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Chapter 190: The Conspiracy to Assassinate the Emperor
That night, Yuwen Huaji returned to his residence, troubled. Although he held significant power now, it was only in Jiangdu. The emperor had lost his influence, and the Sui Dynasty was on the brink of collapse—this was common knowledge.
It wouldn’t have mattered much; this nation was not his to claim. With his status, as long as he was willing to yield, he could continue to enjoy wealth and power.
But now, it seemed that Li Jian Cheng was destined to take control. They had been enemies for over a decade, and Yuwen Huaji missed his father immensely.
If his father were still alive, perhaps he could have used his life to take revenge on Li Jian Cheng, and maybe everything would have turned out fine.
He had sent Linghu Xingda to meet with Li Shimin, hoping to establish a connection in advance.
At that moment, the steward approached him with a report that the two elders had brought people to pay their respects and requested him to go to the Main Hall to meet them.
Yuwen Huaji had a good relationship with his brother, so he changed into more casual attire and headed over.
Upon arriving at the hall, he saw Yuwen Zhiji surrounded by Sima Dekan, Zhao Xingzhu, Pei Qiantong, and several others—most of whom were leaders of the Valiant Fruit Army.
Yuwen Huaji was aware of the demands of the Valiant Fruit Army. He arrogantly took a seat at the head of the table, thinking that if their tribute was sufficient, he might let them off the hook and allow them to lead Confidant back to Guanzhong.
Just as he contemplated how much pressure to apply, Sima Dekan spoke directly: “The Military Heroic Fruits long for home. We all believe we can seize this opportunity to accomplish something great.
If we can rally the Heroic Fruits in Jiangdu City to rise up and eliminate the Sui Emperor, we can achieve imperial ambitions. The Grand General is highly respected; we are willing to support him as our leader in this grand endeavor!”
The teacup Yuwen Huaji had just lifted shattered on the ground as his expression froze in shock. He stared at the people before him; they were no longer lambs for slaughter but rather harbingers of death.
Seeing his brother tremble in fear and sweat profusely, Yuwen Zhiji quickly warned the others with a glance. Once they all bowed their heads submissively, he stepped forward to comfort his brother.
"Brother, the Emperor is nothing more than a mere title now, relying solely on you and Shen Guang to maintain his authority. With Shen Guang choosing to hide away, the power of the Valiant Fruit Army lies in the hands of a few, while the military might of the Imperial Guards rests with you.
Combining these two powers, the Emperor is merely fish on our chopping block; there is no need to panic!"
"That... that would be regicide! Have you lost your mind?"
Yuwen Zhiji scoffed, "What else should I do if not this? Should we just sit and wait for our downfall? Whether it’s Li Mi or Li Jian Cheng who takes the throne, where will there be any survival for us brothers?
And as for those idle words, who says they are forbidden? Are you not the Duke of Xu?"
It was this last statement that slightly lifted Yuwen Huaji's spirits.
Sima Dekan then spoke up again, "We have already arranged everything for the uprising with Minister Shao and Consultation. These are foolproof plans; please do not worry, General. Once things are set in motion, you will be the Emperor."
Yuwen Huaji understood that at this point, refusing was not an option. He steeled himself and nodded.
Everyone rejoiced. Yuwen Huaji not only commanded the Imperial Guards but also had the Emperor's trust, which allowed many things that could have been easily discovered to remain concealed.
However, they still conspired throughout the night. The earlier comparison of the Emperor to fish on a chopping block was misleading; in reality, the Emperor still had the Imperial Guards at his disposal. Outside Jiangdu Palace City was the newly appointed Yang Yichen, and within the palace were elite Imperial Guards and Thousand Cattle Guards on watch.
Otherwise, the Emperor would not have allowed the Valiant Fruit Army's Consultation to escape back to Guanzhong so recklessly.
