The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!

Chapter 502 - 499: Without Wei Zhao, Can the Empire Not Be Defended?

In the Jinluan Hall, the officials stood solemnly, the atmosphere stagnant like iron.

The Minister of War stepped forward first: "Liang Yue has repeatedly invaded with evident ambition, and must be punished!"

Duke Zhongyong sneered.

"It’s easy to talk, just wag your tongue?"

"Who will you send? And how to punish? Do you understand military strategy? Sitting in that position doesn’t mean you can consider yourself a Military General just because you have a position in the Ministry of War. You come from a Civil Servant background! You’ve never led soldiers in battle, so what do you know?"

"In Da Jin, no one can refute that Wei is the one who has fought Liang Yue the most, right? And what about his current condition? Can you make him go?"

The Minister of War was at a loss.

He was not happy being embarrassed by Duke Zhongyong.

He straightened his back: "Our Da Jin is full of talent. How could we not find a Military General to go to the border?"

"So don’t pretend to understand when you don’t."

Duke Zhongyong found him annoying and pushed him aside, turning towards the Holy Emperor on the dragon throne with a salute.

"In the past, with the Wei Family Army’s deterrence, mere Liang Yue could only be taught a lesson by Da Jin, having to cede land and pay indemnities. But now, they come with fury, clearly calculating that Wei’s health is impaired, making him unable to go to the border, thus daring to act boldly!"

They calculated that...

The Holy Emperor gripped the armrest of the dragon throne tightly, veins bulging.

"The border citizens must be defended, and the defense line cannot be broken. I believe this battle must be fought and must be won."

"Many neighboring countries are watching with folded arms, and if Liang Yue captures the border, who knows if they won’t intervene to take a share?"

The officials present all nodded.

Can the choice of personnel be vague?

But...

Right now, there is a severe flood crisis, and half of the military generals are leading forces for disaster relief.

Minister Yao of the Ministry of Justice stepped forward: "I recommend General Zhao Mao."

"The Zhao Family Army, fast horse, can reach the border in three days to assist. Zhao Mao is steady in action, and his combat experience over the years is not lacking."

Duke Zhongyong sneered: "Lord Yao, do you have personal motives? Zhao Mao is your nephew. You want to promote him, that’s fine, but how dare you treat the border battle as a gamble?"

"If Liang Yue invades, the next to be hit are the four cities closest to the border, where the people will suffer severely."

"The flood crisis is already an internal threat in the four cities; if there is an external threat, what will you do!"

When someone said a sentence, he couldn’t help but refute with ten.

Duke Zhongyong snorted.

"Don’t find my words unpleasant. With Wei, the hard battles were all led by him."

"Whether your nephew is steady or not, I don’t know, but he has repeatedly been in danger during the simplest battles."

Minister Yao’s face turned thoroughly red.

New Minister Zhu Wei saluted: "Holy Emperor. I believe Deputy General Chi Yu, who has followed General Wei for many years and is most familiar with Liang Yue and the border terrain, should be sent."

Duke Zhongyong continued to refute: "Chi Yu? That lad is not bad. But with the Wei Family Army dispersed, even if they intend to assemble, it will take time."

"Moreover, Chi Yu has already gone to the disaster area for relief."

The Holy Emperor’s eyes turned cold.

He didn’t truly believe the Wei Family Army had disbanded.

After all, that’s the trump card in Wei Zhao’s hand.

The trump card that makes him apprehensive.

Wei Zhao hates him, how could he...

Minister Yao: "Then let Chi Yu lead other troops there."

He glanced at Duke Zhongyong.

Doesn’t this old thing hold military power in his hand?

He’s been holding onto it for years without handing it over.

"No."

Duke Zhongyong: "If a General is not familiar with the soldiers under him, lacking coordination, it is the most taboo thing on the battlefield."

"Duke Zhongyong!"

Minister Yao coldly: "This won’t do, that won’t do, could it be that our vast country can’t even find a General?"

