Chapter 43: If I lose, you will be the regent!

He Zijin was very nervous at this time and could only look aside at Hu Zhenghe.
Hu Zhenghe was furious: "Why are you looking at me? His Highness is asking you a question, not me! Why are you whining in front of me?"
He Zijin was speechless for a moment and didn't know how to explain.
"Sir, this..."
At this time, He Zijin realized that he had been completely betrayed by Hu Zhenghe, and if he wanted to bite back, he would have no chance at all.
"I...I am acting out of revenge. I feel that Li Guang, the commander of the Imperial Guard, is not worthy of being the commander-in-chief, so I resorted to this desperate measure!"
"Your Highness, please punish me!"
All the officials felt their scalps tingle when they heard this ?
You should know that this crime is enough to get the death penalty!
But Xiao Yan didn't say anything, but started thinking.
Should he really kill He Zijin? He thought of the old emperor's words: The art of being an emperor is not just about killing, but also about showing kindness.
"Well, you are very courageous and have the guts to admit this. We will talk about your matter later. Come, first detain him in the Northern Pacification Division Prison. I will interrogate him in person later."
"Let's talk about this expedition against the Huns first!"
At this point, all the officials became excited. This matter was now a good opportunity for all parties to compete.
"Your Highness, I think it is still necessary to dismiss Li Guang from his post and investigate him. After all, even though the supplies were not timely, he still marched deep into the enemy's territory alone. His intentions are obvious."
"In addition, we are facing a setback and the army is demoralized. It is not appropriate to go to war. We should order Wu Ping to be the commander and recuperate at the border."
"The first is to relieve the soldiers' fatigue, and the second is to boost their morale. Your Highness, please consider this carefully!"
As soon as these words were spoken, all members of Hu Zhenghe's faction stood up.
"I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!"
Most people supported Hu Zhenghe's words, and Hu Zhenghe also showed a disdainful expression.
"You are still a little naive if you want to fight me. I will never be able to relieve my hatred unless I take away your position as regent."
"As long as you don't govern the country, I have plenty of ways to kill you!"
Xiao Yan looked at others. These officials had actually always been neutral and did not dare to express their opinions.
Xiao Yan knew that he could not rely on these people.
"Master Hu, I still say that if you don't have evidence, don't talk!"
"Victory and defeat are common in the military. General Lai Ji even died in battle. So can I also say that he collaborated with the enemy?"
"Could it be that I dug him out of the grave and whipped his corpse?"
"You will only chill the soldiers' hearts by doing this!"
Hu Zhenghe doesn't care whether the soldiers are chilled or not. What he really wants is for the soldiers to fight for him.
"Your Highness, be careful with your words. General Lai Ji is no match for Li Guang. General Lai Ji fought to the death and refused to surrender. How can such a meritorious official of the Great Zhou be blasphemed like this?"
Bang!
Xiao Yan slammed the table and stood up!
"General Lai Ji fought to the death to defend the city, so he is a meritorious official. But if Li Guang survived to recapture Youzhou City, he would be treasonous to the enemy?"
"You are really hypocritical, Lord Hu!"
"Does Lord Hu judge heroes by their success or failure at a certain moment?"
Upon hearing this, Hu Zhenghe immediately retorted: "Your Highness, I am just expressing my opinion. You may not listen to it, but please do not bring this upon me!"
"What kind of person I am will be judged by others. What we are talking about now is two different things."
Xiao Yan smiled slightly: "Aren't we talking about the same thing? There is no need to dismiss Li Guang from his post and investigate him. As long as there are sufficient supplies, Li Guang will not be a pushover!"
Hu Zhenghe sneered, just waiting for this sentence.
"Then Your Highness, what if Li Guang is still defeated even with sufficient supplies? You have to know that this is a grassland, the main battlefield of the Huns!"
Xiao Yan naturally understood what Hu Zhenghe was planning.
"If Li Guang still fails, he will be punished by law, proving that Lord Hu is right. How about I go and ask my father to let you be regent?"
Hu Zhenghe smiled slightly. This was exactly the result he wanted.
"No thanks. I am a minister of the Great Zhou. How can I be the regent? If Your Highness is wrong, then the position of regent should be given to the Second Prince. "
"how?"
It turns out that Hu Zhenghe had this plan after all the twists and turns, and Xiao Yan finally understood it.
"Well, why not!"
"All officials can bear witness. If I regret my decision, you can go to the Emperor and impeach me!"
"but!"
"If Li Guang can defeat the Xiongnu and win a great victory, what will you do? How about retiring and returning home?"
As soon as these words were spoken, all the officials stood up immediately.
"Your Highness, this is impossible. The Prime Minister works diligently for our Great Zhou. If Lord Hu retires and returns home, it will be a loss for our Great Zhou!"
"Yes, Your Highness, this is absolutely not allowed at this time! Please take back your order!"
"Your Highness, please take back your order!"
Hu Zhenghe said confidently at this time: "Your Highness has also seen that my colleagues understand me, so this condition is naturally not acceptable."
"If General Li Guang wins, I will personally lead General Li's horse through the streets on his triumphant return!"
Xiao Yan naturally understood that his words would not be able to stimulate Hu Zhenghe to give up the position of Prime Minister.
"Okay, it's a deal!"
"Yang Zhi, tell Li Guang that the supply problem in the capital has been solved. If you can't defeat the Xiongnu again, don't come back and commit suicide on the border!"
Yang Zhi was also frightened.
"I obey your order!"
Northern Pacification Division, Heavenly Prison!
"The guilty minister He Zijin pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince !"
Xiao Yan sat down directly and tapped the table with his fingers.
Duan Tianya felt panicked again at this time. Can't we really try another way?
"Tell me, who ordered you to do this? Don't talk about revenge, you are not qualified to do so!"
He Zijin was kneeling on the ground at this time, sweating profusely.
"Your Highness, this was truly an act of mine alone, and no one else instructed me to do so."
Bang!
Xiao Yan slammed it directly on the table.
"You are still stubborn now? If you confess, I can spare your life. If you don't, this crime is enough to kill all your clans!"
Hearing this, He Zijin hesitated.
"Your Highness, if I tell you, please promise me that you will ensure that my family is safe!"
Xiao Yan waved his hand and said, "You are not qualified to negotiate with me. There are two options. If you don't tell me, your whole family will die!"
"I told you that your family might live, and you might live too. Make your choice!"
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet, and He Zijin began to think seriously.
It is possible that Xiao Yan was trying to trick me, and I would still not be able to escape death in the end.
But if I don't say it, I will surely die.
But thinking about what he had said, Hu Zhenghe might not let his family go.
"Your Highness, I beg you to protect my family. I will say it!"
At this moment, He Zijin's inner defenses finally collapsed.
"Okay, I promise you, but you have to make sure that everything you say is true. If there is even a lie..."
"If I tell you even a lie, I will die a miserable death!"
"Okay, go ahead!"
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