The first county magistrate in history

Chapter 283 The Storm is Coming

Li Qiuhan was in a complicated mood.

In her opinion, Qin Zheng is definitely a rare pillar of talent. If he is used by Daqian, Daqian will surely prosper.

However, she couldn't say for sure whether Qin Zheng's talent and ability would be good or bad for him and Daqian. After all, people's hearts would change, and no one could guarantee that Qin Zheng wouldn't become more ambitious in the future.

After all, great talents have always been met with suspicion and jealousy. If she were an empress, she might not trust Qin Zheng either.

When Xia Mochu saw An Dehai and the other two were silent, he said confidently, "Don't worry. I have been with my father since childhood and have a deep understanding of the art of ruling. Qin Zheng is a great talent. He should be used, but not too much either. I know my limits!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Li Qiuhan breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that His Majesty had no intention of killing Qin Zheng. Otherwise, it would be a waste of such a talent!

"Haha, that's great!" Andehai smiled, seeming very satisfied!

Yuan Shiqing hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Your Majesty, after Qin Zheng returns from his mission, will he immediately go to Liangjin to take up his post?"

What he was worried about was the princess. If Qin Zheng went to Liangjin, would the princess follow him?

Deep down, he didn't want the princess to go with Qin Zheng.

Because, from his perspective as a person with experience, Qin Zheng is too talented and will not have a good ending. Since ancient times, talented people have never had a good ending!

He was afraid of implicating the princess.

However, given the princess's temperament, she would definitely be willing to follow Qin Zheng as her master.

Unless the empress doesn't allow the princess to go.

Xia Mochu smiled faintly: "Qin Zheng himself also really wants to go to Liangjin. If Qin Zheng is very successful this time, there is no better reward for him than to fulfill his wish and fulfill his wish."

"Hahaha..." An Dehai laughed out loud. "Your Majesty is wise. Now that Qin Zheng has left the imperial capital, he won't be able to interfere in anything going on there. Since ancient times, ease and comfort have fostered rebellion. We can't let Qin Zheng sit idle. As long as he's not idle, he won't have time to think about rebellion. This is a brilliant plan!"

Yuan Shiqing's face changed!

How can this satisfy Qin Zheng's wish? Isn't this just killing the donkey after it has served its purpose?

Yuan Shiqing glanced at the smiling empress out of the corner of his eye.

My heart skipped a beat. Is Your Majesty going to take away everything Qin Zheng created in the imperial capital?

But the princess is now trying her best to protect Qin Zheng's interests, and Your Majesty must be aware of it.

I know, but if we still do this, doesn't that mean we will transfer the princess to Liangjin as well?

Then, wouldn’t the princess be implicated by Qin Zheng!

Yuan Shiqing could only think about it but didn't dare to say it out loud.

Although he watched Xia Mochu and Xia Mo Ning grow up, and although he was a person trusted by the late emperor, and therefore, he knew best the horror of the emperor's mind and the emperor's skills.

Yuan Shiqing's heart suddenly sank. For some unknown reason, he felt worried...

An Dehai suddenly asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, did the secret letter mention anything about Xia Bitu's actions?"

Xia Mochu nodded: "Qin Zheng forced the Fifth Prince to hand over the antidote to control Xia Tianjiao and give up the control over Xia Bitu."

"What?" An Dehai's face changed drastically. "How could he do this? How could he help Xia Bitu? Shouldn't he have taken this opportunity to have Fifth Master kill Xia Bitu, or to provoke a fight between them?"

Xia Mochu asked, "Is Uncle An worried that once Xia Bitu escapes, he'll have nothing to worry about and will take action against us?"

An Dehai said sternly, "Now we know that the main reason An Dehai has been reluctant to take action against us is because Xia Tianjiao was poisoned and he is controlled by the Fifth Prince. His actions are also to help Ningguta. How can an old fox be willing to do things for others?"

But things are different now. He is out of Ningguta's control and has no worries. Moreover, if he joins forces with Ningguta now, he will be able to truly be on equal terms, rather than being forced to join forces as before."

An Dehai was furious. "How could Qin Zheng have helped Xia Bitu escape from his predicament? He even helped Xia Bitu achieve merit and saved Xia Jinzhong. Who does he belong to? Where is his loyalty?"

An Dehai was really angry because Qin Zheng had helped Xia Bitu, forcing him to cancel the order to have those righteous men assassinate Xia Jinzhong. Because the food crisis in Guanxi was a hundred times more important than Xia Jinzhong's life!

Yuan Shiqing guessed, "Qin Zheng must have seen something, which is why he did this. This guy never does anything without a purpose."

An Dehai rolled his eyes at Yuan Shiqing and said, "Yuan Shiqing, why are you so tactful and speaking for him? We are not targeting Qin Zheng, nor are we targeting any particular person. Our starting point is to protect His Majesty and preserve the Great Qian Empire!"

Yuan Shiqing: “…”

Shut up now.

