Zhao Yunfei carefully studied the urgent report and then said, "General, the Emperor's sudden summons of you back to the palace, and the order being so urgent, must have a deeper meaning. I suspect that the Emperor may have sensed some potential threats or political turmoil. He hopes that you can return to the palace quickly to ensure that his authority is not challenged."
Qin Ze frowned, pondering Zhao Yunfei's words. Zhao Yunfei continued, "However, General, we cannot be careless. The Emperor's intentions may be more complex; he may want to use this opportunity to weaken your power or put you in danger. I suggest that we make thorough preparations before returning to the palace to ensure our safety."
Qin Ze nodded. He knew Zhao Yunfei's wisdom well, and the original owner of this body had listened to Zhao Yunfei's advice quite a bit.
Zhao Yunfei pondered for a moment, then earnestly began to explain his plan: "General, if His Majesty recalls you, there's no doubt he has some kind of conspiracy. But we cannot rashly refuse his order, as this could trigger an even greater crisis. I suggest we accept the recall, but before acting, we must ensure we have sufficient leverage. First, we should consolidate our position within the army, ensuring we have enough supporters. Second, we need to closely monitor His Majesty's movements, dispatching trusted spies to ascertain his true intentions. Finally, we must prepare an emergency evacuation plan in case the situation worsens. This will be a game of politics and intrigue; we must proceed cautiously, leaving no trace."
"We can also prepare a large army outside the city; should anything change, we can take their place..."
A glint of light flashed in Qin Ze's eyes.
It seems this Zhao Yunfei is no pushover either.
Qin Ze nodded, expressing his satisfaction with Zhao Yunfei's plan, and then said to him, "Zhao Yunfei, you have always been my capable assistant, and I trust your judgment. We will act according to your plan, but at the same time, we must be prepared for any unexpected situations. This time, we must be cautious and not be careless on our return to the palace."
Zhao Yunfei nodded solemnly, indicating his full support for the General's decision. They began to formulate detailed plans, preparing to return to the palace to face His Majesty's summons, while closely monitoring the development of the situation and making full preparations for future actions.
On the surface, Qin Ze returned to the capital with 500 personal guards, and the group proceeded along the wide road, the situation appearing calm. However, in secret, 50,000 border troops silently followed, like a surging wave. These 50,000 border troops were all highly trained elites; they moved silently, attracting no attention whatsoever.
Qin Ze's elite personal guards were on high alert, protecting him and ensuring his safety. These five hundred warriors were divided into front, rear, left, and right positions, closely monitoring the surrounding area. They would take immediate action at the slightest sign of anything unusual.
The gates of the imperial city gradually came into view, solemn and magnificent. Qin Ze remained calm, knowing that the situation ahead was not to be underestimated. This was a plan he and Zhao Yunfei had been secretly plotting for days; now, they had quietly brought their forces into the imperial city. This dangerous game had just begun.
In that secret chamber, a group of high-ranking court officials gathered together. They were all confidants, the emperor's trusted men. The young emperor, handsome but with a gloomy gaze, was discussing with these ministers how to get rid of General Qin Ze, the General Who Guards the North, a general who had once been a loyal servant of the kingdom but whose ambitions had now swelled.
Many ministers offered their advice and expressed their opinions, creating a tense atmosphere filled with the scent of political maneuvering. Among them, Minister Li Yu laid out his suggestion on the table, stating bluntly: "Your Majesty, although Qin Ze was once an important minister of our Great Kingdom, in recent years he has become ambitious and his power has expanded, making him a potential threat to you. We should weaken his influence as soon as possible to safeguard Your Majesty's royal authority."
"Your Majesty, although General Qin Ze's power is formidable, we need not panic," Li Yu said slowly, all eyes fixed on him. "I believe we can adopt a strategy of gradually weakening his power. First, we can send people to infiltrate the army and spread negative rumors about Qin Ze, inciting unrest among the troops. Second, we can work on his close associates to weaken his support base. Finally, when his influence has been weakened to a certain extent, we can take action to ensure he poses no threat to the imperial authority."
However, just as the ministers were expressing their support for Li Yu's plan, a minister named Wang Xian stepped forward. He was an experienced and insightful strategist who often offered advice to the emperor in times of crisis.
"Lord Li Yu, your plan, while feasible, also carries certain risks," Wang Xian said calmly and measuredly. "First, General Qin Ze is a vital pillar of our nation. Too hastily weakening his power could cause instability, even internal strife. Second, even if we successfully weaken his forces, we must consider that he still possesses a large number of loyal soldiers. If we take overly drastic measures against him, it might provoke resistance from these soldiers."
Wang Xian paused for a moment, then continued, "I believe we can adopt a more prudent strategy. First, we can establish closer ties with General Qin Ze and gain his support. Second, we can gradually weaken his political influence while elevating the positions of other important ministers to ensure national stability. Finally, we should maintain a certain level of vigilance militarily, but avoid taking any hasty actions to prevent unrest."
Wang Xian's words resonated with some ministers.
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