ebookland Chapter 220 Giving Wang Yunzhi a Chance
Chapter 220 Giving Wang Yunzhi a Chance
Chapter 220 Giving Wang Yunzhi a Chance
"I should be at least 60% to 70% sure." Liu Hu didn't dare to say that those soldiers who were taken away would be 100% obedient, but most of them would still listen to him.
Shen Tingzhi thought to himself that he was about 60 to 70 percent sure, which meant that half of the people would listen to Liu Hu.
If that were the case, the casualties would be greatly reduced.
This made Shen Tingzhi feel much more relieved. "How many people did they take away?"
Liu Hu pondered for a moment and said, "There are about 100,000 soldiers in Wuya Mountain. The number of people they took away is at least 80,000 to 90,000."
"Those who remain in Wuya Mountain are either the weak and sick, or my trusted confidants, or the troublemakers who refuse to obey discipline."
As the leader of this team, Liu Hu is very clear about the situation of his soldiers.
"Gather all these people and have them take custody of the people Lou Qing brought. Those who try to resist and disobey can be left alone."
The people brought by Lou Qing were all those who had committed many evil things with him. Shen Tingzhi had no psychological burden in dealing with them.
Those who obey discipline and are willing to repent will stay and join the army to defend their country and atone for their past sins. Those who refuse to obey discipline and are unwilling to repent will be killed, which can be regarded as eliminating harm for the people.
"Second Young Master, before you came, I had already instructed my trusted men to do it."
"Yeah." Shen Tingzhi nodded. Liu Hu is a man with great leadership skills. It's a pity that he has taken the wrong path over the years. It is unknown how his legs can recover after treatment.
If he recovers well, we can consider giving him a chance to come back. After all, talents are rare.
"Are you familiar with Fuping?" Shen Tingzhi was about to start formulating his battle plan.
Liu Hu shook his head. He had been staying in Wuya Mountain for all these years and had never gone out. The range of his activities was no more than a few dozen miles around.
He heard about Fuping from Lou Qing.
"Although I'm not familiar with it, I have a soldier from Fuping under my command. I'll call him over. If you have anything you want to know, you can ask him."
"Okay, have someone call him over. I have something to ask him."
Only by knowing both yourself and your enemy can you win every battle. Shen Tingzhi never fights an unprepared battle.
Yu Sheng received the order and arranged for someone to invite Generals Tong and He over.
He rode as fast as he could, not daring to stop for a moment, back to the capital.
Shen Tianjiao had just finished dealing with some government affairs and was about to take a break when a eunuch came to report that Wang Yunzhi had arrived and wanted to see him.
"He came at the perfect time." Although Shen Tianjiao didn't want to see Wang Yunzhi, she had to. Who could understand this helplessness? "Please ask him to come in."
Wang Yunzhi came in and kowtowed first.
Shen Tianjiao looked at him with a somewhat surprised expression and said, "Prime Minister Wang, please stand up and take a seat."
Wang Yunzhi thanked him and sat upright on a stool beside him.
"Prime Minister, what's the matter with you coming here now? Has the fire at Anguo Temple been thoroughly investigated?"
Shen Tianjiao asked even though she knew the answer. Shen Tianjiao knew about the fire in Anguo Temple, and Wang Yunzhi knew it even better.
As expected, upon hearing Shen Tianjiao ask about the Anguo Temple, Wang Yunzhi immediately stood up, prostrated himself on the ground, and began to plead guilty. "Please forgive me, Queen."
"Why is Prime Minister Wang apologizing? Is there some hidden story behind the incident at Anguo Temple?"
Shen Tianjiao drank a sip of tea leisurely. She was just a spectator now. She really wanted to see how Li Chaohui would continue to perform this play.
"I have committed a serious crime and I beg Your Majesty to punish me." Wang Yunzhi did not want to conceal the truth of the Anguo Temple incident. We are all smart people, so why do we have to pretend to be smart when we are not?
In the end, you are the one who slaps yourself in the face and is embarrassed.
"The fire at Anguo Temple, Empress Dowager, was indeed a man-made disaster, not a natural disaster."
It was just two short sentences, but Wang Yunzhi said it with great difficulty. As an official appointed by the court and the head of all officials, he should have led by example and protected the people's well-being.
