Munitions Empire-Chapter 972 - 894 Zhao Yu flees
Chapter 972: 894 Zhao Yu flees Chapter 972: 894 Zhao Yu flees But if they were to investigate Zhao Yu as the mastermind behind the scheme right now, the Empire would face the risk of a civil war.
Zhao Yu had significant connections in the Southern Region, and he also controlled Fengjiang, a crucial economic town in the central part. Together, his power was not much weaker than Zhao Kai’s. If one were to also consider the support from the Great Tang behind the scenes, Zhao Yu even had a slight advantage.
Therefore, what Zhao Kai had been considering was to handle this matter ambiguously— as long as everyone didn’t adamantly pin their troubles on Zhao Yu, the situation would be most favorable for Zhao Kai.
With such a significant incident happening in the Imperial Capital and Zhao Yu somewhat suspect, Zhao Kai could also push down Zhao Yu’s attempt to go to Fengjiang… Thinking of this, Zhao Kai felt he had perhaps found the most advantageous solution.
As for who wanted to assassinate Zhao Ji, that matter had already lost its importance: After all, wasn’t the attempt unsuccessful? Why pursue it so meticulously?
However, Zhao Ji felt this was the best and last chance to topple Zhao Yu, so he decided not to give up and kept begging Zhao Kai relentlessly, imploring him to administer justice.
“Father! My wife… my concubines… they were all murdered! Father! I wish to interrogate those assassins personally! To unearth the truth and avenge my wives!” Almost clinging to Zhao Kai’s shoes, Zhao Ji knelt on the ground, crying and shouting in agony.
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Zhao Kai sneered inwardly. If not for Zhao Yu being so aggressive, he would have even suspected that Zhao Ji himself orchestrated this failed assassination attempt—after all, a failed assassination also throws suspicion on the victim!
So, similar incidents, from the Emperor’s perspective of “administering justice,” were merely opportunities to rebalance the scales.
As for who was right or wrong, who did or framed whom, does it matter? In the end, the Emperor would decide, and as long as the outcome suited the Emperor’s interests, who would care about the truth?
“Rise! Crying and whining… How does that look!” Zhao Kai ordered impatiently to Zhao Ji, not even interested in going to help him up.
Having lost his strategist, Zhao Ji had been crying frequently and occasionally made requests that Zhao Kai disliked, which had started to annoy Zhao Kai.
If not for still needing such a figure as a shield against potential harm, Zhao Kai might have even been tempted to eliminate the Crown Prince.
“Send someone… go… bring Zhao Yu here!” After thinking it over, Zhao Kai decided it was still best to have a talk with Zhao Yu.
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On one hand, it was to warn his son, letting him understand that in this Dahua Empire, he, Zhao Kai, was still in command!
On the other hand, it was also to placate Zhao Yu, to have him behave for a while, stabilize the situation within the Dahua Empire, and prevent outsiders from taking advantage of it.
Dealing with Zhao Yu would have to be paused; alleviating the internal conflicts within the Dahua Empire and soothing public sentiments were the main priorities.
Thinking thus, Zhao Kai looked at Zhao Ji, who was still weeping and begging, and sharply reprimanded, “Stop it! We must prioritize the greater good! If you really cause a problem, your position as Crown Prince won’t benefit at all!”
His words instantly made Zhao Ji stop his tears and kneel helplessly on the ground, watching his father pick up the telephone by his side.
“I’ll bring Zhao Yu here first; you must at least pretend to be a friendly elder brother! If Zhao Yu insists on going to Fengjiang again, Dahua will be in chaos!” Having spoken, Zhao Kai loosened his grip on the telephone receiver and commanded imperiously, “Connect me to Prince Zhao Yu.”
After a lengthy wait, the telephone ring in Zhao Yu’s room suddenly jolted the nervous Zhao Yu.
With apprehension, Zhao Yu picked up the receiver, hearing his father’s authoritative voice. His father asked if he was alright, then instructed him to come to the Imperial Palace to pay respects.
The reason sounded quite natural: There had been an attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince in the capital, and Emperor Zhao Kai was very concerned about the safety of his sons, ordering all of them to come to the palace so that Zhao Kai could see them and hear about their conditions.
But the problem was, someone felt guilty.
“Snap!” Hanging up the phone, Zhao Yu grabbed the entire telephone and smashed it on the ground. If he had the nerve to meet Zhao Kai again, that would be real madness.
Just now on the phone, Zhao Kai had already made clear to Zhao Yu that Zhao Ji had not been assassinated, the criminals had not succeeded, and he did not intend to delve deeply into this matter, especially since the Empire was currently unstable and it was a period when more caution was needed in handling events.
However, these words, when heard by Zhao Yu, sounded different: Zhao Ji was alive, so he, Zhao Yu, was not entirely safe! The Empire was unstable… Wasn’t that all caused by him, Zhao Yu?
It was possible that Zhao Kai had prepared hundreds of executioners in the Imperial Palace, just waiting for Zhao Yu to fall into the trap—if they could kill Zhao Yu, wouldn’t that solve many problems and eliminate future troubles entirely?
