Morning court was as it always had been, bustling with noise before Li Chen arrived.
The officials greeted one another and chatted in small groups.
Quite a few praised how Li Chen had made Master Yu kneel and declare himself a subject yesterday, saying it had brought reflected glory to them as his ministers.
Those who had accompanied him yesterday began boasting about how badass His Majesty had been, leaving those who had missed it green with envy.
There were a few of Master Yu's students among the officials, however. Their expressions were rather ugly, but they did not dare say anything.
Simply put, these officials were all well informed. Every day, before and after morning court, they discussed the hottest current events.
Some were discussing the banquet held at the Minister of Justice's residence last night, casting glances toward Feng Huai as they spoke.
Those who dared discuss Feng Huai were mostly high-ranking officials at the ministerial level themselves.
They seemed to have heard some rumors, but they did not know exactly what had happened at the Minister of Justice's residence last night. Feng Huai had kept the matter tightly under wraps.
Chancellor Zhao Wenyuan stood there with his expression unchanged, as always. No one knew what he was thinking, and no one dared strike up a conversation with him.
Guo Poyun, who headed the military officials, was still confined to his residence and therefore did not appear.
"His Majesty arrives!"
Only after the eunuch's announcement did the officials return to their places, kneeling and chanting their greetings to welcome Li Chen.
Li Chen looked increasingly languid when he attended court, yet his imperial authority only grew.
The first to deliver his report today was the Minister of Revenue, Liu Minghan.
The Minister of Revenue was not merely a senior court official, but the central figure in managing the nation's finances and household registration.
He had to oversee the nation's finances, ensuring that the treasury remained full and revenue balanced expenditure.
This required not only mastery of arithmetic, but also far-reaching strategic vision to handle unexpected circumstances and the needs of national development.
At the same time, he was responsible for household registration, ensuring accurate and complete population records that provided a reliable basis for allocating manpower and collecting taxes.
Liu Minghan was no ordinary man. While the Previous Emperor had lived, he had never stopped praising him.
He had been known as a child prodigy from an early age, and had entered official service as the top imperial examination graduate without any doubt.
It was said that every candidate that year had aimed for second place. None had dared compete with him for first.
After Liu Minghan became an official, the speed of his promotions had left people tongue-tied.
But the thing was, it was purely his professional ability that was outstanding.
Other officials had connections to one degree or another. This man relied on sheer competence; there was simply nothing to smear him with.
With a man of such extraordinary caliber overseeing the Ministry of Revenue, the ministry had never suffered any serious trouble.
It could be said that he had done his part to keep the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty stable.
Truthfully, whenever he delivered a report, Li Chen listened attentively.
Liu Minghan opened with the issue of military expenditure. To stabilize the regions and suppress the Vassal Kings who used their private armies to throw their weight around, every army group in the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty was increasing its military spending.
Tensions along the borders were also driving military spending upward.
If this continued, the treasury's expenditure would inevitably outstrip its revenue. Liu Minghan therefore advised Li Chen to disband some idle troops to reduce military costs.
The moment he said this, the Imperial Court erupted like a boiling pot.
The military officials began accusing Liu Minghan of harboring sinister intentions. Without an army, how could the regions remain stable?
In particular, those military officials connected to the units facing disbandment said outright, "If the Northern Court attacks, will you go out there and hold them off, Liu Minghan?"
Some troops might appear idle, but once war broke out, they would become a crucial force.
Some military officials even declared that His Majesty intended to fight the Northern Court, and that Liu Minghan was trying to embarrass His Majesty by doing this.
Li Chen could barely keep a straight face at that. You lot really know how to stretch an argument. You've even dragged me into it.
Clearly, the military officials wanted to use Li Chen to pressure Liu Minghan. Li Chen had repeatedly declared that he would deal with the Northern Court. Would reducing the army now not diminish his own prestige?
Liu Minghan refused to back down either. He argued that if military spending kept increasing, the Northern Court would not even need to attack. Once the treasury ran dry and the troops could not be paid, they would find their own ways to make money, and the realm would descend into chaos.
Each side had its own reasoning, and neither would yield.
Li Chen said nothing. This was simply the "usual routine" at morning court. Once they had argued enough, he looked at Zhao Wenyuan and asked, "What does the Chancellor think?"
Zhao Wenyuan was speechless. You're really something, Your Majesty. Passing the ball to me at a time like this-do you really want me to offend so many people?
But he was the Chancellor. He could not refuse to give his opinion.
If he said nothing, would that not make him look completely useless?
Before he even opened his mouth, Zhao Wenyuan felt a crowd of people staring fixedly at him. If his answer displeased them, he would certainly be lambasted.
Of course Li Chen was passing the ball. Your job is to take the blame for me. You don't get a choice.
After pondering for a while, Zhao Wenyuan stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, in this subject's opinion, we could launch a northern expedition!"
When in doubt, launch a northern expedition!
Most of the troops facing disbandment were stationed in the north anyway. Their military expenditure had been rising for years to deter the Northern Court, so they might as well be sent straight into battle.
Besides, His Majesty had already made those demands last time, leaving virtually no room for reconciliation.
As long as they won, every problem could be solved, and they could plunder some spoils while they were at it.
Li Chen nodded, finding the idea rather good, and said, "Agreed. Choose a date for the northern expedition."
With that, Liu Minghan and the military officials stopped arguing. The problem had been perfectly resolved.
The military officials even began volunteering, determined to capture the Northern Court's Khan and present him to His Majesty.
Those words brought a look of distaste to Li Chen's face.
I'm not into men. Why would you capture the Khan for me?
These military officials don't even know how to flatter someone.
If you'd just offered to capture a few beauties for me, I would have let you go.
In truth, no one was more bewildered than the Northern Court's Khan.
Only a few days ago, he had received the humiliation of the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's new emperor demanding a "marriage alliance." Before he had even had time to get angry and condemn it, he received a declaration of war from that same emperor.
When great nations went to war, especially a nation like the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty, they would naturally inform their opponent first: I'm going to attack you. Then they would beat them to death.
The Northern Court's Khan had no idea how to react. Didn't you agree to give me half a year to prepare? Why have you declared war after just two days?
Are you really in that much of a hurry?
Did I do something? Why are you attacking me out of nowhere?
Normally, faced with such provocation and a declaration of war, the Khan would certainly have sent out troops in a rage.
But the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's emperor was acting so abnormally that he began to wonder whether the other side was already prepared, given how eager they were to start the war.
Is there a mole on my side? Have those tribal chiefs really already submitted to him?
If the other side had made no such preparations, starting a war for no reason would be nothing but the folly of someone with a full belly and nothing better to do.
The people of the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty had always been shrewd. He did not believe Li Chen would fight an unprepared war.
When this intelligence reached the Third Prince at the frontier, it stirred a thousand towering waves in his heart.
"Could Sixth Brother be doing this because he has already discovered my intentions?"
Within the Imperial Court, the military expenditure dispute had barely subsided when Deputy Chief Censor Zhang Ancang launched straight into impeaching Minister of Justice Feng Huai!
Before you continue