Chapter 625

"Since we've already come this far, we definitely have to go."

"Didn't you see that even the Chancellor went?"

"If anything happens, the Chancellor will take responsibility. Hurry and follow."

The rest of them boarded the imperial carriages one after another.

Following after Feng Quji.

Along the way, there were no soldiers to block them.

After all, these were high-ranking court officials; who would be bored enough to intercept them?

Very soon, the group arrived at the Seven-Treasured Exquisite Pagoda.

At this moment, the area around the Seven-Treasured Exquisite Pagoda was guarded by many attendants.

Because that man was at the very top.

Protecting that man was their sacred duty.

Feng Quji and the others stepped down from their carriages.

They wanted to enter, but were intercepted by the guards.

One of the guards, who appeared to be a captain, stepped out.

Just a moment ago, he had heard the report from the person sent down to deliver the message.

It was said that the Chancellor had forced him to reveal the Emperor's location.

The captain had even scolded that guard because of it.

Yet, before much time had passed, Feng Quji and the others had come looking for him.

This gave him a bit of a headache; the Emperor was not seeing anyone, yet this group was rushing up here.

"Please report our arrival; we wish to see the Emperor."

As the Chancellor of Great Qin, Feng Quji did not need to bow his head to others.

Even if they were the Emperor's guards, he could look them in the eye; he did not need to curry favor.

"Chancellor Feng, esteemed lords, the Emperor has said he is not seeing anyone today."

"Why have you all come looking for him anyway?"

The captain frowned slightly; this Chancellor had just hoodwinked his subordinate.

Now he wanted to hoodwink him as well.

This left him quite speechless.

However, since they had already found their way here, what else could he do?

"The entire city of Xianyang is in an uproar; are we not allowed to come and seek the Emperor?"

"Don't say anything else; go and report for us. We must see the Emperor today."

Feng Quji looked toward the small hill not far away, but saw nothing.

The Seven-Treasured Exquisite Pagoda was right on that small hill.

From their current position, the view was blocked by some trees and buildings.

They could not see what the situation was like up there.

The captain frowned deeply, but was helpless.

The Emperor was right there on top of the Seven-Treasured Exquisite Pagoda.

If they made a loud commotion, they would certainly disturb the Emperor.

"Wait here for a moment."

"Do not make a loud noise."

"Do not disturb the Emperor."

The captain turned and ordered a subordinate to go and report.

At the top of the pagoda.

"Your Majesty, Chancellor Feng and a group of ministers request an audience."

A guard ran up to the seventh floor and bowed to Ying Zheng, reporting in a low voice, fearing he might disturb the focused Ying Zheng.

"Hmm? Why have they come?"

Ying Zheng put down his telescope and frowned slightly.

He had said he wouldn't see anyone, yet this group had come anyway.

"I do not know; they just said they want to see Your Majesty."

The guard answered honestly, feeling a bit nervous inside.

That group had come to disturb the Emperor's focus, and the Emperor was already frowning.

He hoped they wouldn't be blamed for it.

"Your Majesty, should we see them?"

"Perhaps they have some matter to discuss."

General Zhang Han Han spoke up; one didn't need to think to know the reason those ministers had come.

It was nothing more than the news published in today's Great Qin Daily.

"Let them wait on the sixth floor."

Ying Zheng pondered for a moment; since they were already here, he might as well see them.

However, this was the seventh-floor rooftop, and it couldn't hold that many people.

"Understood!"

The guard received the order, turned, and left.

"Why do you think they came here?"

Ying Zheng did not look at General Zhang Han Han, but continued to look through the telescope.

As if he had seen something interesting.

"This..."

General Zhang Han Han was a bit tongue-tied.

This question was not hard to guess.

Wasn't the Emperor asking something he already knew?

"Your Majesty, they must have seen the news in the Great Qin Daily."

"That is why they all rushed over, wanting to have an audience with Your Majesty."

"They likely came of their own accord, not because they had discussed it beforehand."

General Zhang Han Han put down the telescope in his hand and answered truthfully.

"Is that so?"

"Then what is their purpose in coming here?"

"Are they here to persuade me to abandon the conscription, or are they here to fish for information?"

Ying Zheng showed no emotional fluctuation.

This question stumped General Zhang Han Han a little.

He was privy to the inside story of the conscription, and this army had to be raised.

But it was hard to say for those ministers; perhaps they were here to stop it.

At the very least, they were here to stop the large-scale conscription and suggest a smaller one instead.

But Feng Quji and the others didn't know the inside story; those who did know would never suggest reducing the conscription.

The ministers feared that too much conscription would also affect them.

The downside of too much conscription was that when the treasury was empty,

Ying Zheng would choose a few families with significant issues and have their homes raided.

This way, there would be money to fill the treasury and pay the military salaries.

This wasn't the first time such a thing had happened; it was also a form of imperial strategy.

Usually, as long as you weren't too excessive, he wouldn't touch you.

But when there was a problem, he could move against you.

Over the years, General Zhang Han Han had seen through this, but how could he dare to tell the Emperor?