The poorest member of the Imperial Guard, the Empress begged me to embezzle.

"The Marquis suspects that Yang Changtian, the patriarch of the Hongnong Yang Clan, and Tianjian Patriarch of the Tianjian Sect, along with other experts from the Hongnong Yang Clan and the Tianjian Sect, have long since hidden themselves in Xuzhou."

"The Yang family of Hongnong may have long harbored the idea of ​​starting a rebellion."

"And they had been planning this for many years."

After a moment's consideration, Pei Guanyin spoke to Murong Si with a solemn expression.

What are your thoughts on this?

Upon hearing this, Murong Si spoke calmly.

"Your Majesty, this servant believes that the reason why the Yang family of Hongnong helped Xiao Yu, the leader of the Maitreya Sect, to rebel, and even went so far as to use Qi Yan, the General of Yangwu, as a spy, to persuade the barbarians to send troops, is because they have a very grand scheme!"

Jiang Wan'er said with a serious expression.

Not bad.

It's a spy.

She had previously guessed that Qi Yan was someone the Yang family of Hongnong had temporarily bribed in order to persuade the barbarians.

However, it seems that Qi Yan may have already been a member of Yang Yan, or the Yang family of Hongnong.

However, Zheng Min, the governor of Yizhou, was unaware that one of his generals had always been Yang Yan's man.

Pei Guanyin nodded gently, a look of approval on her face.

"That's obvious."

"If I am not mistaken, Yang Yan's real idea is to let Xiao Yu take over the entire Jingzhou region."

"Jingzhou is of vital importance to our Great Zhou Dynasty. With the barbarians raiding the borders, our teacher can only stay in Yizhou."

"Our Great Zhou Dynasty's Imperial Guards and the Capital Garrison must also guard against the Yellow Heaven Sect in Ji Province."

"I have no one left to use."

"So, at this time, who are the people I can use?"

Murong Si sneered and said.

"Yang Yan!"

Pei Guanyin's eyes narrowed, and she spoke.

Jiang Wan'er's expression was also extremely solemn.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt that Yang Yan had malicious intentions.

"You're right, it is Yang Yan."

"Before entering the cabinet, Yang Yan was already a renowned general of our Great Zhou Dynasty."

"He is the invincible war god of our Great Zhou Dynasty. Even the Imperial Uncle and Zhao Wuyang are far inferior to him."

"Once Jingzhou is captured by Xiao Yu, the civil and military officials in the court who are loyal to Yang Yan will propose that he take up the post, with Yang Yan as the commander-in-chief, drawing troops from Sizhou, and with Yang Xuance, the governor of Xuzhou, as the vanguard, to send troops from Xuzhou to suppress Xiao Yu's rebellion together with Yang Yan."

“Yang Yan never does anything without being sure of success. The fact that he planned this means that he has complete confidence in suppressing Xiao Yu’s rebellion.”

"If I'm not mistaken, Xiao Yu definitely has his own people hidden among his subordinates!"

"Of course, Xiao Yu has his own people under him, so they can only provide him with some intelligence."

"The real source of confidence is the Yang family of Hongnong, the Tianjian Sect, and perhaps also the Dongyang family, one of the nine great families of the martial arts world."

"Plus Yang Yan's personal guard!"

A glint of light flashed in Murong Si's eyes, and she said in a low and powerful voice, "Xiao Yu will definitely not be able to withstand Yang Yan."

Jingzhou will surely be recaptured by Yang Yan.

If I were Yang Yan, I certainly wouldn't have driven Xiao Yu to his death. Instead, after taking over the entire Jingzhou, I would have sent Xiao Yu back to Yangzhou.

Creating a situation where it would be very difficult to kill Xiao Yu would be extremely difficult.

Then Yang Yan took the initiative to recommend, or the civil and military officials who were attached to Yang Yan recommended Yang Xuance, the governor of Xuzhou, to serve as the governor of Jingzhou in the court.

It is even possible that they would propose that Jingzhou is important and directly appoint Yang Xuance as the governor of Jingzhou, in charge of the land to defend against Xiao Yu in Yangzhou.

Yang Yan had previously served as the governor of Xuzhou, and Yang Xuance served as the governor of Xuzhou for ten years.

The entire city of Xuzhou had long been turned into an impenetrable fortress by the father and son.

If the newly appointed governor of Xuzhou is also one of their own, then everyone will be happy.

Even if the newly appointed governor of Xuzhou is not one of their people, they will still be sidelined.

