?" She glanced at Zhao Duan and said subconsciously.
Is it okay that you are so impatient to come to my house right after you got married... Zhao Duan felt very pleased, with a smile on his face.
The empress glared at him: "What are you laughing at?"
Zhao Duan quickly stopped smiling and said seriously:
"I am not laughing, I just feel it is inappropriate. There is no guarantee that my house has been targeted."
After being away from the capital for so long, his first thought was to go home to see his aunt and sister.
But reason told him that this was not right.
Xu Zhenguan also understood this, and after a moment's thought, he said, "Let's find an inn to stay at first, and then find out what's going on in the city."
"it is good."
Zhao Duan identified the direction and found an inn where he had stayed before and checked in.
……
Not long after.
The king and his minister had already appeared in the room upstairs of the inn. They threw their bags on the table, stood side by side by the window, pushed open the window, and looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar street scene outside.
After a few months.
It was still spring when I left Beijing, and it was almost late summer when I returned.
"Your Majesty, please rest in the inn for a while. I will go out and find someone to ask about the situation." Zhao Duan said.
He did not imitate movies and TV dramas and spend money to ask the inn waiter about the situation, because what he needed to know was more information related to the court.
However, messages from the public are often exaggerated and distorted, accompanied by conspiracy theories, and cannot be accepted.
"Let's go together." How could Xu Zhenguan sit still? If she hadn't wanted to observe the changes in the court after she left, she would have flown into the imperial city on her sword.
"That's fine..." Zhao Duan nodded, thinking about who he should ask.
At this moment, suddenly, he noticed a large group of police officers swaggering towards the street, full of murderous intent, and heading straight for the inn.
The leader was wearing a loose, ill-fitting silk garment. He had small eyes and a thin figure. He had a folding fan inserted diagonally behind his neck. He looked arrogant and domineering.
"Is it him?" Zhao Duan was stunned and his expression became strange.
"Do you know him?" Xu Zhenguan had no impression of this little guy.
"Yes. He was a lackey of mine in the past." Zhao Duan sighed and asked curiously:
"Why is this guy here?"
……
The first floor of the inn.
Qin Qiu led a team of "officers" into the lobby, and the shopkeeper immediately came up to greet them with a smile:
"Hey, gentlemen, what can I do for you?"
Qin Qu, the dandy who had once flattered and clung to Zhao Duan's thighs and entered the "Beijing circle", sneered and was arrogant and domineering. As soon as they disagreed, he kicked him:
"Don't you know me? And you're asking me what I can do for you? Do you really not know me, or are you pretending not to know?"
The innkeeper was kicked down, but he didn't dare to get angry. Although the inn had an official background, he still didn't dare to offend these officers:
"Mr. Qin, it turns out to be Mr. Qin. Look at my poor eyesight, I didn't recognize you."
Qin Qiu, who was servile in front of Zhao Duan and arrogant outside, had a strong mean face. He snorted and threw out a sign:
"I don't want to waste my time talking to you. I'm working for the imperial court now. There has been unrest in the city recently. Are there any new guests of unknown origin staying in your inn?"
It turned out to be the ward inspection... The shopkeeper cursed inwardly and said with a smile:
"Mr. Qin, please take a seat. We have all registered our identities here. There are no people with unknown origins..."
"Hmph, your words don't count. Come here, follow me to check the rooms!" As soon as Qin Qiu gained power, he felt dizzy whenever he walked by.
With a wave of his hand, he led his men upstairs and began to kick open the doors of the rooms one by one.
This quickly caused a lot of exclamations and chaos. Every time they entered a room, they would arrest the residents, interrogate them, and extort "rewards" before leaving.
Soon, Qin Qu and his men arrived outside the room where Zhao Duan was staying.
"Bang bang! The government is checking the room. Whoever is inside, open the door!" Qin Qu kicked the door but failed. He found that it was locked and could not help but yelled angrily.
There seemed to be footsteps wandering in the room, but no one answered.
"Master Qin, this man deserves a beating." A clerk picked up a whistle stick and pretended to force his way in.
Qin Qiu waved his hand, rolled up his sleeves, and sneered:
"I'll come in person! You're such a good person! When I come in, I'll make you kneel down and beg for mercy."
He took a few steps back to gather his strength, then suddenly rushed forward and slammed into the door, but unexpectedly the locked door opened.
Qin Qu cried out, unable to control his strength, and tumbled into the room, falling down with a thud. He cursed angrily, and was about to get up when his head was suddenly stepped on by a boot and pressed to the ground.
"As expected of an official from the capital, you are so domineering. But, how come I didn't know that there were people like you in the imperial court?" Zhao Duan asked quietly.
(End of this chapter)