Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

Yu Qi'an was greatly alarmed.

"Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness, but you currently have no troops and no power. Abolishing the roster is already the limit. If you were to launch a major offensive at this time, Your Majesty...you...may be in mortal danger!"

"I know."

Chen Shao sighed, "But you can only be a thief for a thousand days, not a thief for a thousand days."

"If they dare to embezzle public funds like this today, they will dare to open the city gates in collusion with the Northern Mang army when they arrive at the city gates."

"Besides, if we don't punish them, where will we find new recruits? How can the common people fight to the death for their country?"

How could Yu Qi'an not have thought of this? The key point is... this could cost you your life!

Chen Shao seemed to have sensed his predicament.

"Lord Yu, that's why I still need your help."

"Your Majesty, please speak. I will gladly die for you."

"Select some elite men who are trustworthy and hand them over to Commander Bai so that he can secretly infiltrate the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"With the Embroidered Uniform Guard at my disposal, I can investigate those demons and monsters!"

Yu Qi'an blurted out unconsciously:

"Is she...reliable?"

The scholar standing next to him immediately became displeased.

Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow: "More reliable than you!"

"Cough cough."

Yu Qi'an didn't dare to provoke this woman.

"If that's the case, this matter is easy!"

......

"The nation is in grave danger; we must quickly come to the king's aid."

Eight swift horses, carrying an urgent message covering 800 li (approximately 400 kilometers), set off from the capital, heading in eight different directions.

The Great Yan Dynasty lasted for three hundred years. To defend against foreign enemies, the founding emperor established regional military governorships in key border towns, giving them military and political power.

By the Qing'an era, there were already dozens of large and small regional military governorships throughout the country.

Today, only the Eight Towns remain as powerful regions.

These eight military governors, holding local military, political, and financial power, recruited soldiers and collected taxes on their own, and were already de facto local emperors.

Li Bozhao, the military governor of Pinglu, was stationed in Longyou.

Xiao Yan, the military governor of Lulong, was stationed in Yanyun.

Chen Yue, the military governor of Jingxiang, was stationed in Jingxiang, guarding the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

Han Wei, the military governor of Jiannan, was stationed in Bashu, a place where one man could hold off ten thousand.

Wang Yuanji, the military governor of Hedong, was stationed in Hedong.

Liu Shouyi, the military governor of Huainan, was stationed in Huainan.

Qian Guiren, the military governor of Pinghai, was stationed in the most prosperous region south of the Yangtze River.

Chen Du, the military governor of Weibo, was stationed in Weibo, and his fiefdom was only three cities away from the capital.

He was the prince closest to the capital among the eight vassal states, and also the only prince from the imperial clan who still held local military power: Prince Zhao, Chen Du.

Eight military governors, eight powerful figures.

...

Longyou, the Prince of Pingxi's residence.

Li Bozhao slammed the imperial edict ordering the emperor's return onto the table.

He is the oldest of the eight princes, and he is fifty-three years old this year.

He was born with broad shoulders and a thick waist, and a face full of bushy beard.

He looked imposing, especially with his blind left eye and the eye patch worn at an angle, which added to his fierce appearance.

Standing in front of him were his advisors and think tank.

But Chen Lie had his own decision on this matter.

"Serving the emperor, huh?"

He stomped one foot on the table, yelling, "Damn it!"

"What use is an emperor who can rout an army of 500,000 with only 50,000 men?"

"The Chen family are all idiots!"

"The efforts of the founding emperor will be ruined in their hands!"

One of the aides smiled faintly:

"General, please calm down. We still need to accept this imperial edict."

"Catch it, my foot!"

He suddenly chuckled, "I was just joking around."

How could someone who has become a regional lord be easily matched?

"Not only do you have to receive it, you have to receive it beautifully."

"Draft a memorial for me, saying that there is an urgent border crisis in Long and the western front is also not peaceful, and I really cannot spare the time."

"Once the border troubles are defeated, I will immediately lead my troops to defend the emperor."

A group of advisors showered him with flattery without hesitation.

"This back-and-forth could drag on for two or three months, and in two or three months... the outcome of the battle on the other side should be decided by then."

"If the capital falls, the country cannot be without a ruler for even a day."

"With 80,000 elite troops at his command, who among the heroes of the land can rival him?"

Li Bozhao grinned, his one eye almost squinting into a line.

