In the execution room of the Lantern Yamen, the prince looked at Fang Shichen expressionlessly.
A pile of torture instruments, stained with dark red rust and blood, were placed in front of Fang Shichen.
The prince picked up a soldering iron, played with it for a while, inserted it into the charcoal stove, and asked: "Servant Fang, do you know your guilt?"
Fang Shichen lowered his head and said with sweat on his face: "I am not doing my job well, I am willing to be punished by His Highness!"
The prince stirred the charcoal fire: "Is this just a sentence of ineffectiveness?"
Fang Shichen continued: "My subordinate is incompetent and cannot bear the heavy responsibility. He should resign."
The prince took out the red soldering iron and blew on the sparks: "Resigning is the end of it?"
Fang Shichen knelt down and cried: "I am a waste, Your Highness, please spare my life! I have no other sins."
The prince sneered and turned around: "Shi Qianhu, tell me, what other crimes does Shi Lang have?"
Shi Xun pursed his lips, looking embarrassed.
"Your Highness, I am so stupid that I can't speak out for a moment."
He is not too familiar with the business of Zhang Deng Yamen.
The prince turned around, looked at Zhong Shen and said, "Commander Zhong, is there anyone in the lamp-shaking Yamen who can speak?"
Zhong Shen looked at the crowd of lantern holders and shouted: "Liu Dashun, just think about it before you think about it!"
Needless to say, Liu Dashun is familiar with this business: "Fang Shichen, the right minister of the Ministry of War, is corrupt and perverts the law, deducts military pay, and enriches his own pockets. He should be executed according to the law!"
When Fang Shichen heard this, he almost jumped up, pointed at Liu Dashun and said: "How can you frame me? What crime should you deserve for framed Shangguan?"
Liu Dashun smiled and said: "Shilang Fang, don't worry, His Highness the Crown Prince can decide for himself whether it is a trap or not."
This is really not a frame-up. When you reach this position in the Ministry of War, you must have deducted military pay, and you must have committed corruption and perverting the law.
clang!
The prince hit the charcoal stove with a soldering iron: "Shilang Fang, it doesn't matter if you say you are unjust. Do you want me to ransack your home, or do you want me to torture you? I'm not afraid that I won't find evidence, but I'm afraid that your body is not clean and your bones are dirty."
Not hard enough!”
Fang Shichen kept kowtowing: "Your Highness, spare me, Your Highness, spare me! I really don't know where the Sui Shilang hid his 30,000 troops!"
He is indeed not stupid, he is pretending to be cowardly.
He deliberately said thirty thousand to remind the prince that I have told you everything I know.
The prince understood what he meant. This time he came to him not to ask how many soldiers there were, nor where the soldiers and horses were, but to ask him to mobilize the troops.
"I heard that the Vice Minister of the Sui Dynasty put 30,000 troops in Pingzhou. I will issue an edict and you will issue a military talisman to ask them to follow me to Yongzhou!"
"Your Highness," Fang Shichen cried, "Shilang Sui's soldiers only listen to Shilang Sui's words, and my military talismans don't work!"
"Then whose military talisman is useful? Isn't Sui Zhi just the minister of the Ministry of War?"
"He, he is Zuo Shilang, and he is above the ministers."
The prince smiled.
This Fang Shichen finally made it clear.
The prince smiled at Fang Shichen and said: "Fang Shichen, if I appoint you as Zuo Shilang, can you mobilize these 30,000 troops?"
Fang Shichen lowered his head and said: "Wei Chen is incompetent, but if Your Highness still trusts Wei Chen, Wei Chen should go all out."
"Just having troops and horses is not enough. How long will it take for food, grass and weapons to be made?"
"Food, grass, ordnance and weapons are the duties of minor ministers. Three days is enough."
The prince smiled, and Fang Shichen's answer satisfied him.
"The 30,000-strong army is a little short. Sir Fang, is there any other way?"
Fang Shichen whispered: "If we send troops to rush to Zhouzhou, we can go to Pingzhou and pass Luzhou, or we can go to Yuanzhou and pass Xianzhou. Although we have to take some detours, Yuanzhou and Xianzhou each have 30,000 troops stationed there.
The state transfers 10,000 people, and the total is 50,000 troops."
Yuanzhou and Xianzhou are close to the Western Region and are also frontiers. The prince is a little worried, fearing that Fanxiao from the Western Region will take advantage of them and rob them.
Fang Shichen said: "I feel that the demon clan will not send troops rashly. Tu Nu is capricious, and the demon clan will not easily join forces with it."
