Chapter 253: Methods of Attacking the Capital
The phrase "Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher" is appropriate in any era.
If Hensheng wanted to be a wise ruler, he had to be magnanimous and forgiving, and he couldn't possibly drive his maternal uncles to their deaths.
On the other hand, these aristocratic lords have taken advantage of the royal family quite a bit. If they could still display their aristocratic power before, making the royal family think twice before taking action, now that Hen Sheng has made his fortune through the Huo family army, these useless people will naturally be purged.
The old prime minister changed his tone and looked at Jiang Jingwei with a sinister look, "Master Jiang, don't worry. After all, you and that Crown Prince share the same ancestor, and you are very talented. You should be able to keep your life. As long as you live, you can always make a comeback."
If that were the case, Jiang Jingwei wouldn't be in the main hall today.
The old prime minister felt contempt; these aristocratic families only wanted to take advantage of the royal family as much as possible and had no interest in becoming emperor. However, these people from the collateral branches of the Jiang family had been secretly plotting for generations to rise up and become the masters.
Jiang Jingwei smiled but did not reply.
For a moment, you could hear a pin drop in the main hall.
Another patriarch from a prominent family broke the silence, saying, "Now is not the time for infighting. We should think about how to repel the enemy. If we can't, we should think about our escape route. Otherwise, once the capital is captured, that Crown Prince won't be like the refugee rebels of twenty years ago, whom we can easily fool."
Immediately, a cacophony of voices erupted in the hall.
It's just a matter of each side sending out more elite soldiers to defend the city. After all, the city is surrounded on the north, south, and west sides, and it's impossible to retreat overseas.
"No, no, didn't you hear the explosions from the Battle of Xicheng? The Huo family army must have some incredible weapons. Ordinary gunpowder doesn't have that much destructive power. Not many soldiers with all their limbs were left in the Battle of Xicheng. If they use such weapons when they attack the capital, no number of soldiers will be enough to fill their blades."
The speaker was a portly middle-aged man. In his opinion, this was the time to preserve strength. The capital wasn't his personal property; why should he provide manpower and supplies to help defend it? Even if the Huo family army invaded, he could still negotiate with them if he had leverage.
The old prime minister scoffed, "Does the Ma family head have found a way to go overseas? Don't forget we have nowhere to go now. That Crown Prince wasn't raised by us either; we don't know his temperament or character. How do you know he wouldn't do something like discarding a used tool?"
The middle-aged man, referred to as the head of the Ma family, choked. That's true. A child raised in the harsh and cold border region is probably a peasant. If such a person doesn't follow the rules and takes the benefits only to turn around and kill, then he can only cry out for justice in the underworld.
The old prime minister looked around, and all the prominent figures from the noble families fell silent. Finally, his aged yet sharp gaze fell upon the dragon throne.
"Does Your Majesty have anything to say?"
Jiang Yichen, who was lost in thought, suddenly snapped back to reality and nearly scared himself to death.
"I...I have nothing more to say. Everything is up to the Prime Minister."
Jiang Yichen was internally devastated. What was he asking? What could he do or say? Wasn't he just a mascot?
The old prime minister coughed again, and after a series of violent coughs, his face turned red.
"Your Majesty should issue an edict of self-reproach, stating that your previous ascension to the throne was a mandate given in a time of crisis, and that you are willing to return the throne to the legitimate line of succession, and request that His Highness the Crown Prince come to the capital to receive the abdication ceremony."
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!
No wonder they say old ginger is spicier, and the older it gets, the more monstrous it becomes.
They're pushing everything onto Jiang Yichen. What does it have to do with their aristocratic family?
As subjects, they naturally served the emperor faithfully.
If His Highness the Crown Prince accepts the invitation to come to the capital, there will be much more room for maneuver.
The outcome is still uncertain. Whether we succeed or fail, it's better than being like fish on a chopping board, just waiting for Huo's army to attack.
Immediately, someone suggested, "The Huo family army was originally stationed in a border prefecture. Border troops are not allowed to enter the capital. His Highness the Crown Prince should come alone."
Jiang Yichen was dumbfounded. Was being a mascot not enough for him? Now he had to become the scapegoat.
If he is still a legitimate member of the direct line, then do you think this collateral son who was "appointed in a time of crisis" has any chance of surviving?
Jiang Yichen looked at Jiang Jingwei with pleading eyes, but the latter seemed completely unperturbed, as if the issue being discussed so enthusiastically by everyone in the hall had nothing to do with him.
Jiang Yichen had no power to refuse this matter. As soon as the edict of self-reproach was issued, the news reached Xicheng immediately.
The Jiang Dynasty lasted for thousands of years, and while there were many inactive emperors, none were particularly outrageous, so there was never such a thing as an edict of self-reproach.
Jiang Yichen is considered the first in the history of the Jiang Dynasty.
Inside the Xi City government office, high-ranking members of the Huo family army gathered together.
Chunzhi spoke first, “This is clearly a trap to lure you into a snare. Once you enter the capital, no one knows what kind of inescapable net awaits you. Your Highness cannot risk your life. However, our army is limited in strength. If you could send a special force to infiltrate the capital with Your Highness, working together from the inside and outside, we might be able to take the capital without breaking a sweat.”
Su Zhenzhen waited for a long time, but no one spoke. Only then did she belatedly realize that Jiang Sijin was gone.
Hensheng frowned and pondered for a moment before finally asking the question as if he had made up his mind.
"How many troops can we muster to attack the capital?"
“At most 100,000, but with an army of 100,000, we won’t have enough food. We also have a lot of elderly, weak, women and children who need to be fed.” Chunzhi also looked troubled. “The reconstruction of Yangcheng can be put aside for now, but the city walls have been damaged along the way. Take Xicheng for example, it will take a lot of manpower and resources to restore it to its pre-war state. It concerns the people, so we can’t delay. Furthermore, the people in these newly conquered cities also need to be appeased, so it’s not advisable to conscript soldiers now.”
With the capital city so close at hand, continuing the attack would be too costly in terms of manpower. If we could achieve a surprise victory, that would be ideal.
However, a wise person does not stand under a crumbling wall; the choice to live is very important.
Su Zhenzhen's heart jumped into her throat. "As the saying goes, a son of a wealthy family should not sit under a dangerous roof. If something happens to you, the entire Huo family army will fall apart."
Chunzhi glanced at Su Zhenzhen indifferently, but ultimately said nothing.
His face, which had been as beautiful as a banished immortal, was filled with regret and self-blame. "I only regret that I don't have more martial arts skills. If I could conquer cities and territories by myself, so many innocent people would not have to die for me."
Chunzhi picked at her ear, then turned to look at Su Zhenzhen. "Do you still have that white pill you gave me? I think it's quite potent. Coercion and bribery are always the best methods. If we can make those powerful gentry in the capital aware of our strength, and promise them some benefits, given their fickle nature, they will definitely open the city gates and respectfully invite His Highness the Crown Prince to the capital."
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