Chapter 1

A solemn atmosphere filled the Jinluan Hall.

Jiang Chen sat regally on the highest platform, looking down upon the assembled ministers.

After a long silence, he spoke indifferently, "Since all of you esteemed ministers have your own ideas, then tell me, who should we send?"

"Your Majesty, I am willing to volunteer and go to Xinyang City to take the head of that rebel, Xie Jin!" Wang Zijing said with great enthusiasm.

As soon as he spoke, he received the support of nearly eighty percent of the officials in the court.

After all, the army under his command could be considered the elite of Great Wei, and his background was clean and trustworthy.

As for Xu Changqing, His Majesty's favor towards him had seriously disrupted the order of the court, causing dissatisfaction among many!

Some censors who disliked the Xu family had even begun preparing memorials to impeach him.

Xu Changqing, however, had no time to care about the thoughts of his colleagues.

Wang Zijing's overwhelming support made him extremely anxious.

If the task of pacifying Xinyang City were snatched away by this man, he would surely pursue them relentlessly. At that time, Xie Jin and his men would only be driven to desperation!

The more Xu Changqing thought about it, the more anxious he became. He stepped forward again and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to guarantee with my life that I can quell the rebellion within three days!"

"Moreover, I have worked with Xie Jin for many years and know him well. I have enough experience to deal with him!"

"I object!" Grand Astrologer Xu Zhongxuan said coldly, mocking, "General Xu should just do his job and guard the imperial capital!"

"Xinyang is an important military town. This matter is of great importance. If there is any mistake, even a hundred lives would not be enough to compensate!"

"Moreover, you have repeatedly obstructed other generals from suppressing the rebellion. Your behavior is very suspicious. Could it be that you have other plans?"

These words, intended to conceal his true intentions, made Xu Changqing's veins bulge with anger.

Even if Shi Ping, Zhao Chengyou, and others wanted to help, they could not interrupt at this time.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen, sitting on the dragon throne, couldn't help but frown.

Wang Zijing was a member of Mei Wenshi's faction, and he couldn't allow his political enemy to quell the rebellion... He had to find a way to help Xu Changqing reverse the situation.

Jiang Chen pondered for a few seconds, then looked at the Imperial Guard who had reported the news earlier and said, "Did the messenger say where Xie Jin's army has reached?"

The Imperial Guard didn't dare to look Jiang Chen in the face, and said with his head lowered, "Your Majesty, the scout only said that Xie Jin had rebelled, killed the officials in the city to offer sacrifices to the flag, and sent his men to build defensive fortifications, seemingly wanting to establish himself as king and counterattack the imperial capital."

"As for where he has specifically reached... the scout didn't say."

Hearing this, a glint flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes. He named the Minister of War and said, "Esteemed Minister, do you know how many troops are stationed in Xinyang City?"

The Minister of War did not hesitate and immediately gave the number: "Your Majesty, there are about ten thousand soldiers stationed there."

"In that case, bring me the map!"

Jiang Chen's seemingly inexplicable actions left the ministers completely confused.

At this critical moment, instead of discussing the dispatch of troops to suppress the rebellion, he was actually looking at the map. Was His Majesty confused by anger?

"Cough, Your Majesty, the military situation is urgent. We should make a decision as soon as possible. If..."

Jiang Chen's cold gaze shot towards Wang Zijing. With just one glance, he felt a chill all over his body and dared not speak again.

After a while, the map was presented.

Jiang Chen had someone point out the location of Xinyang City. The terrain was complex and easy to defend but difficult to attack. It was indeed a strategic military location.

However, if troops were sent from the northwest, making a surprise attack on Xinyang City, they could pass through the mountain roads. Then, as long as the weapons were more lethal and the number of troops was larger, they could quickly enter the city.

"Commander Meng, if you were Xie Jin and intended to rebel, what would you do?"

Meng Qi scratched his head and said honestly, "Your Majesty, if I were Xie Jin... my first step in rebelling would be to send troops to occupy this place!"

As he spoke, his rough hand pointed to a spot on the map: "Yuchuan Road!"

"This road runs through the north and south and is one of the main roads of Great Wei. As long as we control this road, the imperial court's troop movements will be slowed down by at least thirty percent!"

"Of course, the most important thing is that this road runs through the entire mountain road of Xinyang City. As long as we occupy this place, we can make up for the last weakness of Xinyang City and no longer fear the advance of a large army!"

Jiang Chen nodded and said, "If this road cannot be captured, what would you do?"

Meng Qi frowned upon hearing this, scratching his head constantly with his large hand. After a long time, he said, "If Yuchuan Road cannot be captured, I would take my men into the mountains!"

"Xinyang City will definitely not be able to be defended. Instead of being trapped like turtles in a jar, I would rather go into the mountains and fight guerrilla warfare, at least to last a little longer."

As soon as he finished speaking, some ministers understood Jiang Chen's intention and stopped talking.

But there were still some ministers whose minds just couldn't turn the corner.

Jiang Chen could only guide them again, saying, "You all heard what Commander Meng said just now. I ask you, has Yuchuan Road been captured?"

The Minister of War shook his head: "The road is safe and sound!"

A cold light flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes, and he said lightly, "This Xie Jin has neither invaded the road nor fled into the mountains. He is just building some defensive fortifications. How can this be considered a rebellion?"

"Moreover, the military strength of this Xinyang City is only ten thousand at best. What can this little manpower do?"

"In my opinion, the so-called rebellion is just a false alarm from the messenger who reported the news!"

"I want to send someone to investigate again and take action after obtaining accurate information!"

Grand Astrologer Xu Zhongxuan heard this, a trace of anxiety flashed in his eyes, and he stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, won't doing this delay the best time to quell the rebellion?"

"Even if there are some small errors in the scout's report, it shouldn't be overlooked in the matter of 'rebellion'. If Xie Jin's army hadn't rebelled, how could it have been reported by the scout?"

"Your Majesty, I second that! Now the local tyrants in various places of Great Wei are all ready to make trouble. If we can't eliminate Xie Jin with thunderous force, I am afraid that more and more people will follow this rebel in the future. Then it will really be irreversible!"

"Your Majesty, this Xie Jin must die! If he doesn't die, where will the court's prestige be?!"

Civil and military officials spoke one after another, expressing their opinions.

Only one person!

Mei Kang!

Was strangely silent!

He stood among the officials, a fierce and tyrannical look flashing in his eyes from time to time, with a slight hint of displeasure and disappointment in his expression.

Jiang Chen sat on the highest platform in the Jinluan Hall, taking in the expressions of the officials, and already had an idea in his mind.

"Alright, be quiet!"

"Now the situation in Great Wei is unstable. Rashly sending troops will only exacerbate the turmoil in the court and the public. Let's wait for the news for the time being and make plans after we understand the situation!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Prime Minister immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that we should prepare for the worst in everything."

"Even if we have to wait for news, the army in the imperial capital must enter a state of readiness to facilitate dispatch at any time."

This was a very pertinent suggestion, and Jiang Chen gladly accepted it, looking at Meng Qi and saying:

"Minister Meng, the imperial capital has been uneventful recently. You should not have seen blood for a long time... I will grant you this opportunity to lead the army!"

"Remember to reorganize the army after you go down. I will issue an edict at any time."

"I obey the order!" Meng Qi accepted the order, his face flushed with excitement.

"That's all for today, retreat from the court!"

After Jiang Chen finished speaking, he left indifferently, his dashing figure attracting the attention of the ministers.

Your Majesty, are you really not worried at all?