Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 160

Chapter 160

At the Jiannan border, a great battle had just concluded. This engagement marked the first large-scale, resounding victory achieved by the Great Wei since the clash with the Southern Barbarians began.

The victory was attributed to the commander-in-chief heeding the advice of a lowly laborer within his ranks.

The man who offered the advice was Yang Si.

Previously, Yang Si had worked alongside the civilian militia, coordinating with the elite troops to achieve a few minor victories. The commander-in-chief had taken notice, recalling the prestige Yang Silang had earned as a junior officer during the Longyou campaigns, and had specifically requested his strategy. Now that the Great Wei had secured a triumph, everyone was emboldened.

Yang Si had just received the commander’s praise, along with a promise of promotion—at the very least, he was to be made a junior officer. Stepping out of the command tent, he looked at the wounded being transported across the camp and the soldiers rushing to and fro. Even amidst the brutal reality of war, Yang Si stood under the blinding sun and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of relief.

He squinted in the daylight, feeling that everything was finally moving in a positive direction.

It had been two years since Elder Brother Lang died. Only now had he shaken off his depression and despair, feeling as though he were coming back to life. And all of this was because of...

Yang Si grabbed the arm of a medical apprentice running past him: "Where is Xiaozhou?"

The apprentice turned back, pointed randomly in a direction with his hand, and answered muddledly: "The young lady seems to be over there..."

Yang Si could not wait. He released the boy and ran off to find Yan Xiaozhou. With the battle over and the ground littered with the wounded, she was so kind-hearted that she would surely have joined her "make-shift" master in the camp to treat the injured. Yang Si was filled with so much to say, so many expectations; he could not wait to find her.

He wore a golden bell at his waist, moving as swiftly as the wind, yet the bell remained silent. Every step he took, she followed. Every time he turned back, he could see her gentle, smiling gaze following him in her elegant, soft manner.

She was the most gentle, fragile young lady in the world! Yet, she was also the most resilient, the most unbreakable.

She had traveled from Chang'an all the way to the Jiannan border, enduring such bitter cold for nearly two years. She had never asked anything of him; when she first arrived, she hadn't even sought him out. She simply accompanied him in silence, her presence an unspoken strength... and now, he finally had an answer for her!

As Yang Si searched for Yan Xiaozhou, she was anxiously weaving through the wounded in the camp, looking for his figure.

She had never told anyone that she feared war, that she feared blood. Every time a battle erupted, it was torture for her. She feared Yang Si being injured; she feared every time she saw him that it might be the last time they would meet.

Swords and spears in battle were blind. A commander-in-chief was luckier than an ordinary soldier, having a smaller chance of death; Yang Si, however, was now just an insignificant infantryman.

Even with peerless martial arts, what use were they on a battlefield of tens of thousands?

She never got angry at him, never held a grudge, never argued... because every time, she feared it would be the last. She didn't know how Sanlang's parents endured him going to the battlefield, but she also knew the man she admired was a great hero; he was born for the battlefield, born to soar across the heavens.

She was just too weak. She was simply afraid. In the end, she was humble, caring only for him above all else.

It wasn't wrong to fear he would get hurt, as long as she didn't pass that anxiety on to him, as long as she didn't let him worry about such trifles like she did...

Yan Xiaozhou searched the camp everywhere, her eyelids twitching every time she saw a wounded man. The longer she went without seeing Yang Si, the more restless she became. Just as she was at a loss, a hand reached out from the side and gripped her wrist. Yan Xiaozhou turned, seeing Yang Si's face.

Instantly, Yang Si saw sparks ignite in the young lady's eyes, like fireflies dancing and shimmering over a clear lake.

That sudden, brilliant light left Yang Si startled.

Someone bumped into Yan Xiaozhou, pulling him back to reality, and he shifted his gaze, not daring to look at her too long. Her beauty was radiant, and he feared making a fool of himself.

