Chapter 769: Chapter 484: The Monarch and Minister Inspected by Surprise
Discuss the situation... Inside the side hall, it quieted down, and no one chose to speak first.
The Emperor’s Master, sitting at the head, glanced around and said calmly:
"Since no one is speaking, let me lead. Today’s gathering of everyone in the palace, you all must be well aware of the reason.
Since His Majesty disappeared at Luo Mountain, messages have been coming in from various places. Now, except for Linfeng, Lingnan, and the Huai River, disturbances have occurred in the territories of five vassal kings, the situation is volatile, and rumors are spreading in the Capital..."
Grandmaster Dong paused slightly, then continued:
"However, the situation is not as perilous as the rumors suggest. In the north, Prince Yanshan is being restrained by Luo kedie and the border army at Jubei City; in the west, Duke Zhen is also suppressing the restless Prince Hejian; and along the coastal path, Prince Chen has sealed the border, indicating a desire to remain secluded and hold his territory...
If we calculate carefully, the ones committing treason and threatening the Capital are merely the rebel armies from Jiancheng, Yunfu, and Qingzhou. Although the first two are strong, they have not crossed the Huai River. Moreover, Linfeng blocks their way, so they are not an immediate threat."
This rhetoric quite clearly illustrates the situation.
First, it acknowledges the dire situation openly, without concealment, then analyses it step by step to dispel the terror of rumors.
"According to the Grandmaster, the immediate threat comes from the Qingzhou Army." The Minister of the Ministry of Justice slowly spoke:
"Qingzhou is to the east of the Capital, and because the east is by the sea, there are no major border garrisons. Since His Majesty’s disappearance, Prince Heng from Qingzhou was the first to raise the banner of ’rescue the king,’ coercing the Qingzhou Military Mansion, and has been advancing almost unhindered near the outskirts of the city."
The Minister of War said blandly:
"The Qingzhou soldiers are neither strong nor their horses robust. Their ease of movement is due to their geographical advantage. Now that Lord Xue has gone to Linfeng to take charge of the situation and the Capital Camp has mobilized, the Qingzhou soldiers are blocked at the Qingzhou border, unable to advance an inch.
It is evident that the Qingzhou soldiers are not to be feared.
In my view, the immediate issue is not the troops of Prince Heng but the disappearance of His Majesty, leaving us leaderless. The current unrest within the city clearly shows this."
Just as Zhao Douan, the Empress, and Prince Jing speculated, among the five rebel armies:
The Qingzhou Rebel Army led by Prince Heng is the first to approach the Capital.
However, Prince Heng, arriving with high excitement, was pushed back by the formidable Capital Camp forces several miles east of the Capital and could not advance further.
Unable to breach the Capital Camp with force, Prince Heng repeatedly ordered the court to open the gate and receive him as a ’prince,’ only to be decisively refused.
The majority of the people within the city do not know the truth about Qingzhou and are only frightened by the rumor that the rebel army has advanced dozens of miles outside the city.
"I also believe that the pressing matter is not the rebel army, but in seeking the return of His Majesty." Yuan Li spoke calmly.
As the Pure Stream Party Leader, once he spoke, he attracted the gaze of all the ministers.
The Imperial Censor, with frosted white temples, elegant and dignified, sat upright in his chair and looked meaningfully towards Ma Yan:
"Lord, does the Imperial Court and Shadow Guard have a means of communication? Can we now find His Majesty’s whereabouts?"
The Chief Eunuch, nicknamed "King Yan," holding a third-rank official title, seated slightly behind, saw Yuan Li looking over and said with a stern face:
"The latest message from outside the Capital still remains at His Majesty and Junior Guardian Zhao appearing at the Huai River. We have not received further information thereafter."
After a brief pause, he added:
"Additionally, the Shadow Guard reported that Mo Zhaorong and others are temporarily safe, having returned to Linfeng. Together with the White Horse Bureau Director, Minister of Rites, Shipping Governor, and other officials, they have temporarily hindered the progress of the rebel armies, with initial results showing."
The assembled ministers became agitated.
They did not concern themselves much over the life or death of Mo Chou and others, only focusing on the Empress’s life.
At the time, when the Empress disappeared, Mo Chou and the attending ministers realized that they had to let the Capital know the Empress was not dead, otherwise, chaos would inevitably follow.
Thus, Eunuch Hai communicated with the Shadow Guard, sending back the message that Zhao Douan was escorting the Empress and they had not been captured.
This was also the key to the court’s overall stability: if the Empress was truly dead, why would the ministers sit down to discuss? The city gates would have long been opened to welcome the prince into the Capital.
"His Majesty, being blessed, has already reached the Huai River. Returning to the Capital is not far off now." A delighted official from the Imperial Faction exclaimed.
"Let me state that I sincerely hope for His Majesty’s safety, but the current situation, just sweet talk is meaningless.
His Majesty is far off by the Huai River. When can he return? Can he return at all? All is uncertain, even if he returns, it might not..." someone said sarcastically.
"What are your intentions with these words?! Are you planning to side with the rebel king?" A young minister angrily stood up and accused him.
The latter retorted:
"I am devoted solely to the state, unlike you, unable to face the situation even at this time."
"Do you want to die? His Majesty is still here! Once he returns, I will surely complain about you!" An Imperial Censor joined the fray.
"Ha-ha, Imperial Censor Chen, if you wish to complain, you need not wait for His Majesty’s return. Writing to the Grandmaster will suffice." An Assistant sneered, joining the argument.
In an instant, it was as if a powder keg had been ignited, both sides started quarreling, and the entire side hall became as noisy as a marketplace.
"Silence!"
After listening for a while, Grandmaster Dong, with an angry glare, his beard and hair trembling, shouted in fury:
"If you want to quarrel, get out! Was today’s gathering meant for you to make a noise?"
The ministers fell silent, and the atmosphere became rather dull.
Yuan Li coughed lightly, trying to mediate, said:
"Now is not the time to argue over these matters. Although His Majesty is in danger, with Junior Guardian Zhao’s protection, he will surely turn misfortune into fortune and return sooner or later.
What’s more, Linfeng is still under the court’s control. As long as His Majesty reaches Linfeng, he will naturally be safe. We, benefiting from His Majesty, can only hold the Capital until then. The Qingzhou soldiers are currently not a concern, but the city is rife with rumors, and public morale is unstable...
The Grandmaster gathered everyone here today, presumably to have everyone return to stabilize the situation, at least until His Majesty returns, the order within the city cannot fall into chaos."