Chapter 340: The Northern Army Revolt
"Yongming, it's really not me." Empress Dowager Xie emphasized again.
Princess Yongming stared at Empress Dowager Xie for a long time with deep eyes, and said softly, "Okay, it's not you."
"When you decide to go with the flow, have you ever considered that something unexpected might happen?"
“You’ve thought about it, haven’t you?”
"You are Empress Dowager Xie, a daughter of the Xie family who has lived through three dynasties. How could you not have anticipated such a subtle risk?"
“But you’re moved.”
"To forcefully accept a little Bodhisattva who helps the poor and the needy and whose temples and shrines are built by the people on their own initiative would be enough to destroy your Majesty's precarious reputation."
"It is truly a blessing for your Xie family to have met Lu Mingchao."
"If I had known that Lu Mingchao and Gu Huai would not be together, I should have asked Yu Jin to marry her, so as to avoid getting involved in your situation."
"This is not just the Xie family's private matter!" Empress Dowager Xie seemed to have her throat strangled and her face turned red.
Princess Yongming said nothing more.
…
Liu Jingyuan, a general of the Northern Frontier Army, died suddenly from excessive drinking.
Without a leader, the Northern Army was in chaos.
The Northern Army general Qiao Song took advantage of the chaos to take over the Northern Army.
Within ten days, the banner of rebellion was raised.
The manifesto announced to the world that the pretended Emperor Zhenning was of violent temper, crooked and treacherous, cruelly oppressed loyal and good people, and even committed acts of treason, killing his master to seize the throne, and levying heavy taxes and forcibly taking women from the people. His unjust governance and corrupt personal ethics had chilled the hearts of loyal officials and righteous people, and angered both God and man. His evil deeds were truly intolerable to heaven and earth.
This proclamation is hereby issued to all prefectures, counties, and districts so that everyone knows it.
The rebellion of the Northern Army was like pouring water into a boiling oil pot, causing outrage among the people of the world.
The charges listed in the manifesto are not groundless.
The butcher knife wielded in the palace coup that year has become the arrow shot at Xiao Yao today.
Every arrow is poisoned and every arrow is fatal.
For the common people, persecuting loyal officials and killing their nephews to seize the throne are very far away, but forcing to death the little Bodhisattva who saves people from suffering is very close to them, and they can more easily empathize with it.
After hearing the news, Gu Huai was stunned for a moment, and then filled with endless ecstasy.
It's time to fight back.
The word "僞" in the manifesto is used very cleverly.
False means unorthodox.
How can a traitor who killed his nephew to seize the throne be considered an emperor?
We must avenge Achao!
"Father, let's rebel too!" Gu Huai spoke in a low voice with great ambition.
Duke of Zhen:!!!
Duke Zhenguo looked at Gu Huai as if he were a fool. "Rebellion?"
"What do you want to protest?"
"With this mouth?"
Gu Huai's eyes were burning with anger. "Father, Qiao Song, who came from a grassroots background, was able to rise up overnight and raise the banner of rebellion. He has the Northern Frontier Army, and the Gu family also has the Western Frontier Army..."
"Shut up!" the Duke of Zhen said sternly.
"You can't even leave Kyoto, how can you talk about an uprising?"
"Think about it carefully. Who in the North is jealous of Qiao Song?"
Gu Huai frowned slightly and said, "Thank you, old lady?"
Duke Zhenguo nodded and said, "Father, I think Qiao Song is just a target who has been pushed out into the open. The real commander of the Northern Army is actually Old Lady Xie."
Old Mrs. Xie: That’s a good guess. Don’t guess again next time.
"Given Old Lady Xie's age and energy, I'm afraid it will be difficult for her to lead the army." Gu Huai said in a low voice, half believing and half believing.
"He doesn't have the energy, but Prince Heng does!" Duke Zhen stroked his beard and said mysteriously, "Also, I always feel that the sons of the Xie family are not all dead."
"Thank you for your wisdom, old lady, how could you do such a stupid thing as putting the eggs in one basket?"
"Maybe Qiao Song is from the Xie family."
"Impossible!" Gu Huai blurted out.
