Chapter 353

Si Wenyuan's voice had no ripples, "For the sake of the entire Si family, for the foundation of the ancestors, he must be sacrificed. Not only can we not protect him, tomorrow at the court meeting, those of us in the Si family who are officials must take the lead... to express our stance."

This move of righteousness destroying relatives, seemingly heartless, is actually a move of the Si family in desperation.

Don't look at the fact that Beijiang only occupied Guansongling, but it is enough to affect Si Gui's life.

Originally, when Beijiang didn't enter the game, Si Gui could still sit firmly in this position, but when his strategy had problems, not only did it not solve the Beijiang trouble, but it also let Beijiang's anger burn to the Imperial Court, then everything was a foregone conclusion.

The strategy was wrong, not only did it not appease Beijiang, but it caused Beijiang to riot; this was Si Gui's first mistake.

Beijiang entered the game and poked out these filth in the court, causing the scholars of the world to criticize, and Si Gui, the Prime Minister, bore the brunt; this was the second mistake.

Sending troops not in time, and even having the mind to ponder other things, leading to losing the initiative on the front line, and from then on having no means to suppress Beijiang, was the third mistake.

Plus the Ming Army's rampant world, Si Gui being a treacherous official could not be hidden from everyone, causing the Si family to be humiliated.

These things need to be solved, and Si Gui, the core figure, naturally cannot run away.

And other clans are even less likely to help him; now everyone is busy re-betting!

"But... but that's a relative!" A clan elder still couldn't bear it.

"Gui'er without Wushuang is just a mediocre prime minister who is trapped in the quagmire and will drag the family down!" Si Wenjing said sharply, "If you don't cut it off, you will suffer from chaos! The Si family cannot be buried with him!"

The clan elder responsible for external liaison also said in a low voice: "Well said! Now the wind direction has changed, the Yan family has already started betting behind the scenes, the Emperor is already dissatisfied with Si Gui, and the object of the people's criticism is also him.

If we insist on protecting him, not only will we not be able to protect him, but we will also put the entire Si family in a dead end.

Abandoning the pawn to protect the chariot is the only way to survive. We can even take this opportunity to ease the relationship with the Emperor, and at the same time... seek another way out."

"Way out?"

"Western Liang King's momentum has been formed, his military edge is sharp, and he has quite an intention to recruit classics, craftsmen, and even our clans from the Central Plains. Wushuang... might already be on that side.

We can contact secretly, express goodwill, and use part of the family's resources and connections as a guide to seek a way out for the Si family."

Si Wenyuan was silent for a long time, then slowly nodded: "It can be done secretly, and it must be covert. For now, let's pass tomorrow's court meeting first. As for Si Gui... let him go decently!"

On the same night, in the boudoir of Fu Ruyan of the Southern Yang Fu Residence.

Fu Ruyan was counting the few boxes in front of her, her expression quite lonely.

Five thousand taels of silver notes, two carts of silk and tea, four guards; this was all the family "supported" her to "expand business" in the north.

These things were not even as much as she had earned by cooperating with the Xinyue Chamber of Commerce during this time!

"Miss, is that all?" Jiang Qingyan was worried.

Fu Ruyan knew that Jiang Jinshi wouldn't look at these things at all; if these things were drafted into a gift list and handed up, they would likely be laughed at by the other side.

But she could only support Jiang Jinshi in her own way; although she didn't have many resources in her hands, she could help sell goods, and she could also bring up what Beijiang lacked, just by expanding the scale of the caravan.

The family gives less now, so don't expect to get more from her in the future.

According to what was discussed before, Fu Ruyan had to keep a low profile and absolutely could not implicate the Fu family, so Fu Ruyan had to choose the right time for her trip.

Just as dawn broke, Fu Ruyan left the Fu family with Jiang Qingyan, preparing to take her caravan to go north together!

The next morning, inside the Imperial Palace in the capital, Wei Xi Yuan on the dragon throne rarely didn't lose his mind, nor did he show his usual laziness and impatience.

Yang Jiye's urgent military report had already been read out in public.

The content was very direct, indicating that Guansongling had been lost, and the Ming Army was guarding the dangerous pass, with elite soldiers and sufficient grain, and high morale.

Attacking by force would cause huge casualties and it would be difficult to have a chance of winning. They could only retreat to defend Shuoning, build a defense line, and block the enemy from going south. Whether to fight or make peace, please ask the Imperial Court to decide quickly.

"Slap!"

A high-quality official kiln teacup was fiercely smashed to the ground by Wei Xi Yuan, fragments splashing!

"Trash! A bunch of trash!"

Wei Xi Yuan stood up fiercely, pointing at the messenger kneeling on the ground, and seemingly pointing at all the civil and military officials, "Yang Jiye! I gave him 250,000 troops! 250,000! He didn't even touch the pass wall and retreated in a sorry state?!

And what 'difficult to attack because of the dangerous pass', 'casualties must be huge'? Where is his ability to defend the city back then? Was it eaten by dogs?! My Imperial Seal! My Imperial Seal is still in the hands of that rebellious thief! Yang Jiye just watched?!"

The Emperor was furious, and the hall was silent.

Wei Xi Yuan was furious on the surface, but actually very happy inside; he knew what would happen today, and this was also the beginning of his having a say in the Imperial Court.

"Your Majesty, calm your anger."

Si Gui, who knew nothing, had to come out; his face was still pretending to be steady, but the depths of his eyes were already covered with bloodshot eyes; the Beijiang matter completely disrupted his deployment and pushed him to the forefront.

"Beijiang is just a barren land, naturally it cannot be called strong soldiers and sturdy horses. Defending Shuoning, stabilizing the footing, and then slowly planning, is also not a steady..."

"Steady?!"

Yan Chonggu trembled and came out, "Prime Minister's words, this old minister dare not agree! If it weren't for the Imperial Court's failure in conferring the king and improper dispatch, how could that Jiang Jinshi easily take the majestic pass and grow to this point?!"

He pointed his finger directly at Si Gui's "employment" and "dispatch." The proposal to confer the king, send envoys, and the subsequent series of Beijiang strategies were all led by this Prime Minister!

Now Guansongling was lost, the Imperial Court's reputation was also very poor, and the army sent out had no merit; how could the Prime Minister not be blamed?

"Old Yan's words are very true!"

Officials immediately came out to echo, their tone indignant, "Since the rebellious thief Jiang Jinshi rose in Beijiang, the Imperial Court first despised him, then the appeasement strategy failed, causing the tiger to be raised! Now it has lost the pass and humiliated the country, and the army is stagnant!

The Prime Minister leads the court and presides over Beijiang affairs, repeatedly making mistakes, causing the country's situation to be dangerous and prestige to be swept away! This is the crime of misleading the country!"

"I agree! Prime Minister Si Gui, not knowing people, improper measures, repeatedly missing opportunities to deal with Beijiang rebels, failing the holy grace, and dereliction of duty! Should be severely punished to correct the court and appease the world!"

"I also agree!"

"Please Your Majesty's holy decision!"

Unexpectedly by Si Gui, the voices echoing Yan Chonggu and impeaching him were not sporadic, but burst out one after another like bamboo shoots after rain, from various ministries and departments, from clean-stream officials, and even from some officials who usually seemed neutral!

The words became more and more intense, from "improper response" to "misleading the country," and even vaguely pointing to "incompetent," "not worthy of the prime minister position"!

Si Gui's face finally changed.

He suddenly realized that this was not a simple court impeachment, but a premeditated siege against him!