Chapter 419 Alliance
"Returning to the Marquis' Mansion? Doesn't he know that there are disaster victims outside the city? Why would he take a break at this time?"
Emperor Gan De said with an expression that was indistinguishable from his joy or anger.
"Your Majesty, Marquis Wuning is not someone who does not know the importance of things. He will definitely not avoid idleness when he is in need of someone right now. I will go to Marquis Wuning's mansion to ask about this and then ask Marquis Wuning to report back to Your Majesty."
Duke Xuan again consoled the emperor with a smile.
"You are the only one who can smooth things over and act as a peacemaker. You have delayed my important task. Let's see what excuses you have."
Emperor Gan De didn't want to discuss the matter any further. He waved his hand to signal them to go down. He rubbed his aching head, saw a porcelain bowl of stewed bird's nest on the table, picked it up and drank it. After thinking for a while, he asked Eunuch Zhu to prepare the sedan chair and go to Concubine Yun's bedroom.
Duke Xuan arrived at the Marquis Wuning's mansion. Qin Hanzhang heard the letter and came out from the backyard to the guest hall. After exchanging a few words of greeting, Duke Xuan signaled Qin Hanzhang to send the servants away.
"Han Zhang, now is the time for us to act. When the disaster victims riot, you just need to lead the Imperial City Guards to suppress them. This will not only earn merit in front of His Majesty, but also make the people of Da Qi resentful."
Duke Xuan still looked like a peacemaker with a smile on his face, but what he said was extremely outrageous.
"Your Majesty has the final say on this matter. How can I issue orders on your behalf? If your Majesty finds out, it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor. Does the Duke want to put my Wuning Marquisate to death?"
Qin Hanzhang asked coldly.
"What are you talking about, Han Zhang? If this succeeds, Han Zhang will be a king of a different surname. How could he still be punished by Your Majesty then? He should be rewarded by Your Majesty." Duke Xuan Guo said with a smile.
Qin Hanzhang understood what Duke Xuan said, and followed his meaning and asked:
"In that case, can you please tell Han Zhang who the person who wants to be the master is? You can't let me die without knowing who is using me, right?"
"Han Zhang, don't be anxious. As long as you do this, I will tell you, and from now on you will be our comrade." Xuan Guogong comforted.
"Does the Duke take me for a fool? As long as I do this deceiving thing, His Majesty will be suspicious of me. Even if I don't want to follow the new master in the future, it will be useless. Does the Duke want to try and see if I can make your plan public despite the poison in my body?"
Qin Hanzhang looked at Duke Xuan coldly.
"Han Zhang, what are you talking about? How could I treat you like this? It's just that the plan has not been completed and cannot be leaked. This is the will of the new master, and I dare not disobey." Duke Xuan said innocently.
"Before the grand plan is completed, I don't know who will support it as the master? The Duke is good at scheming, could it be that the new master is you?" Qin Hanzhang suddenly raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"Han Zhang, you worry too much. I don't have such thoughts. I am just being driven by my new master. I have to obey orders. Han Zhang, please don't make things difficult for me."
Duke Xuan Guo shook his head helplessly and smiled bitterly.
"Okay, then I won't make it difficult for you. Madam has prepared some food in the mansion that will help you stay full. We will send it to the victims outside the city. Once Madam leaves, I will order people to suppress the victims."
Qin Hanzhang seemed to compromise and took a step back.
"What do you think the daughter of Grand Tutor Su has cooked to eat? If she had cooked, the victims would be obedient. What excuse would we have to suppress them?" Duke Xuan disagreed.
"This is the day my wife fulfilled her vow to give food to the people in exchange for merit. It happened to be the day of the disaster victims, so it was her wish. Even I couldn't stop her."
Qin Hanzhang raised the corner of his lips slightly, but did not say what the food was.
"Han Zhang, you'd better not forget the important thing. Marquis Wuning and his wife have both passed away. How long can the Marquis Wuning's Mansion last?" Duke Xuanguo had a smile on his face, but it did not reach his eyes.
"Don't forget, Duke. The Qin family has never been coerced. If you want to tear your face off, it's not impossible, but you must know what the outcome will be if you start a rebellion. It's still unknown whether the Duke's Mansion will fall first or the Wuning Marquis' Mansion will fall first."
Qin Hanzhang was originally a serious person, and now his face looked even colder.
Duke Xuan looked at Qin Hanzhang for a moment, and a smile reappeared on his face:
"Han Zhang really can't take jokes. Since the Marquis' wife wants to fulfill a vow, how can she be so unkind?
Han Zhang still had to keep his promise and wait for the Marquis's wife to send food and then he would suppress the victims. ”
"Okay, just as the Duke ordered. But after this time, you must let me know who the new master is. I, the Qin family, can't just randomly recognize a master."
Qin Hanzhang also softened his tone.
"Of course. The new master has been lying dormant for so many years, just waiting for this day."
Duke Xuan nodded and smiled.
Half an hour later, the carriage from the Wuning Marquis's Mansion, carrying three carts of food, followed Su Qianqian's carriage to the city gate.
The victims outside were clamoring and the city gates were slamming. The soldiers guarding the gates had serious faces. It was the first time in all these years that Xijing City was attacked by the people.
Su Qianqian and Qin Hanzhang climbed up to the city gate tower. At this time, Prince Xiang and Duke Xu were also on the city gate tower, and Prince Xiang looked serious.
Qin Hanzhang and Su Qianqian nodded slightly, and Duke Xu looked at Su Qianqian with an ambiguous smile.
The Qin family guards lifted a bamboo basket from the carriage. The things in the basket were wrapped in felt and carried to the city gate.
"People below the city, listen to me!" Su Qianqian shouted towards the city gate.
Su Qianqian's voice was soft, and this shout had no effect. Qin Hanzhang stepped forward and said, "Listen, people below the city. I am Qin Hanzhang, Marquis of Wuning!"
Qin Hanzhang's voice was gentle, clear, and penetrating. After he said this, the people under the city gate stopped what they were doing and looked up at the gate.
"If you want to have enough food and a place to stay, don't be impulsive and do stupid things. His Royal Highness Prince Xiang will be here to take care of you. I also promise that I will not leave you without food and clothing."
Qin Hanzhang's eyes were firm and his expression was calm, his face was majestic without anger. The noise of the people below the city stopped temporarily, and Su Qianqian spoke again:
“My fellow elders, although the snowstorm is a cruel act of God, the people are your Majesty’s subjects and you will not ignore it.
The Wuning Marquis's Mansion prepared filling noodles on the orders of the Crown Prince, and His Royal Highness Prince Xiang came to distribute them, two per person, plus a bowl of noodle soup.
If the people who are willing to accept the meal line up at the foot of the city to receive the meal, and if those who are unwilling deliberately attack the city gate, they are doing so with ulterior motives to incite civil unrest, and the people who associate with them will be punished. They should think clearly and distinguish between friends and enemies. ”
After Su Qianqian finished speaking, she looked outside the city gate. Some of the people looked around in confusion, whispered to each other, some hurriedly rushed to the front to line up, and some quietly retreated, gradually splitting into three groups.
There were only a small number of people queuing up, and apart from the disabled, there were the elderly, the weak, women and children with them.
"My lord, can you see it clearly?" Su Qianqian said softly, pointing at the three clearly defined groups of people.
"Open the city gate!" Qin Hanzhang nodded, and then gave an order, strode down the city gate, and led the imperial guards out of the city.
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