I, the military god of the Tang Dynasty, have risen since I destroyed the Turks

Chapter 757 The Emperor’s Mental Technique
The scent of ambergris in the hall rose in the air, but it could not cover up the bitter taste of the herbs. Li Zheng leaned on the dragon couch, with the bright yellow quilt covering his waist. His once majestic face now had an unhealthy flush. He raised his hand slightly, signaling the eunuch to push the window frame open a little further.

"Your Majesty, General Shang and General Hou have been waiting outside the palace for an hour." The old eunuch Wang Deshun bent over and whispered, his voice just within the range that Li Zheng could hear clearly.

Li Zheng closed his eyes and coughed twice: "Go ahead."

The heavy palace door slowly opened, and Shang Kexi and Hou Junji walked in one after the other. Both of them were wearing court robes, but no armor - this was the rule set by Li Zheng, surrendered generals were not allowed to wear swords or armor when entering the palace. Shang Kexi glanced at the golden armored guards standing solemnly at the four corners of the palace, and his Adam's apple rolled slightly.

"Your Majesty, I, Shang Kexi and Hou Junji, kowtow to you." They both knelt down at the same time, their foreheads touching the ground.

"Ahem. Stand up." Li Zheng's voice was a little weaker than it was half a month ago. "Please take a seat."

The eunuchs brought two embroidered cushions, and Shang Kexi sat down with half of his buttocks touching the edge, his back straight. Hou Junji seemed more relaxed, but his fingers kept stroking the cloth at his knees.

"I have read the Liaodong military report." Li Zheng suddenly spoke, startling Shang Kexi. "The remnants of Goguryeo hid in Changbai Mountain, and you two were not effective in encircling and suppressing them."

Hou Junji stood up in a hurry and said, "Your Majesty, the Changbai Mountain is in a dangerous position and the mountain is closed due to heavy snow."

"I don't blame you." Li Zheng waved his hand to interrupt him, and suddenly changed the subject, "I heard that the Holy Maiden of the Dragon Cult went to your house the day before yesterday?"

The air in the palace suddenly froze. Shang Kexi's back was covered with cold sweat, soaking his inner clothes. It was just a birthday gift from the Saint to his seventh concubine. He stole a glance at the emperor's expression, but saw Li Zheng coughing with a handkerchief covering his mouth, and he couldn't tell whether he was happy or angry.

"Your Majesty," Shang Kexi got up from his seat and knelt down, "Someone from the Shenlong Sect did come to visit, but..."

"Okay." Li Zheng interrupted him, "I just asked casually. Since the Shenlong Sect has surrendered, it is common sense for us to interact with each other." He gestured for Shang Kexi to stand up, and suddenly sighed, "To be honest with you two dear ministers, I am afraid that my body cannot hold on for too much longer."

Hou Junji looked up suddenly when he heard this, while Shang Kexi stared at the gold bricks on the ground. Both of them were shocked at the same time - the emperor never spoke directly about life and death in front of his subjects.

"Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune."

"No need for empty talk." Li Zheng smiled weakly, "I summoned you today because I have something important to ask of you." He motioned for Wang Deshun to bring a red sandalwood box, "This is the Northern Frontier Defense Map, you two can take a look at it."

Shang Kexi's hands trembled slightly when he took the wooden box. He unfolded the sheepskin map, which was densely marked with the garrison situation of the Tang army, and there were three red arrows pointing directly to the Turkic royal court - this was the top-secret northern expedition route!

"Your Majesty, this..." Hou Junji's voice became tense.

"I want to start the war in the early spring." Li Zheng said casually, as if he was talking about tomorrow's breakfast. "You two have been at the border for a long time and are familiar with the Hu people. You can be the vanguard."

Shang Kexi's mind was buzzing. What did the emperor mean by this? Was he testing him? Or was he really entrusting him with the military power? He stole a glance at Hou Junji and found that he was also glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.

"We will not decline even if death is the cost!" the two men answered in unison, but beads of sweat broke out on their foreheads.

