Facing Prime Minister Han’s rebuke, General Ouyang immediately scoffed coldly. “It’s easy for a soft scholar to talk big while sitting comfortably—fifty thousand troops against a hundred thousand is nothing short of suicide.”
What kind of moment was this?
Right now, Jun Beiyue’s whereabouts remained unknown, his fate uncertain, and every capable general Great Zhou could muster served directly under General Ouyang’s own command—with Western Jing’s army bearing down on them.
Even Emperor Tianhui wouldn’t dare move against him lightly under these circumstances—let alone some mere civil official.
Once war broke out, from the Emperor’s perspective, only generals held any real value!
Prime Minister Han, well aware of exactly what General Ouyang was scheming, shot back at once, “When Prince Yao once rode alone into the seven prefectures of Youyun, facing a hundred enemies single-handedly—surely you’ve heard of that?”
“Prince Yao’s valor is beyond what either of us could ever match. But his fate remains unknown at present—if we place all our hopes solely on Prince Yao and delay the critical moment for battle, can you bear that responsibility, Prime Minister?” General Ouyang shot back, pressing hard.
“Western Jing’s army still needs some time to reach our western border. How can General Ouyang be so certain Prince Yao won’t be back by then? Unless…” Prime Minister Han trailed off deliberately, but everyone in the court understood the implication well enough.
“Prime Minister Han!” General Ouyang snapped angrily. “His Majesty’s archer honor guard has always been under your personal supervision—the incident at the hunting grounds falls entirely on your responsibility! And still you dare stir up trouble here, slandering me with baseless accusations!”
The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall fell utterly silent. Shouldn’t the archer honor guard fall under the Imperial Guard Commander’s jurisdiction? How had it come to be under Prime Minister Han’s personal supervision instead?
Emperor Tianhui, who had been sitting silently on his throne, finally reacted, turning a cold, questioning gaze toward Prime Minister Han.
Meeting that accusing look, Prime Minister Han was immediately alarmed—after the former Imperial Guard Commander Xu Xiancai had been stripped of his post, not only had he taken over supervision of the archer honor guard, but even the current Imperial Guard Commander was his own man.
This responsibility should rightfully have belonged to a military official, but the Emperor, to avoid gossip, had quietly handed this significant authority to him in secret—no one in the court knew of this except Prince Yao himself!
Could it be that the Emperor suspected him, and had even already discussed this matter with General Ouyang?
The incident at the hunting grounds had clearly been orchestrated from both within and without—the assassins had brought wolves from Western Jing with them, which meant this assassination attempt had originated from Western Jing itself!
And now Western Jing had raised its army as well—the connection couldn’t be clearer.
Great Zhou had a traitor within its ranks—someone colluding with Western Jing.
Realizing this, Prime Minister Han immediately dropped to his knees. “Your Majesty, this old subject has always been utterly loyal—I would never do anything so treacherous as collude with the enemy. Your Majesty, please see the truth of this!”
Emperor Tianhui, hands gripping the armrests tightly, paid him no attention at all, saying coldly, “General Ouyang, continue.”
General Ouyang unrolled a map and said earnestly, “Your Majesty, Western Jing has sent its troops toward the west, and the troops stationed at the northern frontier are the closest available. This old subject humbly requests the temporary withdrawal of Prince Yao’s military authority, so that we might deploy the elite forces from the north to reinforce the western border!”
This was a request General Ouyang had harbored for years, and he had finally spoken it aloud!
At once, the entire court erupted into murmured discussion—withdrawing Prince Yao’s military authority? What audacious words from General Ouyang!
Prince Yao’s military authority wasn’t something to be casually withdrawn—when Emperor Tianhui had originally granted him this power, he had explicitly stated that it would never be revoked unless Prince Yao himself died.
The Emperor had already dispatched many people to search for Prince Yao. Given the boldness of General Ouyang’s words, could it be that Prince Yao was already…
No one dared even finish that thought. If Prince Yao died, Great Zhou would surely be thrown into upheaval.
“Your Majesty, this must not be allowed—mobilizing the northern frontier troops would put the north itself in grave danger!” Prime Minister Han couldn’t help but urge again.
“Prime Minister Han, Western Chu’s Prince Xiang and the Princess Imperial are still staying at the envoys’ residence. If these words of yours reach their ears, will you be able to explain yourself?” the Second Prince finally spoke up.
“Prime Minister Han, could it be you fear Western Jing might actually lose, once troops are mobilized?” General Ouyang added, showing no courtesy at all.
Faced with such blatant, open accusation, Emperor Tianhui still gave no reaction at all. Prime Minister Han’s heart went utterly cold; he fell silent, retreating resentfully to one side.
“Father, military affairs cannot be delayed—this son is willing to volunteer for the western campaign, to defend Great Zhou’s territory!” the Second Prince stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
General Ouyang stepped forward as well. “Your Majesty, this old subject is willing to personally lead reinforcements to the northern frontier, to mobilize the northern troops in support of the Second Prince!”
