Chapter 32 Struggle and Compromise

The Jiangyuan Palace was a summer resort that was built by the Gongdu Kingdom at the beginning of its founding when the country was strong. It took thirty years and the whole country's efforts to build it. It is extremely luxurious and exquisite.

After the palace was built, the king would bring his concubines and royal family to escape the heat during the hot summer every year.

Originally, this place only received the royal family of the palace, but in order to protect his throne, Li Zaiyuan did not hesitate to break the ancestral system to please Xu Zhaojie and let him live here.

Xu Zhaojie did not hesitate to accept Li Jae-won's kindness. He not only moved into the palace directly, but also enjoyed the women in the palace wantonly. For a time, this palace with a history of a hundred years, which symbolized the dignity of the royal family in the palace, became his comfort zone.

As soon as Jin Yingquan got out of the carriage, he saw Xu Zhaojie's deputy general Dong Chunyu and several imperial guards coming towards him.

"Envoy Jin, the general has gone to bed. I wonder if you have anything to report?"

There was a hint of doubt and dissatisfaction in Dong Chunyu's voice. He didn't know that the old man Jin Yingquan had to come so late, which made him unable to sleep well.

With a sharp glance, Jin Yingquan said in a deep voice, "Urgent military information, I need to see the general immediately!"

Although he didn't know what Jin Yingquan was going on, Dong Chunyu was very clear about the identity of this old man. So even though he was very unhappy, he still nodded and did not dare to be negligent in the slightest. While arranging someone to notify Xu Zhaojie, he personally took Jin Yingquan to Jingde Hall where Xu Zhaojie lived.

A moment later, Jin Yingquan walked into Jingde Hall. At this time, sitting on the first seat of Jingde Hall, a middle-aged man with an upright posture, handsome face, but looking a little tired, was looking at him unfriendly.

Jin Yingquan ignored Xu Zhaojie's gaze, and without waiting for the Eastern Expedition General to ask, he bowed and saluted, then said in a deep voice:
"Reporting to the general, just now, my Supervisory Office received urgent intelligence that Li Zaiyuan and Luo Bi people are conspiring to drive my Eastern Expedition Army out of the palace. Currently, the palace army has begun to attack us and is stationed in the rear to guard the grain road, trying to cut off the supply of my front-line army..."

Before Jin Yingquan finished speaking, Xu Zhaojie's eyes had already become extremely sharp. He stared at Jin Yingquan and said angrily:

"You, the Supervisory Department, are so brave!"

Although Kim Young-Kwon said that the Gongdu army took the initiative to attack, as the commander of the Eastern Expedition Army, how could Xu Zhaojie not understand what Kim Young-Kwon was talking about?

Although Xu Zhaojie's voice was not loud, Jin Yingquan could clearly feel the rage and murderous intent in the heart of this general who was in charge of tens of thousands of troops.

Although he was a little apprehensive, the arrow had already been put on the string and had to be shot, so Jin Yingquan could only grit his teeth and said, "General, you are joking. The brave one is Li Zaiyuan and those who are with him, not me."

"Humph!"

"Jin Yingquan, how dare you! This is not your Supervisory Office. It is not your turn to take advantage of your age!"

Hearing that Jin Yingquan dared to make insinuations and hints at him at this time, Xu Zhaojie immediately flew into a rage and cursed:
As Xu Zhaojie got angry, Dong Chunyu, who was guarding outside the palace, immediately rushed into the palace with several imperial guards, drew his sword from his waist, and surrounded Jin Yingquan with a bad look on his face.
"Killing you is no different from killing a dog. Even if I really kill you, Chen Jingyu will have to accept it!"

Looking at Jin Yingquan, whose hair and beard were all white, Xu Zhaojie had a stern expression and his voice was equally icy and without a trace of emotion.

Despite being in danger, Jin Yingquan, an old man in his seventies, still had some courage. He looked around at the soldiers of Xu Zhaojie's imperial guards who surrounded him, shook his head, and said calmly:
"If the person sitting here was Li Ben of the Tiger Guards, Commander Li, I would never come here. Although I have lived for sixty years, my little grandson has just been born. I am enjoying the joy of having a grandson, and I don't want to die here."

"General, you are a smart man. You know very well that now that things have come to this, there is no way to change them!"

"I am not afraid to tell the general that at this moment, several troops in the rear may have already attacked the Luochuan Road granary and Liujing. So since what you want, general, has failed, why not go with the flow and make it happen?"

"For you, this matter will also bring you fame and fortune. You can also gain some credit for your achievements. It is not impossible for you to be promoted to Duke in the future and bring honor to your family. Why should you stop me?"

After Jin Yingquan finished speaking, he looked at Xu Zhaojie who was sitting in the main seat, and Xu Zhaojie fell into silence under his gaze. After a moment, he waved his hand, and the imperial guards received the order, and then bowed and retreated.

Seeing this, Kim Young-Kwon finally let go of his worries. Although he appeared calm and confident on the surface, he was actually a little nervous.

What Xu Zhaojie said was right. With his status and position, no one would say anything even if he really left his old bones here. Even if Commander Chen sued Xu Zhaojie on his behalf, if the case was really investigated, the Prime Minister would at most fine him a year's salary and lightly let the matter go.
"What are you going to do next?"

After taking a deep look at Jin Yingquan, Xu Zhaojie slowly said:
"I have arranged everything. All we have to do is wait for the general to follow the plan and then we can enjoy the fruits of our labor!" Jin Yingquan said with a folded hand.

Xu Zhaojie nodded. Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Jin Yingquan also said goodbye and left. He didn't want to stay with a dangerous person like Xu Zhaojie for even a second.

(End of this chapter)