Chapter 94
It was already the next day when Zhang Tang reported the case to Emperor Wu Che. Upon hearing the reason behind the Wusun princess' assassination attempt, Emperor Wu Che remained expressionless, as gloomy as ever. He said calmly, "Deal with it."
The meaning of these four words is very clear: all those involved in the assassination, regardless of their identities, will be killed without exception.
"Yes," Zhang Tang agreed, then tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, what about the Wusun envoys..."
Liu Che frowned slightly.
The assassination attempt was orchestrated by the Wusun Princess and the Second Prince. The delegation had no real intentions against the Han. In fact, the Wusun people, from top to bottom, were generally more pro-Han. An alliance with the Han was more in the Wusun's best interests. Unfortunately, they were tricked by the Second Prince and the Second Princess.
Liu Ju was a little shocked by this.
But that wasn't what Liu Che was thinking about. Considering his actions, including the assassination attempt in front of the palace and the injury to the Han prince, regardless of whether he knew about it or was implicated, they were all Wusun people, so what if they were all killed?
However, no matter how many mistakes the Wusun princess made, she did not say one thing wrong, which was equivalent to pushing Wusun completely towards the Xiongnu.
Liu Che drummed his fingers on the table, thinking.
Liu Ju glanced at him. Father and son had a tacit understanding, so he naturally understood what the other was thinking. He said, "Our dynasty's national strength is growing, and our military is stronger than it was a few years ago. In terms of military strength, we wouldn't be afraid of the Wusun. But the Xiongnu are nearby. Until they are destroyed, we can't attack the Wusun alone."
Because if war were to begin, the Xiongnu would inevitably intervene. The Xiongnu would not tolerate the Han conquering Wusun. Once the Han occupied Wusun, they could use this strategic location to target the Xiongnu's throat. How could the Xiongnu allow such a situation?
Therefore, declaring war on Wusun was equivalent to declaring war on both Wusun and Xiongnu.
Now, with September still unfinished and Huo Qubing's life in jeopardy, Liu Ju didn't want to act rashly. Furthermore, the Lishan workshop had made further progress, having overcome initial difficulties. The release of gunpowder was imminent, and perhaps not for long.
"One more thing..." Liu Ju sighed. "The Wusun are a long way off. Even if we conquer them, given our current situation, it would be difficult to effectively manage them, let alone send a large garrison. Especially since Zhang Qian and my second sister are still in the Western Regions, and trade between the Han and the Western Regions is just beginning to pick up."
If they made enemies with the Wusun and pushed them towards the Xiongnu, under the instructions and control of the Xiongnu, there was no guarantee that the Wusun would not prevent the delegation from returning to the Han Dynasty, and they might capture or kill them. It would also disrupt the Han Dynasty's trade and cut off the trade routes between the Han Dynasty and the Western Regions.
Liu Che nodded and said, "In this case, the trade routes to the Western Regions that you have worked so hard for years to open up will be severely damaged, and your trade plans will be forced to be shelved."
As far as national interests are concerned, the most appropriate and optimal situation at the moment is for Wusun to survive and side with them.
Both father and son knew this very well.
As an emperor, the interests of his country and family naturally come first. Liu Che suppressed his anger and said, "Check to see if there are any relatives of the second prince and second princess in the Wusun delegation. Those who are slightly suspicious will be kept, and those who are completely clear will be released."
There is no need for Liu Che to explain in detail how this "staying" was achieved.
"However..." A cold light flashed in Liu Che's eyes, "Tell the envoys that our Han Dynasty is magnanimous and willing to give them a chance. It depends on whether they can seize this opportunity."
Even if the envoys were released, it didn't mean the matter would be put to rest. The Han Dynasty had left this issue to the Wusun, and it remained to be seen how the Wusun would handle it and how they would demonstrate their sincerity in the alliance negotiations.
With such a good bargaining chip in his hand, Liu Che naturally wanted to make the most of it and gain the greatest benefits for the Han Dynasty.
After the delegation handed down the instructions, the assassination attempt basically came to an end.
The envoys from various countries who were under house arrest in the International Congress Hall were all checked and only after it was confirmed that there were no problems did the door of the International Congress Hall open again and they were restored to freedom.
After such a commotion, everyone lost interest in staying in Chang'an and set off to return home one after another. However, before returning home, they all expressed their attitudes appropriately, purchased a large amount of supplies, and determined the preliminary trade decision.
Generally speaking, the Han Dynasty benefited greatly from the visit of the 13-nation delegation.
By the time the delegation had all left, it was already May, and everyone turned their attention back to their own court, keenly noticing that something was different. For example, Emperor Wu of Han's attitude towards Liu Hong.
In the past, Liu Che had treated Liu Hong well, but only well. Now that Liu Hong was seriously injured while rescuing the emperor, Liu Che would visit him in Lanlin Palace almost every day, talking to him and sending all kinds of rare rewards to Lanlin Palace from time to time.
Liu Hong was also very smart. He took this opportunity to ask Liu Che for a token and obtained permission to enter and leave the palace freely.
The emperor's attitude determines everyone's attitude.
