In the Xiude Hall, several old men wearing Northern Qi python robes and first- and second-grade official uniforms knelt in front of Emperor Zhaowu, bowed their heads and kowtowed to Emperor Zhaowu.
The emperor only glanced at these people and couldn't help but rub his forehead with his hands, feeling a little headache.
Most of these people are from the Zhao family clan, that is, the princes and princes of the royal family.
There are also some who are the "old family members" among Zhu Li's real people, that is, senior members of the eight major families who followed him into the customs.
Everyone is an elder of Emperor Zhaowu.
Even Zhao Kai, who had a somewhat arrogant and violent personality, could not do anything to these people without reason, so Emperor Zhaowu sighed and said: "All elders, please get up."
"Give me a seat."
Soon, the old men sat down in Xiude Hall one by one.
One of them, a clan member in his fifties and wearing a purple robe, bowed his head to Emperor Zhaowu and said: "Your Majesty, there have been many rumors in the capital recently. Rumors say that our Daqi assassins assassinated Shen Yi, the commander-in-chief of the Southern Dynasty, but the assassination failed. stabbed him..."
"I'm not in the court, and I don't know whether it's true or not, so I'm here to ask your Majesty whether this is true or false."
Emperor Zhaowu was silent for a while and then said: "It's true."
The man who spoke was named Zhao Tulu, and he was the hereditary Prince Cheng of the Northern Qi Dynasty, also known as the Iron Hat King. In terms of seniority, he was the grandfather of Emperor Zhaowu, but he was already far away, four years apart. Five generations.
Prince Cheng is also the most respected among the group of people today, so he is also the first to speak.
Seeing that the emperor admitted the matter, Prince Cheng lowered his head again and said: "Your Majesty, I heard that it was the personal attendant of Shen Yi who took action. It should be absolutely foolproof. The reason for the failure is that someone reported the letter to Shen Qi in advance. !”
Emperor Zhaowu became a little impatient. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said: "Prince Cheng, these things are the secrets of the Qing Jing Department. The Qing Jing Department has not spread the word so far, but you can know it, which means that it is probably the Southern Dynasty." News spread by people in the capital."
"They must have sinister intentions in spreading this news. Don't let the Southern Dynasties take advantage of you and become a knife in their hands."
King Cheng sighed: "Your Majesty, no matter who spread these things, you just said that these things are true."
Another prince also stood up and said: "Your Majesty, your ministers and others are mostly idle at home. They only enjoy some happiness on weekdays and have no intention of interfering in the political affairs of the court. No matter who is in charge of the affairs of the court." , we all support the emperor from the bottom of our hearts."
"On weekdays, we old guys have no objection to who the emperor uses."
"But now, the Southern Dynasties have repeatedly violated the border and even occupied the entire territory of Shandong. The Daqi cavalry, which was once invincible in the world, is powerless and allows the Southern Dynasties to run rampant."
The prince raised his voice and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, at this time, Da Qi has reached a critical moment of life and death!"
"This country belongs to our Zhu Li Zhenren, not the Han people."
He loudly said: "The Han people, from the bottom of their hearts, are not against us. They are eager for the Southern Dynasties to come to the capital!"
"Your Majesty, you can no longer use Han people!"
King Cheng also spoke: "Your Majesty, we must severely punish the person who sent a private message to Shen Qi!"
Other kings and nobles also stood up one after another and started shouting.
"Your Majesty, if it weren't for our real Zhu Li, he wouldn't be of the same mind as us."
Suddenly, the Xiude Hall became noisy, like a vegetable market, extremely noisy.
Emperor Zhaowu only listened for a while, then he couldn't bear it anymore. He slammed the table and said angrily: "Shut up!"
Everyone stopped and shut their mouths obediently.
Emperor Zhaowu stood up directly and looked at these "old people", a little annoyed: "The use of Han people in the court did not start from me. During the period of Emperor Taizong, Han people began to be used in large numbers. At that time, many of your elders were already in the court. Yes, why don’t you speak?”
