Wind rises time and space gate

Chapter 530: Imperial Grace
The letter was handed to Zhao Guangyuan, who took it without hesitation and opened it carefully.

Now is the critical moment for Hangu Pass, and there is no room for error. Almost all the spies who enter Hangu City are under Zhao Guangyuan's surveillance.

After reading it, Zhao Guangyuan handed the letter back to Fang Sheng. Fang Sheng took a quick look at it, and after receiving instructions from the King of Yue, he walked to the outer room, handed it to his confidant, and told him to seal it as it was.

"What the two gentlemen said in their letters is fair and not disadvantageous to us, but we are here under the Emperor's orders after all. It is not appropriate for us to stay here for too long. All the generals in the army are watching us."

Zhao Guangyuan nodded, knowing that they couldn't stay any longer.

Years ago, he was ordered by the emperor to come here to reap the fruits of the war and suppress him. Now that the war has ended and the Xirong and Fanjue armies have returned home, what is the point of leaving a military supervisor? As for the general, Zhao Guangyuan would not hand over hundreds of thousands of troops to him.

"The King will meet them tomorrow."

"Are you trying to persuade them to return to the capital?"

Zhao Guangyuan nodded.

"Then should we return the 5,000 soldiers and horses they brought with them?"

"Once they are in my hands, they belong to me." Jiang Huan and Meng Yan have been training for these days and have been used as soldiers at Hangu Pass. "After a few days of sparring, I will select the best ones and promote them. The rest will be assigned to different camps."

He paused again, "Zhan Qian and the generals in the capital are no longer needed."

"Your Majesty, are you still on guard against them?"

"Not really. These five thousand soldiers are from the capital. If they gather together, it will cause trouble and be difficult to control. If they are incorporated into the Hangu Pass generals, they can be treated equally and impartially."

"Yes. I will give instructions tomorrow."

The next day, Zhao Guangyuan met with the military supervisor and the general.

The military supervisor Guan Run, the chief steward of the inner court, was considered the most trusted confidant of the Zhizheng Emperor. The general Li Daoxuan, a third-rank general, was originally under the command of Duke Dingguo, and he also knew Zhan Qian and others very well. During the days when he could not see the King of Yue, he also drank and talked happily with Zhan Qian and other generals from the capital, and got to know them in depth.

After the overt and covert persuasion of Zhan Qian and others, as well as what the two of them saw and heard in Hangu Pass, Hangu City, and the trade outside the pass, their impressions of the King of Yue became complicated and difficult to make out.

When they came, they felt that the King of Yue was capable. As a prince who had been out of the court for more than ten years, his performance was impressive. They thought that even if they took over the power from the King of Yue, they would have to be respectful to him.

As a result, they were blocked by various obstacles created by the King of Yue and could not move forward. They had to spend the New Year in the inn. After enduring the New Year, they finally entered Hangu City, but the King of Yue forcibly took away their 5,000 soldiers.

The resentment in my heart grew deeper and deeper. I just felt that the King of Yue was extremely arrogant, looked down on others, and even ignored the emperor's orders.

But after staying in Hangu City for these days, what they saw and heard broke their cognition.

"I still remember how Empress Zhenshun looked like. She was very patient with us servants and never beat or scolded us. Whenever I saw her, she was smiling, making me feel like I was in the spring breeze."

Guan Run recalled the appearance of Queen Zhenshun and planned to get closer to King Yue.

The northwest is thousands of miles away from the capital. Even if the King of Yue cut his throat, no one would dare to save him. His life is more important.

Guan Run served the nobles in the palace and was both respectful and fearful of the Zhao royal family. He tried hard to recall what the King of Yue looked like when he was a child, but found that his memory was already fuzzy.

Thinking about what the King of Yue did after returning from the imperial mausoleum, Guan Run thought that if he talked more about Queen Zhenshun and the late Crown Prince, he might gain something unexpected.

No matter how cruel the King of Yue is, as the saying goes, even a smiling person should not be hit.

Zhao Guangyuan glanced at him and saw that he was smiling at him. His expression relaxed, "My mother treats people with sincerity. Everyone in and outside the palace praises her. But good people don't live long."

Thinking of his mother's death in that way, Zhao Guangyuan felt a pain in his heart and frowned. Guan Run took a look and felt complicated.

If Empress Zhenshun were still alive, how could the position of crown prince have been lost to someone else? It was fate and time.

Li Daoxuan listened quietly. He was not familiar with Queen Zhenshun, nor was he familiar with the King of Yue. When the King of Yue was young in the capital, he was not qualified to have contact with such a noble prince as the King of Yue.

"I wonder how the prince plans to accommodate the two of us?"

Zhao Guangyuan looked at Li Daoxuan.

"What do you think, Lord Li?"

Li Daoxuan was silent for a moment, then he bowed to him, "I have been traveling around Hangu City these days, and I have a little understanding of it. What the prince has done is admirable. If there is no imperial order, I am willing to follow the King of Yue and achieve hegemony."

These few words caused Guan Run and Zhao Guangyuan to look at him.

"But I have to obey the emperor's order. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Guan Run thought about it, and also stood up and saluted the King of Yue. It's always right to use courtesy before force.

Zhao Guangyuan looked at Li Daoxuan, then at Guan Run. Guan Run was well versed in the art of survival, and first mentioned his mother, hoping that he would think of her and keep her safe, and then mentioned the helplessness of the imperial decree.

And Li Daoxuan...

"I'm sure the Emperor, the Crown Prince, or Duke Dingguo all gave you instructions when you came. If the war is not over, I will leave you to lead the troops at Hangu Pass, and I will take my guards back to the capital. But now is different from the past, you should be aware of my situation."

The situation of the King of Yue...

I know a thing or two. I heard that he was assassinated several times before and almost couldn't be saved. I'm afraid there are people in the capital who don't want him to return alive.

He didn't know whether it was true or not before, but Master Zhan would not lie to him.

Li Daoxuan sighed, "Your Highness is in a difficult situation, I understand. But you and I each have our own missions, I hope Your Highness will show sympathy."

Zhao Guangyuan nodded. "Now that the war is over, it is useless for you two to stay in Hangu Pass. Considering that you two have responsibilities and important tasks in the capital, it is better for you to return to the capital."

The two of them were silent for a moment, as they had expected this outcome. They quickly agreed, "Yes, we will follow the prince's arrangements."

Zhao Guangyuan was very satisfied with the two's understanding. "As for the five thousand soldiers, I will keep them."

"My Lord, this is inappropriate..."

If they fail to bring back the 5,000 soldiers, not only the Ministry of War but even the Emperor will punish them.

Zhao Guangyuan raised his hand to stop him from speaking. "Whether it is appropriate or not is up to me. You two can report the truth when you return. Just say it is my intention."

Zhao Guangyuan already had an excuse for detaining 5,000 soldiers.

"This is the reward I asked for from the Emperor. With my contributions in controlling the floods last time and in ending the war and negotiating peace this time, it is not excessive to ask for this."

"And I am not using them for my own use. You two have seen the situation of the trade fair. These five thousand soldiers are sent by the emperor to protect the safety of the trade fair. Although the trade fair is located in a no-man's land, in order to avoid conflicts and to show the style of our superior country, with these soldiers guarding, both Qi merchants and foreign merchants can do business here with peace of mind. At that time, I will publicize the emperor's compassion and love for the people."

"This……"

The King of Yue had already said everything, what else could they say? Li Daoxuan and Guan Run looked at each other, not knowing what to do for a moment.