Emperor Hui summoned the cabinet members and also called Leng Luo to the meeting.
Leng Luo reported: "My lords, I have received news that the Duke of Cheng'en has summoned more than twenty civil and military officials for a secret meeting at his residence. According to observations by the Imperial City Guard, Wei Anyuan may have already returned to the capital without permission!"
He read the list aloud, and Gu Shaoyu looked at the names on the slip of paper; they were exactly the same.
Grand Secretary Liu angrily said, "The border general has returned to the capital without an imperial edict. Is he planning a rebellion? Your Majesty, we must be on guard!"
Xie Anfeng: "My mother went to the Crown Prince's residence yesterday to perform the three-day-old ritual for the newborn grandson of the Emperor. It is said that the Crown Prince looks emaciated, and I fear that the Wei family is desperate and wants to force the emperor to abdicate."
Gu Shaoyu: "My lords, this matter may be even more serious than a coup. They may want to eliminate all the princes before forcing the emperor to abdicate! In that case, His Majesty will have no choice but to abdicate for the sake of the ancestral land."
To eliminate all princes and grandsons of the emperor except for the crown prince?
Emperor Hui was so angry that his hands trembled. "Duke Cheng'en, how dare he!"
“Of course he dares. Consort Wei has already given birth to the emperor’s grandson. As long as the crown prince ascends the throne and establishes Consort Wei’s son as the heir apparent, no matter how many days he reigns, without him, the young emperor will naturally take the throne.”
The young emperor was weak, and everything was controlled by the Wei clan.
These words were spoken by Grand Secretary Liu. He was a loyal minister, and although he was old, he only asked to remain loyal until the very end.
Gu Shaoyu's eyes were sharp as he said to Emperor Hui, "Put everything else aside and go and surround Wei Anyuan first."
If we can capture him, the Wei family's power will be greatly reduced.
After some planning, the emperor and his ministers set up a trap outside the Duke of Cheng'en's residence that very day, with the Imperial City Guard and the Palace Guard setting up an inescapable net to block Wei Anyuan.
Unfortunately, after discussing the matter, Wei Anyuan hurriedly left the capital through a secret passage overnight, leaving the Imperial City Guard and the Palace Guard empty-handed.
Emperor Hui remained silent for a long time; the summer heat made him feel a chill run through his body.
"Someone, convey the imperial decree to summon the generals of the three major camps in the capital to the city."
On that day, the number of guards at the Prince Qi's and Prince Jin's residences suddenly doubled, and the Imperial Guards patrolled the imperial city seamlessly for twelve hours a day. For a time, not even a rebellious mosquito could cause trouble in the princes' residences and the imperial city.
The Duke of Cheng'en's plans to kill and force the emperor to abdicate had to be put on hold.
But the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease; in the imperial court, Emperor Hui began a purge.
......
Aside from Dong Qin and Gu Shaoyu, Xie Zhaozhao did not tell Yin Jin'an about how she tricked Princess Roudan.
Yin Jin'an was to head north on July 16th to join Gu Chongjin and the others in preparation for war against the Thirty States.
Gu Chongjin has successfully taken over Da Mo Prefecture and Dong Ying Prefecture. Although these two prefectures are saline-alkali lands with sparse population, they still have six cities.
"Please send officials to manage the city as soon as possible. Although it is desolate, it has abundant resources."
In his letter, Gu Chongjin wrote, "Our occupation of Da Mo and Dong Ying has alarmed several western states, and a major war is inevitable."
Enclosed in the letter was a letter from Xie Jue: "Sister, we have captured six cities in Da Mo Prefecture and Dong Ying Prefecture, and we are invincible. Brother Gu said that the real battles are in other prefectures. Sister, we are ready, just wait for our good news."
Xie Zhaozhao clenched her fists involuntarily.
On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes; as long as there is fighting, death is very likely.
Xie Jue is her second uncle's only legitimate son, so she must ensure logistical support, with strong and well-equipped troops, excellent weapons, and ample provisions.
In early July, Li Yunmu returned from Nanhai City with a message.
"Xie Zhaozhao, the seeds you brought back from Xiandou have yielded a bumper harvest when planted in the wasteland. I have arranged for Lao Liang and Xie Jiuliang to continue transporting various supplies to Da Mo Zhou and Dong Ying Zhou."
Because Lao Liao's ship was a retired ship from the Prince Jing's Mansion, Yin Jin'an and Li Yunmu arranged for Lao Liao to continue doing business overseas.
Old Liang's two warships, along with two ships captured from the pirates, were responsible for transporting troops and supplies from Li Yunmu's South China Sea City roadhead to the north.
The plan to attack the north was always in the hands of Xie Zhaozhao, Yin Jin'an, and Li Yunmu.
The two general's mansions that Xie Zhaozhao bought were considered upper-class even in the prestigious Xicheng district, where powerful and wealthy people lived together.
Yin Jin'an submitted a memorial, which Gu Shaoyu approved, and His Majesty also approved it.
Wang Fen and Chu Zhongtian were overjoyed and moved into their new mansion with their families.
Gunpowder weapons are in the hands of Xie Zhaozhao, Yin Jin'an, and Chu Zhongtian. Yin Jin'an is going to risk his life in the thirty-six northern prefectures, while Xie Zhaozhao is determined to keep Chu Zhongtian and Wang Fen's family firmly under her control.
in case!
On July 12th, Chu Zhongtian and his sons quickly produced a batch of clay pot thunderbolts and cloud-piercing arrows. Yunyang, Wang Nan, and Wang Yi led a group of soldiers and headed north ahead.
On July 13th, Wang Fen, Yun Yuan, and others led their troops to Da Mo Prefecture separately.
On July 15th, Xie Zhaozhao invited Yin Jin'an to dinner at Chaoyang Pavilion to see him off.
“Yin Jin’an, we have more money than we could ever spend in several lifetimes. We will have to fight the north sooner or later. When you go there, use both kindness and force to make friends or subdue them. Your safety is the most important thing.”
Xie Zhaozhao was sincere; protecting herself was more important than anything else.
Yin Jin'an laughed and said, "What, Guanyin, are you worried about me? I don't know how to fight, I'll just hide in the rear, who could kill me? Besides, I have so much money, I wouldn't be willing to die!"
After talking for a while, Yin Jin'an saw Xu Li squatting on the ground outside counting ants and said, "Are you just going to keep him like this? Keeping him like this will only ruin him! If you want to be good to him, give him a chance to succeed on his own."
What are your thoughts?
"The chubby boy is extremely loyal and stubborn. He may not be good at fighting, but he can be a messenger or deliver messages to the capital."
Xie Zhaozhao had someone call Xu Li in.
Xu Li obediently entered and respectfully asked, "What business does Madam have with this servant?"
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