Your Majesty, please beg for mercy. The prince's rebellion was successful.

"Holy metaphor!"

"The prince is an imperial envoy and will set off for Lujiang County in ten days to pacify the bandits."

The news in the palace quickly reached the ears of the people.

Countless people frowned slightly, and dark waves surged in the Great Zhou Dynasty Hall.

Some discerning people have vaguely noticed that something is wrong.

However, the royal family's issues are not something they can easily intervene in.

Within the courtyard.

Marquis Zhenbei had a gloomy look on his face, and there was a hint of gloom and chill in his somewhat old face.

"I have spent my whole life for Da Zhou, and my Xiao family has spent countless amounts of money. I didn't expect that what I got in exchange was like this!"

With his fists clenched, Zhenbei Hou's eyes were somewhat bloodshot, his expression was complicated, and he looked unwilling.

The Xiao family was once one of the five great families, standing in this land for hundreds of years, even longer than the imperial family of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Twenty years ago, Xiao Mu blocked everything and brought the entire Xiao family together, so that Emperor Tianjing could sit firmly on the throne.

Unexpectedly, time has changed and the Xiao family has become the pawn of Emperor Tianjing.

Moreover, it is a chess piece that threatens Zhou Zheng!

How could he not be angry, how could he not be heartbroken! ?

Zhou Zheng looked at Xiao Mu's somewhat decadent eyes and said nothing for a long time.

He naturally knows how much the Xiao family has paid for Emperor Tianjing. Although the Xiao family is still among the top five aristocratic families, their strength is not as good as before.

Especially this time's battle in the northern land has shaken the foundation of the Xiao family, making the current Xiao family like an old tree swaying in the wind and rain, and may collapse at any time.

This is the real city of Emperor Tianjing.

Taking advantage of the Great Xia Kingdom, even risking the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the northern border, it also consumes the Xiao family's vitality.

The Xiao family once controlled the Zhenbei Army of 200,000 men, controlled the entire northern territory, and guarded the throat of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Such a feeling is definitely not acceptable to someone like Emperor Tianjing.

However, today is different from the past. Although the Xiao family still has some background, it no longer poses much of a threat in front of the court.

"Threaten you with my life, with the life of my Xiao family, with the life of the Zhenbei Army?!"

"Your Majesty, how can this be done!?"

The dangers in Lujiang County are far from comparable to other places.

Once Zhou Zheng enters Lujiang County, he will face great danger at all times. If he is not careful, he may stay in Lujiang County completely!

Emperor Tianjing not only failed to crown Zhou Zheng this time, but also forcibly threatened him to go to Lujiang County.

This is to squeeze all the value out of Zhou Zheng, so that Zhou Zheng can continue to be his tool and achieve his goals!

"Eliminate the old and the young, and completely eliminate the threat to the imperial court..."

"Your Majesty, what a good plan!"

Gritting his teeth, Xiao Mu never expected that Emperor Tianjing would have such a trick.

"If you solve this problem, His Majesty's last worry will be solved."

"If you can't solve this problem, then Lujiang County may be your burial place."

"And all of this has nothing to do with Your Majesty..."

Since ancient times, tigers are poisoned and do not eat their seeds!

But Emperor Tianjing is not like this!

He was clearly forcing Zhou Zheng into a dead end and into a pit of fire.

As long as Zhou Zheng goes to Lujiang County, no matter what the final result is, he, Emperor Tianjing, will be the biggest winner behind the scenes!

"But Zheng'er has no choice."

After exhaling a breath, Zhou Zheng shook slowly.

"Why don't you have a choice!?"

"No big deal, just do it hard!"

"Emperor Tianjing has forced us to this point, and the worst possible outcome is that we will be defeated!"

Xiao Mu stood up, a trace of cruelty appearing in the depths of his pupils.

In the past twenty years, he had already noticed that Emperor Tianjing was wary of the Zhenbei Army against the Xiao family. Especially in the past two years, as Zhou Zheng's dementia subsided, Emperor Tianjing's actions became more and more frequent.

