"Confer upon Jiang Yi the rank of Brave General, and grant him the authority of a supreme commander."
He then dispatched the remaining troops, specifying they were to obey General Jiang's orders. "This expedition must pacify Beichuan. In urgent matters, you may act at your discretion without seeking my approval." He paused. "Your primary objective is to quell the rebellion by eliminating the traitorous army. All other matters are secondary."
Even a matter as important as holding Rong Zhenhai accountable had to take a backseat to restoring peace for the people.
The ministers who came to hear the decree were numb with shock.
Anyone close to the Emperor who had followed him since his ascension would have discovered that trust was the cornerstone of his rule and his use of ministers.
This was true in matters of state, and equally so within the palace.
