At this moment, one could hear a pin drop in the study. Guo Youzhi said that he still had no idea what kind of temper Xiao Yan had.
He is said to be decisive in killing, but he is also very careful when it comes to his mother.
"Your Highness, do we really have to hand this person over to the Jinyiwei?"
Guo Youzhi hesitated. After all it would not be worth it to offend Xiao Yan because of a small figure.
"That's right, I can assure you that this person's life is safe!"
Guo Youzhi also knew that he could not defeat Xiao Yan, so he could only .
"Well, whatever, I'll leave the person to you!"
Seeing Guo Youzhi give in, Xiao Yan laughed: "That's right , at least I can trust you!"
"I will return the person to you after I get the information, but you still have to be careful of Hu Zhenghe. This person must not be allowed to stay."
"To be honest, shouldn't the housekeeper have been involved in Hu Zhenghe's bad deeds?"
"Even if he is dead, he deserves to die. Let's spare his life today. After getting some information, let him fend for himself!"
Guo Youzhi also knew that if he took in this housekeeper, he would be accepting a disaster, as Hu Zhenghe's people would come to kill him at any time.
"Yes, I understand!"
"The person is in my house, Your Highness, please send someone to capture him!"
Xiao Yan nodded and glanced at Sande. Sande immediately understood and went straight to the Northern Pacification Office.
"Master Guo, tell me about your situation. Why did you choose to help that housekeeper instead of Hu Zhenghe?"
Guo Youzhi understood very well that Xiao Yan definitely did not mean to ask about this person.
"Your Highness, although this person has done many bad things, he still retains a trace of humanity when it comes to major issues."
"If smallpox spreads in Kyoto, my Great Zhou will be in chaos."
"Let's not talk about how many people died, I'm sure someone will take advantage of this opportunity to seize power, right?"
Guo Youzhi had long understood that Hu Zhenghe's move was not to cause trouble for Xiao Yan, but to seize power.
Once smallpox breaks out, there will be no cure, so the deaths of these people will only become stepping stones for Hu Zhenghe.
"That makes some sense. If this were to succeed, Hu Zhenghe would definitely seize power without hesitation. What I'm wondering is, why didn't you conspire with Hu Zhenghe?"
Xiao Yan admired Guo Youzhi, otherwise, based on what Guo Youzhi had done before, he would have deserved to die eight hundred times.
Hearing this, Guo Youzhi knelt down.
"Your Highness, I am confused. Not to mention that Your Highness is my mother's savior, I admire what Your Highness has done!"
"The Great Zhou Dynasty is prosperous because of His Highness, the heir to the throne!"
"From now on, I will loyally assist Your Highness without hesitation!"
Xiao Yan didn't expect that he would have an unexpected gain. He thought that Guo Youzhi was a proud and arrogant person, waiting for him to visit him three times!
I never expected that he would surrender after just a few words. I guess it was because of the political achievements I had made during this period!
"Okay, now that I have a right-hand man like you, I will definitely bring my Great Zhou to a whole new level!"
"You are a capable minister. Your talent is definitely not something a mere minister can carry."
"But the timing is not right now. When the time is right, I will definitely give you a stage to perform on!"
Guo Youzhi understood that Xiao Yan meant that he was going to use him, but now was not the right time as the government was in chaos.
"There's something I've always wanted to ask you, and now seems like a good time."
Guo Youzhi knew too many things, and he didn't know what Xiao Yan wanted to ask him.
"Please explain clearly, Your Highness!"
"Let me ask you, did the Imperial Guards conspire with Hu Zhenghe before?"
Hearing this, Guo Youzhi smiled and shook his head and said, "Your Highness can rest assured about this. Hu Zhenghe does not have the ability to reach out to the Imperial Guards, which are His Majesty's personal army."
"No matter how prestigious Hu Zhenghe is, the Imperial Guards will never pay any attention to him!"
Xiao Yan didn't expect that Hu Zhenghe didn't have control over the Imperial Guards, which was a bit strange.
"Your Highness, don't be confused. The reason why it didn't work out is because I got in the way!"
"Oh? There is such a thing?"
Xiao Yan knew that it was Guo Youzhi who had discussed the matter with Zhang Miao in detail, but he did not know that it was not a conspiracy.
"So, I have wronged Zhang Miao. Sending him to Yanzhou is helping others, right?"
Guo Youzhi smiled and said, "Your Highness, this is not to help others. The fighting power of the Royal Guards is absolutely beyond doubt!"
"But compared to the Yanzhou City Defense Force, it's still a little behind!"
"Because the Yanzhou City Defense Army was trained by successive generations of champion marquises, their combat power is definitely not comparable to that of the Imperial Guards!"
"You transferred the Yanzhou City Defense Force to strengthen the protection of the imperial city, rather than helping others."
Xiao Yan didn't know this. With so many troops, how could he know which one had stronger combat effectiveness?
"So it was an accident?"
"Alright, I know you did a lot of things in the past, and I won't hold you accountable for them, but if you have second thoughts in the future, you know what will happen."
"It's been so long, I'm sure you know how many people I've killed?"
Xiao Yan knew that the art of being an emperor was not just about showing favor, but also about exerting some pressure.
If you give too much favor, it will turn into hatred!
"Yes, I have no second thoughts!"
Xiao Yan looked at Guo Youzhi with increasing satisfaction. With such a person assisting him, he believed that his future would be smoother!
"Okay, go back first. I'll tell you if I have anything else to say!"
"I'll take my leave!"
Xiao Yan felt relieved after Guo Youzhi left.
After all, Guo Youzhi is crucial to his future layout in the court. He is a sharp sword to check and balance Hu Zhenghe.
When Hu Zhenghe completely loses his prestige in the court, then it will be the time for him to reap the rewards of Hu Zhenghe.
"Your Highness, Lord Yang from the Ministry of War wishes to see you!"
Xiao Yan frowned in confusion. Shouldn't Yang Zhi have received the notification from Sande by now?
"Let him in!"
"Your Highness, I, Yang Zhi, pay my respects to you!"
Xiao Yan sat down and said, "Stand up and talk!"
"What are you doing in such a hurry?"
Yang Zhi quickly said, "Your Highness, the Tubo Kingdom has made some moves and is gathering its forces, but the target should not be our Great Zhou!"
"According to the scouts, their target should be Loulan!"
Xiao Yan was puzzled. Loulan was considered a relatively powerful country among the countries in the Western Regions.
It is usually very low-key and has always had trade relations with the Great Zhou. It is considered a relatively friendly country with the Great Zhou.
Why are we being threatened by the Tubo Kingdom now?
"Why did the two countries become enemies? And is Tubo's move really Loulan's?"
Yang Zhi nodded affirmatively and said, "Indeed, the trade between Loulan and Tubo has suddenly stopped recently!"
"I don't know why, but Loulan is no pushover either, and has also assembled a large army at the border!"
"Your Highness, what should we do?"