vrcanaries Chapter 96 Xiao Long pushes Gu Nan, Lou Li pushes himself.
Chapter 96 Xiao Long pushes Gu Nan, Lou Li pushes himself.
Meanwhile, in the Xuancheng Imperial Palace, a thousand miles away, the morning court session was being held.
All the civil and military officials were discussing Xie Yanting's disappearance. Those who believed Xie Yanting said it was a scheme by the Northern Barbarians, while those who criticized him thought it was a clever escape plan by the Xie family. They believed that if they didn't send someone to take over the Northern Army soon, there might be a huge change.
Lou Li looked at Xiao Yan with an air of confidence. Xiao Yan nodded slightly, signaling him not to get too carried away, as their plan had only succeeded a small step.
Only when the leader of the Northern Army is replaced by one of their own can this matter be considered half successful. Next, it is time for the officials to discuss and send someone to take over the Northern Army.
Lou Li looked at the Lou family generals in the crowd, full of confidence. Soon, their Lou family would become the head of the four great families. Even if Xiao Yan could not defeat Crown Prince Xiao Long, their Lou family's strength would not be underestimated.
So for him, he has already taken a big step forward.
Just as Lou Li was secretly planning the future of the Lou family, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the court. A guard rushed in, knelt in the center of the hall, and reported nervously: "Your Majesty, urgent report from the border! The Northern Barbarian army has made unusual movements and has secretly assembled 100,000 troops. Their intentions are unclear. General Xie Yanting has also confirmed that he is indeed missing."
These words immediately caused an uproar in the court, with civil and military officials exchanging bewildered glances and discussing the matter.
Xiao Yan appeared just as solemn as the others, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
He knew the Northern Barbarians were cooperating with their actions, so he wasn't worried. Instead, he wanted to do something else.
"Father, I am willing to set off immediately for the northern border to stabilize the morale of the army and find out the truth behind the disappearance of General Xie Yanting."
Xiao Yan stepped forward, speaking earnestly, but inwardly he was overjoyed, as if everything was under his control.
The emperor frowned, his gaze shifting between Xiao Yan and the officials.
Lou Li nearly lost control of his facial expression amidst the crowd. What was Xiao Yan going to do? Was he going to personally take action? What was he doing at the border? Hadn't it been agreed long ago to support the Lou family's military generals?
Xiao Yan sneered inwardly. He knew very well that this was the perfect opportunity for him to demonstrate his abilities and further consolidate his position. How could he let someone else seize this opportunity?
The alliance between the two was clearly not very stable.
Xiao Long noticed the subtle changes in the two, and Shen Cong'an also roughly guessed that Xiao Yan's sudden proposal to go to the Northern Border was obviously not in his and Lou Li's plans. So this was the best time to sabotage the relationship between Xiao Yan and Lou Li.
Shen Cong'an nodded to Xiao Long. At this moment, it was Xiao Long, the crown prince, who should step forward.
"Father."
Xiao Long stood up, his voice steady and powerful, “Your subject also believes that this matter concerns the safety of the country and cannot be compromised. Your subject thinks that General Gu Nan should be sent there. He was once General Xie’s deputy. In this way, we can stabilize the morale of the army and allow General Xie to focus his energy on investigating the mystery of General Xie Yanting’s disappearance and the true intentions of the Northern Barbarian army’s unusual movements.”
These words caused another stir in the imperial court, with civil and military officials turning their heads to look, and the discussions becoming even louder.
The loyalty of the Xie family is still questionable, so how can we send them another general? If Gu Nan listens to Xie Yun and is assassinated in the Great Zhou Dynasty, wouldn't that plunge the world into chaos?
However, the Xie family army firmly believes that since the Crown Prince trusts the Xie family, all the hardships the Xie family has endured in guarding the border for so many years have been worthwhile.
The Emperor's eyes flickered, clearly more satisfied with the Crown Prince's suggestion. He had a deep friendship with Xie Yun and trusted him greatly; otherwise, he would not have entrusted the northern border to Xie Yun so confidently for so many years.
Lou Li's face was even more unpleasant. He never expected Xiao Yan to suddenly interfere, and now Xiao Long had suggested that Gu Nan go. What about the people he had arranged?
This would inevitably hinder the Lou family's plan to take over the northern army, and the Xie family was clearly not suspected as planned. Too many people trusted the Xie family, which was definitely not a good thing for the Lou family.
He had to do something. Even if Xiao Yan didn't help him, his father was the Grand Tutor!
Lou Li was extremely anxious. He quickly considered a countermeasure in his mind. He glanced at his silent general beside him, a fierce glint in his eyes, and decided to take a desperate gamble.
"Your Majesty," Lou Li said earnestly, "Your Highness the Crown Prince's suggestion is good, but General Gu Nan is advanced in years, and a long journey may be detrimental to his health. Furthermore, the situation in the Northern Border is complex and volatile, requiring a young, strong, and resourceful general to handle it. I recommend my own general, Lou Yunhe. He has practiced martial arts since childhood, has extensive knowledge of military strategy and tactics, and is thoroughly familiar with the terrain of the Northern Border. He is truly the best candidate." Lou Li spoke earnestly, attempting to persuade the Emperor.
These words sparked another round of discussion in the court. Many people secretly pondered that although Lou Yunhe was young, he was indeed talented, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to let him take over the Northern Army.
However, Lou Li's move clearly shows that he wants to stand out, which will displease those who don't want the Lou family to be too prominent.
However, Xiao Yan smiled coldly. How could he not see through Lou Li's wishful thinking? He slowly said, "Although Lou Yunhe is a good talent among young military generals, he is still inexperienced. The matter in the northern border is no small matter and requires careful consideration. I believe it would be more prudent for me to go there personally."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor frowned, his gaze shifting back and forth between Xiao Yan and Lou Li, clearly weighing the pros and cons.
Didn't the third brother marry a girl from the Lou family? Why isn't he speaking up for the Lou family? What is his intention in rushing to the Northern Border?
At this moment, Shen Cong'an stepped forward and said softly, "Your Majesty, I believe that what the two princes said makes sense, but this matter concerns the safety of the country and requires careful decision-making. It would be better to send an envoy to the northern border to find out the truth before making a decision."
His suggestion made the emperor nod slightly, finding the suggestion quite reasonable.
He looked at Xiao Yan and Lou Li and said in a deep voice, "This matter will be discussed later. I will make my own decision. Both General Gu Nan and Lou Yunhe are pillars of the country. They should prioritize the overall situation and not let personal matters interfere with public duty."
Lou Li was unwilling to accept this, but he had no choice but to temporarily restrain his sharpness.
He looked at Xiao Yan, his eyes filled with provocation and resentment, as if silently declaring: Xiao Yan, you dare to betray me, you just wait.
Xiao Yan, however, remained calm. In his view, the Lou family was dependent on him, but he was not dependent on the Lou family.