Chapter 504

Haikang County, Jiaozhou.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji was discussing matters with Li Tai.

Just a moment ago, General Jin Tian had brought his troops to see Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji had specially approved some ships for them and gave him a warrant to start organizing pirates.

This band of pirates had the secret identity of the Empress Zhangsun family's private army and would not be pursued by the Great Tang military.

However, Li Tai did not quite understand Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji's approach.

After General Jin Tian left and only Li Tai and Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji remained in the room, he asked the question that had been bothering him.

"Uncle, what is the use of organizing such a band of pirates?

Pirates are, after all, not presentable; they are just a bunch of rabble."

It was normal for Li Tai to think this way.

He looked down on the meager benefits of the overseas islands.

For Li Tai, striving to inherit the throne was his greatest interest.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji did not hide this matter from Li Tai.

"Tai'er, this strategy of your uncle's is called 'fishing in troubled waters'."

"'Fishing in troubled waters'?"

Li Tai did not quite understand.

"Uncle, do you intend to stir up the sea? But even so, what kind of fish can you catch? What benefits could there be in the sea?" It was no wonder Li Tai thought this way.

Many people thought the vast sea was just water, and the only benefit was fish.

In fact, that was not the case.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji revealed a smug smile and explained to Li Tai.

"The Great Tang is responsible for transporting ten million prisoners of war to Liaodong; you know about this, right?"

"I know!"

Li Tai raised his chubby face and blinked his small eyes, which were gleaming with shrewdness.

"Does Uncle want to target those ten million prisoners of war? But those are what the Great Qin wants!"

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji shook his head.

"The Great Qin's prisoners of war naturally cannot be touched. However, the Great Qin side only requires that ten million prisoners of war arrive at the Liaodong port.

Who knows how many we are transporting from here in total?

With a band of pirates, couldn't we just grab as many prisoners of war as we want along the way?"

"Oh..."

Li Tai's eyes widened, and he finally understood Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji's meaning.

"So, that's what the pirates are for? And then sell the extra prisoners of war to the Great Qin?"

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji was truly furious.

He slapped Li Tai on the head.

"You fool, how much money can you make selling them to the Great Qin? Can't we use these extra prisoners of war ourselves? Don't you know that His Majesty the Emperor wants to develop the two large islands of Yingzhou and Zhuyai?

How much profit can each free prisoner of war create for us?"

Li Tai took a slap but dared not make a sound.

Right now, whether he could become Crown Prince depended entirely on his uncle, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji.

When his uncle lectured him, he could only listen.

However, he had gained a rough understanding of Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji's grand plan.

Perhaps in the near future, the two large islands of Yingzhou and Zhuyai would become the Empress Zhangsun family's private territory.

These two large territories would also become his capital in vying for the position of Crown Prince.

Just then, there was a commotion outside.

The guards outside the tent came in to report.

"Lord Empress Zhangsun, the elders of the four great families have urgent business and request an audience!"

"Let them in!"

After Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji finished speaking, he swapped seats with Li Tai.

In front of outsiders, Li Tai was, after all, the Prince of Wei and should sit in the seat of honor. Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji, though the head of all officials, had to sit below the Prince of Wei. The four old men entered, and one of them, disregarding his image, was weeping and wailing. Seeing Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji, he began to shout.

"Lord Empress Zhangsun, you must decide for me; the Emperor wants to kill me!"

"'Kill'?"

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji was shocked.

To say such treasonous words, it seemed this matter was no small thing.

"Wang Jing, speak clearly; what do you mean the Emperor wants to kill you?" It turned out the old man crying was indeed Wang Jing.

He felt he had suffered a great injustice and was crying very miserably.

"In the early years, the Retired Emperor ordered my Wang family to build a temple in Longcheng.

Because that is the place where the dragon rose, the Retired Emperor also wanted to add auspiciousness to this place.

But now, the Emperor suddenly says that building the temple destroyed the Great Tang's dragon vein, and on this basis, he concludes that my Wang clan is plotting a rebellion!

You judge for yourselves, is there anything more absurd than this?"

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji began to calculate in his heart.

He knew very well that the Emperor taking action against the Wang clan would definitely not be a simple case of destroying a dragon vein.

Of course, if the dragon vein were truly destroyed, the Wang family would indeed deserve to die!

The problem was that this matter might prove that the Emperor's mind had begun to change.

"What is the meaning of your other three families?"

The other three families—Cui, Lu, and Fan—were of one mind with the Wang family and were collectively known as the four great noble families of the world.

Old Man Lu said.

"I fear the Emperor investigating the dragon vein case is a lie; his true intention is to take action against our four great families!" Old Man Cui had a fiery temper and shouted.

"Old Man Lu is right! Cleaning up the Wang family is just a probe to see the reaction of our four great families.

Once we compromise, the Emperor's next step might be to clean up our Cui family!"

In terms of strength, among the four great families, the Wang clan was indeed the weakest.

The Cui family had previously been the strongest, but unfortunately, after the Jin Ling night raid, the Cui family had fallen to third place.

After the Wang family, it was indeed the Cui family's turn.

The last one who hadn't spoken, Old Man Fan, gave a sinister feeling just by his appearance.

He spoke up.

"I heard that the Wang clan's case has already been settled, their property has been confiscated into the national treasury, and all their clansmen have been exiled to the sea-heart sandbar east of Huating.

Now, Lord Yuchi Gong is leading men to come and arrest Wang Jing. It's a matter of these next two days."

These words invisibly added a lot of pressure to everyone's hearts.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji had only just learned of this and needed to think about it.

Li Tai, however, jumped up.

"You all have rendered great service and are meritorious officials of the Great Tang; how could the Imperial Father do such a thing as 'discarding the bow once the birds are gone'?"

The Prince of Wei's sudden stance made the four great families feel as if they had seen a life-saving straw.

The four old men immediately bowed in thanks.

Several people suddenly began to feel a rapport and started chattering away, discussing the faults of the imperial court.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji became annoyed in his heart.

These guys who are good for nothing but causing trouble!

His brand-new grand layout had just begun, and it was a time when he needed some time to develop.

Yet this kind of thing had to happen, almost completely disrupting his layout.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji was so angry he really wanted to curse!

"Do you few still want to rebel?

Let me tell you, rebellion only leads to a dead end!"

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji suddenly exploded in rage, startling the few so much that they dared not speak.

Even the Prince of Wei, Li Tai, quieted down, standing to the side with his head lowered, not daring to make a sound.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji didn't care whether the Wang clan would be annihilated.

What he cared about was his own plan.

What did sacrificing one Wang family matter?

— Author's Notes —

...Seeking flowers...0