Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 414 Discussion
Inside the king's tent was a brass charcoal stove, and on the stove, a copper kettle was boiling tea, which was steaming.

After Li Zhao and Xue Sui were seated, Lady Wen personally poured two cups of tea and served them to them.

"Your Highness, please try our Yunnan Cloud Mist Tea. It may not be as famous as the teas in the capital, but it is simple and has a unique rustic charm."

She then turned to Xue Sui with a gentle smile.

"Sixth Miss, please have some too. Last night was a close call, and I'm sure you didn't sleep well. A cup of hot tea will warm your stomach."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I'm all better now." Xue Sui accepted the handkerchief with both hands, her gaze slightly lowered, inadvertently falling on the brocade handkerchief belonging to the Princess Xian.

The handkerchief is made of high-quality material, but it has frayed edges, indicating that it has been used for a long time and is quite worn.

Yunnan was a poor and barren place, and the life of the Prince Xian and his wife seemed far less comfortable than that of the princes in the capital.

They were all princes, but considering the extravagant lifestyles of Li Huan, Li Yan, and Li Qian, it's clear that Emperor Chongzhao truly favored one over the other...

She silently lowered her head and took a sip of tea, finding it slightly astringent.

Li Zhao remained calm and did not move.

Seeing his reaction, Li Shao swallowed hard and broke the silence with a dry cough. "Last night's events were all my fault for failing to protect you properly, allowing the thieves to take advantage of the situation and putting His Highness the Crown Prince and Miss Xue in danger. I... I have no face to face Your Highness..."

“Brother Emperor.” Li Zhao raised his hand in a gesture of reassurance, indicating that he should not take it to heart. His tone was very calm, but his question was sharp.

"The guards at Jingbo Garden, you brought them from Dianzhou, didn't you?"

Li Shao paused, and the teacup made a soft clinking sound.

"Why do you say that, Your Highness?"

"How could Xiao Dingshan bypass the outer sentries, sneak into the west wing, drug the maids, and then quietly leave with his men? Doesn't Your Majesty find this suspicious?"

Li Zhao raised an eyebrow slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing within.

"When the fire was being fought, I noticed that the maids in the Princess's room walked with steady steps, which was quite unusual..."

He paused, then smiled meaningfully.

"Could it be that you've practiced before?"

Li Shao was taken aback and subconsciously looked at Wen Shi beside him.

The couple exchanged glances, their silence conveying a thousand unspoken words.

Madam Wen put down her teacup and spoke first, "Now that things have come to this, there's nothing that can't be said to Your Highness. Your Highness, please tell the truth."

"Alas," Li Shao sighed deeply, "To be honest, Your Highness, those servants were indeed old maids who had served the Princess for many years. When we first arrived in Dianzhou, we were unfamiliar with the place and the people. I often went out to inspect the area, and it was inevitable that some things were overlooked in the household. Once..."

His tone suddenly became strained, "The villains sneaked into the inner courtyard of the Prince's mansion at night, and the Princess almost lost her life because of it."

Lady Wen lowered her head and said softly, "Since then, the Prince has increased the number of guards and even hired a martial arts instructor to teach my personal maids some basic martial arts, not to harm anyone, but only to protect their master... Unfortunately, they are just women and children, and they couldn't stop the thieves..."

Xue Sui listened quietly, his gaze slowly sweeping over Wen Shi's face and Li Shao's furrowed brows.

The wise king was truly devoted to his queen.

The tent fell silent.

The water in the copper kettle was about to boil, making a bubbling sound.

Li Zhao suddenly spoke up, "Have you considered that what happened last night was not due to poor guarding, but rather the work of an inside traitor?"

"A mole?" Wen exclaimed in a low voice, and Li Shao's expression also changed drastically.

"Your Highness, is there any evidence to support your claim?"

"How could someone who isn't close to you know your whereabouts so well? Even such trivial matters as where the host and guests reside?" Li Zhao smiled faintly, his gaze sharp.

“Jingbo Garden is located in a remote area. Although the guards are not as strict as those in the camp, it is not easy for ordinary thieves to sneak in.”

He spoke slowly, but every word carried weight.

"At present, Xiao Yan has been defeated and fled, and his remaining troops are hiding deep in Yunling. If someone had not informed him in advance about the layout of the garden and the rotation of sentries, even if Xiao Dingshan had three heads and six arms, it would have been difficult for him to accomplish anything in a short time, let alone escape unscathed and abduct the people."

Madam Wen gasped, her fingers gripping the fabric of her dress at her knees, her body trembling slightly: "Your Highness means... that traitor is right beside me and the Prince?"

Li Zhaodao said, “Your Majesty has governed Dianzhou for many years and acts with great caution. This person must be highly trusted to have managed to remain hidden until now.” He put down his teacup, raising an eyebrow slightly. “I have already ordered people to secretly investigate the people who accompanied Jingbo Garden last night, especially the guards at the villa. I expect we will have a clear picture soon…”

Suddenly remembering something, Lady Wen hesitated and said, "Now that Your Highness mentions it, I've thought of something... Old Zhang, who's in charge of purchasing in the garden, said he was going to town to get some charcoal, oil, and salt two days before the incident. He took half a day off, but he hasn't returned yet..."

