Chapter Twenty: Creating Something Out of Nothing
Inside the central command tent, the flickering lamps mirrored the anxious and restless mood of the few men gathered within.
“I understand, General.”
“Send that man ahead first. I will follow shortly.”
Dou Yuan barked orders to his subordinate.
At this moment, a serious expression settled on Dou Yuan’s face.
If it weren’t for Gao Changsheng’s close contact with the Empress, how could he have calculated the timing with such precision?
“So, does this mean the Empress has agreed to cooperate with His Highness the Prince?”
Dou Yuan sought confirmation once more.
“The General can verify that with the Empress personally. There’s no need to waste time here with me,” Gao Changsheng replied with a dismissive smile.
He was confident because he had no worries about any slip-ups on the Empress’s side.
But if the goal was simply to use the Empress as a bridge to seek an ally, Gao Changsheng need not have risked entering the military camp.
His true aim was to have Dou Yuan serve him alone, and the words that followed were the real crux of the matter.
“I don’t understand,”
Dou Yuan shook his head, his face clouded with confusion.
“Since His Highness already takes orders from the Emperor, why then would he ally with the Empress? Could it be that…”
He dared not finish the sentence.
In truth, he understood what it meant when two of the most powerful figures in the Dayong Dynasty’s imperial court were involved.
“General, you are the backbone of the Dayong Dynasty, deeply trusted by His Majesty.”
“But even the people of Dayong know how damaging the succession struggle between the Crown Prince and the two princes has been.”
“Perhaps many ministers see this as merely the Emperor’s political maneuvering.”
“But you should also know that the premise of such imperial strategy is that true power must never be tainted by those other than the Son of Heaven.”
“Yet, General, you command the three armies of the court. Now, you lead those armies to the northern border.”
“Imagine the calamity for Dayong should the armies establish an independent regime there.”
“That is precisely why His Majesty will never tolerate the Second and Third Princes accompanying the troops to the northern frontier!”
Gao Changsheng spoke each word with weight and clarity, as if issuing a stern warning to Dou Yuan.
“His Majesty fears the two princes might seize the opportunity to declare themselves independent at the northern border?”
Dou Yuan’s face drained of color, terror-stricken.
“No! Even if I had ten thousand hearts, I would never dare commit such heinous treason!”
His knees buckled, nearly forcing him to kneel before them.
He had served the Divine Martial Emperor for over twenty years and witnessed countless ruthless and decisive acts.
Not long ago, there had been the case of Duke Liang’s rebellion.
In a fit of fury, the Divine Martial Emperor beheaded one hundred thousand, wiping out Duke Liang’s entire clan.
One must remember that Duke Liang had guarded the northern border loyally for the Divine Martial Emperor for most of his life, protecting its people from foreign incursions.
He had also been a steadfast minister who rose with the Divine Martial Emperor to the throne!
No amount of service could outweigh the price of rebellion, especially for a rising star like Dou Yuan.
“But General, in the end, you still betrayed the Emperor!”
Gao Changsheng sighed deeply.
“This…”
At those words, Dou Yuan fell silent.
Three years prior, the incident where his subordinates brutally slaughtered prisoners from Northern Qi had occurred.
Though Dou Yuan spared his long-serving warriors from punishment out of compassion, he was forced to believe the lies of the Second and Third Princes.
Yet, in the end, it was still treason against the Emperor.
“Actually, treason can be grave or minor.”
“His Majesty has never mentioned it over the years. Even when Northern Qi demanded accountability, His Majesty deliberately concealed the truth to protect you.”
“This shows how much His Majesty values you.”
“But if you were to accompany the two princes to the northern border, that is something His Majesty absolutely cannot tolerate.”
“Put yourself in His Majesty’s position.”
“If you were the Emperor and a general commanding the northern armies had a vulnerability in the hands of other princes,”
“would you not worry that the general might be blackmailed and seize power on his own?”
Gao Changsheng spoke with earnest gravity.
After his words sank in, Dou Yuan pondered deeply.
Indeed, Gao Changsheng’s logic shook him to the core.
Suspicion is always a towering mountain between people.
Even fathers and sons can never fully overcome it, let alone the relationship between sovereign and subject, which lacks blood ties.
“If His Majesty no longer trusts me, why then has he entrusted me with leading the northern campaign?”
Dou Yuan clung to a last shred of hope, unwilling to give up.
“Heh!”
“You are a clever man, yet you ask such a foolish question.”
“Allow me to ask you a question.”
“Among the civil and military officials, are there not corrupt officials, sycophants, and flatterers?”
“If so, why does His Majesty not eliminate them all?”
“The answer is simple: even corrupt officials, sycophants, and flatterers serve a purpose.”
“But they all share one trait—they are useful.”
“And you, General, should consider yourself fortunate to still be useful.”
“At least you still have a chance to regain His Majesty’s trust!”
Gao Changsheng’s expression remained calm.
Only then did the suffocating atmosphere in the central tent ease somewhat.
Chu Yunyan’s heart was a storm raging within.
She was utterly stunned by Gao Changsheng’s seemingly baseless yet potent reasoning, losing all ability to think clearly.
“Hmph!”
“Your Highness jokes.”
“Given His Majesty’s temperament, regaining his trust is no easy feat.”
Dou Yuan’s face was crestfallen.
Having seen too many of the Divine Martial Emperor’s methods, he was not one to trust lightly.
“Of course it isn’t easy.”
“But with my help, it can be done.”
Gao Changsheng smiled confidently.
Upon hearing this, Dou Yuan’s eyes brightened considerably.
“Why would Your Highness help me?”
Dou Yuan’s gaze was tinged with suspicion as he asked.
“Why?”
Gao Changsheng stroked his chin, pretending to contemplate.
“From the current situation, it seems perilous. Only by allying with you, General Dou Yuan, can one survive in the northern border.”
“In that sense, we share a common plight.”
“As for whether I may have other intentions later—that remains to be seen!”
Gao Changsheng laughed heartily and sincerely.
At that moment, Dou Yuan’s anxiety was half allayed.
To him, Gao Changsheng had at least spoken half the truth.
A prince with no power within Jinyong City who had offended the powerful Crown Prince would find survival at the northern frontier near impossible.
Even with the Divine Martial Emperor’s covert protection, nothing could guarantee safety.
“If the prince dies in the camp, even if I defeat Northern Qi, I fear I cannot escape blame.”
“You may rest assured on this point, Your Highness!”
Dou Yuan patted his chest with assurance.
He did not explicitly promise to cooperate with Gao Changsheng, but he gave a tacit nod.
That was already enough for Gao Changsheng.
“General, you are a wise man after all.”
“If you can handle the Crown Prince’s assassination attempts, you can manage.”
“But what if tonight the Empress orders you to eliminate Changsheng at the northern border—how will you respond then?!”