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

Inside the Zichen Palace, when Emperor Yan Wumingkong uttered the words "Granted," his voice was not loud, but it was like a boulder being thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a tidal wave in the hearts of the officials.

Everyone was stunned.

The censor, who had just been passionately declaring that he would fight Xiao Jingchen to the death, was now speechless, his mouth agape.

Granted permission?

His Majesty actually granted it?

How is that possible!

That's ceding territory, paying reparations, and even being granted the title of king! Although it's nominally the establishment of the "Northern Border Protectorate," everyone understands that this is essentially handing over the two most important places, the Northern Frontier and Yunzhou, to Xiao Jingchen, making him a local tyrant!

What's the difference between this and the fall of a country?

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!" The Prime Minister was the first to react, scrambling to his feet before the dragon throne, tears streaming down his face. "If this precedent is set, the prestige of our Great Yan will be utterly destroyed, and the nation will cease to exist! Xiao Jingchen is a wolf in sheep's clothing; if he gains an inch today, he will surely take a mile tomorrow. By then, it will be too late for regrets!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The other officials also knelt down in unison. "Absolutely not! This is a disgrace!"

"shame?"

Wu Mingkong looked down at the group of heartbroken ministers below him, his eyes devoid of any emotion, only a cold indifference.

"My seven million-strong army was completely annihilated, General Tian Kui committed suicide on the battlefield, and the remains of one hundred thousand imperial guards were never found. At that time, why didn't you speak of shame?"

"With a single memorial from Xiao Jingchen, he took away two prefectures and the power over finances and troops. I couldn't even utter a harsh word. And now you're talking to me about shame?"

Her voice grew colder and heavier with each word, striking everyone's heart.

"Tell me, besides granting your request, do I have any other choice?"

"Who can organize another army of seven million men for me?"

"Who can go to the battlefield and kill Xiao Jingchen in my place?"

"Who?"

A series of questions silenced the entire hall.

Yes, who could?

Nobody can.

The prime minister collapsed to the ground, his old face flushed red, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

They now truly understand what powerlessness means. Faced with absolute force, all dignity, respect, and rules are nothing but a joke.

"My mind is made up." Wu Mingkong withdrew his gaze, his tone leaving no room for argument. "This matter is settled."

She turned away, no longer looking at the prince's faces, which were filled with despair or resentment.

"Dismiss the court."

……

A few days later, a fast horse galloped into Ancheng, kicking up dust in the procession.

The messenger on horseback was an imperial envoy from the capital. He held a golden imperial edict in his hands, but his face showed a hint of tension and unease.

Before he came, he had imagined countless possibilities.

Perhaps the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion will give him a hard time, making him kneel outside the city for several hours.

Perhaps, the legendary, ferocious Xiao Jingchen would tear up the imperial edict right in front of him and throw him out.

After all, he had heard about the contents of that memorial. Was that the attitude a subject should have towards his ruler? It was clearly a blatant threat.

However, when he was taken to the study in the Marquis's residence, none of what he expected happened.

There was no harsh words, no scolding, not even a cold shoulder.

Xiao Jingchen remained seated behind his desk, a military treatise in his hand, his expression calm. Beside him stood his strategist Su Mou, and Zhang Qinian, who had recently surrendered and whose expression was still somewhat complex.

"From the capital?" Xiao Jingchen put down his book and raised his eyelids.

"Yes...yes." The imperial envoy bowed hurriedly, raising the imperial edict high above his head with both hands. "His Majesty has decreed that you, Marquis, receive the edict."

He was prepared for Xiao Jingchen not to kneel.

To his surprise, Xiao Jingchen stood up, straightened his robes, and knelt on one knee facing the direction of the imperial edict.

"Your subject, Xiao Jingchen, receives the imperial decree."

His movements were very standard, and his attitude was very respectful.

This, ironically, left the imperial envoy completely bewildered.

This... this is Xiao Jingchen, the one who wrote that kind of "challenge letter"? How come he seems to be more disciplined than those princes and nobles in the capital?

Su Mou and Zhang Qinian exchanged a glance, a hint of doubt in their eyes. They, too, hadn't expected the Marquis to perform such a grand ceremony. In their view, given the Marquis's current power and status, there was absolutely no need for him to show any respect for the imperial edict.

The imperial envoy was stunned for a moment before he reacted. He quickly unfolded the imperial edict and began to read it aloud in his high-pitched voice, which he had practiced countless times.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"Marquis Xiao Jingchen of Zhenbei is unparalleled in loyalty and bravery, and possesses extraordinary wisdom and resourcefulness. In Yunzhou, he quelled the rebellions of Tian Kui and Zang Baiyuan, turning the tide and saving the nation from collapse. His merits are invaluable to the country, and I am greatly gratified..."

