I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 211 I don't ask you to do anything, but I ask you not to make trouble! (Please subscribe and vote)

After Li Ji stepped out of the line and saluted, he cleared his throat and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Li Chen raised his hand and motioned for him to continue.

They are brothers from the royal family, and they did see each other often before, but they haven't seen each other in recent years.

Li Chen is more of a homebody and Li Ji doesn't dare to cause trouble, so there is really no conflict between them.

When Li Chen saw Li Ji appear in the court, he knew that he must have something going on.

"In recent years, the Sassanid Empire has been eyeing our borders. Their ambitions are so great that they are actually trying to shake the foundation of our dynasty. As the King of Anxi, I am concerned about the safety of our country. Therefore, I dare to ask for the service of my country and go to the Sassanid Empire to demonstrate my power and protect the peace of our borders."

Li Ji spoke passionately, and everyone in the court looked at him with attention.

Everyone is speculating what this guy is up to.

When the Minister of War heard this, he was very depressed and thought: Oh my god, the Prince of Anxi is stealing my lines!

I originally wanted to show off my presence in front of His Majesty, but now he has told me everything.

Following Li Ji's request, many military generals also began to request to go to war, including the great general Guo Poyun. For a time, the voices requesting to go to war were heard one after another in the court.

Under normal circumstances, war requires money, and the Minister of Revenue Liu Minghan would definitely be the first to object.

He didn't say anything this time. After all, there was indeed money in the national treasury after the Wang family was raided.

Moreover, the battle in the north has ended and a lot of wealth has been gained.

However, building cities in the north also requires money, so most of the money in the north is basically used for construction.

Li Chen sat on the dragon chair, looking at everyone with deep eyes. After thinking again and again, he slowly said: "I understand your loyalty, but this time, I have decided to lead the army in person and personally serve as the commander-in-chief of the three armies to show my determination."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the court. No one expected that the emperor would go to the army himself.

Considering Li Chen’s current record and combat effectiveness, it is indeed a good thing for him to go on the expedition.

What the court officials were worried about was how Li Chen would go on the expedition this time. Would he lead the troops to fight on his own, or would he do the same as the last time he went to the north?
Li Chen's next words dispelled everyone's doubts.

"General Guo Poyun, I appoint you as the deputy commander of the three armies and you will go with me to the battle."

After hearing this, the ministers knew that Li Chen probably didn't want to arrange a march or a war. This time he was just going to deter. If Guo Poyun went with him, it would be safer.

If Li Chen wanted to go out alone to show off his skills after the great victory in the north, he might run into a crisis due to his lack of experience.

Li Chen allowed all the soldiers who asked to join the war, except Anxi King Li Ji, for whom Li Chen did not express his opinion.

This made Li Ji feel uneasy. Could it be that the emperor wouldn't allow me to participate?

The court meeting lasted until very late. Since Li Chen had not attended court for some time, various departments began to report on their work.

After the court meeting, Li Ji felt as nervous as if there was a rabbit in his heart.

He did not obtain Li Chen's permission to go to war, and he had not returned to the imperial capital for a long time. He was not familiar with these court officials and could not find anyone to discuss countermeasures. He did not know what to do for a while.

Just as he was lost in thought, an eunuch came hurriedly and said in a shrill voice in his ear: "Prince Anxi, His Majesty invites you."

Li Ji's heart trembled, then he straightened his clothes and walked towards the palace.

In the imperial study, Li Ji knelt down to salute, but Li Chen asked him to excuse himself.

"Old Four, why are you participating in the Western Expedition?" Li Chen asked in a casual tone.

When Li Ji heard this, his heart skipped a beat and he thought: Is the emperor testing me or is he really so casual?

"Your Majesty, I only want to serve the country and be loyal to Your Majesty." Li Ji answered cautiously.

Li Chen rolled his eyes at him and said, "If you say this kind of nonsense again, get out."

Li Ji looked a little embarrassed. He gritted his teeth and told the truth: "Your Majesty, my fiefdom is too poor. The harvests have been poor in the past few years, and there are monsters causing trouble. My family is so poor that we can't even afford to eat. I have no choice but to come up with this idea. I want to get some military merits to improve my life."

"Are you so poor?" Li Chen asked with a slight twitch in his mouth.

