Chapter 126: Consultation at Li Mansion

In the Great Daxing Prefecture of Gao Zhongdu, the night was like soft silk, slowly descending. People in the city, as if led by an invisible force, returned to their respective harbors one after another. As the bell of the third watch rang, the city seemed to be pressed on the mute button, and even the subtle sound of the breeze brushing through the treetops appeared exceptionally clear, not to mention the occasional fragmented footsteps.

However, under this seemingly calm silence, there was a chilling crisis hidden. That crisis was like a fierce beast lurking in the dark, ready to open its bloody mouth at any time to swallow this once prosperous and noisy city.

Li Mansion, this was the mansion of Li Li Xier, the brother of the current emperor's favorite concubine Li Li Shier. Li Li Xier was once a robber, but because of his sister's favor, he and his younger brother Li Li Tiege were promoted to important and close positions, with power over the court.

They became the objects of attachment for those who pursued fame and fortune. People with the same genealogy as them also benefited; and Xu Xu Chiguo even became the Prime Minister because of his attachment to them.

But with Wanyan Wanyan Honglie's complete failure in seizing the throne, the once-busy mansion completely declined. However, today, many people came to the Li Mansion.

Inside the main hall, the bustling guests could no longer suppress the anxiety in their hearts, pacing back and forth like ants on a hot pot. Everyone's eyes were focused on Li Li Shier and Li Li Tiege, the two core figures, expecting them to come up with an idea. However, even they were just like everyone else, helpless in the face of the predicament before them, frowning, with no clue.

Finally, this oppressive atmosphere was broken by a crisp voice. Someone could no longer suppress the anxiety in their heart, stood out, and asked loudly: "The Prince invited us to come here today to discuss major events. It is already the third watch, and the Prince has not appeared yet. Why is this!" This question, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirred up layers of ripples, making everyone's mood even more chaotic.

Witnessing the situation in the main hall getting out of control, the two brothers were instantly anxious, just like ants on a hot pot, looking around in a panic.

These two, who originally relied on their sister's favor to reach the peak of power, had no real learning. Now, the situation in the main hall had completely lost control, like a wild horse that had broken its reins, and they were completely unable to control this collapsing situation.

Looking at the people invited who were about to leave, the two couldn't help but complain about their nephew Wanyan Wanyan Honglie. Didn't you ask them to secretly discuss major events?

Now that people have been invited, why didn't you, the protagonist, come?

Although the two were fools, they were very clear that if they did not follow Wanyan Wanyan Honglie to the end, once Wanyan Wanyan Hongxi ascended to power, he would certainly confiscate their property and exterminate their clans; after all, that was exactly how Wanyan Wanyan Hongxi treated Wanyan Wanyan Honglie's partisans.

Just when the guests who came began to leave and only half of the people remained, Wanyan Wanyan Honglie arrived. Seeing Wanyan Wanyan Honglie arrive, Li Li Xier walked up anxiously and asked: "Nephew, why did you come now? Half of the people we invited have left."

Wanyan Wanyan Honglie smiled and said: "Things are achieved by secrecy, and words lead to failure. If they can't even wait for a day, then obviously they don't have the determination to fight Wanyan Wanyan Hongxi to the end, and those who stay are probably going to fight Wanyan Wanyan Hongxi and the revolutionaries to the death."

Wanyan Wanyan Honglie smiled and scanned the people who stayed in the hall. Sure enough, everyone's eyes carried some resentment and hatred.

There was no way. The revolutionaries beat the local tyrants and divided the fields, criticizing the landlords, making them lose the family business accumulated over who knows how many generations, and their families had to be criticized by the peasants. How could they not hate it?

"Prince, now that you are here, let's speak directly. That Wanyan Wanyan Hongxi is truly too much, letting that group of mud-legged people climb onto our heads and take away our family business. We really can't stand it anymore. Please, Prince, set things right, clear out the villains around the emperor, and return a bright and clear world to the world." A government official in the crowd stood out and said impassionedly.

Just two months ago, his hometown sent him a letter saying that his father had been criticized, and all the land and money in his home had been confiscated by the revolutionaries.

However, he dared not report such dire news, because Wanyan Wanyan Hongxi extremely loathed their group of Han bureaucrats and relied on that group of revolutionaries; as long as they submitted a memorial, they would be viewed by Wanyan Wanyan Hongxi as Wanyan Wanyan Honglie's partisans and immediately have their property confiscated and their clans exterminated.

Such a thing actually received the support of everyone in the Wanyan family, because they looked down on Han people in their bones. In the eyes of these Jurchen nobles, these Han bureaucrats were just servants who managed their fiefs.

And Wanyan Wanyan Honglie raising someone else's son and letting this son possibly become the emperor of the Great Jin Kingdom was simply a shame to them. This is like the master working hard outside, and finally, his woman gets together with his servant, not to mention that the successor he cultivated for many years is the servant's child and is about to inherit his family business.

This cannot be tolerated at all. And during this period, Bao Bao Xiruo and her son have not been found, which made them even more crazy. It happened that the revolutionaries gave a reason, that is, Wanyan Wanyan Honglie had great power in the court before, and his party members had been secretly protecting this pair of mother and son. Otherwise, why couldn't this pair of mother and son be found?

This reason made everyone in the Wanyan family fall into madness. Better to kill three thousand by mistake than to let one go. Even the Jurchen nobles who were on good terms with Wanyan Wanyan Honglie before were removed from the genealogy and then executed, not to mention the Han bureaucrats whose roots were not firm.

The people of the Wanyan family had been killing like madmen during this period; as long as the revolutionaries forged some evidence, this group would execute them without even looking, while also confiscating their property and exterminating their clans. They would even take action against anyone they suspected, provided they just said something that aroused the Wanyan family's suspicion.

It takes a legitimate reason for the revolutionaries to execute the gentry, to convince the commoners, and to publish their crimes. Honestly speaking, they didn't kill many. But the Jurchen people didn't care about this. As long as they felt you were Wanyan Wanyan Honglie's party member, they would take action against you.

Wanyan Wanyan Honglie, as the Zhao Prince of the Great Jin Kingdom, had so many people attached to him. The killing during this period was simply a river of blood.

The gentry of the Jin Kingdom have suffered from the Jin Kingdom for a long time. Even if Wanyan Wanyan Honglie didn't gather them, they would organize themselves in the name of driving out the barbarians to drive the Jin Kingdom out.

Looking at the hateful eyes of the gentry, Wanyan Wanyan Honglie was in a good mood. He said solemnly: "Everyone who can come here today to discuss major events with this little prince must be because Wanyan Wanyan Hongxi is acting perversely and wantonly slaughtering scholar-officials, and Father Emperor is being bewitched by him. At such a critical time, it is necessary for us to stand up and clear the court." ===== CHAPTER 127 =====