Emperor Xuan suddenly stood up and shouted, "What?"
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Qin has committed suicide by hanging himself. A piece of writing by the Prime Minister was found in his study. Your Majesty, please review it."
Eunuch Nian quickly handed the page to Emperor Xuan, who took a closer look at it.
"The last words of the guilty minister Qin Hui:
I am jealous of Fu Xiaoguan's talent and believe that his policy of promoting both commerce and agriculture in the Yu Dynasty will lead to everyone in the Yu Dynasty pursuing profit and no one engaging in farming.
I believe that Fu Xiaoguan was originally a prince of the Wu Dynasty. Logically, he should have succeeded to the Wu Dynasty. If this national policy is truly good, wouldn't it be easier to implement it in the Wu Dynasty if he ascended the throne?
I believe that Fu Xiaoguan has evil intentions and is plotting something evil, intending to fundamentally overthrow the Yu Dynasty.
Therefore, for the sake of the country and people of the Yu Dynasty, I issued the order privately.
In my capacity as Prime Minister, I ordered General Peng Chengwu of the Northern Frontier Army to abandon the pass, intending to lure Fu Xiaoguan into a trap and kill him. However, Fu Xiaoguan was cunning and did not fall for the trick.
I came up with another plan, forcing Peng Chengwu to abandon the city and let the barbarian soldiers approach Xinzhou. I thought that since Fu Xiaoguan was loyal to the emperor, he should lead the Divine Sword Army to rescue Xinzhou City, but Fu Xiaoguan still did not rescue it.
I learned that Fu Xiaoguan appeared in Huangguo, and I ordered Peng Chengwu to lead an army of 250,000 into Huangguo to kill Fu Xiaoguan.
However, the plan failed at the last moment. General Peng's troops encountered the Tiandao Army of the Wilderness Country. Although he completely wiped out the enemy, he was also killed on the battlefield.
As long as Fu Xiaoguan is still alive, I can only die to thank the world.
I have deceived the king and the people. I have no face to live in this world, so I borrow a three-foot white silk and leave.
Although I know I will be cursed by thousands, I do not regret it!
After reading this suicide letter, Emperor Xuan was furious.
"I am furious... I wasted my trust in Qin Huizhi, and he actually committed such a heinous act... Come, expose Qin Huizhi's body for three days, publicize his crimes to the world, and make him kneel before the imperial mausoleum, so that he can repent for ten generations before my ancestors!"
What is going on?
The ministers wondered how long Prime Minister Qin had been in office. What terrible deeds had he done to deserve such severe punishment from Your Majesty?
Emperor Xuan threw this suicide letter to Eunuch Nian and said, "Read it to them."
"I obey your command!"
Eunuch Nian cleared his throat and read out Qin Huizhi's last letter. The ministers were even more shocked.
This, this Qin Huizhi is really very brave!
He actually dared to privately mobilize border troops and paid such a heavy price just to kill Fu Xiaoguan!
Who is Fu Xiaoguan?
He is your Majesty's son-in-law!
He is Ding'an Bo!
Qin Huizhi is really blinded by greed and deserves to die.
No wonder he committed suicide. He saw that the truth was about to be revealed. If he was caught alive by His Majesty, he would probably be skinned alive!
Among the entire court, only a few people knew the truth, such as Dong Kangping, the father and son of the Yan family, and... Nian Aiyang, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War who was transferred from the northern border army.
As an old subordinate of Peng Chengwu, he burst into tears the moment he heard that Peng Chengwu had died in battle.
The general shouldn't have died.
Those 400,000 comrades should not have died.
There are also nearly 500,000 people in Xinzhou City who should not have died.
But now, a million people have died!
It’s all because of that ridiculous order!
Even if Earl Ding'an went to the Wu Dynasty, would he really be detrimental to the Yu Dynasty?
Even if he is really detrimental to the Yu Dynasty, does the Yu Dynasty have no power to fight?
Why do that?
What do you get in the end?
The Wu Dynasty army had arrived at the Cangxi Plain. The southern border troops did not launch an attack, but retreated thirty miles.
