knife

Chapter 281 The Taste of Power

Wu De slept in late, not getting up until the sun was high in the sky.

Stepping outside, I stretched lazily, ignoring the astonished looks from the Black Ice Bureau staff coming and going. I walked straight into the bushes, grabbed a handful of snow, rubbed it on my face for a while, then broke off an icicle and smacked it in my mouth for a bit. That was how I washed my face and brushed my teeth.

Don't be in a hurry.

never mind.

Luo Ying brought him breakfast.

The meals prepared by the Black Ice Guard for its subordinates were naturally not good: two steamed buns, a bowl of millet porridge, a dish of pickled vegetables, and for people like Wu De, an extra salted fish.

"Has the Grand Chancellor returned yet?"

"no!"

"Has Vice Minister Yin returned yet?"

"No! But I heard this morning that Prime Minister Wei entered the city through the west gate yesterday and returned to his residence. He should be going to the capital to work today!"

As they were talking, Wu De had already devoured everything in a flash, even licking the porridge bowl clean, leaving Luo Ying somewhat stunned.

When I went out yesterday, I looked like I was worried about the country and its people. But after I woke up, I was radiant and looked like a completely different person.

"I'll go find Minister Wei later!" Wu De said. "You, go to the Ministry of War and find Chief Huang. Get two hundred crossbows and the corresponding bolts from him."

"The commander pulled some strings? We suffered a setback last time!"

Wu De glanced at Luo Ying. Was this kid genuinely unaware or pretending? To be honest, he couldn't quite figure this kid out. Luo Ying and Zhang Qingyun were born to make a living from intelligence; they could always keep you guessing about their true thoughts.

The first result of the cooperation between the two parties was that Luo Ying joined the Black Ice Platform.

Luo Ying will likely realize her choice soon.

Let Zhang Qingyun tell him.

Wei Zhengdao did not look well. This trip out of the capital was not only to appease the area around Chang'an, but also to comfort the garrison. He was working non-stop all day, and his body was really taking a toll on him.

Wei Zhengdao was unfamiliar with martial arts and was exhausted after traveling for more than ten days.

But as soon as he returned to the capital, he had to go back to his post immediately. After being away for more than ten days, the documents in the office that needed his review had piled up like a mountain.

Upon hearing that Wu De was requesting an audience, Wei Zhengdao immediately invited him in.

Other court officials may not know the importance of Wu De, but Wei Zhengdao knows it very well.

With Kou Zhong confined to the fifth basement level of the Black Ice Platform, He Bing was better at handling internal affairs, Zhang Quanyi became the commander-in-chief, and Wu De had in fact become the most influential leader of the Black Ice Platform.

A bloodstained metal cylinder was placed in front of Wei Zhengdao.
He pulled out the document inside, and after reading only the first few lines, Wei Zhengdao stood up from his cross-legged position, his excitement growing stronger.

To be honest, when Linghu Ye led his army into the pass, both he and Kou Zhong were greatly disappointed.

The Anxi Protectorate's Xiao Changche and Li Dachui, whom they had pinned their hopes on, failed to accomplish their task of containing the enemy.

In the eyes of people like Wei Zhengdao and Kou Zhong, Xiao Changche and Li Dachui even facilitated Linghu Ye's entry into the pass, because after Linghu Ye entered the pass, they became the masters of the area outside the pass.

Moreover, during this process, they also turned Chen Liang and the Chang clan, who were under Linghu Ye's command, against their side.

Ma Dacheng from Yangguan also turned to the embrace of the area beyond the pass.

Without the cooperation of several parties, how could Linghu Ye have entered the pass? How could he have occupied Hedong and Hexi, which the imperial court was determined to conquer?
Kou Zhong and Wei Zhengdao painstakingly planned the Hedong Incident, only to have it ruined by He Zudao, who ultimately benefited others by allowing Linghu Ye to effortlessly gain control of Hedong and Hexi, thus establishing a foothold in the Guanzhong Plain and Chang'an.

Strategic advantages of Luoyang and other places.

However, judging from today's detailed memorial, the court has wronged Xiao Changche and Li Dachui.

Linghu Ye colluded with Zhebie of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, intending to sell the entire area outside the Great Wall to Zhebie.

Xiao Changche and Li Dachui used each other's strength against each other, and with the cooperation of the righteous Chen Liang and Chang Jian, they defeated the attack of tens of thousands of Zhebie's army in one fell swoop, thus protecting the area outside the pass.

Of course, that's not the point.

The key point is that Li Dachui, the deputy protector of Anxi Protectorate, went deep into the Northern Yuan, cleverly used tricks to kill Yingzhuo, frame Akedun, and trigger the civil war between Akedun and Tiele. Then, he released Jebe in the battle outside the pass. Next, Jebe killed Lengge, abandoned Qingtongxia and Yezhuling, and led his troops directly back to his northern home, Zhenzhou.

The Northern Yuan is now in a three-way war, while the area outside the pass is as stable as Mount Tai.

What Wei Zhengdao valued even more was that the Anxi Protectorate still maintained absolute respect for the imperial court, which could be seen from the memorials submitted, and Zhang Ruo's memorial was also included among the Anxi Protectorate's memorials.

Wei Zhengdao still believes in this person.

Wei Zhengdao burst into laughter.

This is what they mean by "Heaven never seals off all paths."

Just when the imperial court was in turmoil, a pillar of stability finally appeared.