"During his reign of more than thirty years, the late emperor also used Han people in important positions. Why didn't you try to persuade the late emperor?"
"At this time, the court is surrounded by crises, and I am already extremely annoyed, yet you still come to my place to make a fuss!"
He looked at King Cheng and others with cold eyes, and sneered: "Otherwise, I will send you, King Cheng, to be the commander-in-chief in Henan. I will give you one hundred thousand elite soldiers, and I won't need you to regain Shandong. As long as you drive out the Southern Dynasty troops in Henan." , In our Zhaowu Dynasty, from now on, we will no longer need a Han Chinese."
"how?"
Prince Cheng was submissive and did not dare to speak.
Emperor Zhaowu patted the table again, gritted his teeth and said, "I have enough things to do!"
"Every one of you, you usually occupy land, play with women, and occasionally take human lives. You do evil things one by one. The late Emperor and I have turned a blind eye and protected you for so many years!"
"The imperial court is at a critical moment now. I don't ask you to go into battle to kill the enemy, but I ask you not to cause trouble, okay?"
King Cheng and others immediately stopped talking and stopped talking.
Emperor Zhaowu patted the table and said, "You all sit down."
Everyone sat down obediently.
The emperor rubbed his temples and said: "It just so happens that you all have arrived, which saves me from sending people to invite you. Now I have encountered some difficulties. You are either members of my family, or you also entered the customs together. We share the same spirit with my hometown."
"At this time, please lend a hand and help me."
The emperor opened his eyes and looked at everyone.
"Family together..."
"Two hundred thousand taels of cash are for me in case of emergency."
Seeing that everyone's expressions changed, the emperor continued: "Just think that the imperial court borrowed it from you. After the south is pacified, I will slowly return it to you."
Seeing the reluctance of these people, Emperor Zhaowu was a little angry: "Don't forget where your family property comes from. If one day Da Qi is destroyed and people from the Southern Dynasties invade the capital, what will happen to those in your family?" Can you take the money with you?"
At this time, someone finally whispered something.
"When the late emperor was the emperor, he never reached out to the people below..."
The people who dare to say this at this time will be none other than the Zhao family.
This sentence made Emperor Zhaowu thunder furious.
He slapped the table hard and said angrily: "What a courageous dog!"
He glared at his clan uncle angrily.
"Come here, take it for me, and your property will be confiscated!"
King Cheng and others immediately bowed their heads and begged for mercy.
Emperor Zhaowu calmed down slightly and said: "I will pay attention to the difference between Zhu and Han. Zhu Lizhen's army is being formed and will be completed soon."
"Elders, please send the money to me as soon as possible."
Emperor Zhaowu took a deep breath.
"The imperial court is very short of money right now."
His eyes were a little unkind, and it was obvious that if these people didn't give it to him at this time, he would take it away.
And these noble princes were all looking at Prince Cheng with unkind expressions.
This entry into the palace was organized by King Cheng. At this time, they were already wondering whether King Cheng and the emperor were playing a double act to defraud them of their money.
Prince Cheng lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty is short of money, can you give me more gifts? How much wealth can we people have..."
"already added."
Emperor Zhaowu looked at everyone with an expressionless expression: "But we still need your help."
These princes knelt down and kowtowed, saying that the emperor was holy, and then they all returned to their homes angrily to raise money.
Most of their families can afford 200,000 yuan.
Of course, some families who are not prosperous here may have to sell their houses in order to raise the money.
…………
On the other side, Suzhou City.
Mr. Shen can already move normally. Except for his right hand which has not fully recovered, everything else has almost recovered.
At this time, it is the tenth day of February.
The three giants of the Huai'an Army gathered in Suzhou City.
Shen Yi looked at Xue Wei and ordered: "The Pioneer Army and General Pei's troops rely on each other to conquer Runing Mansion."
He looked at Su Ding and Lingsu again, reached out and touched his chin, and said slowly.
