Chapter 26 The Rebellion in Xinyang City

The next day.

Jiang Chen kept his promise and arranged for the Imperial Guards to escort Xu Jiaying back to her hometown.

Before she left, he even made time to see her off, but Xu Jiaying's reaction was a little unusual.

However, Jiang Chen didn't think too much about it, only assuming she was homesick. After a few words of concern, he turned and went to the morning court.

The Golden Luan Hall.

Xu Zhongxuan and the others were still harping on Jiang Chen, pressuring him to reopen the Mei Guifei case.

If Jiang Chen wasn't trying to buy time, he would have already risen up and dealt with these treacherous officials!

However, you can't catch a wolf without putting out bait!

In order to lure these sycophants in, Jiang Chen reluctantly suppressed his anger and made a gesture of retreat.

He not only announced in court that the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice would re-examine the case, but even withdrew the imperial decree to 'behead Mei Ruoying'.

These two conciliatory moves quickly quelled the criticisms of the officials.

Only Mei Wenstone's faction was particularly ignorant.

Not only did they not take the opportunity to quit, but they intensified their petty actions, challenging Jiang Chen!

"Report! Urgent dispatch of eight hundred li!"

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened, the army of Xinyang City has mutinied!"

A member of the Imperial Guards stumbled into the Golden Luan Hall, his eyes full of fear, and trembling, said, "Your Majesty, Xie Jin, the commander of Xinyang City, has led a rebellion!"

"Not only did he behead the local officials to offer as a sacrifice to the flag, but he is even, even preparing to march on the Imperial Capital!"

As soon as these words came out, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop!

The ministers looked at each other, their eyes full of horror, as if they couldn't believe it!

After a long time, someone finally came back to their senses and questioned the report.

"A mutiny in Xinyang City? This, this is going to turn the world upside down!"

"This city is strategically located in the Central Plains, occupying a vital passage. It can directly attack the Imperial Capital and retreat to block the surrounding two prefectures! Such an important place must not fall into the hands of traitors!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers changed their expressions one after another, sighing:

"Alas, when Lord Mei was around, there weren't so many troubles. It seems that Great Wei still can't do without him!"

"There's reason in that statement! Nowadays, tax problems and food and salary problems are endless. If Lord Mei were in charge, the court would definitely not be in such chaos!"

"Your Majesty, if you continue to be stubborn and suppress Lord Mei, the empire of Great Wei will be in danger!"

"..."

The discussions of the ministers in the court made Jiang Chen's anger rise.

But he knew what was urgent and understood that now was not the time to lose his temper. He said coldly, "Report to me the cause, time, and details of the mutiny!"

The Imperial Guard couldn't withstand Jiang Chen's gaze and said in a panic, "Your Majesty, according to the scouts, the mutiny took place yesterday."

"Xie Jin, the commander of Xinyang City, rebelled out of dissatisfaction with the court's deduction of military pay... As for other information, it has not been collected yet."

Jiang Chen took a deep breath after hearing this.

His face was as dark as ink as he scanned the civil and military officials, and cursed:

"You bunch of bastards! When have I ever been in arrears with the army's pay? If you're going to rebel, at least find a decent reason!"

"What's the use of keeping such ingrates?!"

Jiang Chen almost never cursed in the Golden Luan Hall, even if he was angry, he rarely lost his composure like this.

This kind of uncontrolled anger made Xu Changqing below particularly frightened.

Because the source of all this, the rebel general Xie Jin, was a former subordinate whom he had personally trained!

Although he didn't believe that the loyal Xie Jin would rebel, the fact was right in front of him, how could he defend himself?

"Your Majesty, the most urgent task now is to quell the rebellion. Do you have anyone in mind?" The Minister of War stepped forward, his expression extremely solemn.

Jiang Chen nodded, his eyes turned to Xu Changqing below the steps: "Minister Xu, are you willing to share my worries?"

Xu Changqing immediately stepped forward, knelt down, and shouted, "This subject will not disappoint Your Majesty!"

"Good, I order you to lead the four battalions of the Imperial Capital and rush to Xinyang City immediately. You must kill these rebels and never allow them to spread to the neighboring states!"

Jiang Chen's eyes were cold. Great Wei was currently in a troubled time, and Xie Jin's spark could become a prairie fire if not handled properly!

He would never tolerate such a situation!

Xu Changqing also understood Jiang Chen's concerns.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I guarantee with my life that I will complete the mission!"

If this former subordinate really became a traitor, he, Xu Changqing, would chase Xie Jin to the ends of the earth and would definitely kill him!

"Your Majesty, no!"

Mei Kang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, shouted and stood up aggressively.

His face was full of indignation and suspicion: "Your Majesty, General Xu must not go on this campaign!"

"I agree!" Taishi Ling Xu Zhongxuan also stood up, and said sternly, "That rebel Xie Jin is a former subordinate of General Xu. The two have worked together for many years and have a deep friendship."

"If General Xu is soft-hearted at a critical moment and can't bear to kill that rebel Xie Jin, wouldn't that be a great disaster?"

Jiang Chen was stunned for a moment.

This Xie Jin was actually Xu Changqing's man?

He thought that this incident was the work of Mei Wenstone's faction.

Xu Changqing was besieged by everyone, and anger ignited in his eyes, but he realized that all of this might be a trap, and he forced himself to not explode.

He knelt down and said resolutely, "Your Majesty, Xie Jin was indeed once my subordinate, but I am not a person who puts personal matters above public interests, and I will not show mercy to such a traitor!"

"If Xie Jin really killed court officials and raised the flag of rebellion, then I will sever ties with him and never reconcile!"

"As long as Your Majesty is willing to trust me, within three days, I will surely quell the mutiny in Xinyang City and wash away the court's shame with the blood of the traitor Xie Jin!"

Xu Changqing's tone was firm and full of determination.

But Mei Kang on the side showed a mocking expression, disdainfully saying, "That sounds better than singing!"

"When you really get to the battlefield, don't say whether General Xu will show mercy, I'm afraid you might even lead the four battalions of the Imperial Capital and run away!"

"You villain, what nonsense are you talking about?!"

Xu Changqing was completely enraged, his eyes were like cold ice in the twelfth lunar month, staring fiercely at Mei Kang.

"Heh, reacting so strongly, what's wrong, are you feeling guilty? Did I hit a nerve?!" Mei Kang was not afraid at all, every word hitting Xu Changqing's lungs.

The two were at each other's throats, it seemed like they would fight in the next second.

"Enough, shut up!"

Jiang Chen looked at the chaos below, slammed the table and roared, "This is the Golden Luan Hall, a place for discussing government affairs! Are you making so much noise as if I don't exist?!"

The emperor was angry, and the officials were shocked and subdued.

The noisy hall instantly returned to silence.

Mei Kang glanced at Xu Changqing disdainfully and returned to the ranks of the civil officials.

Xu Changqing was expressionless and didn't bother to pay attention to this纨绔小人 (wan ku xiao ren - playboy/good for nothing).

"Cough, Your Majesty, Xinyang City is a strategic location for military strategists, the choice of general must be cautious!" The Prime Minister stood up and brought the topic back to the main point.

The implication was obvious, don't use Xu Changqing, this person is not reliable enough.

Xu Changqing's face immediately turned black with anger, and he felt very suffocated!

But the Prime Minister's position and qualifications were there, a veteran of two dynasties, and from a noble family, who could lose their temper at him except for His Majesty?

He had to endure this, who told Xie Jin to be his subordinate!