Chapter 95 Over Time
Tan Yuzhu's words left Wang Ruzhen speechless, and everyone else was at a loss for how to react.
Cooperating with barbarians is like dancing on a knife's edge. It's one thing to be wary at all times, but how can you proactively provide them with weapons?
However, the fact that Wang Wenyao would alter the agreement instead of proactively negotiating such cooperation with the Jurchens makes him seem somewhat clever.
He must have had some ulterior motive for doing this.
For example, they could exchange something more "useful" with the Jurchens, or they could use this incident to frame Tan Yuzhu.
If Tan Yuzhu hadn't discovered this matter in advance, and later the Jurchens bought ironware from Daning, would Daning have recognized the written agreement or not?
If they agree, then they will really have to provide the Jurchens with ironware.
Whether this ironware will be used to make farm tools or weapons, who can say for sure?
If they do not acknowledge it, then Da Ning will become the party that does not keep its word. From then on, not only will it not cooperate with the Jurchens, but it will also not trust other barbarian countries in the surrounding area.
Da Ning had no other choice but to select one of the two options.
No matter which option you choose, it's wrong.
Such a big mistake must have someone take the blame, and naturally, it can only be Tan Yuzhu, the mastermind behind this negotiation.
From this perspective, if Wang Wenyao succeeds in this, he could indeed achieve his goal of framing Tan Yuzhu.
But as I said before, this matter harms the interests of Da Ning, and is just as puzzling as the previous "incompetence" of the Northwest Army, which led the Serbian army into the country.
However, Qin Xiao turned the tide in the northwest, which prevented the Sai Kingdom from having a real chance to invade Daming.
But if this agreement is really signed, then not only Qin Xiao, but even if Chu Jiubian were added, there would be no other way to go.
This matter is entirely detrimental to Da Ning, and Wang Wenyao's actions are clearly aimed at the imperial court.
Given the complex situation in Da Ning, if he were to succeed, most of the powerful figures in the court, though disdainful in their hearts, would secretly praise his brilliant strategy.
Not only did he fail to accomplish his goal, but Tan Yuzhu also discovered and mitigated the risks in advance, and now she has directly reported him to the morning court. In that case, Wang Wenyao is both stupid and vicious.
Wang Ruzhen initially thought that Wang Wenyao was incredibly stupid.
However, after calming down, he guessed that this must have been the work of their good patriarch. The other party used his increasingly useless brain, thinking that he had done something extremely impressive, but in the end it was all for nothing.
Because of this incident, Wang Wenyao's position was lost before he even had a chance to settle in, and it's possible that other members of the Wang family will also be implicated.
As expected.
Qin Xiao, now in a superior position, glanced coldly at Wang Wenyao and said calmly, "Lord Wang, is what Lord Tan said true?"
Wang Wenyao's legs had already given way and he had collapsed to his knees when Tan Yuzhu began to complain. Now, his face was even paler, but he still tried to remain calm and said, "My lord, it was just a momentary mistake. Besides, it didn't cause any serious consequences, did it?"
Wang Wenyao looked up at Qin Xiao: "Moreover, when Lord Tan discovered my mistake, he had already punished me with twenty strokes of the cane."
Those twenty strokes of the cane were really hard; he almost lost both his legs.
Therefore, during the six months he spent in Northeast China, apart from the first month when he was full of vigor, Wang Wenyao hardly left the hospital and was recuperating from his injuries.
Later, when it came to negotiations with the Jurchens and the establishment of a chamber of commerce in the border town, he didn't get involved because he was afraid of looking bad with his limp.
On the way back to Beijing, he swallowed his pride and said many nice things to Tan Yuzhu and Cai Peng, thinking that the matter could be let go, but Tan Yuzhu did not let him off the hook.
Wang Wenyao is now deliberately bringing up the twenty strokes of the cane that made him lose face, in order to say that he has already been punished and that this matter should be put behind him.
But after hearing his words, Qin Xiao not only didn't let him off the hook, but instead said, "It seems that Lord Tan is indeed mindful of camaraderie. But how can such a matter that damages the foundation of the nation be punished with only twenty strokes of the cane?"
Wang Wenyao's heart skipped a beat.
They're not really going to dismiss him from his post, are they? Then...
