Imperial city.
Yun Li has received accurate information that the tribes in western Mo have withdrawn from Xing'an Fort.
Moreover, the tribes in Moxi were all retreating their defenses, apparently fearing that Yun Zheng would launch a counterattack against them.
This also indirectly confirmed that Yun Zheng had indeed conquered the Dayue Kingdom.
In addition, the people under his command who were collecting intelligence in Shuobei and disguised as merchants also confirmed this.
In fact, there is no need to spy on this news.
Now, the news that Yun Zheng has conquered the Dayue Kingdom is spreading throughout Shuobei.
Another thing that is certain is that the casualties of the Beifu Army and the Guiyi Army were definitely not as great as Yun Zheng reported.
However, his people only heard some fragmentary information about the battle and had no way to find out the exact number of casualties suffered by the Northern Army.
In the court, Emperor Wen, who had not attended court for a long time, attended court again.
...
...
Although the court meeting has not officially started yet, many people have already guessed the theme of today's meeting.
How to respond to Yun Zheng’s request!
This is what they have been thinking about these days.
Today, I'm afraid we have to come up with a response plan.
Emperor Wen sat there with a sad face, and seemed a little dazed.
Even when Lian Yunli announced the official start of the court meeting, Emperor Wen didn't even blink.
Yun Li looked at Emperor Wen with concern, and then he spoke slowly, "I have sent people to confirm that my sixth brother has indeed defeated the coalition forces of Dayue and the Western Desert tribes, and has taken all of Dayue's territory! You all know my sixth brother's battle report, and I believe you all understand what he meant! Tell me, how should the court respond now?"
Faced with the questions raised by Yun Li, all the ministers lowered their heads and remained silent.
This is a difficult question, and most people don't dare to ask it easily.
Xu Shifu hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke first: "The court still owes His Highness the Sixth Prince three million dan of the five million dan of grain that we used to exchange for potatoes. If it really doesn't work, we can find a way to make up the difference and give him the three million dan of grain to help the hungry people!"
Yun Li told him that Emperor Wen wanted to inspect the Northwest Protectorate.
He also agreed with Yun Li's idea.
Emperor Wen cannot be allowed to inspect the Northwest Protectorate.
If Emperor Wen was controlled by Yun Zheng, the situation would become even more unfavorable for them.
"I'm afraid this is inappropriate."
Tang Shu frowned and said, "Who is the Sixth Prince? Doesn't the Duke of Jingguo know? To the Sixth Prince, the three million dan of grain is his own! The court now wants to use his grain to help the hungry people in the Northwest Protectorate. Will he agree?"
"yes!"
Another official immediately agreed, "In my humble opinion, the fundamental issue is not whether the court will give food to His Highness the Sixth Prince, but whether His Highness is willing to go south!"
"Your Highness the Sixth Prince is just looking for an excuse to go south!"
"Even if this excuse doesn't work, he will find a new one soon!"
As the official spoke, many people nodded in agreement.
Yun Zheng now has all the power to overthrow the imperial court.
He just needed a suitable excuse.
"Xue Che, Xiao Wanchou!"
At this moment, Emperor Wen suddenly spoke.
"I am here!"
The two men hurried out.
Emperor Wen narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at the two men with a cold gaze: "Tell me honestly, if the court were to fall out with that rebellious son, what chance do you think the court would have of winning?"
Hearing Emperor Wen's words, many people's hearts skipped a beat.
Does His Majesty really want to go to war with the Sixth Prince?
This...what should I do?
In response to Emperor Wen's question, Xue Che and Xiao Wanchou looked at each other at the same time.
Xue Che was silent for a while, then slowly knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, I am old and unable to cope with a major war. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to retire and return home..."
Emperor Wen looked at Xue Che coldly, "Xue Che, I have treated you well. Now the court is in need of talents, but you only want to protect yourself. Is this how you repay me?"
There was a flash of anger in Emperor Wen's eyes, and his deep pupils were terrifyingly cold.
"I am guilty!"
Xue Che knelt on the ground and explained in panic: "I am not trying to protect myself, I am really..."
"You are indeed guilty! The crime of deceiving the king!"
Emperor Wen interrupted Xue Che coldly, then slowly closed his eyes, "Immediately announce that Xue Che has deceived the emperor and is guilty of an unforgivable crime! Effective immediately, he will be dismissed from his post and stripped of his title, thrown into the Heavenly Prison, and executed in the autumn!"
boom!
As Emperor Wen finished speaking, all the ministers were shocked.
Just because Xue Che wanted to protect himself, Emperor Wen wanted to execute Xue Che?
"Your Majesty!"
Xiao Wanchou knelt down with a bang, "General Xue is not trying to protect himself, he just doesn't want to see me get into a civil war! I, your Majesty, dare to show some mercy!"
As he said this, Xiao Wanchou kowtowed and begged.
"Please have mercy, Your Majesty!"
"Please have mercy, Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, please have mercy..."
With Xiao Wanchou taking the lead, many important officials followed suit and knelt down to beg for mercy.
"Please have mercy, Father!"
Lian Yunli even knelt down and pleaded for Xue Che.
For Yun Li, this was a good opportunity to win people's hearts, and he naturally couldn't miss it.
"Even you are pleading for this old man?"
Emperor Wen was furious, and looked at Yun Li with a cold face, "The court gave him a high position and generous salary, not to let him protect himself! If I don't kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, I'm afraid that all the civil and military officials in the court will follow this old man's example!"
“Father, General Xue has done this with great care.” Yun Li pleaded in a tearful voice, “Father, I beg you to spare General Xue’s life for his past achievements! I, your son, thank you!”
As he spoke, Yun Li began to kowtow.
That sound sounds painful.
"you……"
Emperor Wen looked at Yun Li with a grim face. After hesitating for a long time, he looked at Xue Che with a grim face: "Since the Crown Prince and the other ministers have pleaded for you, I will spare your life first! However, the death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be escaped! Come, throw Xue Che into the Sky Prison. No one except me and the Crown Prince is allowed to visit him!"
“Father…”
Yun Li raised his head and wanted to plead again.
"Shut up!"
Emperor Wen coldly interrupted Yun Li and looked at the ministers, "Whoever dares to plead for this old man again, I will throw him into the Heavenly Prison to keep him company with this old man!"
After hearing what Emperor Wen said, no one, including Yun Li, dared to plead for mercy anymore.
After the palace guards took away the soul-like Xue Che, Emperor Wen's cold eyes fell on Xiao Wanchou again, "Duke Yu, are you also planning to retire and return home?"
Xiao Wanchou's heart trembled, and he quickly shook his head: "I... don't dare."
"It'd be great!"
Emperor Wen gave Xiao Wanchou a warning look and asked, "What do you think the chances of victory are if the imperial court goes to war with Shuobei?"
Xiao Wanchou thought silently for a moment, and replied with an uneasy face: "Forgive me for speaking frankly, but the court is in a turbulent time right now. If the court goes to war with Shuobei at this time, the chances of winning are probably less than 30%..."
"Less than 30%?"
Emperor Wen muttered to himself, "It looks like I really have to inspect the Northwest Protectorate..."
Emperor Wen's voice was not loud.
But almost all the civil and military officials in the court heard it.
Instantly, except for a few people, all the civil and military officials in the court looked at Emperor Wen in a daze...
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