How Could He Be Allowed to Boss the Army Around? (Please Subscribe and Vote with Monthly Tickets)

Vasily secretly rejoiced, but outwardly remained utterly respectful. "As you command! I will not fail the trust you have placed in me, my lord!"

Not long after he left, Andrei's eldest son, the equally ambitious Sergei, walked in.

He had clearly overheard part of their conversation, and his face shone with excitement. "Father, Military Adviser Vasily is right! This is our lineage's chance to rise! I am willing to personally lead men to assist Tuoba Zhen!"

With even his son supporting the idea so strongly, Andrei's last shred of hesitation vanished. He made up his mind once and for all.

Thus, spurred on by Emperor Ivan's inside agent and driven by his own ambition, Grand Duke Andrei soon submitted a memorial to the Sacred Palace.

In the memorial, he "passionately" laid out Tuoba Zhen's "usefulness" and the feasibility of the "Southern Campaign Strategy," declaring his willingness to serve as the empire's vanguard and "secretly" support Tuoba Zhen's operations, creating an opportunity for the empire to expand its territory.

Inside the Sacred Palace, Emperor Ivan looked at the memorial that had arrived right on schedule, a cold smile of satisfaction spreading across his face.

This was exactly what he wanted. Written in black and white, it would become irrefutable proof that Andrei had "acted without authorization and thrown national policy into chaos"!

Yet Ivan's ambition went far beyond merely finding a scapegoat.

He stared at the map of the north, the flames of desire burning in his eyes as well.

If he could seize this opportunity to truly march south and capture the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's rich northern territories, what a glorious achievement that would be!

It would be enough for his name, Ivan Radis Romanov, to surpass those of every previous emperor and endure through the ages! Risk and opportunity