Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 400 The Silent War
Yu Qianshan took out a scroll of silk from his bosom and unfolded it with a whoosh.

The voice was icy cold, carrying a thunderous authority.

"All generals, heed my command: Ma Kun has shown no respect for the emperor and disregard for his comrades. He has jeopardized our battle opportunity, a crime deserving of death. I am acting on the Crown Prince's orders to execute this scoundrel and restore discipline to the army..."

Anyone who harbors this traitor shall be executed on the spot!

Before he could finish speaking, Ma Kun, filled with shock and anger, drew his sword...

However, Yu Qianshan was faster than him.

The roar was like a thunderclap. The word "kill" had barely left his lips when a blade of light, so fast it was impossible to see its trajectory, sliced ​​through the air and precisely slashed across Ma Kun's throat...

puff--

The sharp blade cut through the skin and flesh.

Blood gushed out, and the gruesome scene was so vivid it sent chills down one's spine.

Before Ma Kun could even utter a last word, shock and anger froze on his face. Staring with disbelief in his eyes, he collapsed heavily to the ground.

The tiger skin on the ground was soaked with blood, emitting a strong, fishy smell.

Everyone was stunned by the sudden massacre.

From the moment Yu Qianshan revealed the "Imperial Edict" to the moment Ma Kun was slit in the throat, only a few breaths passed.

Yu Qianshan didn't even glance at the corpses on the ground. He held up the bright yellow silk scroll and looked at the generals who stood stiff as wooden statues. His voice was as cold as iron.

“Ma Kun disobeyed orders and has been executed. Do you want to follow in his footsteps, or do you want to come with me to aid Yongding and atone for your crimes through meritorious service?”

After a brief moment of shock, the generals in the tent seemed to awaken from a dream.

It's unclear who spoke first, but one by one everyone knelt down, clasped their hands in greeting, and shouted that they had received the decree.

"This humble general is willing to follow General Yu to aid Yongding!"

"This humble general is willing to obey orders, even at the cost of ten thousand lives!"

"The general will go where he wishes!"

Yu Qianshan's jaw relaxed slightly, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Order the entire army to break camp immediately."

"Order!"

Military orders are as firm as mountains, and bugles sound endlessly.

The army, which had been at a standstill for many days, was awakened like a sleeping behemoth. Its armor clanged as it surged forward like a raging torrent toward the beacon-stricken city of Yongding...

Ma Kun was executed by Li Zhao's men before he could receive the emperor's "official decree".

The 100,000 elite troops, poised for battle, set off before the imperial decree was even issued. Only a few of Ma Kun's confidants fled Shuangtuo Ridge in disarray, submitting a tearful memorial to the emperor under the cover of night...

The news reached the capital.

Inside the Zichen Palace, Wang Chengxi held an urgent report from the Western Frontier, his heart pounding with fear, not daring to look at the emperor's ashen expression.

Ma Kun, a high-ranking official of the second rank, who was the Imperial Defense Commissioner of the Capital Region and commanded 100,000 elite troops, was beheaded by the Crown Prince's men in his own camp, like slaughtering chickens and dogs...

"Your Majesty, Yu Qianshan, the commander of the Eastern Palace Guard, executed Lord Ma on the Crown Prince's orders... just one day before the imperial edict arrived at Shuangtuo Ridge..."

Emperor Chongzhao looked at his trembling, bowed head and reached out his hand.

"Bring it here."

Wang Chengxi held the urgent report in both hands and nervously handed it over.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Your health is of utmost importance... Your Highness, perhaps you were too eager to quell the rebellion and lost your composure in a moment. Your actions were indeed... indeed somewhat excessive..."

Is this a bit presumptuous?

It's more than just overstepping one's bounds.
Even if Ma Kun had a thousand faults, he should still be escorted back to the capital for the Emperor's judgment. Who gave him the authority to arbitrarily kill a high-ranking official?

Emperor Chongzhao remained silent for a long time.

"He's gotten too big for his britches and thinks he can rule me now. In his eyes... he doesn't even have me as his sovereign father..."
-
"Girl! Something terrible has happened!"

Jinshu pushed open the wooden door of the warm pavilion, her breath still unsteady, and hurriedly reported.

"Ma Kun... is dead. Right there in his central command tent... He was publicly executed by General Yu, who then took command of 100,000 troops and marched towards Yongding..."

Xiao Zhao and Ruyi gasped, their eyes filled with horror.

