Nian Gengyao had been under house arrest in his residence for over a month, heavily guarded outside, where not even a fly could escape. He stood by the window, gazing at the sky beyond the high walls, his eyes filled with uncertain emotions.
"The Emperor is going to make a move against me..." Nian Gengyao muttered to himself, his fingers gripping the window frame tightly until his knuckles turned white.
He had thought that with his military achievements and influence in the Northwest, the Emperor would at least have some reservations, but he hadn't expected the other side to be so decisive. Now trapped in this small area, he had to find a way out as soon as possible.
The letter I sent to Eighth Master last time disappeared without a trace. It seems that when a wall falls, everyone pushes it down, and even Eighth Master won't help him anymore.
In the dead of night, a trusted guard, under the cover of darkness, quietly slipped into Nian Gengyao's study. He knelt on one knee and whispered, "General, the Eighth Prince has sent a secret letter."
A hint of joy flashed in Nian Gengyao's eyes as he took the letter and quickly unfolded it.
In the letter, the Eighth Prince Yinzhi spoke earnestly, vehemently criticizing the drawbacks of the Yongzheng Emperor's new policies, and hinting that he had already contacted various Mongol tribes and his former allies in the Northwest, waiting for the right moment to launch a coordinated attack from within and without.
At the end of the letter, the Eighth Prince requested that Nian Gengyao provide a token to coordinate the troops stationed in the Northwest.
"What a fine Eighth Prince!" Nian Gengyao sneered, but in his heart he was weighing the pros and cons. Now that he was under house arrest, if he wanted to turn the tables, he could only rely on external forces. So he turned around and took out a bronze token from a hidden compartment, and handed it to the guard: "Give this to the Eighth Prince, and tell him that my old subordinates will see this token as if it were me, and will cooperate with me in the best of their ability."
The guard took the token, nodded solemnly, and then disappeared into the night.
---
The Eighth Prince's residence was brightly lit. Yinzhi sat upright at his desk, toying with the token that had just been delivered, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. An advisor beside him whispered, "Eighth Prince, we have Nian Gengyao's token. Shall we proceed according to plan?"
Yinzhi nodded slightly: "Immediately send someone to contact the Khorchin Mongols and tell them that as long as they are willing to put pressure on the border, they will be richly rewarded in the future. Also, send a message by carrier pigeon to the Fourteenth Brother, saying that the Emperor has long been suspicious of him, and if he does not make plans in advance, he may follow in the footsteps of Nian Gengyao."
The strategist hesitated, "After all, the Fourteenth Prince and the Emperor are brothers. Would he agree?"
Yun Si chuckled lightly: "Fourteenth Brother is arrogant and hates being suppressed. He has been frustrated and unfulfilled these past years. With just a little provocation, he will make his own choice."
—————
The Fourteenth Prince, who was almost at the Hexi Corridor, received a message from the Eighth Prince via carrier pigeon.
He unfolded the letter, his brow furrowed. In the letter, Yinzhi, out of brotherly affection, invited him to turn back to the capital to serve the emperor.
Yunti remained silent for a long time before finally throwing the letter into the brazier and watching the flames engulf it. He turned to his trusted confidants and said, "Pass down the order: the entire army must advance at full speed! There must be no mistakes!"
The confidant asked doubtfully, "Fourteenth Prince, is this a letter from Eighth Prince...?"
Yunti coldly interrupted: "I am loyal to the Emperor, not my eighth brother!"
Yunti gazed at the clouds in the sky, his expression complex. He turned to his trusted confidant, "Do you know how many people in this army are spies for the Imperial Guard?"
The confidant's expression changed: "What does Master mean..."
Yunti smiled bitterly: "You and I both know what Fourth Brother's methods are like. Eighth Brother's letter is probably already on the Emperor's desk." He waved his hand and sighed: "Eighth Brother is courting his own destruction."
Things are different now. Only after taking command of the army did he realize how deep his fourth brother's control over the military was. Leaving aside military equipment, just in terms of military administration, even Nian Gengyao was probably no match for his fourth brother. His eighth brother was still dreaming; all these years, they had underestimated their fourth brother.
---
The following day, the political climate in the imperial court changed dramatically. Officials from the Eighth Prince's faction stepped forward, vehemently criticizing the drawbacks of the new policies. A censor loudly proclaimed, "Your Majesty, the abolition of the hereditary chieftain system and the replacement of local officials with centrally appointed officials has led to the loss of wealth for powerful local families, and public resentment is boiling over! The new commercial tax regulations have also bankrupted many merchants. If this continues, the country will cease to exist!"
Emperor Yongzheng sat on his dragon throne, listening expressionlessly, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. When the censor finished speaking, he coldly asked, "Finished?"
The censor was taken aback, then forced himself to say, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I humbly request that you reconsider!"
Yongzheng suddenly laughed, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "I'd like to ask, where does this 'public resentment' you speak of come from? Is it something you've seen with your own eyes, or hearsay?" His gaze swept over the crowd, and his tone suddenly became sharp, "My new policies are for the stability of the Qing Dynasty and for the people to live and work in peace. If anyone uses this to cause trouble, I will not let them off lightly!"
The court was silent; no one dared to utter a sound.
Yun Si stood in the queue, gritting his teeth inwardly, but had to lower his head to hide the resentment in his eyes.
Now he can only be patient. In a few days, when the Mongols and his fourteenth brother receive the letter, they will know who the boss is.
——————
After the court session, Yongzheng returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and issued a series of orders, keeping busy until midnight.
Su Peisheng gently served a cup of hot tea and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, it's late, you should rest."
Yongzheng took the teacup, but his gaze fell on a secret letter on the table.
He waved his hand, signaling Su Peisheng to step back, then opened the envelope, his eyes gradually turning cold.
The letter, presented by a spy from the Imperial Guard, detailed the recent activities of the Eighth Prince, Yinzhi. Yinzhi not only secretly contacted the imprisoned Nian Gengyao, but also attempted to create unrest in the Northwest through Nian Gengyao's former subordinates.
What angered Yongzheng even more was that Yinzhi dared to collude with the Mongol tribes, intending to provoke trouble on the border.
"Well done, you Eighth Prince!" Yongzheng sneered, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips. "I haven't even made a move yet, and you're already so impatient."
In his previous life, the Eighth Prince's faction relentlessly pressured him, ultimately forcing him to take drastic measures. In this life, he wanted to give Yunsi a chance to repent, but the other party remained obstinate.
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