CH 182

Sure enough, the elders and the patriarch agreed.

Sheng Huaixuan closed his eyes. He knew there was no other way. Changshan County no longer belonged to him administratively, and he could only help him as much as he could.

But at the highest elder meeting, he was just one of the many governors and couldn't change the situation.

At this moment, Emperor Li Longxing suddenly spoke up.

"The decentralization of power is not thorough enough. I think we can also delegate military power to Changshan County."

As soon as these words came out, they immediately faced strong opposition from everyone.

But Li Longxing silenced the opposition with just one sentence: "In this way, we don't need to provide money for the garrison troops in Changshan County."

The four elders fell silent for a while before saying, "It's still not appropriate. Changshan County already has some autonomy. If we add fiscal and military power, it will become an independent kingdom."

Li Longxing smiled and said, "Changshan County is in the center of the empire, surrounded by imperial districts in all directions. Are you afraid they will rebel?"

The four elders glanced at each other and still hesitated.

Li Longxing continued, "Moreover, I remember that there are many illegal organizations to the west of Changshan County, and the Tianjiang River connects directly to foreign territories. The tentacles of foreign organizations such as Nanwan Tuo Store Area, Raine City, and the Hot River have reached there. With military power, Changshan County can eliminate them and obtain more spoils. We can also collect more taxes. Isn't this killing three birds with one stone?"

The Chairman of the Imperial Diplomatic Council asked, "What if they protest?"

Li Longxing looked at him disdainfully and said, "The personal actions of the Changshan County Sheriff have nothing to do with the empire."

The elder asked, "What if we lose the war?"

Li Longxing smiled and said, "The empire will take over, the army will be purged, the Tianjiang River will be blocked, the exits will be sealed, and the dogs will be beaten when the door is closed."

In an instant, Sheng Huaixuan understood his old friend's intention and continued, "The stronger Lin Wen's power becomes, the less likely he is to be defeated. The more forces the enemy invests, the greater the benefits when we close the door and beat the dogs. We will definitely profit."

Emperor Li Longxing's gaze swept over, and the two men's eyes met for a moment, understanding each other's thoughts, and then they averted their eyes in unison.

The elders all expressed some opposition, but the patriarch believed it was feasible.

When the four elders and the first elder reached a unanimous decision, the matter was settled.

Shortly after, the expanded meeting ended, and all personnel below the elders left.

The official meeting of the highest council began.

There were only eight elders, four patriarchs, and the emperor present.

At the beginning of the meeting, Luo Nuo and Elder Xu Chengguo jointly proposed that the Imperial Bank start the printing press and issue one trillion imperial yuan in advance to alleviate the economic crisis and fiscal deficit.

After intense arguments, this proposal was rejected.

Then they discussed the tense situation with the Kingdom of Sopdamia.

Both sides had issued ultimatums in order to gain control of the Blackwater River.

Now, the deadline had passed, and war was inevitable.

The question at hand was who to send.

After heated arguments, the patriarch made the final decision and dispatched the frontier official Shan Xinwu to lead the Second Army Group, the Fourth Army Group, and the garrison troops stationed in the western border to the Blackwater River to defeat the Kingdom of Sopdamia and establish the empire's oil hegemony in the Kirkuk region.

The meeting should have ended there, but an urgent report suddenly brought them back.

"Governor Wu Jingtang of Zezhou has rebelled! The Adriano Papal States has announced the annexation of Zezhou as their territory! The Adriano Holy Cavalry has entered, targeting Luo Prefecture, Bin Prefecture, Guang Prefecture, and Zhong Prefecture!"

---

Late at night, Elder Cheng finally left the Imperial Tower and returned to his mansion.

He lay on the large chair, his mind entangled with countless chaotic matters, making him feel exhausted.

For the first time, he felt that the once mighty and glorious empire was slipping away from him.

In his youth, the empire was at its peak, and no force could stop its footsteps. No country dared to challenge the authority of the empire.

The Kingdom of Sopdamia was just a coward hiding behind the Western Federation, never daring to compete with the empire for any benefits.

The Adriano Papal States was even a group of disorganized people. With just one division of troops, the empire could reach their capital and make their pope kneel and beg for mercy.

At that time, his only thought was to secure a place in the empire. He worked tirelessly for it, spending most of his life in internal struggles, never considering the development and future of the empire.

He had already assumed that these things would naturally be taken care of by someone else, and the empire would naturally always be victorious and prosperous. He only needed to exhaust all his efforts to reap the fruits of victory.

In anything he did, his own interests were always the first consideration.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread dot com".

The empire was so vast, what difference would it make if it gained or lost a little?

But suddenly, he realized that this once invincible giant was becoming weak and sick, while its old enemies were becoming stronger.

For a moment, he thought about giving up his previous methods and changing his ways.

But that thought only lasted for a moment before he firmly decided.

The empire would not fall. The empire was so vast, there would naturally be someone to defeat those clowns. He only needed to maintain his own interests.

At this moment, a servant brought a bowl of steaming ginseng soup.

Elder Cheng picked up the ginseng soup and suddenly remembered something, asking, "Where is that brat?"

The servant knew that the master was referring to his only beloved son, Cheng Xiao, and shook his head slightly, "There is still no news."