Li Zheng suddenly started coughing violently, and his handkerchief was stained with blood. Wang Deshun hurried forward, but was waved away by the emperor.

"I'm old." Li Zheng smiled bitterly and threw the bloodstained handkerchief into the charcoal basin. "The world will eventually be handed over to the young."

Shang Kexi's heart was beating like a drum. The emperor had only one son, who was only sixteen years old and weak and sickly. There had long been rumors in the court that the emperor wanted his younger brother, the Prince of Qin, to succeed him. Could it be that what he said today was...
"Your Majesty," Hou Junji suddenly said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is intelligent and kind. Given time..."

"Crown Prince?" Li Zheng chuckled. "That kid can't even draw a bow." His eyes suddenly became sharp. "But you two have a very high prestige in the army."

Shang Kexi felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. This sounded like a compliment, but it was terrifying when he thought about it carefully. He was about to express his loyalty when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps coming from outside the palace.

"Your Majesty!" A guard rushed in in a panic, "The border is 800 miles away, and the Turkic Khan is personally leading 100,000 cavalrymen to the south!" Li Zheng's face suddenly changed, and he even forced himself to sit up from the couch: "When did it happen?"

"We broke through Yanmen Pass three days ago and have now reached Yunzhou!"

"Asshole!" Li Zheng pulled aside the quilt and stepped on the ground barefoot, "Why are you reporting it now?!" Before he finished speaking, his body suddenly swayed, but fortunately he was supported by Wang Deshun.

Shang Kexi and Hou Junji looked at each other and knelt down at the same time: "We are willing to lead the troops north immediately!"

Li Zheng was helped back to the couch. After taking a breath, he suddenly stared at the two of them and asked, "If I order the crown prince to govern the country, are you two willing to assist me?"

This question was like a bolt from the blue. Countless thoughts flashed through Shang Kexi's mind - was the emperor entrusting his son to him? Or was he setting up a trap to test him? From the corner of his eye, he saw that the guard's hand was on the hilt of the knife.

"We, your subjects, swear to be loyal to the Crown Prince until death!" Shang Kexi kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the gold brick with a dull sound.

"Very good," Li Zheng seemed to be relieved, and collapsed on the couch, "Draft an imperial decree to appoint Shang Kexi as the General of the Northern Expedition and Hou Junji as the Deputy General. They will lead 100,000 troops to retreat today."

When he left the palace, Shang Kexi's court robes were soaked. Only after he left the palace did he dare to ask Hou Junji in a low voice: "What do you think?"

Hou Junji wiped his face and said, "The emperor is testing us."

"The Northern Expedition"

"It's fake." Hou Junji sneered, "The Turkic Khan sent an envoy to ask for peace just last month. Where did the 100,000 cavalry come from? I have never seen that guard before."

Shang Kexi took a deep breath and said, "Then the crown prince is the regent."

"A bigger test." Hou Junji narrowed his eyes. "I heard that the King of Qin secretly returned to the capital yesterday."

The two walked in silence on the long palace road, their shadows stretched out by the setting sun. Suddenly, a young eunuch caught up with them, handed Hou Junji a note, and left in a hurry.

There were only five words on the note: The Shenlong Cult has taken action.

Hou Junji crumpled the note and swallowed it, whispering, "It seems that we have to make a choice as soon as possible."

As night fell, Shang Kexi returned to the mansion and found the Holy Maiden of the Dragon Sect waiting in the flower hall. She had her back to the door, and her white clothes looked brighter than snow in the moonlight.

"The general is back." The Saint turned around, and her voice behind the mask was ethereal and ethereal, "The leader asked me to ask the general a question."

"Speaking."

"A dragon swims in shallow water. Should the general be a shrimp or a fisherman?"

Shang Kexi stared at the empty eye sockets on her mask, and suddenly remembered what Li Zheng had said to him when he surrendered three years ago: "I will not kill surrendered generals, but I hate those who are indecisive the most."

He slowly drew out his sword, and the blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

(End of this chapter)