Chapter 459: Preparing to Go to Liaodong

Now that Wei Chao was around, Chen Hong naturally didn't need to be so busy. After a simple handover, he went to rest.

At his age, staying up late took a toll on his body. In fact, many older eunuchs no longer took night shifts, and Chen Hong was the same — his status was sufficient.

But out here in the field, conditions were crude and there was no help for it, so Chen Hong could only endure.

Wei Chao led the attendants in serving Zhu Youxiao and Bumbutai — washing up, eating breakfast, and by the time the whole routine was done, the sun had already climbed high.

Stretching his limbs, Zhu Youxiao looked at Bumbutai whose little face was flushed red, and the expression on his face was somewhat complicated.

But Zhu Youxiao quickly recovered his composure, because the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Regional Military Commissioner, Cui Yingyuan, walked in from outside.

Cui Yingyuan moved very quickly, and the expression on his face was extremely grave — clearly something had happened.

Coming before Zhu Youxiao, Cui Yingyuan hurriedly bowed and said, "Your servant Cui Yingyuan, paying respects to Your Majesty."

"Judging by your demeanor, it seems something unpleasant has happened?" Zhu Youxiao looked at Cui Yingyuan and said in a somewhat casual tone.

For Zhu Youxiao, everything about this trip to Zhangjiakou could already be considered complete — a perfect conclusion by any measure, and Da Yu'er was even an unexpected bonus.

This journey had gone perfectly and could be wrapped up. Even if some small matter occurred, Zhu Youxiao wasn't too concerned.

Before the grand tide of events, anyone else was merely a clown making a spectacle — not worth paying attention to at all.

Cui Yingyuan didn't have such a carefree heart; right now he was extremely worried inside.

But seeing that Your Majesty wore a smile and spoke in a gentle tone, Cui Yingyuan understood that His Majesty was in a good mood — which was good news for him.

Cui Yingyuan quickly said, "The news of Your Majesty's arrival at Zhangjiakou has leaked and is spreading wildly outside. The news was disseminated this morning, and now everyone already knows — I'm afraid it can't be stopped."

Zhu Youxiao was startled for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's nothing. It's not like it's anything shameful. So what if people know? What can they do about it? Does someone want to rebel? Assassinate me here?"

Zhu Youxiao didn't believe such an outcome was possible — no one had that kind of strength. What if the Mongols sent a great army to seize people?

Ha, by the time the Mongols arrived, Zhu Youxiao would have long since completed his work and left Zhangjiakou. Though Mongol horses were fast, no horse was that fast — the time gap mattered greatly.

"There's also the matter of our alliance with the Khorchin." Cui Yingyuan glanced at Zhu Youxiao, then glanced at Bumbutai, and lowered his head without speaking further.

Hearing these words, Zhu Youxiao's expression darkened.

The news of the Great Ming's alliance with the Khorchin had been leaked, which displeased Zhu Youxiao somewhat. This completely disrupted some of his arrangements.

After yesterday's events, everything had been arranged according to plan.

The Jianzhou barbarians pretended not to know about the alliance between Zhu Youxiao and the Khorchin, but in reality they did know, and they were preparing to ambush Zhu Youxiao.

Zhu Youxiao had already learned that the Jianzhou barbarians were pretending not to know about the Great Ming–Khorchin alliance, and he was preparing to go along with it and turn the tables to trap them instead.

Under such circumstances, if the news was leaked, then it all became meaningless.

The Jianzhou barbarians could no longer pretend, and Zhu Youxiao could no longer pretend either — everything was now out in the open.

"Who did it?" Zhu Youxiao looked at Cui Yingyuan and said slowly.

Though he hadn't spent much time with His Majesty, Cui Yingyuan could still tell that His Majesty was angry — truly angry.

This was the rhythm of someone about to kill!

Cui Yingyuan quickly said, "Your Majesty, it was Wang Dengku's people who did it."

"You discovered them — why didn't you stop him?" Zhu Youxiao looked at Cui Yingyuan and asked directly.

Hearing this question, embarrassment showed on Cui Yingyuan's face.

He said somewhat helplessly, "Your servant did not discover this matter. Their methods were too concealed, and they merely found people to spread the news. After the news came out this morning, your servant immediately sent people to trace it to its source, and finally found Wang Dengku's household."

"Last night, Agutai met with Wang Dengku. The two conspired for a long time — presumably over this matter. Only, it's unknown whether Wang Dengku ordered it done, or Agutai supported him in doing it. There's something suspicious about this affair."

"Then arrest them." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said in a somewhat impatient tone.

"I intended for Wang Dengku to serve as a decoy, but if he doesn't want to be a docile pawn, then he needn't be a pawn at all. Arrest people according to the list." Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wei Chao and said, "Give him the list."

Cui Yingyuan was startled for a moment, then quickly said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty — the Embroidered Uniform Guard will never disappoint Your Majesty."

That list had been compiled by the Embroidered Uniform Guard itself, and Cui Yingyuan knew very well in his heart how many people were implicated in it. So this time when he moved to make arrests, he also knew what kind of stir it would cause.

But none of that mattered — without a stir, how could there be fame?

