Chapter 602 Shen Yuantang attacks the Shen family's children!
Muli Kui had no idea how it ended. When he came to his senses, he was already in his room at the inn.
"Quickly, send a message back to the Turks immediately!"
Shen Lanxi probably has long harbored the intention to destroy the Turks; we must not let her succeed!
A competition once again solidified Shen Lanxi's position in the imperial court.
More than half of the court officials were already lying low under the emperor's intimidation.
She gave the Turk a month; once the month was up, she had to give her an answer.
If a response is not provided within the specified time, it will be considered as a declaration of war.
...
"Your Majesty, should we make comprehensive preparations in the Northwest?" The Grand Tutor, as a proponent of war, was very concerned about the progress against the Turks.
Shen Lanxi: "Send orders to the northwest, ten miles outside the city, to be ready to attack the Turks at any time!"
"yes!"
Discussions began to circulate in the imperial court.
"Is war really about to break out?"
"The Turks are too arrogant; we must put an end to their arrogance."
"When the Wei family army was still around, the Turks kept harassing the border. I'm sure they won't hold back in the Northwest."
Wei Dongzhu was stationed in the northwest, and his surname did not allow him to show mercy to the Turks.
"Does the Northwest need support?"
Liu Yan replied: "Last year, the Northwest was already self-sufficient in grain. Every city there has a military fort, and grain is stored in the fort every year for emergencies."
All the officials pricked up their ears.
No need for the imperial court to provide provisions?
What about the pay?
Liu Yan replied: "Since last year, in ten of the sixteen provinces of the Great Zhou, grain and provisions are no longer allocated from the capital, but are instead drawn from the local government offices."
Liu Mingxin's eyes lit up: "Is it possible to achieve self-sufficiency?"
Liu Yan smiled and said, "Of course, besides being self-sufficient, the local government allocates funds every year for bridge and road repairs, the establishment of schools and charitable institutions, and if there is any surplus, pensions will be distributed annually to senior citizens over sixty years old."
The officials were in uproar.
They don't have pension funds.
Liu Yan replied: "In addition, Yunnan Province has already taken the lead in launching pilot programs for the purpose of providing elderly care and medical treatment for the people."
Many courtiers were eager to hear what was going on.
Liu Yanhui coughed twice: "We are now discussing the Turkic issue and the pension issue. If you gentlemen are interested, you can discuss it with me in detail after court."
The officials could only suppress their anger.
"Your Majesty, is it really necessary to attack the Turks?" The Ministry of War was somewhat uncertain.
Shen Lanxi: "Of course."
Ministry of Rites: "What about the marriage alliance?"
"Proceed as usual."
In other words, we should prepare for both possibilities.
"Your Majesty, what if the Turks are unwilling to submit to our Great Zhou?"
Shen Lanxi: "Northwest Iron Cavalry, crush the Turks!"
Ministry of War: It's settled.
The officials already knew that His Majesty had made up his mind, and the Ministry of Rites raised several questions regarding the Turkic issue.
"Your Majesty, should the news of the impending war with the Turks be published in the bulletin?"
"Can!"
What if Tianjin takes advantage of this?
"beat!"
I understand, Your Majesty wants to attack them all.
After the court session, Shen Lanxi received news that Huang Yu had wiped out the bandits.
"At this rate, within a year, there will be no more banditry or outlaw disturbances in our Great Zhou!"
"Did Jiangping County submit a memorial?"
The folded document was handed to her.
"How dare these bullies defy Heaven! Let Huang Yu send them on their way!"
...
News of the impending war with the Turks spread quickly.
Zhou Xinrou was very dissatisfied.
"The Great Zhou has finally pacified the country; how can we allow war to break out again?"
"Princess, a report says that the Turkic envoy was arrogant and disrespectful to His Majesty."
Zhou Xinrou said impatiently, "Didn't you say you wanted a marriage alliance? Then hurry up and go ahead with it!"
