The four men who had rushed over saw Wu Jianzheng and Kang Zhibo standing to the side, quietly wiping sweat from their faces with their sleeves. They immediately felt that something was wrong.
"These are the memorials sent from the Southwest and Shuobei. Take a look at them."
Eunuch Zhao handed Gu Zhongxun's memorial, the Mu clan's handwritten letter, and the official document from the Shuobei State to three of them respectively.
After taking turns reading them, Fei Yanzhang immediately spoke with a solemn expression.
"Your Majesty, the Yang clan's actions are clearly an attempt to annex the Mu clan under the guise of the salt field dispute. If the imperial court does not intervene and allows the Yang clan to continue expanding, they will inevitably raise an army in rebellion in the future."
Dongfang Shaoting tightened his grip on the letter. "The foreign tribes in the Southwest revere the Yang and Mu clans. If the Mu clan falls, the situation in the Southwest will surely descend into chaos. We absolutely cannot let them dominate alone."
Gu Qishan closed the document sent from the Shuobei State.
"We do not yet know the true purpose of Shuobei State sending envoys to celebrate the birthday. However, if the imperial court goes to war with the foreign tribes in the Southwest at this time, it is hard to guarantee that the other side won't take advantage of the situation to strike."
"I feel that we should immediately dispatch a prominent court official to the Southwest to mediate the relationship between the two clans, using the majesty of the imperial court to pressure them and strive to make the Yang clan cease hostilities."
Dongfang Shaoting and Fei Yanzhang exchanged a glance.
Even though the Dongzhao State had been recovering and building up its strength for three years after the armistice with Shuobei State, the national treasury was still empty. The hearts of the people, which had finally settled down, could not bear even the slightest provocation.
If internal strife and external threats were to occur simultaneously right now, Dongzhao State's current national strength would find it very difficult to endure.
Gu Qishan's suggestion was indeed the best choice at present.
Fei Yanzhang stepped forward and said, "If we adopt Prime Minister Gu's proposal, I believe the person sent to mediate in the Southwest must have a status sufficient to awe both clans. I propose sending an imperial prince."
Gu Qishan furrowed his brows sharply; this was not a good thing.
Dongfang Shaoting cupped his hands and said, "In addition to this, I believe that while sending someone to mediate, we also need to mobilize troops to prevent any unforeseen events."
Gu Qishan immediately retorted, "This action is unacceptable. It will make the Yang clan think the imperial court intends to go to war."
Dongfang Shaoting replied, "Sending a prince to negotiate peace is enough to show how strongly the imperial court desires peace. Mobilizing troops, on the other hand, can serve to intimidate the Yang clan and force them to compromise and cease fighting. The benefits outweigh the disadvantages."
Gu Qishan swallowed hard in fear.
If the Yang clan actually killed the prince sent to mediate, what would they do?
This errand absolutely could not fall on the shoulders of the First Prince. It was too dangerous.
Xiao Chengjing's fingers tapped continuously on the desk.
"According to what you say, which prince should be sent to the Southwest?"
Having thought it through, Gu Qishan knelt and said, "I recommend the Second Prince."
"Prince Yingcheng of the Second Rank once studied under the Duke of Qing for a period of time. Compared to the First Prince, who has never spent time in a military camp, he is more suitable to go to the Southwest."
Dongfang Shaoting and Fei Yanzhang stealthily glanced at Gu Qishan at the same time.
This man's blatant ulterior motives were clear for all to see.
However, they did not intend to interfere. To them, it didn't matter which prince went.
Xiao Chengjing's gaze swept darkly over the top of Gu Qishan's head.
He said with a touch of sarcasm, "Is my beloved Minister Gu unaware of the fine reputation the Second Prince left behind at the western suburbs military camp? I will deliberate further on the choice of candidate." He continued, "Based on your words, who would be the most appropriate person to lead the troops there as a deterrent?"
Wu Jianzheng stepped forward and said, "I propose sending the Duke of Qing. With his prestige in the military, the Yang clan will certainly not dare to act rashly."
"No!" Three resolute voices rang out simultaneously, giving Wu Jianzheng a fright.
Looking up, he saw that Dongfang Shaoting, Gu Qishan, and Fei Yanzhang all disagreed.