The Xiao family has long been cold, and the Zhenbei Army has long been cold.

"Others may not be able to do it, but you can!"

Looking at Zhou Zheng, Xiao Mu's words were already quite direct.

"Now is not the time."

Zhou Zheng shook his head.

"The land of Xiangjun is not mature yet. There is very little power that can be relied upon."

"The Zhenbei Army suffered heavy losses and is temporarily unable to resist the imperial court."

"Although the power of the Great Yuan can be borrowed, the problem between the Great Yuan court and the eight tribes has not yet been resolved."

"Daxia Kingdom is even more eyeing, and the eldest and second princes are also ready to make a move."

"The time is not yet ripe."

Zhou Zheng slowly exhaled a puff of turbid air.

It has been quite difficult for him to reach this point in two years.

But all this is not enough!

Zhou Zheng didn't want to bow his head or bend down, let alone become a tool in Xiao Mu's hands.

But he knows better that if they really break up at this time, his chance of winning is less than 30%!

Even if they win, it will be a miserable victory.

This is not what he wants!

"What I want to win is to win absolutely strongly!"

"What I want to win is an overwhelming win!"

"What I want to win is to make them feel desperate!"

Zhou Zheng’s eyes flickered and he was determined!

"But do you really think His Majesty will give you this opportunity!?"

Xiao Mu was a little anxious.

If before, Zhou Zheng accepted the title of king and secretly accumulated strength, then everything would still be possible.

But now, let’s not talk about whether we can come back safely from Lujiang County.

Just based on the current attitude of Emperor Tianjing, it is not difficult to see that he will never give Zhou Zheng a chance to become big!

"No one can stop what I, Zhou Zheng, want to do!"

"Even if he were today, he wouldn't be able to do it!"

Zhou Zheng looked serious and did not hesitate.

"What do you need grandpa to do?"

Feeling the burning blood in Zhou Zheng's heart, the Marquis of Zhenbei regained some sense.

"Grandpa!"

"You only have to do one thing!"

"Take a firm hold on the northern territory and do not allow any imperial forces to intervene!"

Zhou Zheng really needs the Xiao family and the land in the north.

"Don't let the imperial court get involved?"

Xiao Mu looked a little solemn, obviously this was not a simple matter.

Even, it is impossible.

"I've made a deal with him."

"As long as you can guard the northern territory and the court does not give you military pay, then he will not interfere with the northern territory until I complete the mission of Lujiang County."

Zhou Zheng is not worried about this.

"Not a cent of military pay?"

Hearing this, Xiao Mu's mouth twitched.

The current Zhenbei Army still has tens of thousands of people.

The Xiao family is no longer the Xiao family it was twenty years ago. How can they afford to support so many troops! ?

No wonder Emperor Tianjing agreed to this request.

Just military pay alone can kill the Xiao family if it is wasted, and it can bring down the Xiao family if it is delayed.

"This money?"

"As for it?"

Zhou Zheng pursed his lips.

The dignified Zhenbeihou, come and go in the wind and rain, why can't I sit still when I hear money.

Seeing Zhou Zheng speak so lightly, Xiao Mu was quite speechless.

What is money! ?

Money can make all the difference!

Even in war.

It’s not just people who fight, but also military pay!

"I'll keep this little money on you."

"Grandpa, there is no need to worry."

Zhou Zheng patted his chest indifferently.

Isn’t it just money? Don’t worry!

"You can take care of the money matters, so you don't have to worry about the matters in the North."

Xiao Mu didn't know where Zhou Zheng got the money, but that wasn't what he cared about.

If we can get rid of the imperial court's control of military pay, then the Zhenbei Army will be the real Zhenbei Army!

"By the way, someone is waiting for you."

The conversation changed and Xiao Mu spoke in a deep voice.

"Boss!"

Then, a familiar voice came...