Speaking of War in the Southern Border, Chaos Among the Court Officials

"With enemies invading from the north, war underway and victory soon to be settled, while strife has risen again in the Southern Border, there should be some adjustments to suit the times..." As Qiu Yan submitted his memorial, he also stated its purpose.

But the moment his voice fell, a string of ministers stepped forward and spoke up in succession—

"I oppose it!"

"Absurd! With a national war at hand, a senior minister dead, conflict in the Southern Border, and even military towns and cities having fallen, stability should be our foremost concern at a time like this. How can we reform the military system?"

"Scholar Qiu, do you not realize how improper this is? To raise such a matter at a time like this!"

At once, quite a few people could not wait to leap out. Though they restrained themselves in words, the hostility lurking beneath their remarks was obvious.

One after another, they scrambled to speak first, as though fearing they would fall behind the others.

There were no fools among the ministers in the hall. Once they heard Qiu Yan's words, they understood the hidden meaning. His words sounded simple, like harmless talk of "adapting to circumstances," but the implications concealed within were astonishing. He clearly intended to establish a pretext in secret, cross the warehouse openly while sneaking through Chencang, and use this as the beginning of military reform. The interests involved would spread far and wide!

Even the Military School commanders, who had always treated Qiu Yan well and vaguely regarded him as one of their own, now looked at him with uncertain surprise. One voice after another rose up, until the entire hall was filled with clamorous noise. It no longer resembled an imperial court, but rather a bustling marketplace.

Emperor Li Kun