The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 97 Let Li Hu go
It was already daybreak, and the sun enveloped the Qianqing Palace, shining brightly on the Prime Minister and the four cabinet ministers.

The Prime Minister and the four cabinet ministers exchanged anxious glances and looked towards the open palace door together.

In the upper study, the imperial desk was lined with the six hundred li express and the military report that the second prince had sent earlier.

Emperor Yongchang sat on the dragon throne without saying a word.

Li Hu and Dai Quan stood on both sides, also without saying a word.

Liu Xianglian, who was kneeling there, was even more silent, not daring to make even a sound.

There was silence in the hall.

Emperor Yongchang's gaze slowly shifted to Li Hu.

Li Hu avoided Emperor Yongchang's gaze and said nothing.

This express letter, which traveled 600 miles, was a request for help from the general of Yulin. The description of the annihilation of the vanguard battalion in it was very different from the content of the second prince's military report.

As for who is lying, it goes without saying.

Yulin Town was attacked. The garrisons along the Yellow River in Shanxi should have sent military reports, but the court did not receive a single one. It is presumed that those postmen were killed.

Something like a scout from the vanguard camp who escaped from the battlefield was killed inside the Great Wall, someone pretended to be a cavalryman from Yulin and hunted down the Jurchen envoy who brought back the body of Duke Shanguo, and so on. There was no mention of the Second Prince, but every sentence seemed to be talking about the Second Prince.

If all these were finally confirmed, and coupled with the killing of the postman, the emperor would not be able to save the second prince. He would most likely be demoted to a commoner and confined to the clan house forever.

In addition, the retired emperor was also involved. Those martial arts masters massacred three post stations in Baoding Prefecture and killed the postmen.

Besides, who knows what the emperor is thinking? Maybe he is trying to exonerate his eldest son.

At a time like this, Li Hu would never offer any advice.

Emperor Yongchang was somewhat disappointed, but he also knew that this matter was too big and involved the royal family, and Li Hu would never take the initiative to get involved.

Liu Xianglian was kneeling there. Although he was not qualified to read the urgent letter, he understood that something big must have happened in Yulin.

After a moment of silence, Emperor Yongchang spoke: "You all go back, let me sober up alone."

Li Hu and Liu Xianglian said, "Yes." Then they walked out.

"Let the Prime Minister and others go back first." Emperor Yongchang added.

Li Hu replied, "Yes."

Only the master and his servant were left in the empty study.

Dai Quan fell to his knees beside the imperial desk, facing Emperor Yongchang, and pressed his head firmly on the brick floor.

Emperor Yongchang looked at him and asked, "What's the matter?"

"I have failed the grace of the Lord!"

Dai Quan kowtowed three times and then prostrated himself on the ground, then said, "This old servant is incompetent and always feels that the shadow of the retired emperor is on the Second Prince, but I can't find any evidence. I have failed the grace of the emperor!"

Emperor Yongchang sighed deeply and said, "I know your difficulties. Stand up and talk."

"Yes."

Dai Quan could only kowtow heavily again and get up.

Emperor Yongchang: "This result is not unexpected. I had my doubts at the time, and it was because I loved my son selfishly and still had some illusions about him."

At this point, he shook his head sadly: "Maybe he didn't want to kill the Duke of Shan, but he didn't report it to me afterwards, nor did he reflect on it. Instead, he wanted to kill him to silence him. Isn't he just worried that he would be punished by me and lose the qualification to compete for the position of crown prince!"

Dai Quan stood beside the imperial desk with his head lowered.

Emperor Yongchang closed his eyes. Now thinking about what the crown prince said on behalf of the second son, it was so shameful!
Emperor Yongchang closed his eyes and suddenly said, "I want to issue an edict of apology."

Dai Quan looked at him in surprise. Emperor Yongchang still closed his eyes: "It is the father's fault for not educating the child. This matter cannot be concealed."

Dai Quan: "Everything depends on human efforts. There will always be a way to save face for the emperor and the royal family."

Emperor Yongchang slowly opened his eyes: "Compared with the country and people of my ancestors, what is my face?"

Dai Quan was anxious: "Few people know the real truth. The Second Prince was wrong. He was afraid of failing the Emperor's trust, so he trusted his subordinates, which gave the Jurchens an opportunity to take advantage of him."

