"Where has General Yongwu reached? Is he approaching the capital?"
In a secret chamber within a side hall of the Great Yan kingdom, Empress Murong Qing murmured to Murong Kang and Gu Yiqidan.
"Sister..." Murong Kang said with some displeasure, "Why are you so fixated on this person?"
If Murong Qing could not fully control the troops in the capital, she would have to mobilize forces from outside. As long as the troops under Murong Qing's command were equal to theirs, or even surpassed them, everything would fall into place. At this moment, Murong Qing had essentially gained control of the Great Yan emperor Murong Xi. It was generally thought that Murong Xi could be deposed or even killed, and then Murong Yi would succeed to the throne, proclaiming his reign to the world and unifying the empire. However, things were not so simple. Once Murong Xi died, the crime of regicide would be laid upon Murong Qing and others. At that time, loyal subjects throughout the land, or those with ulterior motives, would undoubtedly raise armies in rebellion, using a righteous cause. Such as the fierce generals of Yan, the various vassal kings outside the capital, and so on. Murong Qing particularly feared that person. In turbulent times, even someone as powerful as Murong Qing could not control the situation and would be unable to resist.
Therefore, at this moment, Murong Qing not only could not kill Murong Xi but must ensure he remained alive and well, without any accidents. Simultaneously, Murong Qing was mobilizing troops from outside until she could overpower these opponents and forcefully control the situation with military might, only then would she take the next step.
Without proper justification, there could be no rightful speech. Murong Qing had been the empress of the Great Yan for many years; how could she not understand such a principle?
Yet, the troops Murong Qing was mobilizing from outside were not limited to the route of the Brave General Zhou Fugui. Why was she so preoccupied with Zhou Fugui? Murong Kang found it utterly incomprehensible.
"Brother Kang..." Murong Qing glanced at the jealous Murong Kang and then smiled faintly, "Can you fully control the Imperial Guard? What is your confidence level? How much control do you have over the capital's forces?"
"I..." Murong Kang's face flushed slightly, and he replied resentfully, "Commander Xieli Hu, that stubborn old mule. I have already given him countless gold, silver, jewels, beautiful concubines, and seductive maidens, yet he... he... has been wavering and hasn't given a clear answer."
"Stubborn old mule?" Murong Qing chuckled and shook her head. "He is no stubborn old mule, but a cunning old fox. His wavering is merely him waiting for a better offer. Mere gold, silver, jewels, beautiful concubines, and seductive maidens cannot move him."
"Your Highness speaks wisely," Gu Yiqidan interjected. "He is like a cunning hunter on the plains. He will not cast his net until he sees his prey."
"Prey? What prey?" Murong Kang asked.
He is somewhat dim-witted... They have made it so obvious, yet why is he still so confused? Murong Qing secretly chided herself, looking at Murong Kang.
"Benefits, benefits that can ensure his Xieli Hu family's perpetual prosperity and wealth," Murong Qing continued. "Whatever he wants, this palace will give him. This palace only fears he dares not accept."
As Murong Qing spoke the words "prosperity and wealth," she suddenly thought of Zhou Fugui. Compared to Murong Kang, Zhou Fugui was exceptionally intelligent, grasping everything with just a hint.
A mere convict, to achieve great merit on the border and earn the official rank of a fourth-rank general, his abilities were indeed remarkable. It was a pity that to this day, Murong Qing still did not know what Zhou Fugui truly thought, nor whether Zhou Fugui was truly on her side. Otherwise, Murong Qing would have long since pardoned him completely, brought him to the capital, and relied on him like a great wall.
"Your Highness means...?" Gu Yiqidan asked.
"If they push us so hard, do not blame me for being heartless," Murong Qing said coldly. "In this time of turmoil, we must plan and prepare."
"As Your Highness commands!" Murong Kang and Gu Yiqidan exchanged a glance and then responded in low voices.
...
The residence of Commander Xieli Hu, commander of the Yan Emperor's personal guard.
"Oh, hahaha, hurry and jump in, jump in, or Master will give you a good spanking and break your bottoms."
"Plop, plop!"
"Ah... Master..."
The winters in Youzhou are long, and the summers short. Even in the hottest part of summer, it does not compare to the sweltering heat of the south. Although it was not yet the height of summer in Youzhou, Master Xieli Hu felt like playing in the water. He used spears, sabers, staffs, and other weapons to force a crowd of beautiful women and maidservants to strip and leap into the pool at his home.
Xieli Hu had ordered a large hot spring pool to be built in his mansion, covering about ten mu of land and filled with water. He also ordered it to be widened and deepened, with lush green trees and flowers planted around it. Xieli Hu even invited famous scholars and artists to name this hot spring pool "Xuan Nü Yao Chi" (Mysterious Maiden's Jade Pool).
The pool was filled with lotus flowers, graceful and fragrant, and the water rippled like a southern water garden.
