From eunuch to emperor

Wang Wei, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, came out and reported: "Your Majesty, Qianjiang County has come to report that there has been a riot by pirates in the Zhenhai area and they have plundered several villages and towns."

"The eunuch Cheng Laishu led his troops to resist and killed more than 300 pirates. However, the pirates are still entrenched in the outer sea and watching with eager eyes. Please send troops to exterminate them."

After several years of silence, the pirates in the Zhenhai area revived. Taking advantage of the navy's main focus on Shuohai City, they made several tentative attacks.

The prefect of Qianjiang County led his troops to kill some, but most of the pirates were still entrenched on the seaside, waiting for an opportunity to invade.

The empress frowned and said: "The pirates in Qianjiang County were exterminated once by the regent. Why did they reappear again?"

Wang Wei replied: "Back then, we were just wiping out the bandits entrenched on the islands. It is said that the pirates' home base is in an island country in the east. If the bandits' nest is not destroyed, it will eventually cause trouble."

The empress asked: "Do you have a sea chart?"

Wang Wei immediately presented a chart.

"This is a nautical chart I bought from a pirate with a lot of money. I don't know whether it is authentic or not."

The empress read it and handed it to Di Waner. Di Waner walked off the stage and handed it to Long Chen.

"It doesn't matter if it's true or not, as long as they know that there is an island country that is their home base."

"Catch them alive and let them lead the way, and you can find the thief's nest."

Long Chen put away the chart.

The empress said: "Last time, you wiped out the pirates in Qianjiang County. This time, you should lead the troops."

"Instruct Jinling to stay behind and ask Gongsun Ming to send Jinluo's navy to Qianjiang County to cooperate in the suppression of the bandits."

Di Luoxi said: "Mother, my sons and ministers request to go on the expedition together."

The empress nodded and said: "Okay, you have been guarding the fishing town and know about water warfare. You and the regent will go together."

Emperor Lingyi said: "Mother, my sons and ministers request to go."

The empress thought for a while and said, "You are good at cavalry, water fighting is not your strong point, let Luo Xi do it."

Emperor Lingyi argued: "To annihilate the pirates, not all of them are water battles, there are also foot battles. My son asked me to command the infantry troops to accompany them."

The empress thought it made sense and said: "Okay, let the regent serve as commander-in-chief, Luo Xi and Lingyi as deputy commanders, command five thousand infantry and ten thousand navy to destroy the pirates."

The ministers felt that this arrangement was more appropriate. Long Chen had defeated them once, and Di Luoxi was also a master of water warfare.

"Your Majesty, the general has requested to accompany the army on the expedition."

Gongsun Linglong stepped forward.

In the past, Gongsun Linglong did not attend the court.

Because Gongsun Yun was too old, he retired from the court and no longer participated in government affairs.

There were less things going on in Linglong Pavilion. Gongsun Linglong put on court clothes and attended the court meeting.

"You... well, you can do more meritorious service by following the regent."

The empress intended to give Gongsun Linglong a chance.

"Your Majesty, Quanzi has learned some martial arts and wants to go on an expedition with the Regent."

Bai Anning, the censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, came out and said with a smile.

It is certainly not wise to send one's own son to the battlefield, especially for a son of a high-ranking official.

But this time it was different, because it was Long Chen who was leading the troops.

If you follow Long Chen on the expedition, you will definitely win in the end. If you go, you will have merit.

Other ministers also thought so.

The empress said: "The world is already at peace. Learn more about government affairs. Military affairs are enough."

Bai Anning retreated in embarrassment, and the other ministers stopped talking when they saw that the empress did not agree.

"The annihilation of the pirates has been settled. Is there anything else?"

The empress spoke majestically.

Duan, the Minister of Household Affairs, both came out and paid homage: "The market at Yanmen Pass is getting bigger and bigger. Guard Zhang Man requested to expand the market and increase the trading time."

The empress said: "The exact performance will be discussed jointly by the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Works."

There is absolutely no problem with Tu Zhi, the leader of the barbarians. Increasing the time for mutual trading will help the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty assimilate the barbarians, and everyone will make money.

"What else?"

