In order to stabilize people's hearts, the defeat on the Western Front must be concealed as much as possible.
But since the evening, the constant mobilization of troops on the streets still made the people of the capital feel that something big must have happened to the court.
However, thanks to the spread of the news by some thoughtful people, not only did the news of the defeat on the Western Front spread, it was also made even more jealous.
In the early morning of the next day, people inevitably started talking among themselves.
"Have you heard? The imperial court was defeated on the western front!"
"Hey... who doesn't know about this? I didn't know that not only did the imperial court fail, but it also suffered a miserable defeat!"
"How to fail miserably?"
"The hundreds of thousands of troops were defeated by King Yong in less than an hour. The imperial army fled to the death. I don't think it will be long... King Yong will attack the capital!"
"Then King Yong is really powerful. Is it true that he is the real emperor as the rumors say? Otherwise, how could he win so easily?"
"That's right, God must be helping King Yong!"
"I tell you guys, please don't say these nonsense, be careful of the government's prosecution..."
The various districts in the capital are strictly controlled, but the city is relatively free, so people gather and everyone talks randomly.
At this moment, official officers appeared at both ends of the street and rushed toward the people talking about them.
"Don't move at all, squat down..."
"Anyone who dares to move will be beaten to death on the spot!"
The harsh tone of the officials frightened the people on the street so much that hundreds of people around them squatted down and did not dare to say a word.
Finally, the officers surrounded the dozen or so people who had just been discussing.
"Sir...sir...what are you trying to do..."
Before the man could finish asking the question, the head catcher leading the team shouted loudly: "They are good at discussing state affairs and deceiving the public with their evil words...all of them are tied up!"
More than a dozen police officers immediately came forward, first beating the middle men with water and fire sticks, and then began to tie them up with ropes.
Amidst the wailing, the police officers moved very quickly, tying up all the dozen or so people who had just been "discussing nonsense" and taking them away.
Only after these officials left did other people squatting on the street get up and leave in a hurry.
But there were still people who didn't know what was going on and asked their companions what happened just now.
"These people are discussing state affairs, you and I should not talk nonsense!"
"What state affairs are we talking about? What big thing happened?"
"Shut up. I told you not to talk nonsense. Do you want to be beaten and arrested?"
The crowd dispersed one after another, but the scene that just happened was still happening in other places in the capital.
Although there is strict control over the city, various rumors are still spreading everywhere, which gives Liu Zheng, the editor-in-chief and supervisor, a headache because he is always responsible for this matter.
If the rumors in the city reached the emperor's ears, Liu Zheng really didn't know whether he could keep his position.
The current emperor, after experiencing successive defeats, has become crazy and bloodthirsty. Last night, seven eunuchs were all killed by Zhao Weilong's order due to various "minor problems".
Liu Zheng was under pressure, but he knew how to relieve it, so at this moment he gathered all his confidants together.
"If we arrest you like this, the prison of Yingtian Mansion, not to mention the jail of our editor, won't be able to fit in it. This is not how you do things!"
Looking at one of his subordinates who lowered their heads, Liu Zheng became even more angry and scolded: "Everyone shows off his power on weekdays and boasts about how quickly he can handle errands. Now in this matter... why haven't you seen you act quickly?"
"Concubine Duan is missing and you can't trace her whereabouts. Our family has tolerated this matter. Now rumors are almost flooding into the imperial city. You still haven't caught King Yong. How do you want our family to explain to the emperor?"
Liu Zheng became more and more angry as he spoke. At the end of his speech, he stood up and slapped the table with his hands.
"Father, it's not like we... didn't catch anyone!"
When he heard some of his subordinates quibbling, Liu Zheng angrily yelled: "Shut up!"
"Caught someone? Do you still want to tell our family that the prisoner has signed and confessed his crime?"
Hearing what Liu Zheng said, the man who just spoke didn't dare to say more. He lowered his head consciously and did not dare to look at Liu Zheng.
"You used it to fool me. How dare we use this to fool the emperor?" After cursing, Liu Zheng grabbed the banknotes on the table and threw them at the person who just spoke.
This person did not dare to dodge, and after receiving a "smash", he knelt down directly on the ground with a "plop".
"Forgive me, father-in-law!"
Seeing Liu Zheng going crazy, everyone present felt sad and lowered their heads tremblingly.
"My family is telling you that within three days...if you can't find any clues, you can commit suicide and apologize!"
"Don't be afraid, our family will be with you on Huangquan Road when the time comes!"
This time, Liu Zheng was really pushed to the limit, so much so that he put extreme pressure on his subordinates.
The cells of the Editorial Supervisor were overcrowded, and the Prison Department Prison not far away contained an unusual group of prisoners.
These people are well-dressed and have a dignified manner in their actions. You can tell at a glance that they are wealthy people.
In fact, these people are all officials, just dismissed officials.
These people all have a unified label. They were originally supporters of Concubine Duan, and were saved by the emperor for his own use in the previous "anti-Duan" operation.
These people thought that they would be safe under the protection of the emperor, but unexpectedly they encountered the rebellion of King Yong.
In the name of purging King Yong's associates, these officials who had planned to be loyal to the emperor were all dismissed from office and imprisoned due to the strife between the northern and southern factions.
While everyone was chatting in low voices, the door outside the cell was opened, and several officers escorted one person in.
"Brother Wan'an, why don't you..."
"Really...really Brother Wan'an!"
The middle-aged man who was finally sent in surprised everyone present.
This person was dismissed from office last year and is no longer in the court. Logically speaking, there can be no liquidation on his head.
The visitor had a bitter look on his face and said, "Have you all forgotten? My little girl is the concubine of King Yong!"
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly realized and felt that Huang Wanan had done nothing wrong.
Then someone said, "We are all implicated, brother Wan'an...you are really related to the rebels!"
"Yes... I deserve it!" Huang Wanan sighed.
If it hadn't been for the marriage granted by the emperor, Huang Wanan would never have married the daughter of his daughter to a troubled vassal king like Zhao Yanxun.
But the emperor ordered that failure to comply would be disobedience, so Huang Wanan had no choice but to obey the order.
Who would have thought that King Yong, whom everyone thought was dead, would now lead his troops to fight back and even threaten the safety of the imperial court.
At this moment, Huang Wanan had no time to think about whether his daughter was still alive. At the moment, he was more worried about the safety of his family of dozens of people.
While everyone was reminiscing about old times, they heard the guard behind him scolding: "Stop talking nonsense and hurry in!"
Officials who used to be in high positions are now just prisoners, so the officers naturally have a bad look on their faces.
Huang Wanan was the last one to come. He was detained in a cell alone. At this moment, he was squatting alone, thinking about what would happen next.
After the officer left, someone inside said: "I heard from the officer this morning that King Yong had a great victory at the Han River, and the court's army of hundreds of thousands was defeated. Brother Wan'an... have you heard about it outside?"
"Yeah, what's going on?"
This question immediately aroused everyone's curiosity.
But at this moment, Huang Wan'an didn't have the heart to discuss this.
So he reminded everyone: "Everyone, I'm afraid that when King Yong's army comes to the city, our heads will fall to the ground!"
With one sentence, everyone at the scene felt as if they were in an abyss, and no one spoke for a while.
