My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

The argument in the court lasted for a full hour, but there was still no resolution.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face ashen.

Listening to the back-and-forth attacks between the civil and military officials below, I felt my temples throbbing and my head throbbing.

Just as everyone was about to get into a heated argument, a calm and unhurried voice suddenly rang out.

"Your Majesty, I have a plan."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Grand Commandant Qin Huaiyuan who was speaking.

The veteran general had remained silent for most of the morning court session, keeping his eyes closed as if everything that happened in the court was none of his concern.

At that moment, he opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy old eyes.

The emperor quickly sat up straight: "Grand Commandant, please speak."

Qin Huaiyuan slowly stood up, leaning on his cane, and bowed to the emperor.

His gaze swept over the civil and military officials in the hall, and finally looked outside the hall.

"Li Xuancang, the garrison commander of Ganquan County, was transferred to lead his army south to quell the rebellion in Yangzhou."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a clamor.

"Ganquan County? Isn't that in Liangzhou?"

"Are they crazy? How can the soldiers from Liangzhou be mobilized?"

"Isn't this just giving the steppe people an opportunity to plunder!"

"..."

Ignoring the commotion, Qin Huaiyuan continued speaking.

"Li Xuancang, the garrison commander of Ganquan County, is powerful and his troops are elite. He will surely be able to quell the rebellion in Yangzhou."

After Qin Huaiyuan finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a brief moment.

Minister of War Zhou Yuanshan frowned and said, "What the Grand Commandant said makes sense, but if Ganquan Commandery is reassigned, won't Liangzhou be left vulnerable?"

"The steppe cavalry are watching us like tigers. Li Zhenshou had barely left when the steppe people stormed in. Who will take responsibility for this?"

Qin Huaiyuan glanced at him: "So, the second thing I wanted to say..."

He turned to the emperor, his voice becoming somber.

"Marriage alliance".

Everyone was stunned, as if they hadn't heard what Qin Huaiyuan said, or as if they had heard it but couldn't believe their ears.

"A marriage alliance?"

The emperor's voice was somewhat angry and out of control.

"Does the Grand Commandant mean... a marriage alliance with the grasslands?"

Qin Huaiyuan nodded, his expression calm.

"The Khan of the Golden Eagle Tribe of the Grasslands, Huyan Lie, has always admired our Great Yan and once sent envoys to propose marriage, wanting to marry a princess of Great Yan."

"At that time, the late emperor refused on the grounds that 'the Celestial Empire does not marry princesses to barbarians,' but the situation is different now."

"If Your Majesty agrees to the marriage alliance, Huyan Lie will be overjoyed."

"Once the marriage alliance is settled, that will give Li Xuancang enough time to lead his army south, quell the rebellion in Yangzhou, and then quickly return to defend Ganquan County."

"It won't be too late for the princess to remarry once Li Xuancang returns to Ganquan County."

"If the grassland people dare to take advantage of the situation and invade, the marriage alliance will be null and void."

Qin Huaiyuan was shrewd and his analysis was very logical.

The emperor remained silent, and no one else spoke.

A moment later, Gu Yanqing stepped forward, his aged voice filled with deep weariness.

"Your Majesty, although the Grand Commandant's plan is a last resort, it is the only feasible solution at present."

The emperor remained silent, his gaze sweeping across the hall as if searching for someone to object to the proposal.

But after looking around, he found that no one objected.

For these people, sacrificing a princess to buy time to quell the rebellion was an absolute bargain.

Zhao Chongwu stepped forward, his face grim, as if he had swallowed a fly.

This military general, known for his iron-fisted nature, spoke with a hint of resentment.

"Your Majesty, I oppose deploying border troops to quell the rebellion, and I also oppose marriage alliances, but I cannot think of a better solution."

After he finished speaking, he lowered his head heavily.

"Your Majesty's... Your Majesty's opinion is second."

I second that.

"We second that proposal."

"..."

Voices of approval rose and fell, eventually merging into a vast ocean of sound.

The emperor sighed and looked at the old minister in charge of the affairs of the imperial clan.

"How many princesses do I still have who are unmarried?"

"Your Majesty, there are three unmarried princesses in total. Princess Shuning is eighteen years old, Princess Anping is sixteen years old, and the youngest, Princess Zhaoyang, is fourteen years old."

The emperor's hand rested on the armrest of the dragon throne, his knuckles clenching so tightly they cracked.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened her eyes again, the struggle, pain, and anger in them had all faded, leaving only a cold, almost numb calm.

"Draft an imperial edict."

"Firstly, Li Xuancang, the garrison commander of Ganquan County, is hereby appointed as the General Who Pacifies the South, and shall lead his troops south immediately to join forces with the garrison of Yangzhou to quell the rebellion in Yangzhou. There must be no mistakes."

"Secondly, an envoy was sent to the Golden Eagle tribe to discuss a marriage alliance with their Khan, Huyan Lie, and to marry Princess Zhaoyang to the Khan as his consort, thus establishing good relations between the two countries."

"Thirdly, the marriage alliance ceremony will be arranged after Li Xuancang has pacified Yangzhou and returned to defend Ganquan County."

"Before that, the Ministry of Rites should send envoys to communicate and stabilize the grasslands."

After delivering these three decrees, he seemed to have exhausted all his strength, and leaned back on the dragon throne, motionless.

The hall was completely silent.

After the court session ended, the emperor remained alone in the main hall.

The ministers leaped out, their faces expressionless, but their minds were filled with calculations.

They were wondering if they could profit from this.

Dynasties come and go, but powerful families remain.

For powerful families, who becomes emperor is not important; what matters most is who can guarantee their interests.

If the Great Yan Dynasty is destined to fall apart, they need to make plans early.

To gain enough benefits before the building collapses.

"Immediately notify the Giant Whale Gang that the imperial court has ordered Li Xuancang to go to Yangzhou to quell the rebellion, and warn them not to be careless."

There were people in the imperial court who colluded with the Giant Whale Gang, passing messages to them.

After more than twenty days of traveling day and night, changing horses but not people, Ouyang De and his two companions finally arrived at the capital.

With the imperial city in sight, a smile appeared on Du Xiong's tired face.

"careful."

Suddenly, Ouyang De shouted and sent Xiong flying with a single palm strike.

"puff!"

The next moment, Du Xiong's horse was cleaved in two by a sharp blade of energy.

"Bang!"

Du Xiong fell to the ground, his face filled with horror, still shaken.

If it weren't for Ouyang De's intervention, he would be in the same situation as the horse.

"Who is it?"

Ouyang De and his companion came to Du Xiong's side and protected him.

"Whoosh, whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

Six figures rushed out swiftly, each one a Qi Refining Realm cultivator.

"They came to abduct and kill me. You don't need to worry about me. Take the treasure back to the Du family. Du Xiong will be extremely grateful and will serve you like a slave to repay your great kindness."

Du Xiong knew perfectly well where these assassins came from; they must be from forces that opposed the Du family.

The most urgent task is to bring the treasure back to the Du family as soon as possible and treat Du Tianhao.

Du Xiongxin was aware of his mission and was not afraid to sacrifice himself.

"That won't do, we have to leave together."

Ouyang De spoke in a relaxed tone, showing no sign of tension about the upcoming battle.

"Big brother, let me do it."

Ouyang Meng was excited, having broken through his cultivation level, and was eager to have a big battle with someone.