bookrebus Chapter 718: The Emperor's Plot (Part 1)
Chapter 718: The Emperor's Plot (Part 1)
Inside the Yangxin Palace, the smell of medicine still lingered.
Emperor Qing waved his hand slowly, and the young imperial physician seemed to be pardoned. He put down the medicine bowl, bowed, and walked backwards, his steps as light as a cat.
The palace door closed silently.
Emperor Qing picked up the bowl of thick black medicine and drank it all in one gulp without frowning.
A bitter taste filled his mouth, and he casually handed the empty bowl to Huang Jin who was standing beside him.
"Bring me the largest map of the Daqing Territory and spread it out in the hall."
Huang Jin responded and immediately ordered two young eunuchs to carefully spread out a huge map on the ground.
Emperor Qing did not stand up, but just leaned forward slightly, his cloudy eyes fixed on the huge map for a long time.
"Summon the Left Prime Minister Du Fuchen and the Right Prime Minister Huo Tao, and have them come to the palace to see me immediately."
After a long time, Emperor Qing finally spoke.
Huang Jin did not dare to delay and immediately bowed and went out to convey the order.
About an incense stick's time later, footsteps were heard outside the hall.
Two important officials dressed in purple robes and wearing Liang crowns came together.
The two men straightened their clothes at the palace entrance, walked in, and saluted Emperor Qing respectfully.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, is greeted by your humble servant Du Fuchen (Huo Tao)."
"Please stand up." Emperor Qing's voice was still low. "Please take a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The two of them stood up, and a young eunuch brought over an embroidered cushion.
After confessing their sins, the two men sat down, their eyes involuntarily falling on the huge map spread out on the ground.
They quickly glanced at the emperor's pale and haggard face, and the strong smell of medicine in the hall made them feel heavy in their hearts.
Emperor Qing didn't say anything, his eyes still fixed on the map, his fingers tapping lightly on his knees.
Du Fuchen and Huo Tao looked at each other and saw doubt in each other's eyes.
Your Majesty summoned me urgently late at night and spread out the map of the territory. There must be something big going on.
Du Fuchen was even more impatient and couldn't help asking, "Your Majesty summoned us so late at night. What's the important matter?"
Emperor Qing didn't answer. He simply raised his bony finger and pointed to the east of the map: "Come and see."
Upon hearing this, Du Fuchen and Huo Tao stood up, walked to the side of the map, and bent down to take a closer look.
The map depicts the vast territory of Daqing, as well as its surrounding vassal states and neighboring countries.
After all, Du Fuchen was young and had the best eyesight, so he was the first to catch the difference.
His gaze moved along the border of the Korean Peninsula, and then turned to the string of islands across the sea - the Four Islands of Japan.
I saw that the boundary lines of these areas had been redrawn with a striking cinnabar pen. The lines were clear and powerful, and it was obvious that they were added not long ago.
In particular, the three islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu of Japan were clearly circled by the red pen within the territory of Daqing. Only the northernmost Hokkaido was isolated and not yet colored.
Du Fuchen's pupils suddenly contracted and his breathing was slightly choked.
He raised his head and looked at Emperor Qing, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty! This... this red pen circle, could it be that His Royal Highness has taken over Japan?!"
Upon hearing this, Huo Tao immediately focused his attention and looked carefully. When he saw the glaring vermilion boundary line clearly, his pupils also trembled violently.
Wow, my son really followed an extraordinary prince, and he is such a good fighter!
There was still no obvious expression on Emperor Qing's face. He just stretched out his finger and pointed at the memorial on his knees.
Huang Jin immediately understood and carefully picked up the "Memorial to Destroy the Japanese" and handed it respectfully to Du Fuchen.
Du Fuchen took a deep breath and took the memorial with both hands. Huo Tao also came over immediately.
The two stood beside the huge map, holding their breath and reading word by word in the bright candlelight in the hall.
Time passed little by little.
The Yangxin Palace was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, with only the slight rustling of papers as the two important ministers flipped through the memorials, and Emperor Qing's occasional suppressed cough.
The expressions on Du Fuchen and Huo Tao's faces changed from solemnity at first, to shock, and then to uncontrollable ecstasy.
Finally, the two of them finished reading the last line of the memorial almost at the same time.
Du Fuchen carefully closed the memorial and returned it to Huang Jin with both hands.
He and Huo Tao exchanged a glance, then both straightened their clothes and faced Emperor Qing again. They lifted their robes and bowed to congratulate him:
"Your Majesty, your humble servant Du Fuchen (Huo Tao), congratulates you! This is an unprecedented feat of expanding our territory! Your Highness, Prince Feng, is truly valiant. May Heaven bless our great celebration! May your Majesty be blessed with great fortune!"
Emperor Qing looked at the two important ministers without much joy on his face.
He waved his hand gently: "Get up, this achievement was earned by Lao Liu and his soldiers with their blood. It has nothing to do with me..."
Du Fuchen and Huo Tao stood up as instructed.
Hearing the emperor say this, both of them felt a slight chill in their hearts, but no one would refute the emperor's humble words at this time. They just stood respectfully with their hands lowered.
Emperor Qing's gaze returned to the map, and he slowly raised his finger, moving it along the newly outlined eastern and southeastern coastlines, from the Liaodong Peninsula to the three islands of Japan that were newly incorporated into the territory.
"The Japanese islands have been pacified, and Baekje and Silla have long since submitted. This is truly a grand event unprecedented in Daqing's history, but also... an unprecedented burden."
Emperor Qing's voice was not loud, but it reached the ears of the two important ministers clearly.
"I called you here not to hear congratulations, but to discuss the current situation on the border of Daqing."
Du Fuchen and Huo Tao felt a tightness in their hearts, and immediately suppressed the joy on their faces, their expressions becoming solemn.
Emperor Qing traced his finger across the vast coastline. "Look at this map. Old Six has conquered a vast sea for Daqing. From Liaodong to the Japanese islands, it stretches for thousands of miles."
"These places have only recently been annexed, and the people's hearts are still unsettled. Even though Japan has been annihilated, its remnants may not be content; even though Baekje and Silla have submitted, they are bound to have internal rebellious tendencies. Not to mention, across the sea, in the depths of the ocean, there may be other people eyeing us covetously."
His finger finally pointed heavily at the location of the four islands of Japan: "Especially this country of Japan, which is isolated overseas and has a vast territory. Lao Liu's Fengtian Army's main force must not only suppress Xintu, but also deter the coastal areas, and guard against possible threats from other directions..."
Emperor Qing paused, his eyes sweeping over Du Fuchen and Huo Tao. "Do you think the troops he has are sufficient?"
"Who will guard this newly expanded sea border? How can we ensure its long-term stability?"
Du Fuchen and Huo Tao's bodies shook almost at the same time, and a cold chill instantly rushed from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads!
What does your Majesty mean by this?!
King Feng had made such an unprecedented contribution, commanded a large army, and possessed a vast new territory.
Its power is so great that it can already compete with the central government!
Now, Your Majesty mentions the Fengtian Army's lack of manpower and the long, difficult-to-defend border... Could it be... could it be that Your Majesty is worried about the Prince of Feng's growing power and wants to take advantage of this opportunity to use military force against the State of Feng? To weaken, or even reclaim, the Prince of Feng's authority?!