As the man moved forward, the group started to break apart. At the same time, there was a suspicion that they were trying to steal the show. The man in the fur coat walked at the very front and called for the old castle master, Li Chulin, to accompany him. Gu Jiantang held a horse in each hand and followed closely behind. Then came Li Yuanya. These four people slowly walked at the front. Then came the five riders who each held heavy military power on the northern border of the dynasty. Finally came the old and young members of the Li family. Because the sight of the five people holding the horses was blocked, the Li family members who couldn't go to Gu Da Zhu Guo's side to see what was going on started to look at the backs of these people. The old man with the sharp eyes of Yanbao recognized most of them and guessed the rest. He couldn't help but be speechless. These five people were all important figures in the military who held the title of general with real power. The lowest official was rank four. It could be said that if these five people died at Yanbao, then the northern border of the two Liaos would be half paralyzed. However, with Gu Jiantang, who was the number one blade user in the world, holding the line, it would be difficult for these five generals to die even if they wanted to. Other than having high positions and power, these five riders had one thing in common. Compared to the old generals like Yang Shenxing and Yan Zhenchun, although their military achievements and fame were not as great, they won because they were young. The oldest was less than 50 years old and the youngest was only 30 years old. The battlefield at the border didn't care about age and experience more than the court. Therefore, it could be said that these five were destined to become the future military pillars of the Liyang imperial court. Perhaps the next Minister of War of Great Peace City would emerge from among them.
The man walked on the smooth road paved with large green stone slabs. He raised his head and looked at the numerous fire dragons that stretched up from the lanterns. He sighed softly and said, "This is the first time I have entered Ji Province in my life. I should have come earlier. My Zhao family is about to conquer the world. Usually, when I go to the diligent room to teach the Zhao family members, I always say that we can't slack off. We can't be misled by the ancients and believe that after conquering the world, we have to dismount from the horse and protect the world. That's what I said, but I don't seem to have done a good job of teaching them by word and example. Presumably, some of the Zhao Clan's descendants will find it harder to place as much importance on military affairs as their ancestors. "
No matter how brave the old fox Li Chulin was, he didn't dare to interrupt the Son of Heaven's family affairs. He could only perk up his ears and not miss a single word. As long as the Emperor, who was traveling incognito, didn't ask questions, he would just listen and not speak.
This man who could allow Gu Jiantang to lead his horse and guard him with a clear conscience was none other than the current Emperor, Zhao Dun, who had stealthily arrived at the border. However, the Emperor did not issue an edict for the Crown Prince to be regent as soon as he left the capital. Instead, when he was about to return from Ji Zhou, he had the head eunuch of the Ceremony Directorate, Song Tanglu, hand a secret edict to Bai Guo of the Ministry of Rites and make it public. The edict was ambiguous, and it was enough for the purple-cloaked officials in the officialdom to chew on. This was the first time the old man had seen the Emperor with his own eyes, and his heart palpitated violently. That year, the execution of the entire Han family had caused turmoil in Ji Zhou. The Li family of Yanbao, who had a marriage alliance with the Han family, had also been implicated. At that time, Li Chulin, who had yet to vacate the position of family head for Li Yuanya, was extremely vicious and merciless. Not only did he tie up the young couple and bring them to the execution ground in Ji Zhou's capital, he didn't even spare their young children. In the end, the two children, who should have been surnamed Li, were beheaded along with their parents. Thinking about it now, although Li Chulin felt somewhat guilty, he didn't regret it in the slightest. Under the strife of the general situation, the lives of a few innocent people didn't count for much. In just one night, the Han family, who had been loyal for hundreds of years, had become a traitor who had betrayed the country. For the past ten years, everyone in the imperial court had said that it was the blue-eyed Grand Secretary who had harmed the public interest. It had even turned into one of the most powerful crimes that the Imperial Censorate had used to impeach Zhang Julu. This made the old man, who liked to read history in his spare time, feel somewhat distressed. In the past dynasties, there had always been treacherous officials who manipulated power and deceived the public. In the end, they were executed under the law, and never dared to say how muddle-headed the Emperor was. To be honest, Li Chulin admired the Grand Secretary who was in the center of the imperial court but kept himself clean in all aspects. If it weren't for Zhang Julu's insistence on supporting the northern border and using half of the imperial court's taxes to support the northern border, the old Minister of War behind him wouldn't have been able to handle the situation so easily.
