311: Chapter 311 The Imperial Seal

No way!

Is the Prime Minister of the Great Gan actually a remnant of the Great Zheng Dynasty!?

Or is he simply a "rebel"?

Lin Xiao was stunned. It is no wonder Emperor Hong has managed to keep his throne until now!

"Official Xie Tong, if it is truly as you say, these are merely speculations."

Lin Xiao said: "Even if the Red Flame Iron Cavalry really did march south, it does not necessarily mean they could annihilate the Black Dragon Cavalry. This might just be a coincidence."

"That is true."

Official Xie Tong nodded: "Based on this alone, calling it a coincidence is perfectly acceptable."

"Then you mean there is something else?"

Lin Xiao intended to get to the bottom of it, as it concerned his two women.

"General Leng Duo has a daughter named Leng Bingyan, who is the beloved disciple of Sword Forest Sect Leader Bai Jingfei."

"Although there is not much news about this woman, she left the Sword Forest after the capital of Western Shu was destroyed. We have informants in the Sword Forest who discovered that the location from which she later sent messages was within the Six Prefectures of the Northern Territory."

"The Northern Territory has been at war, so given her status, she must be on some special mission."

"For Western Shu, there are only two things worth her risking this much… the Empress, or the Imperial Seal."

Lin Xiao frowned. If he were not completely unconcerned about Xiao Qingxuan revealing her identity, he would have killed to silence the witness by now.

"General Leng Duo's daughter coming to the Six Prefectures of the Northern Territory… is that also related to Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong?" Lin Xiao asked.

"General Lin must have met the previous imperial envoy, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Liu Zongfu, not long ago, right?"

As expected!

"Hmm, I have met him. What about Minister Liu Zongfu?" Lin Xiao feigned confusion.

Official Xie Tong smiled: "When Minister Liu Zongfu was young, he had a romantic past with the leader of the Yanyu Pavilion, the number one assassin organization in the pugilistic world."

"Very few people know about this, but our Xie Family conducts thorough investigations on all ministers in the imperial court, which is how we came to know of it."

"And that leader of the Yanyu Pavilion, as far as I know, is a remnant of the previous dynasty who has been secretly attempting to subvert the Great Gan."

Lin Xiao was stunned. Damn! There is such a thing!?

So Minister Liu Zongfu and Shu Yelan? A May-December romance!?

Wait, then Liu Hanyi, little Liu... are they their daughter!?

"Originally, this was just a romantic affair from Minister Liu Zongfu's youth, not worth paying much attention to."

"But this time, with so many people in the imperial court, Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong recommended Minister Liu Zongfu to serve as the imperial envoy and travel to the Six Prefectures of the Northern Territory…"

Official Xie Tong said with a smile: "General Leng Duo's daughter and the lover of a Great Zheng Dynasty remnant are both running to the Six Prefectures of the Northern Territory. Isn't that a bit too coincidental?"

Lin Xiao gasped. Those who can rise to the cabinet level are truly not ordinary people.

"In that case… Official Xie Tong's assassination attempt this time was because Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong was too anxious."

Lin Xiao sighed: "He ended up helping Official Xie Tong confirm this entire hypothesis."

"Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong is one of the smartest people in the world. Of course, he knows there are risks in doing so."

"In fact, he tested me back in the capital, and we could be considered to have had a tacit understanding."

Official Xie Tong smiled: "The reason he did this, not fearing that I would see through the flaws, is for one reason—he cannot wait any longer!"

Lin Xiao nodded. As far as he knew, Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong was already over seventy years old.

If not for the fact that he was sitting in the position of Prime Minister and the political situation was unstable, he should have retired at seventy according to the law.

Unfortunately, as the continuation of the Great Zheng Dynasty, Western Shu, his spiritual sustenance, had suffered the disaster of national destruction.

Against this background, Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong naturally had to fight with all his might, even if it meant exposing himself.

"Speaking of which… the 'Decree to Reduce Feudatory Power' was also a strong dose of medicine from Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong."

Lin Xiao said playfully: "This old man is not trying to help the Great Gan continue its reign at all. Instead, after Western Shu was destroyed, he turned evil and decided to let the world fall into chaos so he could take the opportunity to restore the Great Zheng Dynasty."

Official Xie Tong nodded: "Exactly! The General is truly a man of extraordinary talent. You saw through the nuances of this immediately!"

Lin Xiao chuckled: "Official Xie Tong, you clearly prepared all the dishes and served them to me. I just ate the ready-made meal, yet you are still complimenting me?"

Thinking of the imperial court full of such old foxes, Lin Xiao felt exhausted!

No wonder Xiao Qingxuan did not miss the time when she was Empress at all. Playing political games with these ministers every day would give anyone crow's feet!

"General Lin, I admire and respect you from the bottom of my heart, with no intention of teasing you."

Official Xie Tong sighed: "It is shameful to say, but things have reached this point, and there is actually no solid evidence to topple Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong."

"I have to admit, Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong is still one move ahead. I am still a bit too green."

Lin Xiao nodded. Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong is now like a dead pig not afraid of boiling water. Everyone in the world knows he is a "great loyal minister" and a "great remonstrating minister." Who would think he is a rebel?

Let alone them, even Emperor Hong would find it hard to believe after hearing this chain of logic, likely attributing it to coincidence.

The key is… if Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong is really taken down, who will be the Prime Minister?

Would replacing the Chief Cabinet Minister really be a good thing for Emperor Hong?

When an empire is heading towards destruction, any maneuver is just futile.

"General Lin, let's return to our original topic."

Official Xie Tong said: "You now sit in the Six Prefectures of the Northern Territory, with plenty of men and resources. The imperial court is determined to take everything away from you. There is only one way: to label you a 'rebellious traitor'."

"But as long as you can find one thing, you will have no more worries!"

Lin Xiao's eyelids twitched: "The Imperial Seal of Western Shu?"

"Wrong! It is the Imperial Seal of the Great Zheng Dynasty!"

Official Xie Tong said solemnly: "When the Great Zheng Dynasty was destroyed, the Imperial Seal in the palace was fake. The real Imperial Seal had long been sent to Western Shu."

"And this Imperial Seal has been passed down from ancient times. It is said to hide a shocking secret!"

"Whoever can seize the Imperial Seal is the true Son of Heaven of the Central Plains!"

"When the Great Gan first established the nation, they actually had designs on the Imperial Seal and launched several expeditions."

"But helplessly, although the Great Zheng Dynasty was corrupt, the Western Shu royal family gathered too many strong men of the Great Zheng Dynasty. Their strength was not weak, and the Great Gan dared not risk mutual destruction."

"But now, the Great Gan is tottering, which is why they have once again set their sights on the Imperial Seal."

"Don't forget, the Prince of Nanling is His Majesty's own younger brother. On the surface, he seems cold, but blood is thicker than water!!"

Lin Xiao's eyes flickered: "Official Xie Tong means… let me find the Imperial Seal, and then say 'I receive the mandate from Heaven' and declare myself King?"

"The General possesses peerless martial arts. I am just a scholar with no strength to truss a chicken. If I had not made up my mind, how would I dare to speak of such a major event?"

"Although I, Xie Tong, am untalented, if the General is interested, I can represent the Xie Clan and do my best to assist the General in vying for the Central Plains!"

Official Xie Tong waved his hand, pointing far towards the Capital Region!