r18novel Chapter 244: Local officials who assess the situation, a noble lady in military uniform
Chapter 244: Local officials who assess the situation, a noble lady in military uniform
On the other side, Xie Shoujun and Sheng Shihuai stopped the prince's party.
"Your Highness, the defeat is certain, so just surrender." Sheng Shihuai narrowed his narrow eyes slightly, and deep in his smiling eyes, there was a hint of ridicule, "If you stop now, perhaps I can convince the Regent to spare your life."
Of course, he was just talking casually.
"I didn't expect that Envoy Sheng was so well hidden. I wonder if those ministers who defected to my second brother know who the real wolf-ambitious person is."
Xie Jinyu met Sheng Shihuai's eyes and said sarcastically, "But, do you really think that you can rest easy after you have instigated Xie Shoujun to rebel?"
His eyes moved back and forth between Sheng Shihuai and Xie Shoujun, and he sneered with an ambiguous tone, "Since he dares to rebel against me, he can get rid of you afterwards."
Sheng Shihuai laughed and counterattacked, "Your Highness, there is no need to sow discord. I have no conflict of interest with the eldest prince. What reason does the eldest prince have to get rid of me?"
"Oh?" Xie Jinyu said slowly, "If you hadn't colluded with the Ministry of Revenue, causing the treasury of the imperial court to be empty and the border guards to be treated badly for many years, and if you hadn't sent people to advise Xie Shoujun that holding great power was a taboo, causing the emperor to be suspicious and deliberately suppress the border guards so that they had no food to go to the capital..."
"Brother, you don't have to endure such a long and hard time at the border, right?" His eyes swept over Xie Shoujun who was standing beside him, and the smile on his lips became more and more profound.
The smile on Sheng Shihuai's face faded a little, "Your Highness the Crown Prince's ability to lie is truly admirable to me."
"It's no match for Envoy Sheng's ambition and planning." Xie Jinyu nodded slightly. "Although Xie Shoujun's elite soldiers are brave, they are far less numerous than the imperial guards. It's still unknown who will win or lose. How about we make a bet that Envoy Sheng will definitely lose this battle?"
"Your Highness is stalling for time, right?" Sheng Shihuai mercilessly exposed the prince's plot, "Are you waiting for the imperial guards and soldiers from Jizhou?"
At this moment, the calmness on Xie Jinyu's face faded a little. He obviously didn't expect that Sheng Shihuai actually knew that he had notified the Jizhou Imperial Guards in advance to go to the capital to protect their master.
"What a pity." Sheng Shihuai shook his head, as if he really felt sorry for Xie Jinyu, and sighed, "It is inevitable to encounter accidents on the march, such as huge rocks blocking the road, and food and grass that suddenly caught fire..."
Xie Jinyu's face darkened completely, "The prefect of Jizhou is actually your man?"
Sheng Shihuai smiled and shook his head, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is still too young."
Smart local officials all know that if they want to save their lives as much as possible in such a palace coup, they can either choose to stand by and be neutral, or choose to judge the situation and wait and see when the situation is unclear, and finally strike at the critical moment and win the best assist of the game.
Anyone with a little ambition would choose the latter. For example, at this moment, the prefect of Jizhou was ordered by the emperor to go to the capital. He could not guarantee that the prince's party would be able to successfully coup. If he rashly chose to support the prince, he would probably be regarded as a rebel and be killed, so he would try to delay the time of going to the capital.
If the process drags on for too long and the prince's party fails, he will go back to serve as his local official. The new emperor will certainly not make things difficult for him and may even reward him to make up for the manpower, material and financial resources consumed in the march to the capital.
The time of delay was just right. If the prince's party was only slightly in the upper hand or at a disadvantage, he could provide timely assistance and become the biggest contributor to the success of the prince's palace coup, thereby rising to prominence.
But if the prince's party is completely at a disadvantage, even with him they will be powerless to turn the tide, and they can use the excuse of roadblocks and food supplies to directly "come late" and then surrender to the new emperor.
"Since Your Highness is willing to wait, I don't mind waiting with Your Highness." Sheng Shihuai flicked his sleeves and said calmly, "Let's see together, who is more brave, the elite soldiers at the border, or who is more powerful, the imperial guards."
At this moment, they were standing in the left side courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Behind them was the main courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The sounds of fighting between the two armies could be heard from time to time, occasionally mixed with a few high and clear screams, which were particularly loud.
"There is a guard running away from the seventh pillar on the left. Kill him!"
"There's a guard in the second bush pretending to be dead! Hurry up and kill him! Otherwise he suddenly jumps up and attacks me, and I win the Best of the Match award!"
“Wuhen! Wuji! Take me to the rockery quickly. The observation point there is clear!”
"Brothers! With the coordinates I have sent you, we will definitely be able to wipe out the Imperial Guards! Make sure the Cao family will be wiped out for three or five generations!"
In the left courtyard, Cao Que's eyes twitched involuntarily.
Although he didn't understand what the man of the match or the coordinates were, and even had some idea of the Regent's tricks, at this moment, he still felt that he had underestimated the Regent's mental state.
Weiwei took a deep breath, and he held the knife and said to Sheng Shihuai seriously, "Crown Prince, Queen, you and the ministers go first, I will stay behind to cover your retreat!"
Then he said to the ministers, "If the crown prince dies, you will surely be killed along with your entire clan, so you must protect the crown prince!"
After all, the crown prince is the legitimate heir. Some loyal old officials in the court would protect the crown prince even if they died. They all said, "Don't worry, we will definitely protect the crown prince!"
After saying this, he wrapped the prince up and retreated, intending to meet up with the imperial guards on the other side.
Seeing Cao Que rushing over, Sheng Shihuai took a step back calmly, "Prince, it's your turn."
Xie Shoujun glanced at him indifferently, then drew his sword and faced Cao Que.
Cao Que's martial power is indeed not to be underestimated. Even Xie Shoujun had a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. However, facing Xie Shoujun, who had been fighting with the Huns at the border for many years, Cao Que was obviously not good enough and soon fell into a disadvantage.
Just when Xie Shoujun's spear was about to pierce Cao Que's chest, a silver-white whip suddenly wrapped around the tip of the spear. With a fierce pull, the spear tip rubbed against Cao Que's armor, making a sharp sound, and then deviated from the direction of attack.
Xie Shoujun and Cao Que looked towards the end of the long whip at the same time, and saw Concubine Da standing not far away in military uniform. Xie Shu, also wearing a simple riding and shooting outfit, stood beside Concubine Da in a heroic manner, swinging a long whip in his hand.
"Cao family boy, I am here to lend you a helping hand!"
Concubine Da said sternly, "You traitor, give me your life!"
Xie Shu also shouted loudly, "This princess is coming too!"
"Thank you for your help, noble lady and princess." Cao Que swung his sword and faced Xie Shoujun at the same time as noble lady Da and Xie Shu.
Xie Shoujun frowned slightly. He was obviously wary of Concubine Da and Xie Shu, and was cautious in his actions. Sheng Shihuai watched for a while, and finally led his men to chase after the prince.
When Concubine Da saw this, she wanted to chase after him, but was entangled by Xie Shoujun. She could only say "Puh" and continue to deal with Xie Shoujun.