aircannonsinc Chapter 164 The Turmoil in Lin'an
Chapter 164 The Turmoil in Lin'an
Chapter 164 The Turmoil in Lin'an
Just then, a clerk from the cabinet entered, bowed, and repeated Huang Yaoshi's meaning.
It was said that the government had been asked to draft the celebration regulations, organize a celebratory banquet and a folk lantern festival, and share the joy with the people.
Upon hearing this, Qian Xiangzu's expression darkened instantly.
What is Huang Yaoshi? He's just a commoner from the martial arts world who got into the cabinet and held important positions by currying favor with the government.
Now, things have gotten out of hand, and they're brazenly issuing orders to the Council of State.
How can a high-ranking official like himself be ordered around by an unknown nobody?
Lei Xiaoyou didn't care about any of that and waved his hand happily: "Go back and report to Minister Huang that the celebration should indeed be held."
I will soon issue a reply, instructing the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to jointly draft the plan.
""
The clerk acknowledged the order, bowed, and withdrew.
As soon as the man left, Qian Xiangzu couldn't hold back any longer and snorted coldly, "Hmph, a mere cabinet dares to point fingers at the Council of State Affairs. The Emperor established the cabinet to assist in state affairs, but now, even Huang Yaoshi has climbed over our heads. If this continues, the country will cease to exist."
Lei Xiaoyou, however, took it in stride, sighing softly, "Botong, it's the young people's world now. We old folks should just keep to our duties. I'm getting on in years, and my energy isn't what it used to be. Once the emperor returns victorious, I'll petition to retire and return to my hometown."
Qian Xiangzu was taken aback and didn't reply.
Unlike Lei Xiaoyou, he was not indifferent to fame and fortune. He had spent half his life scheming to reach the position of Vice Minister of State Affairs. He had not yet had enough of the taste of power, so how could he be willing to give it up so easily?
The two exchanged a few more words about official business before it was time to end their shift.
Lei Xiaoyou and Qian Xiangzu bid each other farewell and went their separate ways.
Qian Xiangzu sat in the sedan chair, his face so gloomy it could drip water.
He lifted a corner of the sedan curtain and looked at the jubilant palace servants, but his heart grew even more irritated.
"How could I have won—" he murmured to himself, "How could I have just won—"
He originally thought that Zhao Yu was young and impetuous, and that his rash personal expedition would surely lead to defeat.
That's why he secretly accepted the recruitment of the retired emperor Zhao Kuo, thinking that when Zhao Yu was defeated and the court was in turmoil, he would support the retired emperor to be restored to the throne, and he would become the chief strategist and advance his status further.
But who could have imagined that Zhao Yu not only didn't lose, but also won an unprecedented victory.
Now, he was in a difficult situation.
When the sedan chair reached a secluded spot, Qian Xiangzu signaled to stop, saying he wanted to get out and walk for a while.
The servants quickly helped him down and followed him at a distance.
He had only taken two steps when a small, thin eunuch bowed and greeted him.
"I have met Master Qian."
Qian Xiangzu nodded slightly, walked straight past the man, and released his right hand, a folded piece of paper silently falling into the roadside bushes.
The young eunuch stood still, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
After Qian Xiangzu and the others left, and after confirming that no one was paying attention, he quickly bent down, picked up the note, and swiftly hid it in his sleeve before disappearing with his head down.
Deep within the imperial palace lies the Shou Kang Palace.
This is the residence of the retired Emperor Zhao Kuo. Since the coup, Zhao Kuo has been under house arrest here, guarded day and night by the Evil-Repelling Swordsmen of the Eastern Depot, and outsiders are not allowed to contact him.
However, since he was the retired emperor, Zhao Yu, mindful of the impact, continued to provide him with the same food, clothing, and lodging as before, without treating him harshly.
As evening fell, a group of palace maids carrying food boxes slowly walked over. The head eunuch from the Eastern Depot raised his hand to signal for the food boxes to be opened and inspected one by one.
After checking that the food inside was just ordinary food and there were no foreign objects hidden inside, he waved his hand, signaling them to go in.
The palace maids, heads bowed, filed in and placed the food on the table one by one.
As the leading palace maid approached the inner hall, Zhao Kuo and Empress Yang Guizhi immediately came to greet her.
