Chapter 43 New Objectives

Looking at Little Anzi's eager gaze, Ning Chen sank into deep contemplation.

Just as Little Anzi had said, he had now successfully helped Cao Dahai ascend to the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard.

As long as Cao Dahai firmly controlled the thirty thousand imperial guards, he would possess a formidable force, and moreover, the force closest to the Empress Dowager!

Coupled with the men from the Eastern Depot, if they were to launch a direct surprise attack, the success rate of seizing control of the Empress Dowager would indeed be quite high.

Furthermore, with the experience of his past life, he was confident that he could successfully control the Empress Dowager and force her to return state power to him.

He was well aware that all of this today was because he lacked true power; otherwise, faced with the invasion of the Great Jin, he would rather die than send people north to sue for peace.

Yet, as he was now, he was merely a puppet, forced to watch helplessly as the Empress Dowager bowed in submission to the Great Jin, ceding territory, paying indemnities, and offering tribute and grain!

The more Ning Chen thought about it, the angrier he became. As a soldier in his past life, this was a result he could never forget under any circumstances!

And as a sovereign, this was an even greater humiliation. He secretly swore that once he assumed personal rule, he would definitely wash away this disgrace!

For now, a palace coup was indeed the fastest way to resume personal rule...

Dusk was falling.

Suddenly, an eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, Venerable Master Kong has come to give you your lesson. The Empress Dowager asks that you go as soon as possible..."

Ning Chen frowned: "Why has Venerable Master Kong come so suddenly?"

Without a doubt, the Venerable Master must have urgent business!

Without hesitation, Ning Chen immediately went to meet Venerable Master Kong.

Inside the quiet room.

Observing Ning Chen, Venerable Master Kong stroked his beard, a gratified smile appearing on his face: "Your Majesty, the old official has already heard of Your Majesty's remarks in the court today!"

"At such a tender age, to be able to propose such an outstanding strategy, and to remain so steadfast in advocating for war!"

"Indeed, my eyes did not deceive me. Your Majesty, you are definitely a future wise monarch worthy of the old official's utmost assistance..."

Seeing that the Venerable Master started with praise and that the light in his eyes grew increasingly excited,

Ning Chen was stunned, then sighed: "Pity it's of no use. The Empress Dowager still chose to negotiate for peace in the north, bowing in submission to the Great Jin!"

Venerable Master Kong smiled and shook his head: "If she did not do so, she would not be herself."

"Furthermore, even if she uses your name to sue for peace in the north, this is reaping what she has sown!"

Saying this, Venerable Master Kong stroked his beard once more:

"The old official has already made arrangements. Soon, scholars and intellectuals across the realm will spread Your Majesty's remarks from the court far and wide. Her lies will soon be exposed, and she won't even know where to begin investigating!"

Ning Chen was startled, not expecting Venerable Master Kong to act with such swiftness.

Sensing Ning Chen's shock, Venerable Master Kong smiled with a mysterious air: "There is no need to be so shocked. Isn't this precisely what Your Majesty was thinking?"

"This can be considered a tacit understanding between master and disciple!"

Ning Chen smiled as well: "Thank you, Master. By the way, is there something specific that brings you here today?"

Hearing this, Venerable Master Kong immediately收敛 (withdrew) his smile, as if changing his expression entirely, and said in a deep voice: "The old official wishes to ask Your Majesty, are you planning to stage a direct palace coup next?"

Ning Chen frowned. True to his reputation as the Venerable Master, he had even guessed this:

"This朕 (Emperor) indeed..."

Before Ning Chen could finish, the Venerable Master spoke in a stern voice: "Your Majesty must never risk a palace coup!"

"Although Cao Dahai has now become the Commander of the Imperial Guard, the Empress Dowager still tightly controls the Four Capital Camps. Should word leak out, the consequence..."

Seeing Venerable Master Kong look so serious, his gaze filled with tension and worry, Ning Chen suddenly laughed, interrupting him: "Indeed!"

"This Emperor has indeed considered a palace coup!"

"In fact, it was planned this way from the very beginning!"

"But now, I will not do so!"

The Venerable Master was stunned, letting out a long breath as the tension on his face eased slightly, a strong look of gratification returning to his eyes:

"Why did Your Majesty suddenly change your mind?"

Ning Chen smiled helplessly: "In the past, I had nothing to lose, so I had to gamble with my life!"

"Even if I failed, at worst we would both perish together!"

"But now, I have you, Master, Minister Fan, and the Eastern Depot led by Little Anzi, not to mention Cao Dahai's imperial guards!"

"I am no longer someone with nothing to lose!"

"I must be responsible for each and every one of you. Unless it is an absolute last resort, I will never let you risk your lives gambling with me!"

"Although Cao Dahai has ascended to the command of the Imperial Guard, he still needs time to fully take control of them. Who knows how many of the Empress Dowager's men remain within the guards?"

