Chapter 193: The Battle of the Temple
Li Shanchang looked at Li Cunyi and was speechless for a moment.

Li Cunyi continued to chatter: "Brother, is there really no way?"

Li Shanchang closed his eyes and said, "If I had known this would happen, I would not have done it in the first place! Hey... Hu Weiyong... Is there any news?"

"I'm afraid he has already escaped." Li Cunyi said anxiously, "We agreed to start the uprising last night and let everyone fight to the death in the capital, but he himself disappeared. This man is really cunning. He actually asked us to pay with our lives, but he..."

Li Shanchang opened his eyes, his face calm, and said: "It's good that he left, it's good that he left. With him gone, many accounts will be cleared up, and there will be room for things to turn around..."

"Brother, what you mean is..." Li Cunyi looked at Li Shanchang cautiously.

Li Shanchang said slowly, "He has held many official titles in the Secretariat. In recent years, he has been in a high position. Over the years, many people have tried to curry favor with him. Moreover, he is from Huaixi, and many people are from the same hometown as him. Even if Wang Guangyang and Liu Ji meet him, they will be friendly. On weekdays, they will bump into him at some banquets, right?"

Li Shanchang paused, then continued, "Now that he's gone, everything is in chaos. Apart from those fools who started the rebellion last night, we can't wipe out all the people who have anything to do with Hu Weiyong. If we calculate it this way, is there anyone left alive in this government?"

"When you encounter something like this, don't be anxious. Stay calm and stay at home. Just wait and see. Next, the whole court will be in chaos."

"Becoming chaotic?" Li Cunyi looked at Li Shanchang in confusion.

Li Shanchang showed a bit of mockery, and sneered: "It's nothing more than mutual attacks and mutual accusations. The more people accuse each other, the more people are attacked. This is a mess."

"But..." Li Cunyi said with a sad face, "After all, I am related to Hu Weiyong..."

Li Shanchang said nonchalantly, "If there is an in-law, then it's over. What's the big deal? The important thing is not to panic. As long as you die by yourself, it has nothing to do with you, so what?"

Li Cunyi seemed to be thinking about something, and couldn't help but ask: "So, that guy... ran away, but he was right to run away?"

Li Shanchang said slowly: "It may not be the right thing to run. It's just that the new dynasty has just been established, and your majesty has been on the throne for a short time, and the world has just been settled. There are too many people involved in Hu Weiyong, and it is difficult to distinguish them. Your majesty still needs to rely on civil and military officials and meritorious officials. Right now, even if you are angry, you have to hold it in. But if ten or eight years have passed, it's really hard to say. But now... I dare not act rashly, otherwise..."

Li Shanchang paused for a moment before saying, "If not, the world will be in chaos."

Li Cunyi thought for a moment and said, "I understand. As long as Hu Weiyong doesn't come back, our Li family will be safe and sound in the next eight or ten years."

Li Shanchang suddenly stared at Li Cunyi and said, "But the question is, will Hu Weiyong come back?"

Li Cunyi was stunned, frowned and said: "This... This is hard for me to say."

Li Shanchang said: "So, never let him come back. If he wants to escape, he must go by water. If he wants to go by water, he must go down the river, go to the river mouth... and then... escape to the ocean?"

Li Shanchang closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and fell into deep thought. He said, "Tell people to think of a way. We must strictly check the sea route. If he escapes thousands of miles away, it's fine. But if he is still unwilling, then..."

At this point, Li Shanchang suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of coldness flashed across his eyes, his voice was still calm but without a trace of warmth: "Then teach him to feed the fish in the sea. The one in charge of coastal defense...that...that..."

"Is it Chen Xin?"

Li Shanchang nodded: "Tell him the news quietly and tell him to be on guard."

Li Cunyi looked at Li Shanchang for a long time, and then said: "I understand. But... Brother, what should we do after ten or eight years when the world is stable? We can't guarantee that we will be punished later."

Li Shanchang looked at him, a tired look on his face, and sighed, "By then, I may have already become a withered bone in a grave."

Li Cunyi's face suddenly showed a trace of fear, and he couldn't help crying and said: "But our Li family..."

Li Shanchang was silent for a while before he said, "Let's take it one step at a time."

Li Cun Yi felt a little disappointed, but he felt a little relieved when he thought that there seemed to be a chance for him to escape the blame.

Then he said with some resentment: "After all, the culprit is Deng Qianqiu. If it weren't for him, my family wouldn't be in this situation... Hey... Brother, you need to think of a solution."

Li Shanchang frowned, turned his head away and said nothing.

…………

A group of people rushed into the capital city.

Within the capital, there is still a guard post every three steps and a sentry every five steps, as if facing a powerful enemy.

The soldiers in the city were still frantically searching for the whereabouts of Hu Weiyong's followers.

As for Hu Weiyong's portraits, they are hung all over the streets and alleys, as if everyone still hopes to find Hu Weiyong in the capital.