At that time, the Yang family of Hongnong will still be loyal subjects of our Great Zhou Dynasty, but the three provinces of Si, Jing, and Xu will all fall into their hands.

Jiang Wan'er and Pei Guanyin were pale, their faces showing lingering fear.

If such a thing happens, Murong Si's strength will be weakened once again.

"It's a pity that although Yang Yan is shrewd and calculating, he did not expect that Minister Chu had already gained such great strength with the Jinyiwei's killing blade formation. Without using our Great Zhou Dynasty's Imperial Guards and the Capital Garrison, the Jinyiwei alone was able to suppress Xiao Yu's rebellion and reclaim Yangzhou."

"Xiao Yu couldn't even hold onto Yangzhou, let alone take Jingzhou!"

Murong Si's pretty face showed a mocking expression as she said, "Then she was tricked by Zheng Min, the governor of Yizhou, and the matter of bribing Qi Yan was exposed in public, causing that old fox Yang Yan to die under Chu Aiqing's blade. Even the ancestral land of the Yang family in Hongnong, plus the mountain gate of the Tianjian Sect, were razed to the ground by Chu Aiqing."

"Your Majesty, we must now be wary of Yang Xuance's potential rebellion."

Pei Guanyin hesitated for a moment before speaking to Murong Si.

Jiang Wan'er was also staring intently at Murong Si.

At this point, Yang Xuance had reached a point where he had no choice but to rebel; it was impossible for him not to.

"Have all the officials in the court who are affiliated with Yang Yan been taken down?"

Murong Si said calmly.

Chu Xiu went to the ancestral home of the Yang family in Hongnong, and naturally she couldn't just do nothing.

"Your Majesty, they have all been arrested by the Shadow Guards and imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison."

Pei Guanyin's expression turned solemn, and she spoke in a firm and powerful voice.

"Shadow Guard."

Murong Si nodded slightly and said with a cool expression.

The Shadow Guard Commander appeared out of thin air in the main hall of Taiji Palace, knelt down before Murong Si, and said respectfully, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Send men to Yuzhou, Yanzhou, and Qingzhou as quickly as possible to convey my imperial edict, ordering the governors of Yuzhou (Zhao Yong), Yanzhou (Li Ruxian), and Qingzhou (Xie Xuan) to be on guard against Yang Xuance."

Murong Si pondered for a moment, then spoke to the Shadow Guard Commander.

Instead of sending someone to deliver the imperial decree, she directly dispatched her shadow guards to Yuzhou, Yanzhou, and Qingzhou in order to buy time.

To avoid a sudden rebellion by Yang Xuance, Zhao Yong and his two companions were caught completely off guard and were attacked by Yang Xuance who stormed into the three prefectures.

"Yes, I obey the order."

The Shadow Guard Commander spoke with utmost respect.

"Your Majesty, should we send someone to Yangzhou to inform the Governor of Yangzhou, Mo Xuanjia?"

Jiang Wan'er tentatively said.

Because Murong Si mentioned Yuzhou, Yanzhou, and Qingzhou, but not Yangzhou.

It's not just these three prefectures that border Xuzhou; Yangzhou is also adjacent to Xuzhou.

Yangzhou has just experienced the rebellion of Xiao Yu, the leader of the Maitreya sect, and it can be said that Yangzhou is currently in a weak position.

Compared to Yuzhou, Yanzhou, and Qingzhou, Yangzhou is very likely the most suitable place for Yang Xuance to conquer.

Mo Xuanjia is the newly appointed governor of Yangzhou.

"No need, even if we remind Mo Xuanjia, it won't make any difference."

"With Yangzhou's current strength, there is no way it can stop Yang Xuance."

Murong Si shook her head and said, "Yangzhou must be personally overseen by Minister Chu in order to make Yang Xuance think twice."

"Your Majesty is wise."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan'er and the others spoke with respectful expressions.

With Chu Xiu personally overseeing things, they had nothing to worry about.

Even if Chu Xiu were to intervene, he might be able to suppress Yang Xuance directly.

"Go do something."

Murong Si waved her sleeve at the Shadow Guard Commander and said.

"Yes, Wei Chen is resigning."

The Shadow Guard Commander responded and disappeared into the main hall of Taiji Palace.

"Jiang Wan'er, send someone to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters to summon Minister Chu to the palace."

Murong Si looked at Jiang Wan'er and said to her in a deep voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jiang Wan'er said respectfully.