Volume 10 Chapter 233

Chapter 233

"It is precisely because the contradictions between Chuan and Zhen are irreconcilable that when our country invaded Mo, Chuan and Zhen were reluctant to send troops north even though they received Shao Fang's request for help." Cai Gui made a careful analysis.

Everyone in the court nodded as they listened, including Tang Yin.

Cai Gui continued, "There are many contradictions between Chuan and Zhen. One of them is that Chuan, which has always regarded itself as civilized and noble, looks down on the barbaric and backward Zhen. Think about it, Your Majesty, Chuan looks down on Zhen, so how can it let Li Hong ascend the throne and respect Li Hong as its master? Besides, Chuan, a country as powerful as it is, does not dare to call itself emperor. How can Li Hong dare to dare to risk the world's disapproval and establish himself as the emperor?"

Hearing this, Tang Yin rubbed his chin and thought silently.

Zhang Xin said unconvincedly: "Lord Cai, you just said that Li Hong dared to covet the throne because he had the support of Chuan State. Why do you say now that Chuan State will not support him? Isn't this contradictory?"

Cai Gui smiled and said: "It is not contradictory! If I guess correctly, Chuan State is in favor of Li Hong's enthronement on the surface, but secretly, it wants to take this opportunity to destroy Zhen State. As long as Li Hong officially ascends the throne, it won't be long before Chuan State will instigate other countries to form a coalition to fight against rebellion and destroy Zhen in one fell swoop!"

Will Xiao Xuan, the King of Chuan, who has always been known for his benevolence, really do what Cai Gui said? Use such a vicious plan to eradicate Zhen State? Everyone looked at each other, and no one dared to assert whether Cai Gui's guess was correct or wrong.

Zhang Xin muttered indignantly: "All this is your own estimation. Who knows if it will be true in fact?"

Cai Gui smiled and agreed: "Mr. Zhang is right. Therefore, our country should remain unchanged and wait and see how things develop. You all don't have to panic. Things may not be as serious as everyone thinks. On the contrary, this may be a good thing for our country."

If there is such a big conflict between Chuan and Zhen, it is certainly a good thing to want to kill each other, but the key issue is whether Chuan really wants to push Li Hong to the throne. Even in Tang Yin's view, the latter has little chance. Even if they really want to depose Yin Zhun and establish themselves as emperor, Chuan is more powerful than Zhen. How can they give the opportunity to Li Hong?

Tang Yin rolled his eyes and asked, "Cai Gui, what is your response plan..."

"It's very simple, I don't support it, nor do I oppose it." Cai Gui said, "Just wait and see, and you will find something."

"Yes!" Tang Yin nodded, thinking that Cai Gui's analysis was reasonable and the response plan was relatively safe. He said, "Okay, let's do it according to what Mr. Cai wants!"

Tang Yin finally adopted Cai Gui's opinion and did not respond to Li Hong's announcement to the world to depose the emperor. However, under the calm of Feng Kingdom, large-scale conscription began again.

This time, the conscription is no longer to fill the vacancies of various legions, but to serve as a reserve of new soldiers. Tang Yin has secretly made up his mind. If Li Hong's enthronement is false, it's fine. If it is true, he would rather declare war on all countries in the world and drive Li Hong off the throne.

As the saying goes, one stone stirs up a thousand waves. When the news of Li Hong's desire to replace the emperor spread, the reactions of various countries were different. Some were shocked, some were confused, and some were angry and hateful.

The Mo Kingdom and the An Kingdom were shocked. King Shao Fang of Mo and King Yue Ze of An both felt incredible about this. The emperor was still there. Even if the emperor died, there would be heirs to inherit the throne. It would never be Li Hong's turn.

The Yu Kingdom was confused. Although it was not clear what was going on, Ling Shuang keenly felt that there might be a big change between the countries.

The Huan Kingdom, which had always been friendly with the Zhen Kingdom, was exactly the one that hated Li Hong the most for his bid for the throne. The reason why the Huan Kingdom was friendly with the Zhen Kingdom was that it was completely afraid of the powerful military force of the Zhen Kingdom. If Li Hong became the emperor, it would not bully the Huan Kingdom more and more, or even annex the Huan Kingdom. With such a wolfish and ambitious Zhen Kingdom around him, King Li Xin of Huan could not even sleep well.

The monarchs of various countries reacted differently, but the voices of the people were surprisingly consistent, and the people of various countries rebuked him. The reason why the emperor was called the emperor was that he was the chosen one by God. How could he be replaced by a mere prince?

Each principality can change its monarch and dynasty, but the imperial court cannot be changed. The reason why the Haotian Empire can survive in the world is because of the continuation of the Yin royal family. Such thoughts have long been deeply rooted in the minds of the people of various countries. Anyone who touches the Yin royal family is equivalent to touching the most basic foundation in the hearts of the people.

Li Hong wants to abolish the emperor and ascend the throne himself, which undoubtedly offends the public anger. The dissatisfaction and rebellion of various countries are one after another. The letters of literati are piled up on the desks of the monarchs of various countries like snowflakes. The contents are nothing but rebukes, and there are few supporters.

