Chapter 955

"If the Yuan King has something to say, there's no harm in saying it before everyone."

It wasn't deliberate on her part—Wu Zetian had always trusted Di Renjie and wouldn't avoid him.

Though Chahatai spoke softly, Di Renjie, Su Dingfang, and the others beside them all heard it.

They simply refrained from looking over, out of propriety.

"Your Majesty, it is not that your minister is being coy."

Chahatai's face showed difficulty as he explained,

"The truth is, this matter touches on certain private affairs."

"Good! Then come with me to the rear hall."

Wu Zhao had never wanted Di Renjie, Su Dingfang, and the others to hear this, so she took the opportunity to go along with it.

Leading Chahatai and Zhang Wuxia, she withdrew to the rear hall.

The Bright Hall was one of the few great halls within the Great Ming Palace.

This rear hall was where the Emperor rested briefly during court assemblies.

Though called a rear hall, it was in fact far larger than an ordinary palace.

Upon arriving at the rear hall, palace maids naturally brought fragrant tea, pastries, and the like.

Wu Zhao instructed,

"All of you, withdraw! The Yuan King has important matters to discuss with me; no one is to eavesdrop.

Zhang Wuxia, you stand guard outside personally."

"Yes."

Zhang Wuxia nodded in assent and led a group of palace maids and eunuchs out.

Chahatai waited to confirm no one else was present before apologizing to Wu Zhao,

"Your Majesty, your minister has been discourteous."

"No matter. Just say what the Yuan King wishes to say."

In truth, Wu Zhao cared little for Chahatai's affairs—it was merely a matter of winning people's hearts.

"In the Great Yuan Realm, the Kurultai is the body where the clan's Princes of the Blood and the chieftains of the various tribes deliberate on state affairs and elect a new Great Khan.

I, Ogodei, Jochi, and Prince Tuo Lei, each with the late Khan's backing, all have our own supported forces within the Kurultai."

Chahatai did not speak directly of the matter at hand, but instead recounted a piece of Great Yuan lore.

Of course, this could hardly be called a secret—at least not to the Empress of Great Tang.

Wu Zhao continuously obtained all manner of intelligence on Great Tang from Sun En and Zhang Wuxia.

Naturally, intelligence on the Kurultai was among them.

For now, Wu Zhao said nothing, merely nodding to indicate Chahatai should continue.

"Some time ago, the late Khan passed away, and Ogodei seized the throne by underhanded means.

His Khan position was, in truth, never endorsed by the Kurultai's election.

Therefore, within the Great Yuan Realm, it is not only my, Jochi's, and Prince Tuo Lei's people who overtly and covertly refuse to support him.

Many of the other Kurultai Princes of the Blood and tribal chieftains also do not support him."

Chahatai said,

"Coincidentally, this Prince Ruyang, though he appears not to participate in court affairs, is in fact one of the Kurultai's Princes of the Blood.

Behind the scenes, he is even a follower of Prince Tuo Lei."

"What do you mean?"

At this point, Wu Zhao finally understood what Chahatai wanted from her.

"In my view, with Han Ji and Minmin both making the list this time, Ogodei is sure to be unable to sit still.

Now I have abandoned darkness for light and submitted to Great Tang.

Jochi bound himself before the imperial carriage, his life or death now unknown.

Prince Tuo Lei, after his grave wounds, has vanished without a trace.

Ogodei will surely let down his guard and seek out Prince Ruyang to demand people.

At the very least, this Han Ji he will certainly demand."

As Chahatai spoke, a trace of resentment showed on his face.

It was precisely Ogodei who had left him unable to return home, able only to bear the name of traitor.

Therefore, when it came to dealing with Ogodei, he would not hesitate in the slightest.

"Then in the Yuan King's view, how should Great Tang proceed in this matter?"

Wu Zhao already understood that Chahatai most likely wished to use this opportunity to lure Great Tang into striking against Ogodei.

This matter, it must be said, carried some risk.

After all, the Tang–Yuan war had only just ended, and this was again a struggle over the Great Yuan Khan's seat.

If mishandled, it might arouse the displeasure of the Great Yuan's various tribal princes and chieftains, who could unite against Great Tang.

Great Tang too might well suffer a setback.

But the Empress of Great Tang at present was not the real one.

Wu Zhao cared nothing for Great Tang's gains or losses.

"Your minister suggests that I lead a group of Great Tang experts, disguised as my own subordinates, and travel together to the Great Yuan Realm.

If Ogodei truly forces the demand for Han Ji, Prince Ruyang is bound to fall out with Ogodei.

Once hostilities begin, Prince Ruyang will surely be no match for the Great Yuan central army.

At that point, your minister will step forward, rally my old subordinates to rise, and additionally win over Prince Ruyang.

At the same time, Grand General Su Dingfang would advance from the south; it would be best to bring the Yin Moon Imperial Dynasty in as well.

Caught between two attacks, Wokuotai would be unable to attend to both ends and would surely suffer a crushing defeat.

Even if they could not wipe out the Great Yuan in one stroke, the Great Tang would certainly be able to expand its territory by a thousand li.

Standing as two powers alongside Great Qin would no longer be impossible."

Chahatai grew excited as he spoke, a look of delight spreading across his face again and again.

Wu Zhao listened and could not help wanting to laugh.

This Chahatai looked as though he were plotting strategy for the Great Tang, helping the Great Tang destroy the Great Yuan.

But what was he really scheming—did he truly think she could not see through it?

It was nothing more than still coveting the Great Yuan Khan's throne, hoping Prince Ruyang would be driven into a corner by Wokuotai.

Then the Great Tang would step forward and thoroughly muddle the waters.

In the end, he, Chahatai, would rally the call and make a brilliant entrance as the savior of the Great Yuan.

Internally, he would quell the upheavals of Prince Ruyang and Wokuotai.

Externally, he would either firmly resist or secretly make peace with the Great Tang.

By then, he, Chahatai, would naturally surpass Wokuotai and become the next Great Khan of the Great Yuan.

Such a scheme was truly clumsy.

But this scheme happened to be an open one.

Because the Great Tang's strength, after the last great war, had already gained the upper hand over the Great Yuan.

Prince Ruyang's affair with Han Ji was known to all under heaven.

Wokuotai's desire for Han Ji, once investigated, would most likely prove to be genuine.

Everything Chahatai said would indeed come to pass.

As long as the Great Tang's strength was sufficient, Chahatai would end up drawing water with a bamboo basket—gaining nothing.

But if Chahatai maneuvered skillfully and truly won over most of the Khuriltai princes and chieftains,

then quelling the rebellion within and making peace without would not be a dream either.

Everything, in the end, still depended on each side's strength.

Besides, in all of this, whether it brought success or failure to the Great Tang, what did Wu Zhao care?

After a brief moment of thought, Wu Zhao nodded in agreement,

"Fine! But you must first find a way to send Han Ji to the Great Tang."

If you want to use me, you'll have to pay a price.

This Han Ji is so extraordinary—she truly is a rare beauty!.