Yang Si pulled Yan Xiaozhou into a supply tent to talk. As soon as they entered, Yan Xiaozhou reached out to touch his arm, leaning in earnestly. Yang Si froze, holding his breath. Yan Xiaozhou looked him up and down before sighing in relief and smiling: "Thank goodness, it's just a small scratch on your arm. I’ll put some medicine on it, and you'll be fine."

She turned to run out of the tent to find medicine.

Yang Si suddenly hugged her waist from behind, pulling her into his arms.

Yan Xiaozhou was instantly shocked, turning stiff.

Her face turned red, and she was nervous about being seen. The two had never been this intimate before, but how could she bear to push him away? Her heart was filled with joy; she couldn't bring herself to say a word of refusal.

She felt ashamed of her own boldness, but when he held her, his sturdy arms wrapped around her waist, his chest—hard as a mountain—pressed against her back... her face turned red starting from her neck, but she simply did not want to push him away.

Yang Si looked down at her; her eyelashes were trembling, her entire body stiff, clearly in a state of absolute tension.

Yang Si said with a straight face: "Younger Sister Xiaozhou, I saw the clutter under your feet and was afraid you’d trip, so I steadied you. Why are you blushing?"

Yan Xiaozhou: "..."

She lowered her eyes, looking at the clutter that was still three steps away from her. She slowly pushed his hands away, and he let go naturally. Yan Xiaozhou turned back to look at him, gazing up at his handsome, dust-stained face. She pursed her lips and gave a slight smile.

Yang Si pressed a hand onto her shoulder, his voice raspy: "Silly."

Yan Xiaozhou blinked.

Yang Si: "A gentleman is teasing you, and you don't even hide?"

Yan Xiaozhou answered off-topic: "My Second Brother is the Prefect of Guangzhou and holds the concurrent position of Tong Pingzhangshi. He has the rank of a Chancellor; he is young and accomplished, and no one underestimates him.

"My Second Sister-in-law is the Danyang Grand Princess of this dynasty; half the ministers in court listen to her. Even His Majesty is influenced by my sister-in-law.

"The guard following me is named Han Shuxing. He was given to me by my second brother. Although he is not a Great Wei native, his martial arts are superb; he could shatter metal and break jade.

"In this entire world, who would dare to provoke my second brother's sister? Who would dare to provoke my sister-in-law's sister-in-law? And who could act crudely toward me or bully me right under Han Shuxing's nose? Is there really such a formidable gentleman in this world?"

Yang Si stared at her.

He crossed his arms and leaned back, smiling inscrutably: "I dare."

Yan Xiaozhou’s eyelashes fluttered like willow branches over water, casting a soft, sidelong glance.

Yang Si said nonchalantly: "Your second brother is my good brother, my good buddy. Your sister-in-law is my childhood sweetheart; we’ve been incredibly close since we were small. Is Han Shuxing’s martial arts superb? I can't see it. Even if I fought him with one arm tied behind my back, he wouldn't be my match."

The corners of Yan Xiaozhou's mouth curled up, as if in innocence: "So, isn't it because I didn't dare to resist Sanlang?"

Yang Si raised an eyebrow.

The two looked at each other.

After a long moment, both broke into a smile.

Yan Xiaozhou blushed shyly, feeling embarrassed to spend too long alone with Yang Sanlang in the closed tent. She feigned that it was too hot, fanning herself with her hand. She turned around to twist away, intending to lift the tent flap and leave, but Yang Si pulled her back again.

This time, Yan Xiaozhou was truly annoyed: "What are you doing?"

Jiangnan women always spoke with such delicate, soft tones; there was no hint of anger in them. Even when she was "angry," it sounded like flirting, leaving one feeling soft and tender.

Yang Si took the golden bell from his waist and shook it before her eyes. Yan Xiaozhou’s gaze was drawn to it, and she looked at him in surprise. She said tremblingly: "This, this is..."

