General, your wife has gone to deliver another calf for your horse.

Chapter 597 The Emperor and Xiao Yuanshan both fell silent.
As soon as Xiao Yuanshan said this, the surroundings fell silent for a moment.

Everyone clearly agreed with this statement, including Chi Heng and his men on Li Rong's side. Obviously, Yelü Qi was also afraid that once Li Rong appeared, his army would not be able to control the people in these cities.

After all, the Yuguan, Tongguan, and Jiaguan areas were all conquered by Li Rong. They were originally wild and undeveloped lands. Later, he led the people to plant crops and build homes, ensuring that everyone had food to eat. If Li Rong were to stand up and raise his arms, countless people would likely follow him in rebellion.

Yelü Qi's current demand is likely an attempt to use Li Rong's head to break down the defenses of the border people.

"What you say is absolutely right, Imperial Uncle." The Emperor's gaze swept back and forth across Xiao Yuanshan's face before he asked, "In your opinion, Imperial Uncle, who should be sent to handle this matter?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Lord Xie, who had been beaten so badly that even his own mother wouldn't recognize him.

Xiao Yuanshan pondered for a moment, then said directly, "Your Majesty, at this juncture, Li Rong is indeed the best choice. However, he has a history of treason and needs to be checked and balanced."

As he spoke, Xiao Yuanshan glanced at Jiang Nuanzhi, who was standing beside the Emperor.

For some reason, Jiang Nuanzhi instantly sensed the ill intent in those eyes. Her brows furrowed in surprise.

Sure enough, the next second the emperor at the head of the table said, "Uncle, please speak freely."

Xiao Yuanshan said, "I have a kind of Gu. Once it is implanted in someone, all their activities will be unrestricted. However, they must take an antidote every month. If they do not take the antidote within a month, the Gu worms will eat away at their heart and they will die."

As he spoke, he took out an elaborately designed lacquerware box made of nanmu wood from his pocket and presented it along with a small porcelain bottle.

"Your Majesty, whether to use it or not is up to your decision."

Xiao Yuanshan's dark eyes flickered with light, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

The emperor looked at the things placed in front of him, but did not speak for a moment.

Jiang Nuanzhi's expression was grim. Neither the Emperor nor Xiao Yuanshan seemed like good people now. Jiang Nuanzhi tried to find clues related to the original novel's plot and the war.
Tongguan, Tongguan, why does it feel so familiar?
Ah, I remembered it!

The male and female leads were separated for a period of time. During this time, the female lead was bullied by the vicious female supporting character Baozhu. Later, the male lead returned to avenge the female lead. The place where the male lead, Xie Liangchen, led his troops to recapture Tongguan was Tongguan!

The book recounts the protagonist's near-death experience and his decisive victory at the border, recapturing Tongguan City, which had been lost for over a decade. This battle highlights the protagonist's charisma. I recall the book also stating that the villain, Li Junping, a cunning and ruthless power-hungry official, could never compare to a man like Xie Liangchen.
So, according to the trajectory in the book, Tongguan would have been lost for more than a decade?

Jiang Nuanzhi frowned. In the book, Li Rong should have passed away long ago, which meant that the generals sent by the court had not recaptured Tongguan.
Now they're really putting Ah Rong on the hot seat.
Subconsciously, Jiang Nuanzhi looked toward where Li Rong was.

The screen blocked everything completely, so you couldn't see anything.

"Your Majesty, you don't really intend to use this on Li Rong, do you?" Chi Heng clenched her fists tightly, finally unable to hold back her question: "Your Majesty, you actually intend to use such a low-grade thing on a general who is about to go to the battlefield? Is this really appropriate? If this matter gets out, what will the people of the world think of the ruler of our Great Jing Kingdom?"

“Duke Chi, you are mistaken.” Lord Zhang spoke up again at this time: “Li Rong is a criminal. Moreover, if the emperor wants his subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die. Now that His Majesty wants him to lead the troops again, it is already an act of leniency outside the law. Even if the common people knew, they would probably praise His Majesty for his benevolence and good intentions.”

