Chapter 224 An old friend visits, monitoring the entire city...
The 100,000 troops were arrayed on the outskirts of the city, seemingly invincible, but in reality, they had no chance of winning whatsoever.
Days passed, and the approaching army remained stationary, not daring to make a move. Chen Liu, who had slunk into the city, was filled with surprise and doubt, but finally realized what was going on.
Are they scared?
Realizing something was amiss, she immediately sent men to investigate the total number of enemy soldiers, obtaining an interesting figure. Chen Liu instantly understood that what Zhang Ting had done that day was merely a ploy to delay the battle.
She was overjoyed. Although she hadn't killed Zhang Ting that day, she had been able to test the strength of the rebels, which was a fortunate thing.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Chen Liu could not contain his excitement and summoned his confidants for a meeting, immediately ordering the arrangements for the coronation ceremony!
She wanted to wear the dragon robe, lead the army herself, and personally behead Chen Jue!
Hahahaha—
Just thinking about Chen Jue's expression then, and the fate of that little bitch Zhang Ting, made her burst into laughter. So what if you're of noble birth, so what if you're a master strategist? Alas, Heaven has saved me!
...
The person who knows their own shortcomings best is often themselves. Chen Jue, Zhang Ting, Xu Qiushui, and others understood the gap between the Eastern Palace Guard and the capital even better than Chen Liu.
Chen Jue has lost a lot of hair lately; every morning when he touches it, there are clumps of it. He can't help but worry. He doesn't have enough supplies, so he borrows from various sources to make do. But improving his strength is not something that can be done overnight; it will take three to five years of training.
He summoned two key ministers and talked all night, but they still couldn't come up with an effective solution. So many days had passed, and not only had Chen Liu discovered the problem, but if they delayed any longer, the morale of the army, which had just been lifted, would turn into a pile of loose sand again, and it would be as difficult as climbing to heaven to revive it in a short time.
Xu Qiushui, with her extensive experience, was quick to make a decision. "Your Highness, let's return to Yingzhou Prefecture and set up camp there, then proceed with our plans gradually."
Chen Jue didn't speak. This was a solution that couldn't really be called a solution, but they had finally made it to Kyoto. If they went back in such a humiliating way, wouldn't all their efforts and the territory they had built up be wasted?
Retreating to Yingzhou Prefecture might be the wisest course of action at present, but Zhang Ting disagreed. Supplying tens of thousands of troops would be incredibly costly. Retreating to Yingzhou Prefecture sounded easy, but there were no more corrupt officials or wealthy merchants to exploit there. Where would the money and supplies come from? The only solution would be to bleed every single person in Yingzhou dry!
If the military supplies for tens or even hundreds of thousands of troops were to be provided, the prosperous and bustling Yingzhou Prefecture would be transformed into a second Zhangzhou Prefecture in less than three years, with the people suffering and corpses strewn across the land!
"Strike at the heart of the matter," she said to Chen Jue. "But if we retreat to Yingzhou Prefecture, will our army be safe? The capital is formidable, and the garrisons in various regions are exceptionally strong. Once the Five Emperors' daughters ascend the throne, they can rightfully mobilize the entire nation's army to annihilate us. If we only have to deal with one or two cities, our army still has a fighting chance. But if we have to deal with twenty-eight prefectures simultaneously or in succession, our army will be utterly powerless."
She rose and bowed deeply, her words utterly sincere: "Your Highness, since we embarked on this campaign, there has been no turning back. One step forward and the world will submit; one step back and we will surely die." Chen Jue is no longer young. If the war is not resolved in her generation, what will be passed down to her daughter and the people of Yingzhou Prefecture will be endless levies and oppression.
Xu Qiushui fell silent and said nothing more.
Chen Jue moved her hand. Zhang Ting's words made sense, but she still didn't have the courage to burn her bridges. She had been biding her time for ten years, preparing for the day she would be on the throne, and also leaving herself a way out if she were to be defeated and forced to establish her own independent regime.
Zhang Ting replied, "We pursue hegemony with the determination to win, but also with the determination to die. We always fight with our heads on the line; no one knows who will be the next to lose their head. If we leave room for maneuver, no one will go all out."
Chen Jue felt embarrassed. As the commander-in-chief of the entire army, she was not as decisive or courageous as a young man.
"I understand. Let's discuss this further." But to gamble everything, is that just reckless folly?
Knowing he couldn't push his lord too far, Zhang Ting bowed to Xu Qiushui in farewell. Suddenly, a soldier rushed in, "Your Highness, the Fourth Princess requests an audience."
The Fourth Princess? Zhang Ting looked at Xu Qiushui, whose face was also blank.
Zhang Ting's impression of this princess was limited to her being physically weak, of low birth, unloved, and unknown. Although she was one of the candidates for the next emperor, no one ever took her seriously. She herself was also very private and rarely appeared in public.
It's baffling that such an 'invisible person' would visit at such a crucial juncture.
Chen Jue was even more bewildered than the other two. She had only a casual acquaintance with this fourth sister and didn't really understand her purpose in coming. But since she was here, she had to see her no matter what.
Zhang Ting and Xu Qiushui, as key ministers, were naturally retained, ready to offer advice to their lord when necessary.
A moment later, the soldier lifted the tent flap, and a tall, slender figure slowly walked in. The person was backlit, wearing a dark blue robe, and his superior facial features were faintly visible.