The governor of Jingzhao came out and paid homage: "Your Majesty, the population of the capital is increasing, there are more and more market towns outside the city, and thefts occur frequently. I request to increase the manpower of the arrest department."

The empress nodded slightly and said: "There is a large population outside the city, and more and more people are gathering outside the city. It is really difficult to handle."

"Shilang Qi, you are a police officer, what do you think?"

The empress asked Qi Wenhai that he was now the Minister of War.

Qi Wenhai came out and worshiped: "Back to the Holy Spirit, I think that the additional manpower of the arrest department will only solve the symptoms but not the root cause."

The Empress asked, "How?"

Qi Wenhai said: "Thieves breed because there are many people outside the city and the houses and shops are disorderly. Even if the number of arrests is increased, the number of thefts will not decrease."

"If we want to control it thoroughly, we must standardize the management of houses outside the city and keep the people in order, then the number of thieves will naturally decrease."

The empress felt that what Qi Wenhai said was reasonable.

"How to regulate it?"

Qi Wenhai bowed and said: "I ask the Holy One to set up a county government outside the city and administer it in separate areas. The construction of the houses will be in good order according to the plan."

The empress nodded slightly and said: "Okay, I will appoint you as the special envoy and have full authority to handle this matter."

Qi Wenhai bowed and said: "Wei minister accepts the decree."

The empress asked again: "Is there anything else?"

The other ministers reported one after another, the discussion was over, and they dispersed.

Long Chen, Di Luoxi, and Di Lingyi arrived at the Ministry of War and took the military talismans and seal documents.

Back at the palace, Gongsun Linglong put her arm around Long Chen's shoulders and said with a smile, "Where are you going again? Are you asking me to pretend to be you again?"

Long Chen said: "This time when you go to a far away place, you have to pretend to be more serious and you must not be seen through."

Gongsun Linglong entered the room, lay down on the couch carelessly, crossed her legs, and said with a smile: "Pretend to be you, and I will sleep with the princess at night."

Long Chen smiled and said: "What else can you do? Show me."

Gongsun Linglong said scornfully: "What a pervert!"

Long Chen said: "As long as I can hide it for a few months, I can solve the problem when I arrive in the Western Region."

Di Luoxi said: "The pirates in Qianjiang County are not a problem, the Western Region is the most dangerous."

"When you arrive in the Western Region, you must be careful everywhere and come back safely."

Long Chen smiled and said: "I will make sure to come back intact."

Di Lingyi said coldly: "Fourth sister, you didn't mention the key point."

Di Luoxi didn't understand what he meant, so Di Lingyi sneered and said, "The most important thing is, if you dare to bring a girl back, I will kill you!"

Di Luoxi suddenly realized: "Yes, if you dare to bring a girl back, I will castrate you and won't joke with you!"

Long Chen smiled helplessly and said: "How could I bring another girl back? How could there be so many girls for me?"

Gongsun Linglong laughed loudly and said: "It makes sense. The dead eunuch is always merciful and can bring a woman back wherever he goes."

"When we arrive in the Western Region, the sky is high and the emperor is far away. Who knows what he will do. The third princess is smart."

Long Chen was speechless...

"Okay, I promise, I will never bring a woman back."

Long Chen really didn't plan to bring a girl back this time, but instead wanted to bring two girls over.

"Hmph, count you acquainted."

Di Luoxi snorted.

"You two ladies must be careful when you arrive at Zhenhai. If that island country is difficult to fight, wait until I come back."

Di Lingyi said: "Don't think that you are the only one who can fight, we are not vegetarians either."

Gongsun Linglong asked: "When you come back, will you become the emperor?"

Long Chen asked back: "Why, are you in a hurry to marry me?"

Gongsun Linglong has a good relationship with the two princesses, and he also knows her relationship with Long Chen.

"Yeah, my grandfather was always nagging."

Gongsun Linglong admitted generously.

"It depends on what the queen mother arranges. I can't force her to have a baby, right?"

Di Luoxi said: "The Queen Mother wants to abdicate when you come back."

Emperor Lingyi said: "The Queen Mother said that with so many people waiting for you, you cannot delay others' youth."

The empress knew that Zhang Qian and other female generals were waiting to marry Long Chen. If the enthronement was delayed too long, it would delay others.