But now, because of Li Chaohui's selfish desires, he knew the truth of the matter, but he didn't dare to say a word. Instead, he had to plead for him in front of Shen Tianjiao to cover up his guilt.
Shen Tianjiao stared at Wang Yunzhi, who was lying prone on the ground, and said, "It seems that our Prime Minister knows very well how the fire in Anguo Temple started."
"I'm really curious right now, and I have a question for you: which is more important, the country and its people, or personal selfishness?"
"Even if that person really succeeds this time and sits on the throne she has always dreamed of, can she rule Yunli well with what she has done?"
"Should Yunli continue to develop steadily as it is now, allowing the people to live and work in peace and contentment, or should it, due to personal greed and selfish desires, cause the people to suffer and their lives to be devastated, ultimately leading to the decline of the country and even the danger of national extinction, causing both the sorrow of its loved ones and the joy of its enemies?"
"Prime Minister Wang is able to sit in his current position not only because of good luck, but also because of your profound knowledge, talent and virtue."
"Such a simple and easy-to-understand principle, even a three-year-old child would know it, let alone you, Prime Minister Wang, who has read all the sage books and is well-versed in the principles of the world."
Wang Yunzhi has already revealed his cards, and Shen Tianjiao has nothing to hide anymore. It is better to say some things out loud as soon as possible.
At this moment, Wang Yunzhi was so ashamed that he couldn't even raise his head. Over the years, he had been jumping back and forth between conscience, morality and selfish desires, thinking over and over again.
Like a mentally ill person, he accepts moral condemnation while being lost in his own fantasy.
It was so painful and unbearable that he tortured himself to death.
At this moment, Shen Tianjiao clearly stated the problem that had been weighing on his mind and that he had been avoiding. This forced him to face up to this problem, which was no less than an eternal problem for him.
Shen Tianjiao said these words to Wang Yunzhi, firstly because of Zuo Beichen's relationship. Zuo Beichen was now her follower and the person she wanted to use.
Zuo Beichen's only biological aunt, Wang Yunzhi's wife, is also the most important person to Zuo Beichen.
If Wang Yunzhi remains stubborn and insists on following Li Chaohui to the end, his end will surely be tragic.
In this way, although Mrs. Wang has her own pardon and will not be implicated, she will also be greatly affected, which is something Shen Tianjiao does not want to see.
In this world, women are inherently a vulnerable group, and most married women are not protected by their parents' families.
If something happens to the Wang family because of Wang Yunzhi, the situation of Mrs. Wang and her two sons will become very difficult.
The second reason is that Wang Yunzhi is indeed a talented person. Putting aside his hopelessly obsessed love-sickness, this person is still very virtuous and capable.
Having served as prime minister in Yun Li's court for nearly ten years and as the head of all officials, he did indeed do his job, leading by example in everything and setting a good example for all officials.
Moreover, with Wang Yunzhi around, even if he and Li Chaohui went to war, with Wang Yunzhi in charge from behind, there would be no chaos in the court, and normal order and operation could be maintained.
"I'm giving Wang Wei a prominent position today because I truly value his talent. I feel that although he's young, he possesses a rare level of maturity and competence, so I wanted to give him a chance to gain experience."
"Secondly, I really want to tell you, Prime Minister Wang, that if you can turn back from your mistakes, I promise to forgive you. No matter how you are now, you will still be the same in the future."
"No matter what happened before, it's all written off. You and I are still king and subject. Your Highness the Crown Prince will have to rely on Prime Minister Wang's assistance in the future."
"I have said everything I need to say. Prime Minister Wang, go back and think carefully about what to do and where to go next. You must make your own decision."
After Shen Tianjiao finished speaking, she stood up and left without waiting for Wang Yunzhi to say anything else.
For someone like Wang Yunzhi, if he himself can't figure it out, no matter how much others say, it will be in vain.
Shen Tianjiao had said everything she needed to say today, and she had done her utmost to Wang Yunzhi. However, if Wang Yunzhi insisted on not turning back and insisted on hanging himself on Li Zhaohui's tree, then she couldn't be blamed for being ruthless.
Wang Yunzhi lay on the ground for a long time before he stood up and staggered back.
Li Zhaohui has been fainting more and more frequently recently. In the past, in Anguo Temple, there was no doctor ready to treat her.
But now it’s different because of the Queen’s order. The palace doctors are on call here at all times, and she can get treatment anytime she faints.