After this affair, the Embroidered Uniform Guard's reputation would rise again. And his own reputation as Regional Military Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard would inevitably reach its zenith, surpassing Xu Xianchun. He would be able to truly and firmly secure this position.

"Alright, go." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said in a somewhat impatient tone.

After Cui Yingyuan left, Zhu Youxiao looked somewhat awkwardly at Bumbutai beside him and said with some helplessness, "It seems the situation has changed. The plan can no longer proceed as before — it needs to be rearranged."

"How does Your Majesty plan to arrange it?" Bumbutai said somewhat helplessly.

She no longer quite believed the words of the Emperor before her. From the very beginning of this affair, she had suspected there was something fishy about it.

In Bumbutai's view, making public the news of the alliance between the Khorchin and the Great Ming was the most advantageous thing for the Great Ming. Either way, it would sow discord between the Khorchin and Hong Taiji's two houses.

If the Khorchin couldn't resist and swallowed the bait, then they would completely break apart from Hong Taiji. And that bait was the Doyan Three Guards offered by the Great Ming Emperor.

From Bumbutai's understanding of her brother and father, they would definitely be unwilling to give up that bait and would certainly bite — so the matter of the Khorchin–Great Ming alliance definitely couldn't be kept hidden, and the Great Ming Emperor would certainly make it public.

Now Bumbutai couldn't determine whether the Great Ming Emperor before her had done this deliberately or by accident.

Glancing at Bumbutai, Zhu Youxiao said directly, "This matter can only be handled as quickly as possible. I will immediately send an imperial edict to Xiong Tingbi in Liaodong, ordering him to press the army to the border; at the same time, I'll transfer a contingent of troops from Beijing to Liaodong to support you, letting you first move south and swallow up the Doyan Three Guards."

"Once the Doyan Three Guards are swallowed up, we will hold a grand alliance at Guangning. Then I will proclaim to all under heaven and formally confer upon you the title of consort."

"Many thanks, Your Majesty." Bumbutai said directly.

Seeing that Bumbutai understood what he meant, Zhu Youxiao raised his head and looked at Wei Chao before him, saying, "Immediately send someone back to the capital to deliver the edict, ordering Sun Chuanting to lead fifteen thousand troops to Liaodong."

"Besides that, make preparations — we're going to Liaodong as well."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Chao quickly acknowledged.

This trip to Liaodong was naturally not for fighting. But what Zhu Youxiao needed to do still required mobilizing some troops from the capital — if not fighting, then pulling out fifteen thousand troops would be sufficient.

Once they arrived at their destination, it would also serve as a long-distance exercise for those troops. In this era, long-distance training marches were still very necessary.

As for the grand alliance at Guangning city, that was even more important. Because it would herald the beginning of a brand-new era, and at the same time represent the rise of a new power on the grasslands.

Once the alliance was completed, the Great Ming would have a new play to perform.

Why not dispatch Qi Jin's men?

The reason was also simple — those men had been established earlier, were better equipped, and had stronger combat effectiveness. They couldn't be moved at this time; they had to be kept in the capital to stabilize the situation.

Otherwise, if anything happened, Zhu Youxiao would have no foundation in the capital and would face a situation he could not control.

Zhu Youxiao quickly summoned Wukeshan, told him about this matter, and also informed him of the revised plan—that he would go to Liaodong together and then turn back to Khorchin from there.

Wukeshan did not object to this, and even if he had, it would have been useless.

Now that Zhu Youxiao had already made his plan, Wukeshan could only listen obediently.

Still, Wukeshan was quite eager about Zhu Youxiao's plan. Taking the Doyan Three Guards would greatly strengthen his own clan's power.

While they were discussing this inside, chaos had already broken out outside.

The moment the Wang family's news was released, the entire Zhangjiakou was buzzing with talk about it.

At the same time, a squad of the Embroidered Uniform Guard burst forth. They struck out in all directions, seizing people and raiding homes throughout the city.

At Wang Dengku's residence, things had long since descended into utter chaos.

This time, Wang Dengku's leaking of the secret had made Cui Yingyuan furious.

After all, this was a task assigned by His Majesty. Though it was extremely difficult, there should have been no mistakes. Otherwise, he would have no way to account for it before His Majesty.

Now that His Majesty had ordered Cui Yingyuan to make arrests, this Wang family certainly could not be let off.

They had ruined his affairs—he would personally come to seize them and see just what sort of people they were.

Instead of obediently waiting for him to arrest them, instead of obediently waiting to have their heads chopped off, they actually dared to stir up trouble?!

This was simply the most heinous of crimes!

When Wang Dengku heard the commotion, his face changed color.

He had not expected the other side to move so fast. He had only just released the news when the Embroidered Uniform Guard came to raid his home.

Now Wang Dengku's face was full of bitterness. He could already tell that what Agutai had said was true—the one who had come really was the Emperor.

Apart from the Emperor, no one could move fast enough to investigate the Wang family and directly raid their home and arrest people.

Cui Yingyuan did not care what Wang Dengku was thinking. He strode into the main hall and looked at Wang Dengku sitting in the chair.

Cui Yingyuan sneered and said, "Playing this game—are you trying to put on a show of loyal minister and filial son? Do you need this official to play along with you?"