GBP Chapter 916 There is one more person
Chapter 916 There is one more person
After hearing this, Zhang Ping'an couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder the late emperor's attitude towards the second prince changed so drastically later. I remember he was very close to and doted on this child when he was young."
"He is the emperor, of course he cannot tolerate deception and disloyalty. To spare their lives and give them dignity is already a great act of tolerance," Li Mingxuan replied calmly.
"So, all these years, the Second Prince has been raising troops and building connections entirely thanks to the gold and silver treasures left behind by Bai Chao, is that right?" Zhang Ping'an asked.
"That's right, but these are just the tip of the iceberg. Back then, Bai Chao plundered a huge amount of wealth from the entire northern lands. There are so many powerful families in the north, all of which have accumulated their wealth over generations. You can't even imagine the scene of large amounts of gold, silver and jade artifacts covered in dust in the treasuries of these powerful families. Compared to the people outside who are starving for a penny or two, this scene is just too heartbreaking!"
At this point, both of them fell silent.
Li Mingxuan felt he had shown enough sincerity, so he turned around and asked directly, "Alright, let's talk about you now. What are you planning to do next? Saving His Majesty is imperative. Only when the Second Prince and his ilk are completely defeated can I survive! And you, your path to success will also reach new heights!"
Zhang Ping'an thought for a moment and then didn't hide anything. "I plan to test Cui Ling during dinner tonight. He is Zhou Ziming's confidant, has no factional ties with anyone else in the court, has a clean background, and commands a large army. Most importantly, he is close by and can completely solve our urgent problem. We can't do without him to save His Majesty!"
“Cui Ling?” Li Mingxuan recalled this person and sighed with emotion. “Back in the Hebei battlefield, we fought against this person. He was indeed a fierce general.”
“Yes, it would be best if we could win him over,” Zhang Ping’an said.
For some reason, Li Mingxuan suddenly suggested, "Actually, your in-laws' Qian family background is not to be underestimated. Haven't you thought about asking your father-in-law for help? Grand Tutor Qian has stood firm in the court for decades, and he has his own wisdom for survival."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ping'an looked at Li Mingxuan with an ambiguous expression. After a moment, he said calmly, "It is precisely because my father-in-law and the Qian family are well-versed in the ways of officialdom that they will not get involved in such matters. Last time, they turned a blind eye to the Second Prince's rebellion, which was already their bottom line!"
As you've seen the outcome, the Qian family nearly faced punishment from the late emperor. If I were to tell my father-in-law, it would only make the situation more awkward, and might even escalate to an unmanageable point.
"What if Cui Ling also pretends to be stupid?" Li Mingxuan asked back.
"Playing dumb is fine too," Zhang Ping'an said, rising slightly and standing with his hands behind his back. "Just now, I suddenly realized that there's another person who could probably help!"
"Oh? Who is it?" Li Mingxuan asked curiously.
"Zheng Ping!"
The name Zhang Ping'an uttered startled Li Mingxuan, who then frowned. "Him? A eunuch?!"
"He is no ordinary eunuch. In terms of knowledge, he may not be as good as us, but in terms of insight and strategy, he may not be worse than us."
Since the late emperor sent him to sail overseas to visit various countries, he has gained some power in the court. However, in recent years he has gradually begun to hide in the shadows, stay behind the scenes, and settle down. He no longer walks in public as often as before, which has caused many people in the court to ignore him.
Such people are unassuming yet capable, making things easier for them!
"I see," Li Mingxuan said, lowering his head in thought.
After a long pause, he looked up and said, "Since you already have a plan, then proceed accordingly. It's getting late, time for court. I won't disturb you any longer. If you need anything, send someone to the kitchen to find me. I'm doing odd jobs there now."
“Okay!” Zhang Ping’an nodded.
Watching Li Mingxuan disappear into the morning mist in the blink of an eye.
"Oh dear, what a mess this is!"
Having eaten his fill, he was unaware of what was happening inside the house. He only heard Zhang Ping'an instruct: "Keep a close eye on that servant who just went out. Transfer him to work in the stables. Don't keep him in the kitchen. Also, now that Xiao Hu is gone, keep a close eye on the personnel in the manor from now on. Be careful when hiring people."
Although somewhat bewildered by what had happened, he still respectfully replied, "Yes, sir!"
During the morning court session, the person on the dragon throne sat with an air of natural ease.