Each to Their Own Duty

"Imperial Censor Han, you often speak of methods for defending cities. Are these methods even sufficient to defend a prefecture?"

In the main hall of the Weiyang Palace, the new emperor called out names one by one.

Those who have methods to stop war should implement those methods; those skilled in defending cities should be sent to defend them; and those who wish to wage war should be given the opportunity to do so.

The new emperor would make arrangements for anyone who had ever sided with a faction.

"Your subject is willing to guard a single prefecture!"

The doctoral candidate, Di Shan, who had previously made outrageous remarks, was still kneeling on the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably.

This was a case of making an example of someone to scare others. If Di Shan hadn't accepted the duty to guard the fortress, Han Anguo had no doubt about the fate of this doctoral officer.

The new emperor's methods were not particularly strong; he tended to assign tasks based on his own principles. However, everything happened to coincide with the Xiong State Great Han Dynasty, even managing to destroy the Hexi Prefectural Governor's Office.

Any governor who could pacify the northern region was a master, and the civil and military officials were no less capable than those of some small vassal states.

The downfall of officials of this rank was akin to the execution of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers of the imperial court, not to mention the other personnel involved in the Hexi Prefectural Governor's Office. This had intricate connections with numerous officials in the imperial court.

"Han Anguo is appointed as a military officer and general, and is to be stationed in the north to garrison Yuyang County, in coordination with the Northern Expedition!"

"Your subject obeys!"

Han Anguo solemnly agreed, but his heart sank as he knew that his position as Imperial Censor, one of the Three Dukes, had been so easily stripped away.

A dull ache rose in his heart, and Han Anguo realized that he had completely misjudged the emperor in the court.

Even though the Empress Dowager was severely injured, Tian Fen's legs still trembled, and the new emperor was extremely dissatisfied with the outcome of the Battle of Mayi, this emperor did not adhere to the old concept of defending cities, but was filled with aggressiveness and aggression.

"I should have seen it coming sooner. Wei Qing and his group were always looking for war. Dongfang Shuo... he agreed so naturally back then, without the slightest objection. He was just being sarcastic. What kind of spell did I take? I didn't even realize he was just being perfunctory!"

As the commander-in-chief of the Battle of Mayi, Han Anguo was entrusted with the important task of commanding an army of 300,000 men, and his power reached its peak during the Battle of Mayi.

This rapid transfer at this moment indicates that the new emperor is extremely dissatisfied with his abilities.

If he cannot achieve the same level of defensive merit he has previously touted in defending Yuyang County, it will be very difficult for him to return to the imperial court.

But defending a city is not so easy to achieve military merit. Cheng Bushi Cheng Bushi guarded the Western Border for most of his life, but so far he has few military achievements. Cheng Bushi, who has Cheng Bushi suffered a defeat, has never made any major contributions in killing the enemy.

Not much different from Di Shan, who was trembling all over, Han Anguo felt his legs were a bit unsteady after he figured it out, and he felt that his career had come to an end.

"Rence Li Guang as General of the Dawn Cavalry, leading 10,000 cavalrymen from Yanmen to seek opportunities for battle and, if they encounter the Xiong State's army, to engage and annihilate it!"

"Gongsun He was appointed General of Light Chariots, leading 10,000 cavalry from Yunzhong to seek out opportunities for battle. Upon encountering the Xiong State's army, he engaged in combat and annihilation!"

Wei Qing appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry, leading 10,000 cavalrymen out of Shanggu, and proceeding on his own...

The imperial court was holding a mobilization of troops.

Those who hold their ground are unlikely to achieve military merit, while those who take the initiative are more like gambling on opportunities, both fraught with danger.

There was no accurate information regarding logistics and supplies or the direction of the enemy, only urgent reports from eight hundred li away for reference. But when the imperial army launched a counterattack, the Xiong State would not stand still and wait.

Even if the army is fully prepared and can only be mobilized in at least half a month, even with a one-hour time difference, it still won't catch up with the tail of the Xiong State army.

Han Anguo didn't know how to win this kind of war.

If his two sons hadn't died, Han Anguo felt he couldn't have risked everything like Li Guang.

As for Wei Qing, Gongsun He, Gongsun Ao, and others, they are too young and impulsive. Han Anguo felt that these people lacked the tempering of an iron fist. They would know what despair was once they clashed with the Xiong State's cavalry.

