jdhmnovel Chapter 150: Trapped in a cocoon
Chapter 150: Trapped in a cocoon
Changsun Wuji didn't want to get involved in this mess, but Empress Wu asked him about it, so he had no choice but to speak up.
Empress Wu's beautiful eyes flickered upon hearing this. After a moment of contemplation, she finally asked, "Whom does the Imperial Uncle recommend?"
Changsun Wuji walked out slowly, pausing with each step. Wherever he stopped, the officials around him avoided him, fearing that they would be dragged away to be some kind of military supervisor.
Everyone knows that Li Guangling dared to defy even Empress Wu. Now that he has grown powerful, if you anger him, you might lose your life. Who would dare to go to the front line to supervise him?
After circling around, Changsun Wuji stopped and looked at Empress Wu...
"This old minister believes that the position of military governor is none other than Prime Minister Du."
These words immediately caused an uproar in the court, and several ministers, led by Du Ruhui, showed their dissatisfaction.
Empress Wu gently raised her hand to silence the commotion among the officials. Her voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority: "Minister Du, are you willing to share my burdens?"
Then she looked sharply at Du Ruhui, as if waiting for his answer.
The atmosphere in the imperial court suddenly became tense and solemn, with everyone's eyes focused on the empress, who was dressed in a magnificent dragon robe and had a cold and stern face.
They never expected that Empress Wu would actually intend to push Du Ruhui, the head of all officials, out of office.
Little did anyone expect that Du Ruhui, who was wise all his life, would make a foolish mistake and end up shooting himself in the foot.
"Your Majesty! I am a civil official. How can I possibly control the ferocious Li Guangling on the battlefield? I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!"
Du Ruhui was also in a daze. In the past, Empress Wu would listen to his opinions to some extent, so why did the fire burn him directly today!
He turned and glared fiercely at Changsun Wuji, but the old man ignored him.
"Your Majesty, please think twice!"
"Your Majesty, please think twice!"
"Your Majesty, please think twice!"
Those henchmen of Du Ruhui could no longer sit still. In the past, they had relied on Du Ruhui's power to act arrogantly and domineeringly.
Once Du Ruhui leaves the court, they are likely to be persecuted to death by their political enemies, so they immediately echoed his sentiments.
"I understand the intentions of my beloved ministers. However, Li Guangling's northward expedition is ostensibly to recover lost territory, but in reality, he intends to restore the legitimacy of the Li Tang dynasty. How could I not know what he is plotting? Therefore, the position of military governor must be held by someone who is loyal to me and holds high authority!"
Empress Wu parted her cherry lips and spoke in a way that left no room for doubt.
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Led by Changsun Wuji, another group of court officials shouted in unison. Although they each had their own plans, they all outwardly showed their support for Empress Wu's decision.
"My mind is made up. Minister Du, prepare to go on the expedition!"
Empress Wu paused for a moment, then continued, "Immediately dispatch an envoy to Li Guangling's army to convey my oral decree, ordering him to remain in place and await the arrival of the imperial troops!"
Soon after, 100,000 imperial troops marched north in a grand procession, while Du Ruhui, the military commander, was filled with worry. Even though he was accompanied by several Golden Core experts, he still felt insecure!
Meanwhile, Li Guangling, on the northern border, received an imperial decree and sneered inwardly.
He never intended to obey the imperial decree. Now, as long as Zhuge Liang gives the order and An Tingjing opens the gates, he will personally lead a large army into the three prefectures. He will not care about the imperial army at all.
As for Du Ruhui, he already hated him to the core; his arrival was merely a pretext for him to be served food...
……
"My lord, something terrible has happened! Li Guangling's army has already stationed itself on the border of the Tang Dynasty, and the garrison commanders you previously appointed have all been replaced!"
Upon receiving the news, An Yong hurriedly reported it to An Lushan.
"What! Who dares to change the garrison commander without my orders!"
An Lushan suddenly stood up, grabbed An Yong by the collar, and shouted.
"Young Master...this...this...is the military tally of the Eldest Young Master, Prince Chi'an..."
An Yong stammered in response.
An Lushan's eyes darkened, and he forcefully shoved An Yong away. "What is this bastard trying to do? Who gave him the guts to switch my men!"
An Lushan was so enraged that he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Young master, you must take care of your health. Perhaps the eldest young master saw that you were imprisoned and that he couldn't command our men, so he replaced you with another guard!"
An Yong was afraid that An Lushan would be so angry that he would die, so he quickly tried to comfort him.
After all, even if An Luwei replaced the garrison commander, with a million soldiers stationed on the border, it wouldn't be so easy for Li Guangling to break through.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
An Lushan clutched his chest and leaned against the wall. "What I fear most right now is that my good elder brother has been tricked by Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang cannot be allowed to live; he must be killed immediately!"
As An Lushan spoke, he staggered out of the dungeon.
At this moment, the Biyou Sect disciples above the dungeon saw An Lushan emerge and hurriedly stopped him: "Young Master, you cannot come out now!"
"Quickly send a message back to the sect! Zhuge Kongming cannot be allowed to live any longer; he must be killed immediately! There is no time to lose!" An Lushan said anxiously.
Several disciples of the Biyou Sect were somewhat confused upon hearing this.
Zhuge Kongming was currently a guest at the sect, and all the elders treated him with great courtesy. Even the sect leader dared not do anything to him, let alone a mere mortal who dared to speak of killing Zhuge Kongming.
"This...this..., the higher-ups have already given their word; the sect will make its own decision regarding Zhuge Kongming's matter."
"Let me out! I want to see Elder Park Hwi!"
An Lushan roared in exasperation, trying to break through the defenses of the Biyou Sect disciples, but he was just a mortal, how could he be a match for a Foundation Establishment cultivator?
"Young Master, if you try to force your way through again, don't blame us for being impolite!"
These disciples of the Biyou Sect were ordered to imprison An Lushan, but the higher-ups wouldn't reveal too many details about it.
After all, if Zhuge Liang were truly a member of the Sima family, who would dare to disrespect him, and An Lushan would have to die; at worst, another member of the An family could be promoted.
Conversely, if An Lushan's deduction is correct, then Zhuge Liang is currently in the sect and can be killed at any time.
However, An Lushan's deduction needed time to be verified. Even if Zhuge Liang was most likely an imposter, they dared not act rashly before confirming it.
"I have something important to report. If something goes wrong, can you take responsibility?"
Seeing that the Biyou Sect disciples remained unmoved, An Lushan roared in exasperation.
"Hmph! Don't push your luck. Our responsibility is to guard you. If you're trying to use this opportunity to escape, then we'll be the ones in charge!"
Upon hearing this, An Lushan turned pale, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fainted.
When he woke up, he had already been sent back to the dungeon.
An Yong, meanwhile, was helping him regulate his internal energy.
"Ah... these stupid pigs! How could I, An Lushan, associate with such people!" An Lushan roared in anger.
Originally, he only intended to put on a show with Biyou Sect to keep Zhuge Kongming in check, but unexpectedly, in a short period of time, things had already deviated from his control.
All the border generals were replaced by An Luwei, and he would never believe that no one was behind it.
He hated himself for being so kind; he should have killed his good-for-nothing elder brother long ago…