Chen Zhao naturally wouldn't care about a mere Shi Xiangyun.

Time passed so slowly.

The civil servants in the cabinet changed one after another, but there were still only three close ministers of Emperor Xiaode.

British Duke Li Changqing, Cao Guo Gong Yue Zhongqi and Cheng Guo Gong Chen Zhao.

In Emperor Xiaode's view, these three people checked each other and were enough to be controlled by himself, and the noble system headed by them could compete with the civil service system.

To ensure the stability of the imperial power.

After so many years of peace in the world, clear seas and clear rivers, stable borders, fewer refugees, and the monopoly of power, Emperor Xiaode felt that he was possessed by the Tang Dynasty when Han Wen was still alive.

So he gradually drifted away.

In order to pursue immortality, he began to favor various alchemists.

However, he is also thoughtful and often not only eats it alone, but also asks ministers to taste it for him.

For example, Li Changqing, for example, has served as the chief minister of the cabinet.

So in June of the eighteenth year of Xiaode, the British prince Li Changqing died of illness at the age of fifty.

The next year, the queen died of illness.

However, Emperor Xiaode seemed to have planned for a long time and immediately promoted Yang Yuchun, Concubine Zhuang's younger brother, to the rank of Marquis of Pingsha, in charge of the imperial army in the capital, and as the first-rank governor and magistrate of the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion.

Yang Yuchun was originally a strong general in the army. He had participated in several battles, was both resourceful and courageous, and was naturally resolute and serious in speech and laughter. He was very famous in the army, and his promotion to a high position was a matter of course.

But this gave some people a bad idea.

As Concubine Zhuang became the master of the harem and Yang Yuchun's military power increased, the prince gradually fell into neglect.

He often drank with his brothers Luwang, the sixth son of the emperor, and Wang Fu, the ninth son of the emperor, who were both brothers from the same mother.

So one day in the 20th year of Xiaode, a minister in the court suddenly reported that the prince and King Lu were impeached, and that King Fu colluded and secretly manipulated the soldiers to plot evil.

At this time, Emperor Xiaode had been in power for twenty years and had monopolized power. He also thought about immortality. He had long regretted having established the crown prince too early. He also thought about his relationship with the British public. He immediately became angry and ordered the crown prince to be removed from the palace. King Lu and King Fu arrested them and demoted the three of them to common people that day.

Emperor Xiaode then summoned the ministers to discuss how to deal with the three princes. Yang Yuchun, the first-rank governor of the Dudu Mansion, said: "This is your majesty's family matter, which is not suitable for me and others."

Yue Zhongqi also said: "Your Majesty's family matters, I dare not speak nonsense."

Lin Ruhai, the chief minister of the cabinet, argued vigorously.

Only Chen Zhao stood there without saying a word.

But Emperor Xiaode wanted Chen Zhao to speak.

Chen Zhao then said calmly: "Your Majesty, I just remembered some past events and was a little distracted."

"What past events."

"Old Stories of Li Ying, the First Crown Prince of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty."

As soon as these words came out, Emperor Xiaode and Yang Yuchun's faces changed color at the same time.

It turns out that in the 25th year of the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty Li Longji killed three sons in one day, including the crown prince Li Ying, laying the foundation for the Tianbao crisis.

Chen Zhao's remarks were clearly an accusation that Emperor Xiaode was becoming increasingly mediocre, and Yang Yuchun was still alive when Li Linfu was still alive.

This is no different from publicly cursing someone.

Looking at the expressions of everyone in Wenyuan Pavilion, Chen Zhao knew that this day was finally coming.

So after returning to the mansion, under the escort of the Jinyi Guards cavalry, Chen Zhao took his family away overnight. The surveillance force deployed by the emperor had no effect at all. On the contrary, it covered Chen Zhao's departure from the capital and arrived safely in Jinmen.

As for Lin Ruhai, the chief minister of the cabinet, and his family, they naturally left the capital safely.

Jinmen is Chen Zhao's city. No matter how many officials are changed, Chen Zhao's influence cannot be eliminated. There are tens of thousands of heavily armed militiamen and a huge private fleet to protect them.

In fact, neither Emperor Xiaode nor the cabinet or the governor-general knew Chen Zhao's true strength at this time.

Even Lin Ruhai didn't know that if it weren't for his daughter and grandson, he would definitely not leave so simply.

Emperor Xiaode was furious and immediately beheaded the three brothers of the prince, removed Lin Ruhai from his position as chief minister of the cabinet, imprisoned Sun Shaozong, Zhang Heqing and others, and then sent Yue Zhongqi, the left governor of the Metropolitan Governor's Office, to lead the imperial army to attack Jinmen.

But something amazing happened.

The generals of the Forbidden Army asked for leave one after another and immediately left the city to avoid trouble.

Immediately afterwards, the Forbidden Army was in an uproar, demanding wages, departure fees, tea fees, battle fees, and even ice and carbon fees.

Otherwise it will not start.

A group of big soldiers dare to threaten the emperor at this time?

But the emperor found that he had no way to suppress them.

Because the emperor has no shortage of hungry soldiers, if you don't give others benefits, why should they sacrifice their lives for you?

