Chapter 131: The Emperor's Intentions

"What is your name?"

Zhao Heng looked past Chen Hu toward the back, taking in the one thousand cavalrymen of Yan Commandery.

"In reply to Your Majesty, this humble general is Chen Hu."

Zhao Heng nodded, "Is Yan Wang doing well in Yan Commandery?"

"Before this humble general departed, His Highness encountered an assassination attempt and nearly lost his life, but thanks to the Emperor's grace, he is ultimately unharmed," Chen Hu said.

Having said this, he took a memorial from his bosom and presented it with both hands.

Originally, Yan Wang had intended to send someone separately to deliver the memorial to Jingshi.

But after the decision was made for him to escort Kutu to Jingshi, Yan Wang had him bring the memorial along.

"What, someone assassinated Yan Wang!" Zhao Heng took the memorial and began to read it.

"Since His Highness recovered from his illness, he has encountered two assassination attempts. The first was committed by the Zhang Family, a great clan of Yan Commandery. There is no solid evidence for the second attempt yet, but after the rumor of His Highness's death spread, Prefect Yuan immediately led troops to Yancheng..." As Zhao Heng read the memorial, Chen Hu recounted everything exactly as Zhao Xu had instructed.

Zhao Heng scanned the contents of the memorial and flew into a rage, "Preposterous! A mere rich clan in Yan Commandery is so bold as to dare to assassinate an Imperial Prince."

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Yanzhou is a desolate borderland, and the local rich clans have always been barbaric and disobedient to government decrees," Dou Wei advised.

"It is more than just disobedience to government decrees!" Zhao Heng highlighted the charges against Zhang Kang, "Colluding with the Northern Di to invade Yanzhou—this is treason! And Yuan Li, this scoundrel, does not even know who his own son-in-law is. Even more detestable, he actually connived with the Zhang Family to plot against Yan Wang. His ambition is truly that of a wolf."

Dou Wei had originally thought this was just a matter involving a small rich clan.

But upon hearing that it involved the Yuan Family, his expression darkened.

This Yuan Family had become increasingly arrogant in recent years, even styling themselves as the ninth great power of Great Song.

Did they even deserve it?

It was just that the Yuan Family held the throat of Yanzhou and, like Mo Di, served as a northern barrier for Great Song; no one dared to move against them, and they even had to be courted at every turn.

But things were different now.

Yan Wang had proven his strength in this battle; Yanzhou was no longer a place where the Yuan Family could have the final say alone.

However, for him, he did not wish to see the Yuan Family grow too powerful in Yanzhou, but he also did not wish to see Yan Wang grow too powerful in Yanzhou.

The conflict between the two best served the current interests of the powerful clans.

But for the moment, compared to Yan Wang, the Yuan Family still held the greater power.

After all, among the Yanzhou Seven Commanderies, the Yuan Family still controlled six.

Therefore, he felt that this memorial from Yan Wang should be used to suppress the Yuan Family a little, while incidentally supporting Yan Wang; only through such mutual checks could Yanzhou remain secure.

"What Your Majesty says is absolutely correct," Dou Wei said, "In recent years, the Yuan Family has indeed acted with impunity in Yanzhou. Now that they have committed such an act of contempt toward the Imperial Clan, we must strike the mountain to shake the tiger."

Dou Wei then added, "This subject believes that His Highness Yan Wang would not lie, but to convict the Yuan Family based solely on a memorial and a list of charges—I fear the Yuan Family will not submit, and it may lead to chaos..."

Having said this, Dou Wei paused, leaving Zhao Heng to weigh the matter himself.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng nodded slightly and suppressed his anger.

How could he not know of Yuan Li's evil deeds in Yanzhou? He simply did not want to cause turmoil in Yanzhou, so he endured what he could.

The court officials all shared this sentiment, which was why the Yuan Family had been allowed to grow ever stronger.

Therefore, just as he could not easily move against the Yuan Family before, he naturally could not do so now.

Regardless of whether what was written in Yan Wang's memorial was true or false, he still had to prioritize the overall stability of Yanzhou.