Elder Cheng frowned slightly, feeling that something was wrong, and asked, "How long has it been since we heard from him?"

The servant carefully recalled, "It's been about two months. Young Master Cheng has been gone for a long time this time, longer than any previous time."

Bang!

Elder Cheng slammed the ginseng soup heavily and said sternly, "Immediately send someone to find him! Bring back that useless thing for me!"

The servant said helplessly, "Master! I have already sent people to look for him. Half of the mansion's staff have been sent out!"

Elder Cheng angrily said, "Then send more people! No matter how much money it costs, bring him back immediately!"

"Yes." The servant took the order and left.

---

At the Winter Palace.

Yu Zhongxian's exclusive conference room.Elder Lin Yabo asked, "How much longer until you can fully control the council?"

Yu Zhongxian's expression was gloomy, "There are still two highest-ranking council members. They are old-timers from the reform period, very stubborn, and it's hard to find their weaknesses."

Elder Lin said, "We must hurry."

Yu Zhongxian nodded grimly.

Elder Lin continued, "Wang Bo'an has already turned to Sheng Huaixuan's side. If he gets too close to the Eastern Faction, it poses a great threat to us."

"In this rebellion, we need to restrain the imperial troops defending the central region, making their defense weak, their supplies scarce, and their soldiers disheartened. Then, we lure Adriano's Holy Cavalry to attack the central region, thereby hitting Wang Bo'an's power."

Yu Zhongxian nodded slightly, "I will also strictly investigate the refugees on both the east and west sides, dispatch patrol teams to build a defense line to prevent smuggling, and at the same time, use security regulations and shelter regulations to force a large number of refugees to go to the central region, increasing Wang Bo'an's burden."

"If he doesn't accept them, I will attack him for being a brutal and indifferent imperial governor, disregarding human life, and ignoring the suffering of the imperial people."

Elder Lin laughed, "If he does accept them, I will control his supplies, let the refugees starve on his territory, and similarly attack him for being brutal and indifferent, disregarding human life, and ignoring the suffering of the imperial people."

The two laughed together.

"This is the consequence of challenging authority!"

---

Taiming Palace.

Yong'an Hall.

As soon as the first princess Li Linyue returned, she convened an emergency meeting and announced what had happened today.

Many core members of the princess's faction were frowning and cursing the traitor Wu Jing Tang.

But Li Linyue quickly stopped them, saying, "Now is not the time to curse the traitor. This is our opportunity, and we must arrange our plans as soon as possible."

She handed a prepared personal letter and a gift to her confidant Xiao Zhizhong.

"You go to the Western Frontier immediately and deliver this gift and letter to Shan Xinwu. Shan Xinwu is a frontier official, as long as he accepts it, he doesn't need to make a statement."

Xiao Zhizhong nodded.

She then took out a pink exquisite box, which contained her personal belongings.

"You give this to Shan Xinwu's son, and similarly, don't say anything."

Xiao Zhizhong nodded, took the two gifts, and set off immediately.

Li Linyue took out the second personal letter, the second gift, and the second pink exquisite box, and said.

"Liu You, you deliver this to the highest commander of the Southwest Military Region, Qin Gang. He was the first to break through the uranium enrichment process and is worth winning over."

Liu You asked, "Your Highness, is this for his young son?"

Li Linyue smiled slightly, "His young son is only 15 years old and has no real power. Even if he wants to become my follower, it doesn't make sense. This gift is for the most famous Ice and Snow Fairy of the Southwest Region, Qin Xiao."

Liu You was slightly surprised, but didn't ask more, took the gift and hurried away.

Li Linyue took out the third gift.

"This is for the Governor of the Central Region, Wang Bo'an, and his eldest son."

The fourth gift.

"Give it to the Governor of Longzhou, Gu Zhengyi. Also give him the personal gift. Yes, it's for him personally, no need to give it to his son."

Until the end, Li Linyue took out the eleventh gift.

She hesitated for a moment, but still said, "This one, give it to the Sheriff of Changshan County, Lin Wen. After tomorrow, it will be the Kingdom of Changshan and King Lin Wen."

One of the princess's confidants, Chang Kaiyuan, expressed understanding, "Although he is just a sheriff, considering he is the first in the history of the empire to handle military, financial, and personnel affairs, I think he deserves the princess's gift."

Hearing this, Li Linyue thought for a moment, and added the pink box, saying, "Give this to him as well, he deserves it."

Chang Kaiyuan took the gift and set off immediately.

At this time, a confidant asked, "Your Highness, who is the general sent by the empire for this rebellion and counterattack?"

Li Linyue's face brightened, and she smiled, "The Empire's Twin Stars."

The members of the princess's faction all gasped, then everyone clapped enthusiastically.

A member shouted, "Then let's wish Philip and Yang Ma success, and a triumphant victory! To add more glory to the princess!"

Everyone cheered together.

Li Linyue sat amidst the cheers and praises, her smile charming, her eyes sparkling, like a beautiful piece of art.

---

On the large military vehicle leaving the capital, in the office belonging to the highest commander.

Qin Gang looked at the letter in his hand that seemed to be really from him, silent for a long time, until the car lights went out and natural sunlight shone in.

He murmured to himself, "Xiao Xiao, is that you? Are you really in Changshan County?"