Chapter 52: Li Chen is strong, but I have no reason to lose!

Regarding the matter of Feng Huai exploding in the court, the one most shocked was the Second Imperial Prince, Li Xian.

Originally, Li Xian had just gained the Ministry of Justice as a major help and was overjoyed, already fantasizing about how he would exert his influence.

But before he could give orders, before he could lay out his plans, Li Chen had directly and quickly pulled it out.

This made Li Xian start to suspect whether Li Chen had already arranged eyes around him; how could Li Chen handle it so quickly just after he received the intelligence.

Coupled with the news of the northern expedition from the morning court.

Li Xian could be certain that there must be a mole planted by Li Chen around him and the Third Imperial Prince.

This move, which looked like fooling around, was actually a deterrent from Li Chen to him and the Third Imperial Prince.

"A bit interesting, I underestimated you before."

Only from this moment did Li Xian officially place Li Chen on a level qualified to play against him.

However, Li Xian was not in a hurry; as long as his master took action, he had no reason to lose!

In his view, this round was still a sure win!

At the Grand General's mansion, Guo Guo Po Yun was planting vegetables in his small courtyard.

He hadn't worked in the fields for many years, but this skill hadn't been forgotten.

Every movement was so smooth and flowing, done in one go.

Even after planting the vegetable field all morning, not a drop of sweat fell from his body; his physique was robust beyond his age.

After turning this patch of soil, it was roughly time for the morning court to end.

He sat on a chair in the living room drinking tea, listening to the news reported by his subordinates.

"Feng Huai brought this upon himself, but I really didn't expect His Majesty to put the northern expedition on the agenda."

He felt some emotion in his heart; missing two big shows today, the days of being under house arrest at home were not easy.

Seeming to have an idea, Guo Guo Po Yun urged his servant to bring his clothes, looking like he was about to go out.

At this time, Guo Guo Po Yun's son, Guo Zhenwei, just walked over, and seeing his father's appearance, he asked: "Father, where are you going?"

Guo Guo Po Yun said earnestly: "His Majesty wants to launch a northern expedition; how can I miss the matter of going on an expedition? Even if I die on the battlefield, it's better than dying in the court."

No military official would miss such a thing; for them, this was a kind of honor!

This was also why so many military officials in the court were begging Li Chen to let them fight.

"But Father, you are currently under house arrest by His Majesty; have you forgotten how Feng Huai died? Wasn't it for wantonly defying His Majesty's orders?"

Guo Zhenwei's words made Guo Guo Po Yun calm down instantly.

To be honest, he was still very afraid of this new Emperor, Li Chen.

That's right, His Majesty putting me under house arrest was already showing me mercy.

And it was only for seven days; if I hadn't been cheeky at the Imperial Study last time, I probably could have attended court by now.

If I leave without being summoned at this time, wouldn't I also be defying His Majesty's orders?

What does an Emperor hate most? Naturally, it's disobedient subjects.

Isn't Feng Huai's example obvious enough? I had just finished despising Feng Huai, and I almost walked into the gun barrel again.

Guo Guo Po Yun knew Li Chen's temper; he was just in a hurry just now and almost forgot this point.

But now the generals for the northern expedition hadn't been decided; what if others got there first?

"How about this, I will go to beg to see His Majesty and convey Father's meaning to His Majesty."

Guo Zhenwei's method was indeed good, but Guo Guo Po Yun was a bit worried.

Li Chen's mind was harder to understand than the late Emperor's; if his son defied Li Chen, the chance of not fighting would be a small matter, but if the whole family were wiped out, that would be a big problem.

Previous Emperors at least paid some attention to procedures and feelings, but this one really didn't, and didn't need to. Seeming to see his old father's thoughts, Guo Zhenwei continued: "Don't worry, Father, we are just subjects, just His Majesty's dogs; as long as we show loyalty, it will be fine."

Don't look at this sentence as vulgar, but Guo Guo Po Yun agreed with it.

Only by treating oneself as a dog and communicating with His Majesty in this attitude would one not offend His Majesty.

Having said this, Guo Guo Po Yun told his son to hurry, lest other military officials get there first.

Guo Guo Po Yun just changed into formal clothes and rode his horse to the palace at the fastest speed.

But just as he arrived at the palace gate, he was stunned.

There were hundreds of people here, all military officials of the Tian Ce Dynasty, along with their subordinates.

Many of these military officials were even wearing armor and military uniforms, and the horses beside them were also in full battle gear.

Without exception, they had all heard that His Majesty wanted to launch a northern expedition and had come to request to fight.

There were quite a few young generals like Guo Zhenwei, and besides them, there were some old generals who were from the same era as Guo Guo Po Yun.

!

They hadn't appeared in public in the Imperial Capital for decades, and now they couldn't sit still either.

Their thoughts were probably the same as Guo Guo Po Yun's: if I die, I'll die on the battlefield.

If they were civil officials, they would certainly be exchanging pleasantries here, greeting each other, and saying some polite words.

But military officials were different; they still had a competitive relationship and had already started bickering.

"What level are you, actually having the nerve to apply to participate in the northern expedition? I see your sickly physique; you'll freeze to death before you even reach the north."

"Hehe, I have fought a hundred battles, and the wars I have fought, big and small, are more than you have ever seen; what right do you have to compete with me?"

"Everyone be quiet, let me say a fair word. I came down from the northern front line, and I am more familiar with the local situation; let me do it this time."

"You're the only one with a big face, right? Who here hasn't stayed in the north? I heard you were recalled to the Imperial Capital because of your incompetence, and your position was snatched by a young general; you really have the nerve to come."

"What did you say!? Where did that rumor come from? I think you're looking for a beating, aren't you?"

"Come on then, who's afraid of whom? The loser gets out!"

A group of military officials in this place was truly lively.

If it weren't for people pulling them apart, some military officials who already had conflicts would have almost fought outside the palace gate.

It could be seen that there were still military officials and great nobles constantly on their way.

Guo Zhenwei was sweating seeing this scene; he tried hard to squeeze to the front, quietly took out some silver notes, and said to Eunuch Cui at the palace gate: "Eunuch, I am the son of Grand General Guo Guo Po Yun..."

Before he could finish, Eunuch Cui pushed the money back and interrupted impatiently: "Stop talking, General Guo; without His Majesty's summons, no one can enter, and don't make things difficult for me."

Today, Eunuch Cui had already rejected dozens of "big figures"; Guo Zhenwei's level really wasn't enough to get a good look from Eunuch Cui; it would be different if his father, Grand General Guo Guo Po Yun, had come.

Li Chen's order was an imperial decree to Eunuch Cui; no matter how much Guo Zhenwei stuffed, it was useless.

And with so many people here, if you want to stuff, you should find a place with no one around.

I really don't know if you military officials are truly stupid or just can't see the situation clearly.

Eunuch Cui didn't know why, but as the new Emperor became more and more powerful, he felt he was also standing tall.

As the saying goes, to beat a dog, you must look at the owner; the stronger the owner, the crazier the dog.

Encountering an owner like Li Chen, Eunuch Cui really wasn't afraid of offending people.

In any case, I am just Li Chen's dog, and I am doing these things to help my owner; if you have the guts, go and make trouble with my owner, and see if he doesn't finish you off.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 53 =====