The Empire will continue to win

Nanyuan.

The First Division Command of the Army was a gathering of generals.

Commander Li Shaoquan led a report to the two empress dowagers on the malfunctions of weapons allocated over the years and the training situation in the army, and patted his chest to guarantee that the combat effectiveness of the First Division was absolutely genuine.

Emperor Xuanwu felt slightly relieved.

Empress Dowager Cixi's expression softened slightly.

Only Shen Moqing, sitting in the corner, had his eyes darting around, trying to find some clues in the command post.

Do not believe!

unbelievable!

Unless I verify the license plate myself, I won't believe a word of it!

It's not that the professor is malicious; it's just that political science is a discipline with its own unique characteristics. The more you read philosophy, the more nihilistic it becomes; the more you read history, the more insightful you become; the more you read sports, the more spirited you become; but the more you read politics, the more honest you become.

Honest people are best suited for politics.

In the end, honest people are the ones who win.

The world ultimately belongs to honest people.

.........

"Generals, you are all ready for battle and the court will surely reward you. For now, please step down," said the Empress Dowager.

"Yes."

Whoosh, the command post was empty.

Li Shaoquan finally noticed Shen Moqing rubbing his boots against the floor tiles in the corner. He was displeased and was about to say something when he was startled by a single sentence from the Empress Dowager.

"Minister Li, now that things have come to this, my sister and I no longer need to hide it from you. In the Battle of Busan, the entire Goryeo garrison was annihilated. The court is worried about the instability of the people, so it has declared a great victory."

"What?"

Li Shaoquan was so frightened that the hairs on his body stood on end.

Thankfully, the United Empire didn't have queues (braids); otherwise, they would definitely be sticking up right now.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, where has the Eastern Sang army reached? And who is commanding it?"

"Yizhou has just fallen. Oh, right, what was the enemy chieftain's name again?"

"Yamagata Amitomo," Shen Moqing quickly added.

.........

afternoon.

Emperor Xuanwu changed into his crisp imperial army and navy uniform, donned a red feathered crown, rode a white horse, stood under the blazing sun, raised his right hand, and temporarily inspected the First Battalion, First Brigade, First Regiment of the First Division of Infantry.

The military band performed the Imperial Army anthem, "Under the Swaying Shadows," live.

The neat military bearing, gleaming bayonets, and shiny military boots brought the young emperor some comfort; the empire still had a strong army!

Evening~

The royal convoy slowly left Nanyuan and headed towards the capital.

Along the way, the setting sun was like blood, crows flew overhead, and the atmosphere was bleak and desolate.

Shen Moqing was notified at the last minute that he would ride in the same carriage as Emperor Xuanwu, which was a great honor for a subject.

Inside the luxurious carriage of the emperor.

"Shen Moqing".

"Your humble servant is here."

"I wish to question you on some matters in my capacity as Grand Marshal of the Army and Navy. You must answer truthfully. Regardless of whether your answer is satisfactory, I will pardon you."

"Yes."

How do the weapons and equipment of the Eastern Sang army compare to those of our army?

"Equal in ability."

How do the combat skills of the Eastern Sang army compare to those of our army?

"They are roughly equal in skill."

What is your view on war between two countries?

"My military rank is too low to presume to speak, but if summoned by the court, I am willing to immediately lead my warship to harass the enemy's maritime supply lines."

Emperor Xuanwu frowned slightly.

Clearly, the young emperor was not satisfied with this somewhat diplomatic reply.

Shen Moqing knew perfectly well what was going on, but there was nothing he could do. This was also the first time he had observed the emperor so closely, and his first impression was that he was thin, stubborn, and ambitious.

The mother is strong and the son is weak.

When the emperor and empress are at odds, the ministers all need to choose sides.

It is clearly unwise to side with the young emperor.

We still have to stand by our mother!

When it comes to choosing sides, our university is far ahead. Since its inception, it has always accurately stood on the side of justice in every historical choice, reaping huge benefits.

They reap without sowing, but they have a keen eye for opportunity.

