The prince is more stable

Chapter 819 Seizure of Power by Sword

While Zhao Xiaoqian was reminiscing and enjoying time with his soldiers at the camp outside the city, Zeng Bu was hiding in an empty house in a secluded residential area inside Bianjing.

What happened in the court today was too shocking for Zeng Bu, and he still hasn't processed it.

A coronation ceremony turned into a farce. Zhao Ji, who was supposed to ascend the throne, became a prisoner in a single day. The Empress Dowager and Zhang Dun quickly took control of the court and suppressed the situation.

What about Zeng Bu?
Zeng Bu behaved normally during the coronation ceremony, but the atmosphere in the Bianjing court had been somewhat oppressive these past few days. Zeng Bu had a bad feeling, but he couldn't find any clues. He also told himself many times that it must be his imagination.

Today, Emperor Huizong of Song, surrounded by his ministers, paid homage at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Just as Zhang Yi, the Minister of Rites, was reading the astronomical text for the sacrificial ceremony, a strategist from the Privy Council found Zeng Bu in the court and asked him with a look of fear whether he had issued a troop mobilization order to the Yan and Yun armies.

Zeng Bu was completely dumbfounded. The new emperor was about to ascend the throne, so how could he possibly mobilize the troops of Yan and Yun when he had nothing to do?

Besides, is this something that a mere Privy Councilor can decide?

The Privy Councilor mobilized the border troops without permission, which is a serious crime of treason. How could Zeng Bu possibly do such a thing?

Then the strategist's expression grew increasingly terrified, and he told him in a trembling voice that all the government offices and garrisons in the north had sent urgent reports to the Privy Council to inquire whether the troops in Yan and Yun had been mobilized.

This army of 100,000 men was marching in a grand procession toward Bianjing, led by General Zhong Jianzhong, and the document he issued was a troop mobilization document personally stamped by the Privy Councilor Zeng Bu.

Upon hearing this, Zeng Bu broke out in a cold sweat and turned pale with fright.

How could I have no recollection of such an important matter if he had really stamped it with the seal of the Privy Councilor?
Meanwhile, the 100,000 troops of Yanyun marched in a mighty procession toward Bianjing. Zeng Bu dared not even imagine what their intentions were; it was a death sentence!
Without bothering to investigate why his seal was on the troop mobilization document, Zeng Bu's first thought was to immediately report to Emperor Huizong, who was offering sacrifices to Heaven, that the army was pressing in and intended to rebel, and that the Palace Guard in Bianjing must be ordered to assemble and resist the enemy.

However, Zeng Bu was ultimately a scholar, and he did not have the courage of a military general to risk everything. More importantly, he was also involved in this matter because he had stamped the troop mobilization order, which was a suspicion that he could not clear even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

Zeng Bu immediately shut up and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, secretly left Yanfu Palace and hurriedly headed to the Privy Council.

The army has arrived, so there's no need to rush. Zeng Bu's first priority is to find out what exactly happened with that troop mobilization document.

When Zhao Ji and his ministers returned to the Daqing Hall, while the Minister of Rites was continuing to preside over the enthronement ceremony, Zeng Bu was rummaging through boxes and cabinets in the Privy Council, searching for archived transfer orders.

After a long investigation, Zeng Bu found nothing. It was as if the transfer order had appeared out of thin air, stamped with his official seal, and then appeared in Zhong Jianzhong's hands out of thin air. It was simply bizarre.

Sweating profusely, Zeng Bu grew increasingly terrified, knowing he was inextricably linked to the matter.

The only explanation is that someone stole his official seal and secretly sent out this troop mobilization order.

Sitting in the room for a long time, Zeng Bu thought of various ways to save himself, but in the end, it was the integrity and uprightness that belonged to a scholar that convinced him.

I am an upright and honest person, so why should I be afraid to defend my innocence?
What is there for a gentleman to fear if it is not something he did himself?

Zeng Bu gritted his teeth and decided to go to the palace immediately to report the matter to Zhao Ji.

The 100,000 troops from Yanyun have ill intentions; something big is about to happen to the Song Dynasty. We must now organize the troops under the Bianjing Palace Guard to resist the enemy, and then investigate the inside story of the troop deployment.

Zeng Bu had just made up his mind to enter the palace when he stepped out of the Privy Council and heard a chorus of exclamations on the street as countless people surged toward Yanfu Palace like a tidal wave.

