Upon hearing the officials mention the Su family army, Xuan Yuanzhi's expression instantly changed.
The Su family army has always been a source of worry for him!
He feared both that the Su family army was Xuan Yuan Yu's backing and that in the end, the Su family army would fall into Xuan Yuan Zhan's hands.
After all, both Consort Su and Princess Xuanyuan Zhan are from the Su family. Who knows what secrets the Su family might have that allow them to control the Su family army?
Whether the Su family army falls into the hands of Xuan Yuan Yu or Xuan Yuan Zhan, it is not what he wants to see.
However, now that they've mentioned the Su family army, he wants to see if Xuan Yuan Yu can actually control it.
Or perhaps the Holy Princess Su Xuening has no way to control the Su family army!
Xuanyuan Yu's expression darkened when he saw them discussing the Su family army: "Stop talking! The Su family army has been idle for many years and hasn't sent out any troops in a long time. Moreover, the Su family army is currently leaderless. I'm afraid that even if they go to the North, they may not be able to help the Holy King repel the Northern Rong!"
"But……"
The officials wanted to say something more, but Xuanyuan Yu was no longer willing to listen: "There's no 'but' about it! In addition to the 150,000 Zhenbei Army, the North also has 100,000 reserve troops from the capital, which is more than enough to repel the Northern Rong army. We don't need to worry about it!"
The officials frowned and looked at each other in bewilderment.
Of course, if things are normal in the north, then there is indeed no need to worry too much. Not to mention the additional 100,000 reserve troops from the capital, even if there were only 150,000 Zhenbei troops, they should be able to repel the Northern Rong.
But isn't the north currently suffering from drought and famine? There's a shortage of both water and food. If the Northern Rong take advantage of the chaos to invade again at this time, the situation will become extremely bad!
However, the Holy King is currently in the North, and he is the strongest contender for the throne from the Second Prince and the Third Prince. It is normal that they are unwilling to send troops to help the Holy King.
However, the invasion of the Northern Rong is not only a matter of concern for the Holy King, but also for the people of the North and the entire territory of Eastern Chu. For the Second Prince and the Third Prince to disregard the lives of the people of the North and the fate of Eastern Chu for the sake of power struggle is going too far.
However, now that the Emperor has assigned the Second Prince and the Third Prince to manage the affairs of the Eastern Chu court, even if they have some objections, they dare not voice them.
Of course, it's pointless to bring it up.
No officials in the court spoke up for Xuanyuan Zhan and the Northern Lands anymore, and the Northern Lands soldier kneeling to deliver the message felt increasingly helpless.
Xuanyuan Yu suddenly looked at the northern soldier and asked, "His Majesty sent the Holy King to the north to suppress bandits. How is the banditry in the north now?"
Upon hearing Xuan Yuan Yu's question, Xuan Yuan Zhi instantly understood what he was about to do, and a subtle, wicked smile appeared on his lips.
He was naturally happy to watch the show as Xuan Yuan Yu went after Xuan Yuan Zhan.
If we can get rid of Xuanyuan Zhan without getting our hands dirty, wouldn't that be wonderful!
The northern soldiers thought Xuan Yuan Yu was just asking a routine question, but they were also impressed by the Holy King's methods of suppressing bandits. They immediately began to praise him endlessly: "The Holy King has only been in the North for a day, and he has wiped out all the bandits in four villages inside and outside the North. Now all the bandits in these four villages have been recruited by the Holy King. The Holy King has even established the Northern City Army and had those soldiers help with disaster relief and digging canals!"
The northern soldier's words once again sparked heated discussions among court officials.
"They actually managed to wipe out all the bandits in the north in just one day?"
"I've heard that there are countless bandits in the North! How did the Holy King manage to subdue all of them in just one day?"
"The Holy King has recruited all the bandits, why didn't he report this to the imperial court!"
"Yes, failing to report it means hoarding a private army, which is a serious crime!"
"The Holy King wouldn't have failed to report it, would he? He probably already did, we just didn't know it..."
No sooner had the official spoken than Xuan Yuan Yu slammed his hand on his chair and roared, "That damned Xuan Yuan Zhan! He's actually recruiting bandits and building up a private army! He's plotting a rebellion!"
The northern soldiers suddenly raised their heads, clearly taken aback by Xuan Yuan Yu's words.
The officials were also startled by Xuanyuan Yu's angry shout.
Previously, an official from the Holy King's faction couldn't help but stand up and say, "Your Highness, the Holy King's mission to the North is to provide disaster relief and suppress bandits. If there are many bandits in the North, then offering amnesty is an inevitable means. The Holy King would never dare to have the thought of building a private army or plotting rebellion. Please, Your Highness, investigate this carefully!"
The kneeling northern soldier dared not speak, only nodding repeatedly.
Yes, yes, yes, the prince is devoted to the people and the north. All his thoughts are on how to provide disaster relief, how to divert water, and how to repel the northern barbarians. How could he possibly have any thoughts of rebellion?
Xuanyuan Yu scoffed disdainfully, "Are you the Holy King? How do you know he wouldn't dare to have such thoughts!"
As Xuanyuan Yu spoke, he didn't give the official a chance to argue and directly summoned the Imperial Guards: "As a henchman of the Holy King, Imperial Censor Zhang's rebellious intentions are obvious. Take him out and behead him!"
At Xuanyuan Yu's command, several Imperial Guards dragged the official away.
The official immediately shouted, "Your Majesty, you are innocent! I am innocent!"
The sound reached outside, but stopped abruptly after a short while.
This act of making an example of someone to warn others startled all the officials in the hall, making them feel insecure.
No one dared to say a word, no one dared to plead for that Imperial Censor Zhang, and no one dared to speak up for the Holy King!
Nowadays, it seems that the Third Prince alone makes all the decisions in the Eastern Chu court.
Since the Second Prince and the Third Prince started managing the government together, the Second Prince has always argued with the Third Prince over everything, and the Eastern Chu court was once thrown into chaos by them.
But no one knows when it started, the Second Prince began to speak less and less in court, and the Third Prince had the final say on most matters, big and small.
It is said that the Emperor issued an order that if the Second Prince and the Third Prince quarrel again, the Second Prince shall listen to the Third Prince.
Ultimately, the Emperor valued the Third Prince more, since he was the son he had raised as Crown Prince for so long, so naturally he loved him more.
Having killed the Imperial Censor Zhang, Xuan Yuan Yu felt extremely pleased and shouted again, "Guards, convey my decree: The Holy King has been secretly recruiting bandits in the North and building up a private army, intending to rebel. Search the Holy King's residence and arrest the Holy King's Dowager and Holy King's Consort!"
"Yes." The Imperial Guards responded and immediately hurried off to the Holy King's Palace.
Xuan Yuanzhi glanced at Xuan Yuanyu but didn't say anything.
When he burned Xuan Yuanzhan's memorials, he knew that Xuan Yuanzhan was going to take action against the Holy King's Mansion.
That's good too. He doesn't have to do anything himself. Xuan Yuan Yu does everything he wants to do. This is something that Xuan Yuan Yu hates. He just needs to sit back and reap the benefits!
Everyone in the Eastern Chu court was terrified and the court was unusually quiet.
All the officials in the court understood that this was the calm before the storm!
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