Hearing his wife’s question, Fu Chen’an thought for a while before he said, "So far, he is busy promoting people to take up posts and holding several long meetings with the higher-ranking officers."

"From the recent orders given by the Battalion Commanders, it seems that the General plans to take the Northeast City for himself."

Hearing this, Yao Zhi nodded. "That’s good. I have spent so much effort setting up the formation. When the dragon vein is fixed, this city will become a blessed land."

"Also, the resources stored in the mountain ridge can compare to those of the other kingdoms. If they are taken away by the Imperial Court, that would be a huge loss for us."

Fu Chen’an thought for a moment and asked, "Wife, if the General appoints me to guard this city, will you stay here with me?"

Thinking about the unfinished matters back at home, Yao Zhi sighed. "I’m afraid that I can’t stay with you. There are unfinished matters at home that need my attention."

When he heard this, Fu Chen’an frowned deeply.

He was reluctant to live separately from his wife. But he also knew that his wife was not the same as other women. She was not someone who would be content to stay inside the courtyard.

Even if he could trap her inside the courtyard, he was unwilling to clip her wings. His wife was the most beautiful when she showed off her achievements to him.

After a long silence, he sighed. "Wife, if you can’t stay with me, then promise me that you will come inside more often so I can see you."

At first, Yao Zhi thought that her husband would insist on her accompanying him and staying in this city. She never expected him to give her so much freedom.

She leaned closer and gave him a kiss before saying, "Husband, it’s my blessing to be able to marry you."

Fu Chen’an leaned closer and whispered, "It’s I who is blessed."

As soon as he finished his words, the two of them shared a long, sweet kiss. It wasn’t until the clock struck 6 o’clock in the evening that they left the shared manor.

While Yao Zhi reappeared in her room, Fu Chen’an reappeared in his tent at the military camp.

At the same time, a man riding a fast horse approached the Capital City’s gate. When the patrolling guards saw him, they aimed their bows at him while the Squad Leader shouted, "Stop at once!"

The man pulled on the reins and rubbed his horse’s neck to calm it down.

When the horse finally calmed down, he took out a token from his clothes and shouted, "I’m a messenger sent by General Lu. I’m here to deliver an urgent military report to the Minister of War!"

The moment the patrolling guards heard this, they quickly opened the city gate. After they confirmed that the token was real, they no longer held the messenger back and let him pass.

The messenger urged his horse forward and galloped toward the Minister of War’s office.

In recent years, the Capital’s curfew has been changed from 9 o’clock to 6 o’clock in the evening. During the curfew, the roads were empty, and the city was eerily silent.

The messenger noticed the strange situation and frowned. Although he felt that something was off about the Capital’s situation, he had no time to think about it right now.

The sound of horse hooves striking the ground echoed through the area. Soon after the messenger rode past, several people peeked through their windows and doors.

Curiosity and fear were clear in their eyes. They wanted to go out, but when they saw the patrolling guards coming over, they quickly locked their windows and doors and hid inside.

When the moon hung in the sky, the messenger finally reached the Minister of War’s office. This time, he showed his token and, soon after, was led inside.

The moment the messenger saw the old man sitting behind the desk, he dropped to his knees.

Cupping his fists, he lowered his head and said, "Reporting to Lord Chen, this subordinate was ordered by General Lu Qianxuan to deliver this military report."

Then, he took out a bamboo tube from his clothes and held it with both hands.

Chen Moyun, the Minister of War, glanced at his adjutant. Receiving the signal, the adjutant took the bamboo tube from the messenger’s hands and opened the lid. He took out the memorial from inside and handed it to him.

Chen Moyun read the report carefully before placing it on the desk. He looked at the messenger’s haggard face and dirty clothes for a moment before saying, "Xiao Liu, prepare some food and let him rest in the guesthouse."

His adjutant nodded. "Understood."

After they left, Chen Moyun tapped his fingers on the desk with narrowed eyes.

When the Emperor issued the edict, most of the ministers and military officers who had a good relationship with the Duke of Zhenguo tried to persuade him to rescind it.

They reasoned with the Emperor and even showed him reports of the kingdom’s current situation and the national treasury’s deficit. Everyone knew that their kingdom was exhausted and not in a position to engage in another war or reclaim the Northeast City.

Not to mention the need to replace the old and damaged armor and weapons, just the provisions needed to support the army during the campaign would cost them a lot of money.

They didn’t want the Emperor to make another rash decision and cause the fall of their kingdom.

But instead of listening to their advice, the Emperor was angered and ordered all of them to be punished.

More than half of the ministers who advised the Emperor were stripped of their positions and sent back to their hometowns. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

As for the rest, those who were lucky were thrown into prison and could not leave for the rest of their lives. Those who were unlucky were beaten to death outside the Hall of Magnificent Brilliance.