Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 293 Ceding the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun?
April 25th, the sixth year of the Xifeng reign.

Xingqing Prefecture, Baigao Palace.

On the steps of the imperial palace, the twelve-year-old King Li Bingchang sat solemnly with his eyes slightly closed, his arms outstretched.

His eyes would occasionally lift slightly, revealing a hint of expectation.

The person who was attracting his attention was none other than Li Qing, the deputy commander standing in the center of the main hall!
"Your Majesty, the Chancellor was ambushed and killed while leading his army in Xiliang." Li Qingwei reported with his head bowed.

"Ah."

A woman's voice echoed throughout the hall.

With a calm demeanor, yet tinged with a touch of grace and sorrow, she was none other than Empress Dowager Liang, who ruled from behind the curtain.

The prime minister has died!

Officials from all walks of life, both Han and non-Han, couldn't help but discuss it.

As the saying goes, there's no smoke without fire.

News of Liang Yili's death had already spread throughout the capital before the army even entered the city.

The story has been circulating for about three days now.

Those who entered the palace, whether barbarians or Han Chinese, were mostly already somewhat prepared.

Even so, the fact that the rumors were confirmed still caused some unease among many people.

There's no other reason than that Liang Yili is simply too important!
As the prime minister and also the emperor's brother-in-law, Liang Yili was the true power holder.

With her as the political core, it has been five or six years since then, and a real political interest group of "relatives of the empress interfering in politics" has been built from top to bottom.

Even Empress Dowager Liang could not compare to her in terms of importance.

However, what is hard to accept is that, just when the situation was so promising and things were going so well, Liang Yili suddenly disappeared.
It was too rushed!

The Prime Minister, Liang Yili, was ambushed and killed almost without warning, catching everyone completely off guard.

Moreover, it wasn't just Liang Yili alone.

Even his son, Liang Yifu, is gone.

Both father and son died.

Faced with this predicament, the interest group centered around Liang Yili couldn't even find a "successor" who could represent its core interests.

Furthermore, Empress Dowager Liang had no other brothers.

Liang Yili is also an only child!
This makes the problem quite serious.

The political situation in the country is destined to change.

At best, it involves a phase shift.

The interest group centered around Liang Yili has its own unique relationships based on closeness and distance in terms of status.

The interest group centered around the new prime minister will also have its own unique relationships based on closeness and distance in status.

This may involve the phenomenon of "falling behind".

Some key figures who have risen to high positions by relying on Liang Yili may fall out of favor and be removed from the core of power.

This could involve internal power struggles within the maternal relatives' faction.

In severe cases, it could involve a power struggle between the empress dowager and the king.

King Lee Byung-sang, at the age of twelve, already possessed considerable insight and wisdom, and was certainly unwilling to be a puppet.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Empress Dowager and the King will most likely have some kind of struggle.

This also refers to the external crisis facing the interest group of the maternal relatives' faction.

If the overall situation of the southern expedition is taken into account, it makes people even more irritable and uneasy.

In terms of politics, it is beset by internal and external troubles.

In terms of military affairs, it was also a matter of internal and external troubles.

This inevitably caused panic and endless discussion.

"Since assuming power, the prime minister has governed the country, guarded the borders, and brought peace to the people. He is a pillar of the nation and a key minister who has secured the stability of the country."

"Now that he has unfortunately passed away, I am deeply grieved and wish to give him a grand funeral."

"However," Empress Dowager Liang said coldly, "The army is on a southern expedition, facing a formidable enemy. We cannot afford to be complacent."

"By order of the Palace, everything shall be kept simple. The Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Works, and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices shall jointly draft the plan and conduct the funeral with the rites due to a first-rank official."

As the prime minister and also the emperor's brother-in-law, Liang Yili held a position of unparalleled power.

In the past, when it came to the funeral arrangements for Liang Yili, there would certainly have been a decision similar to "suspending court for a few days".

Nowadays, simply holding a funeral with the highest honors is considered quite simple.

Empress Dowager Liang said in a cold voice, "The military and political affairs of the southern expedition are of great importance."

“Deputy Commander Li Qing is loyal and upright, and has made great contributions. He shall be appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Privy Council immediately, and then transferred to the position of Commander-in-Chief, in charge of the military and political affairs of the Southern Expedition.”

The news of Liang Yili's death was glossed over in just one sentence.

Throughout the entire process, Empress Dowager Liang did not even appear overly sorrowful.

This does not mean that Empress Dowager Liang was not grieving, but rather that she had no choice but to remain calm and appear completely unaffected by her grief.

The main reason for this is to avoid causing significant political panic.

Interference in politics by relatives of the emperor is inherently "illegitimate".

With the prime minister dead, some ministers who wanted to help the emperor ascend to the throne would certainly be tempted and ready to act.

Meanwhile, the supporters of the maternal relatives are undoubtedly feeling uneasy and anxious.

For no other reason than the word "orthodox".

Being orthodox naturally comes with certain advantages.