Liu Hong's status rose with the tide, and as a result, not only did the people in the harem become more respectful to him, but even the royal family and the court looked up to him a little bit. There was an endless stream of people who came to greet him and give him gifts under the pretext of visiting his injuries and illness.
East Palace.
Liu Ju was half leaning on a recliner, leisurely chewing a peach. After chewing one, he would throw the peach pit into a nearby trash can like a basketball shot. When it hit the trash can, he would pick up another one and continue chewing.
Wei Buyi glanced at him twice and couldn't help but say, "Now everyone in and outside the palace is saying that Your Majesty treats the Second Prince differently, almost as well as the Crown Prince, yet you're not in a hurry at all."
"Catching up with me quickly means you're still below me. What's the rush?"
Wei Buyi was speechless. He was indeed still under Liu Ju's control now, but who knew what would happen in the future? He couldn't just keep a tiger in his care and watch it grow stronger.
Liu Ju curled his lips, but did not answer Wei Buyi. Instead, he looked at Huo Guang and asked, "Is there any movement from Zhao Gouyi?"
Huo Guang nodded. "Yes. Zhao Gouyi had already met Zhao Fan by chance. Zhao Fan knew she was the Second Prince's woman and treated her with great courtesy. When the Second Prince heard about their relationship, he simply went along with it. Yesterday, Zhao Gouyi entered the hostage house and became Zhao Fan's concubine."
Wei Buyi looked slightly surprised. From what he heard, it seemed that Liu Ju was behind this matter. Perhaps the initial "chance encounter" between the two was also deliberately arranged by Liu Ju.
Liu Ju did not shy away from this and directly stated, "It was indeed me. Zhao Gouyi is an ambitious person. But a woman's youth is short. There is nothing wrong with her following Liu Hong, but in the end she is just a slave. This is not what she wants."
"By the time Liu Hong grows up, she will have already passed her prime. Who can say for sure whether she will be able to gain his sympathy then? I simply asked the people who infiltrated the village to say a few words to her.
"It would be a shame for such a young and beautiful woman to waste her life like this. If there is a good candidate who can help her master and gain a status and security for herself, why not?"
Wei Buyi immediately understood: "The Second Prince wants to form an alliance with Zhao Fan, so they must communicate with each other. However, he cannot come in person, and frequent contact with Zhao Fan will naturally require him to seek other ways.
"It's fine to have confidants communicate privately, but if others find out, suspicion will inevitably arise. Zhao Gouyi is his, and she saved his life. If she becomes Zhao Fan's concubine, it's only natural for her to communicate with both sides under the guise of gratitude.
"Sometimes, it's more convenient to move things from the shadows to the open, to be open and aboveboard, and it will arouse less suspicion. If you act stealthily, no matter what the purpose is, the stealth itself will lead to a lot of speculation.
"So Zhao Gouyi's move was exactly what the Second Prince wanted, and even exceeded his expectations. Not only did he have a channel to connect and make connections, but he could also use this opportunity to legitimately place someone next to Zhao Fan to help him keep an eye on him. So, all the prince had to do was provide the lead, and Zhao Gouyi would do the rest on his own, and the Second Prince would be happy to oblige."
Huo Guang smiled. "The Second Prince said that he accidentally saved Zhao Gouyi, and that Zhao Gouyi had stayed at his manor for so long, so it was a fate. He asked Jiang Qi to recognize Zhao Gouyi as his adopted sister, deliberately elevating Zhao Gouyi's status, giving her a large dowry, and even adding two maids to serve her."
Wei Buyi said doubtfully: As expected.
Liu Ju sneered: "He is quite a good person."
Wei Buyi suddenly raised his eyes and said, "There's one thing I still don't understand. Why did Your Highness add fuel to the fire and encourage the Second Prince to form an alliance with Zhao Fan?"
"Of course I have my reasons." Liu Ju's expression flickered. He didn't elaborate, but looked at Huo Guang again and asked, "Any other news from my second brother? I heard Jiang Qi asked for leave?"
"Yes. Jiang Qi asked for leave, saying he was returning home to deal with the family estate and various clan matters following the death of a relative. There's nothing wrong with this title, but he went to Lanlin Palace two days before and again after his leave. I sent someone to follow him and discovered that he had indeed left Chang'an, but he wasn't heading towards Zhao. He was heading south."
Jiang Qi's ancestral home is Zhao, which is east of Chang'an. He should go east and not south.
Liu Ju frowned. "That is to say, his request for leave was instigated by my second brother, and returning home was just an excuse. What did my second brother ask him to do south?"
Huo Guang shook his head slightly. No one knew this.
Liu Ju said sternly, "Have someone continue to follow us. Be careful and don't lose us."
After he finished speaking, Liu Ju suddenly paused, as he thought of something.
Going south... Huainan is also in the south, could it be...
A light flashed in Liu Ju's eyes, then faded away in an instant. If this was true, then...
He suddenly had a premonition that Jiang Qi might give him a big surprise.
Liu Ju looked ahead and murmured, "Yan Sui should be back soon."