"Furthermore, I know full well what kind of person the Empress Dowager is. Even if I could successfully launch a coup, she would never surrender easily. Therefore, relying solely on the nearly one hundred thousand troops of the Four Capital Camps in her hands, I will not rashly launch a coup!"

"Because once she resists to the bitter end, even if I win the gamble, it can only be a pyrrhic victory!"

"By then, various factions lurking in the shadows will inevitably make moves, and the Great Ning will fracture completely. Even if I assumed personal rule, it would be difficult to turn the tide..."

Hearing this, the Venerable Master nodded approvingly: "It seems the old official worried needlessly. I was only afraid that today's court session would provoke Your Majesty into choosing a direct palace coup..."

Ning Chen said: "Rest assured, times have changed!"

"What I want is a complete victory!"

"It is to reclaim power from the Empress Dowager as swiftly and smoothly as possible while ensuring stability is maintained!"

At this, Ning Chen wore a mysterious smile once more: "Master, if I am not mistaken, you must have already thought of the next target for me, haven't you?"

The Venerable Master was startled, but quickly broke into a knowing smile: "Shall we write it down together?"

Understanding instantly, Ning Chen handed him a brush. Without hesitation, the Venerable Master turned his back and wrote the answer on his palm.

Moments later, the two faced each other and opened their palms simultaneously:

On Ning Chen's palm was clearly written the character "Hu" (Revenue), while on the Venerable Master's palm was written "Zhao".

With a shared understanding, the two exchanged a smile.

Indeed, what they had in mind at this moment was none other than Zhao Siwen, the Minister of Revenue!

Looking at the innocent and brilliant smile on Ning Chen's face, the Venerable Master once again felt a brief moment of abstraction.

Previously, he had worried that Ning Chen might be impatient for success and rush to strike at the Empress Dowager the moment Cao Dahai became Commander of the Imperial Guard.

Now it appeared that this young emperor was far more mature and composed than he had imagined!

And resolving the Minister of Revenue, Zhao Siwen, in the next step was precisely the safest and most prudent approach.

After all, Zhao Siwen controlled the finances of Great Ning and was also the Empress Dowager's personal purse...

As he was thinking this, Ning Chen suddenly收敛 (withdrew) his smile, looked straight into the eyes of the Venerable Master, and said solemnly: "Although I will not launch an immediate coup, from today onward, I will no longer act submissively as I did in the past!"

The Venerable Master was startled once again, but quickly nodded with satisfaction, his gaze firm as he said: "Splendid! From this moment on, Your Majesty no longer needs to disguise yourself!"

"It is time to let the world witness Your Majesty's true strength..."

Neither of them was foolish!

Naturally, they knew that dropping the disguise and displaying strength would make the Empress Dowager increasingly suspicious of Ning Chen and might even prompt her to strike first.

Especially Venerable Master Kong, who had just seen the Empress Dowager; he knew all too well that the Empress Dowager had already grown wary of Ning Chen and would no longer even allow him to tutor the young emperor...

For just a short while ago, within the Fengyi Palace.

The Empress Dowager wore a smile, but her gaze carried a gloomy undertone as she asked: "Those remarks Chen'er made in court today—all that talk about a war of attrition, soldiers and people sharing one heart, making the commoners trust the court..."

"Were these things taught to him by you, Venerable Master?"

Outwardly, the Venerable Master remained as calm as still water, but he had already taken in the gloomy look in the Empress Dowager's eyes and understood the situation instantly.

He knew the Empress Dowager's suspicions had been aroused.

Thus, he slowly replied: "Indeed, they were taught by this old official!"

The Empress Dowager let out a cold laugh: "The Venerable Master is truly dedicated. I never expected you to help Chen'er make such rapid progress..."

Venerable Master Kong said calmly: "Your Majesty, wasn't it you who pleaded with the old official earlier, asking me to teach him well for your sake?"

"Compared to the late emperor, His Majesty's natural aptitude is truly mediocre, which is why this old official was initially reluctant to take him as a disciple!"

"However, since I promised Your Majesty to instruct him, I naturally must do my utmost!"

The corners of the Empress Dowager's mouth twitched slightly as she cursed inwardly: "Old fogey, I asked you to teach him, but I didn't mean for you to teach him real competence!"

"Do you have any idea how difficult those remarks of his in court have made things for me?"

Yet, outwardly, she smiled and said: "Splendid, as expected of the Venerable Master, able to help Chen'er advance by leaps and bounds in such a short time."

"But from now on, the Venerable Master need not tutor Chen'er any longer; I will instruct him personally!"

A sense of foreboding rose in the Venerable Master's heart, but his expression remained serene: "That would be for the best!"

The Empress Dowager was taken aback; she had never expected the Venerable Master to agree with such readiness...