I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 633 Raising Tuoba Zhen is indeed very dangerous, but he decides to take the gamble! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

"Absurd!" another old minister immediately objected. He had a white beard but was still vigorous. "What kind of behavior is this! Our Great Luo Dynasty has been established for thousands of years, dominating the northern border. When have we ever needed to offer captives to others and beg for peace?"

This is an utter disgrace! So what if they're the Tian Ce army? If our dynasty hadn't needed to first pacify the surrounding barbarian tribes and internal principalities, we would have already marched south. How could we allow them to run rampant on the border?

At this moment, a middle-aged minister who had been silent all along, with a glint of wisdom in his eyes, slowly spoke up: "Your Majesty, my colleagues, perhaps we can make two preparations." He attracted everyone's attention, including that of Emperor Ivan.

He continued, “On the one hand, we can secretly encourage or even provide some ‘favors’ to let Tuoba Zhen, this ambitious man, run wild and provoke Tian Ce. If he is lucky enough to succeed and create enough chaos or even gain the upper hand, our army can take advantage of the situation to move south, seize territory, and expand our territory.”

"On the other hand," he changed the subject, "we simultaneously dispatched an envoy, carrying lavish gifts, to the capital of the Tian Ce Dynasty to pay homage to their Emperor Li Chen, expressing our dynasty's 'goodwill' and 'desire for peace,' and we could even propose a marriage alliance to forge friendly relations between the two countries."
In this way, if Tuoba succeeds, we will benefit; if he fails, we can define him as a traitor who has provoked border conflicts and violated national policy, and completely sever ties between his actions and our Great Luo Dynasty.
At that time, whether to kill or dismember will be left to the Tian Ce (Heavenly Strategy Army) to decide. Our dynasty will suffer no losses and will still maintain the moral high ground.

Emperor Ivan listened, his fingers lightly tapping the jewel-encrusted armrest, his eyes showing approval.

This plan suited him perfectly, as it allowed him to both profit and avoid danger.

The Great Luo Dynasty stood for thousands of years. Which emperor did not have ambition, and who did not want to expand his territory?

Even though he lived in a cramped, icy place in the north, he was aware of the wealth of the south.

But then a question occurred to him, and he spoke slowly, his voice low and authoritative: "The plan is good. But the person who secretly instructed Tuoba Zhen to act must not be me, nor anyone whose actions can be directly traced back to me."
Otherwise, if things fail, Emperor Li Chen of Tiance is no easy opponent and will certainly not let the matter rest.

He needs a scapegoat, someone to throw out and take all the blame if the plan fails.

His gaze slowly swept over the ministers present, and finally, a perfect human right emerged in his mind: his cousin, Grand Duke Andrei.

During the succession struggle, this Grand Duke Andrei strongly supported Emperor Ivan's brother, creating a tense relationship with Ivan's faction. Although he outwardly submitted, he remained a potential threat.

He held a prestigious position in the court and wielded considerable power, but he was not entirely united with the emperor.

It would be perfect to have him "hint" to Tuoba Zhen.

If the plan succeeds, all the better; if it fails, all the blame will be placed on Grand Duke Andrei, who will be accused of instigating war and wreaking havoc on the country for his own personal grudges.

This not only quelled Tian Ce's anger but also eliminated this potential political threat—a triple win!
A barely perceptible, cold smile appeared on Emperor Ivan's lips.

Once the plan was agreed upon, Emperor Ivan began to act discreetly.

He naturally couldn't directly order Grand Duke Andrei to carry out such a dangerous plan.

As early as after ascending the throne, in order to control this rather threatening uncle, he had planted several hidden spies in the core of Andrei's power.

Now is the time to use these pieces.

Ivan's will was passed down through clandestine channels.

The spies planted around Andrei began to stir quietly. They took every opportunity to whisper in Andrei's and his confidants' ears, urging him to seize the opportunity presented by the border unrest and hinting at the enormous benefits that cooperation with Tuoba Zhen could bring. At the same time, they also secretly acted as intermediaries between Andrei's representatives and Tuoba Zhen, striving to promote cooperation between the two sides.

The intention was to bind these two equally ambitious figures together, making them the vanguard for Emperor Ivan's territorial expansion or to take the blame in case of failure.

Not long after, Grand Duke Andrei's fiefdom castle, located on the vast ice plains.

The castle is built of huge gray rocks, with a rugged and sturdy style, and a roaring fire burns inside to ward off the cold.

Grand Duke Andrei was nearly fifty years old. His face still showed traces of his youthful heroism, but his brows were shrouded in a lingering sense of melancholy and resentment.

Ever since the prince he had wholeheartedly supported lost the succession struggle to the current Emperor Ivan, he, the once powerful and influential duke who once held sway over the court and commanded influence in the capital, had to restrain his brilliance and retreat to this harsh and desolate fiefdom. His power and influence were no longer what they once were.

With news of escalating border tensions coming in recently, Andrei had intended to be cautious in his words and actions and wait and see how things developed.

However, on this day, Vasily Sokov, his most trusted second-in-command and chief strategist, came to have a private talk with him.

Vasily was the core figure in his think tank. If Vasily had not offered the strategy of keeping a low profile and voluntarily handing over some military power in exchange for trust at a critical moment, Andrei would probably have had a hard time escaping unscathed from the bloody purge that followed the new emperor's ascension to the throne.

Therefore, Andrei almost always obeyed Vasily's orders.

Vasily dismissed his attendants and lowered his voice to analyze to Andrei, "My lord, the current chaotic situation on the border is precisely our opportunity!"

Andrei frowned: "An opportunity? Ivan is keeping an eye on me. If I act rashly now, I might get myself into trouble."

"My lord!" Vasily's tone became urgent. "Times have changed! Although Tuoba Zhen is like a stray dog, he still has influence among the old Snow Eagle troops and is extremely knowledgeable about the terrain of the northern border and the Tian Ce border defenses."
If we secretly support him, providing him with troops, armor, and provisions, and even sending skilled warriors to assist him, he might very well stir up trouble! If he succeeds in reclaiming part of the Snow Eagle's former territory, he could even trigger chaos in the northern border of Tian Ce.

Vasily observed Andrei's expression and continued to entice him, "At that time, you, sir, will be his greatest backer and benefactor! With the power of Tuoba Zhen in your hands, plus the strength you have secretly accumulated over the years, you might just be able to take that position with a single call to arms!"

Are you truly content to spend your entire life confined to this harsh, cold land, watching Ivan Ledis sit securely in the Holy Palace?

Andrei was torn by what he was being said, and he pondered for a moment before asking, "What if we lose?"

A barely perceptible glint flashed in Vasily's eyes, but his tone was unwavering: "My lord, how can those who aspire to great things be timid and hesitant? Of course, there are risks! But if you don't take this gamble, you may never have another chance to return to the center of power!"
Do you really want your descendants to be forever excluded from the heart of the empire? This is our best, and perhaps last, chance to return to our former glory!

Andrei fell silent, his immense ambition clashing fiercely with his long-suppressed emotions.

Ultimately, the desire for the pinnacle of power outweighed the fear of risk.

He slammed his hand on the table: "Fine! As you say! Go and make contact with Tuoba Zhen, but be sure to do so discreetly. The terms can be generous, but make sure he understands who his true master is! What Ivan cannot give him, I can give him!"

Raising Tuoba Zhen was indeed very dangerous, but he decided to take the risk!
(End of this chapter)