readytorunbook Chapter 286 Cabinet Discussions
Chapter 286 Cabinet Discussions
One day, I will come back and make you my slave.
Jin Yiluo's rough voice sounded, and Lu Mingyang broke out in a cold sweat and turned to run towards the stable.
"Second sister, where are you going?" Yang Nianshu chased to the stable, but the person had already ridden away.
Lu Mingyang rode all the way to the Ningyuan Palace, jumped off the horse and ran in.
"Your Highness, where is His Highness?"
Zheng Hao heard the voice and rushed out to greet him. Lu Mingyang's mind was in a mess. He grabbed Zheng Hao and asked, "Where is His Highness?"
Zheng Hao said, "His Highness has entered the palace."
"Entering the palace?" Lu Mingyang let go and left in a hurry.
Zheng Hao scratched his head in confusion, wondering why His Highness and the Princess were so flustered today.
When Lu Mingyang arrived at Chengtian Gate, the Imperial Guards stopped her. It was just a gate, easily passed through, but she could only watch the palace from afar, powerless to do anything.
In the cabinet, at a long conference table, the emperor sat at the top, flanked by officials. The Xiongnu's peace proposal was circulated around the table.
A messenger eunuch came in and reported, "Your Majesty, Prince Ningyuan requests an audience."
The emperor did not summon him to discuss the Xiongnu's request for peace. He said, "Tell him to do the job I've assigned him, and don't let him get involved in anything else."
"Yes!" The eunuch took the order and left.
Not long after, the messenger eunuch came in again and reported: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Ningyuan is kneeling outside."
"If he wants to kneel, let him kneel." The emperor ignored him. Seeing that the letter of request for peace had been circulated, he asked, "What do you think, my Lords?"
The white-bearded old man sitting to the emperor's left said, "The Xiongnu Khan's words are sincere in seeking peace. It would be a good thing if the two nations were on good terms and the people were spared from war. I believe this is feasible."
"What's feasible?" A bearded general on the right slammed the table in anger. "He asks for peace when he wants it, and he goes to war when he wants it. Where does this put the prestige of our Great Sheng?"
"If there's no peace, will we continue the war?" Another minister on the left refuted the bearded general and said, "Your Majesty, the Xiongnu are willing to return the cities of Yunzhong and Jiuyuan, which shows their sincerity. I also believe it is feasible, and a great idea."
"Let's make peace!" Seeing the bearded general about to speak again, the older general sitting in front of him patted him lightly. What could they do if they didn't make peace?
If they continued to fight, their victory would arouse the suspicion of His Majesty and bring about a catastrophe. If they were defeated, their titles and positions would be stripped, neither of which would be beneficial to these generals.
The emperor smiled and said, "Since all the ministers have no objection, then the peace talks are settled. The remaining matter is the matters raised in his letter. Do you think they are acceptable?"
"Agree!" It was the old man with white beard who spoke first, and most people followed suit.
"Think twice, Your Majesty!"
Just as the emperor was about to speak, Chu Mingzheng's voice came in. Then he pushed the door open and barged in. The young eunuch didn't stop him and knelt down to apologize.
The emperor waved his hand to let him go, and looked at Chu Mingzheng unhappily: "Mingzheng, you are so presumptuous! I haven't allowed you to discuss matters in the cabinet yet."
Chu Mingzheng walked to the emperor's side, brushed his clothes, and knelt down. "Father, your Majesty is kind and compassionate. He cannot bear to see the suffering of the people. Agreeing to peace talks is indeed the best policy. However, Your Majesty, please reconsider what the Xiongnu has said."
The emperor angrily asked, "How did you know what the Xiongnu said?"
The emperor did not let him see the letter of peace.
After the Xiongnu were defeated, they handed over a letter of peace to Lu Mingze, who copied it and had it delivered to the Ningyuan Palace at full speed. Therefore, the letter of peace sent to the palace and the letter sent to the Ningyuan Palace arrived in the capital one after the other.
After Chu Ming reviewed the troops, he hurried to the palace and forgot about this for a moment.
"Father, I have no idea what the letter says." Chu Mingzheng thought quickly, "It's just that I feel the Xiongnu are cunning and must have ulterior motives in what they are proposing. We must not agree to it lightly."
"Really?" The emperor gestured to Eunuch Su to show him the letter of peace, testing him and appreciating the change in his expression.
"How?" he asked.
Chu Mingzheng knelt to read it, then slowly raised his head, his face nearly pale. "Father, the Xiongnu Khan is willing to exchange the two cities of Jiuyuan and Yunzhong for your permission to marry the fourth daughter of the Lu family. This is really inappropriate."
The emperor smiled and said, "Zheng'er, I know she was once your princess, and you are reluctant to let her go. But family matters cannot be confused with state affairs. You must understand the overall situation."
"Your Majesty, I understand." Chu Mingzheng replied calmly, "The fourth daughter of the Lu family is the widow of the Tian family today, and will be a member of the Duke of Song's family tomorrow. What does this have to do with me? Why should I contradict you for her?"
At this moment, a young official at the end of the table on the left stood up and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, I also think this is inappropriate. The general of the army has won a great victory over the Xiongnu, but his sister wants to marry into the Xiongnu as a foreign mission. Isn't this disheartening to the meritorious officials?"
"Nonsense!" the white-bearded old man shouted angrily, "The Xiongnu Khan clearly stated in his letter that he wants to marry the second daughter of the Lu family to be his Great Consort. The Great Consort is the mother of the Xiongnu nation. How could such a great reward dissuade a meritorious official?"
The bearded general snorted coldly, "Since it's a reward, why don't you let your granddaughter go?"
The white-bearded old man spoke calmly, smiling smugly: "Of course I am willing to share the country's worries, but the Xiongnu Khan does not want my granddaughter."
Someone in the middle intervened and accurately stated the most important question: "If the fourth daughter of the Lu family is not allowed to marry, how can the Xiongnu return the two cities of Jiuyuan and Yunzhong?"
Everyone fell silent. While Jiuyuan and Yunzhong weren't military strongholds, they were once part of Dasheng territory. One woman, naturally, wasn't as important as two cities.
The bearded general slammed the table and said, "Since the Xiongnu have been defeated, they should obediently surrender the city as a sign of sincerity."
"If you think so, then when the Huns come, what are you talking about?" Someone said sarcastically, and everyone started arguing, and the scene became chaotic again.
"Shut up, everyone!"
Chu Mingzheng spoke coldly, his voice low, and while kneeling, the noisy hall fell strangely silent. The emperor was startled at first, then frowned in displeasure.
Chu Mingzheng said, "Father, the Xiongnu Khan appears to be offering two cities as a betrothal gift, but he actually harbors evil intentions. Half the people in Jiuyuan City are Xiongnu, and riots could break out at any moment. And now there's a plague in Yunzhong. If it were to be incorporated into Dasheng territory, the people in the city would flee south. Should we kill them or not?"
Every word was kind and heart-wrenching, but the emperor could no longer listen. All he could think about was the scene of how he had just commanded everyone's response.
With a bang, the emperor slammed his hand on the table and angrily scolded, "You little brat, you're the only one who's so smart! All my civil and military officials can't see it, they're all fools, only you are smart."
"Your son is terrified." Chu Mingzheng was stunned, not knowing why the emperor suddenly got angry.