Chapter 526: Ruling the World Together

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Jinling.

The news that Changle Junzhu had been abducted on her way to the marriage alliance also reached here via an eight-hundred-li urgent dispatch.

Dou Wei immediately gathered the seven powerful clans to enter the palace and request an audience.

"Your Majesty, Yan Wang is sabotaging the peace negotiations. If this action angers the Northern Di, how shall we resolve the aftermath?" In the Imperial Study, Dou Wei was filled with righteous indignation.

The others were full of anger; this Yan Wang was simply lawless.

Although they had forced Zhao Heng to issue the Imperial Edict, each clan was now effectively a separatist power.

But to them, the Great Song Dynasty's territory was shared between the powerful clans and the Imperial Clan.

They had merely taken back what belonged to them.

From now on, the Great Song Imperial Court would no longer be decided by the Zhao family alone.

The seven of them were to truly rule the Great Song together with Zhao Heng.

Therefore, Yan Wang's actions severely harmed their interests.

If the Northern Di tore up the peace treaty and attacked again, they would also suffer losses.

This was something they, who were currently accumulating strength, did not wish to see.

"In this matter, Yan Wang was indeed reckless." Zhao Heng frowned deeply, extremely annoyed.

What was even more infuriating was that Yan Wang had actually allowed his own troops to openly fly the Yan Wang banner.

This was simply intentionally humiliating the Northern Di.

It would be a wonder if it didn't provoke the Northern Di!

"Is 'reckless' a word that can describe it? It is simply rebellious! Your Majesty, if we do not punish Yan Wang this time, what face does the Imperial Court have left?" Liang Kai said loudly.

Han Zheng echoed, "Minister Liang's words are very true. If he dares to abduct the bride this time, next time he will dare to raise an army in rebellion."

After speaking, he exchanged a look with Liang Kai.

The news that the Wufeng Island Pirates had been completely annihilated had already reached the two of them.

Han Zheng even knew that the Lai County Wharf had been attacked by the Black Shark Sea Bandits.

Without a doubt, Yan Wang was giving his Han Family no face at all and had slapped his face hard.

Liang Kai cast an approving look at Han Zheng.

Although the Wufeng Island Pirates had been annihilated by the Black Shark Sea Bandits, which meant his Liang Family no longer had enemies in the southeastern seas.

However, in his view, the Black Shark Sea Bandits, who were capable of annihilating the Wufeng Island Pirates, were even more terrifying than the Wufeng Island Pirates.

He had to use every possible means to weaken Yan Wang.

On this issue, Han Zheng and he had reached a consensus.

"Your Majesty, we cannot let Yan Wang off lightly."

"He is not only humiliating the Northern Di, but also humiliating Your Majesty."

"..."

Wang Zi'an, Fan Xinglun, Xiao Cheng, and others rebuked one after another.

Seeing the powerful clans in such a state of agitation, Zhao Heng was annoyed while also feeling a bit panicked.

He was annoyed because he worried that if Yan Wang rescued Changle Junzhu, it would anger the Northern Di, causing them to tear up the peace treaty and march south again.

Regarding this, he was extremely unwilling, and the powerful clans were also unwilling.

The Imperial Court could no longer afford to fight, and the powerful clans did not want to fight either.

"How do you think this matter should be handled?" Zhao Heng asked.

Yan Wang's behavior made him wonder if it was appropriate to lean entirely toward Yan Wang?

In Yanzhou, he had already witnessed Yan Wang's toughness.

Whether it was toward the Northern Di or the powerful clans.

If he were not put on a leash, who would be able to suppress him in the future!

"First, I request that Your Majesty immediately issue an Imperial Edict ordering Yan Wang to hand over Changle Junzhu. Second, with such conduct, how can Yan Wang govern Yanzhou? I believe we should strip him of the Southern Three Commanderies of Yanzhou and have other officials take charge," Dou Wei said sternly.

Upon hearing this, Han Zheng was delighted and cast an appreciative look at Dou Wei.

Previously, when the Yuan Family controlled the Southern Three Commanderies, Qizhou and Yan Wang's fief were not adjacent, so he had not felt any crisis.

But now, to the north of Qizhou was Yanzhou.

The Black Shark Sea Bandits had also attacked the Lai County Wharf.

The threat Yan Wang posed to the Han Family was already very clear.

"The Prime Minister is absolutely right. With his conduct, Yan Wang is no longer qualified to govern the Yanzhou Seven Commanderies," Han Zheng immediately echoed.

