"The emperor can secretly transfer troops from various units to return to the imperial capital. However, after eradicating the Xiang family's princes, our royal family will no longer have wings to guard it.

I can only rely on those foreign ministers.

Since Emperor Taizu, our family has not liked these corrupt scholars. They are all wise and eloquent. Who knows what kind of intestines they have in their stomachs? Be strict with them.

Those kings and clans of other surnames should also be careful. It is not unavailable, so be careful that they will grow up.

Only the children who can trust are their own children.

Your brother, Li Rong, King Ping, has devoted himself to our Xiang family and is willing to do everything he wants to do, so he can trust him. Besides, he has no son, so he naturally has no ambitions.

Li Yu, the prince-in-law Xie Anran, Chen Wanbao, and those juniors who are aware of the roots are honest and honest, and they like it as if they look. Juniors can promote more to work.

As for Xiao Hunhou... the descendants of the King of Chu, they married into the Prince Ping's Mansion without any threat. They could not treat him with slightest means, so that future generations would say that our Xiang family was mean.

In the court, let the ministers worry more. You should take good care of your illness, and the mother will go back to find you some health care medicinal materials."

Queen Mother Chen said.

"The mother and the queen are at ease, and the son and the minister will naturally save you!"

Xiang Yanran nodded slightly.

As long as the Queen Mother agreed, the burden in his heart was finally put down.

...

The next day.

Golden Palace, morning court.

The emperor kept it in the palace for a night, drank the soup, and went to the morning court as usual. Except for his pale complexion, he could not tell what was wrong.

All the court officials were above the court, each with extremely solemn expressions.

They all knew that a shocking event occurred in Jinling City last night - Xiaohunhou was assassinated.

Xiao Hunhou was assassinated, which is a great secret.

Because the one who assassinated him was the princes and kings.

The government and the country were shaking.

This incident is enough to change the direction of the entire Great Chu Dynasty.

Chu Tianxiu was also ranked above the court as the prefect of Jinling.

"Cough~!"

Xiang Yanran coughed a few times.

"Your Majesty, this?"

Prime Minister Kong Hanyou was confused.

"I feel the cold occasionally, so there is no need to worry. Last night, I received a report from the Taiwei Mansion and the Tingwei Mansion, saying that the Jinling Prefecture Prefecture's Prime Minister Xiaohunhou was assassinated. More than 70 assassins died and more than ten people were arrested, and it seemed that they were all sent by various princes and kings.

Dear ministers, what can I say about the assassination of Xiaohunhou?”

Emperor Xiang Yanran said lightly.

"Emperor, Princess Xiang, the mastermind of the assassination case of Xiaohunhou, was captured. She has confessed that the King of Wu assigned to assassinate Xiaohunhou.

The participation of King Xiang Bi of Wu in the assassination was as strong as a mountain. Many of the other princes also participated. However, many of the assassins died and could not confess their mastermind behind them."

Tingwei Zheng Jingrong bowed.

"Um."

The emperor nodded and looked at the civil and military ministers in the court, "What else do you have to say?"

To reduce the vassal states, someone needs to start.

Of course the emperor would not say that the reduction of the title of vassal king of the Xiang family would make it seem that the emperor was too murderous.

The ministers should give a sufficient reason to say it.

All the ministers were silent.

They all understand the emperor's thoughts.

In the court, there were never many ministers who supported the reduction of the vassal states.

Or very few.

The reduction of the vassal states will definitely trigger a war. The court's expenses are huge, and hundreds of thousands of troops are used to consume the national treasury, waste money and food, waste people and damage money, a large number of soldiers are killed, and the financial deterioration. Not to mention these.

The court ministers themselves had many kings and nobles in other surnames. Their power was not as large as that of the princes and kings, but their family was not small.

If the Xiang family princes were deposed, would their kings and princes in other surnames be damaged? This is a big concern.

Therefore, the ministers have always kept silent and even opposed the initiative to reduce the vassal states.

However, the situation is a little different now than before.

If the court first reduced the vassal states, it would naturally be that the court would be unreasonable and there would be many opponents.

The princes and kings took the initiative to assassinate Xiaohunhou, the 2,000-stone official, which was to take the initiative to cause trouble for the court.

If the court had no movement and endured and gave in, wouldn’t it be trampled on by the princes?!

Kong Hanyou was silent for a moment.

Changes among the princes.

This change is the biggest change of the Great Chu Dynasty.

At this time, he, the prime minister, must stand up. Otherwise, the prime minister will occupy the position without any indication, and the emperor will replace him sooner or later.

In this matter, there must be a clear attitude.

Kong Hanyou stood up, expressionless and said coldly: "The princes and princes openly assassinate the imperial officials, and must be severely punished to serve as a warning to others!

The old minister received a memorial "Strategy for the Slash of the Vast" from the Prime Minister's Office the day before yesterday.

Because it is of great importance and is being studied and judged, it is still time to report to the emperor.

Chao Fangzheng's memorial said that the princes and kings were arrogant and domineering, and they had the intention of being unjust. Among them, the most powerful King of Wu, Xiang Bi, was the most rampant.

The King of Wu had been secretly preparing for decades, and he had privately cast money, boiled salt and sold it, saved up his disciples, recruited fugitives, hoarded soldiers, and food, and his desire to rebel was becoming increasingly rampant.

This time, the open assassination of Xiao Hunhou completely exposed his ambition to interfere in the government affairs. As long as anyone in the court damages the benefits of the princes, he will definitely kill him quickly and shock the court officials.

Such traitors will be cut off by the traitors, and if they are not cut off, they will be damaged by the traitors. If they are cut off early, they will be damaged by the less. If they are cut late, they will be damaged by the greater.

Chao Fang strongly advocated the "Strategy for Reducing the Vastrous Powers" to seize the fiefs of the princes and kings.

The old minister read the memorial the day before yesterday and saw the assassination of Xiaohunhou last night, and he agreed. Therefore, he submitted a memorial to the emperor and requested the vassal of the vassal state to be reduced!"

The ministers all over the court looked shocked when they heard this.

Chao Fang is one of Kong Hanyou's disciples.

It is said that Chao Fangzheng submitted a memorial "The Strategy for the Slash of the Vandals" but in fact it is no different from Kong Hanyou who submitted a memorial himself. It is nothing more than giving Chao Fangzheng a great reputation for writing a book called "The Strategy for the Slash of the Vandals".

This teacher has done a good job.

Kong Hanyou, the chief prime minister and leader of the Confucian faction, stood up to support the reduction of the vassal states. This means that this big faction in the court is on the side of the emperor.

"I support the reduction of the vassals!

The local princes assassinated the 2,000-stone officials of the court, which was a blatant attempt to interfere in the government affairs, which was equivalent to conspiring to rebel and usurp power and seize the throne.

This case must be investigated clearly. Any mastermind involved in the assassination of Xiaohunhou must immediately reduce the vassals and severely punish them! They dare to disobey the vassals and send troops to attack them!

The princes who have not participated in the assassination of this case are loyal to the court and can be temporarily suspended, pardoned, and no vassals will be reduced."

The censor Wang Su immediately took a step forward without hesitation.

"Um!

The Prime Minister and the Censor jointly issued the "Strategy for Reducing the Void" and announced the world!

The Tingwei Mansion rushed to interrogate and listed the list of the princes and kings involved in the assassination and the reduction of the vassals.

The Grand Marshal Li Rong obeyed the order and was ready to challenge the rebels. If any prince dared to disobey and reduce the vassals, he would immediately send troops to attack!"

Emperor Xiang Yanran breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes bright.

The plan to reduce the vassal states!

It's finally done!
Chapter completed!