Yang Si: "When I go to the battlefield, I can't wear the bell, or the enemy will hear the sound. So, I took out the little golden pellet inside, making it impossible for it to make a sound."

With a flick of his finger, the little golden pellet was dropped into Yan Xiaozhou’s lap. Yan Xiaozhou opened her hand to look at the golden pellet, then back at the bell he held.

Seeing her dazed, blank expression, Yang Si felt a pang of sorrow. He said softly: "I never threw away the bell my sister gave me. I kept it all along... It has been nearly three years since I left Chang'an. At the time, I couldn't bear to throw it away, always thinking I would delay it, thinking I would throw it away the day before I married someone else.

"I didn't want to hold onto the love I felt for my sister to tarnish my own integrity. That’s why I was determined to throw this bell away. Later, and then... things just turned out like this."

His voice grew raspy: "Before Sister came to Jiannan, I was here doing hard labor, repairing high walls. The numbing work every day made my heart feel like ash. I won't hide it from you, Sister; after Elder Brother Lang died... I had a really difficult time. I grew up so smoothly, there was nothing I couldn't get, nothing Elder Brother Lang wouldn't give me.

"It was the first time I witnessed someone close to me die like that, and only then did I realize that in a human life, no matter how many worries we have, in the end, it all 'becomes empty.' Only Sister's bell accompanied me, and only the words my father said to me before he passed remained in my memory. I didn't want to let myself be defeated... If I fell, I would be betraying my father's expectations.

"Do not be a villain, do not perform evil deeds. Although my heart told me I couldn't fall, I didn't know how to live either. During those times, the only thing I had left on me was Sister’s bell.

"After that, Sister came. The first time I saw Sister in the camp, it is no exaggeration to say that I felt as if the entire spring had arrived. When Sister stood on the hillside and smiled at me, I truly felt like I had come back to life. But I still didn't dare to get close to Sister; I knew I was a sinner, while Sister was the sister of a fourth-rank official in court. How could I implicate Sister, implicate Sister's family?

"But now, now... I have finally found a way!"

As Yan Xiaozhou listened to him say these things, her heart ached as if it were weeping, dripping blood with every word. She possessed the same powerful empathy as her second brother; just hearing Yang Si say this made Yan Xiaozhou feel she couldn't breathe. While she was teary-eyed, her wrist was grabbed by Yang Si.

He was invigorated, the light in his eyes overflowing: "This war between the Great Wei and the Southern Barbarians is my chance! I am useless in times of peace, but in this era, I can be useful. As long as I keep performing meritorious service, the imperial court will eventually see me, and eventually use me!

"The General just said he would promote me to a junior officer. Sister, although because of my criminal record, the General can only give me a ninth-rank junior officer position, this is just the beginning! I will climb up step by step. As long as I can fight, the central government will use me! I will go back to the way I was before."

Yan Xiaozhou looked at him tenderly. Watching him shine, she murmured through her tears: "Yang Sanlang is truly amazing."

He lowered his eyes: "And every time I go to the battlefield, I will wear the bell my sister gave me. It’s as if... Sister’s heart is with me."

Yan Xiaozhou looked up at him.

Yang Si leaned down, staring at the tear drops on her eyelashes. He reached out to gently wipe them away, his spirit rising: "Silly sister, you don't know, military merit is the easiest way to get promoted. Your second brother earns his promotions through one major event after another, but after a major war, I will be promoted faster than your second brother.

"When I become a General, when the war ends, I will propose to your brother, propose to your father... Sister Xiaozhou, are you willing to wait for me? Are you willing to marry me?"

He cupped her face in his hands, watching her intently: "I will never, never let Sister down... I will never take a concubine, never have any messy affairs with other women. After going through such great ups and downs, now I only want the simplest happiness. I only want to marry Sister. Is Sister willing?"

Yan Xiaozhou murmured: "I have already waited for you for a long time... and I will continue to wait."