Yu Chunqiu wanted to ask why, but Emperor Xuan did not answer.
If Peng Yuyan knew the news that Peng Chengwu died in battle, if she knew the real story... Nian Aiyang couldn't imagine what the consequences would be.
He sighed in his heart: If the morale of the army is lost, it will be difficult to lead the team!
When the eunuch finished reading this last letter, the ministers were in an uproar and condemned him one after another, with various voices heard everywhere.
No wonder the Wu Dynasty sent troops to Qishan!
No wonder there was no news from Earl Ding'an!
It’s all because of this villain. If Prime Minister Yan was still in power, such a passive situation would never have occurred!
So... we still need an old minister like Prime Minister Yan to ensure stability!
Emperor Xuan stood up and waved his hand. "I never expected that the Qin thieves would regard Ding'an Bo as a thorn in their side. Fortunately, Ding'an Bo was lucky and nothing serious happened. But I think Ding'an Bo will have some grudges against me. It doesn't matter. After all, he is my son-in-law. These misunderstandings will soon be resolved."
"Next, I have something else to tell you."
"Crown Prince Yu Wendao is twenty years old. I believe the Eastern Palace cannot be without a female leader, so I am preparing to appoint a Crown Princess."
When the ministers heard this, they realized it was a big deal.
But His Majesty did not say "select" but "confer"... Does this mean that the candidate for the Crown Princess has been decided?
Whose girl could it be?
Emperor Xuan smiled. "The Yan family is the most scholarly family in the Yu Dynasty and is loyal to the Yu Dynasty. Yan Qingyi, the fifteen-year-old daughter of Yan Shidao, is beautiful and well-educated. She is the perfect candidate for the Crown Princess."
"Therefore, I have ordered the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to select an auspicious day and, following all proper etiquette, wait for my queen to return so that the two can be married, thus prolonging the kingdom's prosperity!"
This is a great thing! No wonder Old Yan is attending court today.
One by one, the officials bowed in congratulations, and Yan Beixi and Yan Shidao had no choice but to bow in return to express their gratitude.
Normally, this grand court meeting should have ended here, but Emperor Xuan suddenly said:
"Qin Huizhi had the self-awareness to choose death, but I was blind. However, the position of prime minister is indispensable, so I have decided to appoint Yan Shidao as prime minister to assist me in governing this country!"
This announcement came somewhat suddenly, and the ministers were stunned for a moment before they came to their senses.
They did not find it surprising that Yan Shidao was appointed prime minister. Originally, Yan Shidao was a strong candidate for this position, but they did not know why he lost to Qin Huizhi.
But Yan Shidao was shocked. "This... I am not qualified for the position of Prime Minister. Your Majesty, please choose someone more capable!"
Emperor Xuan smiled calmly, "Three prime ministers from one family, this is a story that will go down in history. I believe in the Yan family, I believe in you, and I hope you can be like Prime Minister Yan. We, the monarch and the minister, will work together to create a prosperous Xuande era!"
…
…
"Is he scared?"
"I'm afraid it's... or perhaps it's just a delaying tactic. He's waiting for Yu Wendao to train the Tiance Army, and also waiting for news from Queen Shang. But Qin Huizhi's suicide was truly a brilliant move. All the blame has been borne by Qin Huizhi. Official Fu will definitely know this..."
"Without the military token, Qin Huizhi has no way of mobilizing the northern border troops. How could the ministers believe such a huge loophole?"
Yan Beixi laughed, "You...is this really that important?"
Yan Shidao was stunned and thought to himself, is this really not important?
"Everyone in this court would do as you wish, but look, no one is willing to pierce this layer of paper. Because everyone knows that this thin layer of paper cannot be pierced, it is the last piece of fig leaf!"
Yan Beixi sighed, "With this piece of paper, Your Majesty now has a way out!"
"What if I, a humble official, pierce this paper with my own hands?"
"So, it all depends on the outcome of Empress Shang's negotiations with Emperor Wu... If the result satisfies Fu Xiaoguan, he won't mind keeping this piece of paper. After all, this guy is very thick-skinned!"
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