nashuaworldcup Chapter 43 Gu Liang Returns Home Late
Chapter 43 Gu Liang Returns Home Late
“Your Highness,” someone in the court stepped forward, “Six years ago, the Northern Barbarians suffered a great defeat and signed a treaty with our dynasty promising never to offend us again for twenty-five years. This stingy move is probably just to bring their scattered forces under our control. We don’t need to take it too seriously.”
"I second that opinion," someone echoed.
“Wei Zhuo is not a legitimate member of the Northern Di royal family. Even if the Northern Di are temporarily suppressed by him, they may not be sincerely obedient to him.”
"Ah."
An official in the queue scoffed, "You know he's not a legitimate member of the royal family. So what if he really takes control of the other six territories and doesn't honor the original agreement? What will you do then?"
"You!" The person he retorted gritted his teeth angrily, "Keeping one's word is the mark of a gentleman."
"A gentleman?" someone else laughed. "If they hadn't been utterly defeated back then, do you think they would have been willing to sign a contract?"
"Enough!" the emperor snapped. "Do you all have mouths? Should I send you all to the Northern Barbarians right now so you can have a good chat with Wei Zhuo?"
The ministers fell silent.
"Father, please calm your anger," Gu Yuan said, bowing.
"Whether Wei Zhuo harbors ill intentions towards our dynasty is still too early to judge, but we cannot ignore his wolfish ambitions."
"In your opinion, what should be done?" the emperor asked.
Gu Yuan remained silent for a moment, then said to the emperor, "This matter is of great importance. I believe we should gather everyone's opinions and discuss its merits and demerits."
The emperor's face was grim. He pointed to several important officials below him and said, "After the court session, come to the Imperial Study and have a good talk with me."
After he finished counting the people, he was silent for a while, then said, "And you too."
The gaze was fixed on King Liang, Gu Liang, who had remained silent and observing from the sidelines the entire time.
Outside the Imperial Study, several high-ranking officials looked grim.
The fact that Wei Zhuo of the Northern Barbarians faked his death and that the Northern Barbarians were being subjugated in various places was not a recent discovery; the imperial court had been paying attention to this matter for the past few years.
The Northern Di people were warlike by nature. After their defeat, their remaining forces disintegrated into fifteen regions. Some of them migrated further north with the royal family, while the remaining regions refused to submit to each other.
Unexpectedly, he was recruited by Wei Zhuo.
Marquis Guangde glanced at Gu Liang, who was standing far away to the side, and quietly moved over.
"Your Highness, Prince Liang."
He asked in a low voice, "You've dealt with Wei Zhuo before, what's your opinion of him?"
Gu Liang turned her face to meet his eager eyes, thought for a moment, and said, "I regret not stabbing him back then."
Wei Zhuo was a relative of the Northern Di royal family and also a fierce general.
Gu Liang glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Marquis Guangde was deeply worried. “This man is extremely cunning. He faked his death back then, and now he has even recovered nine territories. I am afraid that soon, the remaining six territories will fall under his control.”
"Isn't he planning to rebuild a new capital in the abandoned imperial city of the Northern Barbarians?"
Gu Liang smiled faintly, "That's great, the Northern Barbarians have a new emperor again."
Marquis Guangde was taken aback by his words. "Your Highness, this is not the time for jokes. Wei Zhuo is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Once he unifies the fifteen regions, the northern border of our Great Yan will be in grave danger."
"so what?"
Gu Liang retorted, "With so many soldiers in the imperial court, are they just there to do nothing?"
Fu Xiang avoided his gaze, "Although I am mediocre, I know that war is of paramount importance to the nation, concerning the peace of the borders and the well-being of the people. It cannot be entrusted to others."
Gu Liang glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Fu Xiang said softly, “My ancestral home is in the north, and I know the suffering of the people there. In the past six years, they have finally been able to live a peaceful life. If they are trampled under the iron heel again, it will not only be their misfortune, but also our incompetence.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the door to the Imperial Study opened, and a eunuch came out to summon the group inside.
-
In the palace.
"Your Highness," Shuyao said to Jiang Zhi, "His Highness just sent word that he is still in the palace discussing matters and will not be able to return to the residence for dinner tonight."
Jiang Zhi's hand trembled as he held the candied fruit. "What happened in the court?"
Shuyao shook her head. "The messenger didn't say."
Jiang Zhi thought for a moment, then said, "I understand."
Shuyao observed her expression. "Should I go and inquire about it?"
"Need not."
Jiang Zhi said, "The fact that someone was sent back to deliver the message means that nothing went wrong. His Highness is already very busy with official duties, so he can understand."
Shuyao asked, "Is there another war going on somewhere?"
"Don't speak recklessly." Jiang Zhi put down the candied fruit. "You can't ask about things casually in the army. I was just mentioning it offhand."
"You go down first."
Shuyao bowed and left.
"Chenxi, go and tell your cousin to keep an eye on the recent drug prices and the import and export of medicinal materials in various places."
"it is good."
Chenxi added, "Then I'll go tell the kitchen to make less food tonight."
"The small kitchen has all the ingredients ready, so let's just cook them all."
Jiang Zhi already had a plan: "After it's done, I'll pick a few light and refreshing dishes and have someone send them to Old Master Han."
Gu Liang didn't return until the sun was high in the sky that night.
However, he did not return from the palace.
Two hours ago, the old residence of Qin Qi's son-in-law was brightly lit.
"I don't have a cook here. If you're hungry, Xingluo can cook noodles, and Jiaoyue can cook porridge. You can choose whichever you like."
Qin Qi shrugged, nestled in the recliner.
He was no longer the handsome man he used to be; his hair was casually tied back with a cloth, his eyes were bloodshot, and there was a bluish stubble around his lips.
"Is everything finished?" Gu Liang walked over and glanced at the table next to him.
Qin Qi said lazily, "We agreed on delivery in half a month. It's not time yet. You can take a look, but you're not allowed to touch it."
Gu Liang flicked his robe and sat down to the side. "I didn't come for that either."
Qin Qi glanced at his court robes. "You didn't go home after court? What, did you stay in the palace all day?"
"During the morning court session, Gu Yuan presented a secret report to the emperor that Wei Zhuo had occupied nine territories of the Northern Barbarians."
Qin Qi paused, then quickly sat up. "Is the information accurate?"
Gu Liang said, "What is said in the letter is reasonable and well-founded."
He told Qin Qi the contents of the security token.
After listening, Qin Qi remained silent for a moment. "The Northern Barbarians are more aware of the changes in the seasons than we are. The fact that they failed to migrate to those two places suggests that they had planned it all along."
"Luring the enemy into a trap and then annihilating them together is a tactic Wei Zhuo often uses."
Gu Liang added, "He has already taken nine territories; the remaining six will eventually be lost."
Qin Qi agreed, saying, "He's already planning to rebuild the old capital, so why would he care about the royal descendants?"
Gu Liang turned her head away. "The Marquis of Guangde is trying to curry favor with me."
Qin Qi became interested upon hearing this, "Isn't he always one of Prince Jing's men? Why is he trying to curry favor with you?"
"Judging from his tone, he seems to want me to send troops."
Qin Qi was taken aback for a moment, then laughed out loud, "You've got some nerve."
Gu Liang's eyes held an ambiguous meaning. "How could a timid person reach that position?"
"So what did you say back to him?" Qin Qi asked.
Gu Liang said coldly, "Why should I reply to him?"
Qin Qi thought for a moment and sighed, "The capital is getting more and more lively."