With the Northern Yuan in chaos and unable to advance south, the large army of the Anxi Protectorate outside the Great Wall became highly valuable.

Even if they don't enter the pass, Linghu Ye, who now occupies both sides of the river, is probably losing his appetite and sleep.

As long as this army remains loyal to the court, it will make all ambitious people think twice. Of course, that madman He Zudao is an exception.

Without the help of others, would He Zudao dare to attack Luoyang or Chang'an?
He can come but not go.

As for the reorganization of Anxi into Beiting, the appointment of Li Dachui as the head of the household, and Xiao Changche as the deputy, can these things even be considered major issues?

Not to mention that the imperial court has no influence over the personnel arrangements of the Anxi Protectorate, even if it did have the power to do so, it would generally not dare to disrespect the border generals.

"Come, follow me to see His Majesty!"

Grabbing Wu De's wrist, Wei Zhengdao walked out, laughing incessantly.

The fatigue of the past few days seemed to have vanished.

As a result, officials from various government offices in the capital city were all peeking at Prime Minister Wei, trying to find out why he was so happy today.

The Prime Minister was pleased, and everyone's day became easier again.

With a stern face, Prime Minister Wei could explode at any moment.

In Chang'an, the Prime Minister Wei is in power, and his son Wei Yi commands an army of 50,000. His word is law, and the only person who can stand on equal footing with the Prime Minister is Kou Zhong, the Grand Administrator of the Black Ice Terrace. Everyone else is left to rely on his whims.

Wu De saw the dead eunuch who had stopped him yesterday again.

"Go and inform His Majesty that Wei Zhengdao requests an audience!"

"Prime Minister Wei, His Majesty has not yet gotten up!" the eunuch said.

"What time is it?" Wei Zhengdao's expression changed abruptly, and he strode inside.

"Minister Wei, please wait!" The eunuch reached out to stop him.

Wei Zhengdao was furious. He spat in the eunuch's face, then kicked him in the knee, sending the eunuch sprawling to the ground.

Wei Zhengdao glanced at the eunuch on the ground without looking at him, and strode inside.

Wu De strode after him, and as he passed the eunuch, he kicked him again.

He used a clever technique, kicking the eunuch to the ground, making him spin around seven or eight times with his buttocks as the center, until he slid all the way to the base of the wall before stopping.

The eunuch, dizzy and disoriented, struggled to his feet, only to crash headfirst into the palace wall with a scream of pain, before tumbling backwards into a split.

"Damn eunuch! Serves him right!" Wu De felt a surge of satisfaction, as if he had just drunk a glass of iced plum juice on a sweltering summer day.

They followed Wei Zhengdao and drove straight in.

Wu De experienced the feeling of having great power and the power of life and death.

When the guards in the palace saw Wei Zhengdao, they all bowed respectfully. When the eunuchs and palace maids saw Wei Zhengdao coming from afar, they immediately avoided him. Some even ran inside, presumably to report to the emperor.

If I had barged in like this, the palace guards would probably have drawn their swords right away.

Power is indeed a wonderful thing.

No wonder so many people would stop at nothing to get it.

Outside the palace gates, Wei Zhengdao finally managed to save face for the emperor.

"Your Majesty, your subject Wei Zhengdao requests an audience!"

The palace doors opened by themselves without any wind. Inside, Emperor Li Anmin of the Great Qin Dynasty sat upright in his chair, his face ashen. Despite the dead of winter, he wore only a thin robe. Wu De, standing behind Wei Zhengdao, glanced up cautiously and vaguely saw four or five pretty figures overlapping on the large couch behind the curtain. Although they were holding their breath, they had nowhere to hide from a Xuan Yuan Ninth Rank expert like Wu De.

However, Li Anmin is a master of innate martial arts.

At this moment, Li Anmin was clearly unhappy, and his imposing manner made Wu De feel immense pressure.

Wei Zhengdao, on the other hand, seemed to feel nothing.

"Come in. If I don't let you in, you'll just kick the door down!" Li Anmin sneered.

"How dare I be so presumptuous!" Wei Zhengdao smiled, crossed his hands to his eyebrows, and bowed.

That's it.

Wu De, on the other hand, knelt down obediently and kowtowed.

"You are Wu De? I've heard the Grand Magistrate mention you." Looking at Wu De, Li Anmin's tone softened: "You traveled thousands of miles to the border to persuade General Xiao Changche to defect. Although Linghu Ye has still entered the border, the 100,000 troops outside the border are divided, and you still deserve credit for that. Otherwise, I'm afraid that traitor Linghu Ye would already be besieging Chang'an."

"Your Majesty, I request an audience with you precisely because of matters beyond the Great Wall!" Wei Zhengdao said with a smile.

"What's happened outside the pass? But it doesn't matter now. I'm not worried about having too many debts, nor am I bothered by too many lice. So what if Xiao Changche rebelled? Prime Minister Wei, I feel like I've already stepped into a state of spiritual wandering these days. Once I've succeeded, I'll go and kill all these rebels one by one!"

Wei Zhengdao shook his head repeatedly: "Your Majesty, this is a joyous occasion, a truly joyous occasion! Xiao Changche and Li Dachui of the Anxi Protectorate have once again rendered meritorious service, enough to be recorded in history. Your Majesty, if they succeed, you may even become a monarch who can rival the founding emperor of the Great Qin Dynasty!"

"Hmm?" Li Anmin stared intently at Wei Zhengdao, making sure the other wasn't being sarcastic: "Explain in detail!"

(End of this chapter)