Dynasty Call: Low-key Struggle for Hegemony

When the news of the battle between Ling Meng and Chu Meng came out, all the prefectures in Lingzhou and even the states were moved by the news!

Chu Junyan actually broke through to the Dharma Master Realm!

Under siege by two Dharma Masters in the middle stage, he was able to kill one of them?

And as the first venerable person to fall since the chaos of the Yu Dynasty!

In Prince Xuan's Mansion in Danzhou, Prince Xuan, who was already tainted with the spirit of iron and blood, was sitting on the main seat with his majestic appearance and sharp eyes.

In recent times, Xuan's numerous heroes and military generals have defeated the forces gathered in Danzhou. He has captured nine of the twelve houses in Danzhou, and the other forces can only huddle in the last three houses.

As for Chu Junyan's killing of an honorable man, his eyes fluctuated but he didn't pay much attention.

There are three neighboring states near Danzhou, Qingzhou, Zhaozhou and Yanzhou.

Among them, the largest force in Qingzhou is the Zhou family of Queen Xuan's concubine's family. They will definitely support King Xuan fully, and King Xuan has received the support of most of the forces in Qingzhou, helping King Xuan to contain the forces in Yanzhou.

Therefore, Prince Xuan now only needs to deal with the big forces in Danzhou and the hidden families.

"Xingyu, what's going on in Zhenguo Mansion?"

Below, Lu Xingyu, the most trusted advisor of King Xuan, lowered his head and said solemnly:

"Your Highness, the enemy has contacted the Zhenguo Mansion many times, but there has been no movement from the Zhenguo Mansion. It seems that they are still integrating Zhaozhou."

"Still integrating Zhaozhou?"

Prince Xuan looked calmly, looked at the civil servants and generals below and asked:

"What do you think Chu Junxiong wants to do?"

I saw another scholar-strategist stand up and say:

"Your Highness, I believe that Chu Junxiong will probably take action during our decisive battle and defeat us in one fell swoop."

An extraordinary military commander said:

"Now these forces in Danzhou are no longer our opponents. They want to seek cooperation from the Zhenguo Government, but the Zhenguo Government seems to disagree."

"Hmph, how could the Zhenguo Mansion agree? Cooperation would be equivalent to putting the forces like Danzhou on the same footing. The forces that have been beaten to a pulp by us, the Zhenguo Mansion's idea should be to recruit them to surrender!"

"That's right, the Zhenguo Mansion is too ambitious to cooperate with the Danzhou forces. The destruction of these forces in Danzhou is already doomed. The Zhenguo Mansion is preparing to conquer them at the last moment and then invade Danzhou, killing two birds with one stone!"

"We can't let the Zhenguo government reap the benefits from behind!"

"Then what should we do?"

"What else can we do? Just use the overwhelming force to suppress them and find an opportunity to destroy them in one fell swoop!"

"It is impossible for the forces in Danzhou not to know what the Zhenguo Mansion thinks. I don't believe they are not angry with Chu Junxiong. Since the Zhenguo Mansion wants to recruit them, why can't we? We can also secretly recruit one or two forces!"

"With them as internal agents, we can quickly solve Danzhou before the Zhenguo government has time to react, and then integrate Danzhou to confront the Zhenguo government at the border!"

The counselors and generals under King Xuan began to talk one after another, while King Xuan listened to their exchanges quietly. When he heard these words, King Xuan's eyes flashed.

He looked at Lu Xingyu below and nodded slightly.

This plan is feasible, but it still requires precise calculations. The premise is that we must control Danzhou.

He secretly recruited several forces, some of which openly and openly surrendered to him, and some of the forces that surrendered secretly could follow other forces to join the Zhenguo Mansion...

Liangzhou, Yuwangfu.

When Prince Yu in white clothes learned about the situation in Lingzhou, his expression remained calm. He was not in the mood to pay attention to Lingzhou in the distance.

The two major forces in Liangzhou and three hidden families joined forces to deal with King Yu.

There was civil strife in Yangzhou, and King Yu's power in Yangzhou was also contained.

"Your Highness, there is a letter from Yangzhou. They have agreed to surrender to Your Highness."

A counselor walked over quickly, with excitement in his eyes, Yangzhou could finally be solved.

"Tell them not to worry and continue to cause civil strife in Yangzhou!"

King Yu poured a cup of tea slowly and handed it to the counselor with his own hand, saying meaningfully.

The counselor's eyes moved, he took the teacup respectfully and said:

"I understand!"

………………

In Yizhou, on a high-rise city wall, King Ming was wearing a lavender-gold cloak. The strong wind carrying the smell of blood blew, and the cloak bulged. The tall and mighty figure of King Ming stood still.

A heroic young general stood quietly behind King Ming.