Without Wei Zhao, would Da Jin’s kingdom be insecure?

Previously when Wei Zhao was fighting Liang Yue, it wasn’t seen as particularly difficult!

"Are we to just look on while Liang Yue invades?"

"Why are you shouting at me?"

Duke Zhongyong shouted even louder: "I was brought up by General Jing Yuan, and I’ve never been short of either scars of war or victors’ drums. Even as I’ve aged, I’m still willing to fight."

"If it weren’t for ten years ago, a nomad’s saber slicing off two of my ribs, causing rusted iron to make me cough blood during rainy days, I wouldn’t even be able to mount a horse!"

"If I could still go to the frontline, would I let you jump around in front of me?"

After all, he was a Military General, the cold light was intimidating.

Minister Yao, frightened, took two steps back and kept silent.

The gilded incense burner was swept down the steps by the Holy Emperor, breaking the quarrel.

"Why all the noise?"

The Holy Emperor’s figure was as cold as a blade.

"The border flares are endless, and the people are suffering!"

He stood up coldly, flicked his sleeves.

"Anyone who dares to make noise again, drag them out, thirty lashes!"

The high-ranking officials were silent as cicadas in winter, and no one dared to say a word.

The Holy Emperor’s gaze swept over.

"Fu Ju, what do you think?"

The silent Gu Fuju stepped forward.

His voice resonated in the hall.

"I believe, the border is Da Jin’s most important defense line, it cannot be broken. The public has had too many disputes with the Court recently, and the natural disaster has caused panic among the populace; water can carry the boat but also overturn it, so it must be appeased."

"Why not send Zhao Mao, Dong Chu, and Liu Chen as a group?"

This...

Zhao Mao is cautious and good at defense, Dong Chu aggressive and skilled in offense, and Liu Chen had been guided by Wei Zhao.

"This... may not be appropriate. Three Military Generals, bound to have disagreements in combat."

Gu Fuju: "A summon via fast horse, order Chi Yu to the border, all Generals to follow his command."

The crowd was in an uproar.

"How could other generals obey the commanding of a Deputy General from the Wei Family Army? Will they be convinced?"

Duke Zhongyong rolled his eyes.

Chi Yu is rich in combat experience and was brought up by Wei Zhao.

If Wei Zhao isn’t present, he can lead the Wei Family Army to steady battles without mistakes. If truly compared, those three combined might not be his match.

Those few, bearing the title of General, really think they are something.

Gu Fuju didn’t look at anyone’s expressions, continued on his own.

"Chi Yu is familiar with Liang Yue and the border terrain. Apart from Wei Zhao, he is the most suitable choice."

"As a strategist, he won’t make mistakes."

"As for whether they’re convinced..."

"Why not have the Court send another person, who can make the three Generals obey orders, and assist Chi Yu in stabilizing the situation."

After speaking, he returned to his previous position and fell silent.

He made his suggestion, and as for who to send, that’s the Holy Emperor’s decision.

This person must be prestigious.

Must also be of noble status.

Appeasing the people’s matters should be addressed quickly.

What the Grand Tutor said is the best way.

But this choice... many courtiers surreptitiously looked at the three Princes.

The Second Prince has a limp, but there’s no need for him to go on the battlefield; so he can go.

The Fifth Prince has high prestige, so he can go.

Except for the Fourth Prince, who can’t even pass gas and is useless. Ying Zhi and Ying Yin are the best candidates.

The Holy Emperor understood very well.

He closed his eyes.

"Everyone retreat."

"Yes."

Holy Emperor: "Old number two, old number five, stay."

The officials retreated.

Ying Cheng was the quickest to slip away.

Minister Yao, seeing this, shook his head disdainfully.

Zhu Wei walked alongside Gu Fuju.

"Grand Tutor, who do you think the Emperor will appoint this time?"

Gu Fuju remained unchanged, only smoothing his robe.

"The Emperor’s thoughts are not something you or I can fathom."