"We beg Commander Long to send troops and kill Wen Hu!!!"

The ministers knelt down one after another, their shouts shaking the rooftops.

Zhao Cheng and Zhao Yan remained expressionless, while Zhao Zhan's lips curled into a smile.

Although Wen Tai released the news that Yuan Xiu had died of illness, he could not conceal the truth about the emperor's death.

After receiving the news from the Yiwen Flying Team, Zhao Cheng immediately released it.

How could we waste such an opportunity to nail Wen Hu to the pillar of shame?

Amidst the clamor of petitions, Xu Shouli stepped forward and said solemnly, "Commander Long, now that the Emperor has passed away, Wen Tai is impatiently supporting Prince Xin to succeed to the throne in Yongliang. His intention is clear: to prepare for launching an attack on Changsui. I agree with your suggestions to execute Wen Hu, but before that, the court must establish a new ruler."

Tie Ge also stepped forward and said, "That's right! Before, the emperor's fate was uncertain, and everyone hoped that he could return. Now that the emperor has passed away, we urge Commander Long to make a decision as soon as possible!"

Upon hearing this, more than a dozen ministers came out to urge him to ascend the throne.

On the military side, almost all of them stepped forward.

Seeing this, the other ministers looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

Zhao Huan asked suspiciously, "What do you mean by this?"

Standing in the front row of military officers, Bi Fansheng said, "A country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and an army cannot be without a commander for a day. Commander Long, if you can be a commander, you can be a ruler!"

"That's utter nonsense!!" Zhao Huan roared, "Although Wen Hu murdered the emperor, there's no problem with Wen Tai supporting Prince Xin. Prince Xin is His Majesty's younger brother, with genuine royal blood in his veins, so there's no problem with him becoming emperor. Although I don't recognize Wen Tai's support, I acknowledge Prince Xin's status."

Song Cheng, standing next to Bi Fansheng, said, "Commander Long, we must prioritize the overall situation!"

Park Gon also said, "This battle is of paramount importance. If there is no leader in the rear, how can the soldiers fight the enemy with peace of mind on the front lines?"

“Exactly!” Song Cheng nodded.

Seeing everyone urging him to go ahead, He Yin, who had spoken first, fell silent, but this time he did not object.

Zhao Huan shook his head, then sat down on the steps, smoothing his long hair which almost touched the ground. He turned to the officials and said, “You all think too simply. We already know about Wen Hu's regicide, so how could Wang Ren's soldiers not know? So what if Prince Xin ascended the throne? He forced him into this position; can he really control the army? By now, they've probably already mutinied. Our troops will march through as if they were in an empty field. Why would we worry about being without a leader in the rear?”

Bi Fansheng and his brothers exchanged glances.

I wondered what "elder brother" meant.

We all understand this principle, but your analysis is so thorough, is it a genuine push or a fake one?

"Urgent report—"

Just then, a guard rushed in.

Zhao Huan glanced at Jin Hu at the corner of the steps. Jin Hu quickly went over and took the letter from the guard.

"Read it." Zhao Huan tilted her head back and closed her eyes.

Jin Hu opened the letter, and before he even began to read it, a look of shock appeared on his face.

"Eunuch Jin, what is it?!" He Yin asked anxiously.

Jin Hu's hand trembled as he held the letter, and he said in a trembling voice, "The letter... After King Xin ascended the throne, he designated the six prefectures of Xinbei, Tianyong, Qinhuang, Yichuan, Pingyou, and Guliang as his own territory, established the state of Xijing, adopted the reign title Xinjie, and set the capital at... Yongliang!"

Wow!!!

The hall was immediately thrown into an uproar, and noise erupted once again.

Song Cheng cursed, "Wen Tai is shameless! Pingyou County and Guliang County aren't even his, yet he's including them in his territory?!"

Bi Fansheng snorted coldly and said, "I have never seen such a shameless person!"

Everyone was making a racket, and no one noticed that Zhao Zhan's smile had grown even wider.

OK!

If you've already established a separate state in the west, then it's unreasonable for Changsui not to establish a new ruler as well.

Zhao Cheng glanced at Zhao Huan, then slowly walked to the front of the officials, pressed his hands down, and said, "Gentlemen, please hear me out!"

The noise inside the hall gradually subsided.

“Wen Tai supported Yuan Li, clearly treating him as a puppet. The establishment of the state was naturally Wen Tai’s idea. Wen Tai did this in order to deal with the mutiny that my father mentioned.”

With that, Zhao Cheng turned around, knelt down before Zhao Huan, and said loudly, "Father, we should consider the bigger picture!"

Seeing that his elder brother had finally spoken, Zhao Zhan hurriedly ran over and knelt down beside Zhao Cheng, saying, "Father, Wen Tai's actions are intolerable. He is the one who split the Great Jing, and he is the one who will become a sinner for all time. Father, please don't hold back anymore!"

The Zhao brothers, without any attempt to avoid suspicion, urged him to ascend the throne, and the ministers all knelt down.

"Commander Long, please consider the bigger picture!!!"

This time, even the previously hesitant civil officials echoed the sentiment, and all the civil and military officials knelt down in the hall.

He Yin hesitated for a moment, but ultimately knelt down in silence.

Zhao Huan let out a long breath, slowly stood up, and walked down the steps.

"I am deeply moved by your trust in me, but..."

Zhao Huan clasped his hands in a respectful bow and continued, "I, Zhao Huan, have received the late Emperor's great favor and are highly regarded by His Majesty. How could I possibly become a traitor who steals the country?"

Xu Shouli said earnestly, "Commander Long, everyone has seen it all, you were forced into this situation!"

Tie Ge also said, "If it weren't for Commander Long, the entire Da Jing would belong to Wen Tai!"

*Smack! Smack!*

Zhao Huan pounded his chest loudly and said sternly, "But I can't forgive myself!"

"Commander Long!!"

"Listen to me," Zhao Huan said, spreading his arms wide. "Once a subject, always a subject—that's the rule I set for myself when I was an official. Even now that I have the ability and the opportunity to take that step, I absolutely cannot break it!"

"I agree with your idea of ​​establishing a new ruler, but it absolutely cannot be me!"

Unexpectedly, He Yin spoke first, saying, "His Majesty's only prince is also in Wen Tai's hands. Who else can we enthrone?"

Zhao Huan thought for a moment, then turned and pointed to the dragon throne, saying, "I want someone with the Yuan family blood flowing through their veins!"

The officials looked at each other in bewilderment. Yuan Xiu had finally managed to have a son, but where else could they find someone with the blood of the Yuan family?

Could we possibly look among Yuan Xiu's brothers?

"The Eldest Princess is young and promising, brave and resourceful. In her youth, she assisted His Majesty in overthrowing the Empress Dowager's faction and consolidating the court in the early days of His Majesty's personal rule. Although she is my daughter-in-law, I recommend virtuous people regardless of kinship. And it just so happens that she carries the purest Yuan family blood!" Zhao Huan suddenly said.

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials were dumbfounded.

Zhao Cheng and Zhao Zhan were also stunned.

For a moment, Tianze Palace fell silent.

This is the quietest moment in the hall today.

"No!"

Suddenly, a sharp sound pierced the air.

Everyone looked and saw that it was Li Shu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites!

Li Shulang declared loudly, "Since the founding of the Great Jing Dynasty, there has never been a rule that a woman could be emperor!"