My brother Ying Zheng, who dares to kill me?.

Chapter 687 The last backbone of the Great Zhao collapsed! Li Mu: If he can't sit on the throne well, someone else will sit on it!

The next morning, the gate of Longtai Palace opened as usual.

As Mao Sui and other court officials looked on worriedly, a figure kneeling facing the Dragon Platform appeared in their sight.

The thick white snow covered his shoulders and his hair, but did not bend his straight pine-like spine.

The cold wind became colder and fiercer as it passed through the palace gate, but it couldn't shake him at all.

The layer of frost on the outer layer of his clothes reflected the warm light of the morning sun, making him look particularly sacred.

Zhao Po, Zhao E and fifty-one other guards stood on both sides of the palace gate, knelt on the ground facing the figure, and remained unmoved despite the wind and snow.

However, Mao Sui's face was instantly covered with tears.

"Master Zuo~" Mao Sui whispered with a trembling voice, and then cried out loudly: "Master Zuo!"

Dozens of important officials dressed in green official robes with red patterns threw etiquette and laws to the back of their heads, picked up their skirts and ran towards the palace gate.

But when they arrived behind Chu Long, they all slowed down their pace and went around to the front of Chu Long from the side.

Looking at Chu Long's blood-red skin, and his eyes that were cloudy and stiff but still unwilling to close, every court official was choked with sobs.

Many people don't like Chulong, or even hate Chulong.

He was too upright and many of the conventional rules in officialdom would be picked out and criticized by Chu Long.

He speaks too directly and harshly. No matter who a person is, if they do something wrong, they cannot escape his bombardment.

But even his political opponents had to admit that Chu Long might be too picky, but what he said was always right.

Chu Long may be isolated and helpless, but his loyalty to the State of Zhao is unmatched!

And today, this man who was hated but admired by many people died in the Longtai Palace to which he was loyal, at the feet of King Zhao.

Until death, I can't close my eyes!
Mao Sui fell to his knees, his knees splashing with snowflakes, his voice becoming increasingly sad:

"Master Zuo!!!"

Behind Mao Sui, all the Zhao officials also faced Chu Long and turned their backs to Longtai Palace. They all knelt on the ground and cried out in grief:
"Farewell, Master Zuo!"

Zhao Po, Zhao E and other palace gate guards could not help but shout in a low voice:
"Farewell, Master Zuo!"

However, just as everyone was feeling sad, several figures appeared on the city gate tower.

Guo Kai's mouth curled up slightly, and he asked in a low voice: "Did you do it cleanly?"

Zhao Cong also whispered, "Except for these fifty-one palace gate guards, all the eunuchs, palace maids and guards that Zuo Shi saw when he entered the palace yesterday have been dealt with."

"So please rest assured, Prime Minister. The court officials may be suspicious of Zuo Shi's death."

"But no matter how hard the court officials investigate, they can only trace it back to the Queen Mother."

Guo Kai nodded slightly: "I never thought that a mere prostitute could control her murderous intent. In the end, she just threw Zuo Shi at the gate of the palace and let him freeze to death."

"Fortunately, a prostitute is just a prostitute after all, and her actions were too shallow to delay the true plan."

Zhao Cong smiled and cupped his hands: "The Prime Minister is so wise, how can a mere prostitute predict it!"

Guo Kai's smile became more relaxed: "But this matter is not over yet."

"Shangqing Zhao will go to the palace in person and tell them that I am ill today and cannot attend the court meeting."

"Then order the doctors to form a formation inside the palace gate to prevent the officials from outside the court from breaking into the palace, and carry the body of Zuo Shi to see the king."

"When we try to stop them, we can remind them to take away the fifty-one guards and tell them what we want to say through the fifty-one guards."

Zhao Cong bowed solemnly: "Yes!"

"I will never let any outsider step into the palace!"

Guo Kai and Zhao Cong both believed that Mao Sui and others would go to see King Qian of Zhao with Chu Long's body, using Chu Long's death to awaken King Qian of Zhao's vigilance against Guo Kai or Queen Mother Zhao, and guide King Qian of Zhao onto the path of a wise ruler.

But what they didn't expect was.

