"Bang!" A precious vase shattered on the floor.
From within the palace, the angry voice of Emperor Gaozong of Qi resounded.
"Rebellion! Rebellion!"
"Pri Minister Qin, as you predicted, Han Fuyue had long harbored intentions of revolt!
"Twelve imperial edicts, and he dares to defy them all!
"What does it an to send back his seventy thousand troops and a few distant Deputy Generals? To keep over thirty thousand elite soldiers and all of his lineal Deputy Generals for himself, what is that supposed to signify!
"He even dared to issue a ’Proclamation to the Common People’ and self-proclaims as the ’Zhao Yi Army’!
"Does he have any regard for the court of Great Qi, any respect for , the Emperor!"
At this point, Emperor Gaozong of Qi had already received news from the north.
The action taken by General Han Fuyue was a clear provocation to his imperial authority and, at the sa ti, it almost entirely substantiated the false accusations made by Qin Huizhi.
The General Han Fuyue wasn’t as easily manipulated as everyone had thought.
Emperor Gaozong of Qi turned to Qin Huizhi: "Pri Minister Qin! What should we do now!"
Qin Huizhi’s face betrayed no worry but instead displayed barely concealed delight.
Weren’t General Han Fuyue’s actions making it easier for him by providing a pretext?
In the annals of true history, after General Han returned, Qin Huizhi had racked his brains trying to fabricate a cri to falsely execute him, but failed to find any evidence, ultimately settling on an unfounded charge to wrongfully execute him.
Now, there was no need for fabrications, the re act of defiance provided Qin Huizhi with ample reason.
"Your Majesty, with things having co to this point, how can we afford to hesitate?
"Han Fuyue is clearly plotting a rebellion. Our peace treaty with the Jin people is about to be settled. Just by ordering other generals to join forces with the Jin, we can easily suppress the rebellion upon the completion of the treaty, thus silencing the people’s gossip.
"Wouldn’t this kill two birds with one stone?"
Emperor Gaozong of Qi’s complexion turned dark and uncertain; clearly, he hadn’t anticipated General Han Fuyue to truly not return.
Yet Qin Huizhi’s words did not completely persuade him.
At this mont, the third person in the room spoke up.
"Your Majesty, I believe we should not act rashly."
Qin Huizhi’s face imdiately darkened as he turned toward the minister beside him.
This person was nad Zhang Deyuan, who had served as a senior official in the court five years prior. However, due to Qin Huizhi’s ascension and his own errors, he had been demoted to Yongzhou State.
Now, with the shifting situation between Song and Jin, he had finally returned to the imperial court, assuming positions such as Military Governor of Chongxin Army and being conferred the title of Duke He.
Of course, although Zhang Deyuan had once been a senior official under Emperor Gaozong, his power was far from comparable to Qin Huizhi’s.
The reason he could be summoned by Emperor Gaozong was because of his old acquaintance with General Han Fuyue. As a civil official who knew sothing about military affairs, Emperor Gaozong also wanted to hear his opinion.
It could not be that such a major issue was to be decided by Pri Minister Qin alone.
As for Zhang Deyuan himself, there was a saying among his contemporaries: Despite his extre views on righteousness, he lacked practical sense, could barely keep one thing straight without neglecting another, knowing one side of the matter while forgetting the other.
Essentially, he was a civil official who, despite understanding principles and repeatedly petitioning for resistance against Jin—leading to ostracism by Qin Huizhi—lacked significant political and military acun.
Of course, in the court of that ti, "understanding principles" alone was already a rare and precious quality.
Qin Huizhi said coldly, "Mr. Wei, could it be that at this juncture you still desire to cover for that treacherous subject and rebel?"
As expected of a sly manipulator, he had swiftly cast a hefty accusation.
Emperor Gaozong was indeed interested in hearing Zhang Deyuan’s viewpoint, so he gestured to interrupt Qin Huizhi: "Mr. Zhang, let’s hear what you think."
Zhang Deyuan spoke: "This matter must not be rushed.
"Though General Han has refused to obey the imperial edict and renad his troops the Zhao Yi Army, issuing a ’Proclamation to the Common People,’ ultimately... he hasn’t rebelled, has he?
"If Your Majesty were to raise an army against him and end up truly driving him to rebellion, what then?"
Qin Huizhi scoffed: "So Mr. Wei is terrified of confrontation with the enemy!
"Once the imperial army approaches, we shall force Han Fuyue to be bound and brought to the capital to face charges! If he resists, the imperial troops will promptly crush him, suppressing the rebellion effortlessly! Why worry about pushing him into rebellion?"
Clearly, Qin Huizhi did not wish to wait another mont.
Zhang Deyuan glanced at him as one would at soone foolish: "Oh, then may I ask, Pri Minister Qin, whom do you intend to send to eradicate General Han Fuyue?"
Qin Huizhi hesitated for a mont: "This... "
An awkward silence fell over the room.
That question had indeed stumped Qin Huizhi.
Though a high-ranking official of the court, he was unfamiliar with these military leaders...
In comparison, General Han Fuyue was considered sowhat charismatic and considerate towards him. The other generals probably cursed him behind his back.
Of course, as a high-ranking official, he could have the Emperor issue an order to send these generals into battle.
But the problem was, many of these generals had good relations with General Han Fuyue...
Who should be sent?
The reason why the Emperor ordered these n to withdraw their troops imdiately was due to Qin Huizhi’s instigation and manipulation, leading him to distrust these commanders in the field. If even soone like General Han Fuyue was not trusted, what about the other generals?
Therefore, if he already distrusted them, sending them to combat General Han Fuyue...
Wouldn’t this be like throwing at buns to a dog, never to be returned?
What if these generals were also persuaded to defect by General Han Fuyue?
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