The imperial court is ceding territory from our northern border? Then we'll rebel!

"This matter is all thanks to the Empress Dowager, who acted as a go-between behind the scenes," Zhou Wenyuan said with a hint of awe in his eyes.

They all knew that getting the Yuezhi to cooperate so readily in sending troops was not something that a few civil officials could accomplish alone. Behind the scenes, there must be the Empress Dowager, who, despite residing deep within the palace, still wielded considerable influence over the court.

It is said that the Empress Dowager's family had close ties with a royal family in the Western Regions.

"Your Majesty, it is for the sake of the Great Yan Dynasty and the stability of His Majesty's throne that we have no choice but to resort to this drastic measure," Zhang Zhao sighed, adopting a posture of concern for the country and its people. "Xiao Jingchen is a wolf in sheep's clothing, his achievements overshadowing the emperor. If he is not restrained, he will surely become a major threat in the future!"

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Zhou Wenyuan waved his hand, bringing the topic back on track. "Now that the Yuezhi are proceeding according to plan, it's time for us to get moving as well."

He looked at Sun Kejian, the Minister of Revenue: "Minister Sun, starting tomorrow, citing the empty national treasury and the need to prioritize disaster relief for the people of the Eastern Frontier, suspend all supplies of grain and military pay to the Northern Liang army. Any documents sent to you must be suppressed by me; do not approve a single word!"

"Rest assured, Your Excellency!" Sun Kejian smiled sinisterly. "My Ministry of Revenue may not be able to boast about anything else, but its ability to feign poverty is first-rate. I guarantee that Xiao Jingchen's men won't be able to take even a single grain of rice!"

Zhou Wenyuan then looked at Zhang Zhao, the Minister of Personnel: "Minister Zhang, draft a memorial immediately. Say that the war in the northern frontier has been quelled, but the grasslands are newly settled and the people's hearts are unsettled. We need a person of high moral character and prestige to go there to appease and educate them. I propose that your Ministry of Personnel select a group of officials to go to the grasslands to assist Xiao Jingchen in handling government affairs."

Zhang Zhao's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood Zhou Wenyuan's meaning.

This isn't about helping; it's about stirring up trouble and dividing power!

The officials sent will definitely be their people. Once they arrive on the grasslands, they will ostensibly be Xiao Jingchen's subordinates, but secretly they will undoubtedly obstruct him at every turn and undermine his power. In the end, who will control the grasslands is anyone's guess.

"Brilliant! Your Excellency's plan is brilliant!" Zhang Zhao clapped his hands in praise. "This humble official will go and carry it out immediately! I guarantee to select a group of the most 'capable' henchmen!"

"Hmm." Zhou Wenyuan nodded in satisfaction, concluding, "Externally, there's the Yuezhi holding us back; internally, there are constraints from funding, supplies, and officials. Even if Xiao Jingchen had three heads and six arms, this time, he'd have to obediently return the military power he'd swallowed!"

"Hahaha……"

A suppressed yet triumphant laugh suddenly rang out in the study. In their eyes, the net targeting Xiao Jingchen was completely woven, and they were just waiting for their prey to struggle for its life within it.

……

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The sixteen-year-old Emperor Li Chengqian also received a military report from Yumen Pass.

However, his feelings after reading it were completely different from those of Zhou Wenyuan and the others.

"Damn it! Absolutely bastard!"

Li Chengqian slammed the military report to the ground, his handsome face flushed red with anger.

Although he is young, he is not stupid.

This so-called "victory report" reeks of shameless extortion. All that talk of avenging an ally, of Heaven's benevolence—it's all utter nonsense!

To put it bluntly, they're taking advantage of the fact that the Great Yan Dynasty has just finished a major battle to come and plunder!

"My royal uncle just conquered the entire grassland for my Great Yan and made unparalleled contributions! Instead of being grateful, they are kicking us when we're down! This is simply outrageous!" Li Chengqian paced back and forth in the hall in anger.

In his heart, Xiao Jingchen was his royal uncle, his support, and the God of War of the Great Yan Dynasty. Now, his God of War was bleeding and fighting desperately outside, yet a pack of wolves wanted to stab him in the back. How could he not be furious?

The old eunuch standing to the side bowed, head bowed, and remained silent, like a wooden or clay sculpture. He had watched the emperor grow up since he was a child and knew that although this young emperor appeared gentle, deep down he possessed the same unassailable arrogance as his father, the founding emperor.

"Zhou Wenyuan... Zhang Zhao... Sun Kejian..." Li Chengqian squeezed out a few names through gritted teeth. "Do they think I'm a three-year-old child? Do they think I can't see through their schemes?"

He picked up another memorial, which Zhou Wenyuan had just presented, requesting a suspension of the grain and fodder supply to the Northern Liang army.

"An empty treasury? Prioritizing relief for the eastern frontier? That's all talk!" Li Chengqian sneered. "My imperial uncle is fighting for the country at the front, and they're trying to cut off his supplies! They're trying to kill him!"

"They're afraid! They're afraid that my uncle's achievements are too great and will threaten my throne!" A sharp glint, beyond his years, flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes. "But they don't know that I've never been afraid!"

"I only regret that I cannot, like my imperial uncle, personally go to the battlefield to fight for the country! I can only stay in this deep palace, being manipulated like a puppet by these so-called 'loyal ministers'!"

The young emperor became more and more excited as he spoke, his chest heaving violently.

He knew that with his current abilities, he was no match for the entire civil service group led by Zhou Wenyuan. His decrees, once outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, were essentially worthless without the countersignature of the Grand Secretariat.

There's very little he can do.

After a long while, he seemed to have made up his mind. He sat back on the dragon throne, his expression returning to calm, but his eyes became unusually firm.

"Issue my decree," he said slowly.

The old eunuch immediately knelt down: "This servant is here."

"From my private treasury, allocate 100,000 taels of gold and 1 million taels of silver. In addition, cut all unnecessary expenditures in the palace. Use this money to purchase grain, weapons, and medicine."

"Then, find a way to bypass the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, and personally deliver these supplies to the Northern Frontier, handing them over to the Imperial Uncle!"

The old eunuch shuddered, abruptly raising his head, his face filled with horror: "Your Majesty! No! This...this violates ancestral rules! Bypassing the Grand Secretariat and privately using imperial funds to support the border troops—if the censors find out, it will cause a huge uproar! They will talk about you...about you..."

"What are they saying? That I'm favoring princes and intending to raise a private army?" Li Chengqian's face showed a self-deprecating smile. "Let them talk. What use is the empty title of emperor to me if I can't even protect my own meritorious officials?"

"All I know is that my Imperial Uncle cannot fall!"

"The northern border of the Great Yan Dynasty must not be thrown into chaos!"

"You go and do it. Do it discreetly, don't let Zhou Wenyuan and his men find any evidence against you." Li Chengqian's tone left no room for argument.

The old eunuch looked at the young emperor before him, who seemed to have grown up overnight, and tears welled in his eyes. He kowtowed heavily, his voice hoarse, and said:

"Your servant... obeys the decree!"

He knew that this batch of supplies might be just a drop in the ocean compared to Xiao Jingchen's massive army.

However, this represents the emperor's attitude.

This also means that not everyone in this deep palace wants to see Xiao Jingchen fall.

A faint ray of light is trying to pierce through the thick, dark clouds woven from power struggles and selfish motives.