Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

In the backyard room of the Prince of Chu's Mansion.

Chu Ning sat in the main seat, with Liu Shouren, Deng Hongwen and Jia Yu standing in front of him.

"Your Highness!"

Jia Yu had a calm expression and chuckled, "The Crown Prince is hosting a banquet for all the officials from the Censorate, presumably to impeach the two gentlemen, Han Xing and Di Wenyao."

Chu Ning held the teacup, took a sip, put it down casually, and sneered:

"It seems that the Crown Prince can't wait to take action against me. He thinks that by bringing 30,000 Sizhou soldiers here, he can control the situation?"

After a pause, he looked at Jia Yu and asked, "What's the situation in Bingzhou?"

Jia Yu's face straightened: "Twenty thousand soldiers have already set out, and the two masters Han Xing and Di Wenyao will also set out after handing over the matters in their hands.

Judging from the marching speed, the 20,000 troops from Bingzhou should have crossed the border of Bingzhou and will soon enter Sizhou."

Chu Ning nodded slightly, everything was under control.

"My lords, what is the important matter that has brought you here?" Chu Ning turned to look at Liu Shouren and Deng Hongwen.

Liu Shouren smiled bitterly and said, "Your Highness, I just received an imperial decree from His Majesty that the grain harvest in the Jiangnan area is about to be good, and His Majesty asked me to take a few officials to inspect it."

As the Minister of Revenue, he was in charge of the imperial treasury and held great power. Every year when the grain harvest came, he was responsible for tax matters in various places.

It is now the end of May. Taking into account the travel time, it will be June when we arrive in Jiangnan, which is the time for rice harvest.

There is nothing wrong with this order.

But at this moment, officials in the court were preparing to target Han Xing and Di Wenyao. If Liu Shouren left at this moment, it would mean that Chu Ning's faction would lose a powerful helper.

Chu Ning raised his eyebrows and a hint of surprise flashed across his face. He didn't expect that the emperor would take action at this time.

While he was deep in thought, Deng Hongwen said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, I have also received an order from His Majesty. The imperial mausoleum is half built, but the Minister of Works, Mr. He, has returned to Beijing. His Majesty has asked me to go to the imperial mausoleum to replace Mr. He and supervise the construction of the imperial mausoleum."

After these words were spoken, the expressions of the other three people at the scene became subtle.

As the Minister of Rites, Deng Hongwen was responsible for a series of matters including etiquette and sacrifices.

The construction of the imperial mausoleum naturally had to follow certain etiquette. As for where to build something, of course the Minister of Rites had to go there in person to see it in person to determine.

There is nothing wrong with letting Deng Hongwen, the Minister of Rites, supervise the construction of the imperial mausoleum at this moment. It is reasonable and logical!

But the emperor first transferred Liu Shouren and then Deng Hongwen, which clearly showed that he did not want Chu Ning to gain too much power in the city.

In other words, the emperor already had an answer to the subsequent impeachment of Han Xing and Di Wenyao.

The officials around Chu Ning were transferred away, leaving Chu Ning alone and unable to cope with the situation. He had no choice but to accept the arrest of Han Xing and Di Wenyao!

"Father is really good at this!"

Chu Ning narrowed his eyes, and a hint of coldness flashed across his face: "It's fine if he doesn't remain neutral, but he even deliberately transferred you two away."

Liu Shouren and Deng Hongwen looked at each other, with a hint of helplessness in their eyes.

Although they wanted to stay, they dared not disobey the emperor's order.

What's more, the reasons given by the emperor were reasonable and they had no reason to refuse.

Jia Yu was not surprised by this, and said calmly: "Your Highness, Prince Chu, things have developed to this point, and you have no way out."

"Being suppressed is inevitable. You can either accept your fate or give it a try."

Chu Ning raised his eyebrows, revealing a ruthless look: "Since the opponent is pressing forward step by step, and my father has this attitude, then I may as well give it a try!"

After taking a deep breath, Chu Ning stood up suddenly and said in a cold voice: "It's a good opportunity to move to the prince!"

At this moment, Chu Ning made up his mind.

If he doesn't take action now, does he have to wait for the other party to eliminate everyone around him?

Now he is not only alone, but he has the entire Chu Palace and the people who support the Chu Palace.

Once he falls, these people will definitely be liquidated and rivers of blood will flow.

So, he can't fall!

Only others can fall!

Deng Hongwen and Liu Shouren's faces changed slightly when they heard this.

"Your Highness, this matter is dangerous. Lord Deng and I are not in the city, so I am afraid we can't help!"

"Yes, sir, this matter is too hasty, please think twice!"

Neither of them agreed with Chu Ning's plan.

If they give it a try, they have no guarantee of winning.

After all, this is Kyoto City. The prince has 30,000 soldiers, the city defense camp has 10,000 people, and there are 5,000 imperial guards!

These are just the forces on the surface. Other princes, dukes and ministers also have many people in their hands. Together, these people are a force that cannot be ignored.

Although Chu Ning transferred back 20,000 Bingzhou troops, the number was still insufficient.

More importantly, as Chu Ning's right-hand men, the two of them were to be transferred away from Kyoto City and would be completely unable to play any role in this matter.

Having lost the support of the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Rites, Chu Ning was isolated and helpless in the court. How could he, a lone man, fight against the Crown Prince and others?

What’s more, the prince also dragged the Censorate into this matter!

But Chu Ning was very firm about this: "You two adults, there is no need to persuade me anymore. I have already understood my mind!"

"This……"

"My two lords, it would be better if you were not in Kyoto!"

Chu Ning smiled mysteriously and said playfully, "Lord Liu, if you go to Jiangnan, it will be a good opportunity for me to stabilize the three states in Jiangnan. We just need to ask them not to help the prince and others in this matter. At the very least, we need them to remain neutral.

As for Lord Deng, your task is even more difficult. When you go to the imperial mausoleum and stay by the side of the emperor, it would be best if you can keep him neutral.

Father has already taken action several times. If the situation turns unfavorable to the Crown Prince and others, Father will surely take action again. By then, it will depend on whether you, Lord Deng, can hold Father back!"

There are advantages to having the two senior officials stay by my side, but there are also advantages to being transferred away.

As long as we stabilize the three states in the south of the Yangtze River and the emperor, and suppress the prince in Kyoto City, this will be accomplished!

Liu Shouren and Deng Hongwen finally reacted after hearing this.

If one really wants to confront the prince, the power of local forces cannot be ignored, and the emperor's attitude will also determine the final outcome!

But Chu Ning had no plans for these two sides before.

But if they went, they couldn't guarantee that they would be able to complete Chu Ning's instructions, but they would not let the situation tilt towards the prince.

"Your Highness the King of Chu is wise!" The two men bowed and understood what to do next.

Chu Ning nodded slightly: "Okay, since the two adults have the imperial edict, let's set off as soon as possible. Leave the affairs of Kyoto City to me and Mr. Jia!"

"I'll take my leave!" The two men bowed and left.

After the two of them left, Jia Yu smiled at Chu Ning and said, "Your Highness the Prince of Chu is indeed very smart. He will go with the flow and achieve great things in the future."

"However, there is something I want to say but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

Chu Ning raised his eyebrows and said unhappily, "Just say it if you have something to say."

Jia Yu suddenly changed his usual indifferent expression and said in a deep voice: "If His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu really captures the Crown Prince, how do you plan to deal with him?"

"Well..."

Chu Ning frowned and didn't answer for a moment.

To be honest, he had never thought about this question.

If the prince was really captured, would he be able to kill him?