Now the situation in the palace was tense, and when the fight was about to begin, there was a sudden sound of footsteps outside the palace.
Then Niu Jizong led hundreds of soldiers into the main hall of Qianqing Palace.
It turned out that Niu Jizong was outside handling the deployment of troops in the capital, but he suddenly received a report from his own soldiers that in the Palace of Qianqing, a fight had broken out between the four princes and eight princes and other upstarts and members of the royal family. Even Liu Fang, the grandson of Duke Li, was caught on the spot by King Zhongshun. Behead.
After hearing this, Niu Jizong became a little angry. After all this time, they were still fighting for power, so Niu Jizong quickly led his troops to Qianqing Palace.
As soon as Niu Jizong entered the Qianqing Palace, he saw two groups of people, each holding a sword and shouting. In the main hall of the Qianqing Palace, there was a headless corpse, bleeding constantly. From the looks of it, the clothes should be It’s Liu Fang.
Niu Jizong quickly ordered his soldiers to break into the palace and separate the two groups.
Seeing so many soldiers coming in, these two groups of people did not dare to continue, so they retreated to both sides.
Niu Jizong breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that these people were finally separated. Then he came to the palace and looked at King Zhongshun and said, "My lord, what is going on? Why do you want to kill Liu Fang?"
King Zhongshun was still angry. He raised his sword and said to Niu Jizong: "You four bastards now think that I am a rebel and want to take me down. Ask Jia Ke for credit. What do you have in charge?" What do you think? Are you going to come and get me too?"
After Niu Jizong heard this, he turned around in his heart and asked the first-class Gongsun Xuan, the grandson of Nan'an County Prince who was the leader among the four princes and eight princes: "Master, what is going on?"
Sun Xuan glanced at King Zhongshun with a sullen face, and then said: "Liu Wan came here just now to remind us that Jia Ke has set a trap for us this time and is waiting for us to cause trouble. We are doing this just to It’s just self-preservation.”
Niu Jizong was shocked after hearing this. He turned around and found Liu Wan in the crowd, and then asked: "Master Liu, please analyze the matter for me and what is going on."
Niu Jizong was now starting to beat the drum in his heart. It would be a lie to say that he was not afraid. After all, this time he risked the lives of hundreds of people in his family. If it failed, it would be impossible to save himself.
Liu Wan had already hid far away when these people were conflicting. Now seeing that Niu Jizong had taken control of the situation, he asked himself questions again. Then he moved to the center and handed over to Niu Jizong, and then re-explained his judgment just now. Read it again.
After listening to this, Niu Jizong thought silently for a moment. He felt that what Liu Wan said might be true.
According to his observations of Jia Ke over the years, Jia Ke almost never made any major mistakes.
Before leaving this time, Jia Ke actually mobilized all the soldiers and horses in the capital. Such an obvious hint that he didn't realize that it might be really dangerous to increase his life this time.
King Zhongshun stood aside and watched Niu Jizong meditating, and couldn't help but hold on to the sword tightly. Because he knew that Niu Jizong actually controlled all the troops in the capital. If he stood on the side of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes again, then he and the others might be afraid. There is no chance to turn around.
Niu Jizong thought about it and felt that the matter was very dangerous. Now he could just forget about being loyal to the emperor and patriotism. There was no need to take it seriously. So he gritted his teeth and stamped his feet, turned around and said to the emperor: "Long live King Zhongshun and launched a rebellion." The crime will not be forgiven, please send an edict to bring King Zhongshun to justice, and wait until the Prime Minister comes back before making a decision."
Niu Jizong was also scared now. He didn't expect that their actions were only possible with Jia Ke's connivance. If he had known better, he wouldn't have dared to get involved.
The emperor has now understood the dangers of the situation. This time he comes back to the mountain, and it is like climbing mountains of swords and seas of fire.
The emperor looked at King Zhongshun with evil intentions at this time, and it seemed that it was time to sacrifice his younger brother.
King Zhongshun stood in the palace and looked at the expressions of the emperor above and the nobles below, and knew that he was going to be abandoned by them.
The emperor looked at King Zhongshun with unbearable expression, and then ordered to Niu Jizong: "King Zhongshun is plotting something evil and intending to rebel. He will put King Zhongshun into a prison and wait until the prime minister comes back to punish him."
After hearing this, Niu Jizong nodded. The emperor was not completely confused yet. If he cared about family ties at this time, he would probably end up losing a lot.
Niu Jizong turned around and said to the soldiers he had brought into the hall: "Take down this rebellious King Zhongshun."
After listening to Niu Jizong's order, these soldiers immediately rushed forward to capture King Zhongshun.
At this time, the old prince Yixiao suddenly came to the front of King Zhongshun in three steps and stretched out his arms to block these soldiers.
When these people saw the old prince blocking the way, they didn't dare to use the wall, so they all looked back and asked Niu Jizong to give him an idea.
Seeing this situation, Niu Jizong took a few steps forward and said coldly to Prince Yixiao: "Old Prince, do you want to protect Prince Zhongshun?"