"Wuyou, Fang Shiyuan, the son of Fang Wukui, successfully broke through the Tianwu realm in a battle with the young master of Zhongyi Hall named Cheng. In the second battle, he was seriously injured. Are you feeling a little stressed?"

Prince Ming's tone was slightly joking.

Ji Wuyou, the son of Ji Wushuang, one of the ten famous generals of Dayu, has now joined King Ming.

The strong wind made Ji Wuyou's face hurt a little, and his eyes were full of fighting spirit:

"Please give me a chance, His Highness Prince Ming!"

"Three days later, those forces in Yangzhou will send their younger generation. The time and place will be handed over to you by me. You can lead the Zheng family to intercept and kill them!"

"yes!"

After Ji Wuyou accepted the order, he slowly retreated.

Soon a thin figure slowly approached King Ming.

"Ahem!"

A cough made King Ming quickly turn around and look at the somewhat pale Su Qingxian. King Ming frowned slightly, with a hint of worry in his eyes. He untied his cloak and quickly put it on Su Qingxian.

"Qingxian, the wind is strong on the tower, you shouldn't come up."

Su Qingxian shrank down, feeling the warmth brought by the cloak, and felt warm inside.

"Your Highness, the wind is fine."

Prince Ming patted him on the shoulder, and the killing intent in his heart almost overflowed.

Su Qingxian was poisoned!

And he was poisoned unknowingly!

"Your Highness, if my guess is correct, the situation in Lingzhou is about to be decided."

Su Qingxian saw the murderous intent on King Ming's face, and the bitterness in his heart was enough to cover the pain in his body. He knew that these forces were powerful, but he still couldn't guard against them, and he still fell into the trap.

This is a kind of poison that cannot be cured. King Ming's search for famous doctors and holy healing medicine is just to delay it.

"Do you think Lao Wu will lose?"

When King Ming heard this, his brows deepened and he took a step to the left. His tall and majestic figure just blocked the strong wind.

Su Qingxian tightened the gently fluttering cloak around her body, shook her head with a heavy face and said:

"You can't see clearly. Both King Chu and Chu Junyan want to eliminate all the forces in Lingzhou at once. Chu Junyan is not simple, and King Chu is not simple either. It depends on how good each other's methods are."

King Ming thought that Lingzhou was going to win or lose, and there was a trace of impatience in his eyes as he said:

"When the situation in Lingzhou becomes clear, can we unify Yizhou?"

Seeing Prince Ming's impatient expression, Su Qingxian could only smile bitterly and comfort him:

"Your Highness, there is no rush to unify Yizhou. Although the big forces in Yangzhou and Fengzhou have joined forces to send people to deal with us, dealing with the people they sent is not enough to cause heavy losses to these forces. We still need to lure them to send more Strong men and armies are coming."

“Now that Yizhou is under our control, as many as they come will die!

It would be too troublesome to deal with each force one by one, and we would easily suffer losses if we fight on battlefields they are familiar with. If we can deal with the main force of these forces in Yizhou, it will be much easier for us to attack Yangzhou and Fengzhou.

Your Highness, Prince Xuan and Prince Yu all have the same idea, luring all those ambitious forces to their home court. "

"Do we need to intervene in Lingzhou?"

"No, Your Highness, if we interfere in Lingzhou, they will easily guess that we still have enough strength, which will cause a lot of trouble for our future plans, ahem..."

"Do you think Lao Wu will die?"

"Cough...cough, I don't know!"

The wind howls...

………………

In the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the palace has now had a new emperor, and all the eunuchs and maids have been replaced. However, because Li Yao became the emperor not long ago, and the situation when Li Yao ascended the throne, he did not have many concubines, let alone a queen. , and the ministers did not persuade him.

In the morning, Li Yao, who was crowned like jade in the main hall, was wearing a dragon suit and sitting on a dragon chair. He was listening to the ministers reporting on the situation in the various states of the Yu Dynasty. Dozens or hundreds of officials filled the main hall, but only a few spoke. Just a few people.

Li Yao looked at the officials who supported Prince Ming, Prince Xuan and Prince Yu with cold eyes.

When it comes to the discussion of the three kings, supporters of these parties will discuss it one after another, and they all unite and want to request Li Yao to allocate funds for food immediately!

There was no mention of sending troops at all!

hehe!

In the morning, the six important ministers either bowed their heads and remained silent, or stood there silently with their eyes narrowed, as if they were asleep. Although when I asked them questions, I was very respectful on the surface, but in my heart I didn't take myself seriously.

Li Yao suppressed the anger deep in his heart and looked at the officials below with a calm expression as usual and said, "My dear friends, what else can you do?"

When the officials heard this, they did not make any move. Most of them looked at the prime minister and the lieutenant in front of them.

Seeing this, anger rose again in Li Yao's eyes, he clenched his fist hidden in the dragon embroidery, then calmed down the anger in his heart and stood up and said:

"If there is nothing else to do, we will stop here today and retreat from the court!"

