Chapter 1114

Xue Daohong frowned impatiently: "Now is not the time to pursue responsibility; I summoned you not to assign blame, but to hear your suggestions—what measures should we take now?"

Huang Beishan fell silent again, not daring to offer any more casual suggestions. Grand Preceptor Xiang Liren also remained silent—why did the Emperor summon me? He clearly doesn't trust me; today he summoned both me and the Seventh Prince, Xue Daoming, perhaps to have us plug this leak. This task is thankless and could well be a trap.

Seeing the Emperor's elder brother's gaze turn to him, Xue Daoming immediately said, "Imperial Uncle, you are well‑versed and experienced; perhaps we should hear your opinion!" At such a moment, only Xue Shengjing and Xue Lingjun speaking would be safest; others would not be convenient to offer suggestions.

Xue Shengjing was still wiping sweat there; hearing Xue Daoming say that, he sighed and said, "I don't understand warfare—if I were to speak, where would I even begin?"

Xue Daohong said, "Imperial Uncle, I recall that you and Hu Xiaotian are sworn brothers through the eight‑bow ceremony."

Xue Shengjing silently cursed, "My oath brotherhood with him was mere lip service, a ploy for the occasion—could this matter really become a hold you have over me?" He put on a smiling face and said, "I swore brotherhood with him entirely at the late emperor's behest; it was a relationship of interest, where is any brotherly feeling?" How cunning he is, pushing everything onto the deceased emperor—since there's no one to contradict a dead man, you, Xue Daohong, no matter how capable, surely won't dig up your father from the imperial tomb to confront him face‑to‑face.

Xue Daohong pressed his lips together: "Imperial Uncle, I am not questioning your intent; I merely wish to solicit your opinion."

Xue Shengjing said, "I do have some thoughts, but now is not the convenient time to voice them; let them speak first. Huang Beishan, you speak!"

Huang Beishan shuddered in fear, sweat pouring down his forehead: "Your subject… I think we should first clarify the battle situation, then…"

Xue Daohong jumped to his feet in anger, pointing at Huang Beishan and shouting, "Nonsense! As Minister of War, you still haven't figured out the battle situation? Nearly seventy thousand troops collapsed without fighting, and Dongluo Warehouse was seized without effort—how else are we to clarify things? Even I, staying in this palace, know more than you! Right now, I see clearly that you are utterly unfit to be the Minister of War!"

Huang Beishan fell to his knees with a thud: "I know my sins are grave; I submit to the Emperor's judgment. I harbor not a single complaint."

"Do you dare?" Xue Daohong waved his hand fiercely: "Get out! Leave this place at once—I don't want to see you again!"

Huang Beishan was dazedly stripped of his office; at least Xue Daohong didn't, in his fury, chop off his own head. He knocked his head three times on the ground and fled in panic from Fenghe Palace.

Xue Daohong slowly descended from the throne and approached Xue Daoming: "Daoming! I wish to entrust this matter to you."

Xue Daoming's heart sank; he did not believe Xue Daohong's gesture signified trust. Could he be using this as a chance to strike at him? He hurriedly said, "Your Majesty! It's not that I refuse to obey, but I am still mourning my father; the mourning period has not ended, so I cannot leave the capital."

Xue Daohong had long anticipated this reply, reached out and patted his shoulder, saying, "Daoming. The loss of Dongluo Warehouse is no trivial matter; if mishandled, it could profoundly affect the fortunes of our Da Yong. As for observing mourning for our late father, I can assign other brothers to handle it, but Dongluo Warehouse must be dealt with by you personally. Among us brothers, the one I trust most has always been you."

Xue Shengjing listened on the side, silently sighing that Xue Daohong lacked the late emperor's wisdom, yet had fully learned his deceitful tactics. If Xue Daoming takes on this assignment, trouble will surely loom; any misstep in handling it could cost not only his imperial status but perhaps even his life.

Xue Daoming naturally understood the elder brother's intentions, but he never gave a verbal reply. He glanced at Grand Preceptor Xiang Liren, who thought, "Don't look at me—I'm barely holding on myself." He then realized a reason: the Emperor summoned him for a purpose; Qin Yangming, whom he personally discovered and promoted, is likely why Xue Daohong called him—to settle scores.

Xue Lingjun, who had remained silent until now, spoke up: "Your Majesty, I consider this course inappropriate."

Xue Daohong blinked, his thick brows furrowing as he expressed his displeasure. This aunt of his had once been highly favored by the late emperor, but times have changed—now he sits on the dragon throne, and for her to publicly declare his decision improper in front of so many is tantamount to openly opposing him. Yet Xue Daohong would not openly break with her then and there; Xue Lingjun is no simple figure, backed by a cadre of veteran officials and the dowager empress's support, representing a formidable force within the Da Yong imperial clan. Having just ascended the throne and still unsteady, he needs her and her faction's backing.

Xue Daohong said, "Imperial Aunt, if you think there's anything improper about my actions, please speak plainly!" Though put politely, it already laid bare his displeasure.

Xue Lingjun said, "Some matters are better discussed privately!" She then told Xue Shengjing, "Second Imperial Brother, please stay!"

Hearing this, Xue Daoming and Xiang Liren inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, yet they dared not leave immediately; only after Xue Daohong consented did they take their leave.

Xue Shengjing's expression showed a hint of helplessness; he didn't know why this imperial sister wanted him to stay, and with this mess, he certainly didn't want to get involved.

