novelraw Chapter 236
Chapter 236
Chapter 236 His Majesty Is Sending Troops to War?
The angry Emperor Wei, clutching his chest in pain, immediately summoned a group of ministers to the palace that very day.
At the time the palace attendants came to summon him, Du Xing was at home drinking with a close friend. The liquor was strong, and Du Xing had always had a liking for this sort of drink. Unfortunately, his wife managed his life strictly, so he rarely got to drink freely. Today, it was only because his friend rarely came over that he had this chance.
Unfortunately, just after a couple of sips, the palace attendants arrived.
“Sir, someone from the palace is here. His Majesty requests your presence in the palace to discuss matters.”
Du Xing, just about to drink from his bowl, heard this and was immediately disappointed. “Oh no! I just took out this wine!”
His friend beside him laughed heartily, “Haha, His Majesty has summoned you. Looks like there’s some important business to discuss again. You’re out of luck today; these drinks are all mine then.”
Du Xing reluctantly looked at the wine on the table, gulped down the bowl in his hand, then got up and said to his friend, “Alright, I’ll change clothes and head into the palace. It’s your gain today.”
His friend held the wine cup, smiled, and said nothing.
After changing clothes, Du Xing headed straight to the manor gate. At the gate, he met the eunuch sent to summon him. He asked, “Eunuch, could you tell me who else His Majesty has summoned to the palace?”
The eunuch answered, since these were small matters not too important:
“His Majesty has invited several princes, the Prime Minister, the Six Ministries, General Chen, and several deputy generals now stationed in the capital.”
His Majesty actually invited military generals?!
Upon hearing the list, Du Xing immediately sensed the direction of the matter.
Inviting the Prime Minister and the Six Ministries was routine—these were the usual experienced officials present for discussions of any matter, but inviting some military generals in the mix was definitely unusual!
What do military generals do?
They lead in warfare!
Du Xing suddenly became excited. He rubbed his hands and continued asking, "Eunuch, do you know why His Majesty has summoned us? Is His Majesty planning to send troops to war?"
The eunuch hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, “I do not know for sure, but… His Majesty doesn’t seem to be in a very good mood this time.”
As the Grand Commandant, one of the Three Dukes and a high-ranking official, palace attendants were usually willing to share bits of useful information with Du Xing after some consideration.
Du Xing replied immediately, “I understand. Surely some brat has angered His Majesty! This time, His Majesty must be preparing to send troops to war. Fine, I know what to do!”
Du Xing showed no interest in other matters, but when it came to leading troops into battle, he was eager to charge out of the capital and fight for days if possible!
If Du Xing could guess what was going on, others were likely aware too.
The group entered the palace one after another.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation,
Emperor Wei spoke to the courtiers about the situation in Huzhou.
After finishing, Emperor Wei, with a stern face, looked at the courtiers below and asked in a deep voice for their thoughts.
Du Xing was the first to stand up.
He angrily said, “Your Majesty, I am not good at handling those corrupt officials in Huzhou, but when it comes to capturing that scoundrel Cao Ji, I believe no one is better suited than me!”
[Look, look! His Majesty, look at me! This time, I must be sent to lead troops into battle!]
Emperor Wei: …
He felt a bit troubled and quickly shifted his gaze from Du Xing to the others.
The other ministers, catching His Majesty’s gaze, fell silent for a moment before the Minister of War, Yu Wenzhi, stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, I believe that for pacifying Huzhou, the greatest threat is Cao Ji in Donghai Commandery. The Imperial Court previously stationed 40,000 troops near the coastal waters of Huzhou, and Cao Ji is the commander of these 40,000 naval troops. Over all these years, these soldiers have been under Cao Ji’s control, likely entirely at his command.”
“The naval forces stationed near the coastline have both land and naval capabilities. If we directly send troops there, even if Cao Ji cannot defeat us, he can simply hide at sea or on some unknown island…”
Regarding military affairs, Yu Wenzhi was always better informed than most others.
He shook his head and said, “Your Majesty, if we must send someone to suppress Donghai Commandery, the main commander must be someone skilled in naval warfare.”
So for Du Xing, who had only fought battles on land, it was best not to meddle.
Yu Wenzhi’s words made a lot of sense, even the passionate Du Xing felt a bit unsure.
Emperor Wei looked toward his several sons.
The first, second, fourth, and fifth princes had been silently standing nearby from the beginning, not expressing any opinions.
Emperor Wei looked at the robust Eldest Prince and asked, “Prince Su, do you have any opinions?”
Caught off guard by the question from his father, the Eldest Prince hesitated for a moment.
He raised his hand respectfully and replied, “Father Emperor, I am not familiar with Cao Ji’s character and know nothing about him. Without evidence, I fear I cannot say much.”
There is a military strategy that says: Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
To draw conclusions without knowing anything is just like fighting on paper.
Emperor Wei glanced at him a few times and quietly nodded.
Then he looked at the other ministers, signaling them to speak their minds freely.
Once the Minister of War spoke up, the other courtiers began sharing opinions one after another.
Emperor Wei sat at the front quietly listening.
He heard some points that made sense and some that were repetitive, which he didn’t interrupt.
While listening, Emperor Wei’s gaze involuntarily went back to the Eldest Prince.
Why this reaction? Emperor Wei thought the whole thing really was all because of Wei Yu.
If not for that little rascal recommending the Eldest Prince in a letter to lead the troops, Emperor Wei hadn’t even considered sending this son.
Everyone in the capital knew the Eldest Prince was physically strong, but as Great Wei had not had any major battles for so many years, and even if there were, so many generals in the court were available and no one thought about sending a prince to fight.
So Emperor Wei gradually stopped considering sending his son to war.
Now reconsidering was because Emperor Wei realized that unfilial son Wei Yu was good at knowing and using people.
Wei Yu had only opened his own residence and left the palace a little over a year ago and had already gathered many useful people around him. If that boy hadn’t told Emperor Wei about their talents, Emperor Wei would have never discovered them himself…
Confronted with this, Emperor Wei honestly admitted in his heart—Wei Yu was born to be a ruler.
Even if he was lazy, as long as he had this ability to gather able men, he would never be inferior to anyone in his life!
Listening to his ministers, Emperor Wei’s thoughts kept drifting to Wei Yu.
He frowned and glanced again at the Eldest Prince.
Since Wei Yu believed his Eldest Brother was capable, then he would trust the little rascal this once.
“… Seeing that Huzhou hasn’t had any leaks over all these years, Cao Ji must be a…”
“Enough.”
Emperor Wei suddenly interrupted the Minister of Works.
He rubbed his forehead and said, “As for who will lead the troops, first select a commander skilled in naval warfare. As for the deputy commander, Prince Su will do.”