But he was also clear that constant indulgence of the Yuan Family was by no means a long-term strategy.

Furthermore, since Yan Wang had submitted a memorial, he could not ignore it.

This time, he had to find a way to make the Yuan Family suffer a secret loss while also placating Yan Wang.

After thinking for a while, he suddenly had an idea.

Putting the memorial away, he said to Chen Hu, "You shall stay in Jingshi for a few days; I have my own decision to make."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Chen Hu felt secretly pleased.

Zhao Heng then walked toward the prison cart.

Arriving before Kutu, he scrutinized him carefully.

"Emperor of Great Song, it has been a long time," just then, Kutu, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly spoke.

Dou Wei was also observing closely, and at this moment he said, "Your Majesty, it is indeed him; he is certainly Kutu."

Zhao Heng nodded and mocked, "I recall how high-spirited you were when you entered Jinling City; I never expected to see you again in such a manner today."

Kutu laughed, "Hahaha, I merely fell for a brat's treacherous scheme. Had we fought a head-on battle, who knows who would have emerged victorious."

"Death is at your doorstep, yet you still have a sharp tongue," Dou Wei scolded.

Kutu sneered, "Kill me? Emperor of Great Song, you had better think clearly. Now that I have been captured, the Khan will certainly not sit idly by. When the time comes, he will take Yanguan and march on Jinling, and then it will be your turn to lose your head."

Zhao Heng's expression shifted slightly.

The fear following the failure of the Ningjin Battle years ago washed over him again, making him feel a chill throughout his body.

Kutu noticed the change in Zhao Heng's expression and felt secretly delighted.

When he was in Yan Commandery, he lived in daily fear.

What he was ashamed to admit was that he was actually afraid of that sixteen-year-old Yan Wang.

Because he knew clearly that when that Yan Wang said he would kill him, he truly meant to kill him.

The Song People called the Northern Di people barbaric, but in his view, that Yan Wang was far more barbaric than they were.

The threats he had made to Yan Wang at that time were like passing wind to that Yan Wang.

But now, he had not expected that with just a little intimidation, this Emperor would actually change his expression.

"This time was merely a small failure during the Autumn Hunt; to my Northern Di, it is nothing more than losing a single hair," Kutu continued to threaten.

But as the two were speaking, officials kept arriving on horseback.

Seeing the nobles and officials arrive, Zhao Heng's courage suddenly bolstered.

He shouted, "Arrogant! Do you take my Great Song's million elite troops and fine generals for mere decorations? If your Khan comes, I shall capture him as well."

More and more officials gathered around Zhao Heng.

After recognizing Kutu, they immediately began to whisper among themselves.

"It really is Kutu."

"This Yan Wang is remarkable, to have actually captured a Nine Kings of the Northern Di."

"Indeed, it is truly an unprecedented feat."

"..."

Chaotic sounds continuously emerged from the midst of the officials.

Charha and Tamu suddenly lunged toward the wooden railing and roared loudly.

Many officials were frightened into retreating repeatedly, and some even fell to the ground.

"Hahaha..." The two pointed at the officials and laughed heartily.

Kutu also laughed; although Zhao Heng was fierce of face but weak of heart, he had a feeling that he might not die after all.

The sun gradually slanted westward, and the wide ground in front of the Meridian Gate was filled with officials who had come to watch.

Having confirmed it was indeed Kutu, the officials all marveled.

"Yan Wang really just got lucky," the Sixth Prince Zhao She said sourly.

With such a great merit, Yan Wang would certainly receive a heavy reward.

And this made him feel a wave of displeasure in his heart.

What was most detestable was that Yan Wang's status in Yanzhou would become even more important from now on, and this would invisibly weaken the status of the Yuan Family.

Once the status of the Yuan Family was weakened, his own status among the Imperial Princes would also be affected.

He did not want to be like Zhao Xu, bullied by other Imperial Princes because his maternal family's influence was weak.

At the mere thought of this, a chill ran through his entire body.