Chapter 228

Imperial Palace.

Imperial Study.

"Wan'er, how do you think the Duke of Dingguo will reprimand the Junior Official Gao?"

Wu Zhao was wearing simple clothes, with a little less majesty and a little more femininity.

She said while casually flipping through the memorials.

Shangguan Wan'er thought of Gao Yang's words and couldn't help but say, "I reckon he might suffer a sound beating."

"After all, what Junior Official Gao said this time was too shocking."

Wu Zhao heard this and nodded with deep feeling.

"The second strategy for a strong nation is easy to talk about, but the first one, the twenty-grade military merit system, and the subsequent way of governing the people, are too vicious."

"Even if I framed Scholar Cui, or Doctor Yan, and made them take the blame, such a vicious scheme clearly comes from Gao Yang's hand; who would believe it?"

"It's normal for the Duke of Dingguo to beat him up; I actually owe him for this."

Wu Zhao's eyes were filled with emotion.

Shangguan Wan'er also nodded.

"This time, I was also very surprised; Junior Official Gao was more straightforward than ever before, which is truly rare."

Wu Zhao stood by the window, and a breeze came, blowing her three thousand strands of hair, revealing her exquisite and noble face.

She felt the same way about this.

"Wan'er, the twenty-grade military merit system, and this people-oriented, technology-strengthening nation strategy—which one do you think I should choose?"

Wu Zhao suddenly asked.

Shangguan Wan'er was startled, then shook her head, "Your Majesty, I dare not speak rashly."

This answer did not exceed Wu Zhao's expectations.

Only she could make this decision.

"Let's first see the power of the gunpowder that Junior Official Gao is tossing about, and see if the gunpowder is truly as powerful as he said."

Wu Zhao's phoenix eyes were deep as she said this.

Then, she asked again, "Is there any movement from Lei Yun?"

Mentioning this, Shangguan Wan'er's expression became serious, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Minister Lei has no movement."

"But the more he lies dormant, the more I feel something is wrong."

Wu Zhao's eyes turned cold, "Wait another three days; after three days, test him and we will know."

"Also, quickly summon General Lu and General Qin into the palace."

A look of surprise appeared in Shangguan Wan'er's eyes, "Does Your Majesty really think Gao Yang's guess is true, that the Six Kingdoms will bring their armies?"

Wu Zhao looked faintly at the dim sky outside the window; she stood with her hands behind her back, murmuring to herself: "As he said, the world has been peaceful for so long, and I have only recently succeeded to the throne; the political situation in Da Qian is unstable, and I am the only female emperor, destined to be intolerable to the feudal princes of the world."

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; I can choose not to believe it, but I cannot choose not to guard against it."

Wu Zhao's pair of phoenix eyes seemed to pierce through space and time; she seemed to see a massive army filled with murderous intent, charging towards Da Qian...

"..."

Three days later.