"If the discussion today is about attacking Chu, then it seems that I won't be leading the army this time," Zhao Feng said slowly, his tone filled with certainty.
"Indeed, that is the case," Wang Jian nodded.
"The four major camps of the Qin dynasty those guarding the northern border are mainly for defense against the northern barbarian tribes."
"And when Qin attacks other states, it is always Lan Tian and Wu'an who lead the charge, while the Hangu Camp has never been given the main offensive task. This time, Huan Yi will fight for it with all his might."
"Moreover, many officials in the court will not just watch you achieve another great merit," Han Fei smiled, understanding the implication in Zhao Feng's words.
"Let others take the credit this time. There's no shortage of battle achievements," Zhao Feng smiled lightly, not overly concerned.
At this point, his power and position had reached their current state.
With only Qi and Chu remaining in the land of Shenzhou, he might not lead the troops this time, but next time, he definitely would.
The position of Guo Wei was his by right no one could take it from him.
Meanwhile, on the other side:
"Young Master."
"There are already some rumors in the court. The King might soon send troops to Chu. In any case, we cannot let Zhao Feng continue leading the army, or he will become the head of the military officials, which would not be good for us," Wei Zhuang whispered.
"Let's follow what Wei Zhuang suggests," Fusu sighed.
He didn't want to fight, but his supporters were pushing him into it.
Though they supported him, they were using his name to gain benefits.
"Fusu, Fusu..."
"Too soft-hearted."
"If I were you, I would have already dealt with me."
"And you are not leading your subordinates; they are the ones controlling you."
Although Wei Zhuang and the others were whispering, they were only about ten meters away from Zhao Feng, and even without expanding his divine senses, he could hear them very clearly.
At this moment!
The court doors opened.
"All officials, pay respects to the King!" Zhao Gao shouted.
He then bent over and walked into the hall.
The officials, organized and in order, made their way into the court.
Ren Xiao led a group of imperial guards to check the swords carried by the ministers as they entered.
As usual, Zhao Feng entered the hall with his sword. Even though he had obtained the Tianwen Sword, he still wore the Longquan Sword, as he had not yet found the existence of other practitioners. A divine weapon like the Tianwen Sword didn't need to be drawn and was kept as his trump card.
Inside the hall, everything proceeded as usual.
Zhao Feng stood at the head of the military officials, while Wang Wan, who had previously stood at the head of the civil officials, was no longer there. Now it was Han Fei at the top, and there were new faces in the court, such as Xiao He, as well as some new faces Zhao Feng had never seen before.
The court was large, and there were limited official positions. The officials from the capital were highly sought after, and with some leaving, others naturally rose in their place.
Fusu and Hu Hai stood below the steps.
Their right to participate in state affairs was limited to listening from below and expressing their opinions.
"Hu Hai looks harmless, but he is a pervert," Zhao Feng thought, observing Hu Hai. After all these years, Hu Hai had grown up.
Zhao Feng glanced around the room before withdrawing his gaze.
At this moment!
"The King has arrived."
Zhao Gao shouted.
Ying Zheng's figure appeared, walking slowly out.
"All ministers, pay respects to His Majesty..."
The court session began as usual, with ministers bowing and calling out.
With all the ministers in their positions, the court session officially commenced.
"Your Majesty," Han Fei stood up and reported loudly.
"Today, the Yandi region has been successfully pacified and is now part of our Qin territory."
"Tsai Ci implemented Qin's policies in Yandi, and the people have all pledged allegiance."
"The war is over, and the region of Dukan has welcomed the first harvest under Qin's rule," Han Fei reported.
"How are the supplies in our grain storage?" Ying Zheng looked at Han Fei and asked.
"Replying to Your Majesty, aside from some drought-affected areas that lack water..."
"Most of the granaries are over 70% full."
"In Guanzhong, Shu, and Dukan, the granaries are full."
"With these supplies, not counting transport losses, our Qin army could wage war for a year with a hundred thousand elite soldiers," Han Fei immediately responded.
