Shangguan Lin, standing by, gazed tremblingly at the scene before him. In truth, he also felt the Emperor had gone too far this time.
If Yun Mo were only given thirty thousand troops, the world would see clearly. Even the soldiers at Fengya Pass would be disheartened. How could they fight to the death? If things truly turned out that way, the ultimate loss would befall Dong Qin.
Battle aura was one thing, but governing a nation was another.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, please cease your arguments. For now, we must decide who to appoint as the副帅 (fù shuài - deputy commander)."
As Shangguan Lin finished speaking, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor turned their gaze to him. Shangguan Yao took a deep breath, sat down, and spoke in a low voice.
"Whom do you have available?"
"Your subject believes?"
Shangguan Lin had barely begun when the Empress Dowager, seated on her elevated throne, interrupted him.
"Feng Licheng shall be the deputy commander."
"Feng Licheng? The Commander of Liyang City," Shangguan Yao and Shangguan Lin were taken aback. Feng Licheng was indeed a notable figure, the Commander of Liyang. He was said to be adept at troop deployment and battle strategy.
However, Feng Licheng was close to the Ye family. For the Empress Dowager to propose Feng Licheng as deputy commander was undoubtedly because Feng Licheng was still her man. Any news would likely reach the Empress Dowager's ears first.
"No, if the Commander of Liyang City is transferred, what will become of Liyang?"
Shangguan Yao immediately objected. Regrettably, the Empress Dowager seemed confident and prepared. Her expression softened as she spoke with a leisurely tone.
"The Ministry of War has already assigned a new commander there. Feng Licheng has been dispatched back with all haste."
What a move of acting first and reporting later! Shangguan Yao's teeth itched with hatred. He stared once more at the woman beside him.
Beautiful as a flower, ageless in her beauty—truly an ancient, alluring spirit. It seemed he had acquired another obstacle.
"Very well, Feng Licheng shall be the deputy commander. Then, I shall only dispatch thirty thousand troops."
"Fifty thousand. The Ministry of War has already assigned the troops," the Empress Dowager finished, rising to her feet. She slowly descended from her throne, not even glancing at the Emperor, whose face had turned green. She walked directly towards the exit. After a few steps, she paused and spoke with a hint of sorrow.
"Yao'er, you will not understand your mother's intentions. One day, you will understand. Even if you hate your mother for doing this, she is at peace with her conscience."
With that, she straightened her back and walked out. Outside the palace doors, sunlight illuminated her face. Her complexion was ashen, and tears trickled down. She tilted her head back, preventing others from seeing. She had always been strong; otherwise, how would she have endured this journey?
"Your Highness," Lin An called out cautiously.
"Return to the palace." The retinue quickly departed from Jingfu Palace.
Meanwhile, within Jingfu Palace, Shangguan Yao waited until the Empress Dowager had left. It took him a long while to recover from his fury. With a burst of speed, he moved like lightning and struck out with his palm. A fierce wind erupted, and the hall was filled with crashing sounds as everything was destroyed, leaving a scene of chaos.
Shangguan Lin dodged the attacks while calling out, "Your Majesty, do not be angry, do not be angry. The situation is as it is. Getting angry at yourself is not worth it. We should think about assigning our own people to Yun Mo's side."
The palm wind abruptly ceased. Shangguan Yao calmed down, looked up at Shangguan Lin, and said.
"You see, what good does it do to strip Yun Mo of his authority? Half of it is still in the hands of the Ye family. Why does she help Yun Mo? Because she fears I will act against the Ye family, that is why she is so overbearing and resorts to such measures. I will not let her have her way."
"Your Majesty, why must you fight the Empress Dowager to the death? Perhaps she truly has no ill intentions. You are still the Empress Dowager's own flesh and blood. Whatever she does must be for Your Majesty's own good."
In fact, Shangguan Lin believed the Empress Dowager's arrangements were quite reasonable.
Only the matter of appointing Feng Licheng as deputy commander was questionable. If she wanted Feng Licheng as deputy commander, it was likely to control border intelligence.
