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The Emperor emphasized with a heavy tone, "I believe there is no one more suitable for this military power than you!"
"Your Majesty..." Gu Bei did not expect the Emperor to have such high expectations of him. He had always focused on military strategy and paid little attention to the disputes in the court.
In fact, as long as he had battles to fight, able to repel enemy forces and protect his homeland, he cared little for fame or wealth.
In the military camp, Gu Bei lived alongside ordinary soldiers, without any special treatment.
It was precisely because of this nature that when he became part of the 6th Northern Army, he quickly adapted to the impoverished rural life without feeling out of place.
Gu Bei was not foolish; although his thoughts were not on power, his family had served as high-ranking officials for generations, and he had witnessed enough of the ups and downs of court politics.
The Emperor's determination to hand over military power to him was not only due to confidence in Gu Bei's military abilities but likely stemmed from other reasons as well.
At such a moment, under the Emperor's insistence, if he were to refuse publicly, it could lead to a serious charge of 'disobeying the imperial decree.'
With no other choice, Gu Bei could only accept the command: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I will certainly live up to your expectations!"
"Good, good!" The Emperor smiled for the first time in a long while. "Gu Bei, do not let me down!"
Before Gu Bei could return to his original position, he was interrupted. A figure rushed forward and loudly interrupted the conversation between Sovereign and Subject.
"Father, I believe this action is unwise!" The Crown Prince Murong Cheng stepped forward first, attempting to stop the Emperor.
The importance of military power to a Crown Prince aspiring to ascend the throne was undeniable. Initially, it was precisely to gain control over Gu Bei's military authority that he sought to win him over.
When that failed, he resorted to scheming against Gu Bei in an attempt to eliminate him entirely.
His wish had been fulfilled; Gu Bei had disappeared from his sight and the military power was reclaimed. Although it returned to the Emperor's hands, Murong Cheng believed that as long as the troublesome person was gone, it would eventually belong to him.
He never expected that despite all his machinations and risking national interests, Gu Bei would return and reclaim the military power that was so close to being his!
"Father, this matter is of great importance; it is unwise to reach a conclusion too soon. I earnestly request you to think it over!"
Murong Cheng was anxious, knowing that if military power fell into Gu Bei's hands again, it would be difficult to reclaim it.
The Emperor glanced at the Crown Prince below and then surveyed his other sons. "Oh? What does the Crown Prince find inappropriate?"
Murong Cheng felt a chill at the Emperor's gaze and shrank back slightly. However, thinking of the military power that could turn the tide, he gritted his teeth and steeled himself.
"Father, the Flying Dragon General is renowned. His reemployment is a blessing for General Gu and a fortune for our nation."
Murong Cheng first praised Gu Bei, then shifted his tone. "However, the defeat in battle was a well-known fact and has long been spread among the people. If Father easily reinstates General Gu, everyone will think you treat the Nation and People as a joke."
After speaking, Murong Cheng dared not look at the Emperor and lowered his head. Yet he refused to back down, standing firm before the court.
The officials were on edge; the Crown Prince had always been at odds with Gu Bei, and now he was prepared to confront him over military power.
On one side stood the Emperor's own son, and on the other stood a general whom the Emperor valued. This confrontation would be thrilling regardless of who won or lost!
The Emperor looked at his son, seemingly deep in thought, and did not speak immediately.
Everyone's hearts raced even more.
After a long pause, the Emperor finally said slowly, "The Crown Prince is concerned for the state; I am deeply gratified. Since you find it inappropriate, what solution do you propose that satisfies both sides?"
Seeing no signs of anger from the Emperor, Murong Cheng felt a surge of relief and quickly replied, "I believe General Gu is a pillar of our nation and deserves to be reinstated. However, it would be better not to restore him to his former position immediately. Instead, let him be demoted by three ranks so he can gradually rebuild his achievements. Once he has new accomplishments, he can be promoted back to General; this way, it will make sense."
He thought his suggestion was brilliant. By lowering Gu Bei's rank, he would not have access to military power. Moreover, the process of demotion followed by promotion would take time.