The imperial edict began with nothing but praise, lauding Xiao Jingchen as if he had not only defeated the imperial army but had saved the entire dynasty.

Zhang Qinian's eyelids twitched as he listened.

Tian Kui and Zang Baiyuan, just like that, became traitors? I fought alongside them for so long, and now it turns out I'm fighting loyal subjects with rebels? This world, black and white are turned upside down way too fast.

The imperial envoy continued reading.

"...Now, millions of surrendered soldiers are starving and hungry, and the treasury of the northern frontier is empty, making it difficult to continue. I, the Emperor, remember that they are also subjects of the Great Yan Dynasty and cannot bear to see them displaced. Therefore, I hereby decree to open the national treasury and allocate three million taels of silver and five hundred thousand shi of grain to appease the surrendered soldiers and rebuild the northern frontier..."

Upon hearing this, Su Mou frowned slightly.

Three million taels of silver and five hundred thousand shi of grain.

It sounds like a lot, but compared to the expenditure on millions of surrendered soldiers, it's just a drop in the ocean. That Empress still isn't willing to invest heavily.

But what truly shocked Su Mou and Zhang Qinian was what followed.

"...The Northern Frontier and Yunzhou are the gateways to the nation, and their importance is paramount. In order to strengthen the border defenses and eliminate future troubles, at the request of the Marquis of Zhenbei, the 'Northern Border Protectorate' has been established in both places to oversee all military, political, financial, and personnel affairs in the Northern Frontier and Yunzhou."

"I hereby confer upon Xiao Jingchen, the Marquis of Zhenbei, the first 'Grand Protector of the Northern Territory,' and bestow upon him the title of 'King of Wuwei,' granting him a fief of ten thousand households and ceremonial regalia equivalent to that of a prince. I hope that you will serve loyally and faithfully, living up to my expectations, and building an everlasting Great Wall for our Great Yan."

"So be it."

When the last word was uttered, the entire study fell into a deathly silence.

Zhang Qinian opened his mouth wide, his eyes almost popping out.

What did he hear?

The Northern Protectorate? Overseeing all military and political affairs?

He was even given the title of "King of Wuwei"?

This...this is exactly what he requested in his memorial! The emperor actually...agreed to everything?

Not a single word was changed; they even proactively bestowed upon him the title of King?

How is that possible!

He thought that the best outcome of submitting this memorial would be for the court to send someone to negotiate, with the two sides arguing for a year or two. The worst outcome would be for the Empress to be furious, for the two sides to completely break off relations, and for another war to break out.

But to his utter surprise, what he received was an imperial edict that could be described as "completely obedient".

That high and mighty Empress... just like that, gave in?

For the first time, Su Mou's face showed undisguised astonishment.

He thought more deeply than Zhang Qinian. He knew the weight of this imperial edict. It was tantamount to legally acknowledging Xiao Jingchen's absolute rule over the Northern Frontier and Yunzhou.

From then on, everything Xiao Jingchen did here was perfectly legitimate. He recruited soldiers and horses under imperial decree; he collected taxes and provisions under imperial decree.

This imperial edict is a protective talisman and a banner of righteousness!

He looked at Xiao Jingchen and found that his lord remained calm, as if he had expected this outcome.

"Your subject, Xiao Jingchen, accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."

Xiao Jingchen accepted the imperial edict with both hands and stood up.

"Lord... oh no, Your Highness." The imperial envoy quickly changed his form of address, his face plastered with a fawning smile. "His Majesty places great hopes on you, Your Highness. This imperial edict was issued from the Zichen Palace only after overcoming numerous difficulties."

"I know," Xiao Jingchen said calmly. "Thank you for making this trip, Eunuch."

He glanced at Su Mou.

Su Mou understood, took out a silver note from his sleeve, and quietly slipped it into the imperial envoy's hand.

"A small token of my appreciation, tea on the highway."

The imperial envoy squeezed the thickness of the silver note, his smile widening: "Your Highness is too kind. Serving Your Highness and His Majesty is our duty."

After the imperial envoy left, only three people remained in the study.

Zhang Qinian finally couldn't hold back any longer. He stepped forward and said excitedly, "Your Highness! Her Majesty...she really approved! This...this is truly a piece of incredible news!"

In his view, this was a bloodless victory, obtaining everything he had ever dreamed of.

Su Mou, recovering from his shock, bowed deeply to Xiao Jingchen: "Congratulations, Marquis! Congratulations, Marquis! No, congratulations, Your Highness! From now on, the Northern Border will be at peace, and our great cause is within reach!"