Since Emperor Jianzhang had awakened, naturally whatever he said was law. He was the emperor—even if he truly treated the ministers like fools and played them for idiots, there was nothing to be done about it. At least his calculations had been correct, and nothing major had gone wrong. Moreover, he had the old Chief Minister accompanying him in performing this act, and he had awakened before the situation developed beyond control.
Besides, in this theatrical performance that Emperor Jianzhang had staged and directed, the roles most of them played were hardly glorious ones. Emperor Jianzhang was now saying “what fault is that of yours,” but in the future he might not truly think so.
It was obvious that earlier one had been playing the good cop and the other the bad cop with the Grand Prince. Everyone was crystal clear in their hearts, so they dared not say anything superfluous. Furthermore, if it had truly been the Grand Prince who poisoned him, unless His Majesty had really gone mad, he would never protect him.
Having spoken to this point, Emperor Jianzhang didn’t immediately dismiss them. He coughed a few times and turned his head to ask Chief Minister Chang: “Zijing Pass has fallen?”
This light, casual question made everyone’s hearts, which had just been set down, instantly leap up again—it was precisely because Zijing Pass was teetering on the brink that some people had truly conceived the thought of supporting Prince Gong’s son first, following public opinion, regardless of whether Prince Gong was truly wronged or not. Now Emperor Jianzhang was asking about Zijing Pass again…
But they had truly overthought it. When Emperor Jianzhang asked about Zijing Pass, he was truly just asking about the current situation at Zijing Pass.
Chief Minister Chang reported to him the plan that the cabinet had discussed: “It was arranged beforehand. The soldiers from Hebei West Circuit have already rushed to provide support and have temporarily held the position. However, it’s also been discovered that Didi, Ditan and others have split their forces into two routes, heading separately toward Xuanfu and Jizhou. Xuanfu is being guarded by Minister Yang, who has always been famously capable, so he can hold out. But Jizhou, because Yetan is personally leading troops in fierce attacks, is somewhat unable to withstand it.”
The military situation truly made people’s hearts tighten. The main problem was that internal troubles and external threats had all emerged together, leaving people completely unprepared and flustered. Here they had managed to suppress things with difficulty, but over there new sparks had flared up, truly exhausting them with running about.
The Ministry of Finance was now operating at a deficit. Cen Biliang sighed and looked toward Emperor Jianzhang: “If we deploy more troops north, the forces defending the capital will be insufficient. And if any gap appears at either Zijing Pass or Xuanfu, the capital will be in grave danger.”
Han Zhengqing had fought battles for half his lifetime and was thoroughly familiar with border defenses, so he naturally knew how to break through each point. The Hebei West Circuit army going to support Zijing Pass was already a desperate measure. If they deployed more troops, the capital would be in danger again. The problem was that although Yecha was now trapped in Qingzhou Prefecture, Yetan’s remaining eighty thousand troops were spreading out everywhere.
After all, the support the capital could provide to the borders was already limited. Cen Biliang lowered his voice and added: “If… if the Tartar royal court sends more forces, then our borders will be in grave danger!”
What grave danger—right now the entire Xibei region had almost completely fallen into Tartar hands. Han Zhengqing and Prince Gong were allied with the Tartars. As long as they dealt with Cui Shaoting, they would completely control Xibei. And once they completely controlled Xibei, after the three forces converged, wouldn’t Zijing Pass, Xuanfu, and Jizhou fall just around the corner?! And if the Tartar royal court sent reinforcements, the future miserable state of Great Zhou could almost be foreseen.
Liang Tong frowned, his heart tightening in waves. This was also why he had been eager to first select someone to act as regent. Now the borders were in grave danger. If no one came forward to take charge, then… But now his heart couldn’t help but fear—if Prince Gong’s schemes truly succeeded, then not only would the borders be in danger, but half the realm would completely fall into his hands. And once they captured the capital, the south would only be a matter of time.
It was truly as Emperor Jianzhang had said—Prince Gong and his people were truly ambitious wolves, traitorous ministers and rebels!
The situation in Xibei had developed to this point and was simply utterly disastrous. Day after day, not a single piece of good news came back. Even if they wanted to think of solutions, it wasn’t something that could be accomplished in a day or two. Emperor Jianzhang wasn’t anxious. With a half-smile, he tapped the table surface and lightly snorted at the voices rising and falling around him, urging him to retreat to Jinling.
This single snort made the surrounding voices immediately cease. Emperor Jianzhang’s fingers tapped on the table surface. His face still wore that half-smiling expression showing no anger whatsoever, but his eyes were cold as ice: “Retreat? Though I am incompetent, I’m not so much so that I can’t even hold onto the ancestral heritage!”
This single sentence made the entire hall fall silent as death.
“Today I’m laying down these words here. I failed to raise a good son, and for that I’ve wronged my ancestors and wronged the common people of the realm. But I will absolutely make this rebellious son pay with his life for the suffering people!” His voice suddenly rose, making people’s hearts tremble, then he sneered coldly: “Let’s start with this pack of turncoats rebelling from within.”
The sky had already begun to show a faint white. Half the night had passed without anyone noticing. The efficiency of the Imperial Guards had always been exceptional. As if responding to Emperor Jianzhang’s words, Lai Chenglong and others had already come forward holding the confessions of old Kong and the others. Only that Xu Da had not yet had his mouth pried open, but Kong Shun, Academician Chen, and even Daoist Master Ciyun had all confessed. Emperor Jianzhang didn’t hesitate for even half a moment. Taking the ginseng soup that Eunuch An carefully handed him and drinking a mouthful, he ordered without looking sideways: “Haven’t the people of the capital been restless these days? Then let’s properly reassure the common people. This batch of spies—death by a thousand cuts at the vegetable market!”
Having spoken, he looked at the ministers kneeling all over the floor with their varying expressions: “You gentlemen need not be anxious either. Just carry out your duties. If even I am not panicking, what are you panicking about?!”
After speaking, he kept only the cabinet members, and specifically called for the Minister of Justice, Minister of War, Minister of Rites and others to remain, dismissing everyone else to go rest.
After he had this outburst, those who had originally planned to urge moving the capital, those who had planned to urge making peace, all extinguished their thoughts. In their hearts they all knew that Emperor Jianzhang was taking this opportunity to admonish them and make clear his position. Prince Gong had already done such a thing—even if they wanted to bring up the matter of making peace again, they had no face to do so. This kind of wolf who could be ruthless enough to murder even his own father—if he came to power, who knew what fate awaited these old ministers from the previous court. Better to do as Emperor Jianzhang said—what was there to fear? Just carry out their duties. Even if the sky fell, weren’t there tall people to hold it up?
Emperor Jianzhang waited for them to leave before showing some signs of fatigue. Rubbing his temples, he beckoned Zhou Weizhao and Zhou Weiqi to come before him. Looking at them once, he nodded to both: “Not bad.”
No one knew exactly what he meant by “not bad.” Prince Dongping’s heart thumped violently. In his heart he felt fortunate that because of that bit of backbone, he hadn’t harbored thoughts he shouldn’t have. Learning from Zhou Weizhao, he shook his head and withdrew to the side.