Jiao Da was so angry he jumped up and down, Nan Da yelled and screamed, and A Zhe cried out in pain. The honest and simple hip-hop brothers were far behind.

Professor Shen, who grew up in such an environment, is also well-versed in this principle.

.........

But ~

The inquisitive young emperor persisted, asking, "I want to hear your predictions for the war between our two countries?"

The helpless reserve warrant officer thought for a moment and said:

"Your Majesty, I believe the current border war is merely a warm-up, and it will gradually escalate in the future. The war between our two countries may last for more than ten years. We will fight on land, we will fight at sea, we will fight fiercely everywhere, until the fires of heaven burn across the entire Dongsang Islands."

These words stirred Emperor Xuanwu's blood.

12 years old, in the second year of junior high school.

But after calming down, the young emperor asked again, "My dear minister, do you have any reason to believe that the war will last for ten years or even longer?"

"have."

"Speak~"

"Because this war is likely to meet the expectations of the whole world, except for the United Empire."

"Oh?"

"The Eastern Islands are small in size, scarce in resources, and have a large population. If they want to develop, there is only one way—war. The Battle of Baekgang during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and the Imjin War during the Wanli period of Ming Dynasty are the best examples of this."

Shen Moqing paused, organizing his thoughts.

"The United Empire is the world's largest power today, with a vast territory, a prosperous economy, and a flourishing culture. Tea, silk, and porcelain continuously draw wealth from all over the world, and the thoughts of Confucius and Mencius tirelessly influence the elites of various nations. Countless talented young people from abroad travel across oceans to serve the United Empire. As the saying goes, 'When a whale falls, all things thrive.' If the United Empire were to collapse, the monarchs of various nations would feast to their hearts' content."

"Therefore, I dare to predict that once the great powers notice this war, they will secretly provide the Eastern Empire with arms, loans, and all possible assistance. The great powers will certainly try every means to keep this war going for ten, twenty, or even fifty years."

There was silence in the carriage.

The only sound was the clicking and clattering of rubber wheels over the road.

The young Emperor Xuanwu stared at Shen Moqing with an incredulous look. After a long while, he uttered a sentence: "You are a great talent in national affairs. A mere warrant officer is not enough to reward you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Shen Moqing felt a slight sweetness in her heart, but her expression remained unchanged.

Which learned professor in the humanities and social sciences wouldn't want to reach the top, or even become a king?

.........

It was already dark when the convoy arrived at the Forbidden City.

"Your Majesty, this humble servant shall take his leave now."

"I will summon you again tomorrow."

According to palace rules, before the palace gates are locked, all officials outside the palace must leave the palace voluntarily without a special imperial edict; otherwise, they will be considered to have disrespected the royal family and will be exiled to Vladivostok for three years.

Taking advantage of the chaos in front of the palace gate, Shen Moqing went straight to An Dehai, grabbed his sleeve and pulled him aside, whispering, "Eunuch An, please pass on a message to the Empress Dowager."

"What did you say?"

"This humble servant is willing to oversee Yanshan Heavy Industry for the Empress Dowager."

"Okay," Andehai agreed with a smile.

In a cheerful mood, Shen Moqing strolled leisurely away from the Forbidden City, taking the opportunity to reflect on the gains and losses of the past few days. As the saying goes: "I examine myself three times a day; if I make a mistake, I correct it; if I have a hole, I crawl through it."

A career in government is never something you earn through hard work, nor is it something you earn through exams.

It came about by following along.

They stepped forward.

If you follow the right person and choose the right side, even a high-ranking official in purple robes is commonplace.

Doesn't that sound like a lack of backbone?

In his past life, he was a man of unwavering integrity, but in the end, he was just an associate professor. Full of passion, brimming with knowledge, and possessing a wide range of skills, he could only talk to himself and entertain himself.

To accomplish great things, one must first become a high-ranking official.

To become a high-ranking official, one must learn to choose sides.

The logic is that simple.

[Please vote with your monthly tickets, fellow readers! As the story unfolds, I hope to present you with a magnificent and unprecedented era of great conflict.]