Especially with Murong Cheng around, he could ensure that this process dragged on indefinitely!
Although he still had to allow Gu Bei to remain in sight and could not completely eliminate him, Murong Cheng was not yet bold enough to directly defy the Emperor's wishes; he could only compromise for now.
The Emperor looked at the ministers below and asked, "What do you all think of the Crown Prince's proposal?"
Trouble had come knocking again!
The heart of the officials began to tremble uneasily, threatening to leap out of their throats at any moment.
At that moment, Gu Rong stepped forward.
He was quite satisfied with Murong Cheng as an ally. Among all the people he knew, only Murong Cheng shared his steadfast hatred for Gu Bei.
"Your Majesty, I believe what the Crown Prince has said is absolutely correct." After bowing, Gu Rong immediately voiced his support for Murong Cheng. "Although General Gu is my elder brother, I cannot take pride in that. I must prioritize Your Majesty and the court above all else."
With a righteous demeanor, he continued, "The crimes committed by my elder brother are indeed facts. Although Your Majesty has shown mercy and chosen not to pursue them, our Gu Family has been loyal for generations. We cannot shamelessly brush aside our own responsibilities just because we desire a military position!"
His words sounded grand and noble; those who did not know him might truly believe he was acting in the interest of his family.
Gu Bei listened intently, recalling the last time they met when Gu Rong had looked at him with such disdain that it sparked an urge to laugh.
Unbeknownst to him, Gu Rong had completely transformed into someone he no longer recognized. The Gu Rong who used to climb trees and ride horses with him was gone; the current Gu Rong was one who would stand in the Golden Throne Hall advocating for his punishment.
While the winds of change swirled in the Golden Throne Hall, business at the tavern remained bustling as ever.
Great figures had their own dramas, while ordinary people enjoyed their stability.
In the palace not far away, a struggle was unfolding that could influence the state’s affairs. Yet common folk continued to eat and drink without sensing any disturbance.
Only Ye Xiaohan, mingling among the crowd but preoccupied with thoughts of a certain prominent figure, absentmindedly fiddled with her abacus at the counter.
"Sister-in-law, are you still worried about Big Brother?"
After settling a table's bill, Liu Yang returned and immediately guessed her concerns upon seeing her disheveled appearance.
Ye Xiaohan did not hide it. "I received news from Gu Da earlier that today is supposed to be the day they finally decide on Gu Bei's charges. By now, it should have already begun. I wonder if everything will go smoothly?"
"Don't worry," Liu Yang said casually. "Since Brother and Brother Gu have already made preparations, we should trust them. There won't be any problems!"
Ye Xiaohan seemed to be lost in thought, responding absentmindedly. When Liu Yang returned after finishing another table, he noticed she had already changed to a clean cloth and was distractedly wiping the counter.
Sighing, he realized that it seemed Sister-in-law wouldn't return to normal until Brother came back safely.
Liu Yang shook his head and busied himself attending to the customers.
The Emperor glanced at the eloquent Gu Rong and then at the silent Gu Bei kneeling on the ground, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.
However, he concealed it well; not many people noticed.
Among those few was the Chancellor, Liu Chengye.
The Emperor's attitude towards Gu Bei was already so obvious, yet there were still those who publicly hoped for Gu Bei to be punished. It seemed their minds weren't quite right. But Liu Chengye was definitely not one of them.
"Your Majesty, I cannot agree," Liu Chengye stepped forward and said. "I believe that initially labeling General Gu as a criminal without clarifying the details was already a mistake on the court's part. Now that the truth is clear, it is time to restore General Gu's reputation."
Liu Chengye continued, "I think your decision is very commendable. Allowing General Gu to return to his former position and reinstating the military authority he once held shows that Your Majesty knows how to utilize talent and is brave enough to admit mistakes. This is indeed a great fortune!"
After Liu Chengye finished speaking, he saw the Emperor nod slightly, confirming that his guess was correct.
The Emperor was certainly aware of the Crown Prince's intentions.
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