Jun Beiyue had never built factional alliances at court, so with Prime Minister Han now thoroughly deflated, the officials, both civil and military, immediately swung entirely behind General Ouyang and Jun Beichen, a chorus of voices urging the Emperor to issue the order for troop mobilization.
Without Jun Beiyue’s tiger tally, only an imperial edict from Emperor Tianhui himself could mobilize the three great armies of the northern frontier.
The three northern armies were known as the Tiger Legions—White Tiger, Black Tiger, and Red Tiger, named for the fierce tiger emblems carved into their soldiers’ armor—each guarding respectively the border with Western Chu, the Three Realms Grounds, and the border with Eastern Qin. The army General Ouyang sought to mobilize was the most elite of them all, the White Tiger Legion, stationed at Western Chu’s southern gate and Great Zhou’s own northern gate.
What did it mean that General Ouyang was requesting to personally lead this mobilization?
It meant he intended to take over command of the White Tiger Legion in Jun Beiyue’s place—to put it bluntly, he meant to seize a portion of military power for himself, to use this opportunity to grab control of the northern frontier’s forces!
Emperor Tianhui understood General Ouyang’s true intentions perfectly well. His sword-like brows drew tight, and after a long silence, he finally said, “This matter will be discussed again tomorrow. Someone, send word—if there’s still no news of Prince Yao by tonight, everyone involved in this matter will answer for it with their heads.”
“Father, by tomorrow, the western border will already be in grave danger!” Jun Beichen urged anxiously.
“Mobilizing troops is no small matter. Western Jing’s hundred thousand troops will arrive overnight regardless—we’ll discuss it again tomorrow.”
Emperor Tianhui waved his hand, clearly irritated and impatient.
Just as General Ouyang was about to press further, Emperor Tianhui suddenly cut him off with a cold snort, abruptly changing the subject. “Han Huaimo, the archer honor guard commander Li Jun has already confirmed that you falsely issued an imperial order commanding the archers to leave the hunting camp and guard the temporary palace instead. What explanation do you have for this?”
Prime Minister Han froze, his legs immediately going weak beneath him, unable to say a word.
A frame-up—this was blatantly a frame-up. Li Jun had been bought off; General Ouyang, the one truly colluding with the enemy, was also the one behind this entire coordinated conspiracy.
Prime Minister Han had no room left to explain himself, collapsing weakly to the floor.
Would the Emperor believe him? No, he wouldn’t—the Emperor only knew that General Ouyang was seizing this opportunity to grab military power, without realizing that this entire scheme had been orchestrated by General Ouyang himself.
Even if, in the worst case, the Emperor did suspect the truth, what could he actually do about it? Jun Beiyue was gone!
If General Ouyang truly had no scruples, Western Jing could seize territory freely, and Great Zhou would inevitably fall into chaos. And if Great Zhou fell into chaos, wouldn’t Western Chu be watching with hungry eyes as well?
Wouldn’t the Emperor then have to worry about provoking General Ouyang’s anger, have to offer up this very Prime Minister as a concession to placate him?
Prime Minister Han had nothing left to say—this scapegoat’s burden was his to bear now, whether he liked it or not.
“Someone, take Han Huaimo and lock him in the imperial prison to await trial. Seal off the Han residence—no one enters or leaves without my personal order!” Emperor Tianhui said coldly.
Just then, another military report arrived, a guard hurrying forward urgently to present it.
Emperor Tianhui opened it and his face immediately went pale—Western Jing’s Dugu Xianyun had personally led three thousand elite troops as the vanguard, now just fifty li from the western pass.
The Second Prince immediately dropped to his knees. “Father, this son is willing to go to the western border in person, to defend Great Zhou’s territory!”
General Ouyang knelt as well. “Your Majesty, please issue the imperial edict—this old subject is willing to personally lead the reinforcements, to fight alongside the Second Prince on the battlefield, to protect Great Zhou’s peace!”
At once, the entire court, civil and military officials alike, dropped to their knees in succession. Emperor Tianhui, unable to hold out any longer, finally gave the order to draft the edict—appointing the Second Prince as Western General, mobilizing ten thousand troops stationed near the capital to the western border, and dispatching the White Tiger Legion from the northern frontier to reinforce the northwest, under General Ouyang’s temporary command.
After receiving the edict, General Ouyang made one further request. “Your Majesty, this humble subject makes so bold as to request that Ouyang Chi, head of the Thirteen Riders, accompany me.”
Jun Beiyue’s troops were not something just anyone could command—even with the imperial edict in hand, General Ouyang still harbored some reservations. Bringing Ouyang Chi along would ensure he wouldn’t find himself unable to mobilize the White Tiger Legion after all!
Emperor Tianhui, his face clouded with worry, waved his hand in approval…