Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 559 A sudden change in the situation
"I am here this time to tell you two important news." Yelu Yanxiu said.

Zhao Mu asked back: "What news?"

Yelu Yanxiu replied: "First of all, I have not confirmed the authenticity of these two pieces of news. The entire capital is under martial law, so I have no way to confirm this news."

Zhao Mu asked: "What happened? If Your Highness wants to keep it a secret, then..."

Seeing Zhao Mu's cold face, Yelu Yanxiu said, "Don't be impatient, listen to me slowly. First of all, let me tell you the first news. The first news is that your Majesty is ill. And he hasn't attended court for half a month."

Zhao Mu couldn't help but frown when he heard this. He asked, "Oh? When did this happen?"

Yelu Yanxiu replied: "Don't worry, it's just a matter of the past half month."

Zhao Mu did not get angry, but continued to ask: "So what about the second news?"

Yelu Yanxiu said: "The second news is that Empress Dowager Xiang is now the regent of the court, and the Song Dynasty has also increased its troops in Songqi and the Song-Liao border. This was discovered by our Liao Dynasty scouts."

Zhao Mu fell silent upon hearing this.

Seeing Zhao Mu's silence, Yelu Yanxiu thought that Zhao Mu didn't believe her, so she said, "These two pieces of news have not been confirmed, and I don't know whether they are true or not. If you don't believe it, it doesn't matter. But..."

Zhao Mu looked at Yelu Yanxiu and asked, "But? But what?"

Yelu Yanxiu continued: "But I want to advise you to think more about yourself."

Zhao Mu asked, "What do you mean?"

Yelu Yanxiu continued, "It means exactly what it says. Although I don't know what happened in Bianjing, I do know that if it wasn't a major event, there wouldn't be martial law around the capital. To put it bluntly, it's very likely that your emperor has passed away. And a new round of power struggles has begun in the Song Dynasty."

"They sent troops to Liao and Qi to guard against us, fearing that we would take advantage of their weakness. Oh, right! The number of troops sent by the Song Dynasty to Qi is twice that of the Liao Dynasty. It seems that the officials in your Song Dynasty don't trust you as much as we do."

"These are troubled times, and I would like to advise His Highness Prince Qi to think more about yourself. I know that with your character, you will definitely not go back to seize the throne. However, since ancient times, there have been countless cases of brothers fighting against each other and fathers and sons turning against each other for the throne. I feel that the new king will not tolerate you."

"Even if you don't take the initiative to attack, you can't just sit there and wait for death. In my opinion, you have now pacified the various tribes in the Western Regions, and the Gao family, Xixia, and even Tubo in the south have submitted to you. Even if you don't enter the Central Plains to seize the throne, you can still establish yourself as an emperor in this Western Province. You can still be a free emperor."

After listening to Yelu Yanxiu's long speech, Zhao Mu neither agreed nor refuted. He just remained silent.

At this time, Yelu Yanxiu said, "Okay, that's all I have to say. Call Jin Nu and I will meet with her. After instructing her, I will go back to Liao. After all, it is not a small matter for Song to increase troops on the Liao border. I am afraid that if they don't attack you, they will attack us."

Then Zhao Mu sent someone to call Yelu Jinnu, and the two of them chatted for a while in front of Zhao Mu. Although Yelu Jinnu's face was full of reluctance, there was nothing she could do about it. If she returned to Liao, it would be just as Yelu Yanxiu said. Instead of returning to her country, it would be better for her to stay in Qi as the Queen of the Uighurs and the Princess of Liao.

After explaining to Yelu Jinnu, Yelu Yanxiu did not stay any longer. But before she left, she said to Zhao Mu: "Your Highness, if there is anything unexpected, you can let me know if you need anything. Although this is ridiculous, you and I are now in the same boat. I believe there is no need for me to say more about the principle of the lips and teeth being cold. Well, that's all. I'm going back to my country first."

After Yelu Yanxiu left, Zhao Mu also hurriedly summoned Cong Longxuan. Zhao Mu told Cong Longxuan what Yelu Yanxiu had just said. Cong Longxuan couldn't help but frowned and said, "No wonder no one responded to the message I sent back."

Zhao Mu asked, "What's going on? Did something really happen in the capital?"

Zong Longxuan shook his head and said, "That's not necessarily true. It's just that the message I sent back this time has exceeded the reply deadline. Although there were also messages a few days later, but after hearing what you said, Your Highness, I also feel that the atmosphere is a bit weird."

Zhao Mu collapsed on his chair upon hearing this. He said, "So, Your Majesty really..."

Seeing Zhao Mu's distraught look, Long Xuan said, "I think His Majesty is ill. If His Majesty really rode a dragon to heaven, then Huang, Di, and Tian would have informed me immediately. And Hongluan's Imperial City Division hasn't received any news either."

Zhao Mu sighed and said, "Oh! I didn't expect such a thing to happen. I am not with His Majesty, and I don't know what His Majesty's situation is now." Zhao Mu paced back and forth anxiously.

Seeing Zhao Mu like this, Zong Longxuan said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will go and find out for myself. I believe that Your Majesty is safe and sound."

Zhao Mu nodded and said, "Well! Go ahead. Be careful on your way!"

As soon as Long Xuan left, the Privy Envoy rushed in with the newspaper, and almost bumped into Long Xuan.

The Privy Councilor shouted outside the palace: "Your Majesty, I have something important to ask you to do."

Zhao Mu said, "Come in."

Then the Privy Councilor handed over the memorial in his hand and said, "Urgent report from the border 600 miles away. The commander of Xiaoguan reported that the Song Dynasty has sent more troops to us."

This time, Zhao Mu did not ask the female official to answer it, but took the newspaper and took a look at it directly.

Moreover, not only in Xiaoguan, but also in several directions bordering the Song Dynasty, there were reports of Song troops increasing their forces. And the number of troops was tens of thousands. Moreover, Qi State's spies also discovered that there were signs of food and grass transfers at several gates.

Zhao Mu had been waiting for news from Long Xuan these days. However, instead of hearing any news from Long Xuan, he received a lot of bad news.

One was that the envoy of Dali State reported that the Song Dynasty had closed the trade ports between the two countries without reason and sent more troops to Dali State. So Duan Zhengchun sent an envoy to inquire. Duan Yu also went to Bianjing City to meet Zhezong in person.

There was also the Xixia envoy, his master's wife Li Qiushui, who returned. The news she brought back was that the Song army had also sent reinforcements to the Qingtang area. Although they did not attack Xixia, it seemed that they had stepped up their vigilance against Xixia.

In addition to Dali and Xixia, a long-lost acquaintance also came to Zhao Mu.

This person was none other than Zhao Mu's mistress, the current princess of "Great China", and the former Crown Princess of Dali Kingdom, Gao Mei.

After the Gao family occupied Tubo, they also proclaimed themselves emperors and established a country like the Dali Kingdom. Gao Shengtai proclaimed himself emperor and the reign was named "Shangzhi". They called themselves "Great China", but the Song Dynasty and other countries called them "Gao's Tubo".

(End of this chapter)