aircannonsinc Chapter 166 Restoration
Chapter 166 Restoration
Chapter 166 Restoration
But Zhao Yu still couldn't persuade Wang Chongyang.
"How can our army defuse the threat from the western flank? The Jin troops in Henan could advance eastward at any time."
"Wanyan Kuangxin has suffered a defeat and lost many soldiers. How many troops can Henan still send out?" Zhao Yu asked rhetorically, then pointed to the Western Xia territory. "Moreover, we have an ally."
,
"Western Xia?" Wang Chongyang was taken aback.
Zhao Yu nodded: "That's right. After the Jin destroyed the Liao, it repeatedly reduced the Western Xia's fiefdom, and the two countries have been constantly clashing on the border. A few years ago, when the Mongols besieged the Western Xia capital, Zhongxingfu, the Jin people stood by and did not come to the rescue. The Xia-Jin alliance has long been broken, and the two countries have been constantly fighting on the border in recent years."
"I will immediately send envoys to Western Xia to agree to jointly attack the Jin Dynasty and divide up the Jin territory. The Western Xia people have long coveted Guanzhong. With them holding back the western front, the Jin people will be too busy to defend themselves and will have no strength left to advance eastward and cut off our retreat."
After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.
Everyone was originally only focused on the Song and Jin dynasties, but they didn't expect that the emperor would even include the Western Xia in his calculations.
If we can persuade the Western Xia to send troops, the threat on the western front will indeed be resolved, and the plan to take Shandong will suddenly become much more secure.
"Your Majesty's plans are far-sighted, beyond our ability," Wang Chongyang sighed, cupped his hands, and said, "In my opinion, the Shandong plan is feasible."
""
The head coach relented, and the other generals had no objections either.
Everyone stepped forward and accepted the order in unison.
"it is good."
Zhao Yulang declared, "Issue my order: divide the troops into two routes. One route, led by Master Wang, will advance westward to capture Dasanguan Pass and seal off the northwest gateway. The other route will follow me northward, advancing eastward along the Huai River to directly seize Shandong!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The generals responded with a thunderous roar, their voices shaking the rooftops.
After the meeting, the generals returned to their camps to reorganize their troops, but Zhao Yu kept Hong Qi behind alone.
"Brother Hong." Zhao Yu handed him a blank imperial edict stamped with the imperial seal. "You will take the Beggars' Sect disciples and various righteous heroes and sneak into Shandong to contact the leaders of various righteous armies."
"Those who are willing to submit to the court will be granted official positions. Before the main army arrives, they should harass the Jin army's rear as much as possible, burning their provisions and supplies."
Cut off the post roads, do as much as you can.
Hong Qi took the imperial edict and patted his chest, assuring everyone, "Don't worry, this old beggar will set off right away. There are many brothers from the Beggars' Clan among the rebels in Shandong; they'll make sure everything is arranged perfectly for you."
""
Having said that, he carefully put the imperial edict away and turned to leave excitedly.
The curtain is about to rise on the Northern Expedition.
Just as the army at the front was preparing for battle, a conspiracy finally surfaced in Lin'an.
That morning, as usual, the officials went to the Hall of State Affairs to conduct their business, but suddenly received a message from the eunuch that the Emperor Emeritus was holding court in the Daqing Hall and summoned all the officials to an audience.
When the news spread, the entire court was in an uproar.
The Emperor is clearly leading the army on the front lines, so why is the Retired Emperor suddenly holding court?
The crowd buzzed with discussion, gathering around Qian Xiangzu to inquire about the news.
Qian Xiangzu, however, gave a vague answer: "You will know when you get there, why ask so many questions?"
Lei Xiaoyou was nowhere to be seen in the crowd.
The officials were even more suspicious, but they dared not disobey the imperial decree and could only go to the Daqing Hall in twos and threes.
The moment they stepped into the main hall, everyone froze.
On the throne sat the retired Emperor Zhao Kuo, his face pale but his composure impeccable. Empress Yang Guizhi sat behind the curtain, her expression haughty.
On both sides of the prince stood soldiers of the Palace Guard, each holding a sword, creating a tense atmosphere.
"Greetings to the Retired Emperor —"
The officials hesitated as they bowed, their hearts filled with unease. Was he about to be reinstated?