Tears fell from her eyes, yet the corners of her lips bloomed into a smile. She was as fresh and moving as a camellia flower, fragrant and incomparable.

Yan Xiaozhou stood on her tiptoes, hugging his neck. She sobbed with a smile: "I will wait, I will wait forever for you to come and marry me. I will wait forever for you to marry me."

Yang Si hugged her waist tightly, holding her against his chest.

However, Yang Si did not have time to say more to Yan Xiaozhou. As they were sharing this moment of tenderness, they heard the sound of horns outside. Yan Xiaozhou was startled, thinking the Southern Barbarians had started attacking again, but Yang Si tilted his head to identify the sound for a moment, then revealed a smile: "It’s the central officials! It must be as the General said, the central government has come to grant promotions!"

Yan Xiaozhou was happy for him: "Is it because you can become a ninth-rank officer? That’s great!"

The two were overjoyed over a mere ninth-rank office. Afterward, Yan Xiaozhou went back to care for the wounded with a heart full of anticipation, while Yang Si was summoned to the commander-in-chief's camp.

When Yang Si arrived at the military camp, his eyelids twitched slightly. He saw the central officials holding fly-whisks, but they were not the usual Ministry of War officials; they were several eunuchs, smooth-faced and hairless. One of the eunuchs looked at Yang Si nonchalantly, recognizing the famous Yang Sanlang of Chang'an.

One of the eunuchs spat: "How did he come too?"

The commander-in-chief was a sturdy, middle-aged man who swept a sharp glance at Yang Si, telling him to join the ranks of soldiers behind him. After Yang Si joined the line, the commander-in-chief said: "This victory is largely thanks to Yang Chengzhi’s strategy. I was just about to request the Eunuch to grant Chengzhi an official rank."

The eunuch replied sarcastically: "Is that necessary? Great Wei has plenty of people who can fight. A youth in his twenties is nothing but a child on the battlefield; he’s not that important. To grant a reward and an official post to a person convicted of treason—this Eunuch is afraid that if he leads tens of thousands of troops, he’ll surrender to the enemy. This wouldn't be appropriate."

Yang Si remained expressionless, acting as if he didn't hear the eunuch's slander. He was truly different from when he was a boy.

He would no longer act on impulse; he would no longer strike out the moment he felt injustice. Because there was no longer anyone to cover for him; there was no longer anyone who would let him hit or kill whoever he wanted, all while protecting him to the very end.

Those who kill must pay with their lives. Only at this age did Yang Si learn what real punishment was.

The commander-in-chief's expression darkened, but he suppressed his anger: "The Eunuch is right. May I ask what advice the central government has for coming here? Why isn't it a Ministry of War official, but rather, the Eunuch who came..."

The head eunuch shouted loudly: "We have come directly representing the will of His Majesty! Why haven't you knelt to receive the edict!"

The commander-in-chief was stunned. Then he became excited, thinking that the Emperor bypassing the Secretariat to issue an edict personally showed the Emperor's importance of this war, and his importance to the Emperor!

In the ensuing chaos, the soldiers in the large tent all knelt down. They heard the Emperor’s will: "His Majesty’s oral edict: Shortly, Great Wei will prepare to negotiate peace with the Southern Barbarians. War between two countries brings no benefit to the people. The people suffer, and my heart cannot bear it. During the period of negotiating peace with the Southern Barbarians, the Great Wei must not proactively provoke war, and must not attack.

"Just retreat! Do not let the Southern Barbarians misunderstand and think we are the ones provoking trouble. This is the command."

The entire tent was in an uproar.

All the soldiers raised their heads in disbelief.

The commander-in-chief was nearly enraged, but he was held back by the strategist behind him, forcing himself to endure.

The commander’s face was dark: "Is this the Eunuch’s oral decree? Does His Majesty have no written imperial edict? Is this truly the Emperor’s intent?"