Now, these individuals did not wish to return to Guanzhong; they aimed to commit regicide and usurp power. Yet, ordinary soldiers of the Valiant Fruit Army did not share this mindset; they still needed to unite everyone as one.
During Harsh Winter Month, as the soldiers of the Valiant Fruit Army reminisced about their hometown in Guanzhong, a rumor began to circulate among them.
“Have you heard? His Majesty has learned that Heroic Fruit intends to rebel, and he plans to brew poison wine to kill them all during the banquet, leaving only Southern People here!”
“What? Impossible, His Majesty would never do such a thing.”
“No way, we have followed His Majesty to conquer Liaodong and pacify Yang Xuangan, and now we have come here with him. We have no debts to His Majesty or the court; we just want to go home.”
At first, everyone was skeptical, but as the news spread, fear and anger grew among the people of Heroic Fruit, resentment accumulating continuously.
……………
Outside Luoyang City, Zhai Rang and Li Mi were each attacking the city, with frequent skirmishes between their forces. After such a long time, the emperor finally sent reinforcements to rescue Luoyang.
Wang Shichong brought fifty thousand Troops from Jianghuai, and after gathering more conscripted Commoner along the way, he amassed a total of one hundred thousand troops.
Originally, this wouldn’t have been a significant issue, but after the split in Wagang, it became complicated. Who would go to fend off this person, and who would continue the attack on Luoyang?
Undoubtedly, whoever went to resist Wang Shichong would suffer losses, while whoever took the opportunity to capture Luoyang would gain greatly; naturally, no one was willing to yield.
The subordinates of Zhai Rang mocked Li Mi, insisting on splitting up, yet they still lingered here without leaving. Now that the situation had turned ugly, it was laughable for them to claim they were building something together.
Thus, while both sides were locked in dispute, Wang Shichong made a feint attack, lost some Troops, and successfully entered Luoyang, immediately restoring its previously weakened defenses.
This rendered all the efforts of Zhai Rang and Li Mi over these days futile and further intensified the conflict between them. A strategist under Li Mi advised: “A venomous snake bites the hand; a brave man cuts off his wrist. What is preserved is a great cause; they have gained first and will regret it when it’s too late!”
Li Mi was advised to make a decision soon; if Zhai Rang acted first, it would be dangerous.
On Zhai Rang's side, Wei Zheng, who had been sent here on orders, said, "Although Luoyang has received reinforcements, all the granaries in the surrounding areas have been occupied by us. With an additional hundred thousand men to feed, it cannot last long.
What we need to guard against now is Li Mi potentially trying to swallow us."
Zhai Rang looked at Xu Shijie. "You two can decide. I will keep my soldiers calm. I have done nothing wrong to Li Mi; if he dares to act, his own men will surely be dissatisfied."
Xu Shijie replied, "Li Mi doesn't have many options left. Luoyang City cannot be taken in the short term, and he wouldn't dare approach Chang'an River. The strategically important prefectures are all under control now, with at least a hundred thousand troops involved. The risks of a long-distance expedition are too great for him.
He knows us well; if he can seize the initiative, there is indeed a chance of success. At that point, we could surround Luoyang and cut off its supplies."
Wei Zheng nodded in agreement. He had a good impression of Xu Shijie; this person's abilities far surpassed those of Zhai Rang.
After discussing the precautions, Wei Zheng addressed Zhai Rang, who was about to leave. "You should send your relatives away, especially your elder brother. He could bring you trouble; my lord cannot tolerate such fools."
The overweight figure slowly turned around, his expression darkening. Zhai Rang still exuded an imposing presence; after all, he commanded over a hundred thousand troops besieging Luoyang. Although he hadn't killed many in recent years, it didn't mean he was incapable of doing so.
Wei Zheng frowned as he watched Zhai Rang, not intending to invoke Li Jian Cheng to suppress him nor seeking Xu Shijie's assistance. He simply stared unyieldingly into Zhai Rang's eyes.
………………
(End of Chapter)
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