Even though the political structure of Western Xia was different from that of Zhou, it did not prevent some people from voluntarily becoming loyal subjects of the new dynasty.

Ultimately, supporting a leader is essentially "supporting a dragon from humble beginnings," which can be considered one of the top political investments.

Whenever the struggle for the throne is involved, even the less prominent members of the imperial family will find their own rivals, let alone Li Bingchang, who is the rightful ruler of the country.
If Li Bingchang were to seize this opportunity and successfully stage a coup, the fate of the maternal relatives' faction would be tragic.

Faced with this situation, as the main source of interference in politics by relatives of the empress, Lady Liang also realized the predicament she was in and could only try her best to remain calm and pretend to be nonchalant.

Otherwise, it will bring no benefit other than causing panic among the maternal relatives' faction.

As for bestowing honors upon Li Qing
Beneath the curtain, Empress Dowager Liang clutched her phoenix robe tightly, her delicate brows furrowed, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Li Qing entered the capital at noon!

It was only the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), less than an hour after Li Qing entered the capital.

Both Han and non-Han officials were actually summoned to the palace separately and on a special basis.

The purpose was to announce the news of the prime minister's death.

But none of that matters. What matters is that Li Qing led a full 20,000 troops into the capital!
Liang had a bad feeling, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

The main point is that the 20,000 troops were all dutifully stationed outside the city, without making any unusual moves.

Li Qing also appeared loyal and upright, and was extremely obedient.

Therefore, even though Liang was uneasy, he could only reward him with high-ranking official positions and generous salaries in order to prevent unnecessary chaos.

"Your subject Li Qing thanks Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager."

Li Qing stepped forward and bowed.

Judging from his appearance, he still looked like a lackey, and was very respectful.

"Ah."

Liang felt slightly relieved. After pondering for a moment, she asked, "Are the seals of the Prime Minister and the Commander-in-Chief in the hands of the Commander-in-Chief?"

The seals of the prime minister and the leaders are both credentials for wielding military and political power.

The best course of action now is to temporarily reclaim the imperial seal and try to stabilize the overall situation.

Afterwards, several capable nephews and uncles could be selected from the branches of the family to serve as prime ministers and continue to hold power.

Strategically speaking, the approach of keeping a ruler in captivity is perfectly sound and may not necessarily be unworkable!
"The Prime Minister's seal and the leader's seal are both present."

Li Qing was about to answer.

at this time
"kill!"

"what!"

"Execute the treacherous officials! Those who protect the emperor will be rewarded, and those who aid the rebels will have their entire families exterminated!"

"The Qing Dynasty is in trouble, and the country is in trouble!"

Suddenly, shouts of battle erupted.

The entire hall, from the Han to the barbarian ministers, was astonished.

Many people's expressions changed slightly, realizing that something was wrong.

This is a coup!
Li Qing and Li Bingchang, the emperor and his subject, exchanged a glance.

In a split second, Li Bingchang understood what was meant, jumped up, and ran outside.

In just five or six breaths, before anyone could react, he slipped out of the hall.

This move was mainly to prevent the maternal relatives' faction from taking Li Bingchang hostage or even killing him, thus causing the coup to fail.

"Bring him back!" Mrs. Liang was startled, realizing what was happening, and hurriedly shouted.

Unfortunately, it's too late.

"clatter--"

"clatter--"

Armor clashed, iron spears clashed.

A hundred or so fierce soldiers, some with swords and others with spears, charged in suddenly.

Are you all planning a rebellion?

A minister stepped forward, ready to question him.

"bass!"

With a single slash of the long sword, the minister fell to the ground.

"this--"

Both Han and non-Han officials were horrified.

"Do not move rashly!"

Wei Ming A Wu roared, "This action is solely to purge the court of corrupt officials and kill the wicked empress."

"Those who don't want to die, squat down!"

Everyone, from top to bottom, squatted down in unison, not daring to make a sound.

There were very few soldiers guarding the main hall, less than twenty in total.

In about twenty or thirty breaths, all the soldiers who were guarding the main hall alone were killed.

After that, three people stood every three steps, their eyes fierce, standing solemnly.

Everything happened so fast!

Or rather, this was a relatively normal palace coup.

To seize control of the lives and deaths of those at the highest level as quickly as possible is to consider the palace coup a success.

As for the other imperial guards, palace maids, and eunuchs, they were completely unimportant.

The core of the palace coup was beheading!

A proper palace coup is one that centers on beheading.

Once the highest level is taken into control or killed, even the Imperial Guards who come to "rescue" the emperor will have no choice but to surrender obediently.

The infamous Tanglong Coup in history is a case in point.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, who was still considered one of the greatest emperors in history, killed Empress Wei, Princess Anle, Shangguan Wan'er, and the core members of the Wei clan at an astonishing speed.

With the Wei family group dismantled, the Imperial Guards had no reason to resist and were easily subdued.

