Cao Qingyan also nodded and said: "What your Majesty said is absolutely true. I also suspect that this Queen Mother Zheng is fake?"
"Hiss!" Li Yi couldn't help but gasped, surprised.
If it is true, then King Fu is too brave, and he dares to fool me with a fake one?
But then, Cao Qingyan shook his head again, "Your Majesty, this Empress Dowager Zheng doesn't seem to be fake. She is very familiar with the palace. The old slave has tested her, whether it is a plant or a tree, or a small thing that happened in the past. She answered everything fluently."
"What do you mean?" Li Yi stared at Cao Qingyan.
"This old slave is bold and suspects that even if this Empress Dowager Zheng is fake, she is still the real Empress Dowager Zheng's personal person. She even stayed in the palace for a long time."
Li Yi said in surprise: "Then who is she?"
"If there is no evidence, it will be difficult for me to deal with her. After all, she is still my elder in name. Maybe I will be criticized by the world."
Cao Qingyan smiled bitterly, he didn't know it, but there was no evidence to prove all this at the moment, so he immediately handed over his hands and said: "Your Majesty, although I have no definite evidence, the conversation between Liu Jin and Queen Mother Zheng is by no means an ordinary chat between a master and a servant."
At this time, even Li Yi was stunned, thinking about the joints.
At this time, Cao Qingyan said again: "Your Majesty, could it be because of King Fu? King Fu has always been ruthless in his behavior and actions. It was also for this reason that the late emperor refused to make him the crown prince."
"No." Li Yi shook his head, "Even if Prince Fu has no family ties, Empress Dowager Zheng is his biological mother. This cannot be severed. He will never ignore Empress Dowager Zheng just because she is a slave."
"Even this slave is very capable!"
But each of his conjectures might be overturned, and Li Yi's heart became even more uneasy. He gently kneaded the tea cup with one hand, thinking over and over again.
If Empress Dowager Zheng is real, Liu Jin has no reason to be so rude to her. If it is fake, then what is the purpose of her coming?
Why did King Fu send someone to come to Beijing pretending to be his biological mother? What was the purpose?
He was puzzled and carefully considered every detail, trying to get the most accurate information.
At this time, any carelessness will lead to failure, and any detail will cost one's life.
After a long time, Li Yi breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't guess the reason anyway, so he simply stopped guessing.
He asked sideways: "What else, what were they talking about?"
Hearing this, Cao Qingyan looked guilty and said, "Your Majesty, the voices of their conspiracy were very low, and I didn't hear the specific content."
"However, from their intermittent conversations, I heard that they seemed to be plotting something, and it was about..."
Li Yi frowned, "About what?"
"It's about Governor An and An Zhiyi."
What?
Li Yi's expression changed drastically. When he heard those three words, it was as if his heart was cut by something. His pupils shrank, "What does this have to do with Zhi Yi? She is just a woman who loves reading?"
Cao Qingyan nodded seriously.
"Wait a minute, is this bastard Prince Fu also plotting against An Zhiyi?"
Li Yi suddenly raised his head, his heart tightening, what is King Fu trying to do? An Zhiyi is just a windy female gentleman on the red sleeve list, with no power or power.
For Governor An, there is an Imperial College. Wait, does Prince Fu want to get the support of Governor An, and then the support of Scholar Dafeng?
wrong!
With Governor An's temper, it is simply impossible to force him into submission, and he will not use his daughter as a bargaining chip.
This stubborn old man has a weird temper and is not that easy to deal with.
But Li Yi was still worried and said immediately: "Arrange someone to check on An Zhiyi, strengthen the protection of An Zhiyi, and ask Lu Hancheng to transfer a thousand households to the Imperial Academy. If anyone is found causing trouble, he will be captured."
"No!" Cao Qingyan agreed.
"Xuansun Tingzong and Cao Fengyang, I have something to ask them." Li Yi waved his hand and asked.
Within half an hour, the two of them entered the royal study together and said, "Greetings to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty."
"Get up." Li Yi asked: "How are the martial arts examinations and recruitment?"
"Back to Your Majesty, the military examination has been decided. In the middle of next month, I have sent people across the country to post the list. The recruitment requirements will also be specified in detail, and it will be highlighted that literati can also participate in the military examination, and they can also become generals."
"Okay." Li Yi nodded appreciatively, "How is the number of applicants?"
"Back to Your Majesty, there are a lot of people applying in various prefectures and counties. Most of them are from poor families. A rough estimate is that there are no less than 10,000 people."
