After crossing, I was forced to hold on to my thighs and build a kingdom

A few days later, Su Cheng'an received news from the northwest that Chen Zhe was indeed the aide of Marquis Wu'an. It was said that Marquis Wu'an was very close to him during his lifetime, and the two ministers got along very well.

Just two months before the incident of Marquis Wu'an, Chen Zhe suddenly left the northwest for personal reasons. Then Marquis Wu'an was recalled to Beijing, and the Manchu family was destroyed. The two of them were separated by life and death from then on. Chen Zhe then lived in the world, hiding his identity and drifting around.

If that's the case, I can go and meet him.

So, on a sunny morning, Zhang Lian, instructed by Su Cheng'an, took Chen Zhe, who was dressed in new clothes, and stepped into the most noble mansion in the north, the study of Dingbei King Su Changshan, for the first time.

"I, Chen Zhe, pay my respects to His Majesty."

Chen Zhe, wearing a navy blue robe, bowed to the host behind the table.

"Please get up quickly."

Prince Dingbei gave him a false helping, then signaled to the servant beside him, "Serve the master some tea."

After Chen Zhe thanked him verbally, he stood up and sat down on the chair below.

Only then did King Dingbei see the appearance of this middle-aged aide clearly. He had thin cheeks and a calm gaze. Overall, he looked easy-going and a bit bookish. He was obviously a scholar with a pen.

Thinking of what Su Cheng'an had said to him, King Dingbei was satisfied with Chen Zhe.

"I heard that your former master was General Ye, the former Marquis of Wu'an. I wonder what advice you have for me today?" Looking at Chen Zhe below, King Dingbei spoke first.

Before coming here, Chen Zhe had thought about the prince's question, so he only pondered it for a moment before respectfully replying, "Your Highness, I understand that although I am of little influence, I will never forget the kindness of my former master, General Ye, the Marquis of Wu'an."

"When the great general was wronged, I was deeply saddened and traveled extensively for years, seeking the truth and clearing the name of my former master.

Upon hearing this, King Dingbei raised his eyebrows slightly, and a hint of curiosity and interest flashed in his eyes.

He leaned forward slightly and asked with interest, "As a fellow military commander, I admire General Ye for leading the Northwest Army and defending the territory for decades. I also admire your gratitude to your former master today. However--"

He paused, his eyes piercing as he stared at the man below him. "General Ye Shengpei, the former Marquis of Wu'an, was condemned by the current emperor as a traitor and a colluder with foreign nations. Sir, by asking me to redress General Ye's grievances, aren't you blatantly placing our northern border in opposition to the imperial court and putting our Dingbei Palace on the spot?"

Chen Zhe took a deep breath and stepped forward, his tone excited but logical. "Your Highness, I have been collecting evidence over the years and have already grasped some key clues. The mastermind behind the framing of Marquis Wu'an was none other than the forces within the court who were intent on controlling the government. They feared the prestige of the Marquis's mansion and the power of the general, so they framed him."

"Since the Emperor fell ill last year, the court has been in chaos, with princes vying for the throne and court officials vying for power. Added to this are natural and man-made disasters, and an overwhelming amount of exorbitant taxes. The centuries-old foundation of the Great Jin is on the verge of collapse. Your Highness and the Crown Prince are both wise and courageous, with foresight. How could they willingly hand their lives over to mediocre and ineffective people?"

Seeing the solemn expression on Prince Dingbei's face, Chen Zhe simply gritted his teeth and took another step forward: "I dare say that the current situation is a godsend opportunity for the prince and the prince. If we don't seize this opportunity and take advantage of his illness to kill him, and take another step forward, when the major events in the capital are settled and the court has freed up its hands, I'm afraid the Prince Dingbei's Mansion will be in danger! By then, even if we want to make further plans, I'm afraid it will be too late to save the situation!"

"Be bold!"

King Dingbei roared, "How dare you, Chen Zhe, for your own selfish gain, speak nonsense and maliciously sow discord between the Northern Territory and the capital!"

