"Big brother, save me!"

Seeing that Zhao Huan was serious, Zhao Zhan immediately softened and knelt down beside Zhao Cheng's legs, saying, "We need manpower right now, so don't lock me up. Let me do things for you!"

Zhao Huan retorted angrily, "It's no use begging your older brother! You're so loose-lipped and won't change your ways. You'll not only be of no help, you'll only cause trouble!"

Zhao Zhan complained, "The Imperial Seal is already in your hands, what are you afraid of?!"

"Look at your mouth!!"

Zhao Huan stood up angrily, pointed at Zhao Zhan, and shouted, "Second brother, take him away and lock him up!!"

Zhao Yan sighed and carried the still-nagging Zhao Zhan away.

Zhao Huan sat down in the chair, his face dark, and said, "Why is this child's personality so unstable?"

Zhao Cheng said with a forced smile, "The dragon has nine sons, each different from the other. There must be one of us four brothers who is a bit more unconventional."

Zhao Huan glanced at Zhao Cheng and said, "You're talking about the dragon and defending the fourth brother, do you even think I should be eyeing that chair?"

Zhao Cheng said, "If you don't worry about it, more people will worry about it for you. There are quite a few people in the court who think the same way as the fourth prince."

"If you say such things, outsiders will just think you're a child who talks without thinking. You shouldn't say them again."

"Dad, are you going to play dumb with me again?"

Zhao Cheng shook his head and said, "Can't you just tell me what you're thinking? Would your son ever harm you?"

"Nonsense! How can you look at your father like that?" Zhao Huan blew on his beard.

"How many times have you lied to me?" Zhao Cheng shrugged.

"That was out of necessity!"

Zhao Huan stood up and said, "But this won't do. If I do this, how can I face the late Emperor? And how will you... explain this to A-Yun?"

Zhao Cheng said, "But you know that what I said in Tianze Hall was just a delaying tactic. Wen Tai will never release him. He has to have one of the Emperor and the Imperial Seal."

Zhao Huan said, "I didn't object because I think you did the right thing. We need to wait a little longer."

"Wait for what?"

"Wait for the enemy to reveal their own weakness."

...

Yongliang City.

In the courtyard of the central government office, fallen leaves covered the ground.

"Release Yuan Xiu? Cease hostilities?"

After reading the letter, Wen Hu sneered, "Has Zhao Huan been blinded by victory? Does he think we're stupid?"

Wen Tai stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance, and said, "Zhao Huan's letter was not meant for us to see at all."

Wen Hu asked, "Then what does he mean?"

Wen Tai said, "Mr. Yu, please explain this to me."

Yu Changsi walked over, stepping on fallen leaves, and slowly said, "Zhao Huan has occupied the Jing Palace. Emperor Jing is not here, but the Imperial Seal is in his hands. Those who have followed him through thick and thin hope that he can become emperor. But after all, the Great Jing Dynasty has lasted for many years, and many ministers do not want the Yuan family to fall. There will inevitably be voices of opposition in the court."

"Zhao Huan could neither go against these people nor did he want to completely extinguish their hope and chill the hearts of his brothers, so he wrote this letter to the Prime Minister."

"He doesn't want Yuan Xiu to go back."

Wen Hu nodded and said, "I understand. In that case, why don't we just annoy him and send Yuan Xiu back?"

"Nonsense!"

Wen Tai frowned and said, "If Yuan Xiu doesn't stay with us, we'll become traitors."

Wen Hu said, "But what if Zhao Huan really declares himself emperor?"

"That would be great!"

Wen Tai and Yu Changsi exchanged a smile.

Wen Hu looked at the two elders, and was immediately confused. He said, "Uncle, sir, please stop playing riddles. In front of you two, I'm just a rough man, and I'm too lazy to use my brain!"

"Lord of Sha County, what the Prime Minister is waiting for is Zhao Huan to become emperor," Yu Changsi said with a smile.

"How so?" Wen Hu asked.

Yu Changsi explained, "After Zhao Huan raised his troops, we suppressed him in the name of the imperial court, calling him a rebel. Zhao Huan, on the other hand, raised an army under the pretext of 'purging the court of corrupt officials,' calling us treacherous ministers. What do the common people know about who is right and who is wrong?"

"But if Zhao Huan were to declare himself emperor at this time, the people would understand that Zhao Huan was indeed a traitor who had seized the Yuan family's empire!"

"In this way, the greater good is on our side. The Prime Minister can either rally the imperial family and high-ranking officials of the court to defend the emperor, or retreat to Yongliang as the capital and govern the region!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Hu's eyes lit up, and he said happily, "Uncle, the fate of the Great Jing Dynasty is over. We now have three or four counties in Tianyong, Qinhuang, Yichuan, and Xinbei, and we have also stationed troops in Guliang and Pingyou, each with half a county. Uncle can completely share the world with Zhao Huan!"

Wen Tai clasped his hands in a fist salute to the distant view and said, "His Majesty has been incredibly kind to me. Even my teacher hasn't touched it, so I, as his student, cannot act recklessly."

"But are we just going to wait like this?"

Wen Hu said anxiously, "I know Zhao Huan; he can endure more than anyone else."

Yu Changsi said, "Lord Shaxian, please calm down. Judging from Zhao Huan's defenses in Guliang and Pingyou, he has already decided that we will not attack. According to the reports from our scouts, the Zhennan Border Army was scattered by Zhao Cheng, and Feng Jing led a part of it to Yun Jing. Their focus has been shifted to the Southern Zhou Army. In my opinion, Zhao Huan and his son want to take back Yun Jing County to increase their prestige and consolidate their position."

"At this moment, we can take Zhao Huan by surprise and catch him off guard."

"Even if we can't capture Changsui, taking Guliang and Pingyou counties would still be a significant achievement!"

Wen Hu understood what Yu Changsi meant.

Yongliang and Changsui are separated by two prefectures: Guliang Prefecture to the south and Pingyou Prefecture to the north.

Between Wen and Zhao, whoever occupies these two counties will gain absolute strategic initiative and be able to bring their troops directly to the other side's doorstep.

But Wen Hu had his concerns, saying, "The great battle has just ended, and most of the soldiers are far from home. It's already difficult enough to mobilize them to hold their ground. Now, organizing them to attack is another matter entirely. Even if they do manage to mobilize, their fighting strength is questionable."

Yu Changsi said, "That depends on the pretext under which the soldiers are fighting this battle."

Seeing that Yu Changsi was confident, Wen Hu quickly asked, "Please enlighten me, sir."

"Go find the emperor."

Yu Changsi reached out and caught a falling leaf, saying, "Let the emperor personally accuse Zhao Huan of treason. He only escaped Changsui under the protection of the Prime Minister and you. For the sake of the Great Jing's country and the soldiers' ability to return to their families, we must defeat Zhao Huan in one fell swoop and never let him become too powerful."

Wen Hu thought for a moment and said, "Yuan Xiu is very cunning; he probably won't agree."

Yu Changsi said, "I've thought of a solution. As for how to do it, that's up to you, Lord Marquis."

Wen Hu looked at Wen Tai, who nodded slightly.

"Uncle and sir, rest assured, I will certainly handle this matter properly."

Wen Hu's brows furrowed, and his hand involuntarily rested on the hilt of his sword, a hint of murderous intent emanating from him.