Before Zhao Cong walked down the palace wall, Mao Sui had already picked up Chu Long's body.

Finally, after looking back deeply at the Longtai Palace, Mao Sui strode out of the palace gate!

The court officials who had waited with Mao Sui all night did not shout or yell, nor did they try to storm the palace.

They just followed Mao Sui silently, guarding Chu Long's body as they left Longtai Palace.

Leaving this palace that made them feel so desperate! ——
January 12, the 14th year of the reign of Qin Shi Huang.

Zhao State, Wu'an City.

Li Mu looked at Mao Sui with a gloomy look: "Zuo Shi, is he dead?"

Mao Sui replied in a hoarse voice: "Zuo Shi is dead."

Li Mu shouted angrily: "How could Zuo Shi die!"

"Zuo Shi is the minister appointed by the previous king to assist him. Who dares to harm him?"

Mao Sui's voice was extremely bitter: "The last time we saw Zuo Shi was when he entered Longtai Palace."

"When we meet Master Zuo again in Longtai Palace, all we'll see is his corpse."

"The guards at the palace gate said that Zuo Shi was dragged to the palace gate by Chunping Jun. When he arrived, Zuo Shi was soaked and soon he was frozen into ice."

"Master Zuo was frozen to death inside the palace gate!"

Li Mu stood up suddenly, biting his right hand fingers with his teeth, and paced back and forth anxiously.

Li Mu was trying hard to suppress his anger, but he found that he couldn't bear it at all.

"Oh!"

Li Mu slammed his fist on the table and shouted angrily: "Ridiculous!"

"The Minister of State was frozen to death inside the palace gate."

"Sliding the world's great joke!"

"I will return to Handan and ask Chunping Jun in person how many heads he has to dare to treat Zuo Shi like this!"

As a general who guards the border all year round, Li Mu has a high opinion of Chu Long.

When King Yan of Zhao asked Li Mu to go to war, Li Mu was worried that the court would withhold his food and fodder again.

But as long as King Yan of Zhao proposed that Chu Long supervise the supply of food and grass, Li Mu had no scruples and dared to act.

In the court full of insects, Chu Long was one of the few people Li Mu could trust, and one of the few bright spots in Li Mu's heart. But now, Chu Long is dead.

He died inside the palace gate in such a ridiculous and humble way!

How could Li Mu not be angry!
Mao Sui hurriedly said, "We believe that Chunping Jun must be one of the murderers of Zuo Shi, but he is definitely not the culprit."

"Otherwise, those fifty-one guards would never have lived to see us."

"The real culprit behind this is someone else!"

Li Mu waved his hand and said, "Don't make it so complicated for me."

"Zuo Shi died in the palace. Everyone in the palace is responsible! The Prime Minister is also responsible!"

"And the king who sits on the high platform has even greater responsibilities!"

"No matter how old the king is, since he is the king, he should take on the responsibilities of a king."

"If he can sit on the throne, he should sit on it. If he can't, someone else should sit on it!"

"We cannot allow the king and his whore mother to continue to wreak havoc on our Great Zhao!"

Li Mu's words were very outrageous.

But Mao Sui did not dissuade or scold him.

Because there is nothing wrong with what Li Mu said!
Chu Long, Mao Sui and Li Mu were all willing to die to support the country and help King Zhao consolidate his royal power.

However, Chu Long was unable to see King Qian of Zhao for several months and eventually died on the way to see King Qian of Zhao.

Mao Sui knew that King Qian of Zhao must be in a very difficult situation. He might be very scared and longed for the support of the court officials.

But Zhao State is not without qualified heirs!
If Crown Prince Jia had not been deposed as crown prince but succeeded to the throne as king, would Guo Kai still be able to influence the king so easily?

Being weak is not a fault.

But in this era of great strife, even a weak king has no right to survive!
However, just when Li Mu decided to go back to Handan in person, Sima Shang suddenly opened the curtain and spoke in a hurry:
"Commander, Wang Lingzhi!"

Li Mu's brows suddenly furrowed, and he looked into Mao Sui's eyes.

Mao Sui said in a deep voice: "Wu'an Jun, be careful!"

