394 Self-Invitation
There was another suffocating silence in the royal court.
After a while, the emperor stared at Lord Xu’s gaze and gradually looked at the Marquis of Ningyuan. “What do you think, Marquis of Ningyuan? Are you willing to lead troops to quell the rebellion in Shandong?”
The Marquis of Ningyuan trembled and had no choice but to walk into the hall. He knelt on the ground with a thud. “Your Majesty, ever since my leg was injured in the battle with the Di people three years ago, I can no longer ride a horse, let alone lead an army to war. I’m afraid I can’t help the Imperial Court calm the chaos and damage the dignity of our Great Zhou. I-I beg Your Majesty to find another…”
“Enough—” The emperor was furious. He suddenly grabbed his teacup and smashed it on the Marquis of Ningyuan’s head.
The Marquis of Ningyuan screamed and fell to the ground.
However, no one in the court dared to look at him.
Everyone knew very well that when Marquis of Ningyuan said that he would resign, the matter of quelling the rebellion in Shandong could not be handed over to him. After all, before they could stop the rebellion, Marquis of Ningyuan had already cowered. How could this rebellion be quelled?
The emperor also understood this principle, so other than being furious, he could not force Marquis of Ningyuan to lead the troops.
After venting his anger, the emperor seemed to have exhausted all his strength. His face immediately turned ashen, and he staggered back to the dragon throne, panting heavily.
When the eunuch saw this, he quickly took out a pill and fed it to him.
After taking the pill, the emperor was very tired. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the blurry scene below, his face turning green.
At this moment, there was the sound of wheels in the hall. The emperor, who had almost lost his mind in his anger, suddenly heard a hoarse voice. “Your Majesty, I, Yin Huaixi, am willing to lead my troops to Shandong to calm the chaos with my crippled body. If the riots are not eliminated, I swear I won’t return to the court.”
Yin Huaixi’s request for battle was simply like a slap to the Marquis of Changxing, who had been unable to ride a horse due to his “leg problems” and lead his troops to calm the chaos.
Yin Huaixi was a 15-year-old young man with crippled legs and a weak body. However, he was still filled with loyalty and heroism.
In contrast, he was an old general with outstanding military achievements and was deeply valued, but he actually dared to resign.
The Marquis of Ningyuan, who had fallen to the ground and was pretending to be unconscious, almost couldn’t pretend anymore.
The emperor suddenly opened his eyes and stared fixedly at “Yin Huaixi”, who was sitting in a wheelchair. “I’m deeply gratified that you were able to step forward when the Great Zhou Dynasty was in danger. You’re worthy of being a man of the Yin family.” Then, he changed the topic and said with some concern in his tone, “However, your health isn’t good. Go back to Fuyang Palace and recuperate!”
Over the past few days, the heir, Yin Huaixi, had been living in Fuyang Palace.
He had also sent someone to investigate Yin Huaixi thoroughly.
Naturally, he knew that Yin Huaixi had been practicing martial arts with King You since he was five years old. He had entered the military camp at the age of seven and lived with the soldiers in the army, displaying extremely strong military talent.
When the Di people invaded the Northern Barbarians on a large scale, it was such a twelve-year-old youth who killed the officials and nobles who were unwilling to help in the battle. He gathered supplies and personally escorted them to the battlefield, resolving the shortage of supplies for the You army. He fought side by side with King You and turned the tide, resolving the danger of the north.
Not only that, but back then, when Mr. Xian Yun traveled to the north to set up a precious chess game, no one in the world could understand it.
In the end, he was the one who solved the chess game.
Yin Huaixi was undoubtedly a genius. If he did not have a broken leg, he would definitely be of use to him. He would replace his father, King You, and help him calm the chaos in Shandong and suppress the You Prefecture.
Unfortunately, he was crippled.
He would have to live in a wheelchair for the rest of his life and wouldn’t be able to ride horses and shoot arrows on the battlefield.
“Yin Huaixi” shook his head. “In the rebellion in Shandong, we can’t afford to lose.”
The emperor frowned and was immediately displeased. “Someone, send the heir back to Fuyang Palace to recuperate.”
“Yin Huaixi” thought of Young Master’s instructions and said, “Your Majesty, please listen to me. If you still don’t want me to lead the troops to quell the chaos, I have nothing to say.”
The emperor looked at him steadily. “Tell me!”
“Yin Huaixi” lowered his eyes. “There are three reasons why I want to lead the troops to Shandong.”
At this point, he paused for a moment, and his voice became much deeper. “Firstly, my father has been in the military for half his life and is loyal to the Imperial Court. He has no ulterior motives. Although he’s dead, it’s no big deal. However, that thief from Shandong actually dared to use my father’s reputation to rebel and tarnish my father’s reputation. As his son, I should eliminate the traitor and use the name of my father to make an example of the world and raise the reputation of our Great Zhou.”
The emperor’s heart skipped a beat when he heard this. “Yin Huaixi” had such goals because he was ambitious. Perhaps he…
However, when he saw his legs, he suppressed the thoughts in his heart.
There was no hurry.
He wanted to hear what he had to say next.
“Yin Huaixi” raised his eyes and looked straight at the king on the dragon throne. “Secondly, my father is loyal to the country. He was sincere. Although he was framed and wronged, he obtained benevolence. The commoners don’t know the truth and were instigated by the traitors, causing anger in the people. The reason why Li Qiguang was able to get a hundred people to respond at once and dare to launch a large-scale rebellion in Shandong is because of the people’s anger. He used the people’s anger to accuse the emperor of harming a loyal and good ruler. For his rebellion, he gained dignity by asking for justice for the people. If the people’s anger is injustice, how can it be appeased? Can the world be at peace? The people’s anger can’t be appeased unless the accused’s son appears.”
His words hit the nail on the head, making the emperor’s breathing quicken.
During this period of time, there had been anger everywhere in the country, and there had already been small-scale riots in many areas.
If the people’s anger was not eliminated, a large-scale rebellion like the Shandong rebellion would definitely not be the first or second. At that time, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Yin Huaixi was right. Only Yin Huaixi, the heir of King You, could calm the people’s anger.
In that case, he really had to be involved in the rebellion in Shandong.
Before the emperor could speak, he waited to hear him continue.
“Yin Huaixi” continued, “Although your leg is crippled and you can’t ride a horse or shoot an arrow, you are still his son.” He pointed at his brain and pursed his lips slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of arrogance. “His brain is still there. This brain is filled with the wisdom of strategizing and deciding the outcome of a thousand miles. Also, his heart still exists.” He pointed at his chest. “A man should hold a three-foot sword and make extraordinary contributions. If he doesn’t follow his goals today, why should he be afraid of death?”
His powerful words were heard by everyone present.
His words only meant one thing.
He was not afraid of the rebellion in Shandong.
The emperor couldn’t help but shout excitedly, “Good, good. You’re a good man. You should hold a sword that’s three feet long and make extraordinary contributions. You haven’t fulfilled your ambition today, why are you afraid of death?” At this point, the emperor laughed loudly. He suddenly stood up from the dragon chair and strode down the steps to “Yin Huaixi”. He patted his shoulder. “Your father really taught a good son. As expected of the dragon son and phoenix grandson of the Yin Imperial Family. He’s ambitious and courageous.”