Chapter 1070

"If Marquis Pingjiang cannot lead the troops, then who can?"

The civil and military officials glared at the 'loyal subjects and filial sons'.

At this moment, what is more important: the war with Xiliang, or fighting for power and guarding against Marquis Pingjiang? At such a critical juncture, failing to distinguish between the light and the heavy makes one a sinner!

Blindly flattering and fawning without regard for the big picture clearly makes them traitors who harm the country and the people.

"Naturally, naturally it is Minister Yang of the Ministry of War."

"Absurd! Minister Yang's health has not yet recovered; do you want to send Minister Yang to his death? Furthermore, Minister Yang has never been to the Northwest; he neither understands the military situation and public sentiment there, nor the geography and weather. To let someone who is completely in the dark command a great army—what exactly is your intention? Are you colluding with the enemy, are you a spy planted in Great Da Qian by Xiliang!"

"Absurd! My ancestors for eight generations have been law-abiding citizens of Da Qian. Stop spitting blood. As subjects, not sharing the Emperor's burdens and acting willfully—are you worthy of the Emperor?"

"I see you are not sharing burdens at all; you are clearly intending to bewitch the Emperor and destroy the Great Da Qian empire."

The two sides immediately began to argue, neither willing to yield to the other, both having their reasons, and both sounding righteous. Since words could not persuade the other side, it was just as well that they knew a few moves of martial arts.

Right there in the Golden Throne Hall, in front of the Emperor, the court officials started a full-scale brawl, with shoes and smelly socks flying and fists making intimate contact with cheeks.

The hatred in their eyes was as if the other side were their mortal enemies who had killed their fathers and mothers.

The scene spiraled out of control, and Emperor Jian Shi was so angry he cursed on the spot and stormed off.

It was clear he was dissatisfied with the court officials' suggestions and was using the method of suspending court sessions to force the Secretariat to compromise.

As long as the Secretariat was willing to compromise, the other court officials were not worth worrying about.

But he underestimated the determination of the Secretariat.

All the officials in the Secretariat were unwilling to bear the infamy of not being diligent in resisting foreign enemies. They could be submissive, they could compromise, they could make concessions—that was for internal matters.

Externally, the Secretariat had to be the most steadfast pro-war faction. Otherwise, everyone present, one by one, would be hung on the pillar of historical shame for future generations to spit upon.

Xie Changling pursued fame both during his life and after his death; how could he bear the infamy of being submissive to foreign enemies?

Absolutely not!

As the Left Chancellor and head of the hundred officials, he took a stand, and the other officials followed suit, vowing to fight back fiercely. They would re-employ Marquis Pingjiang, shelve internal conflicts, and unite against the outside.

The Secretariat had unified its opinion; subsequently, they only needed to persuade Emperor Jian Shi.

Xie Changling pulled Yu Zhaoan along and had people carry Minister Yang, who was still recuperating from illness, into the palace so they could all face the Emperor together and use facts to persuade the stubborn Son of Heaven.

When Emperor Jian Shi saw with his own eyes Minister Yang, who was so sick he looked half-dead and couldn't even walk, his heart skipped a beat.

"How did you become this ill? Is the minister's illness truly beyond the reach of medicine?"

"Many thanks for Your Majesty's concern. The imperial physician said that this old minister's illness can only be managed, and there might be a chance of improvement. This old minister has failed Your Majesty! This old minister is incompetent; Xiliang has invaded the borders, yet this old minister cannot share Your Majesty's burdens. This old minister deserves to die!" Minister Yang sat on a stool, coughing and crying, looking decrepit and miserable.

Xie Changling accompanied him by wiping away two tears.

"Your Majesty, in order to annihilate the traitorous Prince of Chu, Minister Yang has exhausted his thoughts and blood. At critical moments, he was lying on his sickbed drafting battle plans, relying on Chancellor Yu to convey orders. This was still in the south, where the weather is warm and conducive to his health. The Northwest is arid with heavy sandstorms; I fear Minister Yang's body would not last until the destination before... I beg Your Majesty to show some pity!"

