Chapter 771: First Volume, Chapter 771: Suppressing the Rebellion and Abdication

First Volume, Chapter 771: Suppressing the Rebellion and Abdication

In terms of status and position, Zhao Yuxiong and Zhou Zhenhai were worlds apart, yet before Zhao Yuxiong, Zhou Zhenhai felt utterly without confidence.

After all, behind this man stood not only Qin Feng, but also Grand Commandant Qin and Dragon Tiger Army Grand Commander Zhao Li.

Among the younger generation of military clans, Zhao Yuxiong had long since taken the lead, towering above all others.

Zhou Zhenhai couldn't help but sigh inwardly—how times had changed; once, Qin Feng would go out of his way to avoid him, yet now even one of Qin Feng's own officers no longer regarded Zhou Zhenhai with any respect.

This was not merely the decline of the Palace Guards, but the lament of the entire Li Imperial Clan.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study, Qin Tianhu knelt and bowed: "Your servant pays homage to His Majesty."

The Liang Emperor stood behind the Dragon Case, gazing at the devoutly kneeling Qin Tianhu, his heart filled with complex emotions—he never imagined that a sovereign of a nation would sink to such a state.

The Qin Family, whom he had always restrained and suppressed, had become the loyal minister—truly, human plans cannot rival Heaven's design.

"Qin Qing, rise. How did you learn of what transpired in the palace today?"

In response to the Liang Emperor's question, Qin Tianhu offered no concealment, replying cleanly and directly: "Your Majesty, long before my son Qin Feng departed Jingdu, he warned Old Minister that unrest might stir in the capital. Yet, as this matter concerns the Imperial Clan, Old Minister dared not speak out rashly, so I merely observed, waiting for the right moment to lend Your Majesty a helping hand."

Hearing these words, the Liang Emperor felt a sting in his nose—now that the Qin Family wielded supreme authority, they still remembered their debt of gratitude; this alone was enough to melt the Liang Emperor's former resentment.

The Liang Emperor turned his back, stepped away from the Dragon Case, and sighed deeply: "Qin Qing, tell me—this throne will inevitably pass to my seventh son. Why must he rush it now? Why not wait ten or twenty years? I could then pass the throne to him, and he could legitimately assume control of Shedynasty."

"Yet now he chooses to take desperate risks—even if he seizes the throne, he will bear the stigma of illegitimate ascension."

"I have always prided myself on reading people, on understanding hearts, yet I failed to comprehend even my own flesh and blood. How laughable."

Sensing the sorrow woven into the Liang Emperor's words, Qin Tianhu could not help but sigh: "Your Majesty, this is your family matter—I dare not meddle."

At this, the Liang Emperor let out a bitter smile: "Qin Qing, are you too now treating me as an outsider? If Qin Feng were still in the capital, I would have someone to confide in. Now that Qin Feng bears heavy responsibilities, only you and I remain as sovereign and minister in this capital."

These words from the Liang Emperor made his stance clear: in the entire Imperial Court, beyond the Imperial Party, the only ones he could still trust were the Qin Family.

With the matter laid bare, Qin Tianhu no longer held back, responding softly: "My son Feng has mentioned this matter briefly."

"Without my Qin Family, the Seventh Prince is still young. Even if he waited twenty or thirty years, what harm would that do? Alas, the Seventh Prince fears my Qin Family too deeply—he fears that after ascending the throne, his authority will be hollowed out. Hence… he chose to cut the knot swiftly."

This speech, if interpreted lightly, was an act of complete candor; if interpreted harshly, it was courting death.

Fortunately, the Liang Emperor had long understood all the intricate advantages and dangers of the Qin Family, so he took no offense.

"Indeed, today's Shedynasty is already divided into five parts."

"The Imperial Party, the Taolin Party, the Nan Jing Powerful Clans, the Jiangnan Lin Family, and Beijin Qin Feng."

"Among them, the weakest is the Jiangnan Lin Family. Since Lin Taibao was executed and the Imperial Consort returned to Jiangnan, though the Lin Family has said nothing aloud, their actions have clearly revealed their resolve to rebel. All other factions maintain a thin veil between them—only the Lin Family has torn it open, leaving them utterly isolated."

"Yet even so, how easy is it to subdue the Lin Family?"

"That fertile southern region is entirely controlled by the Lin Family—the provincial governor and local garrison troops, numbering at least fifty to sixty thousand. Though the Lin Family lacks the strength to invade Jingdu, they can certainly hold Jiangnan. Qin Qing, as Grand Commandant and concurrently Minister of War, tell me: how many troops and how much silver would be needed to conquer Jiangnan?"

Qin Tianhu had long pondered this question, so he answered without hesitation: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue have already discussed this matter."

"The campaign against the Jiangnan Lin Family has two options: swift attack or slow siege. The former requires a massive army; the latter demands vast quantities of grain and forage. Either method imposes a severe strain on the National Treasury."

"A swift attack requires ten thousand troops; a slow siege requires fifty to one hundred million taels of silver—and this is only the budget for the first three months. If the offensive falters and drags into the year's end, the cost of grain and silver will triple or more."

"Moreover, once hostilities begin, the prosperous lands of Jiangnan will be laid waste. Even if the Lin Family is defeated, how long will it take for Jiangnan to recover? No one can say."

Seeing Qin Tianhu explain this so thoroughly, the Liang Emperor was deeply reassured—he clearly had devoted considerable thought to it.

If even subduing the Jiangnan Lin Family is this difficult, how much harder would it be to deal with the Nan Jing Powerful Clans and Beijin Qin Feng?

In that light, the Seventh Prince's haste to seize the throne and consolidate authority is understandable.

If we delay further, not even considering the Nan Jing Powerful Clans, just Beijin Qin Feng alone would be more than enough to torment the Seventh Prince.

At that point, would we be forced to divide Heaven between Qin Feng and the Seventh Prince? Could Shedynasty have two Emperors?

This was precisely the Liang Emperor's deepest dilemma: on one hand, he seethed with rage at Li Yong's rebellion; on the other, he understood Li Yong's plight.

The Liang Emperor walked to the window, his hands behind his back, gazing at the Palace Guards and Imperial Guard standing in rigid formation outside. After a long silence, he asked: "Qin Qing, how do you think I should handle this situation?"

Qin Tianhu bowed deeply and replied solemnly: "Suppress the rebellion—or abdicate. There is no third path."

This answer struck the Liang Emperor like a thunderclap.

Whether to suppress the rebellion or to abdicate—he could not bring himself to choose either.

If he crushed the rebellion, which of his sons would ever be capable of holding the throne afterward?

And… Shedynasty has already shifted its strategic focus, withdrawing most of its strength from the Northern Border to confront Jiangnan and the Nan Jing Powerful Clans.

Would abdicating now disrupt the nation's great plan? That remains uncertain.

The Liang Emperor finally asked Qin Tianhu one last question: "If the Seventh Prince ascends, how will your Qin Family position itself? After all, as Qin Feng himself said, when a new Emperor takes the throne, old agreements may no longer hold."

Qin Tianhu drew a deep breath and replied without hesitation: "The Qin Family seeks only self-preservation. If the Seventh Prince is willing to employ us, we will wholeheartedly assist. If not… we wait for Feng's return to the capital to decide."

This answer was, in essence, the answer itself.

The Liang Emperor drew a deep breath—he feared that after the Seventh Prince ascended, he would be unable to control Qin Feng, and instead be crushed by him…