Duke of Zhen: "Why?"
Gu Huai: "There is no one in the Xie family who looks so ordinary."
The Duke of Zhen was stunned.
Although it sounds ridiculous, it does make sense.
The Xie family, all of them have good looks.
"Father, did you just mention Prince Heng?"
"Have you found the whereabouts of Prince Heng?" Gu Huai grasped the key point belatedly.
The Duke of Zhen shook his head and said, "No need to look for it, it is in the North right now."
"The North has been stable for so many years, and suddenly something changed. Those who raised the banner of rebellion must have something to rely on."
"The throne is coming, and the word 'legitimacy' is worth thousands of troops."
"Keep quiet for the next few days and don't show your face in front of the emperor."
"The northern army has clearly launched an uprising. The emperor will certainly select generals to suppress the rebellion. There are very few generals available in the court, and most of those who have experience in leading troops are unwilling to take on this difficult task."
"There is more or less some kind of friendship between the military commanders, not to mention that the Xie family never keeps anything to themselves and has taught many military commanders the art of war."
"Qin Yuanqing died suddenly. Qin Er and Qin Si are temporarily unable to take charge of the government. Grand Tutor Qin has been drained of his body by alcohol and sex. The Qin family cannot afford such a person. Your Majesty has to carefully choose someone else."
"Father is going to claim to be ill now."
"No, I'm not insured if I'm sick. You had a quarrel with your father, and when he was scolding you, you accidentally fell down the stairs and hurt your leg."
"Father, I want to take over this job!" Gu Huai said loudly, "I want to quell the rebellion for Your Majesty!"
The sound was so loud, as if the singer was afraid that people hiding in the dark wouldn't be able to hear it.
The Duke of Zhenguo was dumbfounded.
Want to quell the rebellion?
"Are you crazy?" Duke Zhen frowned.
Gu Huai smiled and said, "Father, I really want to help your majesty solve his problems."
Duke Zhenguo's whole body was cold. Without hesitation, he picked up the long-necked vase beside him and smashed it hard on Gu Huai's head.
To help your majesty solve his problems?
Judging from that sinister tone, are you sure he doesn't want to lead his troops to turn against Prince Heng and the Xie family in the battlefield?
Ever since the news of Lu Mingchao's death reached the capital, Gu Huai, who was already abnormal, became even more abnormal.
He would hide in his study day after day to paint, and the portraits in his paintings were always of a loving couple.
Ten miles of red makeup.
Wedding greetings.
Listen to the rain and enjoy the flowers.
Outing boat trip.
Even eating together was depicted.
It’s a thick stack, like a complete life.
Even though the woman in the painting had no facial features, he could tell with a simple guess that it was from the Ming Dynasty.
Before this, he always knew his son had such a brain.
Now that my brain is injured, it is a good time to replenish it so that I don’t have to replenish it again.
The Gu family is wealthy and powerful, with as many relatives and old friends as the Xie family did. If they take a wrong step, thousands of lives will be lost.
All the Gu family could do was not to swing their swords at the Northern Army.
The Duke of Zhen looked at the blood-stained vase in his hand, then resolutely grabbed another one and smashed it against his head. "Hurry up, there's an assassin!"
The Duke of Zhenguo and his son were assassinated and fell into a coma. The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was closed and no guests were allowed to see them except for the doctors.
Upon hearing the news, the emperor in the palace smashed several pairs of jade articles.
No one expected that the emperor would finally choose Marquis Yongning to lead the troops.
Marquis Yongning, who was supposed to be waiting in his mansion for the three-court trial, suddenly turned into a general who was sent to the north to quell the rebellion.
There was no chance for Marquis Yongning to refuse.
After careful consideration, Marquis Yongning decided to lead the troops.
This is the only chance for Yongning Marquis Mansion.
If they fail to grasp the opportunity, the only fate that awaits the Yongning Marquisate is destruction.
Before the expedition, father and son turned against each other and drew their swords. Marquis Yongning crossed out Lu Minghua's name from the family tree.
Lu Minghua is no longer a member of the Lu family in Yongning Marquis' Mansion.
I want to be buried with my brother.