While he poured vast amounts of resources and time into seclusion, tempering his water element true essence and wood element true essence.
The situation outside deteriorated again. You Prefecture fell, and its Grand Commander of You Province, Wang Zheyuan, died in battle. Most of You Province was lost, while the situation in Bing Province grew even more critical: the rebels were besieging its capital.
Qingzhou, the Garrison Commander's Office. The atmosphere was grave.
"Military Supervisor, the situation in all three provinces is critical. The Imperial Court must send more reinforcements, or things will continue to deteriorate," Grand Commander Yu Zhiyong told Sun Chenzong, the court's newly appointed Three-Provinces Governor-General.
"Mobilizing troops takes time." Sun Chenzong's face was resolute, but heavy with exhaustion.
"After decades of turmoil, Great Yan was already short of troops. The forces stationed at major strongholds must guard against two great bandits in particular-Zhang Xianzhong in the Southwest and Chen La in the Central Plains. The Ministry of War has its difficulties, too."
Sun Chenzong said no more. His Majesty had taken personal control of government, but remained hamstrung on many fronts and could not recruit troops nationwide.
Rumors were already circulating in the capital that His Majesty's failures since assuming personal rule, his deficient virtue, and his reckless resort to arms had shattered the peace maintained between the two countries for over a decade and sent roaming bandits springing up throughout the realm. Some even slyly attributed the natural disasters of recent years to Heaven's punishment for its displeasure with the Son of Heaven. Cloud Crane Academy had gone so far as to publish an essay declaring this the consequence of disrespecting Neo-Confucianism.
The Maternal Relatives' Faction was undoubtedly fanning the flames behind it all. His Majesty was in a deeply unfavorable position.
That supposed peace