Dongfang Shaoting said, "I have heard that Gong Linjue possesses formidable martial arts skills and is the number one expert in Shuobei State. On his trip to the capital this time, it is hard to guarantee he won't test the strength of Dongzhao State's generals. If no one can withstand him then, wouldn't that boost the enemy's prestige?"
Gu Qishan added, "Three years ago, the Duke of Qing led troops to block Shuobei State's great army at the border. Gong Linjue will inevitably be wary of him upon entering the capital this time. If he is not in the capital, it will instead make the other side feel that the situation in the Southwest is dire, which is why His Majesty had to send the Duke of Qing to suppress it."
Fei Yanzhang concluded, "Since the imperial court does not intend to go to war with the Yang clan, sending the Duke of Qing is a bit of a waste of his talents. I recommend General of Xuanwei, Wen Yong."
After Gu Qishan and the others emerged from the imperial study, it took no time at all for the news of the unrest in the Southwest and Shuobei sending envoys to celebrate the birthday to spread everywhere.
The first to receive an imperial decree was the Xuanwei General's Manor.
Wen Yong led his entire family to kneel in the front hall.
Everyone listened in silence as the decree-bearing eunuch read the imperial edict.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: According to an urgent memorial from the Provincial Administration Commissioner of the Southwest, the Yang clan of Panzhou and the Mu clan of Ningzhou have gone to war at Ningyuan City over a dispute concerning salt fields. The local people are suffering deeply from the ravages of war, and their lives are plunged into misery. I hereby specially order General of Xuanwei, Wen Yong, to lead ten thousand troops to the Southwest to take preventive measures. Respect this!"
Wen Yong kowtowed solemnly and received the bright yellow silk scroll with both hands.
"I receive the decree. Long live the Emperor, long live, long, long live!"
"Thank you for your hard work, Eunuch. However, the decree does not specify when I should depart. I humbly ask the Eunuch for guidance."
Clutching the imperial decree, Wen Yong felt a bit uncertain about the Emperor's intentions.
The decree only ordered him to bring ten thousand troops. Was he only supposed to take preventive measures and not fight? What if the foreign tribes in the Southwest initiated a war?
The eunuch smiled faintly and replied, "General Wen need not worry. Regarding the unrest in the Southwest, His Majesty intends to dispatch a prince to mediate. The General only needs to wait a few more days."
As soon as these words were spoken, Wen Yong understood.
The Emperor did not want to go to war. On this journey, he would definitely be traveling alongside a prince.
But would it be the First Prince or the Second Prince?
This question not only made Wen Yong curious, but all the civil and military officials were curious as well.
If the mediation in the Southwest went well, it would be a great merit. But if it did not go well, and the Yang clan still wanted to go to war with the imperial court after annexing the Mu clan, then the prince, trapped deep in enemy camps, would either be captured alive and turned into a hostage or face certain death.
This errand was not only difficult but also dangerous. The two princes definitely did not want to go. Now it all depended on who the Emperor favored more.
Inside the manor of Prince Yingcheng of the Second Rank, Xiao Rongyan sat in a chair with a gloomy expression, the veins bulging on the hand gripping his teacup.
The next second, the cup was slammed heavily onto the table.
"Gu Qishan, that old scoundrel, I will kill him sooner or later."
The strategist waiting to the side hurriedly spoke up to soothe Xiao Rongyan's temper.
"Your Highness, please do not be angry. As I see it, Prime Minister Gu's actions are likely dropping a rock on his own foot."
"The more he helps the First Prince target Your Highness, the more likely the Emperor will send the First Prince to the Southwest."
Following the assassination attempt on Song Jinzhao, Xiao Rongyan's most trusted servant, guards, and the manor's lieutenant general had all died.
Coupled with the dead assassins, wanting to make a move against anyone was no longer as easy as before.
The six princes who had been born already left them without competitiveness. If anything else happened, the Emperor would truly punish them severely.
Xiao Rongyan took a deep breath, holding it in to suppress his raging fury.
"The situation in the court has changed drastically now. It truly leaves me at my wits' end."
The strategist lowered his head and remained silent.
The courtiers' attitudes toward the First Prince and the Second Prince depended on the Emperor's attitude toward them.
In the past, it was a guaranteed choice between the two of them. Now, they were being suppressed and kept from standing out. Unless they rebelled, they were indeed helpless.
