The First Lackey Under The Empress

Although Mo Chou couldn't hide her curiosity, she ultimately said nothing and returned to the palace by carriage to report back.

She knew that His Majesty was definitely waiting for news of Zhao Du'an's first day in office.

It wasn't just the Empress; in fact, more people than many imagined were paying attention to today's news.

After all, Zhao Du'an's words and actions now represented the Empress's will to some extent.

"Sir, what do we do next?" Qian Kerou watched the carriage disappear into the distance and asked in a low voice.

Hou Renmeng also looked eager to try: "Where do we start the investigation?"

Zhao Du'an stretched lazily, looking languid, and walked towards the military camp:

"Investigate what? This general came to the Divine Mechanism Camp to be a figurehead and gain experience, not for any other purpose. Keep your mouths shut. I'm leaving. People are preparing a banquet to entertain me, and I can't let them down."

Qian Kerou and Hou Renmeng exchanged glances and cupped their hands:

"Yes, sir."

They always felt that the sir was planning something again.

……

Privy Council.

Inside the imposing and heavily guarded "office" belonging to the Privy Councilor.

Xue Shence, the "Great Yu Divine General," wearing a second-rank military officer's lion robe, with a fair complexion and a trimmed beard on his chin, held a wooden stick with a slender handle and a flat, round end.

He used the end to push a solid black piece forward one square on a square "chessboard" in front of him.

This was a unique board game in the Great Yu Dynasty called "Shuanglu."

Unlike the literati's preference for Go, this world's Shuanglu chess was derived from military formations.

Therefore, it was favored by military generals.

At this moment, sitting opposite Xue Shence and playing against him was a thin, second-rank official in his fifties.

It was precisely the "Knowledge of the Privy Council Affairs," who managed the paperwork in the Privy Council and whose position was second only to him, the Privy Councilor.

"Lord Xue is in a good mood today, with leisure to play Shuanglu with me. Is there any good news?"

The middle-aged official looked relaxed, staring at the chessboard as he spoke.

Even when playing a game, Xue Shence sat upright. Hearing this, he shook his head and said:

"What good news is there? Don't you know me? I only play chess to regulate my mood when I'm worried. It's your turn."

The middle-aged official threw the dice, saw the number of points, and used the wooden stick in his hand to push a red piece, saying:

"Worried? Could it be because today is the day that Zhao Du'an takes office?"

Xue Shence's eyes were calm, and he seemed absent-minded when playing chess, self-deprecatingly saying:

"Lord Wang, why ask what you already know? I don't know how many pairs of eyes in the capital are watching our excitement today… Heh, a fourth-rank vice magistrate taking office, yet it affects so many people's hearts."

Official Wang remained silent.

Both sides knew that the people in the capital were not watching Zhao Du'an, but were watching His Majesty's actions.

Unlike when Zhao Du'an went to the Imperial Academy, when no one cared, this time, not only were the upper echelons of the military group facing a formidable enemy,

but also the literary official groups such as the "Li Party," "Purist Party," and even the "Imperial Party" were gloating and watching.

His Majesty had finished rectifying the literary officials and was beginning to turn his attention to the military generals… This was something everyone knew but tacitly avoided mentioning.

"Didn't Lord Xue already give instructions? Although Shi Meng seems crude, he is actually insightful and should arrange things properly," Official Wang comforted.

In fact, what was more than the Divine Mechanism Camp?

Even the commanders of the "Five Armies Camp" and "Three Thousand Camp," which also belonged to the Jing Camp, had been individually instructed by the military officials of the Privy Council, led by Xue Shence.

There was only one requirement:

During this sensitive period, do not provoke that King Yama Zhao, and wait until his term of office ends!

Xue Shence shook his head, picked up the dice, and felt a faint unease in his heart.

"Dong, dong, dong…"

At this moment, footsteps approached in the courtyard, and a low-ranking military officer ran to the hall, stopped, and reported:

"Reporting to the Privy Councilor, Knowledge of the Privy Council Affairs, the Divine Mechanism Camp Commander has sent a message."

The two people playing chess raised their heads and looked over, saying in unison:

"Speak!"

"Yes!" The military officer immediately described the situation in detail.

As a result, after only hearing half of it, the hearts of the two people playing chess in the hall thumped.

What they feared had come, despite thousands of warnings, something had still happened.

After listening to the second half, Xue Shence and Official Wang looked at each other in silence.

With their level of experience, they didn't care about Zhao Du'an's cultivation level.

What they cared about was the signal released by Zhao Du'an's act of "calling a deer a horse."

"The newcomer is unkind," Official Wang sighed softly:

"I heard that this Zhao Du'an was not simple, and seeing him today, he lives up to his reputation… This understatement not only resolved the crisis but also declared his position…

The 'Young Duke' is looking for trouble with him, I'm afraid he's in for a hard time, heh, he's bound to be used as a pawn to establish authority."

Xue Shence waved his hand, ordered the soldiers to retreat, pinched the dice, snorted coldly, and said unhappily:

"It's good to teach him a lesson at the hands of the Zhao, relying on the background of the Duke of Zhen, he's used to smooth sailing in the army, and he dares not listen to Shi Meng. This time, he'll learn a lesson, and the Duke of Zhen won't say half a word of complaint."

This result was slightly better than he had expected.

Although there was still a mistake, the situation was not bad.

Even if Zhao Du'an wanted to make a fuss, he would have to consider the Duke of Zhen.

