ushernet Chapter 203 The Capable Take Over, Revealing Ambition
Chapter 203 The Capable Take Over, Revealing Ambition
Chapter 203 The Capable Take Over, Revealing Ambition
Meng Fuqing, who was listening in, had a glint in his eyes. The emperor wanted to control Jing'an Prefecture, most likely to seize power.
The imperial court has lost the support of the people, and taking control of the renowned Jing'an Prefecture might salvage some of its reputation.
Killing Xu Weizhi would only further inflame public resentment and lead to self-destruction.
The key is who comes – someone who can represent the royal family, keep Xu Weizhi and Prince Jing in check, and most importantly, someone with ability.
Xu Weizhi, who had been through many ups and downs in officialdom, naturally understood the implication of Qin Su's words.
He paused for a moment, then bent over. "May I ask who you are from the capital?"
Qin Su replied, "The Yang family."
Meng Fuqing remained silent for a long time. Was there no one else in the capital besides the Yang family? She didn't think much of the Yang family's intelligence.
"As expected..." Xu Weizhi murmured, his face showing mockery and indignation. After a moment of losing his composure, he returned to normal.
"In this time of limited communication, I am very grateful to Young Master Qin for informing me..."
"Report! A woman claiming to be one of Miss Meng's subordinates has arrived at the city gate with nearly a thousand refugees!"
The soldier's voice interrupted Xu Weizhi's words, and everyone in the corner tower room looked at Meng Fuqing.
Qin Su looked at Meng Fuqing with a meaningful gaze.
She originally thought that she only had Xie Jin's men and those villagers under her command, and that she could only get a share of the profits from this cooperation. Little did she know that she had planned ahead.
Meng Fuqing respectfully said, "Lord Xu may remember this person; he is Master Yan He, who solved the strange incident in Hanhua Village."
Xu Weizhi nodded. He had indeed heard about it, after all, the story of Hanhua Village was widely circulated, and he had also been troubled by the rumors circulating in the streets.
Qin Yi asked in a deep voice, "Why did she bring nearly a thousand people to gather at the city gate?"
The soldier hurriedly replied, "Sir, the young lady said that the refugees were being forced by the rebels to attack the towns and counties within Jing'an Prefecture, and she was ordered by her master to rescue them from their plight."
Seeing that the group was looking over again, Meng Fuqing said, "The refugees outside the city have nowhere to go and have been in a state of panic for a long time. I was worried that they might imitate the actions of the rebels and have some wicked thoughts, so I sent Yan He to investigate. I didn't expect that the rebels would set their sights on them."
Qin Su looked at Meng Fuqing with a half-smile, but said nothing. Xu Weizhi and Qin Yi, however, looked at her with a cautious expression.
"We officials are ashamed that we haven't thought things through as thoroughly as Miss Meng," Xu Weizhi said.
Meng Fuqing immediately said, "You flatter me, sir. It's just a habit I developed while fleeing famine. I've had Yan He keep those refugees in check for now, but they'll need to be properly appeased afterward."
Xu Weizhi said to Qin Yi, "Lord Qin, I am not at ease handing over the rebel prisoners and the refugees outside the city to others. I would be grateful if you could take good care of them."
After discussing the follow-up matters, Qin Yi left without even glancing at Qin Su as he went.
After he left, Xu Weizhi solemnly said, "Without your help today, the battle would not have ended so quickly. On behalf of all the people of the city, I would like to express my gratitude to you both."
"Your Excellency is too kind," Qin Su said, abandoning his nonchalant demeanor. "With war raging and the people suffering, I have soldiers and horses, and it is only right that I do my part for the people."
Xu Wei praised, "Young Master Qin is truly excellent!"
Meng Fuqing: "..."
How shameless!
"I was deeply impressed by Lord Xu's integrity, which is why I decided to come and seek refuge with him. On the way, I heard rumors that the court seems to want to replace Lord Xu. I wonder what Lord Xu's plans are?"
Xu Weizhi's face showed worry, but his eyes remained resolute. "An official should put the people first and the country first. I, Xu Weizhi, believe I have lived up to these eight words. Unfortunately, the maternal relatives have seized power and deceived the emperor. This is a misfortune for the Great Yan and a misfortune for the people."