Xue Lingjun said, "Your Majesty, are you considering retaking Dongluo Warehouse by force?"

Xue Daohong said, "Hu Xiaotian acts recklessly, inflicting heavy losses on our Nanyang navy and sneaking a strike at our southeastern stronghold. A dying Dakang—if I did not send troops against them, that would already be benevolent of me, yet they dare to take the initiative and provoke us; if I do not annihilate this person, how can I swallow this anger in my heart?"

Xue Lingjun said, "Your Majesty, now is absolutely not the time for a large‑scale southern campaign, and the causes of these two battles do not lie on Hu Xiaotian's side."

Upon hearing this, Xue Daohong could no longer contain his anger: "Enough!"

Xue Lingjun's words were violently cut off by him, and she involuntarily bit her cherry lips.

Xue Daohong said, "Don't forget you are my imperial aunt and a princess of Da Yong!" Xue Lingjun's speaking up for Hu Xiaotian made Xue Daohong feel somewhat incandescent with rage.

Xue Shengjing whispered softly beside him, "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty; I don't think your aunt means that."

Xue Lingjun was not intimidated by Xue Daohong's thunderous wrath; she spoke softly, "Your Majesty, are you not even going to give me a chance to speak?"

Xue Shengjing turned and walked toward the dragon throne, casting a meaningful glance at Xue Lingjun; at such a moment, saying more would be pointless, for Xue Daohong is not a ruler who can humbly heed others' counsel.

Xue Lingjun said, "Since Your Majesty refuses to listen, I need not trouble you further; farewell!"

Xue Daohong did not turn, coldly replying, "No need to see me out!"

Xue Shengjing said nothing more, simply following Xue Lingjun's steps as he left.

After the two had departed, Xue Daohong finally turned and sat upon the dragon throne, his eyes nearly blazing with fire; just then a young eunuch rushed in, hesitated at his expression, and then reported, "Your Majesty, Li Jiangjun has returned!"

Upon hearing the news that Li Jiangjun had returned, Xue Daohong leapt to his feet in excitement: "What did you say? Li Chen Zhou is back? Where? Quick, bring him in at once!"

Li Chen Zhou, upon receiving Xue Daohong's urgent summons, immediately set out from Bei Jiang for Yongdu, traveling day and night, braving wind and frost; on the way he had already heard of the loss of Dongluo Warehouse, and because the situation was urgent he did not even have time to return home to see his wife, but went straight to the palace.

Li Chen Zhou's arrival was like timely rain for Xue Daohong; the successive defeats had left him at a loss, and though many officials surrounded him, none could offer useful advice—indeed this is not the ministers' fault, for among the court there are certainly those who practice self‑preservation, as well as those who quietly observe the new ruler's governing ability, but there is no shortage of those who dare to speak frankly and offer counsel. However, Xue Daohong is by nature suspicious, finding it hard to trust others, especially unwilling to hear unwelcome loyal advice; just now the Grand Princess Xue Lingjun's remarks had already angered him.

However, Li Chen Zhou is an exception; Xue Daohong has always trusted him and never doubted the loyalty of the Li clan to him.

Li Chen Zhou had met Xue Daohong, and the emperor showed him special courtesy, personally descending from the throne, placing both hands on Li Chen Zhou's shoulders and saying, "Shen Zhou, you've finally returned! These past two days I've been anxious as a burning fire; the court is full of useless incompetents, and the only one I can trust is you."

Hearing that, Li Chen Zhou revealed a faint smile, yet felt helpless inside; he and Xue Daohong had known each other since childhood, and he was well aware of the new emperor's character flaws. The new ruler, having just ascended, is eager to prove his strength, but Xue Daohong's suspicious nature leads him to withhold full trust from the late emperor's veteran officials, fearing that entrusting important duties to the wrong person would jeopardize the throne he has struggled to obtain. In fact, this northern border inspection tour need not have been undertaken by him personally; it was Xue Daohong's doubt about the loyalty of Weichi Chong that compelled him to go himself to Bei Jiang to investigate Weichi Chong's deployments and gauge his attitude toward the new ruler.

Li Chen Zhou said, "Your Majesty, I have returned late!"

Xue Daohong said, "Just having you back is fine; I'm full of worries and have been waiting for you to offer ideas."

The sovereign and his minister sat down; Li Chen Zhou, before his return, had already clarified the two recent southern campaigns, and he said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I believe Tang Bohui's attack on Dongliang Commandery was a reckless move." Tang Bohui and Li Chen Zhou share deep friendship, but friendship is one thing and fact another; Li Chen Zhou is not the sort to conceal facts for the sake of friendship.

Xue Daohong said, "I certainly know that he launched this battle in order to capture Dongliang Commandery as a congratulatory gift for me, and also to boost military morale."

Li Chen Zhou, however, saw Tang Bohui's motives for raising troops crystal clear: Tang Bohui was seeking to curry favor with the new ruler, pursuing personal gain, blindly launching a war, and moreover feared that his comrades would dilute his achievements, so he attacked via the water route alone without seeking support—this led to Tang Bohui's crushing defeat. Though Tang Bohui is dead, Li Chen Zhou still feels some regard for him, and he said quietly, "After Tang Bohui's defeat, Your Majesty ought not to rush into using troops." (To be continued~^~)