In a panic, Zeng Bu immediately grabbed a Privy Council official and questioned him. The official, whether excited or terrified, told him in a trembling voice that something terrible had happened during the coronation ceremony in the palace.

Prince Duan, Zhao Ji, who was about to ascend the throne, was accused of poisoning the late emperor's son. Witnesses and physical evidence were presented in the Daqing Hall, and the evidence was irrefutable, making it impossible to overturn the case.

The Empress Dowager issued an edict in the palace, deposing Prince Duan, Zhao Ji. The Court of Imperial Clan Affairs also stripped Zhao Ji of his princely title and imprisoned him in the Prince Duan's residence. After the three judicial departments tried and convicted him, Zhao Ji was exiled to Lingnan and never released.

Upon hearing this, Zeng Bu swayed and looked towards Yanfu Palace with a pale face.

A perfectly good new emperor is about to ascend the throne, yet he's being deposed so easily? Is this some kind of child's play?
Combined with the sudden arrival of the Yan-Yun troops outside the city, Zeng Bu gradually became certain of one fact: this was a conspiracy! A conspiracy conspired by the court and the palace!
The conspiracy aims to overthrow Emperor Huizong of Song!

Zeng Bu, who had just stepped out of the Privy Council, was like a madman. After roaring angrily at the sky a few times, he looked at the surging crowd on the street, gritted his teeth, and quietly disappeared into the crowd.

Zeng Bu was a smart man; he knew very well that he could no longer enter the palace.

As a staunch supporter of Zhao Ji's ascension to the throne, he had many conflicts with Zhang Dun regarding the selection of the new emperor. If he were to enter the palace again at this time, it would be difficult to say what Zhang Dun would do to him.

When Emperor Huizong fell from power, wasn't Zeng Bu an accomplice of Emperor Huizong?

Therefore, Zeng Bu decisively chose to hide. He wanted to find out what the people in the court were up to first.

At night, Zeng Bu walked out of that secluded house, deliberately avoiding the main streets and only passing through the alleys of Bianjing.

A major incident has occurred in Bianjing today. After the Council of State requested permission, the Empress Dowager has ordered a citywide curfew. The Palace Guards are patrolling the streets, and anyone who violates the curfew will be arrested and imprisoned.

Zeng Bu dodged and weaved through the alley. He went home first, but didn't dare to go inside. He only saw a few imperial guards standing guard outside the door. These guards were from the Palace Guard, specially assigned by the court to protect important officials.

Zeng Bu summoned the imperial guards and asked if anyone had come to see him during the day. The guards told him that someone had indeed come, and there was more than one group of people.

They claimed they had important matters to discuss with the Privy Councilor, but their behavior was extremely rude. If the Imperial Guards hadn't forcibly stopped them, they would have stormed into the mansion to search it.

Upon hearing this, Zeng Bu became even more certain that today's coronation ceremony was definitely a conspiracy, and now someone was trying to eliminate the threat completely. As the Privy Councilor, Zeng Bu's residence was guarded by a considerable number of imperial guards, about two hundred men.

Zeng Bu thought for a moment, then ordered the Imperial Guards to select one hundred men to accompany him.

So Zeng Bu led about a hundred men, still discreetly through the dark alleys, to the Palace Guard Office next to the Imperial Street.

The Palace Guard Office was busier than ever before, with people coming and going even at midnight.

Zeng Bu led a hundred Imperial Guards to the gate of the Palace Guard Office with an upright demeanor and coldly presented the Privy Councilor's waist token.

The imperial guards on duty at the gate dared not stop him and had no choice but to let Zeng Bu lead a hundred imperial guards inside.

To Zeng Bu's surprise, in front of the main hall of the government office, there was only a deputy commander named Han Song who was busy with his work. Commander Liu Mao and several other palace guards were nowhere to be seen.

Han Song was quite surprised to see Zeng Bu arrive. After a moment of surprise, he immediately put on a smile and stepped forward to greet him.

Zeng Bu didn't waste any words and immediately asked Liu Mao where he was with a cold face.

Han Song blinked, then told Zeng Bu that Liu Mao and several other palace guards had been absent from the government office that afternoon on orders from someone unknown.

Zeng Bu took a deep breath; he felt the smell of conspiracy growing stronger.

"Han Song, let me ask you this: are you still loyal to the Emperor of the Great Song?" Zeng Bu asked sternly.

Han Song was taken aback, and hurriedly said, "This humble general is a subject of the Song Dynasty, and of course I am loyal to the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty."

Zeng Bu said sternly, "You must have heard about what happened today. The Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty is in distress, and 100,000 rebel troops are pressing in from outside the city. Yet the Palace Guard has done nothing, not even mobilizing a single soldier, allowing those treacherous officials to usurp the throne. Han Song, what is your crime?"

Han Song was startled and said, "Your Excellency, the statement 'the Emperor of the Great Song has suffered a calamity'... has been confirmed at today's ceremony as Zhao Ji poisoned Crown Prince Chongxian, and the Empress Dowager has also deposed him..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zeng Bu interrupted him sharply, saying, "That's all slander! It's all for the purpose of usurping power! In broad daylight, are all the officials blind and incompetent, allowing those traitors to succeed?!"

Han Song smiled bitterly and said, "Prime Minister, please be reasonable. The Empress Dowager has issued an edict, and the Council of State Affairs has announced it to the whole country. The whole city knows that Zhao Ji has been deposed. What are you still saying now, slandering and treason... Prime Minister, I am just a crude and uncouth soldier. What can I do when the Empress Dowager and the entire court have made the decision?"

Zeng Bu glared angrily at Han Song. Judging from Han Song's expression and tone, he was probably unwilling to obey him.

The Privy Council has the power to mobilize all the troops in the country, and in times of emergency, it can also directly appoint generals to command troops.

As the Privy Councilor, Zeng Bu naturally held the power to mobilize troops, but in the current situation, he couldn't even mobilize the troops of the Bianjing Palace Guard, and Han Song refused to listen to him.

This is also strange. Han Song is only the deputy commander, who is many ranks below him as the privy councilor. Now Han Song is so stubborn and does not recognize his official position and power at all, which arouses suspicion.

Zeng Bu gradually calmed down and squinted at Han Song.

A guess arose in Zeng Bu's mind.

Han Song may also be part of this conspiracy, either a decision-maker or an executor. The Palace Guard is such an important department; if the conspirators didn't infiltrate it, it would be a huge miscalculation.

Furthermore, given the magnitude of the incident today, the Commander-in-Chief Liu Mao and several other generals are not in the official residence, leaving only Deputy Commander Han Song in charge, which is also a point of suspicion.

Zeng Bu took a deep breath and said, "I am the Privy Councilor, yet the Palace Guards do not obey my orders. Han Song, to whom are you truly loyal?"

Han Song smiled and said, "The Privy Council can command troops, but it cannot mobilize troops without an imperial edict. Does the Prime Minister Zeng not know the rules of the court?"

Zeng Bu was silent for a moment, then smiled: "Good, good! I will go to the palace now and ask for the Empress Dowager's decree. Han Song, you wait."

Han Song smiled and said, "This humble general will respectfully see off the envoy. If the envoy can truly obtain the Empress Dowager's decree, this humble general will not dare to disobey."

Zeng Bu gave him a deep look, then turned and left.

Upon reaching the courtyard of the Palace Guard's office, Zeng Bu looked at the hundred imperial guards he had brought and suddenly roared, "Gentlemen, today the new emperor is in distress, framed by villains. The court is full of usurpers and opportunists. Today we will surely rid the country of these traitors, cleanse the royal family, and welcome the new emperor back to court!"

"Kill Han Song and seize the military power of the Palace Guard!" Zeng Bu shouted, pointing at the main hall of the government office.

The hundred imperial guards looked at each other in bewilderment. They would not have dared to get involved in such a matter, but they had guarded Zeng Bu's residence day and night and had already developed a master-servant relationship with him. Besides, Zeng Bu was the Privy Councilor, who controlled the army of the whole country. If he wanted to seize the military power of the Palace Guard, how could the imperial guards dare not obey?

The hundred imperial guards immediately gritted their teeth, drew their swords, and charged towards Han Song in the main hall.

The incident happened suddenly, and Han Song did not expect Zeng Bu to be so extreme. He was the Privy Councilor appointed by the court. Wasn't he afraid of being accused of treason for doing this?

Seeing the hundred imperial guards rushing towards him, Han Song was terrified and immediately got up and ran towards the backyard.

Just as he turned and lifted his leg, there was a whooshing sound, and Han Song screamed and fell to the ground. Among the imperial guards chasing him, someone shot an arrow at him, and the arrow pierced through his thigh.

Seeing that he was about to die, Han Song got up from the ground and pointed at Zeng Bu, shouting angrily: "Zeng Bu, you dare to kill a general of the Palace Guard and seize military power, this is treason!"

(End of this chapter)