Chapter 93: Punishment

The ministers' pupils shook in shock.

Several of them opened their mouths, but nothing came out; their faces were filled with disbelief.

He was clearly a great hero who had wiped out the Woguo pirates, contributing money, effort, and even ships, yet in the Emperor's mouth, he had become someone wanting to rebel?!

Listen, is this something a human would say?

The court officials immediately knelt down to plead with him.

"We implore Your Majesty to think thrice!"

The Emperor looked at how he was nearing his end every two years, but Yan Qing was still young, and furthermore, he was a child born of a concubine, having received little cultivation since childhood.

At a time like this, the First Prince should be allowed to return to the Capital!

Yet the more the court officials pleaded, the less the Emperor liked their family.

The Emperor looked at the people kneeling all over the floor below, his gaze growing colder; he felt that before Yan Qing ascended the throne, he should kill Yan Ze.

Yan Qing and Yan Ze had a good relationship, and the child was soft-hearted; perhaps if the court officials spoke to him, he would let Yan Ze return to the Capital.

This was a scene the Emperor absolutely would not allow to happen.

The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly; when did Yan Ze manage to win over so many people?

It was truly strange that these old fellows were so unanimous in their opinion for the first time.

As for the explosives mentioned in the letter, he had already sent a Eunuch to demand them.

If he were sensible and handed them over obediently, he could still be granted a quick death.

The Emperor's mind was made up; he immediately wrote an Imperial Edict and had the Eunuch beside him send it to Lingnan.

Several ministers were stunned; could he really not wait even a single moment?

The court officials kneeling all over the Imperial Study sighed one after another.

The Emperor is muddled and the Grandson of the Emperor is young; may this Daxia Dynasty please not have any more complications.

Another ten days passed.

Eunuch Li brought two adopted sons to Lingnan.

Even though they were riding horses, the journey to Lingnan was very grueling.

They traveled by water to Yangzhou, and only after that did they ride horses from Yangzhou to Lingnan; they truly traveled day and night, and two horses even died.

The Eunuch arrived in Haicheng, where Lu Prefect entertained the Eunuch and then took the Eunuch to the Garrison.

After sending them off, Lu Wanshun immediately greased his soles and slipped away.

He felt that this trip to promulgate the Imperial Edict was not that simple, especially since the Eunuch had even asked about Yan Ze.

That's right, he didn't ask about the First Prince or His Highness, but called out "Yan Ze" directly.

Yan Ze and Wu Jiangjun went to Woguo together, and when Wu Jiangjun spoke to him about the situation, he always said the First Prince's contribution was the greatest.

Logically speaking, since the First Prince had performed a meritorious service, he should be summoned back to the Capital or granted a fief in Lingnan.

Yet there was nothing; even the Eunuch mentioned the First Prince very casually.

Therefore, Lu Wanshun did not want to get involved at all.

Only in this way would he not offend anyone.

Eunuch Li arrived at the Garrison, and Wu Jiangjun immediately came out to welcome him.

Eunuch Li began to read the Imperial Edict: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

At first, Eunuch Li spoke of commending him for leading the team to Woguo, but as he read on, something felt wrong.

Eunuch Li: "Yan Ze has left his fief without authorization, privately made Armor, and privately raised private soldiers..."

The Imperial Edict continued to be read, and Wu Jiangjun's brain went "Boom," and he was nearly stupefied.

The First Prince had led them through life and death, working hard to wipe out the Woguo pirates, yet the Emperor not only had no intention of having them return to the Capital, but even wanted him to send troops to capture the First Prince and interrogate him to get the method for the explosives.

Wu Jiangjun was in a daze.

Is this a biological father?

This is clearly an enemy.

"Wu Jiangjun—"

"Wu Jiangjun, receive the Edict."

Wu Jiangjun only reacted after being called twice, but he did not kneel to receive the Edict; instead, he stood straight up.

His tone was icy: "Take them down!"

