After taking back the memorial, Liu Hong set it aside and then looked at Chen Fan and Li Ying.

"What do the Grand Tutor and the Grand Commandant think?"

Chen Fan stood up and said angrily, "Your Majesty, this old minister believes that an edict should be issued immediately to severely reprimand and punish Duan Jiong and Fu Xie!"

"To dare to mobilize troops without His Majesty's or the court's orders, regardless of their motives, is intolerable!"

Liu Hong nodded solemnly, then looked at the silent Li Ying and asked, "What does the Grand Commandant think?"

"Your Majesty, I believe the Grand Tutor is right. Mobilizing troops without permission is a mistake that must not be allowed to happen. If we condone them this time, I fear that others will follow suit in the future!"

Upon hearing Liu Hong's question, Li Ying also stood up. In addition to agreeing with Chen Fan's opinion, he also expressed his own concerns.

Liu Hong understood what the two men meant. No one except the emperor had the right to mobilize the Han army. Any unauthorized mobilization, regardless of the reason, must be severely punished.

"I understand what the Grand Tutor and the Grand Commandant mean!"

Liu Hong nodded with satisfaction, but he felt that Duan Jiong and the others had done the right thing.

Liu Hong then explained to Chen Fan and Li Ying, "There is a reason for this incident. If we cannot immediately send troops to deter them, I fear that the prestige of our Great Han will be tarnished. I have ordered the Marquis of Dingbian to take charge of the military affairs of Yong and Liang provinces. The Eastern Qiang have always submitted to our Great Han, and that area is also under the Marquis of Dingbian's control! There is nothing wrong with training them there!"

"Uh... Your Majesty is right!"

After hearing Liu Hong's explanation, Chen Fan and Li Ying finally realized that Dong Qiang was indeed under Duan Jiong's control, and there was nothing wrong with leading the army there for a drill! They had been so angry that they had overlooked this point.

Thinking of the Eastern Qiang who dared to offend the majesty of the Han Dynasty, Chen Fan and Li Ying also firmly stated that they could give Duan Jiong the authority to make decisions on the spot.

Then Liu Hong picked up the memorial and laughed at Chen Fan and Li Ying, saying, "I never expected that Fu Nanrong and Duan Jiming would actually become a pair of generals and ministers!"

Liu Hong didn't take Duan Jiong's military expedition seriously; on the contrary, he was somewhat surprised that he and Fu Xie could jointly submit a memorial.

Chen Fan nodded and laughed, "Yes! Although they have different political views, and Fu Nanrong even impeached Duan Jiming, they still have to be united in their attitude towards those who dare to defy the imperial authority! It's clear they are all equally proud!"

"The Grand Tutor is right! I am equally proud!"

Liu Hong then wrote his reply in the lower right corner of the memorial.

Liu Hong's reply contained only eight characters:

"The might of the Han Dynasty cannot be violated!"