Chapter Thirteen: Unprovoked Fury

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Facing the ministers below the steps, all wearing expressions of astonishment, Wan’er nodded meaningfully.

“His Majesty has indeed thought everything through. To think they once suspected the Emperor—what a damnable offense!”

Everyone was delighted.

Li Chen, however, merely propped his forehead against his hand, leaning over the table with an utterly despairing look.

The system’s notification from moments earlier kept echoing in his mind.

[Your action is worthy of a wise ruler, causing the fortune of Great Zhou to rise by 1,000 points. Current balance: 7,350 points.]

[Friendly reminder: Based on the current increase in national fortune, one point will be converted into 1 Doom Point. Your current Doom Point total is 1.5. Once the Doom Points are full, Your Majesty will undergo the Nine Heavens Thunder Tribulation!]

The Emperor of Tang has doomed me!

What on earth is he thinking? He actually went so far as to spend money helping me settle the refugees…

Seeing the Emperor’s condition, the ministers were baffled.

The envoy Saiban was even more bewildered.

“Our Great Tang is willing to fund Great Zhou’s relief efforts for the refugees. By rights, the Emperor of Great Zhou should be delighted. Why does he look so miserable? This makes no sense.”

At that moment, Wan’er also noticed that something was wrong with the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, this is a joyous occasion. Why do you look so grief-stricken?”

The ministers echoed her.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. Tang wishes to befriend our nation. This is a good thing. It should be announced to the people so that all may celebrate together.”

Li Chen was agitated.

“Celebrate together, my ass! That… that Emperor of Tang—why doesn’t he play by the usual rules?”

No!

I am a foolish emperor. I absolutely cannot let this go!

As Li Chen pondered, the ministers began whispering among themselves.

“What has happened to His Majesty?”

“In my opinion, this must be joy so overwhelming that it appears as sorrow.”

“No, no, no. What do you mean, joy appearing as sorrow? I believe His Majesty must have an even more profound plan in mind.”

It would have been one thing if anyone else had said it.

But these words came from Ge Siwang, a veteran minister who had served three dynasties and had been the least optimistic about the new Emperor.

Many people nodded in agreement.

But just then, Li Chen suddenly straightened.

Smack!

For no apparent reason, Li Chen slammed his palm onto the desk.

The sound startled everyone.

“Guards! Drag this envoy from Tang outside and give him thirty heavy strokes!”

The moment those words were spoken, everyone was struck dumb.

As the guards entered, Saiban immediately began shouting.

“Your Majesty, why are you doing this? I have done nothing wrong! I have done nothing wrong!”

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Seeing this, the ministers of Great Zhou immediately stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, the envoy of Great Tang has come to provide relief for our refugees on behalf of Tang. Why are you angry?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty. Without cause, such an act will surely sour relations between our two nations. We implore Your Majesty—”

Before the minister could finish, Li Chen barked:

“Silence!”

“Our refugees need no charity from Tang! This is clearly an attempt to win over the hearts of the people, making the citizens of Great Zhou believe that I am an unjust and unbenevolent ruler.”

“How could I fail to see through such a vicious scheme?”

“Hmph! They keep claiming they are offering money and grain, but this is nothing less than contempt for Great Zhou.”

Everyone was stunned.

Meanwhile, Saiban had already been seized by the guards.

“Your Majesty! Tang sincerely wishes to befriend Great Zhou. How can you distort our intentions so completely? If you have me beaten today, His Majesty the Emperor of Tang will surely be enraged, and relations between our nations will deteriorate! Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

No matter how desperately Saiban cried out, Li Chen gave him no room to maneuver.

“Drag him out! Beat him as hard as you can!”

“Afterward, throw him out of the palace. Take the money and valuables he brought from Tang, and tell him to get out of Great Zhou!”

Saiban was dragged from the grand hall.

A moment later, terrible screams rang out from beyond the doors.

The ministers exchanged glances, each trying to guess the Emperor’s intentions.

“What is wrong with His Majesty? This was clearly a good thing. Why twist it so perversely? This… this is not the behavior of a foolish ruler, is it?”

“Indeed. How can Tang possibly let this go? Refusing the money and grain would be one thing, but he even had their envoy beaten… Alas, the friendly relations our two nations have maintained for nearly a century may well collapse today!”

Yet another voice spoke up.

And it, too, came from Ge Siwang.

