Chapter Fifteen: Truly Going All Out

In the Great Kang Empire, within the Golden Throne Hall.

"What? You say the Empress of Great Qi has already appointed Yang Chuan as Prime Minister?"

At the seven o'clock morning court session, before Yan Wugou had even settled into her seat, the news arriving from the frontier instantly caused a tightness in her chest.

Had that Empress of Great Qi truly gone off the deep end?

Yang Chuan had only just arrived, his seat not yet warm, and she had already entrusted him with the position of Prime Minister so readily?

What Yan Wugou did not know was that the person who had stayed by Yang Chuan's side for three years, willingly acting as a maidservant each day just to coax him out of seclusion, was none other than the current Empress of Great Qi, Tian Yueying.

And she, who had enjoyed ten years of Yang Chuan's service first—watching him transform Great Kang into the powerful empire it was today—had never known how to cherish him. In the end, she had only harbored suspicion.

A bright moon, no matter where it moves, illuminates the earth beneath it. Poor Yan Wugou had failed to understand this truth for ten years.

After a moment of recovery, she pressed on: "Anything else? Yang Chuan is a man of Great Kang; he was named Prime Minister the moment he took office in Qi. Did the ministers of Qi have no objections?"

"Re-reporting to Your Majesty, it is not just the position of Prime Minister. It is said that in addition to the premiership, the Empress of Great Qi has bestowed upon him the Nine Bestowals, named him a Prince of the First Rank equal to the throne, and granted him the privilege of entering the court without bowing, not having his name announced during ceremonies, and appearing before the throne with his sword and shoes."

"It could be said that on the very first day of his tenure in Great Qi, there were no more titles left to bestow upon Minister Yang..."

The further the scout spoke, the lower his voice became, as if he knew that hearing this would surely drive Yan Wugou into a fit of rage.

As expected, upon hearing this, Yan Wugou slammed her hand against the dragon throne in fury.

"A fine state of Qi, a fine Prince of the First Rank! Does that Empress of Great Qi think that by giving Yang Chuan the same titles I once bestowed upon him, he can prop up another empire?"

"Hmph, that monarch of Qi must not know that the reason Yang Chuan could hold such high status without drawing envy was because he possessed the 'Heavenly Peace Manual' I granted him back then."

"But what of him now? He is merely a seventh-rank martial artist! If I dispatch the thirty thousand Imperial Guards of Great Kang, backed by two grandmaster-level warriors, the state of Qi will fall within months!"

Seeing Yan Wugou becoming intoxicated by her own arrogance, the scout, who had been kneeling on the floor in contemplation, finally decided to speak the rest.

"Your... Your Majesty, there is one more thing I must report."

"What is it?"

Reflexively, Yan Wugou showed great interest whenever news regarding Yang Chuan was mentioned. Seeing the scout had more to say, she leaned forward, eager to hear every detail. This obvious gesture drew strange looks from the ministers below.

"It seems Her Majesty still cannot forget Minister Yang."

"Shh, such thoughts are for the Emperor alone. If you dare say it aloud, you'll lose your head!"

Perhaps sensing the hushed whispers of the ministers, Yan Wugou narrowed her eyes and sat back up straight.

"Speak."

Once again receiving the Empress's nod, the scout whispered: "In truth, when Yang Chuan took office yesterday, the civil and military officials of Great Qi were all dissatisfied. The former Minister of War, Cao Ding, even wanted to overthrow the Empress of Great Qi and seize the 'traitor' Yang Chuan."

"But unfortunately... that Yang Chuan, having learned some new technique, struck down five fifth-rank martial artists with a single palm."

"Those warriors, their internal organs shattered before they died, blood gushing from their seven orifices—the scene was truly gruesome!"

"After those warriors fell, the officials in the hall were all struck with terror, and no one dared to oppose Yang Chuan's appointment again!"

Once these words were spoken, not only was Yan Wugou silent, but the officials of Great Kang also fell into a stunned hush.

It was inconceivable!

This Yang Chuan had clearly had his cultivation crippled right before their eyes. How could he have returned to a state of such unstoppable, peerless power upon reaching Great Qi?

Could it be that his self-crippling was merely a lie performed for others to see, and his cultivation had never been fully destroyed?

A series of questions flooded Yan Wugou's mind, deepening her hatred for Yang Chuan.

At this moment, Jiang Ziqi, who had been waiting outside the curtains, took the opportunity to fan the flames.

"Your Majesty, that Yang Chuan is truly a treacherous man!"

"I thought he only left Your Majesty because he no longer wished to participate in court affairs. Now it seems every step he took was part of a grand conspiracy!"

"Enough! Do not speak his name before me again!"

Rising from the dragon throne, Yan Wugou scanned the ministers below, her words cold and resolute.

"Guards, draft an imperial edict! From this day forth, mobilize the entire strength of the nation! First, annihilate the state of Qi, then divide the army into five wings to crush the remaining states as well!"

"This time, I shall unify the Nine Provinces and prove the true might of Great Kang!"

The officials did not respond, only whispering among themselves. If the thirty thousand iron-clad Imperial Guards were under the command of a capable leader, they might have a chance to contend with Great Qi. But with Yang Chuan now sitting at the helm of Great Qi, if this campaign were handled poorly, the entire army could be wiped out in the north.

Moreover, due to a recent natural disaster, the grain stores within Great Kang had suffered greatly. The people were already facing dire circumstances; if not addressed, the national granaries would not be filled this year.

Seeing that the ministers were hesitant about the northern expedition, the Minister of Agriculture stepped forward from the crowd.

"Your Majesty, your desire to destroy Qi and kill Yang Chuan to avenge yourself is understandable, but natural disasters have struck many farmlands across Great Kang, and our grain situation is critical!"

"Yesterday, provincial officials reported severe droughts in the north and floods in the south, where hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland have been submerged..."

At this moment, Yan Wugou was filled with ambition, already planning to lead the troops into battle personally. She turned a deaf ear to the Minister of Agriculture’s report, her mind fixed solely on the northern expedition.

"Minister of Agriculture, my mind is made up. I shall lead the thirty thousand Imperial Guards to Qi myself!"

"As for the grain crisis you speak of, that is your duty to resolve. You are expected to handle it properly; do not report such trifles to me again!"

"But, Your Majesty... since ancient times, the great affairs of the realm are decided by the Emperor. If you do not provide a proper plan, how dare this old minister make such decisions?"

Watching Yan Wugou’s governing become increasingly inept, the Minister of Agriculture felt a sense of bitter frustration, and he could not help but yearn for the days when Yang Chuan was still in office.