The dagger was revealed.
In the huge hall, the atmosphere was solemn and quiet. Other than Zong Gan's subconscious slap, no one spoke. Some looked at each other, some lowered their heads in deep thought. At this time, some people had already realized what Zong Han and Xi Yin were trying to do in this game of chess.
Xi Yin slowly poured herself a cup of wine.
"With regards to the problem of the new Emperor, all parties are involved and cannot escape. All the uncles and brothers sitting here today, all of you are sitting here for the sake of the Jurchens. Isn't it the same for those standing behind Zong Pan? All of you are of noble status and have the same status as the country. We have helped the new Emperor to ascend the throne, how can we be more noble and prominent? It is all for the sake of the Jurchens. But once a winner is decided among the few people here today, half of the people will not be able to sleep well in the future, and the country will not be at peace. "
"The situation inside and outside of Shangjing City is already tense tonight. Before this, there have been many nobles fighting and bleeding inside and outside the city. Some people have gone missing and have not been seen until today. Tonight, the competition has also arrived in Shangjing City. We will enter the palace together. Do you dare to say that Zong Gan will ascend the throne and become the Emperor? If Zong Pan ascends the throne, you will not be at ease. Since the stalemate has reached this stage, why not take a step back? "
A few people began to whisper to each other.
Yes, because of the edict bought by Wu Qi, the top nobles of the entire Jin Kingdom had basically chosen a side. But how much benefit would they gain by choosing a side? These people were already the most illustrious nobles in the first place. But once they chose the wrong side, for the next half of the new Emperor's life, these big families who chose the wrong side would not be able to have a day of peace.
With such a big risk and such a small gain, many people were not willing to participate. But once the edict bought by Wu Qi was announced, Zong Gan and Zong Pan began to recruit people everywhere. Zong Han and Xi Yin also followed suit. In such a major event, who could really remain neutral? For more than a month, for everyone, it was difficult to advance or retreat. It was also because of this that Xi Yin's proposal could really fall into the hearts of many people when things came to a head.
For the group of nobles who had experienced countless worldly affairs, they naturally wouldn't think that the whole thing was a whim of Xi Yin or Zong Han.
Originally, the failure of the Southern Expedition, Zong Gan's ascension to the throne, and the decline of the West Prefecture could have been the only outcome of this matter. Who would have thought that Zong Han would side with Zong Pan and drag all the great nobles into this situation? Now, Zong Han and Xi Yin, who were originally adding fuel to the fire, were taking advantage of this stalemate to break the stalemate.
If one were to say that Wu Qimai had a hand in this setup when he was still alive, then the entire situation in the middle would really make one sigh with regret. If the southern expedition was successful and the Jurchen people were strong, Wu Qimai might pass the throne directly to Zong Gan. He might even let his own son, Zong Pan, ascend the throne out of selfishness. However, Zong Han suffered a crushing defeat in the southwest. Wu Qimai changed the posthumous edict in his illness and dragged everyone down with him. In fact, this gave Zong Han and Xi Yin the only opportunity to break out of the situation … If one were to look at the past, did the bear-like emperor who had been paralyzed from a stroke for several years have such considerations?
At this point, it was already difficult to track them down.
The night sky outside was shrouded in dark clouds, but there was no snow. The air was cold and oppressive. Xi Yin had just made her first move. With Zong Gan's ashen face, no one answered.
In this whole matter, Zong Gan was originally the most advantageous candidate to succeed the throne. However, after the game between the two parties, he suddenly realized that Zong Han and Xi Yin wanted to use this oppressive situation to push him and even Zong Pan out of the game.
He was originally the candidate for the Emperor, and he was also strong and powerful. In the blink of an eye, he was going to be directly thrown out by two people who were playing the side drums. Although this idea had just been put forward, one could imagine the anger in his heart.
"Such a thing … do you dare to say it to Zong Pan?" He gritted his teeth and enunciated each word.
"It's all for the good of the Big Gold. Everything can be discussed." Xi Yin said slowly, "Let's take a step back. Even if Zong Pan offends me and Zong Han, and kills both of us, what benefit would he get? In the end, when you succeed the throne, he and everyone around him will be on tenterhooks. In the end, it will not be as good as the previous one. "
Her words were spoken slowly. At this time, Zong Gan was not only facing Zong Han and Zong Pan, he was also facing half of the great aristocrats of the Jin Kingdom. He did not speak.
Zong Bi exploded, "I'll f * ck you —" and rushed down from above.
Xi Yin, who looked old and thin, flipped the table with a loud bang. His tall figure burst forward and faced the burly Zong Bi. He lifted the stool in his hand and smashed it towards Zong Bi's head. Zong Bi was already wearing armor. He raised his hand to block and collide with the wooden stool. The wooden stool exploded in the air. Zong Bi had already punched Xi Yin twice. Xi Yin grabbed the armor in front of his chest and slammed his head into Zong Bi's face. Everyone saw the two figures wrestle for a few rounds in the hall. Then, Zong Bi was thrown out and smashed into the steps of the hall's entrance. He was in the prime of his life. With a roll, he got up on one knee. His mouth and nose were full of blood.
Xi Yin's forehead was also bloodstained. He opened his arms like a giant in the wind and snow. His words were like a tiger's roar, echoing in the hall.
"Little Four, come on —"
Everyone rushed forward and separated the two of them.