In this light, it was not entirely wrong. No matter how the Empress Dowager schemed, the empire still belonged to the Emperor. If it fell into someone else's hands, the Emperor would be a sinner of Dong Qin.
"I am unwilling to be controlled by her. I am the Emperor. What is wrong with reclaiming my authority?"
Shangguan Yao clenched his fist, his veins bulging. His pupils were crimson, revealing a set of sinister white teeth, with a hint of ferocity that was quite terrifying.
Now that Yun Mo had resigned his posts, he only needed to assign his own confidants, then deal with the Ye family and regain military authority. Then, the entire control of Dong Qin would be in his hands.
"Your Majesty?"
Shangguan Lin truly did not know what to say. In truth, the Emperor's intentions were not wrong.
What emperor enjoyed being a puppet? Moreover, the Emperor was wise and astute. From a very young age, he had displayed intelligent talent. He could compose poetry at five, write prose at eight, and by thirteen, he could already attend court discussions.
He listened to the late Emperor's guidance on governance. However, when the Crown Prince was thirteen, he went to Qingfeng Mountain to study under a master, only returning to the palace when the late Emperor was on his deathbed, directly ascending the throne.
The late Emperor bestowed the title of Regent upon Yun Mo to assist the new Emperor in stabilizing the empire. But who would have thought the Empress Dowager would interfere? The new Emperor, who listened to her every word, caused the military power to fall entirely into the hands of the Ye family. To this day, the Ye family had become deeply entrenched in the court.
They were entirely different from Yun Mo. Yun Mo was upright and loyal to the Shangguan family. He was also a close friend of the late Emperor, which was why he accepted such a heavy responsibility, willing to assist the new Emperor in stabilizing the empire, without any hidden motives.
The reason he agreed to the foolish Empress entering the palace six months ago was likely to reassure the imperial family that he harbored no ill intentions.
However, the Emperor had truly changed from before.
Instead of utilizing people's strengths, he constantly found fault with Yun Mo, preventing them from getting along peacefully. To this day, it had escalated to the point where Yun Mo had to be eliminated.
Was this not the Empress Dowager's objective? Shangguan Lin's pupils flickered.
The Empress was bullied in the palace in every way. Yun Mo, though he felt pity, did not intervene. For what reason? It was to avoid conflict with the imperial family, to prioritize the overall situation. But what did he gain in the end?
Shangguan Lin sighed, wondering whether the Emperor was unfeeling and callous, or if the Empress Dowager harbored ulterior motives.
Shangguan Yao heard Shangguan Lin's soft call, and his anger gradually subsided. However, his expression remained gloomy and displeased. He waved his hand with a hint of weariness.
"You may withdraw. Select a group of capable individuals to accompany the army. Additionally, draft a list of suitable officials and send them up. I need to study them carefully."
Shangguan Lin was startled. It seemed the Emperor was truly going to purge and replace the existing hierarchy. This was also good; it would temper the Ye family's overt power.
"Yes, Your Royal Brother shall attend to it immediately."
Shangguan Lin bowed and withdrew.
The hall fell silent. Shangguan Yao raised an eyebrow and called out coldly towards the door, "Xiao Tingzi, issue the decree!"
"Yes. Your Majesty," Xiao Tingzi scurried in, respectfully receiving the order.
"Issue the decree, appointing Yun Mo as the commander, leading fifty thousand troops to Fengya Pass to support the soldiers, and ensuring the complete defeat of the Xiliang army. Yun Mo's son, Yun Zheng, shall be the vanguard officer, and Feng Licheng the deputy commander. They shall proceed to Fengya Pass on a chosen date."
"Your servant shall immediately deliver the decree."
Xiao Tingzi dared not be careless and rushed out.
This was a matter of utmost importance. The border was in a state of emergency, and the Emperor had been unable to eat or sleep recently, all due to the military situation at Fengya Pass.
But wasn't Yun Mo ill?
How could he be the commander?
And Yun Mo's son, Yun Zheng, was merely a scholar, yet he was appointed as the vanguard officer. Why was the Emperor acting this way? Xiao Tingzi was utterly bewildered, but this was beyond his purview.