Chapter 343

Gao Bing raised his chin toward the pile of tripod fragments; the bronze shards shone with cold, hard light in the moonlight, still stained with the smell of lingering gunpowder: "Brother Yan, can you believe my words this time?"

"I believe!"

"And I am convinced!"

"It is breathtaking!"

Yan Zhi Tui exhaled a breath of turbid air and put on a look of genuine amazement.

He took two steps forward, squatted down, picked up a piece of tripod fragment with scorched marks, and rubbed his fingertips on the cold bronze.

The edges of the fragment still had burrs torn by the shockwave, pricking his palms with a slight itch.

As he spoke, he threw the fragment onto the ground fiercely, his voice carrying a coarseness of being completely convinced.

He, Yan Zhi Tui, is not a person who refuses to admit defeat!

The facts are before his eyes; how could he not acknowledge them?

"This was only a very small part..."

Dugu Zhao looked at the messy ground, thought for a moment, and said: "If we fill half of the incense burner Yuwen Hu uses with this powder, I'm afraid he won't even be able to leave behind a whole corpse!"

One must know that this was only a small pinch of grayish-yellow powder, and it was even reduced, yet it had such power...

Then, with the scale of the incense burner, filling it with this powder would be enough to blow Yuwen Hu into a bloody mess!

"Indeed!"

"Hahahaha!"

Zhao Qian looked up and laughed, his laughter echoing in the silent backyard, hitting the courtyard wall and bouncing back, carrying a hearty pleasure.

"This time Yuwen Hu is doomed!" He raised his hand to stroke his gray beard, his fingertips stroking the silver beard lightly, the brilliance in his eyes shining astonishingly in the moonlight, "Heaven helps us! The great cause can be accomplished!"

This is Heaven helping them!

With the powder provided by Gao Bing that explodes when it meets fire, what does Yuwen Hu have left to live with?

"However, Yuwen Hu can die, but the little emperor must live!"

After Zhao Qian's laughter gradually subsided, Dugu Zhao's previously relaxed brow knitted again, the smile at the corners of his eyes replaced by a layer of heavy caution.

He bent down to pick up a piece of tripod fragment with scorched marks, scraped his fingertip lightly on the sharp edge, and the coldness of the bronze seeped in through his fingertip.

The little emperor is a crucial card.

We must use him to control the situation.

He cannot die, at least not on the day of the sacrifice!

Otherwise, while the nature of the matter changes, entering the complex process of establishing an emperor will also give Yuwen Heng, Yu Jie, and others a chance to catch their breath.

Yang Xiu first nodded, then shook his head, and said in a deep voice: "But Yuwen Hu will definitely bring the little emperor to sacrifice together; this is the problem that gives people a headache..."

The Winter Sacrifice is of great importance; it is impossible for Yuwen Hu not to sacrifice together with the little emperor.

And how to use the powder to precisely blow Yuwen Hu to death without hurting the little emperor in the slightest is the key to everything!

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd fell silent, facing the tripod debris all over the ground...

Each of their brows was knitted tighter than the cloud patterns on the bronze tripod.

Just when they were at their wits' end, Dou Yi, who had been silent all along, suddenly took half a step forward and said: "Actually, it's not that difficult..."

"Oh?"

Dugu Zhao turned his head abruptly, the collar of his sable coat rising with the movement: "Does A-Yi have a brilliant strategy?"

"I wouldn't dare call it a brilliant strategy..."

Dou Yi shook his head, bent down to pick up a tripod fragment, and tapped lightly on the scorched mark on the edge: "A person as power-hungry as Yuwen Hu, how could he not have the heart to usurp?"

Immediately, after a slight pause, he added meaningfully: "We can use a scheme to incite him to sacrifice alone!"

The last two words were bitten very heavily.

Wanting to precisely control the explosion of the powder, at a distance of a few feet, to blow one person to death while the other remains unscathed, he, Dou Yi, cannot do it...

I believe no one in the world can do it either!

Unless it is truly the gods and Buddhas taking action...

But they can change their way of thinking!

If we can't control the precise explosion, then we can use Yuwen Hu's increasingly inflated ambition.

After all, with great power in his hands, would he not want to be above the little emperor?

This is a perfect opportunity to further establish his prestige!

"Wonderful!"

"Too wonderful!"

Dugu Zhao was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands in praise.

He paused and continued: "We can connect the officials to jointly memorialize..."

"That scoundrel Yuwen Hu absolutely cannot resist such temptation!"

At that moment, Dugu Zhao only felt a sudden sense of clarity.

Fabricate a high-sounding reason, and then have the officials deliver the opportunity to Yuwen Hu's front; he will definitely go along with the flow!

We are betting on his ambition and his contempt for the little emperor!

This strategy is truly wonderful!

Gao Bing heard this, stroked his chin, a playful arc curling at the corner of his mouth, and added: "And when Yuwen Hu is offering incense, he is blown to death by the exploding tripod..."

"It can also be said that the gods couldn't stand his usurpation of power and sent down divine punishment!"

"Everything will be so logical!"

Attributing Yuwen Hu's death to divine punishment gives it natural rationality...

Whether it is the aristocratic officials or the common people, it is easier to accept and believe!

Moreover, it can also lay a powerful foundation for the subsequent liquidation of Yuwen Hu.

Reasonable.

Too reasonable!

"Next, during the chaos caused by the exploding tripod, the two old Pillars of State only need to take advantage of the situation to control the little emperor..."

