Soul of the Revered Banner
Chapter 69: Court Assembly

The Jing'an Marquis truly did not believe it.

No one would believe it, even if it were spoken aloud.

Someone who had injured his leg just three months ago had now suddenly become an innate grandmaster?

Did they really think grandmasters were like groundnuts, gathered by the basketful?

Just last month, he had met a lone grandmaster hidden among the common folk and today, his own family had produced one?

The Jing'an Marquis felt he must be dreaming.

Or perhaps it wasn’t he who was dreaming, but Wen Yue, who had just stood up again.

But Wen Yue’s voice shattered his daze.

With powerful force, two words rang out: “Innate Grandmaster.”

Seeing his father’s expression gradually shift from surprise to suspicion, Wen Yue did not waste another word. He pressed a palm against the door pillar.

A handprint, two inches deep into the solid wood, was left clearly visible.

“This matter is settled.”

“I will inform my future father-in-law. When this matter is raised at court, I ask Father to help nominate me.”

As his words fell, Wen Yue had already walked off with his hands behind his back.

With the strength of an innate grandmaster, his father would have to agree to his request.

There was no need for any other persuasion.

That handprint was enough.

The Jing'an Marquis stared dazedly at the print, until his own hand subconsciously lifted to compare.

Only then did he suddenly awaken.

A dark red solid wood pillar, an expert at the Organ-Refining level could sever it, but could not make such an imprint with bare flesh.

Two inches deep, left with startling ease.

Unquestionably a grandmaster.

“Grandmaster?”

The Jing'an Marquis stood frozen in place, unable to calm himself for a long time.

His gaze fixed upon the doorway.

...

Three days later.

Court Assembly.

Four rows on each side, extending out beyond the grand hall.

Officials below the sixth rank were not even qualified to set foot inside, and could only stand along the stairs.

A full imperial court session was a rare occurrence.

Even more so with such full attendance as today.

No one found it strange, however there were many matters to be settled today.

And with the defeat at Luo River, the Emperor needed to hear the court ministers’ views on the matter of war.

To see if a consensus could be reached.

Whether to negotiate peace or continue the fight.

If peace was to be sought, then who should be sent? If the war were to continue, which veteran general should lead? How should the army be assembled?

Though the Emperor of Liang had already reached consensus with the Grand Councilors and most within the court were clever enough to understand, the Emperor wished for peace.

Ceasing hostilities, restoring order, these were the nation’s strategies.

But the Emperor could not voice this outright. It had to be the ministers who raised it.

Otherwise, if word got out, how would the people see the Emperor?

Would he not become a laughingstock, a cowardly ruler?

Others could make mistakes. The Emperor could not.

Yet this was an unavoidable strategy. The military expenses at the northern front had long been a major issue. With loss after loss, continuing the war would only crush the people of Great Liang.

The Emperor swept his gaze around, feeling helpless. It was impossible to take money from the gentry; the aristocracy had no desire to contribute.

Now the national treasury was nearly empty. In the end, it would be the common folk who bore the taxes.

But how much wealth could they possibly have?

No matter how much was squeezed, all one could collect were a few meager copper coins with no oil to extract.

After Gao Quan loudly called out the ceremonial chants, the monarch and ministers exchanged bows, the dukes and high officials inquiring after His Majesty’s well-being.

Thus began the great court assembly.

“Those with matters to present, step forth. If none, court is dismissed!”

“Your servant has a petition.”

The three Grand Councilors standing foremost frowned slightly.

That voice didn’t come from anyone in their faction.

Even the junior officials who had been prepared to speak were looking on in astonishment at the man who stepped forward.

That man was dressed in a crimson python robe. With a broad stride, he radiated domineering presence.

The speaker was the Jing'an Marquis.

Seeing that the Marquis had taken the lead, the Annan Marquis glanced at his own jade tablet, suppressing the unease in his heart.

When he had first received the news, the Annan Marquis had already felt half-defeated inside.

Now that Wen Yue could stand again, the marriage arrangement would likely be annulled.

But unexpectedly, the Jing'an Marquis had told him the marriage would proceed as planned.

Only that Wen Yue was to be recommended as the vanguard of the northern expedition.