The old prince didn't even look at Niu Jizong. He turned around and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, things have reached this point and we can no longer be weak. Jia Ke's intention to usurp the throne is clearly exposed. Even if you sacrifice King Zhongshun, you won't be able to protect him for a while." A half-moment of peace is worse than fighting to the death and leaving behind eternal wisdom."
After hearing this, the emperor's hand holding the jade armrest turned pale.
Seeing the emperor's hesitation, Prince Yixiao hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, we are now trying our best to recruit troops. Instead of confronting Jia Ke in the capital, we will take these troops and the silver accumulated over the years to retreat to the south of the Yangtze River to fight with Jia Ke.
Jia Ke arrives across the river, there is still a glimmer of hope."
The emperor's eyes lit up when he heard this. What Prince Yixiao said may not be unreasonable. As long as he retreats to Jinling, where Emperor Taizu started his career, the local gentry and people still respect the imperial court very much. Maybe he can rely on this
Jiye contends with Jia Ke.
So the emperor turned his eyes and looked at the four princes and eight princes, wanting them to make a choice.
But at this time, Gongsun Xuan began to get excited. If he really retreated to the south of the Yangtze River, there would be a world of beauty, and the taxes paid there every year accounted for 3/5 of the country's taxes. He might not be able to make a comeback.
So Sun Xuan immediately winked at Niu Jizong, then stood up and said to the emperor: "Long live my lord, this is a great plan. Why don't we rectify our troops and retreat to the south of the Yangtze River."
The four bastards and eight princes began to whisper and discuss what would happen if they went to Jiangnan. As a result, the more they talked, the more excited they became, as if they had found a panacea to crack Jia Ke.
But Chen Ruiwen, the grandson of Duke Chen Yi of Qi State and hereditary general of the third rank of Weizhen, was the first to stand up and oppose it.
"Your Majesty, this is a plan to subjugate the country and must not be carried out."
After the emperor heard this, he couldn't help but change his expression. He was now a bit dissatisfied.
"If you have anything to say, dear, just say it."
"Your Majesty, these people we have recruited are untrained, have insufficient weapons, and lack food and grass. How can they break through the barriers and seize generals all the way to the south of the Yangtze River?"
After Chen Ruiwen asked this question, all the cultural relics in the dynasty hesitated.
Prince Yixiao didn't like it at first sight. If he really allowed this person to continue talking, then Prince Zhongshun would be dead.
"Your Majesty, please don't listen to this man's nonsense. Although we are recruiting new soldiers, there are tens of thousands of servants and servants in each government. We people went all the way south. Although the food and grass were a little poor, we arrived in the past states.
When we were in the county, we avoided big cities when we encountered them, and attacked small towns when we encountered them, replenishing food and fodder, and recruiting soldiers. This keeps growing bigger and bigger. By the time we reach Jiangnan, we may have hundreds of thousands of soldiers."
In fact, what Prince Yoshitaka said was just a lie to deceive the emperor. It was nonsense to keep recruiting soldiers on the road.
There is no food and no money. Those peasants are not crazy. They really go to live with you and risk their lives to protect you as the emperor.
Prince Yixiao's current purpose is just to preserve King Zhongshun, because in Prince Yixiao's opinion, King Zhongshun is the only one among the royal family who has some blood. If even he is killed, then their family's empire will end here.
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After listening, the emperor said to Chen Ruiwen who was standing next to him: "My dear, you heard it too. According to the old uncle's words, we still have a glimmer of hope. It is better than sitting here and waiting to die."
When the emperor said this, he sighed again and said to the civil and military ministers below: "I will not treat you dearly badly when you protect me to go to Jiangnan to ascend the throne. When I get to Jiangnan, all the losses will be made up for."
The four princes and eight princes below still had a glimmer of hope in their hearts, so they did not refute the emperor's words.
King Zhongshun looked at their lively discussion below and sneered.
In the heart of King Zhongshun, there is no place for peace now. Do you think there are no Jia Ke's men in Jiangnan now? The soldiers and horses in the world are all under Jia Ke's command. They bring these old, weak, sick and disabled as well as newly recruited local ruffians,
It is simply a fantasy to break through all the obstacles and reach the south of the Yangtze River.
It would be better to defend the city to the death and then negotiate terms with Jia Ke, maybe there is still a chance of survival.
But King Zhongshun could not explain it, because his life was now in the hands of these people, giving them hope that he might be able to survive temporarily. If they were completely desperate, he would die soon.
After the emperor thought clearly on the throne, he ordered the following: "Niu Jizong immediately recruited soldiers and horses, distributed weapons, organized and trained these people, and prepared to leave the capital."
Niu Jizong immediately knelt down to receive the order, and then stood aside.
Next, the emperor ordered those present to go back and collect their belongings immediately, and set off for Jinling three days later.
After these four princes, princes and nobles all retreated.
And now, apart from the two royal family members, Prince Zhongshun and Prince Yixiao, Liu Wan is the only one left in the main hall.
The emperor then looked at Liu Wan standing next to him.
"Liu Aiqing, how much food is there in the treasury now?"