The key is…

As long as it doesn't involve the Privy Council, it's okay.

Official Wang also breathed a sigh of relief, smiling and said:

"Guess, how will Zhao Du'an establish his authority? I'm afraid these little rascals can't escape a few military sticks."

Xue Shence said lightly:

"It's good to beat them with sticks. We couldn't beat them in the past. The Zhao is not afraid of offending people, so we can use his hand."

Saying that, he casually threw the dice, which rolled around in a circle, a largest "six points".

From beginning to end, the biggest "revenge" that the two could think of for Zhao Du'an was only military sticks.

After all… that was the next generation Duke of Zhen.

Not just some ordinary noble children, playboy sons can compare.

……

……

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

Xu Zhenguan stood with her hands behind her back, standing in front of the window, listening to Mo Chou's account.

"So, he only used an arrow to gain a foothold?"

The Great Yu Empress, dressed in white like snow and with black hair like a waterfall, listened with interest and asked softly.

Mo Chou stood with her head bowed, uh-ed, and nodded helplessly:

"Although the means are… somewhat special, the thousands of soldiers do respect him, and the proud and fierce generals of the Divine Mechanism Camp are also very obedient on the surface."

"You should learn more from him," Xu Zhenguan turned around, with a slight smile on her flawless face:

"There are many means to establish authority in the army that everyone knows, but not many can really do it well."

I'm not as shameless as him… Mo Chou muttered in her heart, presenting the list full of words:

"He also wrote this, saying that he wants His Majesty to fulfill his promise."

Xu Zhenguan's phoenix eyes flickered, raised her hand, and the list fell into her green jade hand.

A moment of silence.

"He only said this?"

"He only said this."

"… I know," the Empress picked up a pen, wrote a simple letter, and threw it to her, "Go and do it."

Mo Chou was confused, not knowing what she meant, lowered her eyes and glanced at the contents of the letter, her face showing astonishment, she looked at the Empress in surprise, opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

"Don't ask too much, just do it."

"… This servant obeys."

Waiting for Mo Chou to leave.

In the Imperial Study, there came a sigh unique to the Empress, a helpless sigh:

"You…"

You really don't let me worry.

……

……

Divine Mechanism Camp.

Today's military camp was destined to be uneasy.

After the morning training, the news about the conflict between the "Young Duke" and the new "Magistrate Zhao" spread throughout the entire Divine Mechanism Camp.

And quickly spread to the "Five Armies" and "Three Thousand" camp, which also belonged to the Jing Camp.

Countless soldiers were keen to discuss.

There were three hot topics.

First, how high was Zhao Du'an's cultivation?

That single-handed bow posture left a deep impression on the soldiers.

Second, a rumor about "calling a deer a horse" and the reason why the Young Duke left in anger.

However, this article was limited to private discussion.

As for the third…

"Dong, dong, dong!"

The camp door was knocked open.

Tang Ping, who was studying military books in the room, said to come in.

The door opened.

More than a dozen low-ranking young military officers flocked in, looking indignant:

"Young Duke, are you still able to hold your breath? They are all discussing outside, saying that your limelight has been overshadowed by that Zhao, and some people even say…"

"Oh, what do they say?"

Tang Ping was not wearing armor at the moment, only wearing ordinary military clothes, his hair simply tied up, only his eyebrows and eyes were still heroic.

A military officer said angrily:

"Say… that Zhao asked for the names of us people, and he is sure to retaliate."

The others also said in unison:

"That Zhao is vindictive, a petty person by nature, and anyone who has offended him in the past has been retaliated against…"

"This kind of villain was digging a hole for you in the school field before!"

"That's right! He did it on purpose! I'm afraid he wanted to deal with us and establish his authority long ago!"

They already knew the news that Zhao Du'an had broken the target with one arm in the school field.

In addition to being shocked, they were not ashamed, but became more and more angry.

He believed that Zhao Du'an clearly had the ability to perform martial arts, but deliberately pretended to be a pig and cheated his authority, that is, he was playing with them and wanted to use himself and others to establish his authority.

Tang Ping looked calm, treated it indifferently, glanced at everyone:

"Are you afraid of him?"

The military officers choked and shook their heads:

"How can we be afraid of him?"

"That's right! If we were cowardly, we wouldn't have ignored him with you."

"We just think that he is our superior after all, if he deliberately finds fault… wouldn't the brothers only be able to suffer a dumb loss?"

Tang Ping put down the military book, raised his hand and pressed it, and snorted coldly:

"We want him to perform martial arts, follow the military tradition, and have not gone out of line, and have not violated the military regulations.

I'll see what regulations he uses to punish us?

Don't worry, if he wants to move any of you, unless he strips off my official robe first, otherwise, wishful thinking!"

The military officers were relieved.

With their background, they couldn't afford to offend Zhao Du'an.

But as long as the Young Duke is willing to come forward, there is nothing to worry about.

No matter how powerful Zhao is, he has no ability to move the future Duke of Zhen.

And at this moment, suddenly, there was a messy sound of footsteps approaching outside the door.

Then, the door was knocked open.

I saw a team of twenty people appearing outside the door, all wearing armor, and the style of the official robes on their bodies was also different.

It turned out to be the military law department that everyone in the army feared!

The leading military officer scanned the crowd expressionlessly, and the corner of his mouth grinned slightly:

"Fortunately, everyone is here. Everyone in the room, listen carefully, the superior ordered that all of you be dismissed from office immediately and expelled from the Jing Camp!"