He thought to himself: Even if the prince targeted you back then, you are still the late emperor's biological son. The late emperor would not have sent you to such a poor place, right?

Li Ji sighed and began to play the victim: "Your Majesty, we were not that poor before. I wanted to get rich through my own efforts, so I invested a lot of money in planting some spiritual herbs, thinking that these things were valuable and had a high market value. But who would have thought that spiritual herbs would easily attract monsters and suffered some losses. I also need to hire people to guard them. Cultivation also costs money, and the yield is not high."

Li Chen finally understood that the fourth brother had failed in his business, so he was trying to make a living by gaining some military merits.

He couldn't help but say, "You are pretty hardworking, but failure is just a way to gain experience. This time I agree to let you join the Western Expedition, and you can go with me when the time comes."

Hearing this, Li Ji was so excited that he almost cried.

He kowtowed and thanked the emperor: "Thank you very much, Your Majesty! I will swear to be loyal to Your Majesty until death!"

Li Chen looked at him like this, and couldn't help but smile, saying: "You haven't been back to the palace for a long time, right? Come out for a walk with me."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji quickly stood up and followed Li Chen out of the imperial study.

Being by the emperor's side, the pressure was only so great, not to mention that Li Chen had been the emperor for some time already, and he was full of imperial aura, coupled with his unparalleled strength, which made Li Ji look much shorter.

He spoke very carefully, for fear of offending Li Chen. Not being able to march west was a small matter, but losing his head was a big matter.

Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger.

When Li Ji heard in his fiefdom that Li Chen had become emperor, he was shocked beyond words.

At that time, he was still thinking that Li Chen might not be able to sit on the throne for long. Even if the crown prince was gone, the second and third sons were no match for him. They had many followers in the court and a group of powerful forces under their command. Li Chen was just a puppet of the empress dowager.

As a result, Li Chen revealed his strength at the Saint level, and all crises were resolved.

They had chatted before. After all, they both lived in the palace and saw each other every day.

Just not as restrained as it is now.

To be honest, if Li Chen hadn't been the emperor, Li Ji wouldn't have dared to ask for a job.

The royal family’s family affection is indeed very weak, but if there is no competition, it is still easy to talk to them.

"Do you know anything about the Sassanid Empire?" Li Chen asked casually.

"Your Majesty, my fiefdom is in the west, and Sassanid caravans often pass by, and I have also come into contact with some Sassanid nobles."

When Li Ji came, he conducted a very detailed investigation. According to him, the royal family in the Sassanid Empire had supreme power, but the other three families also had military power. They governed the Sassanid Empire together. This was their tradition.

Li Ji felt that it was very simple to defeat the Sassanid army. He could send troops to the front line to fight and cause them huge losses. Then he could bribe some high-ranking officials of the Sassanid Empire and let them advise the empress that the Sassanid Empire suffered huge losses in this war and gained nothing.

Then the empress will withdraw her troops after careful consideration.

The reason why the empress of the Sassanid Empire dared to attack the Tiance Dynasty was because she felt that the Tiance Dynasty was facing internal and external troubles.

The north is expected to fight a protracted war, and the Prince of Zhennan in the south and the Third Prince in the east will also tie down the military forces of the Tiance Dynasty.

Her goal was to encroach on the development, but who knew that the Snow Eagle Royal Court would lose so quickly, and the Third Prince even went to fight the Prince of Zhennan.

Li Ji judged this and thought that this was a favorable situation, so he came here to get some military merit.

After saying this, Li Ji found that Li Chen was looking at him, which made him feel like he might have said something wrong.

After a long while, Li Chen said, "The Western Expedition I mentioned is not to repel the invading army of the Sassanid Empire, but to expand the territory and occupy the Sassanid Empire. What do you think we should do?"

Hearing Li Chen say this, Li Ji was a little surprised. It seems that I was too narrow-minded. I didn't know that Li Chen's ambition was so big.

It is not that easy to conquer them. The Sassanid Empire is not a small country. The reason why they dared to attack the Tiance Dynasty was that they had certain strength.

Moreover, the Sassanid Empire had strong cities, a large territory, and a wide source of military forces.

The most important thing is that their civilians also raise monsters at home, which can provide a certain combat capability in wartime.

