"Some in the court advocated for war, while others advocated for it. The entire morning court session was spent arguing." Shen Su raised his hand and pressed his brow. "Your Majesty has been unable to make a decision. After the court session, he summoned several ministers to the Imperial Study to ask for their opinions, including me."
"What does Daddy think?"
"I agree with the Crown Prince and advocate peace," Chen Su said. "This year, the people in the counties near the capital have had a good harvest, and various natural disasters have just passed. Starting a war now would be detrimental to people's livelihoods rather than beneficial. Father believes that we should wait until people's livelihoods have fully recovered and the national treasury is well-stocked before we resume war. However... Marquis Zhenyuan advocates war."
"Marquis Zhenyuan?" Shen Huaixu raised her eyebrows slightly. Ever since Shangguan Yi was punished last time, the Marquis Zhenyuan Mansion began to keep a low profile. Sometimes when she met Shangguan Yi on the road, he would just pretend not to see her.
However, Shangguan Ruoyan has been having trouble getting along with Cui Liuniang recently, and Chaohua told her this.
Chen Su continued, "Marquis Zhenyuan is an elder by Your Majesty's side. He has been with Your Majesty since before Your Majesty ascended the throne and was only a thousand households in the army. There has never been any disagreement between the monarch and his subjects. Marquis Zhenyuan's statement is very important. Before he was ennobled, he was the General Zhenbei. He has an incomparable understanding of the Northern Qiang."
"Do you think His Majesty would be more inclined to his opinion?"
Shen Su nodded.
Shen Huaixu whispered, "Dad, have you heard something?"
"What is it?"
"The Northern Qiang possess a powerful weapon. Throwing it into a crowd could kill many. You know the cause of the Zhongli Bridge collapse. I suspect the Northern Qiang possessed a firearm."
Chen Su frowned slowly, "How do you know?"
He was very sure that this matter had not been reported to the capital, otherwise he would have paid close attention to it.
Shen Huaixu smiled and said, "Dad, have you forgotten that I have someone in the army now?"
After a brief recollection, Shen Su thought of a person, "Fu Yin."
"It was him." Shen Huaixu nodded. "It was his team that was attacked. He felt something was wrong afterwards and wrote me a letter. I didn't expect that no one would know about this matter."
More than ten days had passed since this incident happened, and Fu Yin had not yet found an opportunity to leave the military camp, so he could only temporarily put his plan to go to the Northern Qiang King's tent on hold.
Chen Su fell silent, a thoughtful look on his face.
Chen Huaixu feigned indifference and said, "If the barbarians really had such a powerful weapon in their hands, we would surely suffer heavy casualties in a battle. I wonder if the Marquis Zhenyuan knows about this..."
A hint of coldness flashed across Chen Su's eyes: "Miao Miao, has Daddy not told you about firearms yet?"
"Firearms? What's that?" Shen Huaixu was confused.
"Our Great Jin has already produced firearms suitable for use on the battlefield, though the quantity is still limited. Your Majesty has entrusted this matter to me in secret."
Shen Huaixu slowly opened her eyes, countless thoughts flashing through her mind, finally settling on the worst one. She hesitantly asked, "Is this matter targeting you?"
The person in charge of the development of firearms is Shen Su. If the formula of firearms is revealed to the enemy country, Shen Su will become the primary suspect. Even if it is found that he has never colluded with the enemy country, he will be charged with lax discipline.
The most important thing is that he had been criticized before for the Zhongli Bridge case. Even if the situation this time was a bit rough, if it were to get out, the criticism from the court would come like a tide.
The old emperor believed Shen Su in the Zhongli Bridge case, so what about this time? The human heart is the most unfathomable, but if she were in that position, she would also be suspicious.
Shen Huaixu thought for a moment and quickly asked, "What kind of firearms did Dad's men develop?"
"It contains gunpowder and is covered with an iron shell."
Shen Huaixu was silent for a moment. This was the kind of firearm that the Northern Qiang people had in their hands.
"This matter is indeed not simple. Miaomiao, don't worry too much. Daddy will solve it. As for whether the Marquis of Zhenyuan has evil intentions, I will also find out."
Shen Huaixu nodded without saying anything.
It is still unknown whether Marquis Zhenyuan was involved in this matter. If he was involved, he would most likely be the one to block the news about firearms. After all, he was the General Zhengbei and was very prestigious in the hearts of the soldiers in the north. It would not be difficult for him to block the news.
What I'm afraid of is that he blocked the news in order to deal a fatal blow to Shen Su at the right time.
Chen Huaixu felt a little regretful. She should have told her father about this earlier. She thought that the news about the firearms would soon reach the capital, but who would have thought that someone would interfere.
Thinking of this, Chen Huaixu couldn't help but want Fu Yin to go to the Northern Qiang King's tent as soon as possible.
But she also understood Fu Yin's current situation. He was a living person, and if he disappeared from the tent from time to time, it would eventually arouse suspicion. Therefore, he rarely entered the space unless it was necessary.
Going to the Northern Qiang King's tent to gather information will take more than a day or two.
After much thought, Shen Huaixu made up her mind before going to bed at night that if necessary, she would go to the northern border in person.
At worst, we can kill the King of Northern Qiang and let them fight among themselves, so that they have no time to attack the Great Jin.
But before that, she wanted to install a bug on Marquis Zhenyuan.
If he was involved, she would take his life. If he was not, she would still go to the North and cause trouble.
Now that he had made up his mind, Chen Huaixu no longer hesitated. The next night, he put on a cloak and went out, rushing towards the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion.
The Marquis of Zhenyuan was heavily guarded, and Shen Huaixu had to go through great pains to find the house where the Marquis of Zhenyuan was resting.
She released the insect and controlled it to fly through the window gap and into the ear of the sleeping Zhenyuan Hou.
After making sure that the person was not awake, she left quietly.
The next day, Shen Huaixu heard the voice of Zhenyuan Hou Shangguan Zhu early in the morning.
I got up very early and listened to a lot of trivial things. I was so depressed that I didn't even feel like eating breakfast.
After breakfast, she went to Changlefang while keeping an eye on Shangguan Zhu's movements.
She was going to pick up Jiang Fu, who had been working as a medicine boy in Qingnang Hall for more than two years. This time when she came to the capital, Shen Huaixu wanted to bring her with him to study, and she had obtained the shopkeeper's consent yesterday.
When the two arrived at Jishidiang, Shen Huaixu still hadn't heard any useful news. Instead, because he was distracted from time to time, Jiang Fu asked him what was wrong.
"Second cousin, are you sick? Why are you so absent-minded?"
"I didn't sleep well last night, Afu, don't worry." Shen Huaixu said, "If you don't understand something later, you can ask your junior sister. If neither of you knows, then ask me."
Doctor Yue, who was passing by, paused when he heard this. "Senior sister, ask your junior sister? Your junior sister is older than your sister?"
He shook his head helplessly, what a mess.
Jiang Fu didn't notice anything wrong and nodded heavily, "I understand, Master!"
Just as he sat down, Shen Huaixu suddenly heard a knock on the door from Shangguan Zhu's side.
"Come in." This was Shangguan Zhu's voice.
A sound of footsteps came from far away.
"Father, I'm here to pay my respects to you." Shen Huaixu felt familiar with this voice. It was Shangguan Yi.
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