In the imperial study room, Zhao Gou put down the newspaper and asked Xu Xiantu: "Could this be Chen Qing's scheme to frame the assassination murderer to the Kingdom of Jin?"
Xu Xiantu shook his head, "Wei Chen doesn't think it's necessary. Chen Qing wants to get rid of the prince and let him die of illness. Anyway, the former prince's health was not good and he was chronically poisoned. In the end, it was normal for him to die due to ineffective treatment. It was framed for the Jin Kingdom."
Trouble, what if the Jin Kingdom doesn’t admit it? We still need to prepare a lot of evidence, and it also needs to be linked together. If you don’t think carefully, something will happen.”
Zhao Gou thought it made sense and asked Qin Hui again: "What does Qin Xiangguo think?"
Qin Hui thought for a while and said: "Whether the assassination case is true or not, it is difficult for me to judge. I just feel that the newspaper said too much, and it feels like it is trying to hide the truth."
"It's not about hiding something!"
Zhang Jun added on the side: "They want to make things clear so that no one will doubt. As Xu Xiangguo said, there is really no need to make it so complicated when a glass of poisonous wine can solve the problem. I met Lu Gang at noon in my humble position.
When asked about this, he said that the internal guards of the Western Army had seized the assassination order of the Emperor of Jin, so it would not be false."
Zhao Gou nodded and put the newspaper aside. He was no longer interested in the death of the former crown prince Zhao Chen. He summoned the ministers today to expand the army and increase the army by another 200,000. He already had more than 200,000 troops in his hands.
Tens of millions of dollars are enough to support an army of more than 300,000 people.
However, several prime ministers did not support his army expansion. The reason is also very simple. They do not have that large population to support the army. With an army of more than 300,000, it takes almost two million people to have so many young people. How many people are there in Jiangnan now?
If all the young and strong men go to serve as soldiers, who will farm the land? Who will mine? Who will engage in various handicrafts?
"Your Majesty, if it was twenty years ago, maybe we would have had a sufficient population, but now many people have returned to the Central Plains. The population in Jiangnan has dropped by half compared to twenty years ago. If Your Majesty recruited an army of 200,000 people, many things would not happen.
Someone did it, your Majesty, please think twice!"
Zhao Gou said dissatisfied: "You told me before that all the big shops have closed down, a lot of clerks have nothing to do, and it is a problem to support their families. If there is a job, several people are fighting for it. Now I let them join the army to earn money to support their families. Is it true?
Isn’t that a good thing?”
"Your Majesty, there are rumors that those powerful people are in contact with the descendants of Taizu!"
"The second rumor is that someone saw Xiang Kui, Xiang Desheng's nephew, in Jingzhao."
Zhao Gou was startled, "What do you mean by this?"
Yan Xin, the commander of the Meihua Guard, happened to be in the palace. When he heard the call, he immediately rushed to the imperial study. After a while, he was taken into the imperial study. Yan Xin knelt down on one knee and saluted, "I am here to see you, Your Majesty!"
He himself had no sons, and all the royal family of Taizong's line were wiped out in the Jingkang Rebellion. However, many of Taizu's descendants lived in Yingtian Mansion and survived. Those powerful people who came into contact with Taizu's descendants obviously wanted to overthrow themselves and establish a new one.
Jun.
The first rumor was expected by Zhao Gou and not surprising at all. The second rumor he was concerned about.
Zhao Gou's tone became more and more dissatisfied, and he said to everyone: "I am recruiting an army of more than 300,000 people not for a decisive battle with the Western Army, but to have enough troops so that Chen Qing does not dare to underestimate us. An army of more than 300,000 people is a force in itself.
As a deterrent, I have made up my mind to recruit an army of 200,000 people. We will start recruiting from tomorrow. The only age limit is: over 16 years old and under 40 years old. There are no other restrictions!"
"Wei Chen resigns!"
Zhao Gou frowned. He had a very good impression of Wang Jian and was very loyal to the Song Dynasty. That's why he reused him and let him command an army of 30,000 to guard Wenzhou. How could he betray him?
But then again, if not Wang Jian, who would have the power to mobilize 30,000 troops?
Seeing that Zhao Gou was a little hesitant, Xu Xiantu said cautiously: "Your Majesty, it is true that Wang Jian is loyal to the Song Dynasty, but he may not be loyal to Your Majesty!"
"Tell me what rumors there are."
"Your Majesty, there are two rumors. The first rumor is that someone saw Xiang Desheng's nephew in Jingzhao."
"Yan Dutong is exempt from the gift!"
"It's just rumors from the neighbors. Newspapers won't publish such news without evidence."
"Quickly send word to Yan Xin to see me!"
"Then what? What's the second rumor?"
Xu Xiantu bowed and slowly retreated.
Zhao Gou's expression suddenly changed. It could be said that this was his second most feared thing after his brother Zhao Huan. His brother Zhao Huan was dead, and the greatest threat to his throne was the descendants of Taizu.
Yan Xin hesitated and said, "Wei Chen didn't get any definite information."
Zhao Gou was so shrewd that he immediately heard something in his words and immediately asked: "Where are the rumors?"
"In addition, I would like to remind Your Majesty that although the former prince was assassinated, he still has two young sons in the hands of Chen Qing, who are also a major threat."
"This is not necessarily a rumor. It is very possible. What about the second rumor?"
Xu Xiantu was the only one left in the imperial study, and Zhao Gou asked again: "Has the Wenzhou Army found out who is in charge?"
Zhao Gou nodded, "I know!"
Yan Xin was a little confused: "Weichen really doesn't have any evidence!"
"What kind of rumors are they?" Zhao Gou was a little anxious.
Zhao Gou stood in front of the window with his hands behind his hands and asked, "Do you have any news about the Xiang family, the Cao family, the Gao family, and the Cai family?"
"I don't want evidence, just say it!"
Zhao Gou immediately understood what Xu Xiantu meant when he said that Wang Jian was loyal to the Song Dynasty, but not necessarily loyal to himself.
Zhao Gou was so angry that he paced back and forth in the imperial study with his hands behind his hands. He knew Xu Xiantu very well and he would not spread rumors. He must have got some definite information. It seemed that these bastards not only contacted Chen Qing secretly, but also prepared to
To overthrow oneself and establish a new king, I really don’t know how to write the word “death”!
Zhang Jun said: "Your Majesty, there are requirements for recruiting soldiers. They must have strength and height. If anyone can join the army, it will be the old, weak and disabled soldiers. Many guys are not suitable for joining the army."
Zhao Gou now knows that most of the outside world comes from the "Beijing News". Qin Hui persuaded him to close down the "Beijing News" several times, but he did not agree. Not only was he afraid of offending Chen Qing, but he himself could not live without the information of "Jing Zhao".
source.
"Didn't Your Majesty hear some rumors?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it should be the Commander-in-Chief, Wang Jian!"
"Then relax the conditions!"
"There are quite a few rumors!"
Yan Xin had no choice but to think about it and said: "The first rumor is that they are transferring wealth in various ways, some to King Yong's territory, and some to the manor."
Zhao Gou's eyes widened, "What rumors? Has it been published in the newspapers?"
Zhao Gou frowned. This was exactly what Xu Xiantu said. It was obvious that someone was deliberately spreading the news.
"Is there anything else you should continue to say?"
"Also, they are constantly meeting in secret and seem to be discussing some major matter. Only this news is more accurate!"
Zhao Gou nodded and said: "I came to you just to tell you that we will use the elite Plum Blossom Guards to closely monitor the words and deeds of these powerful people and report to me at any time!"