Chunniang couldn't help but get nervous when she saw Doctor Zhang treating Li Chaohui. She didn't even notice that her clenched hands were pierced by her own nails and embedded in the flesh.
It was not until Doctor Zhang finished his diagnosis and said that Li Chaohui's frequent fainting was due to long-term malnutrition and excessive worry that Chunniang breathed a sigh of relief.
There was nothing wrong with Chunniang looking worried about her master's safety, but Doctor Zhang found it strange.
Rather than saying that Chunniang was worried about Li Zhaohui's physical condition, it would be more accurate to say that she seemed to have done something against her will and was afraid of feeling guilty and timid after being discovered.
Doctor Zhang glanced at Chunniang and said, "The patient needs to rest for the next few days. She should not worry too much or overwork herself. Otherwise, her life span will be in jeopardy and she may not live long."
"Thank you for the imperial physician's reminder. Chunniang will remind the master to rest more and prioritize health."
Chunniang bowed and sent Doctor Zhang out, then turned around and went back to boil medicine for Li Chaohui.
Wang Yunzhi came out of the palace and locked himself in the study when he returned home.
Mrs. Wang listened to the servant's report with a calm face and no ripples in her heart. She had been extremely disappointed with this man many years ago and had no hope for him.
Now she even no longer had the desire to live with Wang Yunzhi as a respectful guest without disturbing each other.
Her biggest hope now is that Wang Yunzhi will stop being so stubborn, lest it affect the careers of her two sons, which would be a small matter, but it might even endanger their lives.
Her two sons are now her greatest support and hope, and she cannot let anything happen to either of them.
The eldest son is now blessed by the Empress and will soon leave Beijing for Quzhou on business.
Although the job in Quzhou is not easy, since the Queen Mother has arranged it this way, she must have a plan. Besides, it is because things are difficult that there will be better opportunities for training.
Otherwise, given the boy's taciturn and dull personality, how could he have found such an opportunity in his lifetime? He would probably be stuck in his current position until his death.
While Mrs. Wang was thinking, her eldest son Wang Wei came.
"What are you thinking about, mother? Why are you so lost in thought?" When Wang Wei came in, he saw Madam Wang in a daze. He walked up to her, held her hand, and asked in a low voice.
"Wei'er is back." Seeing her son coming back, Mrs. Wang's worried look immediately disappeared and was replaced by a smile.
"Well, what was Mother thinking about just now? She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice her son was here?"
Wang Wei has a gentle temperament and inherited Wang Yunzhi's steadiness and Mrs. Wang's gentleness.
"What else can mother be thinking about right now? Of course, she is thinking about my son going to Quzhou."
Mrs. Wang stroked her son's face, sighed, and said, "A mother worries about her child even when he is thousands of miles away. This is the first time you've left me since you were born. How can I be at ease?"
Wang Wei smiled, looked at Madam Wang and said, "Mother, our son has grown up and is no longer a child. You don't have to worry about him anymore."
"Hmph!" Madam Wang snorted softly, looking at Wang Wei with dissatisfaction, and said, "No matter how old you are, you are still my son. As long as I am alive, I will always be worried."
"Okay, my son was wrong. Don't worry, mother. He will definitely come back safely."
Wang Wei looked at Madam Wang and couldn't help feeling sad. His mother had lived a very difficult and frustrating life. He wanted to stand up for himself in the future so that his mother could live a happier life for the rest of her life.
"Son, when you come back from your business trip this time, let's meet each other and decide on the marriage."
"Now that you've established a family and a career, and have children to continue the family line, half of my mother's wish has been fulfilled. The remaining half is with your brother."
No matter how sensible parents are, they cannot escape the obsession and stubbornness of urging their children to get married as soon as possible so that they can have more children.
"Okay, everything is fine with mother." Wang Wei nodded good-temperedly.
Wang Wei has not married yet, not because he is picky, but because he has seen many people but still can't find anyone he likes, so he has been putting it off until now.
Seeing that Wang Wei agreed, the smile on Mrs. Wang's face deepened. She no longer cared about how Wang Yunzhi treated her. She was content as long as her two sons were well.
"Where's my second brother? It's so late and he hasn't come to pay his respects to Mother."
When talking about his younger brother, Wang Wei just felt a headache. He didn't know what he was busy with all day long. He was so crazy outside that he didn't even come home.