Before a large group of ministers, the young emperor stood up and solemnly announced his decision: "I have carefully considered Liu Zhi's plan and believe it is indeed feasible. I have decided to agree to his plan. This plan will not only place Qin Ze under house arrest, but also completely eliminate him, thus ensuring the long-term stability of the country."
Upon hearing the emperor's decision, the many ministers in the hall began to express their opinions and views on the emperor's decision.
An old minister stepped forward and said in a loud voice, "Your Majesty is wise and decisive. This plan is feasible. General Qin is growing stronger every day. If we do not get rid of him soon, he may cause a great disaster in the future."
Another minister then spoke: "Your Majesty's decision is admirable. Although Qin Ze was once a general, the overall situation of the country is paramount, and this policy had to be adopted."
Another young minister also stated, "Your Majesty is wise; this plan will surely ensure the peace and tranquility of the country, and we are willing to fully cooperate in its implementation."
Many ministers echoed this sentiment, expressing their admiration and support for the emperor's decision.
Although some ministers felt that the emperor's plan was still somewhat radical, they refrained from saying anything more once the emperor had made up his mind.
Qin Ze led his personal guards swaggering into the imperial city, where they were greeted with cheers from the city's inhabitants. "General, you are mighty!" "The border troops are valiant!" Their arrival sparked a burst of cheers from the city's residents.
"General Qin, you are our hero!" "Thank you, General, for protecting our homeland!" People spoke one after another, their emotions sincere and enthusiastic, and their applause surged like a tidal wave.
A smile appeared on Qin Ze's face, but his eyes were thoughtful and deep.
Deep within the palace, the young emperor received news of Qin Ze's arrival in the city. Hearing of the people's deep affection for Qin Ze, a shadow of gloom crossed his face. But as emperor, he had to force himself to suppress his anger, knowing he couldn't show his displeasure now. So he ordered Qin Ze summoned to the palace, preparing to meet with the General Who Guards the North.
Qin Ze received the order from the imperial envoy. He smiled faintly and then began to discuss the emperor's intentions with Zhao Yunfei.
Qin Ze: "It seems the emperor is somewhat dissatisfied with me. Sending someone to summon me to the palace is probably not just a simple welcome."
Zhao Yunfei: "Yes, sir, there may be deeper considerations behind this. The emperor is a young man who has just ascended the throne, and he is uneasy about the Grand General's influence."
Qin Ze: "You're right, he may want to weaken my power, but we can't let our guard down. We need to act cautiously and not make any rash moves."
Zhao Yunfei: "My lord, I think we can temporarily comply with the emperor's wishes while remaining vigilant, since we have the support of 50,000 border troops."
Qin Ze: "Yes, you're right. We need to remain cautious and observe the emperor's next move. In any case, the peace and tranquility of the country and its people is always our top priority."
Their discussion was tense and cautious. They all understood that the current situation was complex and delicate, and that careful handling was necessary to protect their own and their country's interests.
Qin Ze arrived alone in the main hall, clasped his hands slightly to show respect, but did not kneel: "Greetings, Your Majesty!" This scene aroused dissatisfaction and reprimands from many ministers.
A minister stepped forward and said, "General, His Majesty is the monarch of the country. How can you be so disrespectful as to not kneel?"
Another minister chimed in, "Yes, General, this is the rule of the state; how can you disobey it?"
Another minister spoke in an even harsher tone: "This is disrespect for the national system. Are you going to disobey His Majesty's decree?"
Many ministers discussed the matter, expressing their dissatisfaction with Qin Ze's actions, believing that he should not have refused to kneel, as this behavior was disrespectful to the country and imperial authority.
Although the ministers were filled with anger, they were speechless in the face of Qin Ze's furious words. The Qin family had always had this privilege of not having to kneel, and everyone knew that arguing about this now would only cause a bigger uproar, or even offend the Qin family, so they chose to remain silent.
A flicker of displeasure crossed the young emperor's face, but he knew this was not the time to lash out. He forced a smile, had a chair brought over, and said personally, "Then there's no need for kneeling, General. Please take a seat." Despite his burning anger, he feigned kindness, attempting to quell the situation and at least prevent it from escalating outwards.
The young emperor sat on his throne, smiling as he began to praise Qin Ze. His voice was full of flattery and praise: "General, over the years, you have been dutifully guarding the border and protecting the safety of our country. Your loyalty and bravery are unmatched, and your contributions are the pride of our nation."
He continued to praise Qin Ze's various achievements: "You successfully repelled the invasion of the foreign tribes and protected the peace of the people. Your wisdom and courage shone on the battlefield. You are a hero of our country."
Qin Ze smiled inwardly. How could he not understand this? The young emperor's praise was merely to show respect in public, but in reality, it was to create an embarrassing situation for him.
Sure enough, as soon as the young emperor finished speaking, a minister stepped forward. His eyes were sharp and his tone was stern: "Your Majesty, although the General has made great achievements on the border, we cannot ignore the fact that he is the only one who holds power in the army. Now, the people on the border are writing petitions to complain about the General's oppressive policies, and there are even signs of soldiers rebellion."
Qin Ze remained calm. He was already prepared for this. Such dissenting voices would naturally arise under his strict military discipline, but he also knew that the young emperor needed to use this opportunity to weaken his real power.
The young emperor frowned, his expression one of astonishment; he seemed to have never imagined such a situation. He directly asked Qin Ze, "General, are you aware of this matter?"
Qin Ze calmly replied, "Your Majesty, while I was enforcing the law at the border, I never excessively coerced the people."
However, the minister stepped forward without backing down, his eyes sharp, holding a stack of memorials in his hand: "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. To verify my words, I conducted a special investigation at the border and indeed found some clues."
With a flick of his sleeve, the guard beside him brought over a neatly folded piece of evidence and laid it on the table.
The young emperor's gaze was fixed on the memorials, reading them word by word. His expression grew serious, clearly influenced by these so-called pieces of evidence.
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