He couldn't win the argument with Andehai.

Li Qiuhan could only listen and had no say.

She didn't know what to say.

But I just feel that it is unfair that Qin Zheng is fighting on the front line but is being plotted against and suspected behind the scenes.

But, she was just a female official, and even though she had a good relationship with the empress, there were some things she could not say.

The saying that serving the king is like serving a tiger is not groundless.

Xia Mochu frowned, "I also suspect Qin Zheng must have seen something, which is why he did this. But why didn't he explain it to me?"

Suddenly he waved his hand and said, "All of you please leave. I need to be quiet and think carefully."

Yuan Shiqing quickly said, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid something is going to happen in Nancheng."

Xia Mochu was shocked: "What's the matter?"

Yuan Shiqing informed Ji Wenxuan that he had run away with the money and was beheaded by Guo Pingxi. Now, the princess was leading 50% of the troops to rescue people in the south city.

I should have said it just now, but I didn't have the chance.

Xia Mochu's pretty face was sullen. "Guo Pingxi, it's fine if he's arrogant and conceited, but how could he be so foolish? If the rain continues, South City will inevitably be flooded. Can he afford the loss?"

As if in response to her words, thunder suddenly sounded outside.

Several people looked out the window.

Then I saw that the sky was covered with dark clouds, lightning and thunder.

"Uncle Yuan, immediately lead 3,000 Imperial Guards to Nancheng to help and minimize the losses. Tell Mo Ning that the safety of the people in Nancheng must be guaranteed."

"Yes!" Yuan Shiqing left quickly.

"Qiuhan, I'm worried that the other districts may not obey Mo Ning's orders. You go there in person and deliver my instructions. Urge East City, West City, North City, and Central City to prepare in case the disaster in South City spreads to their districts! If you pretend to obey but actually disobey and slack off, you will be severely punished if you cause any losses!"

"Yes!" Li Qiuhan took the order and left.

After Yuan Shiqing and Li Qiuhan left, An Dehai suddenly said, "Your Majesty, we knew from the beginning that Guo Pingxi and Qin Zheng were bound to lose the bet. If Nancheng really suffers losses this time, can we capture Guo Pingxi in one fell swoop?"

Xia Mochu smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I want to too!"

As he spoke, he picked up a memorial from the desk and handed it to An Dehai.

An Dehai didn't understand what was going on, so he took it and opened the memorial.

After reading it, his face changed: "West Border King Liang Heng's battle report? The Western Border, the border troops of the Simon Dynasty have been very active recently? Several times crossing the border to provoke? Qin Zheng is in Guanxi, how could he not know? Why didn't he report it?"

Xia Mochu said solemnly, "Uncle An, this is unimportant. The King of the Western Territory reported the military intelligence at this very moment, with the sole purpose of protecting Guo Pingxi. Every year, the border states don't cause trouble. They're all safe and sound."

An Dehai's eyes flashed with cruelty: "He, is threatening Your Majesty?"

Xia Mochu's eyes flickered. "Uncle An, do you think Qin Zheng dares to challenge the King of the Western Territory?"

An Dehai shook his head: "I don't know either."

Suddenly, the old man's eyes flashed with brilliance: "If Qin Zheng is really the envoy of the Five Elements Sect, why wouldn't he dare? Your Majesty is wise. This time, we will definitely make a profit and the food crisis in Guanxi will be solved!"

Xia Mochu smiled. "It was Uncle An's suggestion that reminded me. Why not take this opportunity to test the bottom line of the King of the Western Territory? It's not appropriate for us to take action, but Qin Zheng is the most suitable. Moreover, we can also test whether Qin Zheng is the envoy of the Five Elements Sect!"

An Dehai, with a look of great satisfaction on his face, said with emotion, "Your Majesty has already embody the heroic spirit of the late emperor!"

Xia Mochu blushed slightly. "Uncle An, I'm still too stupid. When my father was my age, he was already galloping on the battlefield and was invincible. I have to thank Uncle An and Uncle Yuan for their help!"

An Dehai laughed and said, "That's different. Your Majesty is a girl after all."

Suddenly he frowned: "Didn't Qin Zheng ask the Fifth Prince for the antidote to the elixir of immortality?"

Xia Mochu shook his head: "Don't blame him. If he had asked for it, wouldn't the Fifth Prince know that I was poisoned?"

An Dehai nodded: "That's true, but I don't know if Hongtong County can develop an antidote." Suddenly, he asked cautiously: "Your Majesty, I have something to say, I hope Your Majesty will forgive me." Xia Mochu was stunned: "Uncle An, just say it, I will forgive you!"

An Dehai lowered his voice and said, "If Your Majesty is cured of the poison, would you consider continuing to rule the country? I have no other intentions, but I am worried that the little princess is young and easily deceived. When she ascends the throne in the future, she will inevitably face many crises. The country left by the late emperor cannot afford to lose even the slightest bit."

After An Dehai finished speaking, he looked at the empress's face cautiously.