Chapter 2667 - 2600: Sovereign and Ministers

Gu Zhong lowered his voice and hinted, "The Emperor wishes to have Lord Zhou check his pulse and tell the officials that his health is strong and he does not fear traveling far."

Manbao immediately understood, he still wants to personally lead the expedition.

Manbao glanced at Tang He and could only follow Gu Zhong, turning towards the imperial study room, and quietly asked, "Isn’t Director Xiao here?"

Gu Zhong whispered, "Having an additional official’s words will naturally make the others more convinced."

As if! For these kinds of matters, one doctor’s statement suffices. Who would find two to testify?

Aren’t they afraid of blatantly revealing their intentions?

Director Xiao certainly refused to testify.

Manbao began to weigh the situation in her mind, what should she say when she meets everyone later?

She felt a bit of a headache; why should a minor imperial doctor be dragged into such political struggles?

As she stepped into the imperial study, Manbao recalled Mr. Zhuang’s previous admonishments about being an official, not acting on private interests but prioritizing justice, regardless of personal desires or potential adverse outcomes.

Manbao lifted her eyes, alright, then she will be just.

As an imperial doctor, she just needs to speak truthfully, and as for other matters, she won’t bother.

Manbao steadied her mind and entered the study, glancing around, she honestly stood behind Director Xiao.

Director Xiao slightly turned his head to glance at her, without saying a word.

As Manbao lifted her head, she saw Bai Shan standing aside obediently, their eyes met, and they exchanged a wink before lowering their heads, obediently listening to the nobles discuss politics.

The Emperor was sternly instructing the attendants to hang up the maps, altogether two, one from the ancient collections of the Hanlin Academy and one of the current state.

The Emperor pointed angrily at the northeast, "Look for yourselves, this area has been carved up by Goguryeo for how long? In the past, it was forgivable, but now the country is stable, the treasury... is not that poor, why can’t we fight?"

The officials indicated they could fight; they did not oppose deploying troops but merely opposed your leading them.

Even State Duke Zhao, who usually stood with the Emperor, could not resist subtly hinting that they were not saying not to fight, only opposing you personally leading the expedition.

The Emperor, hearing their agreement to the expedition, directly overlooked the latter half of their words, saying, "Since everyone agrees, then let’s mobilize troops. It is now August and must conclude by December; otherwise, it will be too cold, and the soldiers won’t endure. I will personally lead two thousand Imperial Guards at the rear."

Officials: ...

Lord Tang had no choice but to step forward and say, "Your Majesty, Goguryeo is easy to defend and hard to attack, not easy to fight. I suggest we rest briefly and deploy next year."

The Emperor shook his head, "Quickness is essential in warfare; waiting for next year gives Goguryeo time to recover and becomes harder to fight. We must strike while surrounded on all sides."

Yin Li said, "Your Majesty, Silla and Baekje have turned against each other."

The Emperor twitched his lips; this news was told to him by Yin Li last night. He didn’t know what to react when he heard it.

He truly doesn’t understand these two vassal states, simply being unable to accomplish anything and ruining everything.

It would have been good to ally against Goguryeo, but even if you must attack each other, shouldn’t you wait till Goguryeo is taken down first?

But the battle was halfway through, and they began seizing territories from each other, showing no loyalty as allies.

The Emperor felt these two vassal states lacked intelligence and integrity. Initially, he thought of rewarding them with Pyongyang post defeating Goguryeo, fearing that region was too far and difficult to govern.

But now the Emperor changed his mind.

He said, "Then secretly send an envoy to Silla and Baekje, asking them to cease fire temporarily and focus on defeating Goguryeo first."

"Your Majesty, currently, Goguryeo’s envoys are still residing in the Honglu Temple’s inn. How should they be dealt with?"

"I think, if Goguryeo is willing to retreat, it’s not impossible to negotiate." After all, deploying troops might sound easy, but once embarked, it’s about supplies, equipment, and heavy costs.

Before the Emperor could object, one minister exclaimed, "No, Goguryeo is not trustworthy. Three years ago, their prince was still studying at our Imperial Academy, yet they dared to attack Yingzhou. After being repelled, they seek peace, but how could their peace offer be believed?"

The Emperor, all the more furious, pursed his lips and said, "During the last dynasty’s end, because Goguryeo occupied Liaodong, the last emperor deployed troops against them. He pushed them back countless times near Liaodong City, but each time he was about to invade the city, they feigned surrender. Unfortunately, the last emperor failed to learn from his mistakes, always believing them repeatedly, thus giving them an opportunity, how could I repeat the last emperor’s mistakes?"

Besides, the Emperor and the last emperor have some familial ties; they were cousins. The Emperor might despise the last emperor’s tyranny, but in this world, he detests Goguryeo’s deceit even more. Hence, he said, "Let Honglu Temple send someone to contact them, stall them without allowing any information to be sent back."

"Humph, feigned surrender isn’t exclusive to them; let’s leak a hint, saying I consider agreeing to peace but they lack sincerity, and then restrict their information, bringing them along when I personally lead the expedition."

Officials: ...

The first part is fine, but can you not include the latter sentence?

The officials, exhausted, reiterated their opposition to the last sentence.

The Emperor pointed to Director Xiao and Zhou Man and said, "Courtier Xiao and Courtier Zhou are here, if any officials are worried, they can have them check my pulse to see if I can mount a horse and fight."

Wei Zhi, with a stern face, said, "Your Majesty, a gentleman doesn’t stand under a perilous wall, you are a wise ruler, don’t you understand this basic principle?"

The Emperor said, "I won’t be on the front line, only at the rear."

"Then what is the significance of Your Majesty’s personal leadership?"

"Naturally, to boost morale," the Emperor said somberly, "The last emperor from the previous dynasty launched three eastern campaigns against Goguryeo yet never defeated them; King of Goguryeo pretends to submit, but from the previous dynasty till now, has he once complied with a summons to enter the capital? He disregards tribute and behaves arrogantly."

"I could conquer Eastern Turks, Western Turkic, Gaochang, and Huihe, why can’t I capture a small Goguryeo?" He said, "Since the founding of this dynasty, I have twice launched military campaigns against Goguryeo, both of which ended without success; this time, no matter what, it must be taken down."

The Emperor spoke meaningfully: "When I personally lead the expedition, what worry could the soldiers have?"

Wei Zhi pursed his lips and asked, "How many troops do you plan to send, Your Majesty, and what do you intend to achieve? If more than half are lost without result, will Your Majesty advance or retreat?"

He is worried the Emperor might, like the last emperor, recklessly deploy troops.

It can be said the late dissatisfaction among the populace of the last dynasty was largely due to the eastern expeditions against Goguryeo, with many people volunteering to maim themselves to avoid conscription.

Wei Zhi absolutely refuses for such matters to happen in Great Jin.