It can be said that the cultivators of the Xiong State Xiong State are of varying strengths, or that their cultivation methods are unorthodox, or that they lack the structure and rules of a traditional school of thought. However, as long as the Xiong State are on horseback, all their shortcomings will be made up for.

The Xiong State without horses are a bunch of useless trash, but Xiong State with horses are a group of killers who move like the wind. These people can easily break through enemy lines in small groups and annihilate large groups, and even use a small force to slowly whittle down a large army like fishing.

The clashes in war are far more than a contest of skills among a few cultivators; they are a confrontation of immense power.

Considering all the information he knew, Han Anguo felt that the situation was difficult to break and the probability of winning was slim.

Aside from holding firm and counterattacking, he really couldn't think of any other way to defeat the Xiong State.

Han Anguo stared at the new emperor's young yet composed face, finding it difficult to fathom what he was thinking.

"Forty thousand cavalrymen account for one-fifth of our Great Han's cavalry. His Majesty probably just wanted to test the waters. It's just a pity for our Great Han's cavalry..."

Han Anguo felt conflicted, while the court was solemn.

Many court officials never imagined that their past actions of taking sides would require real commitment.

High-ranking officials were directly appointed as prefects, while mid- to low-ranking officials were assigned to various prefectures, counties, and border regions. Those skilled in warfare could lead troops, while those skilled in law could serve as commanders.

As if he had a plan in mind, or as if he had been preparing for a long time, the new emperor kept calling out names in the court, causing many of the previously stubborn people to step forward.

"The Prime Minister is skilled in flying; could he perhaps...?"

"The Prime Minister has another important appointment for him!"

"Dongfang Shuo..."

"Dongfang Shuo has already been entrusted with an important task; he should not be transferred!"

In the vast imperial court, almost all the original officials were reassigned. Those who remained in the court were either mindless supporters of the new emperor like Tian Fen, or held insignificant positions and had little influence, or had been reassigned in advance.

Han Anguo attempted to leverage external resources or transfer capable assistants, but his plans quickly fell through.

The new emperor's arrangements are so seamless that it will be very difficult to find an advantage for oneself within them.

Han Anguo, still preoccupied, returned to his original position.

The order and dispatch from the main hall of the Weiyang Palace lasted only a quarter of an hour, but Zhong Rang some people it felt like an eternity.

When the court assembly ended, some people were helped out of the court.

"Your Majesty, what should this old minister do?"

Knowing that he would be given another important position, Tian Fen did not leave first, but chose to leave last, and approached the new emperor who was about to leave from the rear palace to ask him a question.

"My uncle is naturally recuperating at the Prime Minister's residence," the new emperor said, his gaze sweeping over the area. "I'm waiting for my uncle to recover and ascend to heaven so I can assassinate Daojun and Zhu Jiuyin!"

"Your Majesty, this old minister will do his utmost to recover from his injuries until he can once again pilot the Sky Shuttle!"

Tian Fen quickly bowed in agreement, then rubbed his head, which no longer ached.

Since taking the secret medicine given to him by the Empress Dowager, Tian Fen no longer walks unsteadily, his head no longer aches, he can still drink alcohol and cultivate, and many of his behaviors and habits are no different from before.

If he didn't care that there might be a blade hidden in his head, Tian Fen felt he was perfectly fine, and even piloting the Imperial Shuttle wouldn't be a problem for him.

To be honest, Tian Fen was quite grateful for this secret medicine.

Although he wasn't that familiar with Dongfang Shuo, who was an alchemist, and had even been tricked by him and stabbed, Tian Fen felt he needed to thank Dongfang Shuo's ancestors for eight generations.

If it weren't for the fact that the other party's elixir was not yet fixed in nature and that it was difficult for outsiders to ascertain the state of the person after taking it, given Tian Fen's past words and actions, Tian Fen felt that he would have already gone to the frontier to guard the city.

His face was grave, but his heart was at ease. Only after repeatedly questioning the new emperor did Tian Fen leave, satisfied.

"I wonder if we can use my uncle as bait to launch a counterattack? And is the one who came to Chang'an City the Dao Lord?"

Upon entering the rear hall, the new emperor couldn't help but look back and glance at Tian Fen, who was leaving the main hall.

As Tian Fen, who displayed the highest status in the Battle of Mayi, the new emperor believed that if he took the initiative to attack the Xiong State, the Great Han Dynasty would inevitably face a rude awakening.

The example of this show of force is most likely Tian Fen.