Since the Left Chancellor had spoken, Yu Zhaoan, as the Right Chancellor, could not remain a mute.

"Your Majesty, no one understands Minister Yang's difficulties during the initial campaign against the Prince of Chu better than this subject. He was truly hanging by his last breath. If the Prince of Chu hadn't been defeated in time, I fear Minister Yang would have already... I beg Your Majesty to show some pity!"

There was no need to preach grand principles, no need to analyze the battle situation, and no need to compare Minister Yang with Marquis Pingjiang.

Given Minister Yang's current physical condition, he couldn't even leave his own front door and had to be carried into the palace by servants. In this state, he was simply incapable of assuming the role of commander, let alone replacing Marquis Pingjiang.

In fact, Minister Yang's greatest shortcoming was that he had never been to the Northwest. Although he was the Minister of War, he had basically never dealt directly with the Northwest border troops. That bunch of border troops, who had no regard for the law and acted unscrupulously, would never recognize him as the Minister of War.

Only Marquis Pingjiang, who had served as a soldier in the Northwest and fought Xiliang several times, could use the prestige and seniority he had earned through real battle merits to suppress those arrogant and domineering border generals.

"You are forcing me!" Emperor Jian Shi's internal anger was about to overflow. He wished he could grab the sharp blade on the wall and stab the three people in front of him to death.

What cruel coercion.

"Your Majesty, the big picture is paramount. Please temporarily shelve your suspicions of Marquis Pingjiang; the war is urgent. It will not be too late to summon Marquis Pingjiang back to the capital after Xiliang retreats."

"Your Majesty, Marquis Pingjiang is advanced in years; I estimate he doesn't have many years left after defeating Xiliang. At such an age, he should return to the capital to retire. At worst, I will personally make the trip to the Northwest for Your Majesty when the time comes!" Yu Zhaoan, not knowing what his intentions were, actually took the initiative to take on this thankless task.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jian Shi's eyes lit up. "Chancellor Yu is thoughtful. According to your meaning, we can only re-employ Marquis Pingjiang for now?"

Xie Changling said with resounding force: "If we want to block the edge of Xiliang's southward invasion, we can only re-employ Marquis Pingjiang. Otherwise, if the Xiliang cavalry drives straight south, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Emperor Jian Shi looked at the map hanging on the wall. If the Xiliang cavalry were to drive straight south regardless of everything, the consequences... He would become the shame of the Great Da Qian dynasty, forever nailed to the pillar of historical shame. Never mind surpassing his ancestors; he would be lucky to preserve his own reputation.

The situation is stronger than the man!

Emperor Jian Shi gritted his teeth; Marquis Pingjiang had actually escaped disaster once again.

Deep in his heart, he even suspected whether Marquis Pingjiang had a hand in Xiliang moving south at this time. In order to stay in the Northwest and hold military power, if it were him, he would do anything.

He speculated about Marquis Pingjiang with the greatest malice, and the more he thought about it, the more the seeds of suspicion began to take root and sprout.

"Three ministers, is Marquis Pingjiang trustworthy?"

The three looked at each other and exchanged a glance.

"Your Majesty, for now, we can only trust him. Marquis Pingjiang also cares about his face; he cannot bear the crime of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. Therefore, this subject's opinion is that we can boldly re-employ him."

Xie Changling judged others by himself; if he were in Marquis Pingjiang's position, even if he were flirting with Xiliang in private, he would never slack off once the fighting started.

This is called taking what each needs.

Xiliang needs wealth and population.

Marquis Pingjiang needs a legitimate reason to stay in the Northwest.

Of course, all of this is speculation. Speculating with the greatest malice.

A greater possibility is that Xiliang's spies in Da Qian discovered the conflict between the Emperor and Marquis Pingjiang and the changes in the court situation. There are also capable people in Xiliang who seized the timing and chose to move south for the winter at this time.