37 THE GENERAL

A Crack in Trust.

After the General left to the North Border, I feel worried for every minute that passed. It has been months he's there and I'm only hearing news of him from the informants that came to report to the King.

'What if something happens to him? What if the Ming attacks the camps when he's there?' Bad thoughts filled my head.

The King has also become busy and the assembly that should be done once a week turns into four to five times a week.

The King urges the ministers to formulate new proposals for each Ministry and discuss over each plan thoroughly that any flaws detected will have to be devised and presented again.

The King also ordered the Ministers to revise present laws and regulations for an improvement or to check for irrelevancies.

Few Ministers complimented the King for being attentive of the Nation's matters but few others complained that they have so much work and unable to spend more time with their families.

Not only that, in order to capture the hearts of the people,the King has increased subsidies and reduce taxes. The people are starting to believe the young King is reliable and one that loves his people and the Nation.

They have forgotten the First Prince as the second heir and once a rival for the throne after he left and the only name that receives all the compliments from the people is the King.

***

The King sits behind the table, stacks of scrolls waiting to be read. He's in the library accompanied by the Royal Advisor and Eunuch Moon.

The Royal Advisor looks at the King, "Your Majesty, it seems like the people are in favour of you now. Not other name is mentioned when asked who is the most perfect King for this nation, just you."

The King feels proud when he heard the news. Indeed, it takes few months to make the name of the First Prince disappears from the people's mouth when it comes to the question, 'Who is the most suitable King?'

After months of plans and the General is preoccupied with North Border's matters, at last, the King receives all the attention from the people.

The King's lips form a thin smile, "It's no use of asking that Royal Advisor, I'm their only King, there shouldn't be other names."

"Indeed, Your Majesty, forgive my mistake," I could see the Royal Advisor smirks at the King but the King doesn't notice it.

"Eunuch Moon, did you call for the informant?" Th King asks. He ordered EunuchMoon to call for an informant to ask regarding the situation in the North Border.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Eunuch Moon calls the informant to enter the room.

As soon as the informant enters the room, the King inquires him regarding the First Prince and the situation in the North Border.

"Your Majesty, I received two news from the border this morning, a good and a very unfavourable one," the informant says.

"Elaborate," the King orders.

"The good news is the General has completedthe construction of the fortresses as planned and it protects the villages from the attacks of the Ming's. Soldiers are stationed on each village's fortress and the attacks has reduced this past month," the informant explains. Now, he looks a bit hesitant for the next part.

"What is it?" The King demands.

"The fortress has indeed protected the villages however, the Soldiers Camps has been targeted by the Ming's and the General went to negotiate some proposals with the Mings but unfortunately the Mings had rejected every offer and they planned to attack. They threatened the General that they had prepared thousand of troops," he paused.

"The General has decided to attack them, tonight," he says with a heavy tone.

"What's the issue?"

"The General has ordered the few soldiers remained at their respective stations and protect the villages and the others will join him into the battle. But, the Mings said they have thousand of soldiers and compared the numbers of soldiers in the camps, the difference is too big," his face is gloomy. "The General might not have a chance, Your Majesty."

The King throws the scroll in his hand to the informant, "Audacious!This is all your speculation?!"

The informant prostates to the floor, " Forgive me, Your Majesty, I'mmerely stating the facts."

"Facts? The Mings are known for their big mouths. Always lying, arrogant and never ceased to exaggerate. I believe the General has done necessary researches regarding them. That's why he's ready to attack them," the King glares at the informant. "Take your filthy mouth out of here before I change my mind."

"I'm grateful for you grace, Your Majesty," the informant says then he scrambles out of the room.

The Royal Advisor has been listening to everything in silence and after the informant left he says his thought, "Will it be okay, Your Majesty?"

The King puts his thumbs between his eyebrows and closes his eyes, "What is it? Royal Advisor?"

"If the General wins the battle, he'll be a hero and people will look up to him and he'll steal the people's hearts," the Royal Advisor says mockingly.

The King opens his eyes and glares at the Royal Advisor,"Then do you wish him to lose and die in the war, Royal Advisor?" He speaks with an annoyed tone.

"Not to that extent, Your Majesty. I'm just calculating possibilities if the General wins the first war he leads and on top of that it's the war that has been fought by our ancestors - without winning, how will the people think about him after this?" He's asking a leading question.

He clearly stating that when the General comes back with victory, the people will start comparing the two again and the King's efforts will go to the drain. He's trying to make the King feels inferior of the General and if he succeeds, then the King will always feels insecure and suspicious of the General. 'What is he scheming?'

"You're a snake!" I glare at him. "I will haunt you every night. You dare to play with my grandsons!" Is there not a superpower comes with this supernatural life? I had enough being a kind ghost. I want to scare him to death!

"Don't think I don't know what you mean, Royal Advisor Li. I'd appointed you as the Royal Advisor so do what you need to do, advise! Stop speculating about the General, I'll pretend that I didn't hear anything. Now, leave."