Speak of Cao Cao, and here comes Cao Cao. Perhaps it was because Liu Ju had been muttering this every day these days, but just as he finished speaking, he heard the maid come in to announce: Yan Sui has returned and is asking for an audience outside the palace.
Liu Ju was delighted: "Let him in quickly."
When Yan Sui entered the hall, Liu Ju didn't even wait for him to bow. He walked straight up to him and asked, "What are the results of the investigation?"
Although Yan Sui was exhausted from the journey, and his face showed obvious fatigue, he was still in good spirits, with a smile on his face: "I have lived up to your highness's expectations and made a great discovery."
He handed Liu Ju the results of his investigation, which filled several pages with images and text. Every page contained explosive news, completely confirming Liu Ju's suspicions.
Liu Ju's expression gradually became serious. Noticing his emotional fluctuations, Huo Guangwei approached him without hesitation, questioning him. Liu Ju didn't shy away from handing the investigation report to the two men, who flipped through it page by page, stunned.
Wei Buyi's eyes widened. "This... Zhao Fan is actually Liu Ling's son, and his biological father is... Is this true? Then how dare he come to Chang'an again?"
After saying this, Wei Buyi's expression changed drastically: "Does he want revenge, or does he want to inherit Liu Ling's legacy, or both?"
Huo Guang's face was heavy. "Tell me, does the Second Prince know this secret?"
At these words, Wei Buzhi's expression changed again. The difference between knowing and not knowing was enormous. If he didn't know, Liu Hong might simply have wanted to borrow the identity and manpower of the Prince of Nanyue. If he knew and still got involved with him, he was truly despicable.
Thinking of this, Wei Buyi suddenly had an idea and looked at Liu Ju: "Your Highness is fanning the flames and deliberately pushing Zhao Gouyi out. Is this to completely tie the Second Prince to Zhao Fan and take the opportunity to expose this relationship?"
Liu Hong was a prince, and the one that Emperor Liu Che trusted and loved the most. He had not done anything out of line yet, nor had he taken any obvious action against the crown prince.
Their suspicions, speculations, and fears cannot be expressed openly, let alone known by the emperor. However, if he gets involved with the remnants of the rebellion, the nature of the matter will be different.
Liu Ju took the investigation materials again and patted them gently, agreeing with Wei Buyi's statement. He said, "This matter is of great importance and must be reported to the emperor immediately."
Just as he was about to step out, Huo Guang stopped him: "Your Highness, of course you have to talk about Zhao Fan, but if my guess is correct, you will not only talk about Zhao Fan, but also about the Second Prince, right?"
Liu Ju nodded.
Huo Guang hesitated slightly. "Your Highness, the evidence against Zhao Fan is irrefutable; however, the evidence regarding the Second Prince's thoughts and intentions is insufficient. His interactions with Zhao Fan, whether a chance encounter on Liuli Street or a visit when he was seriously injured, were all normal and unobjectionable.
"The only connection I can mention is Zhao Gouyi. But Zhao Gouyi is a man who is obsessed with climbing the social ladder, and Your Majesty is well aware of this.
"Her affair with Zhao Fan could be said to be an accident, or it could be said to be Zhao Gouyi's intention. The Second Prince cannot be blamed. At least not yet. The Second Prince had just saved the Emperor, and His Majesty has great affection for him.
"Your Highness, it would be better to be cautious and only mention Zhao Fan. Second Prince, please wait a moment."
Liu Ju patted Huo Guang's shoulder and said, "I know what you're worried about. Bu Yi said before that everyone knows that my second brother enjoys great favor with the emperor, so why am I not anxious? Now I will answer you, because I don't need to be anxious."
He narrowed his eyes slightly, a smile on his lips: "Everyone knows that Liu Hong came to the rescue, and the emperor is very worried, but they don't know that he is still receiving treatment. When he was on the verge of life and death, the emperor was glad that the person injured was not me.
"Everyone knows that Liu Hong is deeply loved by the emperor. He visits him every day and rewards him constantly. But few people know that many times I took the initiative to drag the emperor to visit. And every time the emperor rewards Liu Hong, he always gives me an extra portion.
"What I get is never less than what Liu Hong gets, it's always more."
Huo Guangwei was stunned. Not to mention others, they didn't know this.
Liu Ju curled his lips. He knew that Liu Che was telling him that no matter how much he loved Liu Hong, he could not surpass him, the crown prince.
His hard work over the years has not been in vain. His father has always held him in the palm of his hand, loved him, trusted him, and always remembered to give the crown prince the sense of security he deserves.
"I once said that in the face of absolute strength, all conspiracies are paper tigers. Cousin Qubing likes this saying very much and believes in it very much. But I have another saying."
Liu Ju looked at Huo Guangwei without a doubt and continued, "In the face of absolute favoritism, all tricks are just paper tigers. I bet that even if there is no real evidence, even if there is only the slightest connection, as long as it is me who raises the question, the emperor will take it seriously."
Why? Because he was the one who was absolutely favored!
Liu Ju rolled up the documents, strode out and headed towards the Xuanzheng Hall.
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