The Annan Marquis couldn’t make sense of the Marquis’s intentions.

After all, war was no child’s game.

It was true Wen Yue was a Deputy Commander of the Military Affairs Office, but no one had ever heard of him commanding troops.

Until the Marquis revealed that Wen Yue had broken through in adversity to become a grandmaster, the Marquis had been utterly stunned, and immediately took back his doubts.

With the strength of a grandmaster, never mind a vanguard, he could even take a stroll through the enemy camp and return in one piece.

In the end, the Marquis personally met with Wen Yue. Just confirming that the young man could stand again was enough to set him at ease.

Though he hadn’t seen Wen Yue fight with his own eyes, just the aura he emitted had already returned to a state of simplicity and unity, clearly not of the first-rate level.

“You may rise.”

The Emperor of Liang also looked toward the Jing'an Marquis with a surprised expression.

If he remembered correctly, this Marquis who had polished his reputation through service abroad before inheriting his father’s title had always kept a low profile.

Still, it was of no consequence. There was plenty of time in the court session, and a few minor diversions would not disturb the greater affairs.

“Your servant proposes the mustering of a new army.”

As his words fell, the warmth within the great hall immediately froze, a chill sweeping through the air.

None dared to even breathe too loudly.

The Emperor of Liang remained calm as still water but his brows furrowed slightly, causing the nine-bead tassels of his crown to sway just faintly.

Enough to show his inner turmoil.

The three Grand Councilors had already caught in the corner of their eyes who had spoken.

They had assumed it was some minor matter, paying it no mind.

Who would’ve thought that the typically timid Jing'an Marquis would dare to charge ahead at such a moment?

The three exchanged glances. Just who was backing this Marquis?

But none of them could read anything from the others’ faces, and each cursed the others silently: old foxes, all of you.

“Lord Wen, in your view, who among the generals is fit to take command of this army?”

“The Annan Marquis, General Wuding is capable of this duty!”

The Jing'an Marquis’s knees were trembling. This was the strategy he and the Annan Marquis had devised together.

If Wen Yue was to be promoted, the commander of the central army could not be an outsider.

But the Marquis himself was unfit for great responsibility, thus it had to be the Annan Marquis.

In earlier years, the Annan Marquis had earned his title through military merit, later becoming the third-rank General Wuding. He was fully qualified to lead the central army.

The Emperor of Liang truly wanted to scratch his head.

He had indeed heard about the marriage between the Jing'an and the Annan families.

A crippled heir marrying a blind daughter, a union of the infirm.

The Emperor had taken it as a mere joke to amuse himself.

But in the blink of an eye, how had these two disabled houses become so assertive?

The Emperor’s gaze shifted to the Annan Marquis, who stood among the ranks of military officials.

Thick-bearded and broad-shouldered, the Marquis was clutching his jade tablet nervously but he didn’t look surprised. Rather, he seemed to be awaiting the Emperor’s response.

The Emperor very nearly wanted to ask the Jing'an Marquis what he was thinking.

Sending your own in-law off to die on the battlefield?

Moreover, it had originally been decided with the Grand Councilors that the vanguard would be the Marquis himself.

But now, things were looking... interesting.

Were it not for the tense atmosphere of the court, the Emperor might have laughed aloud.

This absurd twist of fate was too comical by half.

“Your servant has an objection.”

“Twenty years of warfare, countless lives wasted, ten homes out of nine in ruin, and the treasury nearly empty.”

“Taxes have already been raised by twenty-five percent, and the people are in bitter suffering.”

“To refuse peace now would only grind the people into dust.”

“If that happens, it will surely incite popular unrest.”

“Your servant believes the Jing'an Marquis harbors ill intentions. I petition for his execution.”

The speaker was dressed in a deep cyan official robe, holding a white jade tablet, his expression full of righteous indignation.

He was one of those juniors sent to charge ahead under prior orders.

At the very least, they had to steer this matter back on track.

“Your servant concurs.”

“Your servant also finds Lord Hu’s words entirely reasonable.”

A great rustling of middle-ranking officials echoed across the hall.

All stood in support of this Lord Hu in the deep cyan robe.

(Chapter End)