Zhao Heng's brow furrowed even deeper.

Although Yan Wang's handling of this matter was extremely inappropriate.

He still had a sliver of clarity in his mind, which was that even if he could not fully trust Yan Wang.

He could not cooperate with the powerful clans to weaken Yan Wang either.

After all, the Imperial Edict had already been issued; the powerful clans before him were no longer mere powerful ministers, but were equivalent to regional lords.

This scene was somewhat similar to the separatism at the end of the Liang Dynasty.

Furthermore, was Yan Wang not also a regional lord now?

If he stripped away the Southern Three Commanderies, would Yan Wang agree?

If he did not agree, how would the aftermath be resolved?

Thinking of this, he said to Dou Wei and the others, "You may return for now. I will think about it and give you an answer later."

Dou Wei nodded, bowed slightly to Zhao Heng, and led the others away.

Their attitude no longer held its former submissiveness.

To him, the only significance of Zhao Heng and the Imperial Court was to maintain the current state of struggle without breaking between them and the powerful clans.

The declining Zhao Clan of the Royal Clan was no longer worthy of being revered as the Royal Clan by them and should return to their original position.

Like them, they should be one of the powerful clans.

Of course, he only kept these thoughts to himself.

He still needed to utilize the Imperial Court to seek benefits for the Dou Family while simultaneously suppressing his opponents.

After Dou Wei and the others departed.

Zhao Heng had Liang Cheng summon Mi Yan into the palace.

Half an hour later, Mi Yan arrived at the Imperial Study.

"Censor Mi, look at the good deed you've done. Tell me, how should this matter be handled now? In my view, it is still necessary to let the powerful clans and Yan Wang check each other; favoring either side will not do." Zhao Heng recounted the matter of Yan Wang abducting Changle Junzhu and began to reprimand Mi Yan.

"Hahaha..." Mi Yan laughed loudly. "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? At present, Yan Wang and the Northern Di are still in a state of war, and the Northern Expedition has not actually ended. Since that is the case, why can Yan Wang not abduct Changle Junzhu? Furthermore, Yan Wang did not make his move on the land of the Great Song, but at the foot of the Yin Mountain, on the land of the Northern Di. What fault is there in that?"

Pausing for a moment, Mi Yan continued: "This can only be said to be the incompetence of the Northern Di, having lost a move to Yan Wang in this matter. If they are not convinced, they can simply seek an explanation from Yan Wang; what does it have to do with the Imperial Court?"

"This..." Zhao Heng was suddenly left speechless.

Indeed, Yan Wang and the Northern Di were at war.

What was wrong with Yan Wang abducting Changle Junzhu on the territory of the Northern Di?

"It is just that the court officials are worried that the Northern Di will be shamed into anger, violate the treaty, and march south again," Zhao Heng said. "Therefore, they are demanding that I deal with Yan Wang."

"Simply absurd," Mi Yan sneered. "Your Majesty, they are merely using this as an opportunity to stir up trouble, wanting to weaken Yan Wang."

With an angry snort, he added: "Furthermore, the Northern Di's agreement to peace talks this time was a move of desperation. If they wanted to destroy Yan Wang with all their might and then turn to destroy the Great Song, would they really mobilize their troops again just because of a marriage alliance?"

"That makes sense, but even so, I fear there might be an unforeseen event; the Northern Di still needs to be appeased," Zhao Heng felt slightly more settled. "Moreover, since Dou Wei and the others are stirring up trouble, how could they be willing to let it go? If they are not given a satisfactory answer, they will surely make things truly restless."

"Does Your Majesty wish to sacrifice the interests of Yan Wang again in exchange for a moment of peace?" Mi Yan's eyes widened abruptly.

At this moment, he suddenly felt a chill from head to toe.

Last time, he thought he had persuaded Zhao Heng.

But clearly, he had underestimated this person's fickleness.

"Yan Wang is at least easier to talk to than Dou Wei and the others; you also know that the Imperial Court can no longer control them," Zhao Heng sighed, appearing much older.

After issuing the Imperial Edict last time, he understood clearly that the Royal Clan was no longer the Royal Clan, but merely the Zhao.

The powerful clans still called him Your Majesty only because they did not yet want to tear off the mask.

He, this emperor of the Great Song, could no longer rule over the world.

From now on, he only wanted to live a life of leisure and wealth, with no other desires.

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