Seeing Li Yao stand up and leave, all the officials respectfully bowed out.

After Li Yao strode back to the royal study, his previously hidden anger was revealed without any concealment, and he slammed the memorial on the desk to the ground!

Bang!

The guards outside the royal study heard the sound of Li Yao smashing things in anger again, and shrank back, as if they couldn't hear anything.

"Brother Huang is angry again?"

At this time, Li Heng, the tall and tall sixth prince, walked outside the door of the imperial study. Hearing the voices in the imperial study, he asked the eunuch in charge who was waiting respectfully in front of the door with a white face and a beardless face and a particularly feminine aura.

When the young eunuchs around saw Li Heng questioning the newly promoted eunuch Liu Jin, they quickly lowered their heads.

Manager Li, who once followed His Majesty Emperor Yu, had gone to guard the mausoleum with the queen and a large number of concubines.

In a short period of time, Liu Jin was recognized by His Majesty Emperor Yao and became his personal manager.

Liu Jin looked at Li Heng's arrival and quickly showed a hint of joy and said:

"King Heng, you are here. Please go and persuade His Majesty."

Liu Jin looked into the imperial study room with a worried expression.

"Okay, you go and tell the emperor brother that I'm here."

Li Heng saw the worried look on Liu Jin's face, and a light flashed deep in his eyes.

Liu Jin cautiously approached the door of the royal study and said loudly:

"Your Majesty, King Heng wants to see you!"

Suddenly the chaotic sounds in the imperial study disappeared. After a while, Li Yao's deep voice finally sounded from the imperial study:

"Bring him in!"

Liu Jin gently opened the door of the royal study and made an invitation to King Heng:

"Your Highness King Heng, please!"

King Heng arranged his neat clothes and stepped into the imperial study.

Liu Jin followed closely and closed the door.

Li Heng looked at Li Yao sitting on the dragon chair. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that the desk was still a little messy, and then saluted Li Yao:

"Brother, I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

"Sixth brother, there is no need to be polite."

Li Yao got up with a smile and came to Li Heng to help him get up.

After Li Yao ascended the throne, Li Heng appeared in front of Li Yao and helped him make suggestions, winning Li Yao's trust.

"Sixth brother, sit down."

Li Yao nodded slightly to Liu Jin who was standing respectfully beside him. This was the eunuch he had dug up.

The eunuch found in the palace just a few days after taking the throne was very orderly and well-founded, which convinced all the eunuchs. In addition, Li Yao specifically asked the former manager Li, and manager Li also said that Liu Jin was a talent. , available!

Therefore, Li Yao was very assured of Liu Jin and kept him by his side. No matter what Li Yao asked him to do, he could solve it perfectly.

"How is the imperial brother trying to win over the important ministers who remain neutral?"

After hearing Li Heng's words, Li Yao's anger that had subsided rose again.

During this period, Li Yao continued to build relationships with the ministers, hoping to subdue some of the important ministers who remained neutral, so that he could slowly gain control of the court. However, how could those important ministers not know what was going on? No matter what Li Yao said, What, but when Li Yao reveals his intentions, they always change the subject by talking around. Li Yao is so angry that he can't let it out.

"Alas, these ministers are still testing me."

Li Heng's eyes moved, and he understood what Li Yao meant, and then he smiled and said: "Brother Emperor, these ministers all know the situation of the Dayu Dynasty, so they are all waiting to see Brother Emperor. Everything is difficult at the beginning, as long as Brother Emperor gets a heavyweight If you support me, they will slowly come to His Highness!"

"Oh? Sixth brother, can you do anything?"

Li Yao asked with surprise.

"Brother Imperial, Lu Xun, the Minister of Rites, has a daughter named Lu Qingyan. This daughter is a famous and talented girl in Kyoto, and she is Lu Xun's most beloved daughter. Your Majesty, you are currently an unmarried concubine..."

"As long as the emperor's decree is announced to the world, even Lu Xun will have to agree to the temptation of the position of noble concubine. If he doesn't agree, he will be resisting the decree. When the time comes, the emperor can kill him as a warning to others and intimidate the court!"

Li Yao understood what Li Heng meant, but he hesitated:

"I understand what my sixth brother is thinking, but why should I choose Lu Xun's daughter? Why not choose the daughter of Prime Minister Lin? I remember that he has a little daughter that he loves very much. I can make her my queen!"

Li Heng's eyes moved, but he lowered his head and said:

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Lin is the head of hundreds of officials and has too much prestige. If your Majesty forces the Prime Minister in this way, it will be counterproductive. We can only try to do it slowly."

Li Yao looked at Li Heng who was lowering his head, a flash of light flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly laughed and said:

"Haha, sixth brother is still interested, but I am too anxious."