The eunuch said: "I would not dare to fake an imperial edict. This is the Emperor’s intent. From today on, you will—cease fire!"

The commander roared: "If we cease fire, what will happen to all the soldiers? What will happen to the hundreds of thousands of people in the border counties?!"

The eunuch rolled his eyes: "Didn't I tell you to retreat?"

The commander: "Once we retreat, the national territory will be given to the enemy!"

The eunuch was getting impatient: "You’ve been losing anyway, what difference does it make now? The Ministry of Revenue has provided you with hundreds of thousands of silver taels, but you’re like a bottomless pit; we don't see any return at all. The imperial court wants to negotiate peace now; don't interfere."

The commander was furious to the extreme.

He was burning with anger and roared: "We won this major battle! War has wins and losses; how can we give up because of short-term losses? If you pass on such a message, how can I answer to the army behind me, how can I answer to the people of the border counties! If we retreat, we retreat, but what about the national territory, what about the people's homes? Are we just giving this to the enemy?"

The eunuch smiled coldly: "The General is very imposing. If you were so capable, why didn't you win from the start? Why are you venting your anger on me? I’ve already said, this is the Emperor’s oral edict. If the General has issues, go tell the Emperor."

The commander couldn't take it anymore. Seeing the ugly behavior of these eunuchs, he felt nauseated. He stepped forward to throw a punch, but his fist was held back by someone behind him. The commander turned around and saw it was Yang Si.

Yang Si whispered: "General, the power struggle above may have other mysteries; what can we do? It’s better to wait."

The commander looked back at the officers in the tent. The atmosphere was somber; he sighed heavily and let his shoulders slump—

Yan Shang had always been concerned about the war in the Jiannan Circuit. He still held the position of Tong Pingzhangshi, so even if he inquired about the war, it wouldn't be considered meddling.

At first, he received news from Chang'an, but later, finding the delivery from Chang'an to Lingnan too slow, he established direct contact with Jiannan. He had many friends in officialdom; some officials serving in Jiannan were old acquaintances of Yan Shang. By going around a few channels, Yan Shang easily made contact with the commander currently directing the war in Jiannan.

Jiannan and Lingnan were adjacent. Sending letters between the two was much faster than the back-and-forth between Chang'an and Lingnan.

It was precisely because of Yan Shang’s recommendation that Yang Si had been noticed by the commander-in-chief.

Regarding many military matters in Jiannan, Yan Shang, relying on their correspondence, knew as much as they did in Chang'an.

The news of the total ceasefire in the Jiannan Circuit reached Yan Shang through his back-and-forth correspondence with the commander.

At twilight, Yan Shang stood in the corridors of his residence, lost in thought while gazing at the drizzling rain.

Mu Wanyao sat inside the room, watching him through the window for two hours, but he was still standing there. Mu Wanyao couldn't take it anymore. She leaned against the window and scolded him: "If you want to catch a cold, just say so! Is it necessary to torture yourself like this?"

Yan Shang turned back, looking toward the beauty at the window.

Seeing the bloodshot eyes from his all-nighters, Mu Wanyao softened her heart and sighed: "Come in and sit with me."

Yan Shang entered the room and was pulled to sit under the window by Mu Wanyao. Seeing him frown, she couldn't help saying: "You have been urging Chang'an with a letter every day; you have already done everything in your power. What else can you do? Don't think of yourself as a god."

Yan Shang looked at her, his eyes slightly hesitant.

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow: "If you want to say something, just say it. We have been husband and wife for so long; is there anything you still need to avoid with me? Do you want to curse the Emperor? I’ll curse him for you."

Yan Shang: "I... want to go to Jiannan."

Mu Wanyao looked at him calmly.

He turned his face away, not daring to gaze at her. He whispered: "I am afraid that the officials in Jiannan won't be able to handle the Emperor. After all, he is the sovereign. No matter how tough the Secretariat is, they are still ministers. As long as a country’s ruler truly wants to do something, the ministers can't stop him. I am afraid that if things continue like this, Jiannan will truly be given away... Jiannan is so important, how can it be given away?