Wu Jiangjun's two deputy generals were stunned for a moment, then immediately took action, tying up Eunuch Li.

The soldiers here had all followed Yan Ze to wipe out the Woguo pirates; hearing the Imperial Edict, they also felt it was absurd, and the two little eunuchs behind Eunuch Li were also captured.

Wu Jiangjun stuffed cloth strips into the eunuchs' mouths to keep them from making a sound.

Wu Jiangjun gathered all the soldiers: "I lost a bet with His Highness the First Prince, and I am about to defect to His Highness; those of you willing to follow me, stay, and those who are not, take this chance to leave quickly."

"However, if you leave, you are not allowed to speak of this matter, otherwise, watch out for whether your entire family can survive."

Wu Jiangjun issued a harsh threat.

About three hundred people did not want to stay; after all, they had families back home and dared not commit an act that would lead to the execution of their nine generations.

The rest were all prepared to defect to the First Prince to build their careers.

Wu Jiangjun took 1,700 soldiers, plus Eunuch Li who had been tied up like a rice dumpling, and took a boat to Chaoyang Village.

At the teahouse near the pier, Lu Wanshun stared at the person they had tied up and the soldiers leaving by boat, and his eyelids twitched.

Are they really going to rebel?

Why is he so unlucky?

This Haicheng, I'm afraid, will have plenty of turmoil in the future.

Wu Jiangjun brought the Eunuch tied up directly, and Yan Ning and Yan Ze were both somewhat surprised.

Afterwards, he smiled and said, "See? I was right, wasn't I?"

Wu Jiangjun was infuriated: "His Highness, you are still laughing? That Gou Huangdi is not acting like a human; he actually wants to take your life and even wanted to force me to use torture to extract the formula for the explosives."

Yan Ze and Yan Ning were both used to it.

Yan Ning complained: "That Gou Huangdi is just a senile old fool, but I suspect he is treating my father this way because he hated the Late Empress, who was my grandmother."

Yan Ze rubbed her head, only then remembering that there was something he had forgotten to tell Yan Ning and Ji Lan.

Yan Ze slapped his forehead: "I remembered; I forgot to tell you last time that Yan Qing has been named the Grandson of the Emperor. Once we outlive the old Emperor, we can return to the capital smoothly."

Yan Ning pondered: "I just feel it isn't that simple; it's better to take it one step at a time."

Wu Jiangjun pointed to the 1,700 soldiers behind him: "Then where shall we stay?"

Yan Ning thought for a moment: "I will give you an area to set up a Garrison; wait a bit longer, and I will have people help build houses."

Those soldiers were quite excited.

"Good heavens, we can actually live in brick and tile houses here?"

"Lingnan has so many snakes, insects, rats, and ants; I've woken up in the tent several times to find a snake right in front of me."

"The places those venomous insects bite are truly miserable, too."

Yan Ning said with a smile: "It's fine, we have a miracle doctor here who can make some medicinal powder to ward off snakes, insects, rats, and ants."

The soldiers said: "We will help build the houses too!"

Yan Ning had not expected such a good thing; having them help build the houses would make things much easier.

Xiao Chengtian asked Yan Ning: "Why are you building houses for them? When marching and fighting, one always stays in a Garrison. Can so many people building houses really work?"

Yan Ning explained: "Uncle Xiao, this place is a bit different from other places. In ordinary places, setting up a Garrison is naturally no problem, but here, there are strong winds from time to time, so these houses must be built a bit sturdier."

Xiao Chengtian understood.

He smiled and said: "You certainly think things through thoroughly."

Yan Ning prepared to wander around, but was hoisted up by Xiao Chengtian: "Come, go to Grand Tutor Chen's place and let him teach you."

Yan Ning hurriedly said: "No need, no need, really no need."

Xiao Chengtian brought her to the School and then closed the door.

Yan Ze already had thoughts of rebellion, and since he only had this one daughter, the position of heir apparent would definitely be Yan Ning's.

Then she must start studying properly from now on.