Yaozu is a contemptuous name for Fanxiao.
The prince thought for a long time and said: "If it is profitable, I'm afraid the demon clan may not dislike Tunu."
Fang Shichen nodded and said: "What His Highness said is absolutely true, but I am stupid."
Does he really agree with the prince's idea?
Of course I don't agree.
The prince wants troops, and the places with troops are on the borders.
The east is too far, the south is even further away, the north is turbulent, and the troops in the two states dare not move, so the only feasible option is to mobilize troops from the Western Regions.
Fang Shichen's background was not a prominent one. He was promoted to the right minister of the Ministry of War, and he was indeed outstanding. He expected that no troops would be sent against Daxuan in this campaign in the Western Regions.
But Fang Shichen never argued with those in higher positions, he only made suggestions.
The prince understood Fang Shichen's temperament and his abilities, so he adopted Fang Shichen's suggestions.
"You immediately sent a document, asking people to bring military symbols and go to Yuan Dynasty to show the two states to mobilize troops."
Fang Shichen said: "I am incompetent. I can't mobilize the soldiers and horses of these two places with just one military talisman."
"I will issue another edict."
"Even with His Highness's edict, I'm afraid we still can't mobilize the troops. The border officials have a really bad temper."
The prince knew what to do.
"Fang Shilang, you go and mobilize Pingzhou's army first. When it's time to send out the troops, I'll see you off!"
…
In the East Palace, the prince summoned Liang Jixiong, Tai Bu and Zhong Shen and stated his plan.
"Three days later, Fang Shichen led an army of 30,000 to Yongzhou. Elder Shengwei accompanied the army. I went to Yuanxian and Xianzhou to mobilize troops. The army met in Luzhou and strived to reach Shuangxiong Pass within ten days to meet Tunu.
A fight to the death."
Liang Jixiong pinched his chin and sighed.
The prince said: "Elder Shengwei thinks it's inappropriate?"
Liang Jixiong said: "Let Fang Shichen lead the troops to Luzhou alone, and I will go to Yuanxian and Xianzhou to mobilize troops and horses. What do you think, Your Highness?"
The prince shook his head and said: "Fang Shichen has some talents, but his temperament is treacherous and unpredictable. If Elder Shengwei doesn't accompany him, I'm afraid there will be changes on the way."
"Tsk!" Liang Jixiong smacked his lips repeatedly, but still felt something was wrong: "I will go with Fang Shichen, but His Highness does not need to go to Yuanxian and Xianzhou to mobilize troops. You can send another person to go."
The prince said distressedly: "Who should I let go?"
"Commander Zhong can take on this responsibility."
Zhong Shen really wanted to give it a try: "Since I joined the Imperial City Division, I haven't been out of the capital much."
Taibu shook his head and said, "It's not that I underestimate you. The border officials are used to being domineering. Commander Zhong is going to mobilize troops, but I'm afraid that the two prefects won't agree."
Zhong Shen sneered: "They look down on me, how can they respect Tai Bu? Just let Tai Bu go."
Taibu shook his head and said with a smile: "My reputation is as good as yours. You can't mobilize troops, and I don't have the ability."
Liang Jixiong did not agree with this: "It is not only the territory of Daxuan, but also the soldiers of Daxuan. With the imperial edict and the addition of military symbols, how can we not mobilize soldiers and horses? Let's make a magic circle. I will go to Yuan Dynasty now.
Continent mobilizes troops."
The Taibu remained silent, and the prince said: "Elder Shengwei, if you go to Yuanzhou, who will be the supervisor for Fang Shichen?"
"Just let Taibu go, or Commander Zhong go."
Taibu shook his head and said, "It's not because I'm pushing the envelope. Commander Zhong and I can't leave the capital easily, otherwise Gongsun Wen will cause trouble again."
Liang Jixiong said angrily: "Gongsun Wen should have been killed long ago, why should he be kept alive?"
The prince shook his head and said: "This man cannot be killed."
"Why can't he be killed?" Liang Jixiong was puzzled.
The prince said: "If this man is alive, you can use him to disperse the Confucian scholars of Longnu Society. If this man dies, the Confucian scholars will share the same hatred, which will actually help them unite their hearts."
Liang Jixiong shook his head and said: "Gongsun Wen is the leader of Longnu Society. Now that the leader is dead, the Confucian scholars have no one to rely on. Even if they gather together, they are just a mob."
The prince said: "Gongsun Wen is only the leader in name. Whether it is Longnu Society or Nufu Sect, there must be someone behind it.