Zhao Kuo lowered his voice and asked urgently, "How is it? Has anyone discovered us outside?"
The palace maid shook her head slightly and lowered her voice as well: "Your Majesty, everything went smoothly. The item is at the bottom of the bowl. Please check it."
""
Zhao Kuo waved his hand, signaling her to go outside and keep watch.
After everyone left, he immediately picked up the gilded porcelain bowl on the table, gently twisted the bottom of the bowl, and sure enough, took out a tiny folded piece of paper from the hidden compartment.
He eagerly unfolded it, and after just one glance, his expression changed drastically.
His face flushed red and then turned pale, as if he wanted to laugh or cry at the same time; his expression was extremely complex.
"Your Majesty? What's wrong? What exactly did Master Qian say?" Yang Guizhi asked hastily when she saw that he remained silent for a long time. "Say something!"
""
Zhao Kuo absentmindedly handed her the note: "We won—a great victory at Zaoyang, annihilating 30,000 enemy troops, and Wanyan Kuang died on the spot—"
Yang Guizhi took the note, quickly scanned it, and was stunned.
"They won?" she murmured to herself, her face full of disbelief. "How is this possible? Wanyan Kuang was a famous general of the Jin Dynasty, leading tens of thousands of troops—how could they just lose like that?"
The hall was completely silent.
After a long while, Zhao Kuo gave a bitter laugh, slumped back into his chair, and stared blankly at the roof beam: "My third brother—he really is capable."
He felt a mix of emotions.
On the one hand, as members of the Zhao Song imperial family, defeating the Jin army was naturally something to be happy about; on the other hand, the more capable Zhao Yu was, the slimmer his hope of being restored to the throne became.
The throne was rightfully his, but now it has been taken by his younger brother. How could he be willing to accept this?
"What are you saying, Your Majesty!" Yang Guizhi immediately came to her senses, walked to his side, and said urgently, "Does Your Majesty intend to just let this go? To abandon all important matters?"
'
"What else can we do?" Zhao Kuo smiled bitterly. "He has won a great victory, and the hearts and minds of the army and the people are in his hands. What chance do we have? Besides—if he can really recover Kaifeng and restore the ancestral foundation, it will be a blessing for our Great Song Dynasty."
"The officials are muddle-headed!"
Yang Guizhi's face darkened, and her voice turned cold: "This credit should have belonged to the Emperor! If it weren't for the Emperor's previous military preparations and focus on the Northern Expedition, how could the Jin army have been so exhausted? Zhao Yu is just reaping the benefits that belong to the Emperor!"
She leaned down and patiently persuaded him: "Your Majesty, think about it. What did Zhao Yu rely on to win? Wasn't it by employing江湖草莽 (jianghu grass-roots people) and using unorthodox tricks? Once Your Majesty is reinstated, you can forgive past grievances and continue to use those江湖人 (jianghu people) and military generals who are useful."
"As long as we eliminate the chief villains around Zhao Yu and appease the army, it will be Your Majesty who will revive the Song Dynasty, rebuild the legacy of Emperor Guangwu, and go down in history."
,
Zhao Kuo was swayed by her words.
Yes, why should he? This empire rightfully belongs to him; why should he give it to Zhao Yu?
His gaze gradually changed, slowly transforming from hesitation to determination.
"Zitong is right." He stood up, pacing around the hall with his hands behind his back. "This throne is rightfully mine."
But Zhao Kuo then looked at Yang Guizhi: "But what should we do? The third brother has not been defeated, and his army is strong and well-equipped. We have no troops and no authority—"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Yang Guizhi sneered. "Isn't he going to continue his northern expedition? Perfect. Once he's deep into Jin territory, we'll cut off his supplies from the rear. When the Emperor is reinstated in Lin'an, he can issue a proclamation to the whole country, calling on all regions to come to his aid and cut off his return route."
"At that time, he will be surrounded by Jin soldiers in front and have no food supplies behind. If his army's morale collapses, he will be nothing more than a turtle in a jar."
"As for Minister Qian, the Emperor will send another letter to appease him, granting him the position of Prime Minister, and instructing him to stabilize the Council of State Affairs. He will also have my brother secretly contact the old subordinates of the Palace Guard. Once we control the Imperial Guards of the capital, our great undertaking will be accomplished!"
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