"Guards!" Qin Xiao called out, and two Imperial Guards immediately emerged from the shadows inside the hall.
"Take him away and behead him," Qin Xiao ordered casually.
Wang Wenyao's expression changed, and he suddenly looked up at the person on the high seat.
"Yes." Two Imperial Guards grabbed Wang Wenyao from either side and dragged him outside.
"Wait!" Wang Wenyao finally cried out in alarm, "I'm innocent! Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you can't kill me! Qin Xiao, you can't kill me!!"
Ultimately, I've been pampered since I was a child.
Wang Wenyao's shrewdness and cunning are all superficial and childish. Right now, he doesn't even know who he should turn to for help.
"Qin Xiao!" he screamed, his voice trembling with anguish. "You've already killed my third brother, and now you want to kill me too! My father will not let you get away with this, the Wang family will not let you get away with this!"
As people were being dragged out of Fengtian Hall, Wang Ruzhen remained motionless, his eyes lowered and his expression calm.
He witnessed Wang Wenfu's beheading.
Now that Wang Wenyao has been beheaded, he has experienced it all again, but no matter which time, he has no intention of interfering.
He is indeed a member of the family head's faction, but that's only if he can protect himself. If the situation is unfavorable to him, the family head and factional struggles should all take a back seat.
However, to his surprise, a familiar voice suddenly came from the hall: "Your Majesty, Your Excellency, please show leniency and spare Lord Wang."
Wang Ruzhen looked up in surprise and saw a white-haired but upright figure standing in the hall, bowing towards the front.
It was Wang Zhiyuan, the Minister of Rites.
Qin Xiao raised his hand, and the two Imperial Guards who had already reached the palace gate paused.
Wang Wenyao's angry shouts stopped, and through his teary eyes he saw Wang Zhiyuan's back, and his tears flowed even more fiercely.
The feeling of surviving a disaster made his legs go weak and he couldn't move.
That's great! With the Minister here, he'll be fine.
"What do you mean by that, Minister Wang?" Qin Xiao asked. "Wang Wenyao has made such a grave mistake. If it weren't for Lord Tan's keen insight, you would know better than I, Minister, what kind of losses our Great Ning would have suffered."
“Your words are wise,” Wang Zhiyuan said. “However, Wang Yuanwailang is still young and new to officialdom, so it is inevitable that he will make some mistakes and be confused.”
“However, he was indeed terribly wrong in this matter, and it is unforgivable. I only beg Your Majesty and Your Excellency to spare his life. I am willing to retire and return to my hometown, taking Wang Wenyao away from the capital to teach him properly.”
Upon hearing this, the entire court fell silent.
Wang Wenyao looked at the tall, upright old man in the hall in disbelief, and the others had similar reactions.
Even Xiao Huaiguan, the Minister of Personnel who was old and had poor eyesight and hardly participated in court affairs anymore, turned his head slightly and looked at Wang Zhiyuan with his cloudy eyes.
The position of Minister is second only to the Regent in the court.
Such a voice was something Xiao Huaiguan wouldn't relinquish even as he neared his grave, yet Wang Zhiyuan said it so easily.
No one was not shocked.
In the silence, Chu Jiubian stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Your Excellency. Wang Wenyao's mistake cannot be blamed on Minister Wang, but Minister Wang's kindness as an elder is truly touching."
"It would be better to spare Wang Wenyao's life, but the Minister is getting on in years and has to teach his unruly children and grandchildren. He should go home and rest for a while."
This means that Wang Wenyao could live, but if Wang Zhiyuan wanted to protect him, he could not stay in the court.
Although he didn't exactly retire and return to his hometown, he had practically lost all real power.
Seeing his uncle lightly touch his earlobe, Baili Hong nodded and said, "Then it will be as you say, my dear minister."
Although Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had not discussed this matter with Wang Zhiyuan, that's how cooperation works between smart people—they can work together without needing to explicitly discuss it.
This whole affair began to brew from the very first time Wang Zhiyuan recommended Wang Wenyao for a government post.
Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian instructed Tan Yuzhu to find an opportunity for Wang Wenyao to make a mistake, but Wang Wenyao was ridiculously stupid. He killed himself without even asking Tan Yuzhu to do anything.
The consequence of Wang Wenyao's mistake is that he will "implicate" Wang Zhiyuan.
