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

With trembling hands, the chief eunuch accepted the heavy memorial.

He carefully removed the lacquer seal, unfolded the fine Xuan paper, and then began to read aloud in a high-pitched yet clear voice.

"Your subject, Marquis Zhenbei, Xiao Jingchen, respectfully reports to Your Majesty."

At the beginning, things were relatively normal.

The officials in the court all subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

He even referred to himself as "your subject," indicating that Xiao Jingchen had no intention of immediately breaking off relations.

However, when they heard what happened next, their breath hitched up in their throats again.

"I have heard that the generals of Yunzhou, Tian Kui and Zang Baiyuan, instead of serving their country, harbor rebellious intentions and have mobilized a large army without authorization. They are ostensibly to suppress the rebellion, but in reality, they are plotting a rebellion, intending to seize the northern frontier and establish their own independent regime. Their crimes are unforgivable."

"boom!"

The entire hall erupted in chaos, as if a bomb had been dropped into it.

"What?!"

"Did Tian Kui and Zang Baiyuan plot a rebellion?"

"This...this is impossible! The punitive expeditionary force was personally ordered to be assembled by Your Majesty!"

"Nonsense! This is pure nonsense!"

The officials no longer cared about etiquette; they all whispered among themselves and discussed the matter.

The pro-peace faction, especially led by the prime minister, was visibly shaken.

They instantly understood Xiao Jingchen's sinister intentions.

This is turning black into white!

This is an attempt to pin the charge of treason on the already dead Tian Kui and Zang Baiyuan!

In this way, Xiao Jingchen's dispatch of troops to resist would not be considered disobeying an imperial order, but rather quelling a rebellion, making him a meritorious official!

What a brilliant sleight of hand!

What a ruthless Xiao Jingchen!

On the dragon throne, Emperor Yan's face instantly turned extremely ugly.

Her chest heaved violently, and her knuckles turned white from gripping the armrest so tightly.

She knew, of course, that Tian Kui and Zang Baiyuan could not possibly be plotting a rebellion.

That army was the one she sent out.

That decree was issued by her.

Now, Xiao Jingchen has labeled all of this as a "rebellion".

This is not just an attempt to excuse his own behavior.

This is a slap in the face for her!

It's telling her that you, the emperor, are bad at judging people, having sent two traitors to attack loyal ministers!

"Keep reading!" Emperor Yan's voice was almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

The chief eunuch trembled in fright and quickly continued reading.

"As the commander-in-chief of the northern frontier, I have a duty to defend the land. In order to ensure the peace of the northern frontier and to protect Your Majesty's empire, I had no choice but to raise troops to fight back. Fortunately, thanks to Your Majesty's divine might and the bravery of the soldiers, we were able to quell the rebellion and kill the ringleaders Tian Kui and Zang Baiyuan."

Upon hearing this, His Highness's officials were at a loss for words, unsure how to react.

"Suppress the rebellion"? "Execute the ringleaders"?

Is this even human language?

You annihilated the imperial army of seven million and forced the general and deputy commander to their deaths, and now you claim to have "pacified the rebellion for His Majesty"?

Want a face?

I've seen shameless people, but I've never seen anyone this shameless!

"His millions of soldiers were all deceived by the rebels and were truly innocent. Now they have realized their mistake, are grateful for Your Majesty's grace, and have voluntarily laid down their weapons and surrendered to the court. I have made proper arrangements for them, awaiting Your Majesty's judgment."

"However, the northern frontier has been ravaged by war for years, leaving the treasury empty. Now, with the sudden influx of millions of surrendered soldiers, the cost of feeding the men and horses is enormous, making it unsustainable. I humbly request Your Majesty to consider that these surrendered soldiers are also Your Majesty's subjects, to open the national treasury and allocate funds and provisions to alleviate the immediate crisis and appease the hearts of millions."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall erupted in uproar.

"What? He still dares to ask for money and food?"

"He captured our people, humiliated us, and now he expects us to pay for their upkeep?"

"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"

One of the imperial censors could no longer contain himself and stepped forward, saying with grief and indignation, "Your Majesty! This traitor's wolfish ambitions are blatantly obvious! He is extorting the court! We absolutely cannot agree to this!"

"That's right! Your Majesty! If this precedent is set, the country will cease to exist!"

The officials were outraged and chimed in with their own opinions.

Emperor Yan did not speak, but his expression grew increasingly grim.

She knew that this wasn't the worst of it.

Sure enough, the chief eunuch's next words confirmed her premonition.

"Furthermore, after this battle, the northern frontier and Yunzhou are now militarily depleted and their defenses have fallen into disarray. The three barbarian tribes are eyeing us covetously and could invade the south at any moment. For the sake of long-term peace and stability, to eliminate border troubles forever, and to better protect the capital, I have a request."

"My opinion is that the military affairs of the Northern Frontier and Yunzhou should be reorganized and merged into one place to establish the 'Northern Protectorate,' which will be in charge of all important affairs such as troops, finances, and civil administration in both places."

"Your Majesty, I humbly beseech you to issue a decree granting my request. I will certainly build an impregnable Great Wall in the north to protect our Great Yan and ensure its eternal peace!"

"Your subject, Xiao Jingchen, kowtows."

The memorial has been read aloud.

The entire Zichen Palace fell into a deathly silence.

You could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned by the last paragraph of the memorial.

Establish a "Northern Protectorate"?

Overseeing all military and political affairs in both regions?

What... what does this mean?

Isn't this just about becoming the king of the North?

He placed the two most important and prosperous states of the Great Yan Dynasty, Northern Frontier and Yunzhou, under his sole jurisdiction.

He recruited his own soldiers.

He collected the money and grain himself.

Officials, appointed by himself.

What's the point of having a court then? What's the point of having an emperor?

What kind of memorial is this?

This is clearly a declaration of war!

A declaration of war written with the destruction of seven million troops and the deaths of two commanders!

He wasn't making a request.

He was giving a notification.

This was to inform Emperor Yan and all the officials in the court.

From this day forward, I, Xiao Jingchen, will be in charge of the Northern Frontier and Yunzhou.

You either need to nod your head and agree to give me a legitimate status.

Either way, wait for me to personally lead the troops to take it.

"He's gone mad...he must be mad..."

The prime minister slumped to the ground, muttering to himself.

Throughout his life of political ups and downs, he had never seen such an arrogant and audacious person.

This is no longer a powerful minister.

This is a ruthless and powerful figure!

A tyrant capable of overthrowing the entire Great Yan Dynasty!

"Your Majesty! Kill them! They must be killed!"

The upright censor stepped forward again, his eyes bloodshot, looking like a madman.

"Without eliminating this villain, the nation will never have peace! Your Majesty, please issue an immediate decree to gather all the troops in the land and form a new punitive army! This time, we will dedicate the entire nation's strength to a fight to the death with him!"

"A fight to the death?"

Emperor Yan, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.

Her voice was very soft and cold.

She looked at the excited censor and asked slowly.

"What can we use to fight to the death?"

"With your mouth?"