As long as Gongsun Wen lives in our hands, the Confucian scholars will obey his orders, and the Confucian scholars will be under our control.
If Gongsun Wen dies, and the person behind it takes advantage of Gongsun Wen's hatred to establish another leader, it will be difficult for us to deal with it."
Taibu nodded frequently, and he was very pleased with the prince's vision and strategy.
Liang Jixiong had other thoughts: "Yuyang, you shouldn't leave the capital! You have been in charge of the country for only a few days, and the government affairs in the court are in order. Now is a good opportunity to show off your skills!"
The prince smiled and said: "The elders are overly praised. Although the government affairs have improved, it is the credit of all the ministers. One more of me is not more, and one less of me is not less. There are some difficult things, and I will come back to deal with them after I finish the battle. Not too late."
"When the war is over, I'm afraid..." Liang Jixiong only said half of his words.
Silly boy, after you finish the war, if Emperor Zhaoxing wakes up, will the world still belong to you?
Zhong Shen also felt that the prince should not leave: "Your Highness, with all due respect, you have been to the North once, and you have accumulated the foundation you need.
This war is not something you have to do. Your Highness will go to Yuanxian and Xianzhou to mobilize troops, and the rest will be left to Elder Shengwei."
Liang Jixiong nodded and said: "What the commander said is absolutely true!"
Taibu shook his head and said: "No, His Highness must attend the battle in person for this battle!"
Liang Jixiong said angrily: "Taibu, please tell me some truth. If you can't tell me some truth, don't blame me for falling out!"
The second elder is really anxious. Taibu doesn't help to persuade the prince, but he is still causing trouble. I really don't know what his intentions are.
Taibu said: "Elder Shengwei, Chu Xin fought hard in a desperate situation, and was falsely accused of defecting to the enemy. Can you and I bear this injustice?
Before leaving for Yongzhou, His Highness promised Chu Xin that he would lead the army in person. If His Highness left without returning, he asked the court where the credit was? Why did the border officers and soldiers fight?
If we don't wait for the arrival of the army, Yongzhou has already been lost, the territory has been lost, and the people have been devastated. What's the use of me planning this?"
Taibu's words made Liang Jixiong feel angry.
He couldn't tell Taibu, but why didn't Taibu understand his thoughts?
He wanted the prince to stay in the capital and sit firmly in the court.
Even if Emperor Zhaoxing wakes up, Liang Jixiong will try to force Emperor Zhaoxing to abdicate, make him the Supreme Emperor, and let the Crown Prince officially ascend the throne.
If the prince and Liang Jixiong are not in the capital, they will immediately take back the throne when Emperor Zhaoxing wakes up, and all the efforts made will be in vain!
A smart person like Taibu, doesn’t he understand this point of Taoism?
Liang Jixiong said angrily: "Shu Zi is not enough!"
Taibu smiled and remained silent.
Of course he understood what Liang Jixiong was thinking.
It's a pity that I know your thoughts, but you don't know my intentions.
Do you want Emperor Zhaoxing to abdicate and make him the Supreme Emperor?
You underestimate Emperor Zhaoxing too much.
You don't have that ability. Even if the other two elders are alive, the three of you combined don't have that ability.
Taibu looked at the prince, then closed his eyes, and the appearance of the palace appeared in front of him.
In the past few days, the prince's supervision of the country has won the hearts of the officials. The purpose of supervising the country has been achieved. Now is the time for him to leave.
There are some things that cannot be done until the prince and Elder Shengwei are away from the capital.
Elder Shengwei is not around, so no one can stop him!
The prince is not here, so the suspicion can be cleared!
Only when Emperor Zhaoxing dies can the prince be able to secure his position!
…
Three days later, Xu Zhiqiong found Qian Limu in Shifang Goulan.
Qian Limu's complexion was sallow and he looked haggard. He had consumed a lot of energy in the past few days.
Qian Limu was still watching intently, and Xu Zhiqiong did not dare to disturb him easily. When the dancers changed roles on the stage, Xu Zhiqiong sat next to Qian Limu and asked softly: "Brother Qian, how about the ten-way hook bar?"
"Okay, okay, okay," Qian Limu's expression was a little numb, "but so what? The beauties on the stage come and go, just like the life of a person and the autumn of the vegetation. Although the scenery is beautiful, it is fleeting.
Passing away rarely lasts forever."
So poetic!
Xu Zhiqiong exclaimed in admiration: "Brother Qian, are you desperate?"