bayedsolid Chapter 2012: The Candidate!
Chapter 2012: The Candidate!
As Chu Ning listened, he slowly paced back and forth, his finger occasionally tracing the line of the Great Wall representing the northern border on the sand table.
Feng Anguo's strategy is mature, prudent, and comprehensive, taking into account both diplomatic mediation and military preparations, making it the most prudent response under the current circumstances.
"good!"
Chu Ning stopped and nodded heavily: "Let's follow An Guo's advice and prepare on two fronts simultaneously!"
"Regarding the peace talks, I hereby issue an edict to the Ministry of Rites, instructing them to select suitable candidates, carry official credentials and rewards, and travel north overnight to ensure the stability of the Scorpion Khan!"
He paused, his gaze falling on Feng Anguo, with a consultative tone:
"As for the selection of the person to lead the troops to Youzhou in the north to defend against the enemy, General Feng, you have been in the military for a long time and as the Minister of War, you are good at recognizing and appointing people. I wonder if you have any considerations in mind?"
"This person must have enough prestige to command respect, enough ability to shoulder this heavy responsibility, and above all, must be loyal to the king's affairs, leaving no room for error."
A brief silence fell over the military aircraft room, broken only by the crackling of burning charcoal.
The safety of the northern border and the decisive battle in the southern frontier were like two heavy burdens weighing on the shoulders of this young emperor.
His decisions will directly affect the fate of the entire Great Chu.
Feng Anguo pondered deeply, preparing to name the person he could entrust with the defense of the northern frontier.
Inside the military council room of the Zhennanguan Palace, the charcoal fire still crackled, but the air suddenly became stagnant and subtle because of the name Feng Anguo had mentioned.
Chu Ning's question about the choice of commander was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, the ripples it created concerning the safety of the empire's northern border and also involving a hidden past buried deep within the royal family.
When Feng Anguo heard Chu Ning's question, he did not answer immediately. He lowered his eyelids slightly, and a very complicated emotion flashed across his face.
It was a mixture of prudence, deliberation, and even a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.
He remained silent for a moment, as if he were carefully filtering through all the possible candidates in the court in his mind.
Finally, he raised his eyes to meet Chu Ning's probing gaze, and uttered a name in a low, clear voice:
"Your Majesty, please forgive this old minister for speaking frankly."
"Now, our Great Chu has gathered many capable and prestigious generals who can lead large armies, such as Xue Huaide, Guan Yun, Zhao Yu, Ran Ming, Ma Chao, and Han Xing, on the front lines of the southern border."
“Domestically… there are very few people who can deal with the crisis in the north and command large-scale military operations.”
He paused, as if making a decision: "In terms of seniority, ability, and influence in the military, the only one currently remaining in the country is probably the Fifteenth Prince, His Highness Prince Xuan."
"Fifteenth Brother... Chu Xuan?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning's eyebrows shot up sharply, and his face revealed an undisguised look of extreme surprise.
This name has not appeared so formally in his court meetings for a long time.
It was like a long-sealed key, instantly unlocking a heavy memory filled with sword fights and fratricide.
His fifteenth brother, Chu Xuan, was not an easy person to get along with.
During the brutal succession struggle that swept through the court in the late emperor's later years, Chu Xuan was one of Chu Ning's strongest and most dangerous rivals.
He was not only a few years older, but also skilled in both literature and military affairs. He had the talent to govern and was also knowledgeable in military matters. He won over a group of supporters in the court and was once at the height of his popularity.
He is meticulous and ruthless, with the potential to become a powerful and ruthless leader.
However, it was Chu Ning who ultimately ascended to the throne.
The details of that struggle have long been obscured by the glory of victory and the dust of time, but the outcome is crystal clear.
Chu Xuan, the prince who was once only one step away from the throne, made an extremely intelligent and decisive decision after the dust settled.
Unlike some other losers, he did not either fight to the bitter end or harbor resentment.
Instead, he took the initiative to submit a memorial, earnestly requesting to leave the capital, the center of power, and relinquish most of his real power, willing to become a wealthy and idle prince, to show that he had no ulterior motives.
It was this pragmatism at the crucial moment that allowed him to save his life during the inevitable reckoning that followed the victory.
He became the only prince to survive among the late emperor's eighteen sons, besides Chu Ning himself and his mediocre seventeenth brother Chu Yun, who only knew romance and poetry.
Chu Yun's presence in the capital was merely decorative.
Chu Xuan, on the other hand, remained obediently in his fiefdom, seemingly having truly immersed himself in the beauty of nature, having completely extinguished his former ambitions.
Come to think of it, this Fifteenth Brother has been silent for far too long.
At this moment, Feng Anguo suddenly proposed that Chu Xuan lead the army heading north to fight the enemy. The implications of this made Chu Ning think deeply.
He slowly walked to the window, gazing at the rows of rooftops inside Zhennanguan and the towering gate walls in the distance, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
"Chu Xuan certainly has the talent to command troops, and I have never doubted that."
Chu Ning's voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself, or as if she were dissecting her inner thoughts.
"When he was in charge of the Ministry of War, his insights on the defense of the northern border were highly praised by several veteran generals."
"In terms of ability, he is indeed the most suitable candidate at present."
However, in addition to ability, loyalty is also a consideration.
Chu Ning's gaze gradually sharpened.
Entrusting all the troops that the country could currently mobilize—the last strategic reserve—to a prince who had once vied for the throne and clearly harbored ambitions was nothing short of a gamble.
The gamble was on Chu Xuan's loyalty to the Chu family's empire, on whether he was truly content with the status quo, and on whether he would take advantage of the emperor's absence while the country was vulnerable, to engage in any treacherous acts of using military power to consolidate his own influence or even go further.
What if... what if Chu Xuan harbors ulterior motives? With this large army, he could easily carve out his own territory or even march south.
The consequences are simply unimaginable!
This is a hundred times more terrifying than the Scorpion Clan's invasion! The war in the southern border is not yet over. If another massive fire breaks out in our rear, the Great Chu Empire may be in danger of collapsing!
Feng Anguo stood aside, silently observing the subtle changes in the emperor's expression.
He was well aware of the risks involved. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to add something, perhaps to propose some countermeasures, or perhaps to recommend other, though slightly less capable, but more reliable, candidates.
But before he could speak, Chu Ning suddenly turned around!
The hesitation and scrutiny on his face had vanished, replaced by an emperor's decisiveness and... a trust bordering on recklessness.
His eyes gleamed with a complex light, reflecting both a clear understanding of potential risks and a confidence in his own control and judgment of the situation.
“In extraordinary times, do extraordinary things!”
Chu Ning's voice was resolute, breaking the silence in the room: "The safety of the Northern Border concerns the lives of millions of people; it cannot be compromised!"