Moreover, the ministers in court couldn't possibly step in to block every one of the many imperial edicts the emperor had suddenly issued. So the four edicts Wang Yue had considered most important were promulgated without much difficulty.
The court soon grew lively, with arguments over the northern campaign breaking out every day.
But since the current emperor supported the campaign, the northern faction had gained some advantage. The southern forces weren't about to give up, though, so the two sides settled into a tug-of-war.
Meanwhile, Wang Yue quietly left the imperial palace and headed for Jinzhou.
His journey back was bound to be anything but smooth. He'd delayed his departure to ensure that several imperial edicts were carried out successfully, and as a result, a group of people intercepted him halfway there.
The leader had a head of white hair and wore a veiled hat. A woman stood beside him, while a large group of martial artists waited far behind them.
Wang Yue recognized who they were and asked with a smile, "Gang Leader Li, did you stop me here just to thank me?"
Li Chenzhou looked at Wang Yue with some curiosity. "I'm really curious how you managed to walk out of the imperial palace alive."
Wang Yue shook his head with a smile. "The emperor is nothing but a paper tiger. He only lost his scruples because you had so many of your own."
From Wang Yue's words, Li Chenzhou concluded that he'd achieved his aims through blackmail. Curious, he asked,
"His Majesty agreed to all those conditions in exchange for the many national policies you proposed. He clearly values you. Why, then, are you leaving the capital?"
Wang Yue knew Li Chenzhou had misunderstood, but that was exactly what he wanted.
Otherwise, there'd been no need