There was also a saying that Xieli Hu's act was to "train naval officers," with himself, the commander, as the fleet commander, and the beauties and maids as the naval soldiers... He did not ask himself if he was afraid of water and what kind of naval officers he could train.
The crowd of beautiful women and maidservants, stripped bare, leaped into the hot spring pool. This was pure torment for them. Once in the pool, they were like drowned rats, some choking on water, others flailing about aimlessly, suffering unbearable misery.
But they had no choice but to obey. If anyone dared to speak out, their fate would be tragic. Being beaten on the backside was the least of it. If they angered Xieli Hu, he would truly kill them, and in an exceptionally brutal manner.
"Haha, hurry up, today this commander will also broaden his horizons and let Master witness what a beauty emerging from the bath looks like!" Xieli Hu, seeing the beautiful women and maidservants in their wet and disheveled state, could not help but laugh heartily.
Xieli Hu was tall and burly, with a square face and thick, angry eyebrows. Although he was over fifty, his cross-eyed gaze and bulbous nose remained. He tore off his thin silk robe, revealing his strong muscles, and leaped into the lotus pond with a "plop," instantly creating a large splash.
The splash startled several servants closest to him, who, unprepared, fell into the water, clothes and all, in an orderly fashion, their cries of alarm filling the air.
What... what was going on? The beautiful women exchanged bewildered glances. What madness had seized Xieli Hu to push his own servants into the water?
Xieli Hu laughed heartily, paying no mind to master or servant, ordering them to huddle together while he took the opportunity to take advantage of the chaos.
"Father Commander!" Just as Xieli Hu was frolicking and indulging with his servants, beauties, and maidservants, Xieli Hu's son, Adabu, entered the courtyard, frowning at the unsightly scene, and roared, "All of you, get out!"
Even Xieli Hu's son could not bear to witness such a disgraceful spectacle.
The servants, beauties, and maidservants hastily gathered their wet clothes and scrambled out of the garden.
"Boy, what are you doing?" Xieli Hu asked with a hint of embarrassed anger.
"Father Commander, you... this is too much..." Adabu stammered, filled with shame and indignation.
"What do you know?" With the help of servants, Xieli Hu put on a dry silk robe, glared at Adabu, and said, "The more your father acts like this, the less attention he will attract."
To achieve the goal of overthrowing the Qin regime, one could engage in such absurd acts. Xieli Hu was not entirely uncouth and knew some historical facts, but he had learned it in a garbled, incomplete manner...
"Father Commander, you don't want to attract attention, but others have already noticed you," Adabu sighed.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Xieli Hu asked, surprised.
"Father Commander, Her Highness the Empress has arrived and is waiting outside the residence," Adabu replied.
"Slap!" Xieli Hu became furious upon hearing this, and he punched Adabu on the head, exclaiming, "Why didn't you say so sooner? Like a celestial being, Her Highness the Empress has arrived, and you made her wait outside? Hurry, quickly tidy up, open the gates, and respectfully welcome Her Highness the Empress."
"Yes, Father Commander," Adabu replied nervously and turned to run.
Didn't you say it yourself? You said that even if the Emperor himself came, you shouldn't be disturbed from your enjoyment, Adabu muttered to himself as he ran.
"Wait, come back!" Xieli Hu suddenly remembered something and called out to Adabu.
"Father Commander?" Adabu made a sharp turn and came back, so quickly that he almost tripped into the hot spring. He steadied himself and asked in surprise.
"How did Her Highness the Empress arrive?" Xieli Hu asked thoughtfully.
"She just arrived. When she reached the gate, she asked if Father Commander was well, and then I came to report to Father Commander," Adabu replied.
"Slap!" Xieli Hu hit Adabu again and angrily said, "Your father is asking you, how many people came with her?"
"Oh, Her Highness the Empress only brought two palace maids as attendants, and they were wearing ordinary civilian clothes," Adabu replied, rubbing his head.
When did you ask that, you bastard? Adabu cursed inwardly. If you hit me again, I'll tell your wife, my mother, about your scandals...
"Hmm, in that case, there's no need for a grand reception..." Xieli Hu mused, "Go and lead her in through the side gate. Be discreet, and don't let anyone know."
"Your son understands." Adabu, having been hit on the head twice by Xieli Hu, seemed a bit dazed and nodded before asking, "However, Father Commander, Her Highness the Empress has been waiting outside the gate for a long time, and I'm afraid... someone already knows."
"Bang!" Xieli Hu hit Adabu's forehead again and angrily said, "She is wearing ordinary civilian clothes. She must want to conceal something and certainly doesn't want anyone to know. Do you think she's as foolish as you are?"
"Oh..." Adabu nodded and then turned and scurried away.
If I stay in this hot spring any longer, I'll probably be beaten to death by this absurd old man, Adabu thought to himself as he ran.