Li Qitian angrily glared, "It's Zhou Lian again! It's that Zhou Lian again!! Are Shuntian Prefecture and the Jingji Guard all useless?! The capital is only so big, but you can't even catch a young man! You just can't catch him!! "
All the officials bowed and said in unison, "Your Majesty, please calm down."
"Cliché! Every time something happens, you just ask me to calm down! " Li Qitian's chest violently heaved up and down. He couldn't breathe, but he couldn't swallow it either, causing his face to turn purple.
When the officials heard Li Qitian's angry roar, they could already feel the Emperor's anger. They were so scared that they all knelt down and saluted, not daring to say anything.
Xiong Jinshui, who was serving beside Li Qitian, was so scared that he almost fainted when he saw the Emperor's expression.
If something really happened to the Emperor, would they, his personal servants, still have a way out?
Xiong Jinshui secretly prayed in his heart that nothing would make the Emperor angry again.
But things didn't go as he wished. Soon, someone used Zhou Lian's declaration of war.
Li Qitian only took a glance at it before he crumpled the document into pieces.
"Bastard, bastard! A bunch of rebels, fanatics! "
This declaration of war was written without any standard. It was written in plain language, and it was obvious that it strived to be understood by all the people. Once again, it exaggerated Pang Xiao's achievements and benevolence. Your Majesty was just a nouveau riche. After becoming the Emperor, he did everything for himself and didn't care about the lives of the people.
At the end of the declaration of war, he even dared to openly say, "Can such an incapable ruler really bring happiness to the people of Da Zhou? It's better to restore the Beiji Dynasty, establish a wise ruler, and stabilize the world. That's the right path. "
"This Zhou Lian is really shameless! How did the Northern Ji Dynasty get overthrown? How could he forget? Restoring the Beiji Dynasty will make the people live better than under my rule? You're really spouting nonsense, you don't know what you're talking about! "
However, Li Qitian's anger couldn't stop Pang Xiao and his troops from returning to the capital.
It was August, but the hot weather couldn't stop Li Qitian's thoughts.
"Your Majesty, Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu command an army of three hundred thousand soldiers. The city gates they pass through are wide open, and they have successfully incorporated three thousand battalions. They are only three or four days away from the capital."
Li Qitian was angry and anxious. he was so angry that his heart ached. He clutched his chest and asked, "How many troops can the Ministry of War send to defend the city? What about the Ministry of Revenue? Is there enough food and provisions? "
The Minister of War, Wang Zhi, stepped forward and said with a heavy expression, "Your Majesty, because of the danger of the battle with the Tatan, the troops near the capital and around the capital were all under Pang Xiao's command. Now, there are only the Jingji Guard and the Five Cities Warden's Office in the capital. Compared to the 300,000 troops that Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu brought back, it's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."
The Assistant Minister of Revenue, Fang Shouru, also said, "Your Majesty, the national treasury is empty. Even the officials in the imperial court have owed their salaries for more than a year. The taxes of the people have been increased to 80%. The people who were suppressed by the prefectures are now dissatisfied again. They are complaining that the imperial court is heartless …"
Li Qitian gritted his teeth. His face alternated between green and white.
The imperial mausoleum wasn't built. The treasure wasn't found, there was no money, and no people. Even the unruly people were against him!
How could he fight this war?
"You mean there's nothing we can do?"
"Your Majesty, this subject is ignorant. At this time, there's really nothing we can do."
"That's exactly the case. Your Majesty, this subject has already racked our brains and done our best. However, this subject can't conjure up money, nor can we conjure up troops."
Li Qitian sneered when he heard this. "Don't tell me you want me to stretch out my neck and be executed!" He endured the stifling feeling in his chest and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't think that you'll have an easy time just because Pang Xiao brought people in! A new emperor brings in new officials. Don't tell me you want to stay out of this? "
These words caused the hearts and minds of everyone present to tremble violently.
They really didn't have the confidence to stay out of this.
Li Qitian said again, "No money? Yes, our treasury is empty, and the Ministry of Revenue also doesn't have money. However, we owe you a year's salary. I don't see the officials in the imperial court starving to the point of not being able to eat! Do you think we don't know how many taxes you've evaded and how many benefits you've received from your family? Now that the country is facing a crisis, our treasury has been emptied. Don't tell me you still don't want to express your gratitude? "
The officials looked at each other in dismay. The emperor must have been so anxious that he actually stretched out his hand to the officials!
No one was willing to pay out of their own pockets. Firstly, they didn't want to bleed. Secondly, they didn't want to expose their family's wealth. Thirdly, and most importantly, everyone more or less felt lucky. They felt that Prince Zhongshun wasn't a person who would willfully kill the innocent. Moreover, if he really wanted to fight for the position, it would be difficult for him to walk the path of a wise emperor. At that time, wouldn't he become a tyrant again? Prince Zhongshun wasn't that stupid.
However, these thoughts could only be thought in everyone's mind.
"If we can negotiate peacefully, perhaps this crisis can be resolved." An official suggested.
"This subject agrees. Your Majesty, this subject thinks that we might as well start from two sides. On the one hand, order people to secretly contact Duke Ding. After all, Duke Ding and Your Majesty are in-laws. Moreover, Princess Royal of Anyang died at the hands of the Qin Clan. If we instigate them, it will definitely succeed. If Duke Ding can assassinate Pang Xiao, this matter can be resolved. If he can't, even if Duke Ding changes his mind, it will still be a great help to Your Majesty.