As for why the current Emperor had to make such an unnecessary move to visit Yanbao, after Li Chulin received Gu Jiantang's handwritten secret letter, he had a private meeting with his eldest son, Li Yuanya. There were only three answers he came up with. Firstly, the imperial court of Zhao, or rather, the Emperor, had to provide evidence that could convince the public in Ji Province in order to redress the Han family's innocence. Yanbao was an old and wealthy family that had been rooted in Ji Province for generations, and was also one of the victims in the past. If the Li family stood out and spoke at this critical moment, it would be more 'ironed out' than the impeachment of the Right Chancellor of the Imperial College. It would also win more sympathy from the imperial court. It was an irresistible trend for everyone to push the wall that was down. However, not everyone had the right to push the high wall of the Zhang family that had stood in the imperial court for over twenty years. Furthermore, the Youzhou side was restless. Currently, there were some extreme actions that crossed the border. Tens of thousands of riders had entered Ji Province. Naturally, the imperial court would have to guard against the young man from Beiliang's Xu family. With the departure of the old general of Ji Province, Yang Shenxing, the Li family of Yanbao, who had seven to eight thousand private soldiers, would naturally fall into the eyes of the imperial court. Both father and son guessed that it was a personal matter of the Emperor. After the previous two times where he personally led the troops and returned with no results, the current Emperor had never patrolled the borders. He had not even gone to the prosperous Jiangnan. The people mistakenly thought that the current Emperor only cared about internal affairs and did not care about military exploits on the borders. This was definitely the view of a country bumpkin. Li Chulin had always believed that the current Emperor had an extremely strong desire to conquer Beimang, because this was the only feat that could prove that he could stand shoulder to shoulder with the late Emperor.
Emperor Zhao Dun gradually ascended along the green stone path. Yanbao's path also had the reputation of being the Path of Blue Clouds. All the officials of Ji Province would take this path in hopes of good luck. However, to the person sitting on the dragon chair, the meteoric rise that the officials dreamed of was not even worth mentioning.
Li Chulin was shocked. It was said that the Emperor did not forget to train his body in addition to working hard. The people of Ji Province all thought that this man, who was only fifty years old, could continue to sit on that chair and look south for another ten to twenty years. How could his physical strength be so weak? He actually had to pant after every hundred steps? Could it be that the prosperous Li Yang was about to change? It had to be known that Li Yang could not be considered peaceful. There were internal and external troubles. Outside, there was Beimang's million-strong cavalry eyeing them covetously. Inside, there was the revival of West Chu. Even more inside, the imperial court was in a state of crisis. Everyone was in danger. If something were to happen at this time … Li Chulin did not dare to think any further. He was afraid that the Emperor beside him would notice if he revealed even the slightest abnormality.
Yanbao was like a mountain. It went up layer by layer and climbed steadily. His Majesty stopped to rest at a pavilion with a wide view halfway up the mountain. He reached out and tightened his grip on the thick fur coat. After a long silence, he glanced to the west and suddenly said, "Old Castle Master, you must have a plan to deal with my uninvited visit. However, you are probably overthinking and wrong. I might as well tell you the truth. The reason I came to Yanbao was to take a closer look at that place."
The old fort master of Yanbo Castle seemed to be shocked. He subconsciously straightened his back and then quickly bent down heavily. The old man, who was used to the ups and downs of life, trembled in fear and did not dare to speak.
The Emperor waved his hand. Gu Jiantang walked forward a few steps.
Li Chulin tactfully retreated and waited at the bottom of the steps.
The Emperor coughed a few times. His tone was somewhat difficult. "Jiantang, I have changed my mind. Follow me back to the capital tomorrow. When the time comes, you will send him off. Since I do not dare to see him, and none of the civil officials in the imperial court are worthy, I have thought about it. Only you, a general with the title of Pillar of the State, are worthy. I actually know a little about the thoughts he has buried deep in his heart. "
Gu Jiantang said calmly, "Does Your Majesty have any words to pass on?"
The Emperor hesitated and said self-deprecatingly, "Just tell him that the 'Dun' in Zhao Dun's name is worthy of the world. Only he, Zhang Julu, is ashamed."
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