......
It was a deep night, and in the study of Prince Jin's Mansion in Jinyang City, candles were brightly lit and the atmosphere was solemn.
Xiao Lie sat in the main seat with an expressionless face.
Sitting below were several captains from Hedong and the military officer who had returned from the secret envoy from Beidi.
"General!" The soldier lowered his voice, unable to conceal his excitement. "The Northern Di Zuoxian King is sincere! Three thousand war horses and fifty thousand kilograms of fine iron are what our army urgently needs right now!"
"He also promised that if our army were to engage the bandit Li in a decisive battle someday, his cavalry would provide support from the flanks. All he asked was that our army give him some convenience in the border towns while he marched south..."
"Besides, they also promised that after the success, Hebei and Shandong will all belong to us!"
A bearded general frowned upon hearing this: "General, cooperating with the Tartars is like trying to get the skin of a tiger!"
"If this matter gets out, our name 'Jingnan' will become a laughing stock in an instant! The soldiers in the army, especially those former subordinates of the Prince of Jin, may suffer misfortune!"
Another scholar with a sinister expression said, "Unusual times call for extraordinary measures. Li Jingang is powerful, occupying the capital and commanding all directions."
"Although we support Your Majesty, we are trapped in a corner of Jinyang and lack money, food, troops and horses."
"Without external aid, we will ultimately be doomed. The Tartars seek only wealth and land. It would be a good idea to temporarily borrow their strength to defeat this formidable enemy. Once our army is strong, we can make further plans."
The military officer quickly agreed, "That's right! And the Left Wise King promised to keep the alliance a secret and to never let the general's reputation be damaged."
Xiao Lie was silent for a long time, the candlelight casting varying shadows on his resolute face.
He finally spoke, his voice low and steady: "The Northern Di have wicked ambitions, and we must be on guard against them. However, their financial support can indeed alleviate my urgent needs."
He glanced at the crowd, "This matter is top secret. All who participate must swear a blood oath. War horses and ironware, all of them, will be taken. As for convenience... hmph, we'll see how the situation develops."
"Pass the order down. Strengthen the 'guards' around His Majesty and the Crown Prince's residence. No one is allowed to enter or leave without my warrant. Especially the Crown Prince, who seems a little restless lately."
"Yes!" Everyone responded in awe.
After everyone left, Xiao Lie stayed alone and asked, "What progress have been made on the whereabouts of Prince Jin and Xiao Cheyun?"
"Reply General, no!"
"That's good!" Xiao Lie nodded, "But we can't relax. We have to make sure they are dead."
While Xiao Lie was busy planning and trying to use external forces to consolidate his power, a hidden undercurrent had quietly spread in Jinyang City.
The next day, several veterans who were originally loyal to King Jin gathered at a restaurant. After three rounds of drinks, one of them lowered his voice and said:
"Have you heard? There seem to be Tartar spies in the city recently."
Another person scoffed, "Tartar spies? They appear every year, nothing surprising."
"No," the man said solemnly, "I heard... someone saw that Tartar spy, and it seems he had contact with a soldier from General Xiao's mansion..."
The table suddenly fell silent, and everyone looked at each other with surprise and doubt in their eyes.
"Are you serious? Do you have any proof?"
"There's no smoke without fire. But... if this is true..." The person who spoke didn't continue, but his worry was evident in his words.
Similar conversations among some officials and generals in Jinyang City who were dissatisfied with Xiao Lie's autocracy or still loyal to the Yin family were like a stone thrown into a quiet lake, causing ripples.
Although the rumor was vague, it accurately touched the sensitive strings in the hearts of many people.
And among the people in the market, another rumor began to spread.
"Have you heard? General Xiao is planning to borrow the Di people's troops to fight Li Jingang!"
"No way? Isn't this inviting a wolf into the house?"
"Who knows? However, my relatives in my hometown of Hebei sent me a message saying that people in Jinyang are saying that they want to 'hold the emperor hostage to control the princes' and even want to rely on the Tartars to fight for the world..."
Rumors are like the wind, penetrating every pore.
Although it did not cause a major uproar, it had already caused many people to have doubts and cast a question mark on Xiao Lie's motives and loyalty.
The storm is coming!
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