Chapter 85: Chapter 65: Noble Consort Cui’s Secret

Zheng Yuantao declared himself as King Yan, which not only stirred heated discussions in the Imperial Court but also sparked intense debates among the common people.

Some cursed loudly, some were filled with righteous indignation, others held admiration, and a very few inexplicably went to join him, just for a chance at a future!

Places like taverns, tea houses, and brothels were all filled with people discussing this matter.

“King Yan declaring himself is the first such event in more than three hundred years since the founding of the Great Yu!”

“What could those officials in the Imperial Court possibly do?”

“What else can they do? Just issue a decree of condemnation. Does the court really dare to go to war with Pseudo-Yan?”

“Heh… just relying on those old men in the Imperial Guard?”

“The Imperial Guard is almost useless! Two years ago, Yang Ni rebelled, clashed with the Imperial Army, and all the dead were from the elite Imperial Guard.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, nowadays, the Imperial Guard would be lucky to have two or three thousand men who can fight.”

“Shh… the officials have finished court!”

“There’s new information! The Imperial Court favors warfare and is actually planning to gather the county soldiers around the Capital City to form an Imperial Guard!”

“Forming an Imperial Guard? I wonder if I can join?”

“I heard, you know, that the fourth place in the Military Examination, Tian Yiguang, is now a Captain of the Imperial Guard and is recruiting soldiers!”

“Captain of the Imperial Guard? Really rose to prominence overnight!”

“The champion of the Military Examination is now in the Binzhou Border Army as a guerrilla leader, with several thousand men under him!”

“The runner-up and the third-place scholar are reportedly commanders in the Divine Strategy Camp, also recruiting! But I hear the conditions are very strict, only those with great strength and exceptional archery skills are accepted.”

“The Divine Strategy Camp? What do they do?”

“I don’t know, but it’s said to be a personal guard directly under Your Majesty!”

“Recruiting soldiers, and more and more. Does the court really have that much money?”

“Shh… don’t forget, Your Majesty confiscated Yang Ni’s property, and I heard it was to the tune of several billion taels of silver!”

“I heard it was over ten billion?”

“That’s a small figure. My neighbor’s aunt’s brother’s concubine’s second uncle’s son is an eunuch in the palace, and he said it was a hundred billion!”

“Wow~!”

Rumors of various colors are flying among the populace, too many to recount, with a new version emerging almost every day.

Among them, some are true, while others are falsehoods deliberately released by those with intentions.

With Emperor Zhengyong, Pseudo-Yan spies, and people from other forces, all gathered in the Capital City, the atmosphere grew very lively.

“Pseudo-Yan is treacherous; the Great Yu should marshal heavy troops and crush them with thunderous power!”

Within the Hanlin Academy, the newly appointed Hanlin Editor, Wang Anshi, stood up excitedly, his hands shaking as if venting his anger.

Next to him were the newly appointed Hanlin Academy Editor, literary examination champion Cui Xiawu, and runner-up Li Ziyang.

The three of them were successful candidates from the same class and entered the Hanlin Academy as officials, sharing the camaraderie of classmates, often gathering to discuss state affairs.

The news of Pseudo-Yan declaring independence sparked heated debates among countless colleagues, including the three of them.

A large number of Hanlin Academy officials and scholars gathered to discuss, and after the meeting, the three of them stayed together.

Among the three, Wang Anshi, though from a humble background, had long been aware of the people’s suffering, thus harboring deep resentment towards Pseudo-Yan’s self-declaration, advocating strongly for its eradication.

The other two, however, held different views.

“With what to suppress?”

Cui Xiazhao shook his head and said, “Now the Six Northern States are in chaos; the court has been trying for two years and hasn’t completely suppressed it. Now with Pseudo-Yan declaring independence, it makes the north even more unstable. What does the court have to suppress it?”

“The Imperial Guard hasn’t recovered since Yang Ni’s treachery. Rely on Yunzhou’s county soldiers? Or other county soldiers?”

“In my opinion, the court would do better to acknowledge the King Yan’s position, use him to suppress the rebels, and then head to the Canglong River, together with Grand General Xu, to resist Wu Country; this is the best strategy!”

“Acknowledge Pseudo-Yan as king?”

Wang Anshi frowned and said, “If so, where would the court’s legitimacy stand?”

“If King Yan is acknowledged, what about the other Princes?”

“Prince Ning and Prince Qing have come of age and are already in their fiefs, plus the Emperor’s uncles, King Jinn, King Chen, King Shu, King Jiang, etc. If they all want to declare independence, what will the court do then?”

Wang Anshi gritted his teeth and said, “Have you all forgotten about the chaos of the Dukes at the start of our Great Yu’s founding?”

Over three hundred years ago, at the establishment of Great Yu, the founding Emperor Zheng Mingsen established the Dukes to guard the Capital City.

Who knew that after his death, the Dukes would start a rebellion, aiming to seize power and besiege the Capital.

Fortunately, King Wu emerged at that time, defeated the Dukes, drove out foreign invaders, and stabilized the entire Great Yu.

Since then, King Wu of Zheng established a decree: only those surnamed Zheng could be made kings, and the Dukes would have no military or political power, only the right to support themselves from their fiefs.

However, now the false king Zheng Yuantao unexpectedly wants to use this to threaten the court, demanding he be made a Duke.

If this precedent is set, the world will surely be plunged into chaos!

“This is a temporary measure.”

Cui Xiazhao sighed long and said, “Only by relying on King Yan to quell the rebellion, and then revoking his princely title, can we…”

“Such a move will surely lead to chaos!”

Wang Anshi sneered coldly, “A princely title ceded will never be easily retracted; Brother Cui, you are indeed too naive!”

Cui Xiazhao said stiffly, “Brother Wang, now King Yan must be His Majesty’s brother, just needing…”

“Heh…”

Wang Anshi snorted coldly, shaking his head, “Such a compromise, where does it place the face of the Great Yu Court?”

“Today in the court, I heard that even Brother Cui’s grandfather advocated for peace. Doesn’t he realize that if this is implemented, it will be our Great Yu Country’s crisis?”

“The Great Yu has already reached such a difficult situation, yet you all are still thinking of party struggles!”

“Brother Wang!”

Cui Xiazhao shouted angrily, but Li Ziyang beside him pulled him back, “Elder brothers, don’t get angry; we are merely discussing the matter, not elevating it to a party struggle issue.”

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