"I am ashamed that I can't think of any solution for the time being. I hope Your Majesty will give me a few days. I will try my best to think about it."

Li Ji had just racked his brains and had no idea what to do, and he was afraid that Li Chen would not take him with him, so he could only say this.

At this time, Li Chen smiled and said, "Actually, this is not your forte. If I ask the third brother, he will definitely know."

Li Ji nodded and said, "In terms of marching and fighting, I am indeed not as good as the Third Prince." "Then do you know why you are not as good?"

“Maybe this is talent?”

“Talent is one thing, but experience is the most important thing.”

Li Chen told Li Ji that General Guo Poyun had decades of experience in military deployment, and his military achievements proved that he had strong military capabilities.

Therefore, during the Northern Expedition, Li Chen did not participate in the military layout, but only took action when Guo Poyun was unable to resolve the problem.

Everyone knows that the third prince Li Yu has strong military capabilities.

But did he have military talent from birth?

That's definitely not the case. Military talent is not something that can be seen directly.

Li Yu also learned from Yun Xu, the experienced commander of the Second Army, and spent more than ten years in the military camp to achieve his current success.

At this point, Li Chen looked at Li Ji and said, "Do you understand what I mean?"

Li Ji nodded and replied, "I understand. Your Majesty is trying to tell me that military talent cannot be seen. It can only be known on the battlefield!"

Li Chen was so angry when he heard this. If this person wasn't his brother, Li Chen would have kicked him.

I've said it so simply, how come you still can't hear it?

Li Chen simply said: "You don't understand a thing, I will tell you directly, your identity is special, you are a prince, after you go to the western battlefield, many soldiers dare not disobey you"

According to Li Chen, Li Ji only has a high position but has no command experience, and you always think you are capable, which is too dangerous.

If you want to gain military merit, you must be assigned to a high position. If you encounter some difficulties during the attack, you will most likely do things according to your own ideas.

If the idea is right, it would be fine. But if the idea is wrong, not only will you die, but you may also destroy the entire army.

Just like you investing in growing spiritual herbs, it’s a good idea and maybe you can make money.

But you have no experience in this area, and you don't consult professionals. You just rely on your own ideas, which leads to the current situation.

It is because I have noticed this that I asked you to come out with me and tell you to learn more and accumulate experience, especially in the military field which you have never been involved in. Don't always think that you are so awesome. It is important to listen to the opinions of those with experience.

Only after Li Chen said this did Li Ji finally understand what was going on.

After listening to it, he did feel a little ashamed, because when he came here he was still thinking, as for marching and fighting, I have read some military books after all, so I know some tactics.

I can’t compare to Your Majesty and the Third Brother, but I’m still very strong than others. I just need to perform normally when the time comes.

Li Chen must have seen this, which is why he taught him so earnestly.

Li Chen is a steady person. The Western Expedition is a matter of great importance, and it is impossible for him to keep an eye on Li Ji all the time.

He was also afraid of people like Li Ji, who had no experience or talent but dared to act recklessly.

As to why Li Chen let Xu Zifeng be the vanguard general, it was because Xu Zifeng's record in the south was indeed brilliant and he had never lost.

Otherwise, no matter how well his mother and aunt served him, Li Chen would not let him be the vanguard general.

Li Chen saw that Li Ji was a brother of the royal family. If you want to make a living, I can give it to you, but you can't do anything wrong.

It’s not that I don’t believe in you, it’s that you don’t have the record that makes me believe in you.

Li Ji understood Li Chen's good intentions. He knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, saying that he would study hard with the soldiers this time and would not delay Li Chen's westward expedition just to steal the limelight.

"It's good that you understand. Go back and do your homework. When Guo Poyun goes on the expedition to the west, you can follow him first."

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. I will keep it in mind."

After saying this, Li Ji left the palace.

On the way out, he kept sighing in his heart. No wonder these court officials said that Li Chen was a sage and wise ruler. They could see so many problems with just one glance.

Moreover, when Li Ji attended the morning court, he also noticed that the atmosphere among the court officials was different from before.

In the past, everyone was scheming against each other, and the court was in chaos.

Now the ruler and his subjects are of one mind, and the atmosphere is peaceful.

