Chapter 208: Hmm, Why Did She Want to Seize the Throne Again?

The ranks of Song Junzhan and others from poor families continued to swell. Talented civil servants and military generals were discovered, and sons of fallen aristocratic families were brought back into service.

Although the official positions weren’t completely set, a brand new and vibrant system of government was gradually taking shape.

「Ten days later, the court reconvened.」

Xiao Li, dressed in a golden Dragon Robe, stood on the dais. Below her, the imperial path was carved with coiling dragons, flowing clouds, and ocean waves. At the foot of the steps, the officials stood in formation. They all had youthful faces, showing no trace of weariness or age.

The civil servants were full of youthful vigor, and the military officers were imposing and spirited.

"We, your subjects, greet the Empress! Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long, long live!"

The voices were sonorous, shaking heaven and earth, the echoes lingering endlessly.

The three cheers cemented the true beginning of the Empress’s reign.

Xiao Li raised her hand. "My ministers, you may rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Lou Yan held the imperial edict, slowly unrolled it, and read the accession proclamation.

The edict had been written by Song Junzhan and his peers. It began by addressing the nation’s past troubles and the recent chaos. It then described how the new Empress seized control and stepped up to take the throne. It concluded by looking to the future, laying out her political philosophy and strategy for governing the country.

After the proclamation, officials were appointed on the spot.

The posts of First-Grade Minister and the Chiefs of Staff for the Six Ministries were left vacant for the time being. The appointments began with the Assistant Ministers of the Six Ministries. Each ministry was assigned two Assistant Ministers, who would temporarily perform the duties of the Chiefs of Staff.

Officials of the fourth-rank and above were appointed by imperial edict. Those below the fourth-rank were appointed by official document.

The same applied to military generals.

After the appointments were announced, everyone arranged themselves according to their new positions.

Xiao Li first entered Jinluan Hall and sat on the Dragon Throne, and the officials entered to pay homage.

Among all the officials, one person was unique. Song Junzhan’s name had not appeared on the imperial edict, and he had received no appointment, but he still led all the civil servants, standing in the front row with Yang Jun and Rong Qing.

He was the uncrowned prime minister. His ability to stand there proved that the Empress still valued him highly, but there were surely other plans in store for him.

"Report!"

A war report interrupted the court assembly.

A report from the front lines: Yue Country had occupied Yanping State, burning, killing, and looting. They had massacred many civilians and had now also conquered the neighboring Shanzhou and Taiping City.

Xiao Li said, "I recall sending a military general there previously."

Yue Country’s attack on Yanping State had happened just over ten days ago. At the time, the Emperor was in a coma, the court was in chaos, and Prince Yanping was unwilling to return. Ultimately, it was decided that the Ministry of War would order troops from surrounding areas to reinforce Yanping.

Yang Jun stepped forward. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the troops dispatched previously were precisely those from Shanzhou and Taiping City. However, no war reports have been received these past few days."

Xiao Li said, "Bring the messenger forward."

The messenger was a man in his twenties with dark skin and a gaunt build. The long journey had left him looking utterly exhausted.

He already knew the country had a new ruler, and a female one at that. Although shocked, he had no time to dwell on it.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Xiao Li said, "Report on the battle situation."

The messenger said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Yue Country first attacked Yanping State. After conquering it, they burned, killed, and looted the area. Ten days ago, the court ordered Shanzhou and Taiping City to send reinforcements, but both garrisons held their positions and refused to move out. Four days later, the Yue army split into two columns and attacked both cities at once. Shanzhou’s gates were breached in less than a day. The commander of Taiping City, Great General Yuan Zhao, led his troops in a fight to the death. For three days, casualties were immense, and the city finally fell after General Yuan was killed."

"Yue Country’s vanguard consists of 50,000 elite cavalry and 40,000 heavy armored soldiers. Including their infantry, their total forces number 150,000 strong."

After listening, Xiao Li sighed internally. ’This is the difference between a country and a company.’

’A corporate takeover is simple. It’s all about the shares. Whoever holds the shares and the company seal owns the company. The people below are all paid employees; it doesn’t matter who signs the paychecks, they’ll still take the money and do their jobs.’

’A company’s rights are protected by law and bound by rules. But the prerequisite for all of that is a powerful nation.’

’But now, what I hold is the country itself. There is no higher law to protect my interests.’

’I’ve only just ascended the throne. The only thing I can truly control is this Imperial City. In other places, they might not even recognize the edicts of an Empress.’

’An unstable regime, not enough manpower, and ineffective decrees. And now they want me to deal with a distant border.’

’It’s completely beyond my reach.’

The officials all began to offer suggestions, saying that the Empress’s Silver Armor Army was powerful. If Rong Qing were to lead them, and they brought along those deadly weapons that fired cannonballs, they would surely send the Yue Country’s forces fleeing in disarray.

All of their proposals revolved around two things: the Silver Armor Army and gunpowder.

It was clear they had great confidence in Xiao Li and were eager to witness the power of those cannons again.

Young, hot-blooded men, even civil servants, could never resist the allure of guns and cannons.

But no matter how heated their discussion became, the three men at the front—Song Junzhan, Yang Jun, and Rong Qing—remained silent.

They knew the numbers and composition of the Silver Armor Army best. They were the Empress’s personal guards, responsible for her safety. They could not leave her side.

And the number of cannons was limited. Their main purpose was to deter anyone who might try to seize the throne.

They were the Empress’s talismans for protection. Dragging them a thousand miles away to fight a war was simply impossible.

The underlying reason for all this: the Empress had only just ascended the throne and lacked sufficient manpower.

The three men knew the truth but didn’t speak up. They couldn’t let this group of fervent men, who currently worshipped the Empress, find out she was short on firepower.

Xiao Li thought, ’...’

’Hmm, why did I want to seize the throne again?’

’Oh right, it was to stop the male lead from becoming the emperor, to derail the plot of the male and female leads. To stand at the apex of the story and kill anyone who comes my way.’

’My goal was to stir up trouble, to eliminate the male and female leads, to tear the heavens down, and to leave.’

’And now, right off the bat, I have to go to war with another country, manage a nation, and worry that I don’t have enough firepower to keep the world in awe.’

’Suddenly, my enemies have shifted from the male and female leads to the entire world.’

’Hmm... I might have been a bit reckless.’

’But no matter. Since I dared to take this throne, I can solve these problems.’

After the court session was dismissed, Xiao Li went to the place where the prisoners were being held.

The three cages were not far apart, separated by about thirty feet. This allowed the prisoners to see each other and even hear one another, but only if they shouted.

At first, everyone had cursed Xiao Li. The whole group had been quite vigorous with their insults.

Now, ten days had passed. Living on steamed buns and plain water in the hot weather, they were barely clinging to life. They had cursed their throats raw and no longer had the energy for it.

Every one of them felt that death would be a mercy, having lost all will to live.

Xiao Li’s arrival, however, instantly stirred this stagnant pool of despair. Seeing her dressed in the Dragon Robe was an especially sharp jolt to their nerves.

"A hen crowing at dawn, a woman as emperor... The heavens seek to destroy our Longsheng Country..."

SQUELCH!

The man’s shouts had barely faded when a blade ran him through, turning him into a corpse in an instant.

Lou Yan pulled the blade out, slowly handed it to a guard, and stared menacingly at the people in the cages. "The Empress has already ascended the throne, and the court has been re-established. All who refuse to submit will be considered traitors and executed without mercy!"

Xiao Li walked toward the cage holding the three Princes. The Silver Armor Guards surrounded the other two cages, and every one of them drew their blades. If anyone dared to utter a word of dissent, they would be killed on the spot.