flstandardbreds Chapter 178 Japanese Pirates Rebellion
Chapter 178 Japanese Pirates Rebellion
The next day, the court was held.
An imperial censor came forward to report:
"Your Majesty, I have heard a children's song among the people, which is meant to praise the merits of the Imperial Master. Now, children in the streets and alleys of the whole capital are singing it."
Emperor Jichang looked unhappy and said:
"Oh? How does the nursery rhyme go?"
The censor said, "Your Majesty, the nursery rhyme goes like this: A living immortal descended from heaven, shining like the sun on the people, bringing rain and food, bringing peace to the world."
Emperor Jichang's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
good very good!
No wonder Qi Dasheng was willing to travel across the twelve states to distribute grain. It turned out that he did it to win the hearts of the people.
Another minister stepped forward and said:
"I have also heard of this nursery rhyme. Nowadays, people revere the Imperial Master as if he were a god. Anyone who dares to say anything bad about the Imperial Master on the street will be drowned in spit."
Emperor Jichang was a suspicious person by nature, and he suspected that even this nursery rhyme was spread by Qi Dasheng.
Qi Dasheng’s reputation among the people is so high nowadays. This is definitely a force that cannot be ignored.
Looking at the expressions of the officials in the court, no one criticized this nursery rhyme. It seems that Qi Dasheng's prestige in the court is increasing day by day.
But he couldn't say anything.
Seeing that the emperor looked unhappy, everyone changed the subject.
Minister of War Yuan Guangjin stepped forward and reported:
"Your Majesty, there are Japanese pirates causing chaos in Haizhou Prefecture, burning, killing, looting, and committing all kinds of evil. The local people are suffering terribly, but these pirates land in different places every time, and the local garrison arrives, it is already too late."
The Japanese pirates' rebellion has troubled the Anning Kingdom for decades.
Although the imperial court also built a navy, the Japanese pirates were too cunning. They had their bases on several islands overseas, which can be described as a cunning rabbit with three burrows.
Although they were not numerous, they escaped quickly, causing great trouble for the garrison and the imperial court.
King Zhao rolled his eyes, stepped out and said:
"Father, didn't the Imperial Master lead his soldiers to the twelve southern states to distribute grain? He must have passed through Haizhou. The Imperial Master has great magical powers, so it would be easy for him to destroy the Japanese pirates, right?"
Emperor Jichang looked at King Zhao with satisfaction. This was a good idea.
Over the years, Haizhou soldiers have suffered heavy casualties and have failed to wipe out the Japanese pirates. Since Qi Dasheng is capable, let him go.
The ocean is vast, and it would take several months just to find the pirates' lair by boat. Even if he had the protection of the gods, he would be unable to escape if he encountered a shipwreck.
If he wins, it will be because he has a keen eye for talent as an emperor; if he loses, he will be punished for his failure to suppress the invaders.
He could also take advantage of this period of time to send people to publicize among the people that the distribution of grain seeds and food was a reward from the court, thereby weakening the influence of the imperial teacher among the people.
Therefore, no matter whether Qi Dasheng could wipe out the Japanese pirates or not, he had already lost.
Lord Chu, who rarely spoke in the court, suddenly stepped out and said:
"I cannot agree with what the King of Zhao said. The soldiers led by the Imperial Master are all from the northwest. They are good at land warfare. But none of them know how to swim. If they go to the depths of the vast ocean, it will be tantamount to sending themselves to death."
Emperor Jichang thought to himself, it’s good that he doesn’t know how to swim. If he dies, I won’t have to worry about him.
So he said:
"Lord Chu, you are too kind. Everyone knows how brave the Northwest Army is. If the Imperial Master leads the Northwest Army to wipe out the Japanese pirates, it will surely be a great success."
The ministers of various parties who had been tricked by Gu Xi before, and who had either sprained their waists or suffered from heatstroke, now united as one and responded to what King Zhao and Emperor Jichang said.
