The front of the army is implied

Inside Kunning Palace, candles lit brightly. Lu Qinglan carefully read the secret letter brought by the Left Wise King, Agula. The promises and conditions in the letter largely matched the information she had previously verified through other channels. Self-government for the grasslands south of the desert in exchange for peace in the northern border, along with key evidence leading to the discovery of the core members of "Ninth Brother"... This deal seemed like a good deal.

Fu Yu stood aside, and seeing that her master remained silent for a long time, she asked softly, "Your Majesty, will you agree to what the Zuo Xianwang has requested?"

Lu Qinglan placed the secret letter over the candlelight, watching as the flames slowly devoured the parchment, reducing it to ash. Her gaze was deep, her voice calm and composed, without a trace of emotion: "The grasslands south of the desert are rich in water and grass, and strategically important. If we allow Zuo Xianwang's tribe to gain power here, we could easily become a threat. Self-government? It's just the beginning of dividing the land and enthroning a king."

She paused, then changed the subject slightly. "However, the clues they provide regarding 'Ninth Brother' and the 'Commander of the Armies' within the army are indeed what we need most right now. Tell Agula that cooperation is possible, but on different terms. Daliang can support the Zuoxian King's tribe in their struggle against the royal court, providing them with some food, fodder, and ironware to help them gain more tribal support, but the grasslands south of the desert must not be ceded. In return, they must first hand over proof of the 'Commander of the Armies''''s identity. Once we verify it, we can discuss the details of the subsequent cooperation."

She had to exploit the internal conflicts within the Northern Di while firmly defending the bottom line of the country. This balance required extreme caution and toughness.

"I understand. I'll go and tell him right away." Fu Yu accepted the order, but hesitated, "But... if they refuse to hand over the evidence first..."

"They will." Lu Qinglan said firmly, "Zuo Xian Wang's army is now cornered by the royal court. We are the strongest external support they can find right now. They have no choice. Moreover, a clear 'commander of the army' is a powerful weapon for us, but for them, it may just be a chess piece that can be discarded at any time."

After dealing with the Northern Di, Lu Qinglan turned his attention to another clue provided by Agula: the "military commander." According to vague information gathered by Zuo Xianwang's troops, this individual wasn't a high-ranking general at the border, but rather someone stationed near the capital, commanding a mobile force capable of influencing the situation at a critical moment. He also had a close relationship with "Ninth Brother" and might even be his right-hand man in charge of the military.

Lu Qinglan carefully sorted out the mobile forces around the capital, enough to influence the situation. The Imperial Guard, the capital's garrison, and... the elite battalions directly under the Ministry of War? Her gaze gradually sharpened.

"Have our people focus on investigating three individuals," Lu Qinglan instructed Fu Yu. "First, the former commander of the Jingji Garrison, who recently resigned. See who he frequently interacted with before and after leaving office, and whether there were any unusual financial transactions at home. Second, the Langzhong of the Arsenal Department of the Ministry of War, who is in charge of military equipment deployment and holds a key position. Third, Feng Chuang, the commander of the Flying Tiger Camp, stationed fifty miles outside the capital."

Feng Chuang, born into a military family, had long since fallen. It was rumored that he ascended to the position of commander of the Flying Tiger Battalion through connections with a certain nobleman. This nobleman, in turn, happened to have close ties to the now-defunct Cheng'en Mansion. Although the Flying Tiger Battalion consisted of only 5,000 troops, they were elite and well-equipped, and their base was extremely close to the capital. If there was any unforeseen action, they could be at the gates of the city in a single day!

"Focus on investigating Feng Chuang," Lu Qinglan emphasized. "Investigate his whereabouts over the past six months, any 'caravans' or unidentified individuals he's had contact with, and the records of the camp's military equipment losses and replenishments, especially... the number of powerful bows, crossbows, and armor, and see if they match the Ministry of War's accounts."

"Yes!" Fu Yu's expression was stern, knowing that this matter was of great importance.

As Lu Qinglan secretly laid his net, Xiao Jingche grew increasingly anxious over Zhou Zhen's struggles defending the capital. He realized that simply replacing a commander wouldn't be enough to shake the entrenched power structure. He needed a more direct and powerful force to deter those who pretended to obey but secretly disobeyed, ensuring his will was unimpeded.

He turned his attention to the palace guards. This was his personal force, responsible for the palace's internal security, and had always been under his personal control. Perhaps... he could draw some key members from his personal guards and fill key positions in the capital's garrison? Even if it was just a small intervention, it could gradually turn the situation around.

However, the moment the thought arose, he suppressed it. The safety of the palace was paramount. If he mobilized his personal troops, the consequences of any disturbance within the palace would be disastrous. Especially... at a time when he was facing the possibility of a complete break with the Empress.

This feeling of being bound made him feel extremely suffocated. He felt as if he were trapped in an invisible web. The Queen's influence was like spider silk, entwining every corner of the court, the army, and even the imperial palace. The more he struggled, the tighter it became.

Feeling irritated, he secretly summoned Cao Jin, the governor of the Imperial City Division, again.

"How's the progress of the investigation into Ruiyuxuan and the forces behind it? Also, the clues to 'Ninth Brother' must not be cut off!" Xiao Jingche said hurriedly.

Cao Jin knelt on the ground, sweat beading on his forehead. "Your Majesty, most of Ruiyuxuan's outward assets have been seized, but its core account books and communication channels seem to have been transferred long ago. Most of those arrested are small-time nepotists. As for 'Ninth Brother'... he's been extremely vigilant. Since the fall of Duke Cheng'en's Mansion, all leads have been cut off almost overnight, as if... he never existed."

"Useless!" Xiao Jingche slammed the imperial desk. "Are we just going to let these traitors get away with it?!"

"Your Majesty, calm down!" Cao Jin slammed his head to the ground. "This servant... This servant has discovered a new clue, perhaps... it is related to the military."

"speak!"

"When my men were investigating the generals who had financial dealings with Ruiyuxuan, they discovered that the brother of one of the concubines of Feng Chuang, the commander of the Flying Tiger Battalion, had previously served as the second in command at Ruiyuxuan. A month before the investigation into Ruiyuxuan, he and his family suddenly moved south and have been missing ever since..."

"Feng Chuang?" A cold glint flashed in Xiao Jingche's eyes. The Flying Tiger Battalion! Stationed in a strategic area surrounding the capital! He immediately thought of the previous report about Wei Zheng receiving a mysterious caravan, and the forces the Empress might have secretly mobilized... Could it be that Feng Chuang was the sop "Ninth Brother" had planted near the capital? The possible "military commander"?

A chill ran down his spine. If this were true, then the Queen's power was far more formidable than he had imagined! Not only did she control the imperial court, but her tentacles might even have reached the vital military forces protecting the capital!

"Keep a close eye on Feng Chuang!" Xiao Jingche's voice was filled with a subtle sense of panic. "Investigate him! Investigate him thoroughly! If there's any unusual movement, arrest him immediately!"

"I obey your order!"

The troops were all pointed towards the Flying Tiger Camp outside Beijing. The Emperor and Empress, driven by divergent information and motives, unexpectedly locked their sights on the same individual. A hidden battle over military power and traitors suddenly escalated. The center of the storm had shifted to the seemingly peaceful military camp outside Beijing.