Wang Zhiyuan had already planned to take this opportunity to retire gracefully, and now he naturally followed suit, kneeling down and kowtowing to thank His Majesty.
But that wasn't the end of it. After returning to the Wang family, he finally accomplished what he was truly meant to do.
He would use the excuse of being implicated to incite dissatisfaction among the people towards Wang Wenyao and the head of the family, Wang Huanzhi, and then have others add fuel to the fire so that Wang Qichen could naturally take over.
Two days later, the autumn wind was chilly, and the rain pelted the ground with withered leaves.
News has spread in Beijing that Wang Qichen has been replaced as the head of the Wang family.
When the news reached the palace, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao were reviewing memorials. Baili Hong and Hong Fu went to the Directorate of Ceremonial to learn from him and relax.
At such a young age, staring at official documents every day might damage your eyes.
After Xiao Xiangzi finished reporting on the Wang family's affairs and left, Chu Jiubian said, "They were really fast."
“Now the Wang family is completely biased towards the imperial court,” Qin Xiao said.
"It's almost time." Chu Jiubian looked up at him. "Are you ready?"
Qin Xiao laughed and said, "Alright."
Chu Jiubian tapped the table twice with his fingertips, his eyes deep and dark.
That night, Xiao Huaiguan, the Minister of Personnel, died on his bed from an overdose of datura.
The Xiao family hung up white silk, and the cries of weeping, accompanied by rain and thunder, echoed through the long street all night.
At this point, the positions of Minister of Rites and Minister of Personnel in the imperial court were both vacant.
Needless to say, Chu Jiubian, as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, naturally filled the position, and Wang Yu, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was also promoted to the position of Vice Minister.
Lu Yao, who had just entered officialdom, was promoted from Assistant Minister to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
Thus, the entire Ministry of Personnel was finally completely under Chu Jiubian's control.
As for the Ministry of Rites, Wang Zhiyuan was in charge of "disciplining his children and grandchildren" at home, and the person in charge was Vice Minister Lu Qiaobo.
But his subordinates were the newly promoted Left and Right Physicians—Tan Yuzhu and Cai Peng.
These two are now both government officials, and they have easily stripped Lu Qiaobo of most of his power.
But Lu Qiaobo had no way to solve it.
Just a few days later, Hong Fu, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, attended the morning court session for the first time as a subject.
His first words were impeachment.
The people being impeached were none other than Zhen Mingzhao, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Zhen Fu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, who were also the in-laws and son-in-law of Su Sheng, the Minister of Revenue.
For the past six months, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has done nothing but investigate Su Sheng and his cronies.
It must be said that this person was indeed extremely cautious. The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs investigated for more than half a year, but they still couldn't find any evidence that was enough to suppress Su Sheng.
Even though Hong Fu knew that the destruction of the dikes in Hexi County was related to him, he was unable to find any clues.
Therefore, up to now, he has only found evidence of the Dali Temple's disregard for human life, acceptance of bribes, and wrongful convictions.
These things were originally well hidden, but Hong Fu was so resourceful that he managed to uncover quite a bit of them.
Even just this half was enough to ensure that the Zhen family father and son would never have a chance in officialdom again.
"Your Majesty, all of this was done by me alone," said Zhen Mingzhao, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, with a firm expression. "Minister Zhen knows nothing about it!"
The facts and evidence are all there; there is no room for sophistry.
Zhen Mingzhao took all the blame on her own, just to protect her son, even though it was actually her son who did all of this.
Chu Jiubian had long anticipated this outcome, but he hadn't originally intended to exterminate them; he simply wanted control of the Dali Temple.
He looked up at Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao then said, "Lord Zhen is truly devoted to his son."
Zhen Mingzhao kowtowed heavily to the ground, making a dull thud: "Please, Your Excellency, please, Your Majesty, see the truth. These things were all done by me alone, and have nothing to do with anyone else."
"In that case, guards," Qin Xiao said, "throw Zhen Mingzhao into the imperial prison and execute him in the autumn."
The Imperial Guards stepped forward and silently took the man away.
Throughout the hall, no sound of Zhen Mingzhao begging for mercy could be heard. He remained calm, as if he were not the one about to die. Only the mournful cries of Shaoqing Zhen Fu echoed for a long time.
