Chapter 113: Holding the emperor hostage and controlling the princes?

Listening to Jian Shuo's threats and looking at his receding figure, Zhang Rang shook his head slightly and sighed softly, "After so many years, he still has such a bad temper and is so ignorant of the times. Sooner or later, he will become a speck of dust in the era."

Zhang Feng, his confidant, took two steps forward and looked at Jian Shuo with a gloomy look: "Grandpa Zhang, do you want to give him to me?"

Zhang Rang shook his head: "Without his blind loyalty, how can we show that we are reasonable and know the current situation?"

"Let him jump around. He won't have many good days anyway."

At this point, Zhang Rang fixed his eyes on Zhang Feng and pondered for a long time: "I have not allowed you to use my name for so many years. Do you have any complaints in your heart?"

Zhang Feng's eyes flashed with disbelief: "Master Zhang."

Before he could finish his words, Zhang Rang interrupted him: "Call me uncle."

"Speaking of which, we are the closest uncle and nephew in the world today."

"But I didn't give you any convenience. You must think that I am an unkind uncle."

"Otherwise, how could he become a eunuch?"

Zhang Feng shook his head like a rattle: "How dare I complain to my uncle?"

"I know that my uncle is harsh to me on the surface, but he actually cares about me. Otherwise, if I had provoked Jian Shuo last time, how would I still be alive?"

Zhang Rang smiled and said, "You are my nephew. How can I watch you die?"

“Before, I didn’t let you use my name, not because I was afraid you would cause trouble, but because I was afraid you would cause trouble.”

"The higher the position you stand, the greater the danger. Especially in the past few years, Cao Teng has absolute power in the palace. Even Your Majesty, who has just ascended the throne, can only rely on him. I don't know when my life will be lost."

"After Cao Teng died, power fell into the hands of our Ten Attendants. At that time, I wanted to protect you, but you were already poor and had to enter the deep palace."

"I have been powerful in the court for so many years. No matter whether it is the Three Dukes or the Great Generals, they can only be polite to me. But I know that this power is due to the existence of the emperor."

"If one day, the sky collapses and the earth breaks apart, how can we survive in this world?"

"Do you know what the outcome will be?"

Zhang Feng shook his head in confusion: "Uncle, please explain clearly."

Zhang Rang sighed softly, "You are the meat on the chopping board, waiting to be slaughtered by others."

"what!!"

"Uncle, then... then what's the point of collecting so much gold and silver?"

"Isn't it a dowry for others?"

Zhang Rang's eyes flashed with ambition: "If you don't want to be a puppet for others, you must be strong in your own fists and control your own destiny, instead of relying on the charity of others."

Seeing Zhang Feng's confusion, Zhang Rang continued, "That is to say, we want to seize supreme power and control the princes by holding the emperor hostage!"

"what?"

"Holding the emperor hostage to control the princes?"

"This"

Zhang Feng took a breath and looked around subconsciously. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found that there was no one else except his uncle and nephew.

"Uncle, what you said is too outrageous!"

"How can this be?"

"Not to mention that we have only a handful of troops under our command, just our status as eunuchs, how can we make the world submit?"

"I'm afraid everyone will be against us. How is this possible?"

Zhang Rang smiled faintly: "Everything depends on human effort."

“Nothing is impossible in this world.”

"There are many forces in Luoyang City now competing for the throne." "He Jin, the power of the noble families headed by Yuan Huai, the Eight Armies of Xiyuan controlled by Jian Shuo, and the Imperial Guards controlled by Ye Feng."

"The forces of all parties check and balance each other. When His Majesty is still alive, no one dares to move, maintaining temporary stability. But now His Majesty only has a few days left to live. What will happen after he passes away?"

"Powers collide, armies fight, it's still unknown who will win!"

"As long as we design ingeniously and sit on the mountain and watch the tiger, we may have a chance to seize the highest power."

Zhang Feng still took a breath of cold air, his eyes were dull, he felt like everything was a dream, he twisted his arm hard, but did not wake up.

"Uncle, even if both of us lose, can we clean up the mess?"

"Don't forget that apart from the eunuchs in the palace, we have no military power. If anyone leads troops into the palace, how can we resist?"

Zhang Rang chuckled and said, "We don't want to be the emperor, but to assist someone to become the emperor. However, we will control the emperor, so all orders must come from us."

"With the emperor in power, who would risk the wrath of the whole nation and the extermination of their entire clan to attack the palace?"

"That means we control the palace, that's enough."

"As for the army and the power of the world, we can take our time to work on it."

Zhang Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that his uncle was not crazy after all, and still had some rationality.

Although Zhang Feng still felt it was unreliable, it was at least much better than directly rebelling.

"Uncle, we are outnumbered, so we need to think long and hard about this matter!"

Zhang Rang laughed and said, "Do you really think I'm asking for death?"

"Except for Jian Shuo and Duan Gui, all the other ten eunuchs are willing to lend a helping hand in this matter."

"After all, we are both eunuchs, and it is better for us to hold power than those scholars in the court."

Zhang Feng felt sad, knowing that this matter was unavoidable. His mind was working rapidly, thinking about how he could survive and break the impasse.

Zhang Rang knew many people, so he could see Zhang Feng's inner anxiety. He smiled and stepped forward to pat Zhang Feng on the shoulder: "We have been in the deep palace for decades. If we are not sure, how can we die in vain?"

"Do you know what position I just secured for you?"

Zhang Feng shook his head, confusion in his eyes.

Zhang Rang said, "Deputy General of the Imperial Guards, commanding two battalions of 8,000 men."

"That means eight thousand elite soldiers are in your hands. Life and death are up to you."

Zhang Feng showed disbelief in his eyes: "How could His Majesty agree to such a thing?"

Zhang Rang smiled and said, "Because time is running out, and because Ye Feng is not someone your majesty trusts."

"Even if it goes against our ancestral rules, even if it's ridiculous, the order has been issued, and you can command the two battalions openly."

"Now you understand why I did everything I did before?"

Zhang Feng was amazed and silent for a long time. He nodded heavily: "Uncle has prepared for a rainy day and has considered everything. I am convinced."

Zhang Rang said: "I made friends with Ye Feng and concealed our relationship just for the position I have today."

"Your next mission is to win over all the officers and soldiers of the Imperial Guard and take control of this Imperial Guard at the right time."

"Wait until He Jin, Ye Feng, Jian Shuo, Yuan Huai and the others fight to the death. That will be the best time for us to take action."

"When the time comes, hehe, I will hold the emperor hostage and control the princes."

"This world belongs to us. After I die, it will naturally belong to you too."

Zhang Feng's eyes flashed with greed: "Uncle, I listen to you"

(End of this chapter)