"So, Yang Ren, whom I just appointed, actually talked a great Zhou general to death?"
"Your Majesty is wise! You choose the worthy and appoint the able!"
"So, Zhang Youren, whom I banished to Xiqi, brought tens of thousands of slaves back to Chaoge?"
"Your Majesty is wise! The people's hearts turn toward you!"
"So, my dear boy tore down the city walls, took in refugees, and opened trade routes everywhere, doubling Chaoge's size and population, yet the money in the treasury just keeps piling up?"
"Your Majesty is wise! Ours is the exalted celestial realm, blessed by Heaven above all nations!"
"Zhang Da changed his name to Zhang Kui, and Li Jing comprehended the Dao overnight?"
"Why the fuck didn't they just ascend on the spot?"
"Your Majesty is wi-"
"Shut up!"
Zi Shou, who had just led his army back to Sishui Pass, gave Fei Zhong and You Hun a resounding slap each. Good grief, what use were these two treacherous ministers?
At least a few pet rats would gnaw through the grain in the treasury!
Zi Shou sensed something was wrong.
"Where is Grand Tutor Wen?"
By rights, Uncle Wen should have been the first to welcome him back to Sishui Pass. Yet he had searched the entire pass wall without catching so much as a glimpse of him.
"He pursued the enemy with an isolated force."
"By my reckoning..."
"Spit it out!"
"By my reckoning, he should have reached Juelong Ridge by now."
"Juelong Ridge?"
Zi Shou smashed the desk with a furious slap. "I told him to hold his position, hold his position! But he wouldn't listen! Fine, a few youngsters won't follow orders because they're full of themselves, but this old bastard already has one foot in the grave, and he still wants to