"Rise, my lords." Zhao Kuo cleared his throat. "Prince Zhao Yu of Yongjia has committed treason, usurped the throne, and acted perversely, causing chaos in the court. Today, I have taken back control of the court and will restore order."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Yang Guizhi shouted sternly, "Where are the warriors? Quickly seize that traitorous henchman Huang Yaoshi!"
""
Huang Yaoshi didn't even lift his eyelids, he just chuckled coldly.
"Huang Yaoshi, you have sided with a traitor, wreaked havoc on the court, and committed heinous crimes!" Yang Guizhi pointed at him, her voice stern. "Guards! Seize this traitor and throw him into the imperial prison. As for the other officials, as long as they repent and submit to the court, the Emperor will forgive their past transgressions. Anyone who dares to side with the rebels will be punished!"
""
The soldiers of the Palace Guard responded and stepped forward to arrest Huang Yaoshi.
The officials looked at each other in bewilderment, each feeling insecure.
Some hesitated and retreated, while others quietly lowered their heads and chose neutrality.
Several of Zhao Kuo's former subordinates stepped forward, loudly echoing his sentiments and angrily denouncing Zhao Yu for treason.
"The Retired Emperor!"
77
Huang Yaoshi stood motionless, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Kuo on the throne: "Now that Your Majesty has achieved a great victory in the Northern Expedition, defeating tens of thousands of Jin troops, you are eager to take advantage of the victory to recover lost territories. Isn't the Retired Emperor afraid that launching a palace coup at this time will ruin the affairs of state and demoralize the soldiers at the front?"
"Treason is treason!" Yang Guizhi interrupted him sharply. "Zhao Yu usurped the throne; his military achievements were obtained by seizing the Song army. Once the Emperor is restored to the throne, he will naturally lead the army on a northern expedition to revitalize the Song Dynasty. What does that have to do with him!"
Her gaze swept over the officials below, and she sneered, "What, are you all going to follow the rebels down this dark path?"
The officials bowed their heads in silence, and the hall was deathly still.
Huang Yaoshi looked at Zhao Kuo and his wife, then suddenly smiled, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes: "Since the Southern Song Dynasty moved south, its national strength has declined day by day, and half of its territory has been lost, precisely because of the endless infighting within the imperial family. Emperors Huizong and Qinzong misled the country before us; will the Retired Emperor repeat their mistakes today?"
"You are all educated in the classics, and you should know right from wrong." He turned to the officials and said, "Those who are willing to follow the Emperor Emeritus in his reckless ways, stand on the left. Those who are willing to prioritize the affairs of the state and stand on the Emperor's side, stand on the right."
,
These words caused even greater panic among the officials.
Most people stood still and chose to remain neutral; a small number of Zhao Kuo's former subordinates moved to the left; and a handful of people stood on the right, quietly advising Zhao Kuo to prioritize the overall situation.
"Good, very good." Yang Guizhi pointed to several officials standing on the right, "These people are all Zhao Yu's accomplices. Arrest them all and bring them to justice!"
'
Just as the soldiers of the Palace Guard were about to take action, a clear, cold female voice suddenly came from outside the palace: "Whose crime do you intend to punish?"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Lin Chaoying, dressed in plain clothes, slowly walking into the main hall.
Behind her, Lin Hongyu led dozens of agents from the Eastern Depot, escorting a person bound hand and foot into the hall.
The man, with disheveled hair and unkempt clothes, was none other than Yang Cishan.
"Brother!"
Yang Guizhi gasped in shock.
Lin Hongyu casually pushed Yang Cishan, leaving him in the hall. He struggled for a moment but couldn't get up, clearly because his acupoints had been sealed.
Lin Chaoying walked into the hall and glanced indifferently at Zhao Kuo and his wife on the throne: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the palace coup drama has almost ended."
,
Zhao Kuo's face turned deathly pale.
He thought that Yang Cishan had taken control of the Palace Guard and that taking over the palace would be a piece of cake, but how could he have failed like this?
At this moment, Zhao Kuo suddenly realized something was wrong. When he was rescued from Shou Kang Palace, the eunuchs from the Eastern Depot who had been monitoring him all day seemed to have disappeared.
At the time, he thought those people had run away when they saw things were going badly, but now it seems that Zhao Yu was prepared all along.