Emperor Yongchang looked at him.

Dai Quan understood, and continued, "I have always suspected that the people around the second prince are the emperor's men, but I have never been able to find evidence. This time, all the blame will be put on them, and let them take the main responsibility for the second prince. As for Yulin," he walked to Emperor Yongchang and whispered a few words in his ear.

Emperor Yongchang: "Who do you think is suitable to send?"

Dai Quan: "The general of Yulin said that the troops of Yan'an Prefecture might not go to support them. Why? Because the second prince is controlled by the people around him and cannot lead the troops to support Yulin. This requires someone to go to Yan'an Prefecture to take back the military power, deal with the rebellion, and lead the troops to support Yulin. Some of the troops gathered in Yan'an Prefecture participated in the Battle of Heishui Valley. As long as the emperor's edict is issued, Li Hu can control this part of the troops, get the seal in the hands of the second prince, and seize the command of the 30,000 troops gathered in Yan'an Prefecture."

Emperor Yongchang nodded. Yulin could not be lost. It was too late to mobilize troops now. The only way was to take back the military power from that evildoer. However, there was no news from the people he had arranged around that evildoer. They were either imprisoned by that evildoer or "died in battle".

Dai Quan: "Only if Li Hu goes can the Second Prince survive this chaos."

Emperor Yongchang's mind buzzed, and he was stunned for a long while before he said, "Let Li Hu go and bring that evildoer back."

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

A wave of bitterness surged up in his heart, and Emperor Yongchang's voice became hoarse: "Li Hu must have gone to Yuqing Palace. You go there in person and tell him that the evildoer's crime is unforgivable, but he is my son after all, so let him be an idle prince from now on."

Dai Quan quickly replied, "Yes," and walked out of the palace gate.

"Let Li Hu take the title of Minister of War and lead the army to rescue Yulin." Emperor Yongchang added.

After speaking to Dai Quan for a few words in private, Li Hu returned to the western warm room of Yuqing Palace, only to see the prince sitting on the kang by the south window in a daze, holding a jade ruyi in his right hand.

This jade ruyi was a reward from the emperor to the general of Yulin.

Jade is a national treasure and a great treasure of the imperial court. This is to remind the general of Yulin to sacrifice his own reputation to preserve the reputation of the second prince and save face for the emperor and the imperial court.

Li Hu walked lightly to the prince and said, "Prince."

The prince came back to his senses and said, "Hmm." Then, he put the jade ruyi into the box and said, "When are we leaving?"

Li Hu: "I'm going home to give some instructions and then I'll leave."

The prince's face became serious, and he said solemnly: "Are you sure about this matter? If you are not sure, don't take the risk! I will go and talk to the emperor."

Li Hu was really touched. "Thank you, Your Highness. How can such a good thing happen without risk? Not to mention the Second Prince, just rescuing Yulin is a great achievement. In addition, I have thought about it. If the situation allows, we will integrate the army to attack the Hetao Plain. While the main forces of Mongolia and Jurchen are being held in Datong Xuanfu, we will wipe out the remnants of the Ikh Zhao League."

The prince was startled at first, then started coughing.

Li Hu quickly handed him the tea.

The prince drank a few sips, took a breath, and said: "I don't understand military strategy, but I know that war is dangerous. You must be cautious and careful, and don't underestimate the enemy and rush in."

Li Hu: “Yes.”

The prince paused and said, "I will fully support you."

Li Hu smiled and said, "Your Highness, just urge the Ministry of Revenue to allocate disaster relief grain to northern Shaanxi and help me stabilize the rear."

The prince nodded: "Go back."

Li Hu: "Yes." He picked up the imperial edict and jade ruyi box on the kang table, turned around and walked out.

Looking at Li Hu's back, the prince opened his mouth and finally sighed softly. Forget it. A little impatience can ruin a big plan. If Li Hu is implicated, the gain will outweigh the loss.

The emperor's words relayed by Dai Quan rang in his ears again. Could it be that he guessed that he was acting out the "kind father and filial son" drama with him?
With a humph, the prince took a sip of the tea bowl and thought to himself: So what if you guessed it? You still have to cooperate with me in acting! You are just deceiving yourself!

(End of this chapter)