Although some military generals knew that it was inappropriate to send the army to fight at sea, there was no point in them saying more since most court officials had expressed their support.
Old Marquis Chu was alone and had no choice but to kneel down and ask His Majesty to revoke his order.
He wanted to save those soldiers, especially since his grandson was among them.
Emperor Jichang slapped the armrest of the dragon throne, stood up, stared at Old Marquis Chu with sharp eyes, and said angrily:
"Lord Chu, what is your intention in obstructing the national teacher from destroying the Japanese? The lives of the Chu family soldiers in the northwest are human lives, but the lives of the soldiers in Haizhou are not human lives?"
Seeing that the emperor was angry, all the ministers dared not say a word, and the atmosphere in the court became tense and solemn.
Wu Dajiang, who played Chu Zhao, was afraid of revealing his true identity, so he kept silent during the court sessions.
Seeing that the emperor was about to vent his anger on the old marquis, he no longer cared about anything else and immediately knelt on the ground and said:
"Your Majesty, my grandfather is old. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy! I have fought with the Imperial Master in the northwest and have always cooperated well. I request your permission to go and support the Imperial Master!"
Wu Dajiang felt that he had to tell his general and imperial teacher about what happened in the court as soon as possible.
Emperor Jichang snorted coldly:
"The Duke of Chu is indeed old! He is not as courageous as your grandson! Since your grandson is begging for mercy, you should go back to your mansion and reflect on your mistakes for three months!"
"Chu Zhao, listen to my order. Hurry and meet up with the Imperial Master and head to Haizhou to wipe out the Japanese pirates! When you have wiped out the Japanese pirates, you will return to the court!"
They actually sent Chu Zhao alone, without even allocating any soldiers to him.
He also issued a death order that the Chu family was not allowed to return to the court unless they succeeded. It seemed that Emperor Jichang was very dissatisfied with the Chu family.
Old Lord Chu closed his eyes with a heavy heart.
Wu Dajiang bowed down quickly:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"
After the court was dismissed and he returned to the mansion, Old Marquis Chu heard that Zhou Qing had been arrested yesterday and was guilty of deceiving the emperor. He would be executed on a chosen day. He was shocked.
What is the emperor going to do?
He paced a few steps anxiously and told Wu Dajiang:
"You must set off immediately. Remember, you must be quick. You must report the matter of Lord Zhou before the messenger finds the Imperial Master!"
He was under house arrest, and it was extremely difficult for him to rescue Zhou Qing.
The Imperial Master has always had ideas, but he is too far away from the capital and may be out of reach.
Old Lord Chu had no choice but to try his best. Even if there was only a glimmer of hope, he had to give it a try to save Zhou Qing.
Wu Dajiang did not dare to delay, so he took two horses, some silver and dry food, and left Beijing quickly.
I ran for four days and four nights and only slept two hours a day.
Even at night, he would turn on the flashlight he had obtained from the national teacher and continue on his way.
By the time he found Gu Xi and Chu Zhao, one of his two horses had died of exhaustion and the remaining one was also paralyzed from exhaustion.
Wu Dajiang himself was so tired that he almost fainted, and the insides of his pants were stained red, which was the blood from days of riding.
Chu Zhao looked at Wu Dajiang, whose eyes were bloodshot, and said anxiously:
"Dajiang, what happened in the Marquis' Mansion?"
Wu Dajiang's mouth was dry and his voice was hoarse:
"Major General, not the Marquis' Mansion."
Gu Xi quickly handed over a bottle of water, Wu Dajiang took it, gulped it down in a few gulps, and then said:
"Grandmaster, the Marquis has asked me to inform you as soon as possible that Lord Zhou Qing has been arrested for deceiving the emperor and will be executed on a certain day."
"What?!" Gu Xi and Chu Zhao were both shocked, and they both thought of Gu Yunqing at the same time.
Could it be that this matter has been exposed?