Even in Zhenguo, this is the case. The people of Zhenguo are unwilling to have their monarch replace the emperor and change the Yin Dynasty. The letters from the people are also passed to Li Hong one after another.

At this time, Li Hong is basically in a difficult situation. He did not expect that Yin Zhun had obviously become a puppet emperor with no real power. There is nothing wrong with replacing him. Why did it arouse so many dissatisfied voices?

But the letter to the world has already been issued. If he backs down at this time, where will he, the King Zhen, put his face?

The only thing that relieves his pressure now is the support of the Chuan Kingdom.

Since entering Shangjing, Li Hong has been coveting the throne, but he dared not show it. If it were not for the secret instigation and open support of Chuanguo, he would not have announced it to the world.

The arrow was on the string and had to be shot. For the throne, he was willing to take the risk this time, even if he became a sinner for all ages, he would give it a try.

No matter how smart a person is, he will be overwhelmed by the supreme honor of the throne, and Li Hong is like this.

In order to eliminate the domestic opposition voices, Li Hong took a ruthless approach and launched a bloody suppression and massacre against those who wrote letters.

For those who expressed dissatisfaction in the letter, once verified, the nine clans would be executed. For a time, a bloody storm was set off in Zhenguo, and tens of thousands of people were implicated and executed.

Do not kill those who speak frankly in the letter. This is the ancestral precept of the Haotian Empire when it was first established, and the various principalities have been following this ancestral precept. No matter how absurd and unreasonable the opinions of the people who write the letter are, the emperor and the princes should treat them with courtesy. This is the same principle as "guarding against the mouths of the people is more important than guarding against the river".

But now Li Hong's actions have undoubtedly made him offend the public again. People in the country dare not speak again, but the dissatisfaction is accumulated in their hearts, and once they find an opportunity to vent, it will undoubtedly set off a storm.

There is no need for external war. There are already many contradictions and tense situations in Zhenguo alone. The crisis is hidden under the bloody and calm surface, waiting for an opportunity.

The country that knows the situation of Zhenguo best is Chuanguo. Now, Xiao Xuan, the Prince of Chuan, is very happy, or he is very fortunate, because he had a stone for asking questions before him. If it weren't for Li Hong, he wouldn't know that a mere puppet emperor would have such prestige in the hearts of the people of various countries, and that the precarious imperial court still has so many supporters. Now, he has completely given up his desire for the throne. All the problems will be borne by Li Hong, who is willing to be a stone for asking questions, and he has nothing to do with it.

Helping for no reason will only happen between ordinary people, and there will never be such a thing between countries. Li Hong thought that Chuan was his ally and really wanted to help him ascend to the throne, but his scheming was far behind Xiao Xuan. He thought that his Zhen country was a country of tigers and wolves, but he never thought that there was a monster lying next to the tigers and wolves that ate people without spitting out bones.

Soon, Li Hong moved into the palace in Shangjing openly. At the same time, he also ordered people to make jade seals, rush to make dragon robes and dragon chairs, and discuss many issues such as the new country name. It seems that he really wants to depose Yin Zhun and establish himself as emperor.

This series of news was passed back to Yancheng. The court of Feng Kingdom did not make any statement. There was silence from top to bottom, but Yin Zhun and the imperial court could not stand it.

Yin Zhun urgently ordered people to ring the huge bell of the palace and summoned all the ministers to the court to discuss the matter. Tang Yin was the key person he summoned. Fearing that he would not come with an excuse, Yin Zhun issued three edicts in a row and urgently summoned Tang Yin to the palace to discuss matters.

The imperial court now has become a panic, as if the people have lost their parents, and the masses seem to be facing a disaster. Some ministers began to openly discuss their future in the court.

When Tang Yin arrived, he saw this scene. He sneered in his heart, put his hands behind his back, walked through the ministers in a square step, and stood at the front of the crowd.

Seeing him coming, everyone stopped discussing. Among them, Right Prime Minister Guo Tong, who had always had contact with Tang Yin, came close to him, forced a smile, and asked: "Your Highness, Li Hong, that treacherous minister, wants to establish himself as emperor in Shangjing. How does Feng Kingdom respond?"

Tang Yin shrugged and said: "Prime Minister Li, I am just a prince, how can I make comments on such a big thing? Everything depends on the emperor's will!"

He kept the matter to himself, with a completely nonchalant attitude.

Guo Tong certainly understood that this was Tang Yin's response, and it was definitely not what he really meant. He asked for trouble and retreated in disgrace.

At this time, a maid sang loudly: "The emperor has arrived--"

Everyone was refreshed and knelt down to kowtow, while Tang Yin stood there and bowed.

With the sound of light footsteps, Emperor Yin Zhun walked into the hall. To everyone's surprise, Queen Yatong also came with Yin Zhun.

Yin Zhun's face was pale and ugly. Yatong supported his arm and walked slowly beside him.

Seeing this, Tang Yin frowned. Could it be that Yin Zhun was so scared that he couldn't even walk? With such a courage, how could he be worthy of being an emperor?