Chen Jue had not seen Chen Fu for more than ten years. Indeed, the names of the eldest princess, the deposed crown princess, the fifth princess, and even the third princess who died young all represented precious jade. Only the fourth princess was named Chen Fu, which shows Emperor Chengtai's indifference towards her.
She said, with complete unfamiliarity, "Fourth Brother, you're here." At the same time, there was an exclamation: "Eldest Sister!"
The person paused slightly, smiled gently at Zhang Ting, and said, "Little Si, you're here too."
Zhang Ting's lips moved slightly. "Assistant Minister, Chen Fu, is that the same person?"
Chen Jue glanced quickly at his beloved minister, asked the fourth prince to sit down, and then quickly exchanged a glance with Xu Qiushui.
She nodded with both hands, clearly realizing something. Chen Jue looked away, not pressing for details about the connection between her beloved minister and her younger sister, but instead asking Chen Fu why he had come to visit.
Yang Fuchen, also known as Chen Fu, had the air of a weak scholar and spoke very respectfully, but his words were not polite: "I have come here today for a matter. In the capital, the fifth prince is already preparing to ascend the throne, and it seems that you, second sister, are not allowed to enter."
Chen Jue frowned, but wasn't angry. "Are you here to mock me?"
Chen Fu shook his head slightly, "No, I'm here to help you."
"oh?"
Xu Qiushui lowered her head and remained silent, trying to fathom the other woman's thoughts. The fourth princess, out of favor and without any support, had managed to leave the palace, live in seclusion, and study diligently for many years, ultimately earning the prestigious title of "Chuanlu" (a high-ranking official in the imperial examinations). This showed her considerable ambition and scheming. Was her request to see the lord today an attempt to take advantage of his misfortune, or did she harbor treacherous intentions towards the entire army?
Chen Fu's eyelashes drooped slightly, and he said, "I only want to settle one regret." He looked up at Chen Jue and said each word firmly and forcefully, "Let the person she fears and hates the most ascend the throne."
Who is this 'she'? The room fell silent.
Chen Jue stroked his chin, thinking to himself that the fifth prince was simply not destined to be emperor. Even the least threatening fourth prince had been forced into becoming an enemy, so it was only right that he himself should take his place.
Xu Qiushui was filled with doubts. She had never heard the Fifth Princess criticize the Fourth Princess before... But seeing her lord's expression, she suppressed her confusion.
Only Zhang Ting paused, her lips slightly parted, her fingers involuntarily curling inward. Having come this far, her senior sister probably hated Emperor Cheng Tai the most.
Many questions that were once unanswered have now been answered.
She felt a strange unease, glanced at her senior sister, then looked away and remained silent.
Chen Jue didn't entirely believe it. The words of royalty were like excrement; whoever took them seriously was eating shit. "Why should I believe you?"
Chen Fu, knowing they were all connected by the same vine, surely understood her meaning. But she wasn't necessarily trying to gain his trust. "Believe it or not, it's better this way. I'll create the conditions for you. I'll do this no matter what. Whether you can seize the opportunity is up to you." With that, she stood up and walked out.
Chen Jue choked. Was this the attitude of negotiating with someone? Did he not want to get anything from her?
He called out to her, "What do you want?"
Chen Fu glanced back at her, "I want freedom." He lowered his eyes and walked away.
Chen Jue was puzzled: You, a princess, aren't you free enough? After Xu Qiushui told her about Chen Fu's experience, she was even more confused. She had been out in the world for more than ten years without anyone interfering with her. Wasn't that free enough?
After a few more days of silence, the Emperor's fourth daughter suddenly declared that the former Crown Princess was the rightful heir apparent, and asserted that she had been framed in the past. This statement immediately sparked heated discussions in the capital.
Although the Fourth Princess is 'invisible', she is still a confirmed member of the royal family. No matter how weak her power is, her support is a powerful blow to Chen Liu.
Does a 'crown prince' who is deserted by everyone and not recognized by the people have the right to ascend the throne?
When the court officials gathered in private to discuss this matter, they all sighed, "If only His Highness Chen Jue had been the one to stand in the spotlight in the future..." They were all veteran officials in the court. When Chen Jue was the Crown Prince, he was courteous to the virtuous and gentle, and could not have been the best monarch.
"Keep your voices down! In just a couple of days... that person will be enthroned. We can't afford to offend her! Just think of Lord Zheng's family... oh dear! The whole family was executed..."
"The truth is still undetermined, yet she confiscated the property and punished an old minister based solely on fabricated charges. I think she is even more tyrannical and licentious than the late emperor!"
"Shh! Stop talking! My neck doesn't want to move yet."
...
The focus shifts to the interior of the palace, to the Qingluan Hall.
Did Chen Liu not know she had killed the wrong person? Of course she did, but by the time she realized it, she had already given the order. A monarch's word is law; if she rejected the decree, how would she deal with the court officials in the future?
What's more, Zheng Zeyan made her lose face so much. So what if she sacrificed her entire family's lives to save face?
However, this was not her concern.
"Bang—" All the memorials on the table were swept to the ground. The palace servant knelt on the ground trembling. The huge hall was spacious and magnificent, making her feel as if she were in the Golden Palace, the supreme ruler above all others.
Chen Liu's initial anger was suddenly replaced by a sense of satisfaction at having absolute power. Chen Fu, a man of little renown and without any military authority, actually dared to think he could shake her rule with just a few words? What a fool!
Since she took command of the army, she has placed the Imperial Guards in every corner of the city. She dares to say that the entire capital is filled with eyes and ears, and if anyone makes any rash moves, their head will roll instantly.
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