When Li Heng saw that Li Yao had agreed, he smiled and said respectfully: "My dear brother, long blessings. Once Lu Xun surrenders, my brother will soon be able to take over the imperial court!"

"Haha, sixth brother is still smart!"

"Brother Emperor, in addition to winning over the ministers, I think we also need to have the means to intimidate and suppress all officials!"

"Oh? Sixth Brother, do you have any other suggestions?" Li Yao looked at Li Heng in surprise.

Li Heng glanced at Li Yao and said respectfully: "The main reason why we conquered the ministers is because of the lack of intelligence on them. Brother Huang needs to control the secret guards as soon as possible!"

"Secret Guard!"

Li Yao frowned tightly. Emperor Yu once established the intelligence organization Shadow Guard, but the Shadow Guard's main purpose has always been to collect information about the forces in various states. Although it also collected information about hundreds of officials, it was not the focus. Moreover, the three kings seemed to have the acquiescence of Emperor Yu, who had already inserted many people into the secret guards, so that he could not believe the situation of the secret guards now.

Li Yao met Li Heng's expectant gaze and sighed: "Sixth brother doesn't know something. Some people in the secret guards are working secretly, and the information is seriously delayed. I am helpless. It will take a long time to integrate the secret guards."

"Is the secret guard situation so serious?"

Li Heng frowned.

Li Yao sighed and nodded.

After a moment of silence, Li Heng suddenly said:

"Since the secret guards have made Brother Huang suspicious, why doesn't Brother Huang establish a special agency to monitor officials?"

“Build your own organization?”

Li Yao fell into deep thought, and Li Heng glanced at Liu Jin, who was respectfully staying behind Li Yao, and continued:

"That's right, Brother Emperor, Kyoto is in chaos now. We want to keep the imperial court firmly in our hands and must re-establish an institution.

Now the only people in the palace who can be trusted by the emperor's brother are the people in the palace. It is better to train the eunuchs in the palace and let the eunuchs in the palace establish an organization. Such an organization must be very loyal to the emperor's brother, and no one can infiltrate it! "

Li Yao's expression was shocked and he stared at Li Heng with piercing eyes. Yes, why didn't he think of it?

If he cultivates a group of eunuchs in the palace to establish an intelligence agency, they will definitely be very loyal to him, and he will be very reassured.

Even if this organization expands in the future, the people at the top will definitely be eunuchs in the palace, and they will definitely be firmly in their hands.

It can not only easily spy on intelligence, monitor officials, but also scare officials.

Li Yao stood up excitedly and walked towards Li Heng, patted him hard on the shoulder and said: "Sixth brother, your suggestion is very good, it can be regarded as a great help to me!"

"It is my blessing to be able to give advice to my brother."

“Who do you think should be left to establish this institution?”

"I don't know, brother, I need the emperor to make his own decision, but this person must be a eunuch in the palace, and this eunuch must be loyal to the emperor, and he must be capable and skillful!"

Li Heng lowered his head and said respectfully.

After hearing Li Heng's answer, Li Yao unconsciously looked at the respectful Liu Jin.

"Then sixth brother, how should we act?"

Next, Li Yao and Li Heng continued to discuss how to establish this organization and plans to win over and suppress some ministers. Li Yao sent Li Heng out of the palace with satisfaction.

Dusk fell, and the setting sun shone on Li Yao's figure. Li Yao's ambitious eyes were like a young king gradually awakening!

Returning to the imperial study, Li Yao looked at Liu Jin who was waiting respectfully at the desk.

"Liu Jin!"

"My slave is here."

Li Yao stood with his hands behind his back and looked at Liu Jin with admiration in his eyes.

"You also heard the conversation between me and Prince Heng just now!"

"How about I ask you to establish this intelligence agency that monitors hundreds of officials!"

Liu Jin opened her eyes slightly and looked at Li Yao in shock. She immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, you can't do that. This servant is not capable enough and I'm afraid of ruining His Majesty's good deeds!"

"Haha, if you can't do it in the palace, who else can do it?" Seeing Liu Jin's loyalty, Li Yao was even more certain of his decision.

"Okay, I have decided that you will establish this intelligence agency. I will provide you with all the skills, treasures and medicines. Your task is to establish this intelligence agency. I want which official to say something in the palace that day in the future. I want to know everything!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! I will definitely live up to Your Majesty's high expectations!" Liu Jin looked at Li Yao with a moved face, and her tone was full of determination.

Li Yao was extremely satisfied with Liu Jin and continued to win over people's hearts:

"Very good. Since you established and presided over this organization, I'll leave it to you to pick the name."

As expected, Liu Jin showed an expression of complete concern at the right time.

"Your Majesty, since such an intelligence agency was established by the eunuchs in the palace, why not call it the Expert Factory!"

"Expert Factory"

"What a name, I got it right!"