North, Qianzhou.
Thirty-six feudal vassals gathered together and elected King Wu, Ji Quan, as the leader of the alliance. It was a grand occasion to fight against Wu Zhi's army in the south.
The night was like water.
After the banquet, Ji Quan drank the hangover soup served by his servant and was quite satisfied.
Although these thirty-six feudal vassals were not harmonious on the surface and had many dirty dealings with each other, almost fighting as soon as they saw each other, they were still forced to form an alliance under his means and serve him as their leader!
Even if he had to pay a lot for this, it was completely worth it. At least he was the lord of the north in name!
With a righteous title in hand, it was natural for the feudal vassals to submit to him in the future. Perhaps it was also possible to start another dynasty and become the ancestor!
Thinking of this, even Ji Quan couldn't help but feel very excited.
"Your Highness! Urgent report from the south! "
At this time, Prime Minister Zhang Jie rushed over with a solemn expression, "The southern court has changed drastically! Prince Ding has deposed the young emperor and will soon worship the heavens and ascend the throne! "
"What?"
This news was really earth-shattering. Ji Quan's hand that was holding the soup couldn't help but tremble, "Is it true or false?"
"It's absolutely true!"
Zhang Jie handed over the document. Ji Quan took a look and couldn't help but gasp, "The imperial edict has been exposed! Prince Ding deposed the emperor! Purging the officials of the old dynasty and not abdicating … "
Since ancient times, when dynasties changed and powerful ministers usurped the throne, most of them abdicated in order to stabilize the political situation.
However, Wu Zhi had the confidence to directly depose the emperor and worship the heavens to ascend the throne. This showed that he didn't inherit the law from the previous dynasty, but was following the mandate of heaven!
In this way, the court was in turmoil and it was inevitable that people's hearts were wavering. However, if it was stabilized, it would be a new dynasty with a new atmosphere and would no longer be affected by the old!
"Prince Ding is really a hero among women. This decisiveness … I can't compare!"
Ji Quan put down the report and sighed faintly, "Start a great purge? It seems that there will be no northern expedition in the next few years. How hateful! "
He was deeply aware that the reason why the current alliance could still be barely maintained was because of Wu Zhi's huge external pressure. Now that Wu Zhi was worshipping the heavens and ascending the throne, he would definitely stabilize the internal affairs first. There would not be a northern expedition in the short term, so the feudal vassals in the alliance would definitely scatter and might even fight among themselves.
Furthermore, the Alliance Army was vast and mighty. Didn't he, the Alliance Master, have to raise the money for the people and horses? Needless to say, in order to rope in the other feudal vassals, he naturally wouldn't be able to get back the many benefits that he had promised.
Ji Quan originally thought that this title was quite good, but now he felt like he was being roasted on a fire. "God is making fun of me!"
"Your Majesty …"
Zhang Jie's eyes were also a little wet.
At this moment Wu Zhi was bent on defending the South. With this motley crew, there might be some hope in defending the North but to cross Jiangnan and fight against the elite troops under Prince Ding's command, it was impossible.
On the contrary, the Allied Army was going to start with internal strife. This was a plan to delay the attack and wait for the enemy to fall into chaos! Unfortunately, it was an open plot that could not be broken!
Even if Ji Yunshu was talented, he didn't have the time now. What could he do?
When he thought of this, he almost burst into tears …
…
Dingzhou.
The inside of the city was full of silence. There were very few pedestrians on the streets. From time to time, one could see a group of fierce-looking elite soldiers carrying spears and knives, wearing leather armor, and patrolling by.
A few officials of the previous court who were involved in the rebellion were unlucky. Their homes were directly broken into, their entire families searched, and all their property confiscated.
"This is a misunderstanding, General … although I am an official of the old court, my heart is with Prince Ding and I have never had any intention of rebelling!"
Encountering such a disaster in a manor, even the middle-aged family head who had once been a judge couldn't help but turn pale.
"Sir Zhang … don't worry, our King will not wrongly accuse a good person!"
The leading officer opened his mouth. "It's just that you contacted the North and previously sold our army's intelligence. No matter how I look at it, you don't look like a good person. Now that the evidence is conclusive, you can stop quibbling …"
He immediately waved his hand. "Take him down and kill him without mercy!"
"Fight!"
In the back courtyard, there was a sudden commotion. A group of elite servants rushed out.
"Release the arrows!"
The officer smiled coldly and waved his hand without mercy.
Xiu xiu!
Dozens of crossbow bolts swept across without any blind spots, killing the few servants who seemed to have some martial arts skills. Following that, the armored soldiers rushed forward without any hesitation.
"Haha … we are officials, you are bandits! Still want to resist? "
The officer smiled proudly.
He was an official soldier and could openly mobilize weapons. But the other party was just an ordinary manor guard who had to hide even their leather armor. How could they be a match for him?
Not long after, a subordinate came to report. "Reporting to the officer, we have razed this manor and obtained countless gold and silver!"
"Haha! Good! "
The lieutenant laughed out loud. He then looked at the scribe beside him who had a gloomy expression and was taking notes. The corner of his mouth twitched, "Pass down the order. Seize it and confiscate it. Don't keep it for yourself. His Majesty has already said that thirty percent of the confiscated property will be our reward!"