At this point, his expression changed drastically, and he called out to his left and right: "Come here, arrest this evil man with ulterior motives!"

As he was speaking, several people rushed into the room quickly, grabbed Chen Zhe who was sitting, and tried to take him away.

"My lord, please wait!"

Chen Zhe remained calm and shouted, "I've heard that the prince cares about the world and is dedicated to upholding justice."

"But now, the powerful in the capital are fighting each other, vying for power, and the people at the bottom are in dire straits, suffering unspeakably, and living in misery. The entire Dajin officialdom is colluding, working in cahoots, completely disregarding the soldiers defending the border, sleeping in the open air, let alone the lives of the people."

"If Your Majesty does not forge ahead and restore order, the only ones who will benefit will be the barbarians, while the countless people of the Great Jin will suffer."

As they spoke, several people had already pulled him to the door. Chen Zhe clutched the door frame tightly with one hand, his eyes filled with worry. He shouted in the direction of Prince Dingbei, "A building is about to collapse, and one tree cannot support it; a raging tide has already turned, and one arm cannot stop it. Your Highness, at this critical moment of life and death, if you continue to hide your incompetence and allow those treacherous villains to take power, the world will be devastated!"

As they were talking, several people pried his hands apart and dragged him out of the door. Chen Zhe's almost hoarse shouting could be heard from the yard.

"Your Highness, can't you see? If you don't act decisively and change the world, the only ones who will benefit in the future will be those covetous barbarians, and the ones who will suffer will be countless innocent people of the Great Jin!"

His shouts echoed all around, startling a few birds resting peacefully on the branches in the yard. They flapped their wings and flew away, looking somewhat desolate and lonely.

Chen Zhe closed his eyes, and in an instant the generous smile of his old master appeared in front of him again. A strong feeling of bitterness and powerlessness surged in his heart. General, I am really sorry.

Just as he was about to step out of the courtyard, the deep voice of King Dingbei came from behind him: "Bring him back!"

They sat down again, but this time the person who served him tea was another familiar stranger.

Chen Zhe looked at the young man in a royal blue satin round-necked robe with scattered flowers and blurted out, "Sir, why are you here too?"

Su Cheng'an personally placed the pot of tea on the table next to Chen Zhe, then sat down opposite him. He then looked at him with a smile: "Although this method is a bit abrupt, it can test your intentions, sir. I'm sorry to scare you!"

Many thoughts flashed through Chen Zhe's mind in an instant, and finally they all stopped at the young man in front of him.

He lowered his eyes to look at the cup of tea, reached out to pick it up, smiled slightly at Su Cheng'an, and said with a double meaning: "So, although Chen is flattered by this cup of tea, he can also be said to have a clear conscience!"

After saying this, he drank the tea in one gulp, stood up and saluted Su Cheng'an: "Forgive my poor eyesight, I didn't notice you were by my side along the way. My Lord, I am honored to meet you!"

Su Cheng'an and King Dingbei exchanged a quick glance, both showing satisfaction in their eyes.

King Dingbei narrowed his eyes slightly, spread his hands slightly, and said with enthusiasm: "If Mr. Chen doesn't mind, how about condescending to stay in the Northern Territory in the future?"

After a pause, the King of Dingbei's expression grew serious. "Sir, you know that even though I, the King of Dingbei, may harbor selfish desires, I would never place them above the lives of my people. If I can achieve my wish in the future, I promise that the injustice done to Marquis Wu'an will be made known to the world."

"At that time, sir, as a meritorious minister, you will surely work with us to seek the welfare of the people of this world, create a prosperous era together, and share the glory!"

His voice was steady and powerful, echoing in the huge hall, as if injecting a shot of adrenaline into the road ahead that was full of unknowns.

"Since the prince and his son have not abandoned me, Zhe will follow you through thick and thin, and will never abandon you. If you command me, I will go through fire and water without hesitation. I only hope to help the prince achieve his great cause and avenge the shame of my former master. Zhe's life is enough for this!"

After saying this, the middle-aged man stood up solemnly and saluted again.