"On the other hand, we also have to make two preparations. If we can't pull Duke Ding back to the camp of the imperial court, then we have to find a way to negotiate peacefully."
Li Qitian frowned and sneered, "Negotiate peacefully? Do you want me to beg them for mercy? "
"Your Majesty, where there is life, there is hope. Only by keeping your life can you keep the fire for the future. "
Failure, it was really a failure.
How could he let himself fall into such a situation? As the emperor, he was already the master of the world and was respected by all people. Now, he had fallen to the point where he had to negotiate peacefully with traitors?
He was the emperor. Why should he suffer such humiliation?
Li Qitian pointed at the people in front of him and sneered, "Is this your way of being loyal to the emperor and patriotism? You don't want to pay money and don't want to touch your family's foundation, so you want me to beg the traitors for mercy? If news of this were to spread, how am I supposed to face the world?! "
"Your Majesty, a real man knows when to yield and when to stand tall. You are the emperor of a country. You must not lose the big for the small.
”
"What a good way to yield and when to stand tall." Li Qitian sneered and immediately ordered the general to tie up the official who spoke, "Hand him over to the Ministry of Personnel for a strict investigation. Find out how much of Lord Sun's family property is, how much of it is ancestral property and how much of it is from bribery! I'd like to see how you can yield and stand tall! "
The guards and the general in front of the hall immediately walked into the hall and dragged the official away.
"Your Majesty, you can't do this! I'm innocent! "
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty's action is inappropriate …"
"Who has an objection? Tie them all up! "
Li Qitian roared, scaring the officials into silence.
That day, a list of Lord Sun's family property was given to Li Qitian, along with the evidence of his many years of bribery and collusion.
The next day, the order to search Lord Sun's family was issued, filling the national treasury.
As a result, the court became even more jittery. Even the officials who had ideas didn't dare to speak in front of the emperor, lest they invite a fatal disaster.
%
"Princess Consort, I've already made some inquiries. The search in the city has gradually loosened in recent days. First, there hasn't been any progress in the investigation. Moreover, the salary of the imperial court isn't enough, so the city guards are slacking off. Second, corrupt officials are being arrested everywhere in the city. The soldiers and generals are all racking their brains to follow suit and search Lord Sun's family for profit. Third, the weather is too hot. In short, it's good that we take this opportunity to leave.
Xie Yue smiled and said, "When the time comes, we'll disguise ourselves. Nothing will go wrong."
Qin Yining nodded and said with a smile, "Teacher is right. Fortunately, we're in the outer city, so it'll be easier for us to leave. However, we still need to carry the two children separately. "After all, it was a bit conspicuous to have a boy and a girl together.
Xie Yue said, "Don't worry, I'll arrange it. Wang Ye's group should be arriving in the capital soon. If we head north, we'll definitely meet up with Wang Ye. "
"That's right." Qin Yining sighed softly, his eyes full of hope. "I can't wait any longer. It's inconvenient to communicate these days, and Wang Ye's group is constantly on the move. It's even more inconvenient to exchange information. I wonder how they're doing.
”
Xie Yue laughed and said, "Even so, you and Wang Ye still have a tacit understanding. Once you arrange for the declaration of war, Wang Ye's group will know to return to the capital. Along the way, the army will open the gates of all the cities and towns along the way. They won't lose a single soldier, and their reputation is even better than before. Wang Ye's benevolence and righteousness, coupled with your efforts to create momentum, Wang Ye's voice is even louder than before. "
Qin Yining said, "It's all thanks to the person above who's willing to put in effort to set him off."
These days, Li Qitian was forced into a corner, and the things he did were very stupid. Perhaps Li Qitian had resentment in his heart, and he finally found an outlet to vent his anger.
However, in Qin Yining's opinion, his actions were tantamount to destroying the Great Wall and causing the emperor and his subjects to be at odds with each other.
When he needed manpower the most, he was pushing people away from him one by one.
Perhaps this was where Tian Jizi's brilliance lay. Although she had died, he had already planned out everything that happened afterwards.
"Wangfei." Ji Yun walked in quickly, "Master Zhong just sent a message. The supplies and food donated by Si Tong Number have already been sent to Wang Ye's army along with the supplies prepared by Master Zhong."
Xie Yue stroked his beard and smiled, "This Boss Qiu is also an interesting person.
”
These days, Qiu Feishan had been doing her best to win back Mu Jinghu's heart. Although Qin Yining knew that she donated these for the long-term development of the Qiu family in the future, she had indeed succeeded in softening Mu Jinghu's heart.
After all, Mu Jinghu had feelings for Qiu Feishan. If this continued, it was only a matter of time before the two reconciled. This was also something that Qin Yining was happy to see. After all, they were friends. Qin Yining didn't want Mu Jinghu's life to be unhappy because of her and Pang Xiao.
"Master. There are a few people outside, and they want to stay at our farmstead for the night. "Someone from the outer courtyard came in to pass on the message.
Qin Yining was stunned, "Our farmstead is so remote, there are people who want to stay at our farmstead?"
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