Although Xi Yin had a scholarly bearing all year round, he was never a soft persimmon that could be humiliated even among the top generals of the Jurchen. Even Zong Han, Zong Wang, Lou Shi and the others all respected him. How could it be because of his literary skills? Zong Bi had been beaten up by Xi Yin since he was young. The victory in the Southern expedition had greatly boosted his confidence. Considering that Xi Yin was old and seemed to be on the verge of death, he challenged him again. However, it was only now that he realized that Xi Yin's courage had not diminished in the slightest.
"Let me go, I'll kill him —"
Although he was separated, Zong Bi was furious. He roared and wanted to charge forward. Xi Yin pursed his lips tightly. With a shake of his sleeves, he slowly walked to the square table where Zong Bi was and poured himself a cup of wine.
"I know that Zong Gan, you won't be able to take it lying down because of the victory in the Eastern expedition. But today, we are already in a difficult position. It will be difficult for you to force your way out. If you can consider this little one, we can also make some concessions. We can choose this little one from your side. Moreover, there is indeed a suitable one. "
Xi Yin looked at Zong Gan. "When Zong Jun passed away, you adopted Yan 'er as your son. He is the eldest grandson that the Great Ancestor doted on the most. Letting him ascend the throne is the best way to reassure everyone. Moreover, you aren't the biological father of Jin'er. But, you still have the grace of bringing him up. And, this grace can't be erased. The throne has returned to Aguda. So, I'm afraid that other people won't be able to covet it anymore. So, I didn't concede too much to you. "
Wanyan Zong Gan was the eldest son of Aguda's concubine. There was another eldest son, Wanyan Zong Jun, followed by Zong Wang, Zong Fu and Zong Bi. Zong Jun died young. After his death, his son, Wanyan Yan, was adopted by Zong Gan. Because Aguda doted on this eldest grandson of his, he received countless rewards from a young age. But because his father was no longer around, not many people had any enmity towards this child.
Xi Yin sighed. "As for Ni Han and I, we are already old. In this life, we will not think too much about power. It is only what we saw in the Southwest that the two of us can't take to heart. Everyone, Ni Han and I have fought for our entire lives. Perhaps we can be criticized elsewhere, but on the battlefield, could it be that we are really muddle-headed to this extent? In the war of the Southwest, countless Great Generals died. Could it be that everyone has forgotten how heroic they were on the battlefield? "
"But in the war of the Southwest, we were still defeated, almost completely defeated. Everyone, the Southwest is like the Jurchens when we followed the Great Ancestor in his uprising! Perhaps even more so! If we don't learn from them, the disaster of annihilation won't be far away. I'm afraid that by the time they sweep through the Central Plains and attack us in the north, the old fogeys in this room won't have all died yet! "
"Ni Han and I only hope that the Jurchens can safely pass this hurdle. If the matter of Shangjing can be safely resolved, then we can peacefully train our soldiers in Yunzhong, forge military equipment, and learn from the research of the South. As for the soldiers we train and the things we forge, they will be used by our children in the future. Old Four, sooner or later, you will also have a use for them. Your thoughts are meticulous and your brain is not stupid, but why do you have to pretend to be rash? There will not be any conflicts between us in the future. Rest assured. When I was young, I beat you because I couldn't stand your pretense of recklessness! "
At this point, he threw the empty wine cup onto the table.
"I know that this matter is of great importance. If you want to discuss it behind closed doors, I'm afraid that you will not be able to make a decision tonight. If you have come to the competition tonight and are certain that you will win once you enter the Imperial Palace, then you can pretend that I have not come and said anything. But if you do not have a certain degree of certainty, then consider it and let San 'er go. No one will suffer a loss. That is all I have to say. Xi Yin bids farewell. After everyone has made a decision, we will discuss it in detail. "
He cupped his hands at the crowd. Wan Yanchang stood up and cupped his hands. The others, including the silent Zong Gan, all bowed to see him off. It was only when he turned to leave that Zong Bi called out from the hall.
"Perhaps we can't beat the Southwest. That means you and Ni Han are muddle-headed and your people can't fight! No matter what happens this time, in the future, I will lead troops to Yunzhong and we will have a fair competition. If your troops are really weak, then it means that you were lying in Shangjing today. You dragged out an ignoble existence, and now you still blindly say that Black Flag is strong and want to live! When that time comes, I will kill your entire family — "
Xi Yin stopped and looked at him. "Fine, when the time comes, you can all come over. I will let you see how the Mountain Slaying Guards who were defeated in the Southwest can fight. Tell your soldiers to leave their last words before they come again. Farewell! "
When he finished speaking, he strode out of the hall. After a while, he sat in a carriage outside. There was a brazier in the carriage, so the temperature was quite warm. Xi Yin leaned against the wall of the carriage. Only now did he take out the silk cloth and suppress his cough. After coughing for a while, the silk cloth was stained with blood. After all, he was old and had suffered some injuries from the fight with Zong Bi.
The carriage faced the cold wind and blew through the quiet long street. The sparse roadside was also filled with the lights of tens of thousands of families. After a while, he returned to the large residence on the other side of the Imperial Palace and saw Zong Han.
"… Next, it depends on how to convince Zong Pan. He will not be happy."
Zong Pan had inherited the physique of his father, Wu Qimai. His body was like a giant bear. Once he was angry, his temperament was rather brutal. It was difficult for the average person to deal with him face to face.
"I will go and talk to him." Zong Han's serious face smiled coldly. "He will agree."
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