Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 525 - 271: Managing by Dividing the River_4

Chapter 525: Chapter 271: Managing by Dividing the River_4

However, Qin Huizhi suddenly "plop" kneeled on the ground, "Your servants beseech Emperor Yuansheng to reclaim the throne! Ascend to the Great Treasure early, to pacify the populace!"

Xin Li also led the imperial guards to kneel one after another.

Emperor Yingzong of Qi was instantly overwhelmed by ecstatic joy, but he was somewhat hesitant, "This matter, this matter might be...

Qin Huizhi sternly said, "Your Majesty need not worry. Everything has been arranged by your servant, just waiting for Your Majesty to ascend to the Great Treasure!"

A group of people escorted Emperor Yingzong toward Daqing Hall, where the grand ceremony and the imperial court meeting were to be held.

Emperor Gaozong of Qi lay on the couch, sleeping hazily, when he suddenly heard what seemed to be a noisy commotion outside.

"Who is causing a commotion?"

A nearby eunuch hurriedly came over, "Your Majesty, it seems that thieves have appeared in the palace, and they are being captured. There’s no need for Your Majesty to worry."

Emperor Gaozong vaguely felt something was amiss, but in his current state, feeling weak in his limbs and groggy in the head, he would probably get no clear answers even if he inquired further, so he simply continued to drift back to sleep.

Little did he know, by the time of the court meeting the next day, the imperial throne would be occupied by his elder brother.

Emperor Yingzong reclaimed the throne and changed the era to Shunkang.

On the same day, Emperor Yingzong decreed, following Qin Huizhi’s suggestion, to extensively hunt down the officials who supported Emperor Gaozong and, within a month, most of them were executed for conspiracy.

As for the many followers headed by Qin Huizhi, each was promoted to higher ranks and titles.

And the power of Qin Huizhi expanded rapidly to an unprecedented level.

In the third month of the First Year of Shunkang, Emperor Gaozong was deposed, still known as Prince Kang, and imprisoned within the imperial city.

On the twelfth day of the fourth month, Prince Kang fell gravely ill and did not recover, dying at the age of thirty-eight.

As the news spread, some high officials in the court impeached Qin Huizhi for causing an innocent death in prison. Some military commanders rebelled, but they were swiftly crushed by the formidable forces of the Qi Dynasty.

With no other recourse, some warriors headed north to join the Zhao Yi Army.

"General Meng, please!"

At the banquet, Qin Huizhi appeared to be in very good spirits.

At this time, with great power in his hands, he was even beginning to test the waters with the standard procedure of usurpation, the "granting of the nine bestowments."

And this was a good ten years ahead of the real historical Qin Huizhi.

In real history, it was only before his death that he dared to attempt the granting of the nine bestowments, and he failed. But in this slice of history, his operation went much smoother.

Halfway through the banquet, like before, Qin Huizhi sent everyone away and began to speak to Meng Lin about matters that couldn’t be made public.

"General Meng! The ideas you and General Han have given me are indeed excellent strategies!

"Especially bringing back Emperor Yuansheng, that was a masterstroke!

"I really don’t know how to thank the Zhao Yi Army.

"But... General Han said earlier that he would be willing to help me ascend to the Great Treasure, so why has there been no movement until now? Could it be that General Han’s promise of full support was just about bringing back the current official and that’s it?"

Though pleased, Qin Huizhi still voiced some minor grievances about the Zhao Yi Army.

The reason why his path to power was advanced by more than a decade compared to history was clearly due to the existence of Emperor Yingzong.

Zhao Haiping, playing the role of General Han Fuyue, had brought back Emperor Yingzong, providing Qin Huizhi with an opportunity to exploit the situation.

The historical Qin Huizhi did not dare to usurp the throne, knowing that his power’s legitimacy stemmed from the treaty with the Jin, and even more from Emperor Gaozong, the foolish and weak emperor.

If a capable monarch were in place, he could muster the army and seize control of the court, tearing up the treaty. Then, whether or not Qin Huizhi remained as the chancellor would be a mere word away, right?

The brutality of the Jin and the incompetence of Emperor Gaozong allowed Qin Huizhi to secure his position as chancellor.

But the problem was, once he really threatened Emperor Gaozong’s imperial seat, Emperor Gaozong would surely fight him to the bitter end. And Qin Huizhi, no matter how much authority he wielded, was ultimately an incompetent nobody, unable to command true respect.

To usurp the throne, the legality of succession was paramount.

At this time, Emperor Gaozong was the unchallenged sovereign of the land, the highest heir to the Qi dynasty’s legal succession. What virtues or capabilities did Qin Huizhi possess to dare take his place?

But with Emperor Yingzong’s arrival, the situation changed completely.

In the process of supporting Emperor Yingzong, not only did Qin Huizhi poison Emperor Gaozong, but he also further consolidated the court’s power in his own hands. Most importantly, Emperor Yingzong, who had no solid backing, was much easier to control than Emperor Gaozong.

Because Emperor Yingzong also feared his throne being reclaimed by Emperor Gaozong, he not only tacitly approved of Qin Huizhi’s poisoning of Emperor Gaozong and purging of the court’s officials but also fully supported it.

Qin Huizhi alone did not possess such destructive power.

But add to that Emperor Yingzong, whose legitimacy was even higher than Emperor Gaozong’s...

The destruction he could wreak was simply unstoppable.

And with Emperor Yingzong on the throne, he also directly deprived various factions of the opportunity to stage a coup d’état under the guise of purifying the royal side or being diligent for the king.

As Emperor Yingzong’s legitimacy surpassed Emperor Gaozong’s, and this was done jointly by Emperor Yingzong and the influential Qin Huizhi, even if you wanted to rescue Emperor Gaozong, what reason could you possibly have?

Yet what displeased Qin Huizhi was why the Zhao Yi Army had remained inactive.

Logically, since General Han Fuyue had pledged his support, he should have at least made a gesture by now, declaring support for Emperor Yingzong’s reinstatement, right? If they could openly enumerate Emperor Gaozong’s crimes to the world and heavily criticize him, that would be highly beneficial for the political stability.