In the warm spring season of March, two consecutive pieces of information were sent to Dayong through the Flying Eagle Message in the Shadow Pavilion.
The distance of thousands of miles makes it inconvenient to send letters. Even with well-trained flying eagles, the transmission of information is extremely time-consuming.
When the first message arrived at Dayong, the monarchs and ministers of Dayong had just received the envoys of Nan Qi and received the news from Nan Qi: "King Jing was imprisoned in Guanyi, and the prince was under house arrest in the East Palace."
"House arrest?" Emperor Zhaoming immediately changed his expression, "Didn't you say that King Jing went to the battlefield?"
The envoy of Nan Qi said calmly: "The news His Highness the Prince asked us to bring is absolutely true. He just couldn't bear to keep you in the dark, so he sent his ministers to let you know and prepare countermeasures as soon as possible."
Emperor Zhaoming looked shocked and angry, and immediately ordered several important officials in the court: "Follow me to the imperial study to discuss matters!"
The Great Yong Statue suddenly entered a state of war preparation. One group of ministers advocated sending troops immediately to capture the people. Taking advantage of the fact that Dongyou was currently at war with Xijiang and had no time to worry about, they could force them to hand over the prince and King Jing. The other group of ministers advocated waiting.
Wait, the news brought by the Crown Prince of Southern Qi may not be accurate. If they deliberately want to provoke a war between Dayong and Dongyou, they will get the best of them, and Dayong and Dongyou will never be able to ease their differences.
There's room.
The dispute between the two sides was fierce, and Emperor Zhaoming was very worried.
However, just in the evening of that day, the Shadow Pavilion received a message from the shadow guard of the Shadow Pavilion: "To inform the emperor, Queen Dongyou is pregnant, and her mood often fluctuates. She is worried that she will fall out of favor after the emperor's draft.
So I have been reluctant to let King Jing and the Crown Prince come back."
After reading the information, Emperor Zhaoming felt ridiculous for a moment: "The queen was in a unstable mood, so she naturally trapped the prince and King Jing in Dongyou? What is the reason for this... Wait, the queen of Dongyou is Zishu?"
Shadow Guard replied: "Yes."
Emperor Zhaoming held the information in silence, but looked at the ministers who had been arguing in the imperial study room all day: "What do you think?"
The ministers looked at each other with frowns and did not dare to speak easily.
"Is this information reliable?"
Emperor Zhaoming's face was as dark as water. He originally thought it should be reliable, but the timing of the information coming was too coincidental. The Southern Qi envoy arrived at Dayong Imperial City, and the Shadow Pavilion found out the information?
Is the Shadow Pavilion still his Shadow Pavilion?
"I think we can wait a little longer and let the spies confirm the credibility of the news." Prime Minister Wei said, "But I think this reason can be explained. The princess who married Dongyou is really weak. I think
It is understandable that she should have a relative by her side to bring her some sense of security. After all, women are weak. Once the prince and King Jing return to Dayong, they will not be able to see each other again for the rest of their lives, so it is inevitable that they will feel reluctant to part with them."
Emperor Zhaoming said nothing, with an uneasy premonition lingering in his heart.
"What the Prime Minister said is not unreasonable, but the Crown Prince of Southern Qi sent people all the way to deliver the message. I think we must treat it with caution." Gu Qiubai, the young Minister of Household Affairs, said, "The Emperor can send spies to continue to confirm the reliability of the message.
, we must also make complete countermeasures and be ready for war at any time."
"Master Gu said it is easy." Prime Minister Wei retorted, "The Feng family's army is currently stationed at the border. Who among the generals available in the court can match the strength of the Feng family? Besides, it is impossible to transfer all the troops of Dayong there, right?
, what if other countries take the opportunity to invade? Also, we-"
"Master Prime Minister, are you worrying too much?" Gu Qiubai interrupted him without hesitation, "There is no doubt about the combat effectiveness of the Feng family army. Even if they are really ready for battle, there is no need to send other troops there.
We only need to make good arrangements for food and grass to ensure that the soldiers at the border can have enough to eat and have the strength to fight. I believe that the Feng family army will win a beautiful battle and successfully bring back King Jing and His Royal Highness."
Prime Minister Wei's face darkened: "Mr. Gu, you take it too much for granted. Is it that easy to win a battle? Even if the Feng family's army is brave, the Dongyou Iron Cavalry has always been powerful and invincible——"
"Why do you, Prime Minister, keep building up other people's ambitions and destroying your own prestige?" Gu Qiubai interrupted, "Do you not want to take back the crown prince and Prince Jing at all, or do you not want the Feng family's army to perform meritorious service?"
As soon as these words came out, Prime Minister Wei's face turned pale: "Master Gu!"
"That's enough!" Emperor Zhaoming frowned displeased, "Why are you arguing? You think I'm not annoying enough, right?"
Prime Minister Wei and Gu Qiubai both knelt down: "I know my mistake. Your Majesty, please calm down."
Emperor Zhaoming sat on the dragon throne with a sullen face and said nothing.
Even though his anger was boiling over his head, he suddenly calmed down as if a basin of cold water had been poured on him, and realized the two most critical issues.
First, Prime Minister Wei really hoped that King Jing and the Crown Prince would never come back, because the person he supported was King Qi.
Secondly, if the Feng family army achieves military exploits, it will be even more difficult to regain their military power in the future.
Therefore, if we do not fight, it is in line with the wishes of Prime Minister Wei, so it will be wasted like this. The longer it takes, the more advantageous it will be to the King of Qi.
If it's a fight...
Emperor Zhaoming closed his eyes and was in a dilemma. If the Feng family's army could not stop Dongyou's cavalry, there would be disaster in Dayong, and he might even face the risk of long-term war or even the destruction of the country.
The Feng family's army blocked the cavalry, and their military exploits will make the Feng family more popular.
So what should we do?
At this time, he was so regretful that his intestines were green. He should not have sent Prince Jing to escort Zishu and his wife to get married last year. No matter what reason Yun Zishu threatened, he should not compromise.
If I had a tougher attitude at the beginning, why would I be so passive now?
"Your Majesty." Gu Qiubai lowered his head and said, "If what the Southern Qi envoy said is true, can we form an alliance with Southern Qi? The two countries will deal with Dongyou together. No matter how powerful Dongyou's soldiers and horses are, it is impossible for them to fight against the three countries at the same time.
Countries go to war."
Emperor Zhaoming glanced at him and said nothing.
Prime Minister Wei snorted, Gu Qiubai was still young and did not understand the emperor's concerns at all. He was worried that Dayong would lose the battle, and he was also worried that the Feng family army would grow stronger, so whether he won or lost, the emperor would not be happy to see it happen.
Not fighting is the best option.
The king and his ministers argued about whether to fight or endure for three days. Three days later, a document from Dongyou finally solved the problem.
At that time, they were entertaining the envoys of the Southern Qi Dynasty. The Minister of Rites hurriedly ordered someone to deliver a document and respectfully presented it to him. Emperor Zhaoming was stunned: "A document written by Emperor Dongyou?"
"yes."
The two envoys of Southern Qi frowned, always feeling that this document came too coincidental.
Emperor Zhaoming unfolded the document and looked at it carefully. First, he confirmed the authenticity of the document, and then looked at the material and seal. The document was indeed stamped with the jade seal of Emperor Dongyou.
Looking at the contents of the document, Emperor Zhaoming's expression softened and his expression gradually became serious: "Emperor Dongyou said that after the summer, he and the queen will come to Dayong to visit relatives, and Prince Yunchen will also come back with him."