Shuozhou, next to the Zhenbei General's Mansion, is the villa where Prince Yinji of Jin lives.
The flickering candlelight illuminated his confused face.
Just now, he secretly met with a trusted secret envoy sent by Xiao Lie, a close confidant of Prince Jin stationed in Xinzhou.
The news brought by the secret envoy was like a hammer, almost knocking him unconscious:
The 50,000-strong army of the King of Jin and the 60,000 troops of the three Jiedushi of Henan, Huainan and Shandong were indeed defeated by the river flood.
The whereabouts of King Jin are unknown, and his life or death is uncertain.
Li Jingang not only seized the capital and ascended the throne to proclaim himself emperor, he also issued an arrest warrant, vowing to eradicate the Yin family's bloodline.
General Xiao Lie hurried to Jinyang to gather some of the defeated soldiers and begged the prince to return quickly, take charge of the overall situation in the name of the Prince of Jin, unite his old subordinates, and fight against the rebels together.
Yin Ji's heart was overwhelmed and blood rushed to his head when he heard this.
With national hatred and family feuds intertwined, he wished he could fly back to Jinyang and take up his father's banner.
But reason told him that this matter must be discussed with Zhao Muyun.
Just when he was in a state of confusion and was about to go and ask to see Zhao Muyun, Han Zhong's voice came from outside the courtyard.
"Your Highness, the General has requested an important matter."
Yin Ji was startled and thought it was a coincidence. What Zhao Muyun told him must be about the defeat of Prince Jin.
He hurriedly straightened his clothes and followed Han Zhong towards Zhao Muyun's study.
In the study, the fire was still burning, and Zhao Muyun, Fan Nan, Wang Tiezhu and others were discussing matters.
As soon as Yinji entered the room, he could no longer suppress his grief and rushed to Zhao Muyun. His knees gave way and he fell to the ground, crying, "Master! Please, Master, save me! Save Dayin!"
A subtle light flashed in Zhao Muyun's eyes. He quickly stood up and helped the man up with his own hands, sighing:
"Prince, please get up quickly. It seems that you already know what's happening in the capital."
He spoke sincerely and helped Yinji sit down on the chair.
Yin Ji burst into tears and told the secret envoy Xiao Lie everything he had said. Finally, he said, "I already know that the traitor Li Jingang wants to arrest my father and son and kill the entire Yin family bloodline. This feud is irreconcilable!"
"Master, General Xiao wants me to rush back to Jinyang, gather my father's old subordinates, and defeat the rebels."
"Disciple...disciple wishes to go, but I know I am alone and powerless. I have come to ask Master for guidance and to lend me a helping hand!"
He spoke sincerely, did not hide the matter of Xiao Lie, and revealed his dependence on Zhao Muyun.
Zhao Muyun's face was solemn after hearing this. He did not immediately express his opinion, but instead asked, "What does your Highness want? How can I save you and help you?"
Yinji wiped away his tears and said anxiously, "Of course, I hope that Master can unite with his disciples to assist His Majesty. In His Majesty's name, we will announce to the world that we will jointly defeat the traitor Li Jingang!"
"With such a legitimate reason, we will surely be able to call upon and gather more loyal and righteous people!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Muyun exchanged meaningful glances with Fan Nan and Han Zhong.
He pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his voice and spoke righteously:
"What the Crown Prince said is exactly what I, Zhao, was thinking! In the past, I swore an alliance with His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin. My Northern Zhen Army would be responsible for defending the northern border and resisting the Tartars, while the Prince of Jin would be responsible for suppressing Li Jingang's rebels and supporting the country!"
"Now that His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin has unfortunately been defeated and his whereabouts are unknown, how can I, Zhao Muyun, sit idly by and watch?"
"Both for public and private reasons, I must step forward and join hands with loyal and righteous men like General Xiao to continue the cause of suppressing the rebellion!"
Seeing Zhao Muyun's resolute attitude, Yinji felt relieved and said excitedly:
"Master, with your words, I feel at ease! Then we will immediately unite with General Xiao and honor His Majesty..."
"Prince!"
Zhao Muyun interrupted him, his voice lowered. "Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. He first knelt before the Tartars, ceded Yanyun, and sold out his country for personal gain."
"Later, he abandoned the capital and fled, leaving the ancestral temples in ruins and the people suffering. Such a monarch has long since lost his prestige and the support of the people."
"If we continue to serve him as our leader, I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince the people, and it will only make the loyal and righteous people in the world feel disheartened!"
Yinji was stunned: "Then... what does Master mean?"
Zhao Muyun looked at him with burning eyes:
"A country cannot be without a leader for even a day, and especially in times of crisis like this, it needs a leader who can rally the people and inspire morale."
"Your Highness, you are the legitimate son of the King of Jin, a legitimate member of the royal family, and you are well-known among the people for your virtue."
"At this critical moment when Dayin is facing its own demise, I, Zhao, boldly propose that the Crown Prince, with the dignity of the Prince of Jin, take a step further and establish himself as king, carrying the banner of defeating the rebellion and restoring the country!"
"I, Zhao Muyun, and all the soldiers of the Zhenbei General's Mansion, are willing to swear allegiance until death and serve at the prince's command!"
"Declaring yourself king?" Yinji was horrified and waved his hands repeatedly, "No! Absolutely not! This is an act of usurpation. How can I, your disciple, do this..."
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
Fan Nan spoke at the right time, speaking with great sincerity, "This is a temporary measure. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!"
"Li Jingang is a usurper, Your Majesty has lost his virtue, and the world is in turmoil. Your Highness has stepped forward, not for personal gain, but for the country and the people of the world!"
"Only someone of Your Highness's stature can legitimately rally the people and fight against the rebels!"
Han Zhong also said in a gruff voice, "Sir, the General and Mr. Fan are right! We can't be so particular about rules these days! With a prince who can carry the banner, the brothers will have something to strive for when they fight!"
Under the repeated persuasion of Zhao Muyun, Fan Nan and Han Zhong, Yin Ji's face changed and he experienced a fierce struggle in his heart.
Finally, he seemed convinced, but he put forward a condition: "Master, everyone, if... if you want me to take on this important task, I still have one favor to ask of you."
"Sir, please speak."
Yinji raised his head, his eyes becoming more determined:
"Master, please marry my sister Yin Yao as soon as possible! By marrying into my family, we will become one family. Only then can I be at ease and work with Master on our great cause!"
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