novel-bin Chapter 160 Your subject will not fail in your mission.
Chapter 160 Your subject will not fail in your mission.
Early in the morning, all the officials had already gathered in the court, and the atmosphere was oppressive.
Emperor Xuan'an sat upright on his throne, his gaze calm yet tinged with a hint of worry.
The reinforcements for Hesha City will affect the entire court.
Cheng Lin's memorial yesterday, stating that "Heaven's will is not to send reinforcements," has made the situation even more perplexing.
Gu Yuande stepped forward first among the ministers, cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, Hesha City is in dire straits. If reinforcements are not sent immediately, I fear there will be no more defensible defenses in the northern border.”
Your Majesty, I humbly request that Your Majesty allocate funds and dispatch troops to relieve the crisis facing Hesha and safeguard the peace of the border!
His words were deliberate and resounding. Gu Yuande was well aware of the heavy responsibility on his side; if he did not speak out firmly at this moment, the safety of the soldiers on the frontier would be in jeopardy, and the power in the court would change hands.
Emperor Xuan'an nodded slightly and turned his gaze to the other ministers.
At this moment, Shen Tingzhi, the Left Censor-in-Chief, stepped forward and spoke eloquently: "Your Majesty, Hesha City is the shield of the northern frontier. Once it falls, the enemy army will advance unimpeded, and the country will have no natural defenses."
Your Majesty, I humbly request that you reconsider and make a swift decision regarding reinforcements!
As soon as he finished speaking, Grand Councilor He Jingzhi stepped forward.
With a solemn expression, he said, "We are not afraid of the dangers of the border, but we hope that Your Majesty will think carefully and make a decision as soon as possible, so as to avoid the loss of the border and the collapse of the nation."
Liu Wenxu, the Vice Minister of War, took a deep breath.
They stepped forward, their voices firm: "We, your humble servants, are willing to serve the court and fight for Hesha City. We beg Your Majesty's permission!"
The four ministers spoke in succession, their voices powerful and resounding, shaking the court.
However, Xiao Ji, the Minister of Revenue, remained unmoved.
Calmly stepping forward and bowing, he said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the matter of reinforcing Hesha City needs to be considered carefully."
"Your Majesty, the border troops' provisions and pay have already become a burden. Rashly increasing the number of troops would only deplete the national treasury, making it unsustainable for the court's finances."
His words were calm, yet carried a hint of skepticism.
Emperor Xuan'an frowned slightly and looked at Xiao Ji, clearly somewhat hesitant.
At this point, Zhou Xianyi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, continued, "Your Majesty, I have recently investigated several cases of corruption involving military rations in the Ministry of Justice, and the distribution of rations and pay is in disarray."
If reinforcements are sent at this time, it may be difficult to supply them, and it will only increase the chaos.
Your Majesty, I humbly request that you reconsider your decision.
His voice was calm and unhurried, yet it incisively exposed the Ministry of War's weakness.
Gu Yuande's expression changed slightly, and he secretly thought to himself that something was wrong.
If the Ministry of Justice were to publicly question the Ministry of War at the court assembly, the entire reinforcement proposal would face enormous resistance.
At that moment, Cheng Lin, the Director of the Imperial Observatory, also stepped forward.
He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, last night I observed the stars and saw that the Po Jun star was moving in the He Sha area, clashing with the Wu star, which is an extremely ominous sign."
If reinforcements are forcibly sent at this time, it may instead harm the nation's fate.
Cheng Lin's words were subtle yet hit the nail on the head. He knew that if he advised the emperor based on the idea of "divine will," the emperor would find it difficult to make a decision immediately.
Upon hearing "Heaven's will is not favorable," Emperor Xuan'an was startled, his face darkening slightly as he pondered something.
At this time, Gu Yuande, the Minister of War, saw that the situation was unfavorable.
He hurried forward and bowed again, saying, “Your Majesty, although the Ministry of War has been mismanaged, these few mistakes are only a minority. We should not delay the crisis on the frontier because of the issue of food and pay!”
The situation in the Hesha region is critical. I believe that if we do not send reinforcements immediately, the consequences could be dire!
He tried his best to defend himself, speaking earnestly, his heart filled with both concern for the soldiers on the frontier and anxiety about the situation in the imperial court.
He looked at Emperor Xuan'an, hoping that His Majesty would be moved by his loyalty.