Now, Li Qing is using similar methods.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, I, Li Qing, the Deputy Privy Councilor and Commander-in-Chief, have a report to make." Li Qing smiled faintly, standing arrogantly without bowing.

"this--"

Empress Dowager Liang trembled, a slight ripple appearing in her eyes, and even her golden hairpin and phoenix crown swayed involuntarily.

"Commander-in-Chief, what is the reason for this?" Liang Shi even had difficulty speaking.

She couldn't understand why a top-notch "good dog," a well-known faction of the Empress Dowager, would choose to support the young Emperor Li Bingchang.
"Your subject Li Qing, at the risk of his life, humbly beseeches Your Majesty to heed the will of the people and Heaven, and to prioritize the overall situation, and to remove the curtain immediately!" Li Qing said solemnly.

"We humbly request that Your Majesty heed the will of the people and Heaven, prioritize the overall situation, and immediately remove the curtain!"

"We humbly request that Your Majesty heed the will of the people and Heaven, prioritize the overall situation, and immediately remove the curtain!"

The hundred or so soldiers all shouted in unison.

Finished!

It's all over!

Many ministers trembled repeatedly, and some even lost control of their bladders and bladders.

The Western Xia Dynasty has changed!

April 25th, the sixth year of the Xifeng reign.

Empress Dowager Liang withdrew from the regency and returned power to the emperor, but unfortunately fell into the water and died.

King Yi Byeong-sang immediately assumed regency and formally took power.

Li Qing, the military commander and deputy privy councilor, was appointed prime minister, in charge of all military and political affairs in the country.

The military supervisor, Wei Ming A Wu, was appointed as the deputy privy councilor, wielding great power in the army.

April 26th, the sixth year of the Xifeng reign.

A message came from the Prime Minister's residence.

We will use all the resources of Great Xia to win the favor of other nations!
In order to survive, the Western Xia decided to retreat 300 li and cede the three prefectures of Xing, Huai, and Yong to them as vassals.

The news spread quickly throughout the three major regimes of Liao, Zhou, and Xia, causing a great stir.

Xinzhou, Jinpenzhai.

Chinese army camp.

The officials facing north and south stood in orderly rows.

Yelü Hongji picked up the document, his eyelids twitching repeatedly, his face frighteningly grim.

The Western Xia Dynasty is in turmoil!
Not only was there internal strife, but the Western Xia also submitted!

In other words, the original alliance between Xia and Zhou suddenly turned into the Liao Dynasty resisting Zhou.

Two against one became one against one!

"His Majesty!"

"We can no longer be flustered and hesitant."

Prime Minister Zhao Hui looked anxious and said in a deep voice, "The Jurchens are rebelling, and the country is beset by internal and external troubles."

"Now, the Western Xia has even taken the initiative to cede territory and submit to the Western Xia."

"In this way, the Liao Dynasty will be completely isolated and helpless. Even if the war continues, it will only be a one-on-one battle, needlessly depleting the country's strength!"

"In my humble opinion, why not endure this for now, make a small concession but achieve a greater victory, and send an envoy to sue for peace, so as to seek a turning point in the future?"

Yelü Hongji's face darkened.

The calls for reconciliation have always been quite strong.

But this was the only time that even the prime minister advised him to seek peace!
As he scanned the room from top to bottom, Yelü Hongji felt a chill creep down his spine.

Without exception, officials from both the north and south all looked dejected, as if they had lost their parents.

Morale and morale have plummeted to rock bottom!

In fact, the Liao cavalry still had a considerable advantage.

Nomadic peoples are indeed quite gifted in horse warfare, a fact that cannot be denied.

If a real battle were to break out, in terms of cavalry alone, the two armies would be roughly evenly matched, or even slightly outnumbered, with the former having a slight advantage.

The problem was that the Liao Dynasty did not have cannons.

When the Great Zhou won a battle, it was usually by taking advantage of the opportunity to attack the city with artillery.

After winning a battle, the Liao Kingdom had no choice but to observe and wait.

After all, cavalry is not well-suited for siege warfare.

As a result, the longer the two armies fought, the more cities and fortresses they lost, and the more dire the Liao army appeared.

Over time, this inevitably led to a decline in morale within the army.

And it's not hard to foresee that morale will continue to decline.

The fact that Western Xia sought peace meant that the Great Zhou could deploy more troops to Yan and Yun!

Today, Yan Yun has 60,000 men fighting against 90,000.

In the future, it may be 60,000 against 100,000, 110,000, or even more.

They were already at a disadvantage in terms of artillery, not to mention that their troop strength was even less than that of the enemy.
The ending is already predetermined!
"Ugh!"

With a long sigh, Yelü Hongji closed his eyes and remained silent.

In fact, everyone knows perfectly well what seeking a settlement means.

The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun!
However, morale was simply too low.

Both the generals and the soldiers had lost all confidence.

The call for peace has gradually become the mainstream.

"Ugh!"

Yelü Hongji sighed repeatedly.

After a long pause, a labored voice rang out.

"Can!"

(End of this chapter)