"Besides, the war has only lasted two months; it is far from time for us to admit defeat..."

Mu Wanyao interrupted his explanation: "Then go."

Yan Shang suddenly looked up, staring at her in a daze.

Mu Wanyao smiled at him: "Yan Er-gege, I married you only after I understood your ambitions and your character. The problems between us didn't just explode after our marriage. What kind of person you are, and what kind of person I am, we were clear about before we got married."

She said with a bit of bitterness: "You want to be a great hero, and am I supposed to be satisfied with just being a little person who supports you? I married Yan Er-gege, not to pull my husband into changing who he is, so that he would compromise for me and be dragged in place, unable to do anything. I married Yan Er-gege because I admire Yan Er-gege, and I want to be someone just like you.

"You want to go to a dangerous place like Jiannan, you want to put yourself in harm's way. I support you!"

Mu Wanyao’s eyes were sharp but firm.

Yan Shang looked at her, then suddenly leaned over and hugged her. He whispered: "Are you coming with me..."

Mu Wanyao smiled radiantly: "I'm not going."

She smiled at him: "What would I do there? I don't know martial arts, I don't know how to fight, and I am a young lady with a weak constitution. Should I run over there to show off how deep our love is, following you wherever you go? That’s too ridiculous.

"I am not going to Jiannan; I will help Yan Er-gege guard Lingnan. Jiannan and Lingnan are adjacent. The Southern Barbarians have strong forces; it’s better to be safe than sorry. If the Southern Barbarians can’t gain any advantage in Jiannan, they are very likely to come and attack Lingnan. Although the possibility is low, we cannot take the chance.

"I must stay in Lingnan and guard this place. I cannot let Lingnan become an empty city, becoming a place the Southern Barbarians can use to drag Yan Er-gege down."

Yan Shang looked at her, holding her jade-like face in his hands, whispering: "Write to me every day, and be careful."

Mu Wanyao kissed his face lightly, closing her eyes and smiling: "You too. No matter how busy you are, you must write to me every day. You know I worry about you; if there is one day without a letter, I will be anxious to the point of tears."

Yan Shang smiled.

He sighed: "Yaoyao, husband and wife as we are, we have reached the time to fight side by side again."

Listening to the pitter-patter of rain outside the window, his heart felt very peaceful. People are so strange; as long as they think of being with each other, they can be without fear of life or death.

Mu Wanyao hugged his waist tightly and coquettishly: "I like fighting side by side with Er-gege.

"Now, let us think—under the eyes of such a mediocre and suspicious Emperor, how can Yan Er-gege get himself transferred to Jiannan."——

At this time in Chang'an, the incident where the Emperor bypassed the Secretariat and sent eunuchs to Jiannan to pass the message for peace finally exploded.

The opposition in the imperial court was intense, led primarily by the opposition of Chancellor Liu and his student Yan Shang, who was in Lingnan. Chancellor Liu stood behind the noble families, and Yan Shang stood behind the scholars of humble origin. With both opposing it, almost all the civil and military officials followed suit.

Positioned at the center, Chancellor Liu and several other Chancellors were so angry they nearly fainted. He suspected that the Ministry of War knew about this because the Minister of War... was a man of the Great Eunuch Liu Wenji!

In the Imperial Study, Chancellor Liu held the memorial from Jiannan, his face distorted by anger. He glared at Liu Wenji, who was beside the Emperor, and gritted his teeth: "The war has only been going on for two months; why negotiate peace? Where does peace come from?! If you make our army retreat, does that mean you are giving Jiannan away?"

The Emperor was calm: "Chancellor, you misunderstand; how could I do that? I am just looking at the suffering of the common people, and my heart cannot bear it. I would rather endure a moment of shame to end the war. I only found out after Eunuch Liu brought the memorial. In the country these past few months, there have been earthquakes and floods, and it has not been peaceful either. If the war doesn't end, the people of the world will suffer for it."