His Highness the Crown Prince is too imposing. Killing the commander right in front of his tent…

This is absolutely outrageous!

Everyone was so shocked that their hearts pounded, and they fell silent.

A flicker of surprise crossed Xue Sui's cool eyes, but her face, illuminated by the firelight, quickly regained its composure...

"Something like he would do."

Jinshu's tone was full of worry, "The palace is probably in an uproar. Ma Kun's confidants have fled back to the capital to lodge a complaint with the emperor... saying that the crown prince has overstepped his authority and killed ministers without authorization. There's also a fierce debate in the court over this matter..."

She paused, then sighed softly, a hint of regret in her eyes, "All of your efforts, the Empress's efforts, and His Majesty's decree have been in vain."

If Your Highness the Crown Prince were willing to wait two more days... no, just one more day, you wouldn't have to take this risky step, bear the crime of killing a general without authorization, and arouse even deeper suspicion from the Emperor...

"What's there to regret?" Xue Sui picked up her teacup and took a sip. The tea was slightly cool, and so was her voice.

"To be honest, he killed him beautifully. Cleanly and efficiently. If it had dragged on, Yongding would have been gone."

Jinshu frowned slightly and took a half step forward.

"But young lady, the Emperor's authority is not to be trifled with. If His Majesty investigates and punishes us, it will ultimately not be a good thing for His Highness the Crown Prince..."

Xue Sui slowly put down his teacup.

"It's just a stopgap measure. At crucial moments, the most direct and violent methods must be used to deter the villains and control the overall situation... Dragging things out and hesitating is a path to death... As for His Majesty's intentions... Ha, he probably gave up long ago..."

She thought of Li Zhaolin's words before he left and felt a pang of heartache for him.

Children who are not loved by their fathers are often more resolute and consider their own interests more carefully.

No matter how many legitimate reasons there are, killing high-ranking officials of the imperial court without authorization is a catastrophic disaster.

She pondered for a moment, then slowly rose, supporting herself on the edge of the table, and walked to the window, her skirt billowing in a gentle breeze.

"Jin Shu."

"Your servant is here." Jinshu straightened her back.

Xue Sui pushed open half of the window and watched the late autumn afternoon sunlight dappling the windowpane, swaying gently. He couldn't help but squint...

The street downstairs is bustling with activity; children are chasing and playing, while vendors and laborers are busy making a living...

The war, thousands of miles away, seemed to be isolated in another world.

"Ma Kun colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, delaying the battle and bringing disaster to the nation and its people. His Highness the Crown Prince, acting on His Majesty's secret decree, executed this villain on the battlefield to protect the western border of our Great Liang... This matter entirely depends on His Majesty's discerning eye in recognizing the traitor and his swift and decisive action..."

Xue Sui's voice was clear and calm, as if stating a fact, "This matter must be spread throughout the capital, the wider the better... The entire court and the public must know about Ma Kun's crimes, about His Majesty's strategic planning, and about the Crown Prince's efforts to turn the tide... Do you understand?"

Jinshu's eyes lit up, and she suddenly understood.

"This servant understands."

Seize the high ground in public opinion and gain the upper hand first.

This would cement Ma Kun's place on the pillar of shame, and justify the Crown Prince's usurpation and killing of the general. The overwhelming public opinion would counteract the attacks in the court. Simultaneously, it would sing praises to Emperor Chongzhao, providing a convenient way out that he would have to back down...

She laughed and said, "Don't worry, Miss! When it comes to spreading rumors and stirring up trouble, no one dares to claim to be number one, even if the Seventh Prince of the Capital is second. I'll go find him and discuss this with him right away..."

Before she finished speaking, she had already left the warm pavilion like a whirlwind.

Xue Sui closed the window, walked back to the table, and his gaze fell on the small hourglass on the table.

The fine sand flows silently, each moment like the passing of life...

"Li Zhao..." she called softly, her voice so low that only she could hear it, "You must not disappoint me... You must come back alive."

Silence returned to the warm room.

A war without gunfire quietly broke out in the capital.

This time, she was his most solid support, and also his sharpest hidden blade.

　Erjin is still out taking care of the kids during summer vacation... Then, today she ate Guizhou-style sour soup beef, and it was indeed different from what she ate in Chengdu, plus the vegetables were unlimited... She was shocked and highly recommends it; it was so delicious that she gained at least two pounds...

　　See you tomorrow.

　　Li Zhao: So you don't care whether I live or die?
　　Xue Sui: ...rolls eyes.

　　(End of this chapter)