Su Sheng closed his eyes, and his face seemed to age many years in an instant.
He knew that the person in power was not actually targeting the Zhen family, but him, the Su family, and even more so, the Prince of Dingbei behind him.
But there was nothing he could do but try to avoid making mistakes and to be more cautious with every step he took.
He could not possibly betray the Prince of Dingbei, and Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had given him a chance to leave, which was when his youngest daughter, Su Xier, left the capital.
But he didn't leave, so now they won't give him another chance.
He could only keep moving forward, step by step, even though he had already foreseen his future.
One of the Zhen family members, father and son, was imprisoned, and the other was dismissed from his post. The Zhen family was also ransacked by the Imperial Guards, and the Dali Temple was then taken over by the students of the Criminal Justice Department of the Imperial Academy.
As soon as Gu Fanggang entered officialdom, he became the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
This is very inappropriate, but the court is practically a one-man show by the emperor's faction, so no one can say anything anymore.
Although this incident did not directly harm Su Sheng, it did weaken him significantly.
Moreover, the Ministry of Revenue was no longer under Su Sheng's control; under him was Vice Minister Wang Pengyi, who was now openly a member of the emperor's faction.
There was also the physician Chao Shun.
Chao Shun originally relied on the Qiu family for a living, but he was terrified by Chu Jiubian during the disaster relief efforts in Hexi County.
He dared not help the Qiu family embezzle public funds, nor did he dare to truly offend the Qiu family, so he could only use his own family's wealth to satisfy the Qiu family's appetite.
This act of filling in the gaps can lead to dissatisfaction and even resentment.
Chao Shun understood that no one in the court could be trusted except the emperor's faction.
Therefore, apart from Su Sheng and a dozen or so officials who were loyal to him, the Ministry of Revenue was no longer under his control.
Moreover, all the money that Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao have earned recently has been invested in the army and military pay, and has not been allocated to the Ministry of Revenue at all. Even the money allocated to the Ministry of Revenue has been kept under the supervision of Vice Minister Wang Pengyi.
Therefore, although Su Sheng was still in office, he no longer had the opportunity to profit from the Ministry of Revenue.
This was not good news for him, nor for the Prince of Dingbei, who desperately needed money to strengthen himself.
However, Prince Dingbei, Baili Yu, did not rely entirely on Su Sheng, but instead set his sights on the Qiu family, the richest family in Daning.
However, the Qiu family has recently been facing increasing difficulties.
First, the canal transport was interfered with by the Drunken King Liang, resulting in a loss of 70% of the profits.
Then came the rise of the Southern Frontier caravan. The Southern Frontier princess, whom I had met a few times, already possessed an exceptional business acumen at a young age, as well as courage and ability.
In just six months, the caravans from southern Xinjiang had squeezed out the Qiu family's caravans wherever they went.
Their goods were of high quality and low price, and they always had some novelties made by the princes of the Southern Frontier. With the support of Southern Frontier silk and the imperial court, even merchants who originally cooperated with the Qiu family to exchange goods began to favor the goods of the Southern Frontier caravan.
Furthermore, after Lu Yao redistributed the farmland to the people, the Qiu family's main sources of income each month decreased significantly.
This was simply intolerable for the Qiu family, whose members were obsessed with money from top to bottom.
Qiu Hongkuo knew that talking to Qin Xiao about these things was useless; he had to find Chu Jiubian to discuss them.
Qiu Heng tried to meet with Chu Jiubian several times, but was rejected each time, so Qiu Hongkuo gave up on the idea.
From the very beginning, he wanted to find an opportunity to sit down and talk about cooperation with Chu Jiubian, but one thing after another happened after that, and he never found an opportunity.
Now, there's even less of a chance.
It seems he was ultimately not destined to be with this deity.
“Uncle, we can’t go on like this.” Qiu Heng said in a deep voice, “If the court won’t give us a way out, we should find another way out.”
The Prince of Dongjiang and the Prince of Huguang secretly sent him messages, promising that if they came to power, they would return the management of the Grand Canal to him.
But they only returned half, or six or seven tenths, not all of it to the Qiu family.
Only the Prince of Dingbei, Baili Yu, said he would give him full control over the canal transport, and in addition, the salt transport would also be handed over to the Qiu family.