Although two days had passed, many people had realized that Hu Weiyong might have already escaped from the capital. The world was so big, and Hu Weiyong had three burrows. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. It was futile to continue searching in the capital. But obviously, there was no sign of the higher-ups stopping the search, so everyone had to keep pretending.

At this time, the carriage carrying Hu Weiyong had already passed the city gate.

The guard at the city gate was about to question him when the knight in front of him took out a waist badge. When the other party saw that it was the waist badge of the Thousand Households Office of Chunhe Palace, he immediately stood in awe.

During these days, people began to feel awe towards Qianhu.

Immediately, the guards at the city gate were relieved, and the team continued to go deeper into the capital.

…………

Zhu Yuanzhang summoned all officials to meet him.

Among them was Li Shanchang, who retired at home.

The atmosphere in the capital has been a bit suffocating recently, and everyone has become sensitive.

Even Wang Guangyang and Liu Ji felt that the storm was coming, and even after Hu Weiyong fell, they did not show the slightest joy or excitement.

All officials saluted.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked around at all the officials, and his face had not been looking good in the past few days.

A founding emperor who grew up from a beggar and a novice monk to an emperor had actually seen through all human nature.

It seemed that Hu Weiyong's case did not cause him excessive shock.

If there was any real shock, it was probably that he could not understand why Hu Weiyong and some of his cronies were so stupid as to actually think that they could control the world, or even... seize power, just by forming cliques and factions.

This gave Zhu Yuanzhang the illusion that the entire Ming Dynasty government was just a makeshift team.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes fell on Li Shanchang, and he smiled and said, "I summoned you today, Mr. Li. Do you know why?"

All the ministers looked at Li Shanchang. Li Shanchang had been the most important minister to Zhu Yuanzhang before the founding of the country. He held a high position of power. During the period from when Zhu Yuanzhang became the King of Wu to when he became the emperor after the founding of the country, Li Shanchang was in charge of all criminal justice and government affairs. His students and former officials were all over the world.

And Hu Weiyong was originally promoted by Li Shanchang. Without Li Shanchang, there would never be Hu Weiyong holding the high position of Right Prime Minister.

Li Shanchang fell to the ground and said, "Your Majesty, there has been such a commotion both inside and outside the court. Although I am old, I am not deaf and dumb. I have already known the truth. Your Majesty, please punish me!"

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, put his hands behind his back, and asked, "What crime have you committed?"

Li Shanchang said: "Hu Weiyong and I have a close relationship. I have repeatedly recommended him to Your Majesty, but I never thought that it would lead to such a disaster. Today, Hu Weiyong is plotting a rebellion, and I cannot escape the blame."

Zhu Yuanzhang just smiled and said, "If you recommend someone, you will be punished. In these years, you have recommended countless talented people to me. If they commit a crime, will I hold you accountable? Come on, give Li Qing a seat."

Zhu Yuanzhang's words seemed to make many people feel relieved.

Li Shanchang and Xu Da have always been given seats in front of Zhu Yuanzhang. Now all the treatment remains the same, and it seems that we can also see some wind directions clearly.

The eunuch brought a brocade cushion and Li Shanchang sat down tremblingly.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "What I hate is that there are so many people who colluded with Hu Weiyong."

As he spoke, he looked at all the officials with his tiger eyes.

All officials couldn't help but shudder.

Zhu Yuanzhang added: "What I hate most is that Hu Weiyong escaped. If this thief cannot be torn into pieces, I will not be able to relieve my hatred. If this thief is not caught, I am afraid that the traitors hiding among you will be able to rest easy again."

After hearing this, all the officials became even more worried.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Mr. Li, what do you think?"

Li Shanchang bowed with difficulty, panting and said, "Your Majesty, what you said is very true. The most urgent task now is to catch Hu Weiyong. Now the capital has been defended inside and outside. I think Hu Weiyong will be caught soon. By then, all the traitors will have nowhere to hide."

Zhu Yuanzhang only nodded, but looked at Liu Ji: "What do you think, Mr. Liu?"

Liu Ji pondered for a moment and said, "I think Hu Weiyong has been planning this for a long time. I'm afraid... it will be difficult to find his whereabouts. Since Hu Weiyong has already escaped, his escape route must be down the river. Now, even if the court pursues him, it may be too late. Once he leaves the river and enters the vast ocean, how can we find his whereabouts?"

Liu Ji paused and continued, "The Censorate has reviewed some recent reports in the past two days and found that before the founding of the country, someone from the Hu family suddenly disappeared. After that, a large number of bandits suddenly appeared overseas. They seemed to be very clear about the defense of the Beiwo Guards along the coast. They attacked everywhere and were able to avoid the defense center of the Beiwo Guards. It is not difficult not to think that perhaps Hu Weiyong had already made a plan since then."

Zhu Yuanzhang: “Hmm?”

(End of this chapter)