Zhang Li's actions surprised all the officials around him, and Huang Long was even more astonished.

What does this mean? Does it mean Zhang Li is going to resign from his official post?!

"Your Excellency, what is this...?" a minister exclaimed in shock.

But Zhang Li ignored these words. With a heavy expression, he walked to the center of the hall, faced the Empress, and then bowed and knelt down.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness, but I have one last question for you!"

Looking at Zhang Li kneeling on the ground with a solemn expression, Jin Fengluan's face was ashen. Her fair face was expressionless, but her eyes were full of cold light.

She uttered only one word, "Ask."

Zhang Li put down his official hat and said, word by word:

"General Huwei fought on the battlefield all his life, and his last battle was still to drive out Japan and protect his country."

"Today, General Qin's eight hundred personal guards entered Beiliang, first to suppress bandits, then to attack the Hu horses, and now they have gone far to the Beiku grasslands to thwart the Hu horses' ambitions and forever eliminate the threat to our Dagan border."

"The Qin family is full of loyal and virtuous people who have dedicated their lives to the country and the people."

At this point, Zhang Li's eyes reddened and his voice became hoarse, but then he raised his arms and shouted:

"Your Majesty! I ask you, why did the Prince of Zhenbei not return to the capital but rush to the Beiku Grassland to fight the enemy? His intentions are clear to heaven and earth, what wrong has he done?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Jin Fengluan frowned, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

Now, Qin Ze has troops under his command and has been able to annihilate 80,000 Hu troops. Although this is nothing compared to the entire army of Daqian, his reputation is rising, and given time, he will surely become a scourge!

Qin Ze is now saying he's going to the Beiku Grassland to wipe out all the Hu horses. That's absolutely impossible. Does he really think he can annihilate all the Hu horses on the Beiku Grassland? It's utterly ridiculous!

He had anticipated that he would be summoned back to the capital, which is why he used this excuse.

Jin Fengluan understood that Qin Ze was afraid!

The original plan was to use Huang Long's words to summon Qin Ze back to the capital. If he disobeyed the imperial decree and refused to return, then they could conveniently pin a crime on him...

But Zhang Li's remarks...

Jin Fengluan sighed inwardly.

This minister, who had been in charge of the Ministry of Personnel for many years, was known for his integrity and incorruptibility. Many officials in various prefectures and counties were his protégés.

Zhang Li's words were like a thorn in Jin Fengluan's side, leaving her feeling uneasy but unable to refute them. After all, everything Qin Ze was doing was for the greater good and for the sake of the people.

Jin Fengluan took a deep breath to calm herself, thought for a moment, and then said in a deep voice:

"The Minister's words are reasonable, and the Prince of Zhenbei is naturally without fault, but..."

"The number of barbarian horses in the Beiku Grassland is so great that if the Prince of Zhenbei insists on going to wipe them out, it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven."

At this point, she glanced slightly at Huang Long and continued:

"General Huang, you have been leading troops in many battles and have fought against the Hu horses before. Do you think the Prince of Zhenbei has any chance of winning this time when he enters the Beiku Grassland?"

Huang Long's heart tightened, and he quickly said:

"Your Majesty! I would like to reiterate that the annihilation of 80,000 Hu horses was already a remarkable achievement. To march into the Northern Ku Grasslands and vow to wipe out the entire Hu horse force is utterly impossible!"

"Although the Prince of Zhenbei has made great contributions, his actions this time were far too reckless. Not to mention how much damage losing to the Northern Hu will do to the court's reputation, even the Northern Liang will be in grave danger in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Jin Fengluan pursed her lips slightly. "Oh? What makes you say that?"

Zhang Li, standing to the side, was now ashen-faced, glaring angrily at Huang Long.

Huang Long pretended not to see it and continued:

"The border between Da Gan and Hu Ma is in Bei Liang. Although there have been some minor frictions with Hu Ma in the past two years, nothing major has happened. Now, the Prince of Zhenbei is leading his troops into the Beiku Grassland, determined to annihilate all Hu Ma. This move will inevitably provoke a counterattack from Hu Ma."

If the Prince of Zhenbei is defeated, the Hu cavalry will be in high spirits and might even lead their army to invade Beiliang!

"Wouldn't this cause trouble again?"

"We've just enjoyed a few years of peace after a period of great hard work. If war breaks out, it will only cause more suffering and financial loss. Is that a good thing?"

"Therefore, I believe that teaching the Hu Ma a lesson is sufficient. Yet the Prince of Zhenbei dares not disregard His Majesty's orders and intends to go to the Beiku Grassland to annihilate the Hu Ma. Could it be that he intends to sustain the war through war? I think the Prince of Zhenbei's intentions are..."

At this point, Zhang Li could no longer listen. He pointed at Huang Long and angrily rebuked him:

"Huang Long! You are a great general who protects the country! Yet today you utter such distorted and distorted words, you are simply unable to distinguish right from wrong!"

"The peaceful and prosperous world we enjoy today is the result of winning one hard-fought battle after another!"

"Hu Ma has repeatedly invaded our borders in the past two years. His treacherous intentions are known to everyone. Yet you say that giving him a little lesson is enough?"

"You say it's enough, that's because you hold a high position in the imperial court and live in the capital! You have beautiful wives and maids in your household, you eat delicacies from land and sea, and you are always chauffeured around. Go ask the people on the border, is that enough?"

These righteous and eloquent words made Huang Long's face turn as black as charcoal, and he hurriedly retorted:

"Zhang Li! What do you mean by that? Does the Prince of Zhenbei, being in Beiliang, mean he can disobey the imperial decrees? I think you..."

Zhang Li's chest heaved violently as he angrily said:

"Spring rain nourishes the soil, farmers rejoice at its moisture, but travelers dread its mud; the autumn moon is like a mirror, beautiful women delight in admiring it, but thieves hate its brilliance."

Upon hearing this, Huang Long was taken aback, but for a moment he did not understand what it meant.

Zhang Li turned to face Jin Fengluan and said in a loud voice:

"Your Majesty! A person's body is only seven feet tall, but one must be wary of their tongue; for the tongue can be like a dragon's spring, capable of killing without drawing blood!"

"I, Zhang Li, am willing to forgo my official hat to fully support the Prince of Zhenbei in his campaign into the Beiku Grassland and eliminate the threat to our border for the rest of our Dagan!"

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!