“That’s right. If Li Rong has no intention of disloyalty, he can naturally get the antidote every month. What’s wrong with that?” said the Minister of Personnel.

Upon hearing this, Grand Tutor Li pondered for a moment: "In this critical moment, this method can be considered a temporary expedient."

"Bullshit! A bunch of hypocritical old bastards, what do you want?" Chi Heng cursed angrily, "Xiao Yuanshan, don't think I don't know, you just want A Rong's life! At a time like this, you still want to use underhanded methods, are you even human?"

Xiao Yuanshan narrowed his eyes, his gaze turning coolly towards Chi Heng. General Wan, seeing this, stepped in front of Chi Heng and said, "Your Majesty, I also feel this is inappropriate."

The Emperor stared at the medicine for a long time, then absentmindedly reached out and picked up the box, stroking it as if he were somewhat tempted.

"This medicine."

"Your Majesty, I have something to say."

Jiang Nuanzhi suddenly clasped his hands in greeting.

"Insolence! This is a meeting of high-ranking officials; how dare you, a mere imperial physician, be so disrespectful!" The Minister of Rites had long disliked Jiang Nuanzhi. How could a woman really think she was so important?
The Emperor waved his hand and said, "It's alright, Physician Jiang, please speak freely."

Jiang Nuanzhi lowered her eyes and said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, "I have heard that the Regent is extremely skilled in Gu poison, and many of his strange Gu poisons can even control people's minds. I wonder if this Gu poison has such an effect?"

Upon hearing Jiang Nuanzhi's words, the Emperor, who had been rubbing the bottle in his hand repeatedly, put it down the next second.

Xiao Yuanshan's eyes suddenly turned cold; this woman was truly his nemesis.

Jiang Nuanzhi, however, was not afraid of Xiao Yuanshan's murderous gaze at all, and simply said, "Gu worms are ever-changing. The Gu worm that controls people's minds has entered the body of the former God of War. The God of War is a disgraced official, but the prince who controls the Gu is not. The prince will be able to control the events on the battlefield from a thousand miles away."

Jiang Nuanzhi paused for a moment, then said lightly, "At that time, it will truly be a fortunate event for our Great Jing."

Jiang Nuanzhi spoke these words in a soft voice, but as soon as she finished speaking, the atmosphere around her suddenly froze.

The Emperor and Xiao Yuanshan both fell silent.

The emperor was naturally suspicious, but he never imagined that someone could control people's minds from thousands of miles away.
Xiao Yuanshan's face turned ashen, but he knew that no matter what he said now, the emperor probably wouldn't use this Gu poison.

The courtiers' eyes darted back and forth between the Emperor and the Regent, and for a moment no one dared to speak.

"Your Majesty, this old minister has something to say." Grand Tutor Fang, who had been silent all along, finally spoke, his aged voice slowly saying, "The war in the northern border can no longer be delayed. We must stop trying to mediate between each other and arguing about loyalty and treachery."

He looked at the Emperor and Xiao Yuanshan, pursed his lips, and sighed almost imperceptibly: "This old minister requests to be appointed commander-in-chief, and humbly begs Your Majesty's permission."

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Censor's thin face no longer held its previous indifference; he immediately spoke up to stop him: "Grand Tutor! How can you go on a campaign?"

"Although I am quite old, I can still fight for the Great Jing." Grand Tutor Fang's eyes were as calm as still water as he once again clasped his hands in a fist salute to the Emperor above.

When the Emperor heard Grand Tutor Fang speak, his brows finally furrowed. He stared at Grand Tutor Fang for a long while before turning to the assembled officials: "What do you all think?"

"Absolutely not. Although the Grand Tutor is skilled in military strategy, he is getting old and cannot withstand such a long and arduous journey."

"If a veteran minister of three reigns were to meet with misfortune at the border, what would become of the morale of our Great Jing? Moreover, even the Grand Tutor's influence at the border cannot compare to that of the Li Rong."

　Goodnight, my darlings. These chapters felt like they took forever to write, so long that my neck is practically stiff! Oh my god!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)