However, Zhou clearly did not give up.
He gave a cold laugh and stepped forward again, saying, "Your Majesty, although the matter of military provisions is a minor issue, it concerns the lives of the border soldiers and cannot be taken lightly."
"If we were to risk deploying troops now, and supplies and provisions failed to arrive, has Your Majesty considered the safety of our soldiers?"
The atmosphere in the court suddenly became heavy, and all the officials held their breath, watching Emperor Xuan'an's reaction.
Emperor Xuan'an remained silent, his heart filled with complex emotions.
He knew that a border crisis was imminent, but if the Ministry of Justice's accusations were true, sending reinforcements rashly might shake the morale of the troops at the front.
At the same time, Cheng Lin's words about "divine will" made him uneasy. The celestial signs were ominous, so how could he go against the will of heaven?
However, if no reinforcements are sent because of this, the morale of the court will inevitably be in turmoil.
Emperor Xuan'an's gaze slowly swept over the assembled officials, his mind constantly weighing the options.
At this moment, he felt not only the safety of the border, but also the delicate balance of the court.
The weight of this weighing made it hard for him to breathe.
He finally took a deep breath and said coldly, "I have noted down all your words. I will consider them carefully before discussing them further. I will adjourn the court for now!"
Upon hearing this, the assembled officials bowed and slowly withdrew.
Gu Yuande was filled with worry. He watched Zhou Xian and Xiao Ji's backs as they walked away, and clenched his fists tightly.
Xiao Ji and Zhou nodded slightly, their eyes flashing with calmness and smugness.
This court struggle has temporarily come to an end; however, the undercurrents in the court are just beginning to reveal real dangers.
The voices of dissent in the court weighed heavily on Emperor Xuan'an's mind.
He has always been wise and decisive, but now, faced with the situation in the northern frontier and the depletion of the national treasury, he is finding it difficult to make a decision.
This is not only a border defense issue, but also a matter of the long-term stability of the nation.
His brows were furrowed, his mind filled with thoughts. Occasionally, he would catch a glimpse of the slightly averted gaze of the eunuch standing beside him, which added to his anxiety.
The next day in the imperial court
Gu Yuande stepped forward, presented the thick memorial, and raised it high with both hands.
His voice boomed: "Your Majesty, I dare to speak boldly! If Hesha City falls, the enemy will advance unimpeded, the people will suffer, and the consequences will be unimaginable."
Your Majesty, how can we stand idly by?
His tone was deep, as if he had already anticipated the emperor's concerns.
He continued, “I know the national treasury is tight, but we should strictly audit the allocation of resources and ensure that not a single penny or bolt of cloth is wasted.”
In this way, the stability of the borders can be maintained without depleting the nation's strength.
Emperor Xuan'an listened quietly, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
He knew that Gu Yuande was loyal, but the internal strife and enormous expenses of the court still made him hesitate.
Seeing this, Gu Yuande resolutely said, "Your subject is willing to swear to the death that if the border is lost, your subject will bear full responsibility!"
Shen Tingzhi stepped forward, his expression serious and slightly worried: "Your Majesty, once the border is in turmoil, it will inevitably affect the whole country."
Local officials will doubt the court's decisions, and the people both in and out of court will be filled with anxiety.
He spoke slowly, but with a suppressed urgency: "We should act according to circumstances, prioritize the overall situation, and never lose the northern border."
Emperor Xuan'an's eyes flickered; Shen Tingzhi's words had hit the nail on the head regarding his concerns.
Shen Tingzhi added, "Your Majesty, I only wish that you will not let momentary hesitation harm the foundation of the nation."
He Jingzhi looked solemn and worried, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, if the court reduces its support for the border regions, it will surely shake the morale of the army."
Rumors of low morale have long circulated within the army; any further unrest could be more unsettling than a foreign invasion.
He spoke slowly and deliberately, “Though I am not talented, I can foresee that this move will bring unexpected risks of mutiny.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuan'an sighed deeply.
A stable border is the cornerstone of national security and stability, but the voices of opposition from within the court cannot be ignored.
Xiao Ji walked to the emperor's side, bowed slightly, and spoke in a gentle but restrained tone: "Your Majesty, I believe that there is no need to rush the matter in the northern frontier."
National strength should be accumulated before it is used; why not remain calm and wait for the situation to stabilize before making a decision?