Yang Xiu stood in the shadows cast by the moonlight, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the jade belt buckle at his waist, listening to the crowd discuss how to control the situation, and suddenly raised his right hand slowly.

His five fingers clenched into a tight fist, his knuckles turning pale from the force, and even the veins on the back of his hand were jumping: "Grasp that little emperor in your hands!"

As he spoke, he shook the clenched fist lightly in front of his chest.

What does the little emperor represent?

He represents the right to speak!

All subsequent actions will be justified.

"With the prestige of the two old Pillars of State, plus holding the Son of Heaven in your hands, who would dare not obey!"

Yan Zhi Tui nodded heavily, bowed and cupped his hands toward Dugu Zhao and Zhao Qian, and said in a deep voice: "The likes of Yu Jie and Yuwen Heng will find it hard to stir up any waves!"

Yuwen Hu is dead, and the Son of Heaven is controlled; the remaining matters are not worth worrying about.

"A-Qin speaks reasonably!"

Zhao Qian stroked his beard and laughed: "We want to catch those guys off guard!"

"Hmm."

After Dugu Zhao responded, he raised his hand to press against the corridor pillar, the cuffs of his sable coat tracing a cold arc in the moonlight. His gaze swept over the crowd, his voice carrying unquestionable determination: "After temporarily controlling the situation, we must seize the military power of Chang'an immediately!"

The first thing to do after returning to the palace in Chang'an from the altar in the suburbs is to have the little emperor issue an edict...

Transfer military power!

Every step is legal; no one can find any fault with it.

Only with military power can we truly control the situation and fear no counterattacks from all sides!

"Exactly!" Zhao Qian nodded, deeply agreeing.

Dugu Zhao's gaze wandered over everyone's faces for a moment, finally settling on Yang Xiu and Yan Zhi Tui, his fingertips raising slowly and pointing steadily at them: "At that time, A-Qin will take over the Imperial Guard to protect the safety of the palace, and A-Tui will restrain the provincial soldiers to stabilize Chang'an..."

With that, he stroked his beard, the concentration in his eyes completely transformed into the sharpness of having everything under control.

Crucial military power must be controlled by absolutely trusted confidants.

The Imperial Guard guards the inside, and the provincial soldiers stabilize the outside.

With these two inside and outside, acting as horns for each other, Chang'an City will be like a bronze wall and iron fortress; no one will be able to move it in the slightest.

"Yes." Yang and Yan were both shaken, then bowed and cupped their hands, their waists bent extremely low.

Dugu Zhao turned his head to look at Dou Yi and said in a deep voice: "The Mingjing Si is also of utmost importance, so I will leave it to you, Superintendent Dou!"

Dou Yi was startled when he heard the old Pillar of State's address to him, then cupped his hands: "Old Pillar of State, rest assured, your subordinate will definitely not let you down!"

Dugu Zhao turned his head, his sable coat rustling in the night wind, the previous calmness suddenly replaced by a biting sharpness.

He looked at the darkness in the direction of the Imperial City, a flash of ruthlessness suddenly crossing his eyes; that ruthlessness was like a poison-quenched ice blade, shining with a chilling cold light in the moonlight: "And after nightfall, let the Jianghu experts go to assassinate Yuwen Hu's die-hard cronies like Yuwen Heng, Shang Ting, and Pei Xun!"

Dugu Zhao believes in: either don't do it, or do it thoroughly!

Thoroughly physically eliminate those die-hard cronies of Yuwen Hu who can cause trouble, leaving no chance at all.

"Proper!" Zhao Qian nodded in agreement, "Very meticulous!"

He had waited a long time for the arrival of this day...

Dugu Zhao turned to face the crowd, the silver threads at his temples shining with resolute light in the moonlight, the previous ruthlessness transformed into a heroic spirit that could swallow the world, and he said loudly: "After the event is accomplished, I will take the position of Grand Chancellor, Brother Zhao will serve as Grand Marshal, A-Qin will serve as Grand Minister of Justice, A-Tui will serve as Grand Minister of Education, A-Bing will serve as Grand Minister of Works, and A-Yi will serve as Grand Minister of Ceremonies!"

"Thank you, Old Pillar of State (Big Brother) Dugu!" Yang Xiu, Yan Zhi Tui, and the others looked at each other and all bowed and cupped their hands.

Dugu Zhao was unhurried and continued to say loudly: "In addition to official positions, everyone present will be enfeoffed with princely titles and granted eight thousand households of food tax!"

"The eldest son will serve as the Governor of a Prefecture, hereditary and perpetual!"

Smiles and majesty intertwined in his eyes.

"Willing to die for the Old Pillar of State!"

"We will spare no effort, even if it means sacrificing our lives!"

Everyone knelt down in unison, a dark mass of figures prostrate in the courtyard.

The shouts hit the courtyard wall and bounced toward the Imperial City, startling the night birds in the direction of the palace, causing them to fly up and trace messy arcs against the ink-colored sky.

Under the moonlight, the tripod debris all over the ground seemed to be tinged with a bit of warmth.

Everyone's face was glowing with excited red light, and the previous tension and doubt had long since vanished.

What they saw was not just the explosion and slaughter before them, but a new court situation within reach, a future that could allow them to leave their names in history.

And the starting point of all this was in this backyard tonight, in the resonant promises of official positions made by the two old Pillars of State, and in that bag of grayish powder that hid the universe.