As for Zhao Kai saying he didn’t want to delve into this matter, Zhao Yu chose to ignore it: That sentence was nothing more than a lie to lure him to his death.
“Sir!” After venting, he looked despairingly toward the strategist sitting beside him, hoping to receive some advice, “Should I go or not?”
“If you go, the danger actually isn’t great. Your Highness, you have the support of the Great Tang Empire and so many ministers, it would not be easy for the Emperor to kill you.” The young strategist, already holding the winning cards, was surprisingly unhurried at this moment.
He first discussed the option of going and then, changing the course of the conversation, continued: “But once you go, although the risk is small, your life… would truly be in the hands of others. Even if it’s just a slim chance, that chance still exists.”
The words of the strategist truly struck a chord with Zhao Yu: His life was only one and controlling it himself versus being controlled by others felt completely different.
Zhao Yu did not have the courage to entrust his life to Zhao Kai or Zhao Ji, praying that they would prioritize the greater good, choose a rational approach, tolerate his presumptuousness, and turn a blind eye to his provocations.
On the contrary, Zhao Yu felt that if he were in their position, he would unreasonably strike first and deal with the consequences later.
At that moment, the young strategist continued, “At this time, Your Highness, why not set out for Fengjiang first? If His Majesty does not want to kill you, then he certainly won’t make a move, but if His Majesty really makes a move, then it proves… if Your Highness goes to the Imperial Palace now, it would indeed be a narrow escape from death.”
“Right! The master is correct! What the master says… makes sense!” Knowing himself to be at his wit’s end, Zhao Yu immediately clung to his lifeline.
After all, Fengjiang was a place he and the Tang People had developed over many years—it was his territory! Once he reached Fengjiang, he could advance or retreat as needed, and surely stand his ground.
“If I go to Fengjiang… will the Great Tang Empire, Master Nangong… continue to support me?” Tentatively, Zhao Yu sought confirmation once again.
This was indeed his last option. If the Great Tang Empire could not provide him with substantial support, then no matter where he was, he would just be meat on Zhao Kai’s chopping block.
But if he could secure the support of the Great Tang Empire, he might be able to split the territory and stand toe to toe with Zhao Kai.
“Your Highness worries too much! When has our Great Tang Empire ever failed a friend? As long as Your Highness reaches Fengjiang, the Great Tang Empire will, under any circumstances, ensure your complete safety.” The young strategist gave Zhao Yu a reply that greatly relieved him.
“This journey of over 1700 kilometers, I will accompany Your Highness! No matter how difficult or dangerous, the Great Tang will… never abandon you!” The strategist stood up, gestured invitingly, giving Zhao Yu a momentary feeling as if the path ahead shone brightly with great ambition.
At that very moment, outside Zhao Yu’s residence, Li Mingshun had received orders and personally led a battalion of heavy troops. Soldiers jumped out of trucks amid their noisy slogans and surrounded the entire courtyard.
Unbeknownst to him, Zhao Yu had already started running away, not even taking his money, just diving down into the tunnel with his strategist, breaking out of the encirclement.
Accompanying him were Zhao Yu’s trusted butler and his wives and concubines, a grand group of more than a dozen, which almost didn’t seem like an escape attempt.
After a standoff of a few minutes with the residence’s guards and servants, Li Mingshun lost his patience, ordered the troops to storm into Zhao Yu’s residence.
He soon discovered that Zhao Yu and his family had vanished without a trace. Thus, he immediately ordered the city gates to be closed and reported Zhao Yu’s disappearance to Zhao Kai.
For a moment, Zhao Kai was thrown into disarray—he hadn’t planned to harm Zhao Yu, but Zhao Yu, feeling guilty, had run away! This suddenly fueled his anger and cost Zhao Yu his last shreds of patience.
“Kill him! At all costs! Kill this traitorous son!” Clutching the phone, Zhao Kai finally shouted the order that Zhao Ji next to him was most eager to hear.
With clear orders, Li Mingshun immediately instructed the closure of all city gates. Since Zhao Yu had taken a call from Zhao Kai in his residence less than a half-hour ago, it was deduced that Zhao Yu must still be in the city!
Therefore, Li Mingshun efficiently controlled all the city’s exits, ordered the search for tunnels, and launched a manhunt for Zhao Yu and his group.
After all, this was the Imperial Capital of the Dahua Empire, known for its efficiency, so the troops carrying out these orders were very serious and quick in executing Li Mingshun’s commands.
Patrol trucks were everywhere, checkpoints everywhere for inspections… but for the well-prepared intelligence department of the Great Tang Empire, handling such situations wasn’t difficult.
They had already prepared a full set of contingency plans, so when Zhao Yu emerged from the tunnel, there was already a car waiting for him.
Zhao Yu dove into the car, and shortly thereafter, a convoy of luxury cars drove out of the parking lot, heading toward a pre-prepared tunnel out of the city at breakneck speed.
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More updates to follow.