Li Shao's face turned ashen instantly, and he slammed his hand on the table.

"It's that traitorous old fox! Investigate! Find out everything about him immediately..."

“Brother, there’s no need to rush.” Li Zhao pressed his hand down, his fingertips slightly cool. “Your anger at this moment plays right into Xiao Yan’s hands. Keeping the traitor alive isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He can deliver messages for Xiao Yan, and he can also be used by me…”

Li Shao was taken aback, then solemnly stood up and bowed deeply to Li Zhao.

"It is my fault for failing to manage my subordinates properly, allowing such a source of trouble to lurk around me without my knowledge, almost causing a great disaster and implicating Your Highness and Miss Xue. I... cannot escape the blame!"

Madam Wen also rose and gracefully bowed, her eyes already reddening.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will investigate the internal affairs as soon as I return and give you an explanation..."

"Please rise, Your Majesty and Your Highness." Li Zhao raised his hand to help them up, his tone softening. "It's not your fault; it's the cunning of the Xiao traitor. The most urgent task is to wipe out the remaining members of the Xiao clan and eliminate any future troubles. Xiao Yan is trapped in Yunling, lacking food and medicine, yet he has managed to hold on until now. He must be receiving secret aid from someone..."

He abruptly changed the subject.

The atmosphere was slightly heavy.

Li Shao straightened up and said, "Xiao Yan has been operating in the Western Frontier for many years and has long-standing ties with the chieftains of the Thirty-Six Villages of Yunling. Could it be that those chieftains, out of old friendship, are secretly providing him with provisions and passing on messages..."

Li Zhao nodded, "It's nothing unusual, but this trend must not be allowed to continue. Your Majesty should still take strict precautions..."

"I understand," Li Shao replied, his face full of guilt.

"To my shame, I have been stationed in Dianzhou for many years but have accomplished little. No wonder my father is indifferent to me and rarely favors me..."

Xue Sui was quietly peeling pine nuts from the plate with his eyes down.

She moved slowly and deliberately, peeled a small plate of food, and naturally handed it to Li Zhao. Noticing that Madam Wen was looking over, she returned a gentle smile.

"During your years in Dianzhou, has Your Highness developed any close relationships with the chieftains of the various villages in Yunling?"

Li Shao sighed and shook his head, saying, "When I first arrived in Dianzhou, in order to gain a foothold, I did have some interactions with them, including banquets, and I also gave them gifts during festivals as usual. But those chieftains have been entrenched in their areas for generations, with different customs and different thoughts. They are also very wary of the imperial court, and each one of them is more fierce than the last, making them difficult to win over..."

“That’s it then.” Xue Sui glanced at Li Zhao. “Perhaps the Xiao family offered them benefits. With so many villages, there must be someone who acts as a go-between, making connections…”

The tent was quiet for a moment.

Li Zhao suddenly asked, "Brother, do you have any ideas on how to wipe out Xiao Yan's remaining forces?"

Li Shao pondered for a moment and said, “Eagle Beak Cliff is strategically important, easy to defend and difficult to attack, but it lacks water and is not easy to reinforce. Wild Fox Ridge is densely forested, suitable for ambushes, but it cannot hide too many people. Old Bear Gully is nourished by mountain springs, has a gentle terrain, and has thirty-six villages nestled nearby…”

He looked at Li Zhao, "Does Your Highness already have a plan in mind?"

Li Zhao smiled and took out a simple topographical map from his pocket.

"If we can't lure them out, then we'll launch a full-scale attack. I plan to divide our forces into three groups. First, the vanguard will feign an attack on Eagle's Beak Cliff, destroying the plank road to draw their attention. Then, General Qi will lead the main force to flank and encircle them from the side, while simultaneously holding them off from the front. Yu Qianshan will lead an elite force to circle around to Wild Fox Ridge, ambush their reinforcements, and cut off their retreat. As for Old Bear Gully..."

He looked at Li Shao and said, "I'll have to trouble you, Your Majesty."

Li Shao looked at the red dot on the map and suddenly realized, "Luring the snake out of its hole?"

“Xiao Yan is at his wit’s end and will surely flee in panic…” Li Zhao pointed to the location of Old Bear Gully, “As long as we succeed at Wild Fox Ridge and Eagle Beak Cliff, they will definitely flee towards Old Bear Gully. That place is closest to Dianzhou, and Your Majesty is very familiar with the terrain there. Setting up an ambush there will allow us to wait in comfort…”

Li Shao nodded in agreement.

"This plan is brilliant, but most of the thirty-six strongholds are located in the mountains near Laoxionggou. They are full of strong men and live in dangerous and narrow places. If they come to our aid all at once, we may not be able to resist them."

Li Zhao smiled calmly, "It's alright. I have a backup plan."

Wen was listening intently when he suddenly interrupted.

"What if an insider reports it?"

“Then let him report it.” Li Zhao put away the map, a cold smile playing on his lips. “Treating the false as real, and the real as false. Xiao Yan thinks he has succeeded, and his death is just around the corner.”

(End of this chapter)