"After taking office as Chancellor for three months, Chancellor Han's abilities truly impressed me," Ying Zheng said with a smile.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust and for appointing me as Chancellor. I will never let Your Majesty down," Han Fei bowed deeply and then returned to his position at the head.
"Your Majesty," Wei Liao stood up and said loudly.
"Go ahead, Wei Liao," Ying Zheng waved his hand.
"The state of Chu has undergone a major change," Wei Liao announced.
"The Governor of Chu was ambushed by Li Yuan and the three major families of Chu, and Li Yuan is dead. They have supported a new king, who is not from the Chu royal family, but the son of Li Yuan, named Fu Chu."
"The three families have executed the previous royal family," Wei Liao continued.
"Now, Chu has established a new king, named Fu Chu."
Wei Liao stepped forward and announced loudly.
As soon as he finished speaking, many ministers in the court showed shocked expressions, but some, perhaps already aware of the news, remained calm.
"Your Majesty," Han Fei spoke up.
"Chu is in turmoil, with internal chaos and the three major families vying for power. The King of Chu is powerless."
"This is an opportunity for our Great Qin to attack Chu."
"I am willing to lead the army to destroy Chu and help unify the empire." Huan Yi immediately stepped forward and made his request.
Ying Zheng did not agree immediately but looked toward Zhao Feng. "Zhao Feng, in your opinion, how many troops will be needed to destroy Chu?"
"Replying to Your Majesty," Zhao Feng slowly began.
"Chu's territory is vast, and its military strength is comparable to that of the former Zhao state, and their soldiers are fierce."
"To annihilate Chu, at least six hundred thousand troops will be needed, perhaps even more."
"I only need twenty thousand soldiers from the Hangu Camp, and I am certain we can destroy Chu."
"Chu is in internal chaos, and the situation at court is unstable. This is a golden opportunity. Even though Chu's military strength is comparable to the former Zhao state, the internal strife will prevent them from fully utilizing their national strength."
"Moreover," Zhao Feng continued, "The King of Chu is just a puppet. The true military power lies with the three families."
"I am confident we can destroy Chu." Huan Yi said loudly.
"Your Majesty," Wei Zhuang spoke up.
"Although our grain reserves are plentiful, we cannot afford to waste too much by deploying the two major camps. If General Huan Yi leads twenty thousand soldiers from his division to destroy Chu, he will certainly achieve great success."
"To preserve the strength of our Great Qin, I believe General Huan Yi can indeed destroy Chu."
Wei Zhuang stood up, strongly supporting Huan Yi's request.
"I also support this."
"During the destruction of Zhao, we deployed the manpower of two major camps, totaling over eight hundred thousand, along with grain transport and logistical support."
"These are difficult challenges."
"The more troops we deploy, the greater the losses. The more troops, the harder the transportation becomes."
"General Huan Yi has such confidence. If he can indeed destroy Chu with just one camp's worth of troops, it will be a great blessing for our Great Qin."
"Your Majesty, please consider carefully." One by one, the ministers stood up and echoed the support.
Everyone seemed to be in favor of Huan Yi leading the troops to attack Chu.
Seeing this, Zhao Feng simply smiled lightly and shook his head, indifferent.
It was clear.
They didn't want to see him lead the army again and achieve another victory. If he did, the position of Guo Wei would be sealed, and no one could stop it.
However, Zhao Feng had no intention of contending for this battle.
The Chu was vast, with strong soldiers and horses. To defeat it, an absolute advantage was required. Even though Qin's elite troops were powerful, Chu was not weak.
"Zhao Feng, what do you think?" Ying Zheng asked, his gaze fixed on Zhao Feng.
"I still stand by my opinion."
"To destroy Chu, we need an overwhelming advantage in troops. Although Chu is in chaos, if we attack, they will see it as an invasion by a great enemy. Once the country is destroyed, they will lose all their power."