The old woman said, "The Turks are indeed too presumptuous. After all, it was the imperial court that sent troops to attack, not our people."
They're just a small Turkic tribe; what difference would it make if we attacked them?
It's not that they've suffered losses, but rather that their people have suffered losses.
They only care about reaping the benefits.
Regardless, Zhou Xinrou was still opposed to using force.
With so many soldiers in the Great Zhou, we can't let Shen Lanxi run wild.
"Princess, our people have discovered that Miss Yuan Tang has been in contact with people from Tianjin."
Zhou Xinrou's face darkened: "Is it related to Zhou Ruyuan?"
The old woman said, "Our people have already followed them, and they're most likely contacting Zhou Ruyuan."
"She's really got some nerve. I wanted to spare her life, but she always seems to be heading down a dead end."
"Princess, what should we do?"
Zhou Xinrou thought for a moment and said, "Let's leak the information to Shen Lanxi. Isn't she thinking about family ties? Let her see how her relatives collude with her enemies."
"yes!"
Shen Lanxi had anticipated that Shen Yuantang wouldn't give up, but she never expected that Shen Yuantang would still be in contact with Zhou Ruyuan.
"Is there anything unusual about the Shen family?"
"No abnormalities were found."
She was still worried.
"Keep an eye on Shen Yuantang and have someone search her house."
"yes!"
The bodyguard quickly gave her a reply.
"I have noticed that Shen Yuantang has been going to the lotus pond frequently lately, for nine consecutive days, even on rainy days."
"At first, nothing unusual was found, until my subordinates discovered that the old woman in the kitchen would go to the lotus pond every day to pick fresh lotus pods."
"After Shen Yuantang left the lotus pond, his subordinates took the lotus pods to Mr. Ban for inspection, and Mr. Ban found lead powder on the lotus pods."
She was aware of the dangers of lead powder.
"Which room is the food made from lotus pods for?"
The bodyguard said, "Recently, the cook has been making lotus seed cakes, which have been sent to several rooms. Since the children love to eat them, the Shen family's children usually get to eat them."
Shen Lanxi's face darkened.
"Mr. Ban said that a small amount of lead powder is not enough to harm the body, but it should not be consumed frequently."
Shen Lanxi: "I understand. Have someone send these letters to the Shen family."
The letter on the table was sent back by the Shen family's son.
Everyone opposed Shen Yuantang's marriage alliance with the Turks.
...
Apart from Zhou Xinrou and a few others, many people in the Shen family were unaware that Shen Yuantang was going to be married off to a foreign ruler.
The letter was delivered directly to Shen Congwen. After receiving the letter, he immediately summoned Shen Yuantang and questioned him.
Why was you named a princess?
"you say!"
Apart from the second branch of the Shen family, the other two branches were unaware of the situation.
"Brother, why are you angry?"
"Isn't it good that Feng Yuantang is a princess? Among all the maids in our household, only she has this honor!"
No matter how envious others are, it's useless; after all, they and His Majesty weren't born from the same mother.
Shen Congwen said angrily, "Making her a princess is to send her to marry the Turks!"
What kind of place is the Turkic Khaganate? If it's worth dying for a title, then I'd rather not have that title!
The elders in the room all fell silent.
Thankfully, they didn't make their daughter a princess; the risks of being a princess are just too great!
"So that's why so many princesses were bestowed titles all at once. It turns out it was for the purpose of marriage alliances."
The people on the street were talking about it; everyone knew about the marriage alliance with the Turks.
But they couldn't have imagined, no matter how hard they racked their brains, that Shen Yuantang would be sent.
"Hasn't His Majesty bestowed titles upon so many princesses? Yuan Tang has already been married; how can she be sent for a political marriage?"
Are princesses sent to marry foreign rulers so hastily these days?
Sending a woman who had been married twice to a political marriage was clearly an insult to the Turks. This was not a political marriage; it was practically a declaration of war.
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