Foreign Visitors
Prime Minister Gu Zhao sat in his study, his brow furrowed in silence as he pondered the "accidental" news of the Emperor's clandestine contact with the Zuoxian King of the Northern Di tribe. The candlelight cast a flickering shadow on his weathered face. His Majesty's actions, he considered, were nothing more than drinking poison to quench thirst. To counterbalance the Empress and any remaining remnants of "Ninth Brother," attempting to collude with the Northern Di tribe—wasn't that simply inviting thieves?
He understood the importance of maintaining imperial power, but he also knew that the safety of the nation depended on him, and he could not afford to make any mistakes. The previous incident with "Ninth Brother" had proven that the Northern Di harbored evil intentions, and collaborating with them was tantamount to courting disaster. What kind of situation had forced His Majesty into such a desperate move? Or had His Majesty's obsession with power overshadowed his concern for the safety of the border and the stability of his country?
Gu Zhao sighed deeply. He could no longer sit idly by. As a veteran of two dynasties, he had to fulfill his duty of admonishment.
The next day, Gu Zhao sought an audience with Xiao Jingche in the imperial study. He didn't directly address the Northern Di. Instead, he began his discussion with the broader principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, citing stories of overlords who, through the help of the barbarians, ultimately led to chaos. He then extended this discussion to the importance of our dynasty's border defenses. His words were earnest, citing authentic texts. Finally, he tactfully said, "Your Majesty, the Northern Di's wicked ambitions have always been a grave threat to our dynasty. Even if engaging with them is a temporary measure, we must exercise extreme caution, fearing a single misstep could backfire, bringing pain to our loved ones and joy to our enemies."
Xiao Jingche, ever so clever, immediately discerned the hidden meaning behind Gu Zhao's words. His face darkened, a hint of displeasure welling up in his heart. This matter was extremely secretive; how had Gu Zhao known of it? Had the Imperial City Department made a mistake, or...had the Kunning Palace deliberately leaked it? He suppressed his doubts and said calmly, "Minister Gu, you're worrying too much. I know my limits. This is just some ordinary border trade. Why would you have to cite such a scripture?"
Gu Zhao looked at his expression and knew that he had not listened carefully. He was even more worried, but he could not say anything more. He could only kowtow and said, "This old minister has overstepped his bounds, but only Heaven can express my sincere heart. I hope Your Majesty will put the country first and guard against the Chinese and foreigners." After that, he retreated sadly.
Watching Gu Zhao's departing figure, Xiao Jingche felt even more irritated. Was even Gu Zhao beginning to lean towards the Empress? Or did everyone think that he, the Emperor, had reached the point where he needed to rely on foreign enemies to maintain his power?
This feeling of isolation and suspicion filled his chest with pent-up anger, a rage he had nowhere to vent. He suddenly swept the stack of memorials on the table to the floor, terrifying the palace staff into silence.
At the same time, in the hidden mansion in the west of the city, the candlelight was dim.
Lu Qinglan didn't come in person, so Fu Yu met a "guest" on her behalf. The man looked dusty, his face mostly obscured by a hood. When the man removed his hood, revealing a face with distinct Northern Di features, yet a touch of refined elegance, Fu Yu was startled.
"Mr. Agula, thank you for your hard work on the journey." Fu Yu followed Lu Qinglan's instructions and called the other party by his pseudonym, keeping his tone polite and distant.
The man named Agula spoke fluent Mandarin with a slightly foreign accent: "I dare not say it's hard work. It is my honor to have the protection of the Queen." He swept the room with sharp eyes, with scrutiny and vigilance.
"The Queen asked me to ask you, sir, how sincere are the Zuo Xianwang's tribesmen?" Fu Yu went straight to the point.
Agula pulled out a wax-sealed letter from his bosom and said in a deep voice, "This is written by my king himself. The king promised that if the queen can help our tribe break free from the oppression of the royal court and gain autonomy in the grasslands south of the desert, our tribe will sign an alliance with the queen, never to threaten Daliang's northern border. He will also provide... some evidence of 'Ninth Brother's' dealings with the core of the royal court, and" he paused, lowering his voice, "clues to the true identity of 'Ninth Brother's' commander in the Daliang army."
Fu Yu's heart was shaken. Her Majesty's predictions were correct. Northern Di was not a monolithic entity. Zuo Xian Wang's tribe had long harbored grudges against the royal court and was desperate for external support. And the leverage they offered was exactly what Her Majesty needed most: crucial evidence to completely smother "Ninth Brother"'s forces, and the identity of the "military commander" who had long been shrouded in mystery!
"Your Majesty needs time to verify." Fu Yu took the letter and responded cautiously.
"I can wait," Agula nodded. "But please understand, Your Majesty, that the royal court has been increasingly pressuring our tribe lately, and we don't have much time."
As Fu Yu and Agula were meeting secretly, Zhou Zhen, the new deputy commander of the capital's garrison, had already taken office. With the emperor's trust and promotion, he was full of confidence and determined to make drastic changes to the capital's defenses, eliminating the "accumulated malpractices" left by his predecessor, especially those generals who might have ties to nobles or the imperial harem.
However, he soon began to sense invisible resistance. His subordinates appeared respectful, but in reality, they were veiled in disobedience. His training orders were discounted by the battalions; his adjustments to checkpoint deployments were often met with unexpected "unexpected" changes, necessitating last-minute changes; and when he wanted to transfer several key generals, the Ministry of War's procedures were painfully slow, with numerous excuses constantly being offered for delays.
Zhou Zhen's enthusiasm met with resistance, leaving him frustrated but helpless. Though a trusted confidant of the emperor, he lacked experience and foundation in the complex maze of the capital's garrison. He held the title of commander-in-chief, but struggled to truly command his subordinates. He repeatedly complained to Xiao Jingche, who offered only gentle soothing words, urging patience, but he was unable to fundamentally address the systemic inertia and resistance.
Zhou Zhen's predicament soon reached the ears of Xiao Jingche and Lu Qinglan through different channels.
Xiao Jingche's face darkened upon hearing the news. The man he had promoted couldn't even control the capital's garrison? This made him feel profoundly powerless.
Inside Kunning Palace, Lu Qinglan merely smiled faintly. Zhou Zhen's predicament was well within her expectations. The emperor's hope of controlling the capital overnight by replacing generals was naive. This murky waters were perfect for this new commander to stir up, bringing those hidden forces to the surface.
Foreign visitors bring new uncertainty and hope, while undercurrents within the court and the army remain turbulent. All clues and contradictions converge toward a critical point, waiting for a spark to ignite this long-simmering firewood.
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