Chapter 915

Oghai and Mu Huali, upon hearing this, could not help but become intrigued.

It is something all factions under heaven are doing—even the Great Ming and Great Song, both vassals of the Qinglong Society.

Is this not utterly fascinating?

"A mission!"

Yelu Chu had just received the intelligence and was about to report it, so he spoke directly now,

"It is said to be an extremely unusual mission."

"What mission?"

Oghai asked again.

"We do not yet know."

Yelu Chu also felt speechless.

This mission is the core secret of every major faction.

Unless our spies have infiltrated the decision-making circles of these factions, how could we possibly know?

But if a spy has become part of the decision-making circle, would they still remain a spy?

"Damn!"

Oghai sank into dejection.

Chagatai, who was thought to be surely dead, has suddenly become the Prince of Great Tang.

The impact on the Great Yuan and on myself could be either great or small.

On the grand scale, it naturally weakens my legitimate authority.

On the small scale, it is merely Chagatai's personal betrayal and defection.

But we cannot guarantee that Chagatai's old subordinates will not harbor divided loyalties and stir unrest in secret.

But Mu Huali is right—there must be deeper reasons behind this matter.

It is very likely closely tied to the intelligence Yelu Chu mentioned.

Yet our spies have failed to uncover anything; right now, the Great Yuan is virtually blind.

"Grand Tutor, move swiftly—send people to investigate and find out what this mission truly is."

After much thought, Oghai first raised the matter of the mission.

"Your servant has already arranged it—hopefully we will uncover the truth soon!"

Before coming here, Yelu Chu had already ordered his men to investigate.

"Second matter: send someone to Great Tang to find Chagatai and try to persuade him to return.

If he agrees to return, I shall make him a Khan!"

Oghai then stated the second matter.

This Khan, of course, is not the Great Yuan Grand Khan—but merely a minor Khan.

It cannot compare to Oghai's position, but it is still generous enough.

Yet everyone present understood this "minor Khan" was merely a pretense.

Given Chagatai's character, he would never believe Oghai's false bestowal.

His purpose in doing this is simply to make the people of the Great Yuan believe Chagatai himself refuses to return—even refusing a minor Khanship.

He is utterly determined to betray his homeland for personal gain!

Once this accusation is confirmed, half of Chagatai's loyalists will surely abandon him.

"Your Majesty is brilliant."

Yelu Chu immediately flattered him.

"Your Majesty, General Zhebie, accompanied by the traitorous General Chilaowen, is requesting an audience outside the Yushufang Sect."

Just as Oghai and the other two had finalized their plans and were about to divide tasks,

a Xiaohuang Sect attendant suddenly spoke at the entrance to the Yushufang Sect.

Chilaowen?

Is this the former Qixie general, one of the Thirteen Wings, who fled after secretly becoming enamored with the late Empress Temür—and whose departure stemmed from a misunderstanding?

Oghai and the other two were all stunned.

The quickest to react was actually Prince Mu Huali of Lu.

He was a seasoned general who had once stood alongside Chilaowen as one of the Four Paragons.

Thus, privately, his bond with Chilaowen was exceptionally strong.

Now, upon suddenly hearing of Chilaowen's return, though he knew it was problematic, he spoke first,

"Your Majesty, Chilaowen's return now surely means he realizes that everything before was merely a misunderstanding.

We must administer a light punishment and a stern warning—do not let him once again feel the urge to desert!"

Chilaowen's earlier defection was not unrelated to Yelu Chu.

Now that the man is gone, and the former Grand Khan Tie Muzhen has long since passed away,

Yelu Chu did not wish the declining Great Yuan to drive away this general who had finally returned, so he took the blame upon himself,

"Your Majesty, Prince Mu Huali speaks wisely.

Moreover, it was this old minister's own unclear wording that caused Chilaowen's misunderstanding.

If punishment is due, it should fall upon this old minister."

The two top ministers—one civil, one military—along with Chilaowen's lingering affection for the late Grand Khan's consort,

though Temür had been the most beautiful woman in the Great Yuan, Oghai had long heard of her fame,

and after ascending the throne, he had secretly met with her.

According to the old Great Yuan rites, he had almost taken Tie Muzhen as one of his consorts.

But in the end, the affairs of state were still unsettled, and his seat was not yet secure.

So it dragged on until today, and he still had not taken Tie Muzhen.

Now that General Chilaowen had returned, these two great ministers—one civil, one military—came to advise him.

Wokuotai sighed inwardly: the cooked duck had flown away.

Then, with a solemn expression, he said,

"That matter back then was all a misunderstanding.

It had nothing to do with the Grand Preceptor, nothing to do with the King of Lu, and certainly nothing to do with General Chilaowen.

Summon General Zhebie and General Chilaowen for an audience at once."

Yelu Chu and Mu Huali finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Now Great Yuan had suffered defeat after defeat, and the upper echelons had been thoroughly purged.

This was precisely the time for enduring hardship in silence, to gather strength anew.

Fortunately, the current Great Khan was still willing to listen to advice!

While they were sighing with emotion here, over there General Zhebie and General Chilaowen had already entered the imperial study.

For General Zhebie, it was simply a matter of observing the minister-sovereign rites and paying his respects.

General Chilaowen, however, came in with tears brimming in his eyes, and with a thud dropped to his knees.

Then he performed the full prostration of the five-pointed great rite, and in a tear-choked voice said,

"This guilty minister, Chilaowen, upon hearing of the upheaval in the imperial city, has come especially to mourn the late Genghis Khan.

No matter how many sins I bear, I fear them no longer.

I only pray to be punished and dealt with before the late Genghis Khan's spirit."

Genghis Khan was Tie Muzhen's khan-title.

Since Tie Muzhen's passing, no one in Great Yuan had ever used that title again.

Now General Chilaowen had suddenly spoken these words in front of Wokuotai.

It left everyone present both moved and uneasy.

Wokuotai, who had been all smiles, now had his smile frozen on his face.

Well then!

This Khan had originally intended to raise the rod high and bring it down gently, pardoning your crimes of seducing an imperial consort and defecting from Great Yuan.

Yet you wretch simply refuse to play along—insisting on stirring up the very pot that should stay shut!