This shows more sincerity and generosity than the other two vassal kings.
Now the imperial court controls nearly 30% of the salt fields in Daming, and fine salt is gradually entering the market. The price is not as high as it was initially, but it is still extremely profitable.
However, Chu Jiubian did not give this business to anyone else, but only to the Southern Xinjiang caravan.
The money earned by the Southern Xinjiang caravans naturally flowed into the imperial court's coffers to support Qin Xiao's army.
This is not a good thing for anyone.
The Qiu family doesn't care who is stronger; they only care who can give them the most benefits.
Qiu Hongkuo sat in his wheelchair, gazing into the distance toward the palace.
How ironic! The wheelchair he was sitting in was actually a product of the Southern Xinjiang caravan, supposedly made by the young master of Southern Xinjiang.
The addition of a black ring of something called "rubber" to the wooden wheels made the ride completely different from the bumpy, uneven ride of a horse-drawn carriage.
These people from the Southern Frontier didn't hide anything; they all said it was Chu Taifu's idea, and that the "rubber" was something the other party had asked the King of the Southern Frontier to find.
This is good stuff.
The Southern Frontier—no, I should say that Grand Tutor Chu—truly has so many wonderful things.
Qiu Hongkuo's eyes held an unreadable emotion. After a long while, he finally spoke: "Reply to them. My Qiu family only wants Chu Jiubian."
This deity is the key to the overall situation.
Since his appearance, the situation in the capital has changed every day. Qin Xiao and the imperial power have become stronger and stronger, while other forces have gradually become weaker.
It cannot be said that this is entirely due to Chu Jiubian's efforts, but without him, Qin Xiao would never have been able to reach his current position in less than two years.
Therefore, obtaining the divine protection and benefit from Chu Jiubian was the greatest guarantee.
He thought that others would think the same way, which is why Qiu Hongkuo said he didn't want anything but Chu Jiubian.
Qiu Heng nodded: "Yes."
Three secret letters were sent by express courier to the fiefdoms of the three vassal kings.
Today, the world is roughly divided into two forces: one is the imperial court, the southern border, the royal family, and the northern army, which have power, money, fame, and soldiers.
The other side was a rebellious force led by the Prince of Huguang, the Prince of Dongjiang, the Prince of Dingbei, and the Prince of Anhuai, with the Xiao, Lu, and Qiu families as its supporters. It had all the necessary elements and was no less powerful than the imperial court, and was even slightly stronger.
However, the alliance between the feudal princes and the aristocratic families had one major drawback: they each had their own agendas and were wary of and plotting against each other.
Such alliances may appear "united" for the time being because they share a common enemy, but they can quickly fall apart if anything goes wrong.
Therefore, everyone still harbored some apprehension, and they were extremely tense, with everyone feeling an increasingly strong sense of urgency.
Henan, the Prince of Anhuai's Palace.
Bai Liming sat in the main seat, watching the strategist Jiang Yongshou and General He Zhen who were about to attack.
The two had always been at odds, but they hadn't argued much in the last six months.
For no other reason than that the two of them shared a common goal—to overthrow the imperial court.
Baili Ming always dreamed of that snowy night in the Fukang Pavilion of the palace, where he sat at the same table with His Majesty and Grand Tutor Chu, enjoying a lively family feast.
The little boy spoke to him in a childish voice, and Grand Tutor Chu would smile from time to time, his expression no longer so indifferent.
Bai Liming could tell that they were all very good people.
He was particularly impressed by what they had done over the past year.
However, both of his civil and military officials harbored ambitions that he dared not even dare to scout. They disliked a stable life and desired greater power and higher status.
Bai Liming didn't know how to advise him, nor did he dare to.
He became increasingly silent, and hadn't even laughed in a long time.
But the two people who had previously cared for and looked after him didn't notice, or rather, they did notice but didn't pay attention.
Because in their hearts, there are more important things.
He Zhen wanted to make great achievements, become a renowned general, and be granted a title and the position of prime minister.
He had never hidden these thoughts, and Baili Ming could see them clearly.
However, Baili Ming couldn't understand Jiang Yongshou.
The other party shouldn't be such an impulsive person. He didn't believe that the other party couldn't see that in this battle, their Anhuai Army was just an extra and insignificant.