"I am well aware of the Yang family's character; Jing'an Prefecture must not fall into their hands."
Meng Fuqing and Qin Su thought that this Lord Xu would say something shocking and rebellious, but the next moment Xu Weizhi spoke.
"At the meeting, I requested Your Majesty to rescind your decree."
Meng Fuqing, Qin Su: ...
The two exchanged a glance, and Qin Su spoke first: "I come from the martial world and know a little about the affairs of the court. I remember that when Lord Xu was demoted to Jing'an Prefecture, it was because he offended the Yang family."
The Yang family sees Lord Xu as a thorn in their side. Previously, the emperor was far away, but now that they have the opportunity, it's hard to guarantee that the Yang family won't try to eliminate Lord Xu as quickly as possible.
Xu Weizhi's heart sank. He knew Qin Su's words weren't without merit, yet he still held a sliver of hope for the emperor. "How dare they—"
“They may not dare to openly attack Lord Xu and incite public outrage, but they can act in secret. My lord, even if you don’t care about your own life, you should think more about your family,” Meng Fuqing said.
Xu Weizhi's gaze swept over the two of them for a moment before he slowly sat down in a chair.
He lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before speaking again. Suddenly, a commanding presence arose around him. His eyes were sharp, and his tone was solemn. "You two being here today is no coincidence, is it?"
"As expected, I couldn't hide it from the Prefect. Rest assured, Your Excellency, the rebels have no connection with us. Young Master Qin and I are simply waiting for the right opportunity. What do you say, Young Master Qin?"
Qin Su nodded, "Miss Meng is absolutely right."
Meng Fuqing walked up to Xu Weizhi and said, "The Great Yan is in chaos, and Jing'an Prefecture will not be stable for much longer."
With treacherous officials in power and the emperor practicing nepotism, the country is beset by natural disasters and war, and threatened by external threats. Your Excellency says, "An official must prioritize the people and the nation." When the people and the nation are at odds, what choice will Your Excellency make?
Xu Weizhi's face turned ugly as he stared at Meng Fuqing and said, "Clever words and a flattering demeanor."
Meng Fuqing smiled casually, making no attempt to hide his intentions.
"Your Excellency has not ordered our arrest because you believe what I said is correct, right? Then I will tell you something else that you do not know."
She paced back and forth leisurely as if she were in her own house. "King Zhannan has learned of the current situation of Great Yan and intends to unite with the surrounding small countries to attack Great Yan. The first place his iron cavalry set foot on is the land of Jing'an Prefecture. Does Your Excellency think that the arrival of the Yang family can stop them?"
Upon hearing these words, Xu Weizhi's expression changed drastically, and even Qin Su couldn't help but frown.
"Is this true?" Xu Weizhi leaned forward and asked eagerly.
Meng Fuqing stopped in his tracks. "Even our own people are eyeing this territory. How could outsiders let it go so easily?"
As if in the blink of an eye, Xu Weizhi suddenly aged several years. He leaned heavily against the back of the chair, no longer the resilient man he once was.
Seeing that his defenses were crumbling, Meng Fuqing pressed her advantage, "There are also refugees outside the city. They came from afar after hearing that Jing'an Prefecture could accommodate refugees, but they can only wait outside the city day after day."
If this continues, they will eventually turn to rebellion. I know that the officials are hoping for relief supplies to appease them, but the court clearly believes that Jing'an Prefecture still has the resources, so they are not taking it seriously.
The pent-up anger will eventually erupt, and the resulting riots may be even more terrible than today's battle.
After he finished speaking, the entire room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Qin Su chuckled, breaking the silence of the room, "Your Excellency is wholeheartedly devoted to the people, yet you are feared by the court and made to act timidly. It's truly laughable."
After a long pause, Xu Weizhi finally spoke again, "What do you intend to do?"
Meng Fuqing's gaze was firm, and he made no attempt to conceal his ambition. He said, word by word, "The world is in chaos, heroes are vying for power, and the capable will prevail."