There is no doubt that Guo Kai's sword has already fallen towards Li Mu!

Now that Chu Long is dead, there is no one in the court who can protect Li Mu!
Li Mu nodded slowly: "I would like to see if the Prime Minister can also freeze me to death!"

Stepping out of the big tent, Li Mu looked at Zhao Cong in front of him with a cold gaze, and bowed solemnly: "Wu'an Junmu, listen to the king's order!"

Zhao Cong unfolded the silk and said proudly: "Today, Qin is getting stronger, while other countries are getting weaker!"

"If this continues, Qin will become the only powerful state, and Zhao will have difficulty surviving."

"In order to curb Qin's aggression, order Wu'an Jun Li Mu to lead 200,000 troops to attack Qin from the west!"

"We must weaken Qin's arrogance and take all of Taihang Mountain to strengthen the prestige of our Great Zhao!"

Closing the silk, Zhao Cong looked at Li Mu with a smile and said, "Wu'an Jun, do you accept my order?"

However, to Zhao Cong's surprise, Li Mu did not step forward to catch the silk.

After looking at Zhao Cong with a cold gaze for a few breaths, Li Mu said in a cold voice: "If the court wants my head, just cut it off."

"I really shouldn't let two hundred thousand soldiers, all the ministers and the great Zhao state be buried with me!"

Zhao Cong frowned and asked, "Does Wu'an Jun have any grudge against the king?!"

Li Mu did not directly answer Zhao Cong's question, but shouted mercilessly: "There are generals in the court. Please ask the generals before giving orders and think twice before acting!"

"Qin Chang'an is definitely not a person who would stop when he sees the opportunity. Even the covenant cannot restrain him."

"Once the State of Qin orders Qin Chang'an Jun to lead the army to fight, the battle will be unprecedentedly fierce and almost a fight to the death!"

"If the court can only allocate 200,000 troops, I will undoubtedly be defeated, and it may even cause Handan to suffer."

"Therefore, I refuse to accept the king's order!"

Zhao Cong took a deep breath and asked in a deep voice: "There will be a war between Qin and Zhao."

"The Qin State is developing rapidly due to its policy of treating manure with gold juice, but our Zhao State is stagnant and unable to make any progress."

"If we don't start the war soon, our chances of winning will gradually decrease in the future."

"How do you think our Great Zhao can win the war between Qin and Zhao?"

Li Mu said without hesitation: "Give me 600,000 soldiers and horses for deployment."

"At the same time, the DPRK promised not to withhold food and military pay from our troops."

"If so, I can give it a try!"

Zhao Cong did not argue any further and bowed without hesitation: "In this case, I will report to the king right away!"

After watching Zhao Cong leave, Mao Sui finally spoke: "Does Wu'an Jun think that the demand for 600,000 troops can dispel the Prime Minister's idea?"

Li Mu shook his head slowly: "Weakening Qin in this war is secondary, transferring me away is the primary goal!"

"So even if the Prime Minister empties out Great Zhao, he will still gather enough troops for me to convince the people of the world, so that I can fight outside and have no time to care about the chaos in the court."

"But since the king has issued the order, I have no choice but to obey. I can only use this strategy to involve the prime minister as much as possible."

Now that Chu Long is dead, Li Mu is the only person who can pose a substantial threat to Guo Kai.

However, Li Mu, who commanded a large number of troops, could not be killed by Guo Kai at will like Chu Long.

So Guo Kai chose to declare war on Qin without hesitation and appointed Li Mu as the commander-in-chief!

In this way, Guo Kai could take advantage of the period when Li Mu was away on the expedition to control the government, eliminate dissidents, and ultimately target Li Mu and take back the military power!

But what if Li Mu knew Guo Kai's plan?

Wang Ling is Wang Ling after all, and Li Mu is a general of Zhao after all.

Even a rebellious person like Li Mu could only bargain with Wang Ling and had no choice but to obey Wang Ling!

Taking a deep breath, Li Mu looked at Mao Sui solemnly and said, "I beg you all to take good care of the court."

"When I win a great victory, I will lead my troops back to the court and eliminate these termites!"

(End of this chapter)