Chapter 150 Zhao Kai

Guan Ya said, "My father told me that the Empress Dowager didn't want the Shenrui Army to go on a northern expedition because she was worried that Wu Xin would become too powerful and threaten the imperial power!"

"But there was an even more important reason: the two dynasties had been at war for years, farmland was barren, the population had sharply declined, and the national treasury was empty. The imperial court's Tiejiaying (Iron Armor Camp) needed to recuperate and could no longer support a national war!"

"Wu Xin was a genius in military affairs, but politically, he was a greenhorn. He didn't understand the court's hints and even repeatedly rebuked the court and the Empress Dowager's involvement in politics in public, saying that it was misleading the country and the people."

"That year, Wu Xin was ordered to return to the capital but was placed under house arrest before he even saw the Empress Dowager. He died in the post house two days later. The court claimed he died of illness! Subsequently, the subordinates who followed Wu Xin back to the capital gathered to cause trouble and were forcibly suppressed!"

Zhang Yuanqing interjected, "I remember Hong Ji-ge (Red Rooster Bro) said that some were killed, some were imprisoned, and most were dismissed."

Guan Ya scoffed, "Dismissed? With the court's style, how could they possibly dismiss them? They escaped. Dismissal is just the court's way of saving face. Of course, these people are not important. I've reviewed and analyzed the event, and the person who is really worth investigating is Zhao Kai!"

"Zhao Kai?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, puzzled.

"After the news of Wu Xin's death in the post house spread, the Shenrui Army generals who followed him back to the capital began to make trouble. The court seemed to have anticipated this and quickly surrounded and annihilated those generals. The person in charge of leading the team was Zhao Kai!" Guan Ya said eloquently.

"Zhao Kai was born into the imperial family. In terms of seniority, he is your uncle! At that time, he was the commander of the Chengfangjun (City Defense Army) and the Tiejiaying (Iron Armor Camp). The year after Wu Xin's death, he was promoted to the Ministry of War by the Empress Dowager. Within three years, he was promoted three levels to become the Vice Minister of War!"

"After the Empress Dowager's death, Zheng Wenhan took control of the government and began to suppress the imperial family. Zhao Kai was dismissed and became a idle prince in the capital!"

"Zhao Kai's father was a Qin Wang (Prince of the First Rank), the late emperor's younger brother. Zhao Kai was not the eldest son and could not inherit the Qin Wang title. He was granted the next level of Jun Wang (Prince of the Second Rank), with the title of Yongyan!"

After listening, Zhang Yuanqing fell into deep thought, gathering all the information: "Wan Meiren (Consort Wan) told me that Zheng Wenhan killed Wu Xin. This was not the Empress Dowager's intention. The Empress Dowager was forced by Zheng Wenhan to act first and report later."

"After discovering that her younger brother had killed Wu Xin without authorization, this Empress Dowager, who had been in charge of the government for many years, knew that there was no turning back, so she informed Zhao Kai, a member of the imperial family, and ordered him to eliminate Wu Xin's subordinates!"

"After that, in order to prevent the Shenrui Army from rebelling thousands of miles away, she could only collude with the Northern Dynasty to destroy this invincible army!" Guan Ya thought for a while and added, "Colluding with the Northern Dynasty to destroy the Shenrui Army is a major taboo. Who do you think the Empress Dowager would entrust to do it?"

Zhang Yuanqing said, "Zheng Wenhan!"

This answer didn't require thinking. After all, Zheng Wenhan had harmed Wu Xin, so entrusting this matter to Zheng Wenhan was the safest!

"So Zheng Wenhan had colluded with the Northern Dynasty's military more than a decade ago, which is why he was able to reach an agreement with Wanyan Rentu privately!" he added!

Guan Ya nodded in agreement, "Zheng Wenhan killed Wu Xin back then because he felt threatened by Wu Xin, a general who was too powerful and overshadowed the emperor. He couldn't suppress him! If he didn't get rid of him as soon as possible, he would definitely become an obstacle to his monopoly of power!"

"So he used familial affection to kidnap the Empress Dowager and act first and report later, leaving the Empress Dowager with no way out but to abandon the Shenrui Army! Zheng Wenhan is the biggest beneficiary of this incident! Um~ and Zhao Kai!" Guan Ya brought the topic back, "Go and investigate Zhao Kai. He was a participant and should know the most about Wu Xin's death! The Empress Dowager ordered him to handle this matter back then."

"Which means she extremely trusted this old prince of the imperial family."

"Where is Zhao Kai's Wangfu (Prince Manor)?" Zhang Yuanqing asked directly!

"Anle Street, Yongyan Wangfu!" Guan Ya said!

"Go find Sun Miaomiao and have her prepare to infiltrate the Jun Wangfu!" Zhang Yuanqing said, "I have something to do outside!"

Although Sun Miaomiao was from an opposing faction, her main and side quests did not conflict with the Tyrant faction, so Zhang Yuanqing was in no hurry to change her faction!

In the Guoshi's (Imperial Teacher's) perspective, his disciple Sun Miaomiao had already died in the assassination in the Yang Mansion. Sun Miaomiao was a chess piece outside the enemy's view.

Zhang Yuanqing felt that staying "hidden" was more beneficial than being public!

"I'll send you!" Guan Ya got up!

Zhang Yuanqing put the small horn into his arms and followed Guan Ya out of the spacious bedroom, got into the carriage Guan Ya had prepared for him, and left the Yang Mansion!

The wheels rumbled and the carriage drove on the street. A quarter of an hour later, Zhang Yuanqing took out the small horn and instructed the coachman, "Go to the outer city!"

Under his guidance, the carriage turned around and stopped outside a two-entrance mansion in the outer city, with a plaque that read "Xu Mansion."

"Wait for me here!" Zhang Yuanqing jumped out of the carriage and knocked on the door of the mansion!

The one who opened the door was a young man with an honest and simple appearance. He looked at Zhang Yuanqing, who was "pale," with withered hair and a body exuding a chill, and was immediately shocked.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Is Gang Leader Duan in the mansion?" Zhang Yuanqing asked!

"Who are you?" A'Niu didn't answer and repeated the previous question!

"Please tell Gang Leader Duan that I have done what I promised. Is he willing to help me, a disgraced son of a declining family?" Zhang Yuanqing finished speaking and added, "I am Wang Beiwang's friend!"

As soon as A'Niu heard this, the wariness in his eyes lessened a lot, "Wait here for a while!" After saying that, he closed the door and hurried into the mansion!

About a quarter of an hour later, Zhang Yuanqing heard rapid footsteps again, and then the door opened. A'Niu respectfully made a gesture of invitation: "The Gang Leader wants to see you!"

Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly, stepped over the threshold, and entered the mansion!

Behind the threshold was a large front yard with a stone-paved path extending to the main hall twenty meters away!

"Gang Leader Duan is in the hall, please!" A'Niu bowed at the entrance of the room!