Upon hearing that Gao Wu, the Vice Minister of War, proposed that Wu Sanjia be given control of all military power in the country, Prime Minister Qin Ruhui could no longer sit still.
In front of the entire court, he said without any politeness, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, in less than half a year, Wu Sanjia has been promoted from a lowly sixth-rank official in the Ministry of War to a second-rank commander-in-chief and Grand General of Mighty Valor."
"If we were to grant Wu Sanjia the power to control all the troops in the country now, allowing him to command the entire nation's forces at will, I'm afraid it would be difficult to gain the support of the people."
"Besides, throughout history, how many military generals have held sway over their troops, using the emperor to command the feudal lords?"
"At this moment, if Wu Sanjia were to use his military seal to pave the way and turn his attention straight to the capital to force the emperor to abdicate, how would the emperor and empress dowager respond?"
"At that time, Wu Sanjia will pose a much greater threat to the Great Xin Dynasty than that traitor Chen Huai'an!"
Then, Qin Ruhui suddenly changed the subject, turning his anger towards Gao Wu, the Vice Minister of War, and rebuked him: "Lord Gao, I don't know what your intentions were in proposing to the Emperor and Empress Dowager that you grant Wu Sanjia the power to command all the troops in the realm;"
"But one thing is very clear to me: you must be secretly colluding with Wu Sanjia to disrupt the order of our Great Xin Dynasty and overthrow the Great Xin Empire!"
"Gao Wu, what are your intentions?"
snort!
As Qin Ruhui snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve, the other members of the prime minister's faction in the court immediately understood and stepped forward one after another.
On one hand, he angrily denounced Gao Wu, the Vice Minister of War, for his treacherous intentions; on the other hand, he petitioned the Emperor and Empress Dowager not to be misled by treacherous officials and to grant Wu Sanjia the power to control all the troops in the country.
In the blink of an eye, facing the verbal attacks from the entire court, the weak and powerless Vice Minister of War Gao Wu and the commander of the Imperial Guard He Changdong were overwhelmed by the Prime Minister's faction's spittle.
Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, Empress Dowager Su Wan'er, who was sitting behind the curtain in the Golden Palace, unusually stood up, lifted the curtain, walked to the steps of the Golden Palace, and shouted: "Silence!"
"What kind of decorum is this, pushing and shoving and making a scene in the imperial court?"
brush!
As soon as these words were spoken, the noisy and bustling Golden Palace indeed quieted down.
All the officials turned around in unison to look at Empress Dowager Su Wan'er, who was wearing a bright red phoenix robe in the Golden Palace.
A moment later, the noise and commotion resumed.
Clearly, these cunning and shrewd officials of the new dynasty and the prime minister's faction did not take the young Empress Dowager Su Wan'er seriously.
Seeing this, Su Wan'er was filled with rage. Her bright red phoenix robe heaved up and down, her oval face was as cold as ice, yet she was helpless.
"Alright, everyone, say less!"
At this moment, Qin Ruhui finally stepped forward with a gloomy face to clean up the mess.
With a hint of provocation, he first glanced at Empress Dowager Su Wan'er in the Golden Palace, then at Gao Wu and He Changdong, who were covered in dust and dirt, before finally turning his gaze back to the Golden Palace.
Qin Ruhui said coldly, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, I am a veteran of three reigns in the Great Xin Dynasty, and a minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor by the late emperor before his personal campaign."
"As the prime minister of the Great Xin Dynasty, I absolutely disagree with the idea of granting Wu Sanjia the power to control all the military forces in the country!"
"Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, please reconsider!"
After saying this, Qin Ruhui disregarded Empress Dowager Su Wan'er's feelings and stormed off in front of the entire court.
With the departure of Prime Minister Qin Ruhui, the other officials of the Great Xin Dynasty also took their leave.
The court assembly ended in discord.
A moment later, only the young Emperor Zhao Lingwu, Empress Dowager Su Wan'er, Vice Minister of War Gao Wu, and Imperial Guard Commander He Changdong remained in the vast Golden Palace, along with a group of palace maids and eunuchs.
Gao Wu hurriedly stepped forward and said anxiously to Empress Dowager Su Wan'er, "Your Majesty, today's events have completely severed ties with the traitor Qin Ruhui."
"This humble subject did not expect that this matter would provoke such a strong reaction from Qin Ruhui."
"From now on, based on my understanding of Qin Ruhui, he will definitely stop at nothing to find a way to harm us."
At this point, Gao Wu suddenly knelt down, tears streaming down his face, and said, "For the sake of the great Xin dynasty, I am willing to risk my life, but... but—"
"I fear that Qin Ruhui might act rashly in desperation and harm the Emperor and Empress Dowager!"
Upon hearing this, He Changdong, the commander of the Imperial Guards, immediately stepped forward, knelt before Empress Dowager Su Wan'er, and said firmly:
"Your Majesty, this humble general and the ten thousand Imperial Guards stationed in the capital will swear to protect Your Majesty and the Emperor with our lives."
"However, Qin Ruhui has controlled the government for a long time, and most of the civil and military officials and generals from various regions are his confidants. If Qin Ruhui is determined to do something treasonous, I'm afraid this humble general and these 10,000 Imperial Guards will not be able to hold him off for long!"
After a pause, He Changdong continued, "This humble general requests Her Majesty the Empress Dowager to order General Wu to lead his troops into the capital to defend the Emperor. This matter is of utmost urgency!"
"Once Qin Ruhui realizes what's happening, it won't be easy for the messenger to leave Jinling City!"
Su Wan'er's brows were furrowed, and she was hesitant.
But the extremely critical situation forced her to make a decision immediately.
Otherwise, once Qin Ruhui realizes what's happening, the only thing waiting for her and the young Emperor Zhao Lingwu will probably be to die in the palace under a fabricated illness.
Finally, Su Wan'er made up her mind and whispered, "Lord Gao, General He, I will immediately draft an imperial edict ordering Wu Sanjia to lead the Tiger Warriors to the capital to defend the emperor. I will trouble you two to handle this matter personally."
"As for whether the garrison commanders of the cities along the way from Ying and Mo prefectures to the capital will accept my imperial edict, that can only be left to fate!"
"Once this is accomplished, Your Majesty and I will certainly not treat you two, the officials and the general, unfairly!"
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, we are willing to die for the Emperor!"
"I would gladly die a thousand deaths!"
Gao Wu and He Changdong immediately accepted the order.
His eyes revealed a yearning for the highest position in the court.
at the same time.
No sooner had Prime Minister Qin Ruhui left the Golden Palace than he summoned officials from the Six Ministries of the court to a meeting in the Prime Minister's residence.
The Prime Minister's Residence, the Council Hall.
Qin Ruhui sat upright in the main seat of the council hall with a gloomy face.
Officials from the six ministries and the prime minister's faction lined up on both sides of the council hall.
Minister of Revenue Luo Yuanji was the first to step forward, speaking with righteous indignation: "Prime Minister Qin, Su Wan'er betrayed her promise first, and then secretly colluded with Wu Sanjia;"
"If we cannot control the situation as soon as possible, it will be too late when Wu Sanjia leads 300,000 elite Tiger Warriors to the capital to defend the emperor!"
As he spoke, Luo Yuanji made a throat-slitting gesture and said in a sinister tone, "In my opinion, we should go all the way and make Su Wan'er and her child disappear completely."
"Then, choose an obedient son from among the princes' offspring to be the new emperor, to ensure that Prime Minister Qin's power is not affected!"
"What do you all think?"
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