However, Jiang Yongshou did not stop He Zhen. Instead, he actively contacted the other three princes.
If he hadn't known the other person since childhood, and if the other person hadn't been the strategist left to him by his father, Baili Ming would have thought that the other person was a strategist of another vassal king.
"Your Highness." Jiang Yongshou called out three times before Baili Ming snapped out of his thoughts and looked up at him.
Jiang Yongshou smiled gently and said, "It's getting late, Your Highness, please get some rest."
"Yes, sir too." Baili Ming looked outside; it was already dark.
Perhaps because of the overcast sky, the sky was exceptionally dark tonight, and the autumn wind rustled the branches, casting dappled shadows.
The Imperial Palace.
Inside the bedroom in the west courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Chu Jiubian sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, propping his chin up as he looked at Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao, dressed in his undershirt, stood on the ground, carefully inflating the tires of Baili Hong's small bicycle.
The child's bicycle is no longer the four-wheeled vehicle it was six months ago; it has been upgraded to a slightly larger two-wheeled vehicle.
Qin Xiao pumped the tire twice, then reached out and squeezed it twice.
Previously, this task was done by palace servants, but the day before yesterday, Qin Xiao saw that the tire was flat, so he casually pumped it a few times, which resulted in a tire blowout.
He had a new tire installed today, so he had to inject it himself again, but he was much more careful this time.
After finally finishing, Qin Xiao stood up straight and asked, "What else can rubber be used for?"
This stuff is really good for making tires.
"That's a lot." Chu Jiubian yawned, his tone softening slightly with sleepiness. "Once the world is at peace, we can do them one by one."
"Well, time will tell." Qin Xiao said casually, but his gaze was fixed on the young man.
Chu Jiubian yawned again.
Qin Xiao laughed and said, "I'll wash my hands, you go to sleep first."
"Hmm." Chu Jiubian didn't stand on ceremony with him, turned over and rolled into the quilt, curling himself up.
When Qin Xiao returned after washing his hands, all he noticed was his messy hair.
He skillfully placed the young man's long hair beside his pillow before lying down and casually turning off the light.
Reaching out to pull back the covers, Chu Jiubian, as usual, had his back to him.
The other person seemed to enjoy being hugged from behind, but Qin Xiao actually preferred to be face-to-face with him, where a simple lowering of his head would bring a kiss to his lips.
But it's fine to have his back to him; the young man's full buttocks are right against him, so it's comfortable even if he doesn't do anything.
Chu Jiubian, in his capacity as high priest, spoke with Wang Qichen about many things last night, and went to court this morning, so he is very sleepy tonight.
But as soon as the man came closer, his sleepiness dissipated considerably.
However, he didn't dare to move. If he did, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
But Qin Xiao could tell from his barely perceptible stiffness that he wasn't asleep at all, so he moved even more vigorously.
First, she gently kissed the young man's soft earlobe and the back of his fair neck.
Chu Jiubian had his eyes closed, but he could clearly feel his inner garment slipping off his shoulders and his trousers loosening.
The rain outside grew louder, accompanied by muffled thunder and fleeting flashes of light, making the young man's fair shoulders sway so brightly they made one dizzy.
Then came an even deeper darkness, so dark that one could hardly see their own hand in front of their face.
When vision is deprived, other senses become more intense.
Qin Xiao became increasingly rude, and his hands became more unrestrained.
Chu Jiubian bit his lip and remained motionless.
But when his groin was rubbed numb, he finally couldn't help but move, and then he heard the man groan.
Chu Jiubian then deliberately moved again.
The next moment, the man leaned in, gripping his waist and rubbing his legs until they were red and burning hot...
==
Two days later, the light rain continued.
Rumors suddenly spread throughout Daning.
It is said that a golden dragon appeared in the fiefdom of the King of Huguang, and Taoist priests and monks went to the place and recited prophecies such as "Huguang hides the mystery", which almost indicated that King Baili Yue of Huguang was the true Son of Heaven.
If this statement were simply taken as a pretext, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao could easily label him a traitor and launch a military crackdown.
Along with these rumors, two other misinformation also spread.
First, Prince Ning, Qin Xiao, a relative of the empress, caused chaos in the government and disrupted the established order.
Secondly, Chu Jiu Bian was a heretic who brought ruin to the nation.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com