"Therefore, they will resist our Great Qin with all their might."
Zhao Feng spoke slowly.
"This is the thought of General Zhao Feng."
"However," Huan Yi said with a serious expression, "If General Zhao Feng is wrong, and the internal chaos in Chu makes it impossible for them to resist Great Qin, then it would be a great joy for our Great Qin."
Huan Yi was determined to seize this opportunity to lead the troops.
Ying Zheng scanned the court and then glanced at Zhao Feng.
He hadn't expected Zhao Feng to not contend for this chance to lead the army.
He had initially thought that, by allowing Zhao Feng to achieve another victory, he could secure the position of Guo Wei for him, solidifying his position as the leading military official.
"Since General Huan Yi is so confident, how could I not support him?" Ying Zheng finally spoke.
"However," he added, "Those leading the troops must be cautious."
"You must not disappoint me." There was pressure in Ying Zheng's tone.
Huan Yi was shaken, but his face brightened as he bowed, "I will not disappoint Your Majesty."
"This battle will surely destroy Chu!"
Seeing Ying Zheng issue the decree, Wei Zhuang, who had been nervous, finally relaxed.
"This time, the opportunity to attack Chu has not been given to Zhao Feng."
"Now," he thought, "As long as Huan Yi can destroy Chu, the credit for the destruction of a country will not go to Zhao Feng."
"Once Chu falls, only Qi will remain, and they will no longer be a threat. There's even a chance to force Qi to surrender."
"As long as Zhao Feng cannot move forward, it will be to our benefit," Wei Zhuang silently thought to himself.
"Your Majesty," Zhao Feng said, "I have been studying at home for three months and missed my return date."
"Now that General Huan Yi is leading the army, I no longer need to worry."
"I respectfully ask Your Majesty to grant me leave to return to my hometown and rest."
Zhao Feng bowed deeply to Ying Zheng and made his request.
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng shot Zhao Feng a displeased glance.
"I just gave you three months of leave in your residence. Now you want to go back to your hometown? What's this? Don't you want to stay in Xianyang?" Ying Zheng said, his tone full of dissatisfaction.
"Zhao Feng is starting to get a bit arrogant."
"Fine," Ying Zheng said with a wave, "If this displeases me, Zhao Feng is digging his own grave."
"As a minister, you must not neglect your duties. This is a major taboo."
"You are still too young and proud, treating the army like a court..."
Many ministers overheard Ying Zheng's displeasure and couldn't help but secretly feel a bit schadenfreude.
But in truth, Zhao Feng didn't worry about it at all.
He was very familiar with Ying Zheng's tone by now.
It was almost the same tone used in the Changtai Palace.
"Your Majesty," Zhao Feng said, "I am but a simple soldier."
"Other than leading the troops in battle, I have little interest in other matters."
"My mother is enjoying her time in the hometown, and I wish to go back and spend time with her." Zhao Feng said with a helpless expression.
Seeing Zhao Feng like this, Ying Zheng immediately thought of Xia Dong'er alone in the Sand Dunes.
"I will grant you two months of leave," Ying Zheng said with a wave. "But after two months, you will come back immediately."
Zhao Feng immediately bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great favor."
He then happily withdrew.
This time off was not only to accompany his mother and children but also to take the opportunity to expand his small world while away from Xianyang, gathering people from Yan Court into his small world.
Of course, before bringing people into his small world, Zhao Feng still needed to visit the Yan Court base and arrange for some people there.
The development of a world must have order, and Zhao Feng's word was the order of that world, while Yan Court represented him.
"Zhao Feng is not being punished."
"Your Majesty is being too lenient with him," many ministers quietly thought.
Seeing that Ying Zheng did not reprimand Zhao Feng and instead granted his request, some people couldn't help but feel disappointed.
As time passed, the court meetings gradually dispersed.
Just as Zhao Feng was about to leave the hall, Huan Yi approached him.