"Only ten thousand people?" Li Yi felt that the number was too small. "No, it's not enough. Give me another imperial edict. Anyone who comes to Beijing to participate in the martial arts examination will have all the expenses borne by me. They will come from my in-laws."
The two of them were immediately shocked and were speechless for a long time.
Sun Tingzong quickly reminded: "Your Majesty, this is a lot of money, at least one million taels."
"What I want are talents with real practical knowledge. I am willing to give up even a little money, even tens of millions of taels." Li Yi waved his hand with a powerful momentum.
Compared with talents, money is like dung, not even as good as dung.
These words shocked Sun Tingzong and Cao Fengyang, and they hurriedly knelt down, "My emperor is wise, I admire him!"
"How's the recruitment going?" Li Yi asked again.
Sun Tingzong replied, "Your Majesty, we have now recruited 100,000 troops, all of whom come from poor peasant families. In order to hide their suspicions, I have arranged for them to be trained in a secret place."
"Okay, not bad." Li Yi nodded, "Recruitment is suspended. One hundred thousand horses are enough. I will arrange for people to deliver the required war horses and weapons to you."
"In addition, tell Lu Mu that we must speed up the research and development of the latest firearms. At the same time, we cannot stop manufacturing existing firearms. Don't be afraid of wasting it. I have plenty of money!"
"After I finish taking care of Liu Jin and Zheng Mengjing, I will personally go to the military camp to train the army."
"No!" Sun Tingzong thanked him hurriedly.
"In addition, there is another point. I have good control over the security of the capital. Especially as the martial arts competition is approaching, I am worried that some young people will come out again. I must strengthen control during this period."
"What I am most worried about now is Queen Mother Zheng. Who knows what she is doing in Beijing this time?"
"The military examination is related to the establishment of the new army. You must be cautious, especially careful not to let people from Prince Fu and Young Master Yan infiltrate."
"If something happens to this matter, no matter who it is, whoever is responsible should commit suicide and apologize!"
He glanced around with piercing eyes.
Sun Tingzong and Cao Fengyang were both shocked and frightened. They were all frightened by its terrifying aura and knelt down in a hurry, "I promise, I will do my best to ensure that the military exercise can be carried out smoothly."
Later, Li Yi asked them to go over the details carefully. The martial arts competition was really too important.
The martial arts examination corresponds to the new army.
The outstanding talents selected in the martial arts examination will enter the martial arts academy for three months of systematic training, and then become the military chiefs of the new army, that is, the generals of the new army.
If Prince Fu and Mr. Yan's people take the opportunity to infiltrate, join the New Army, and then turn against each other at the critical moment, it will be completely over.
The level of danger is much greater than that of brothers Ning Wen and Ning Wu, which means that Li Yi's previous efforts will be completely in vain.
Nowadays, the Dafeng Dynasty is suffering from internal and external troubles. What Li Yi has to do is to first stabilize the internal situation and then fight against the external situation. First clean up the court, then the capital, then domestic rebels, noble families, vassal kings, and finally the surrounding enemy countries.
But if you can't even deal with King Fu and Master Yan, how can you talk about prospering and achieving a lasting legacy!
A few hours later, the person who was sent came back with "good news!"
An Zhiyi is safe, just grounded.
Li Yi learned that he was secretly relieved, as long as he was safe.
But then, he realized something was wrong. How could An Zhiyi be grounded?
Governor An is not that old feudal type, and I haven’t heard that the An family doesn’t allow their daughters to go out?
What's more, An Zhiyi is known as the number one female gentleman in Dafeng. She is widely known by scholars all over the world and has a high reputation. She is not a minority in public.
Something's wrong!
The more Li Yi thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. There was definitely something wrong here.
Then, he immediately said, "Cao Qingyan, accompany me to the Imperial College tonight."
Cao Qingyan was surprised, "Your Majesty, it's late at night, isn't it? Wouldn't it be a bit embarrassing if An Zhiyi fell asleep?"
"Fart!" Li Yi rolled his eyes at him, "An Zhiyi will be my woman sooner or later. What's wrong with me taking a look in advance? What kind of royal violation have I committed?"
Cao Qingyan was speechless. Cao Fengyang and Sun Tingzong on the side also had black lines on their foreheads. His Majesty was fine with everything, but he was unreasonable at all.
It is the first time in the world that someone breaks into a girl's boudoir at night and is so justified.
Night falls.
Imperial College.
At the entrance of a simple and clean courtyard, a man wearing a blue Confucian scholar's robe was standing at the door. His face was ugly, his eyebrows were wrinkled into the word "chuan", his brows were frowning, and he finally let out a long sigh.
"well!"
"Zhiyi, the An family is ashamed of you, I am ashamed of you..."