“What do you know? If His Majesty had not seen through the situation with perfect clarity, we would nearly have fallen into Tang’s treacherous scheme!”

“Think about it. If Tang’s plan succeeded, whom would the people thank? Tang, of course! Our own people would have to rely on another nation for relief. Would that not leave our Emperor branded as an unjust and unbenevolent ruler?”

“Furthermore, if the refugees were moved to Tang, Tang could use them to increase its population. If another nation had them, it would be reluctant to return them at all. There must be a conspiracy behind this. In this old minister’s view, there may even be spies among them!”

A small number of ministers suddenly saw the light.

Lord Ge is right!

His Majesty is truly formidable. If he had not been able to distinguish right from wrong, Tang’s seemingly benevolent scheme would certainly have succeeded…

The ministers began quietly praising the Emperor’s actions.

The minister who had earlier hoped for war between the two nations once again revealed a faint, barely perceptible smile.

Hmph. The Emperor is foolish enough, but his ministers are no better. How could such a court possibly avoid defeat?

Since that is the case, why not fan the flames?

If relations between the two nations deteriorate and war breaks out, would that not give my king a chance to reshape the world?

With that thought, the minister was the first to step forward.

“Your Majesty!”

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Li Chen’s gaze fell upon him, and his brow furrowed slightly.

“What is it, Cai Jing? Are you planning to oppose me?”

Cai Jing hurriedly waved both hands.

“No, no, Your Majesty. With such foresight and vision, how could I oppose you?”

“Such a vicious scheme was seen through by Your Majesty at a glance. I am utterly filled with admiration for your wisdom!”

“However, I do not believe this goes far enough.”

Faced with such a minister, Li Chen immediately grew interested.

Ha! Great Zhou actually has a genius like this? How did I fail to notice him before?

“Speak. In what way is it insufficient?”

“In my view, Your Majesty should immediately write a letter condemning the Emperor of Tang for his injustice and lack of benevolence, then have the envoy carry it back. This would not only display Your Majesty’s wisdom, but also proclaim the majesty of Great Zhou!”

Li Chen clapped his hands repeatedly.

“Excellent, excellent! Your proposal is exactly to my liking. Then—”

Before he could finish, Ouyang Yu, who had remained silent until then, suddenly stepped forward.

“Your Majesty! Absolutely not!”

“Setting aside whether Tang truly harbors some hidden scheme, on the surface, they have come to aid Great Zhou. If we act so rashly, what will other nations think? Who would dare assist Great Zhou in the future?”

“Furthermore, if Your Majesty condemns the Emperor of Tang, relations between the two nations will surely deteriorate. Should this lead to war, what is Great Zhou to do?”

“Your Majesty is a ruler who understands justice and righteousness. At this moment, we should return Tang’s money and grain and offer our thanks. As for the envoy, I shall have men entertain him over the next few days. We can simply say that Your Majesty acted rashly in a moment of anger…”

“Only by doing so can we prevent the armies of the two nations from clashing and spare the people from suffering, Your Majesty!”

Ouyang Yu’s words won the approval of most of the ministers, who rose one after another.

“The Chancellor speaks the truth. We implore Your Majesty to reconsider!”

“We implore Your Majesty to reconsider!”

Seeing Li Chen’s displeasure, Cai Jing immediately shouted:

“The Chancellor is mistaken!”

“Tang harbors such malicious intentions, yet His Majesty has shown magnanimity and profound foresight. How can this be called a moment of rashness? He has merely imposed a minor punishment. Would Tang truly dare sever relations over this?”

“And even if they did, so what? It would only mean war. Great Zhou has powerful troops and countless fierce generals. Why should we fear Tang?”

Cai Jing’s impassioned speech had struck straight at Li Chen’s heart.

Ha ha ha! If only I had a few more ministers like him. I adore this man!

“Exactly! Great Zhou is the strongest nation under heaven. How could we fear Tang? I have made up my mind. This matter is not open for further discussion!”

“Cai Jing, you will draft the letter to the Emperor of Tang.”

The moment he finished speaking, Li Chen heard the system’s voice in his mind.

[Congratulations, Your Majesty. You have completed a foolish-emperor action. The fortune of Great Zhou has decreased by 800 points. Current balance: 8,150 points.]

[Based on the current decrease in national fortune, rewards are now being distributed…]

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