"It is said that the Empress Dowager is a stunning beauty who still retains her charm."

......

Weibo, the Prince of Zhao's residence.

King Zhao Chen Du lay reclining on the brocade couch, his robe half-open, revealing his white chest.

Two maids knelt on either side of the couch, one peeling grapes and the other pouring wine.

He was holding another child in his arms, who was giggling and feeding him cherries.

Below the hall were eight beautiful women, draped in sheer veils that barely concealed their figures, swaying their hips to the music.

According to seniority, Chen Du is Chen Shao's uncle.

He was extremely lecherous and lived a life of extravagance and debauchery.

This kind of scene is just an everyday occurrence.

Beside him, his trusted confidant Wu Wenyong was bowing and reading aloud the urgent imperial edict to come to the aid of the emperor.

"Now that the Northern Barbarians have invaded our borders, our state is in grave danger, like eggs piled on top of each other

"You eight military governors are all bulwarks of the nation, and have received the nation's favor for generations..."

"The fate of the nation and the survival of its ancestral temples hangs in the balance..."

"..."

"I have written this edict in blood, every word of which comes from the depths of my heart."

"So be it."

Chen Du didn't even bother to lift his eyelids: "No, no."

"It's impossible to fight a war; I'll never fight a war in my life."

He wasn't very ambitious; he just wanted to hold onto his small piece of land and be a vulgar man who was greedy for money and lustful.

I have absolutely no interest in achieving great things or making a name for myself.

What does the rise and fall of a nation have to do with us birds?

Wu Wenyong knew his master's personality.

"Your Highness."

"This imperial edict to support the emperor is openly issued throughout the land. Even if Your Highness does not go, you must find an excuse, otherwise you will give others grounds for criticism."

"Then give me any excuse you can come up with."

Chen Du embraced the maid in his arms and kissed her several times.

lol.

Wu Wenyong smiled and said:

"It's a small matter, Your Highness, but this is an opportunity for you."

"What opportunity?"

"An opportunity to gather beauties from all over the world!"

Wu Wenyong's approach can be considered as teaching according to aptitude.

If he wanted to realize his ambitions, he had to persuade this unambitious prince.

The best way to persuade him is not through talk of the country or its people.

Women are enough.

Sure enough, Chen Du's eyes lit up, and he pushed the woman in his arms away.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

The music stopped abruptly.

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Your Highness, in my opinion, the imperial court is destined to lose this battle."

"Stop beating around the bush and just tell me the result!"

"Yes, Your Highness. Although the Northern Barbarians were able to take over the capital region, given their nature, after looting and showing off for a few days, they will definitely retreat back to the grasslands."

"After all, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. If the eight major vassal states come to the aid of the capital, defeating the Northern Barbarians will be a piece of cake."

"This is Your Highness's chance!"

Chen Du glared at him and said, "Can't you just speak more directly, sir?"

"Your Highness, we should immediately submit a memorial requesting the suppression of the bandits, and then send troops north."

"We'll observe from the sidelines near the capital, and once things settle down there, the Prince's army will be outside the city, ready to be the first to enter the capital!"

"And then what?"

Wu Wenyong laughed loudly:

"Of course, it's about using the emperor to command the feudal lords!"

"If that were possible, wouldn't all the beauties in the world fall into the prince's grasp?"

Seeing that the prince was still hesitant, Wu Wenyong added another sentence.

"Of course, if things don't work out, Your Highness can simply ride away and return to this place to continue being a carefree prince."

Chen Du finally understood.

"So it's a risk-free business? If you win, you can control the emperor; if you lose, you lose nothing?"

"Your Highness is indeed quick-witted."

Chen Du fell into deep thought.

Even with such a good opportunity, it was difficult for him, who was naturally averse to taking risks, to make up his mind.

But as the ancients said:

When the second-in-command controls you, my dear friend, he becomes the boss, and you become the second-in-command.

The world of talent shows!

These four words are enough.

"Excellent! With Mr. Wu by my side, I am truly like a fish in water."

"Do as you say, and get started on preparations immediately."

Wu Wenyong was overjoyed.

I could almost hear everyone in the world praising him: This is the greatest strategist in the world!

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Chen Du waved his hand.

"Keep the music playing, keep dancing."

Suddenly, it was all over again—a flurry of beautiful women.