However, before Zhao Bingzhang could submit his memorial to the capital, another urgent imperial edict arrived from the capital.
The imperial edict ordered the Dongning army to arrive at Liaodong City within fifteen days, or face military punishment!
In addition, Dongning was strictly ordered to hand over the methods for making muskets and cannons within five days.
This imperial edict was strongly worded and also specified a corresponding timeframe.
This surprised Li Xin, Zhao Bingzhang, and the others.
"hehe!"
Li Xin couldn't help but sneer repeatedly, throwing the imperial edict in his hand onto the table and coldly saying, "The capital has come up with so many excuses, such as the grassland bandits invading and the military situation being urgent. How come I didn't know about that?"
We sent out so many scouts on the grasslands, but we didn't find any unusual activity from the grassland bandits. On the contrary, the capital kept urging us to hurry up.
What are they trying to do?
They just want to weaken Dongning's strength so they can attack us!
They want to weaken the power of the feudal lords?
hehe! "
A cold glint flashed in Li Xin's eyes, and he couldn't help but think of Zhu Yunwen's suppression of the princes in history.
Forced into a corner, Zhu Di rose up in rebellion and finally succeeded in the Jingnan Campaign.
Is Li Ming trying to emulate Zhu Yunwen now?
"Cutting the feudal clan?"
Zhao Bingzhang was stunned for a moment, then said, "Li Ming's plan is so well-thought-out, but I don't know if he has the ability to back it up."
For us, we should be of one mind with the regional vassal kings.
As the saying goes, "If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold."
Today, if we reduce the territory of Dongning, tomorrow we can reduce the territories of Liaodong, Prince Qing, Prince Su, and Prince Shu!
Today, Dongning surrendered without resistance, but they will surely cut us a few more times in the future!
Your Highness, we can no longer tolerate this!
Make up your mind!
Although Dongning is relatively weak, we can still put up a fight against Li Ming!
In particular, we can use the policy of weakening the power of the feudal lords to our advantage and make contact with other feudal lords!
"Uh-huh!"
Li Xin nodded and said, "Mr. Zhao, you will be in charge of contacting the other vassal kings."
well!
"The Liao King is gone. If he were here, he probably wouldn't have stood by and watched Dongning be so oppressed!"
"I'll contact Prince Qing and Prince Su first,"
Zhao Bingzhang nodded and said, "As for the Prince of Shu, he and Li Ming are siblings, I wonder what choice he will make."
The forces of other kings like the King of Qin and the King of Jin are few and far between, and it would be difficult to persuade them.
"Your Highness, I'll try them all!"
"We need to hurry!"
Li Xin gave his instructions.
Li Xin also responded to the imperial edict from the capital, which demanded that the methods for manufacturing firearms and cannons be handed over within seven days.
In his memorial, Li Xin stated that the technology of firearms and cannons was complex and could not be developed in a short time, thus making excuses for not submitting the manufacturing methods.
However, the capital city responded quickly.
The reply was strongly worded, directly stating that Dongning City disregarded the imperial court and the law, and questioned where the imperial court and the emperor were placed.
They were practically saying outright that Dongning City was planning a rebellion!
Li Xin was helpless in the face of this situation.
He knew in his heart that a break with the capital was inevitable!
During this time, Li Xi also instructed the Embroidered Uniform Guard to draft some documents.
These articles were also sent to the Jiangnan Newspaper Office for printing.
On September 26, the supplement of the Jiangnan Daily published the full text of the interrogation of the pirate prisoners in Dongning City.
A total of sixteen high-ranking prisoners were captured, including a large number of people such as the Vice Admiral of the Jiangnan Navy, the Captain of the Jiangnan Navy, and the Captain of the Qiantang Navy.
In addition to the confessions of sixteen naval prisoners, the names and naval ranks of more than a thousand prisoners were also published below.
On the front page, there was also an article that vehemently criticized the imperial court for condoning the navy's premeditated attacks on Dongning merchant ships by disguising themselves as pirates.
Such an article is like pouring a basin of water into a pot of boiling oil; it boils instantly.
The supplement to the Jiangnan Daily had a huge circulation, not only in Jiangnan, but also in Qiantang, Huaibei, Lingnan, Minyue, Huguang, Shuzhong, Guanzhong, Heluo, Daiyue, Hedong, Zhili, Shuofang, Yunzhong, and even the capital.
The massive sales volume instantly caused a huge uproar throughout the entire country.
For a time, people in the streets and alleys were talking about this matter.
"Hehe! I knew it! There were rumors that the Jiangnan navy had suffered heavy losses, and I didn't expect it to be true!"
"Yes, what is the imperial navy doing? They're actually disguising themselves as pirates and targeting Dongning merchant ships?"
"Don't you understand what I'm doing? You're just jealous of Dongning! Having a treasure is a crime!"
"I reckon the one upstairs wants to get rid of Prince Xin!"
...
The discussions were so heated that they naturally reached the imperial court.
Some upright officials, and even some officials who had benefited from the trade in Dongning, submitted memorials to His Majesty, requesting him to investigate the matter and catch the mastermind behind it.
Furthermore, I request Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Jiangnan and Qiantang naval forces.
For a time, officials in the court attacked each other, and Li Ming, Song Xianze and others' original open scheme to reduce Dongning was invisibly restrained by these events.
"It's numb!"
Holding the Jiangnan Daily in his hand, Li Ming's face turned ashen with anger. "Didn't they say there were no survivors from the Jiangnan Navy?"
How come so many people have been captured?
They even published it in the newspaper!
Song Xianze, you speak!
What do we do now?
Song Xianze was also somewhat flustered. He reached out and wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said with his head down, "Your Majesty, the only option now is to sternly refute this slanderous claim."
In addition, the Jiangnan Daily was banned in various regions.
Only in this way can we avoid being in such a passive position!
However, at this point, Song Xianze had completely forgotten the principle that "preventing people from speaking is more difficult than preventing a river from overflowing."
Li Ming nodded, a ruthless glint in his eyes, and said, "Banning them is too lenient!"
Arrest everyone at the Jiangnan Newspaper Office!
"Slandering the navy, defaming the court, and misleading the emperor!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Song Xianze quickly agreed.
However, before Song Xianze could leave the palace, a eunuch strode in carrying a stack of newspapers.
The eunuch, pale-faced, knelt before Li Ming and exclaimed, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
The Jiangnan Daily has published new content!
"New content?"
Li Ming gave a cold laugh and asked, "What did the Jiangnan Daily say this time?"
"I want to see what other trump cards they have up their sleeve!"
"Your Majesty, look!"
The eunuch handed the newspaper to Li Ming.
Li Ming reached out and took the newspaper, flipped to the front page, and his eyes widened instantly, unable to believe what he was seeing.
The front page of the newspaper prominently displayed the following:
Li Ming poisoned the former emperor and usurped the throne; multiple witnesses testify!
Upon seeing these contents, Li Ming was stunned. He casually flipped to other pages of the newspaper, and the contents there made his blood boil and his face turn gloomy!
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