Chancellor Liu: "Then you still can't retreat! When our Great Wei goes to war with the barbarians, do we retreat every time? If this continues, wouldn't it make the border countries have ulterior motives, thinking our Great Wei can be easily bullied by anyone?"

The Emperor said calmly: "I have my own judgment."

For a moment, Chancellor Liu was actually left speechless.

He looked at the indifferent, clay-like Emperor, then looked at Liu Wenji. Liu Wenji smiled at him indifferently. After Chancellor Liu’s whole body trembled, he actually calmed down.

After a long time, Chancellor Liu asked with difficulty: "Is Yizhou also to be ceded?"

Emperor: "Yizhou is not to be ceded."

Chancellor Liu: "So it turns out you think the other parts of Jiannan are too poor and cannot supply the imperial court with much tax, so you gave them away? Since that’s the case, why not cede Lingnan as well, and cede Liaodong too. Anyway, they are all... poor and desolate!

"Anyway, no matter how important the military position is, in the eyes of Your Majesty, they are all useless! Your Majesty is instigated by villains and only wants to sit back and enjoy the riches and reap the benefits. In the eyes of Your Majesty, as long as it doesn't hinder your pleasure, other lands can be given away if they are to be given away, right?"

The Emperor angrily slapped the table and stood up: "Insolent! To speak to me like this, is this the duty of a minister!

"To fight or to make peace is your own personal view. I am the Son of Heaven, and I am the one who should decide how this country goes. I stopped the war to protect the people in other provinces of the country; I do not want to drag them down. What fault do I have? If you blame anyone, blame yourselves for not winning the war, for not being able to share the burden for the sovereign, and don't mistake the major events of the sovereign."

Chancellor Liu stared at Liu Wenji.

He mocked, whispering: "Mistake the major events of the sovereign."

It turns out that such a monarch actually had major events.

Chancellor Liu: "Your Majesty’s major event, is it to tour the world, or to repair the houses for the leaking palace? Or is it that your beauties are not enough to enjoy?"

The Emperor trembled with rage.

The Emperor was furious: "Chancellor Liu, watch your status! I am the Son of Heaven; you and your students lecture me every day, teaching me how to govern the country—what is the meaning of this? Is the world mine, or yours? You stare at me with a sullen face in court every day, and your student Yan Suchen urges the Jiannan matter with three letters a day. What do you mean by this?

"Why don't you sit on this throne with Yan Suchen!

"Someone! Take Chancellor Liu down, strip him of his official position, remove his clothes and hat, and drive him out of Chang'an... drive him out of Chang'an!"

Liu Wenji’s eyelids twitched.

How could he let the Chancellor of a country be driven out like this? If Chancellor Liu were to be humiliated like this today, the entire civil and military officialdom would be in chaos tomorrow. If all the officials were in chaos, could the Emperor suppress them? Wouldn't he be pushing himself out to become the villain in the Emperor's place?

Liu Wenji knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty, please forgive him! The Chancellor had a slip of the tongue; he definitely didn't dare to offend Your Majesty..."

The Emperor came back to his senses.

He also realized he was too angry and wondered how he could dismiss Chancellor Liu for such a reason. He was an Emperor who was very clear about everything; he knew that if he drove away Chancellor Liu, he would no longer be able to command the officials.

The Emperor pondered.

A while later, another battle report came, saying the battle in Hexi was lost, and the Emperor’s face went black.

After a long time, the Emperor said mockingly: "How about this, since Chancellor Liu wants to fight so much... why not go to Hexi to fight the war! You are the Chancellor of a country, so I will give you a position as a General. Didn't Chancellor Liu say I am useless and only know how to negotiate for peace? Then Chancellor Liu should go and experience it personally, and teach me how to fight the war!"