Moreover, Emperor Xiaode spent so much money on the field of immortality in recent years that the military salaries of the Forbidden Army and the Beijing Camp were almost exhausted.

The subordinates clearly told the emperor that if Jinmen and Songjiang did not send the annual fixed amount of money, the imperial army would not be able to pay the money, let alone the departure fee?

Without pay, it is hard to say whether the soldiers and horses in the capital would mutiny.

But a bigger vortex is coming.

Military officers from all over the country filed memorials one after another, claiming that Chen Zhao was loyal to the country and why did the emperor target him after killing the prince.

Only then did people all over the world realize that Chen Zhao had accumulated countless talents in the past twenty years.

Those heroes who killed enemies in Southeast Asia went to the army, those who accumulated gold and silver at sea became officials, and there were countless workshops, workers, and all kinds of extremely efficient machines...

Countless people combine together to form a powerful and unparalleled system.

What kind of forces are involved behind this system? Everyone didn't know it at first, but now they understand that the most prominent generals and the richest businessmen in the world all have close relationships with them in one way or another. Every move will cause chaos in the world.

Jinmen and the interest groups behind them have become so developed now. They have snatched food from the gentry and snatched away so much. If Chen Zhao falls, the civil service group will definitely be liquidated. How can it be that there is so much money, land and land, and such prestige?

Will all the power on all sides vanish into thin air?

The interests were at stake, and everyone's position was immediately unified.

Everyone's memorials have the same attitude, why would an important minister like Chen Zhao leave the capital, why would the emperor imitate Tang Xuanzong and kill three sons in one day, who is Zhang Jiuling, who is Li Linfu, and who is the increasingly mediocre Tang Xuanzong...

The words asking the court to conduct a thorough investigation are all humble and sincere, but the meaning of the memorial is very clear. If the court does not give an explanation, then everyone may not feel at ease. If they do not feel at ease, what will happen to the uncontrollable troops?

That's hard to say.

"I have been with my husband for so many years, but I didn't expect that he would really have all the plans."

Lin Daiyu said to Xue Baochai privately.

It would be impossible for Chen Zhao to reach this position without certain preparations, so once he makes a decision, there is really no one in the world who can stop him.

Chen Zhao's arrangements in Beijing and Tianjin were quite thorough. There were a thousand armored cavalry escorting him in the capital. When he arrived at Tianjin Guards, the city was immediately agitated, and prominent figures came out to greet him. It is worth noting that the prefect and the same officials came out to greet him.

Do you know that the generals and troops are ready? Officials of all sizes and wealthy people are out to welcome them.

Jinmenwei is the city of Chen Zhao. He has maintained a fleet here for a long time, including three gunboats. All the artillery in the Zhou Dynasty cannot compete with it.

Not to mention the 20,000-strong escort team relying on Zhengfei Bank.

Not to mention, the world's navy is under Chen Zhao's control, and he can dispatch tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of elites at any time.

After everything was arranged, Chen Zhao sat in his study, summoned Daiyu, Baochai, Tanchun and other wives and concubines, and said with a smile on his face: "I originally only wanted to live a rich life with you, but I didn't expect that the emperor would leave.

Come this far!”

Daiyu said firmly: "I will definitely follow my husband and I will never regret it."

Baochai and Tanchun also nodded.

The civil service system originally thought that this was their opportunity to regain national rights and public opinion.

As a result, Chen Zhao responded quickly. The actions of the civil servants were nothing in the face of swords and gold and silver. All officials who made a clear statement that they stood against Chen Zhao went bankrupt within a month. Other officials suddenly fell silent, and no one dared

Too much to say.

Emperor Xiaode finally discovered that the emperor who had been so majestic for twenty years had turned into a tiger without claws.

In desperation, Emperor Xiaode could only compromise with Chen Zhao.

All the ministers who were imprisoned were released without charge and sent to Tianjin to die.

Chen Zhao was granted the title of King of Jinmen County. He recuperated in Jinmen and opened the Jinmen shogunate.

At the same time, Chen Zhao's subordinate, Juren Ji Yun Ji Xiaolan, who was also known as "Iron Teeth and Bronze Teeth", was placed in the cabinet, ranking third.

Another subordinate, Cheng Rixing, who was born in Juren, served as the minister of the Ministry of Industry and was also qualified to go to court.

As the spokespersons of the Jinmen shogunate in the capital, the two of them could not pass any interest-related issues or policies without their consent.

Jinmen became the second political center of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In the days that followed, Emperor Xiaode's body completely collapsed due to his old age, years of taking elixirs, and his fall from the high position of being the first emperor in history.

So in the 21st year of Xiaode, the emperor passed away. After the prince ascended the throne, he changed his reign to Shunjin. Under internal and external pressure, he welcomed Chen Zhao, the king of Jinmen County, to the capital to have an overview of military and state affairs.

In the second year of Shunjin, Chen Zhao, the king of Jinmen County, personally led the army, marching in two directions to sweep the north, occupying the entire northeastern plain, and filled the town of Liaodong with refugees, fugitives, hungry people, landless tenants, and redundant water works.

In the next ten years or so, countless people from the Central Plains moved north to the outside of the Pass. By the time of the 10th annual household inspection in Shunjin, the number of Han people in eastern Liaodong exceeded five million.
To be continued...