When he was in the fiefdom, Li Ji thought, who can't be the emperor? I can be the emperor, I just don't have the chance. If I were to be the emperor, I might be no worse than Li Chen.

After seeing Li Chen in person, Li Ji realized that the gap between him and Li Chen was not just a little bit, but an insurmountable chasm.

No wonder the second and third brothers couldn’t defeat Li Chen. Li Ji felt that if the second and third brothers wanted to become emperors, Li Chen might not even have to do anything, because these ministers would definitely not be willing.

Li Ji also began to restrain his self-confidence and prepared to visit some generals.

What Li Chen actually needs to do is to select talented people and give them the best possible positions, so that the country can be stable and prosperous.

As for why Li Chen wanted to lead the army in person, it was because there must be problems in the Western Theater Command that Guo Poyun could not solve. He would have to go there by then, so he might as well just put himself in charge.

Li Ji didn't understand just now. Li Chen asked him and Guo Poyun to go first, which proved that Li Chen would definitely go back, but he might not go with the army.

After Li Ji left, Li Chen came to the Yantianwu Field in the imperial palace, which was where people living in the palace practiced.

The spiritual energy here is rich and there are complete facilities for cultivation.

Chu Ruoyan, Li Sining, Zhu Zhuying and others usually practice in this place.

Before Li Chen arrived, he heard the sound of weapons clashing coming from inside.

Now Li Si Ning is the darling of the harem. When she is practicing here, the empress dowager will come personally to encourage her and bring her some delicious food. She takes care of her even better than her own mother.

In addition, Li Sining's mother, Concubine Yi, her cousin Jiang Rong, her aunt Jiang Ningyue, her aunt Xie Minjun, etc., also took care of her in various ways.

In fact, the person who was most surprised was Concubine Yi. She thought that Jiang Ningyue and Xie Minjun had only sent Jiang Rong here, but she didn't expect that they were also here to serve the emperor and even lived in the palace.

Jiang Ningyue was a little shy at first, but later she became confident and told Concubine Yi how powerful Li Chen was. She even told Concubine Yi that she didn't want to talk to her anymore.

This is what it means, as long as I am not shy, then others are the ones who are shy.

As Li Chen became more powerful, the number of concubines in the harem increased.

Li Sining was undoubtedly the person who benefited the most. Not only did she have more and more relatives, but she also had many young sisters who could practice with her.

Especially Ning Xiaoxiao who came from Chensha Dao Sect, she got along very well with Li Si Ning. Not long after she entered the palace, she and Li Si Ning became good friends who could talk about anything.

Ning Xiaoxiao has a group in Chensha Taoist Sect, practicing the Seven Absolute Meridian Formation. If this meridian formation is perfected, it can exert powerful power, just like the presence of a sword immortal.

Now that there are few people in the formation, she suggested that Li Sining join.

Li Sining became very curious when she heard it, and joined in the practice of the Seven Absolute Meridians Array.

There were three people left, and Li Sining thought of Chu Ruoyan first. Chu Ruoyan would definitely agree happily, as her strength was almost the same as Ning Xiaoxiao and others.

She felt that being able to practice together with Li Chen's other concubines was also a way to bring them closer.

Moreover, Ning Xiaoxiao and others are very experienced, and we can benefit a lot from communicating with them.

For the second candidate, Li Sining considered her 'master' Xia Qing, but Xia Qing focused on refining the elixir and was not very interested in team-building, so Li Sining did not force her.

Li Sining had considered Wu Nanzhi, but Wu Nanzhi didn't pay much attention to cultivation. He was only thinking about how to serve Li Chen well, and Li Sining knew this.

His cousin Jiang Rong and sister-in-law Dong Zhiqing had never practiced cultivation, so they definitely couldn't form a meridian formation.

There are still two people missing, which makes Li Si Ning a little worried. He seems to have a certain obsession with forming this Seven Absolute Meridians Formation.

Speaking of sword cultivators, Li Sining thought of someone, that is Pei Wanyu, the princess of the Tianwu Dynasty, but Pei Wanyu is not in the palace now.

At that time, Li Si Ning was thinking: My brother has too few concubines, so I can’t even put together a pulse formation combination.

Li Chen didn't expect that even though he worked so hard, his sister still thought it was not enough.

(End of this chapter)