His tone was calm, yet it clearly implied the importance of "steadiness".
Emperor Xuan'an pondered for a long time, and couldn't help but wonder if Xiao Ji's opinion had any merit.
The eunuch lowered his head and bowed his hands, glancing almost imperceptibly at the emperor, seemingly trying to gauge his reaction.
Zhou stepped forward, appearing calm and composed, and used military discipline as an excuse.
He said softly, "Your Majesty, too many soldiers are causing trouble."
In my humble opinion, if the border troops are too large, it will easily lead to internal strife and potentially cause instability.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuan'an seemed to be deep in thought, but his heart sank slightly—was this explanation intended to have ulterior motives?
He was filled with confusion, and his eyes flickered with deep contradictions.
After the court session ended, Emperor Xuan'an sat alone in the palace, surrounded by silence.
The candlelight flickered, casting his ever-changing expression on his face. The deep divisions among the court officials were causing him considerable distress.
He thought of the hardships endured by the soldiers in the northern frontier, and of the peaceful and prosperous lives of the people, and couldn't help but worry about the empty national treasury.
A young eunuch gently handed over a cup of tea and whispered, "Would Your Majesty like to rest for a while?"
Emperor Xuan'an nodded silently, his heart heavy.
Night fell over the imperial city, but the main hall of Xiao Ji's residence was brightly lit.
Several key figures from the opposition in North Korea gathered here, exchanging glances, the atmosphere serious and oppressive.
Xiao Ji sat upright in the hall, his gaze sharp as an eagle's.
His voice was deep but cold: "Gentlemen, His Majesty has been swayed by the supporters. If this continues, we may have nowhere to stand."
He paused for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes, "But if we seize the opportunity now, we might still be able to turn the tide."
Zhou nodded in agreement and suggested in a low voice, "The Ministry of Revenue is now suspected of corruption. Why not conduct a 'compliance review' on the supporters?"
See if they are morally upright.
After saying that, he gave a barely perceptible sneer.
Xiao Ji nodded in satisfaction and turned his gaze to the people below the hall. "Brother Zhou, this plan is excellent. Let's act immediately."
"We must find a few reliable people in the Ministry of Justice, and we must find their weaknesses."
Xiao Ji knew that if he wanted to expand his power, he had to win over those officials who were wavering in their attitudes to his camp.
After the court assembly, he quietly invited several officials with ambiguous stances to his residence for a private meeting.
These people are all in mid-level positions. Although they have not yet entered the core of power, they have a lot of real power.
Xiao Ji first looked at Cheng Mingzheng, the judge of the Jingzhao Prefecture.
He smiled slightly and said, "If Lord Cheng is willing to support us, our promotion in the Jingzhao Prefecture will come naturally in the future."
The Jingzhao Prefecture was in charge of affairs in the capital region and was responsible for the security and administration of the capital.
Cheng Mingzheng knew that he had long desired the position of Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, but he had been unable to achieve it due to his weak network of connections.
As soon as Xiao Ji finished speaking, Cheng Mingzheng's heart skipped a beat.
After a moment's thought, he bowed slightly and replied, "If Lord Xiao has any requests, I, Cheng, will do my utmost to assist you."
Although his words were reserved, his gaze was firm.
Xiao Ji then looked at Zhao Qiyao, the chief clerk of the Ministry of War.
He said softly, "Although the Chief Clerk of the Ministry of War holds an important position, he is still one rank below the Minister of War."
If the opposition gains power, Lord Zhao will have the opportunity to be promoted to the rank of Physician.
The Vice Minister of War was in charge of the allocation of military supplies nationwide, making him a pivotal position within the Ministry of War.
Zhao Qiyao immediately clasped his hands in a bow and said earnestly, "I will remember Lord Xiao's kindness. If Lord Xiao summons me, I will go through fire and water to serve you."
Cheng Mingzheng was overjoyed to receive the promise from the Prefect of Jingzhao.
Zhao Qiyao had already calculated that if he could control the dispatch of the Ministry of War's senior officials, he could further consolidate his position.
Each of them harbored their own thoughts, but through Xiao Ji's ingenious scheme, they were all gradually won over and gravitated towards the opposition.
Lured by power and profit, the opposition's influence grew rapidly like an undercurrent, steadily approaching the core of the court.
The power dynamics between China and North Korea are quietly shifting.