"Yes!"
A personal guard immediately went to pass down the order. Not long after, he hurriedly ran back. "Sir, we found a secret room with a large number of armors …"
"Hmm? What? "
The officer quivered.
Privately storing armors. This was a serious matter and he immediately went to investigate.
The secret room was hidden underground and there was a warehouse above it. If not for a few bulky items being moved away, it would be difficult to discover it.
The captain examined the air. Although it was slightly turbid, there was no foul smell. He immediately went down. Under the light of the torch, he saw a cellar full of spears and swords. There were no less than a hundred of them. There were also a few sets of armor and even a crossbow. The significance of the scene was immediately different.
Hiding armors in the capital, were they trying to rebel? Not to mention, there was a crossbow. Which one were they going to snipe?
The officer laughed sinisterly. "I, Wang Rende, have already said that I will not implicate the culprits. Originally, this matter was just to punish the culprit, confiscate the property and exile them. But now, all nine generations will not be able to escape."
"Men, record these physical evidence. Do not leave out a single one!"
…
"Only after this investigation did I realize that the situation is truly shocking …"
In King Ding's palace, Wu Zhi looked at the reports and rubbed his eyebrows.
"After all, Dazhou has been ruling for hundreds of years. Naturally, his influence will not disappear in a day or two … But among those loyal officials and filial sons, there are differences … Some of them say it verbally and even have written evidence, but in reality, it is nothing. Who asked Dazhou to be the rightful ruler at that time? But secretly storing armors, leaking secrets, and entering the actual preparation stage, not a single one of them can be left alive. They must also be severely punished to serve as a warning to future generations! "
Wu Ming wore a linen robe and a bamboo crown on his head. He was like a prince in troubled times. "Take this opportunity to clean up your subordinates!"
If he did not clean up the old officials, how could he let the new ones take over? If he did not get rid of the people in his own team, would he wait for them to drag him down?
Maintaining the ability to clean themselves was the key to the continuous progress of an organization.
As for the reputation of being harsh? Afraid that no one would join them? What a joke! There had never been a shortage of people who wanted to be officials in this world. Even when Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang killed meritorious officials in his previous life, there were not many scholars who did not take the imperial examination.
"Well, since I deposed the emperor, there has been a slight commotion in the south. It seems that the northern expedition will not be possible in the short term …"
Wu Zhi said, seeming a little regretful.
"At this time, the fate is still not stable. We should slowly nurture it … We must not make a big move again!"
Wu Ming shook his head. "But after these parasites are cleaned up, there is no need to be too harsh on the members of the royal family of the previous dynasty. Abolish their privileges and confiscate their illegal property. That should be enough …"
Although throughout the dynasties, the first priority of those who rebelled and ascended the throne was to capture and exterminate the members of the previous dynasty, in fact, it was purely because they had a guilty conscience.
If the common people and scholars really submitted, what would a few members of the royal family amount to?
Wu Zhi was independent and did not need this. Not to mention, even if all the members of the royal family in the south were killed, there was still King Wu, Ji Quan, in the north.
"Of course I know this. Even that Ji Lin is not going to kill him. He is just confining him …"
Wu Zhi smiled sweetly. "Sister Duanrui, you have been crying to me recently, right? This concubine doesn't want to disturb my husband's inner courtyard … "
"No, this woman is very righteous. She has never begged me even once …"
Wu Ming said and sighed again.
The princess, who was a concubine, knew the principle of being cautious. Although she was a little unhappy, she did not act like a little girl who cried, threw a tantrum, and threatened to hang herself.
However, Wu Ming would not be moved by these little tricks at all.
"What a clever woman!"
Wu Zhi blinked his eyes. "Then, you have to comfort him!"
"Haha …"
Wu Ming touched his nose, walked out of the palace, and directly turned to a small hall at the back.
This was the Shu Hua Hall, where Princess Duanrui was.
"All of you can leave!"
Wu Ming strode in and dismissed the maids and nannies. Immediately, he saw a beautiful and moving girl coming forward and bowing. "My husband!"
This was Princess Duanrui. This woman was wearing a light gauze, her face was thin, and her eyes were slightly red. Obviously, the news outside had made her very uneasy recently.
"Don't worry. If Ji Lin can accept his fate, his life can still be saved. The same goes for the Dazhou Imperial Clan!"
Wu Ming knew what Duanrui wanted to hear the most now and said directly, "From today onwards, everything outside has nothing to do with you. Just be at ease and be the wife of the Wu Family!"
After saying this, he felt a little embarrassed and did not stay. He turned around and left.
"Thank you, my husband!"
Behind him, Princess Duanrui's joyful voice came crying.
No matter how intelligent she was, she was only a young girl after all. In the face of this earth-shattering situation, what could she do?
Not only was she worried about the safety of her brother and the imperial clan outside, but she also had to be careful not to be implicated and cause the people outside to lose all hope.
With her sharp senses, she had long realized that this husband of hers was unfathomable and had the absolute right to speak in Prince Ding's Palace. Even the eldest wife, Wu Zhi, had to obey him obediently.
It was just that she was intelligent and did not directly ask for his help, making things difficult for her husband.
At this time, she finally could not hide it, and two lines of hot tears flowed down her cheeks.
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