"General," Huan Yi said, with a hint of goodwill in his tone, "Please don't mind the rivalry among the military."
"General Huan Yi, you're too polite," Zhao Feng replied with a smile. "We are all warriors of the Great Qin. As long as we can contribute to the unification of the empire, everything is worth it."
"I wish you success, General Huan Yi, in this campaign to destroy Chu." Zhao Feng continued with a smile.
Seeing that Zhao Feng was not angry at all, Huan Yi let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you," Huan Yi immediately responded with a smile.
"General," Zhao Feng said, as he walked closer and lowered his voice, "May I say something? I hope you will listen."
"Please, General," Huan Yi quickly responded.
"In warfare, the most crucial factor is logistics. You must pay close attention to this," Zhao Feng said seriously.
Upon hearing this, Huan Yi immediately nodded. "I will certainly pay attention to this matter. Thank you for the reminder, General Zhao."
"That's good," Zhao Feng said, not saying much more.
Zhao Feng was very aware of the historical records regarding Great Qin's attack on Chu, and there was one particular event that stood out in his mind.
Mi Qi's betrayal!
When Qin attacked Chu, Mi Qi led tens of thousands of soldiers to guard the city of Chen Ying, which was connected to Chu, overseeing the logistics. However, Mi Qi later betrayed Great Qin and defected to Chu, becoming the last King of Chu.
This was one of the reasons for Great Qin's initial defeat in the attack on Chu.
Zhao Feng's reminder today wasn't for Huan Yi but for the elite soldiers of Great Qin.
However, he couldn't be too direct about it. After all, Mi Qi was the maternal grandfather of Fusu and held significant power in court. Although he wasn't granted the title of one of the Nine Ministers, his position was still very high.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been ordered to guard Chen Ying, which was a strategic location, and his return would certainly place him in a high position.
There were even rumors that he would be appointed as the right chancellor upon his return.
Therefore, Zhao Feng couldn't openly say that Mi Qi would betray the country. He just wanted to remind Huan Yi to be cautious about logistics, indirectly hinting at the need to be wary of Mi Qi.
As for whether Huan Yi would take it seriously, that was up to him. Zhao Feng had done all he could.
"Please wait a moment, General."
As Zhao Feng reached the gates of the hall, Wei Liao's voice came from behind.
Upon hearing Wei Liao's voice, Zhao Feng's eyes flashed with surprise.
"Is there something the Deputy Minister needs?" Zhao Feng immediately cupped his fists and asked.
Wei Liao was an obscure figure in the court. Unless it was a matter of state or related to military affairs, he rarely spoke. Court intrigues and power struggles had nothing to do with him.
Moreover, he didn't have many close allies in the court. If anyone could be called a solitary minister, it would undoubtedly be him.
Thus, Zhao Feng was quite surprised when Wei Liao called out to him in front of so many people.
"Would you mind stepping aside for a moment, General?" Wei Liao asked with a smile.
Zhao Feng nodded and smiled, "Of course."
Though unsure of Wei Liao's intentions, Zhao Feng could tell from his polite manner that something was up.
"Please," Wei Liao gestured, pointing to the side of the hall.
Zhao Feng, naturally, followed him at a steady pace.
"What's going on?"
"Why is Wei Liao, who never affiliates with anyone, suddenly acting like this?" Wei Zhuang frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy.
Wei Liao's position was indisputable.
Without a doubt, he was the most trusted minister of the current king.
Now that Wei Liao had actively stopped Zhao Feng and was showing a willingness to get closer, it made Wei Zhuang feel worried.
At this moment, he was also very curious about what Wei Liao wanted with Zhao Feng.
However, he had no way of approaching.
Once they had walked into an isolated area, Zhao Feng stopped.
"This place is empty now. May I ask, Deputy Minister, what is it that you need?" Zhao Feng asked.
Wei Liao glanced around and then smiled.
"Have you ever heard of my teacher, General?"
-support me on Patreon for more chapters, 375+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader