Meanwhile, at the Yan family's mountain study, the atmosphere was extremely tense.
Yan Shifan could no longer suppress his anger and cursed, "Prince Jing has already seized troops and marched out of the frontier, why hasn't Li Tingzhu reported anything yet? What is going on? Is their brain eaten by dogs?"
Just moments ago, Li Tingzhu had sent a messenger to report: several days prior, Prince Jing had suddenly seized troops and marched out of the frontier, his whereabouts unknown.
This news sent an inexplicable shockwave through everyone present, like a cooked duck suddenly flapping its wings and flying away… the feeling was indescribable, impossible to say whether it was good or bad, but one thing was certain—
That Prince Jing wasn't an idiot…
No one in this world was easily manipulated.
Among the crowd, Luo Longwen was usually the quickest to react. Besides Luo Longwen, Zhao Wenhua's mind was also the fastest, yet he couldn't fathom what Prince Jing intended to do.
Zhao Wenhua secretly glanced at Yan Shifan, guessing that he would inevitably be questioned. He then took the initiative to say, "Young Grand Secretary, your subordinate believes that the area beyond the frontier is now a place of unfathomable danger. The Tumu have mobilized their entire force, numbering at least 150,000. The Jurchens also have over ten thousand, and Xin Ai commands fifty thousand elite troops… let alone Prince Jing, even Yang Bo would not dare to easily venture beyond the frontier. Prince Jing is young and naturally desires to make a name for himself, but this excursion is likely to lead to more peril than success… I fear nothing else, except that he might be captured…"
Indeed,
Everyone agreed. After all, any official knew that the frontier was a furnace, and an ordinary person venturing there would have no return. Moreover, in the past two years, the Tumu had moved east, and the Liaodong region had been embroiled in the chaos of war. The Jurchens, Goryeo, Mongolian tribes, and Han troops had fought until no grass grew. Even with more men, an ordinary person taken there would only meet a dead end. Prince Jing, for some unknown reason, had gone straight out like this. Could he really return with merits?
Yan Shifan pondered for a while and felt it made sense. After all, the place he ventured out to was Miyun Guard, and beyond that lay the Tumu. Even if captured, they could be ransomed from Tumeng Khan. In fact, that would be even better. Just like Emperor Yingzong, once captured, he would be like a plucked phoenix, unable to contend with powerful officials.
However, the current situation was not the only cause for concern. The most crucial issue was whether Tumeng Khan could break through and when he would do so. That was the most deadly question.
"Grand Secretary, your subordinate finds something peculiar…"
He was naturally meticulous and had been thinking for a long time. Seeing Yan Song also filled with worry, he guessed the problem likely involved Prince Jing, and thus continued, "Grand Secretary, how did Prince Jing seize troops? How long has he been back? How was he able to take men away from Li Tingzhu and Wu Dui? Your subordinate has been thinking for a while and feels it's very strange. I don't know if it's correct…"
Oh?
That's right!
A spark of realization flashed through Yan Song's mind. He suddenly sensed something and broke out in a cold sweat—
Could there have been a mistake?
If so…
The consequences would be unthinkable!
He was one of the most formidable figures of the current dynasty. Once prompted, he immediately understood the cause and effect—
Making Prince Jing the Crown Prince was originally the Emperor's own intention. But why was it repeatedly delayed? Why did he have to be pressured into it, making it seem as if he were reluctant? This was a point of suspicion…
Furthermore, the Emperor had him lead troops from the capital garrison and station them in Miyun. Naturally, he wanted him to achieve merit, thereby gaining prestige later and being stronger than Prince Yu. These were all logical. But the question was, how could Zhu Xue seize troops? How did he do it? If there were no inside help, this matter could probably not be accomplished…
And if there was inside help, it would surely be from the officers that Prince Jing had befriended while in the capital. But how would Zhu Xue know who those people were?
Wasn't this a colossal loophole?
Thinking of this,
Yan Song was already sweating profusely—
What Shifan had done was proper. Yan Maoqing had also gone to Anlu to identify the person, so there should be no mistake… The problem most likely lay after returning to the capital…
That person was probably no longer Zhu Xue!
Perhaps,
The Emperor had secretly met him, discovered the truth, and then secretly killed Zhu Xue, replacing him with someone else?
If that were the case, then he would still be in the Emperor's grasp!
"Shifan! Who did Prince Jing befriend while he was in the capital?"
He blurted it out.
Uh,
Yan Shifan thought for a moment,
"His closest confidant was the eunuch Ge Jing, and then there was a group of literati. There were also a few military officers, but they were all minor ones, with hardly any参将 (brigade commanders)…"
Yan Song abruptly turned back,
"Which officers specifically?"
Yan Shifan had never seen him so nervous in his life and blurted out,
"Your son does remember one, named Wu Ding, I believe. He was in the capital garrison back then…"
Yan Song felt he had grasped a clue and sternly ordered,
"Quickly investigate! Were there any officers named Wu Ding among the troops Prince Jing took out of the frontier? Hurry! Go investigate!"
Ah?
Hiss!
Seeing Yan Song lose his composure, everyone trembled.
Yan Shifan, being exceptionally intelligent, immediately reacted and couldn't help but exclaim,
"Bad! Bad! We've been tricked by the Emperor!"
Before everyone could recover, Yan Shifan added,
"What are you all standing around for! The one who led the troops out of the frontier wasn't Zhu—"
He was about to say the character "Xue" but abruptly stopped himself—
This matter,
Only he and his father knew. Everyone present was unaware!
This, they absolutely could not let them know!