Surviving In The Ancient Times With Limitless Supplies
Chapter 27: The Ruthless Emperor Ming

Chapter 27: The Ruthless Emperor Ming

Hall of Benevolence, Royal Palace. Capital City, Shang Empire.

Sitting on the throne, Emperor Ming looked at the ministers below. With the war report in his hand, he read the war report with a frown. The more he read it, the deeper his frown became. Those ministers standing under the throne did not dare to look up at him or make a noise. After a long silence, he threw the battle report to the ministers below.

Srak!

The war reports are written on bamboo slips strung together into a bamboo scroll. With this throw, the thin rope tied the bamboo slips together broke, and the bamboo slips were scattered all over the ground. Looking at the bamboo slips scattered on the ground, the ministers and generals immediately fell to their knees.

"Please calm down, Your Majesty!"

Their voices were solemn, but Zhao Jue could sense their indifference. He slammed his hand on the throne chair arm, stood up and pointed at the ministers and generals kneeling below.

"Shut up, all of you!" He shouted angrily at the ministers and generals.

After his shout, the spacious and magnificent Hall of Benevolence suddenly fell into silence. None of the ministers nor generals dared to move or speak out. Although Emperor Ming was neither a benevolent nor a wise Emperor, he was a ruthless Emperor.

In order to control military power and political power, he did not hesitate to execute countless brave and talented generals, and exiled the Xiao clan. He even put his biological mother, the Empress Dowager, under house arrest. Fortunately, under the pressure of the other loyal ministers and generals, Emperor Ming’s plan to execute the Xiao clan failed. In the end, he had to exile them from the Shang Dynasty instead.

All of this is enough to prove how ruthless and power-hungry this Emperor Ming is. Because of this, none of the people who wanted to change the surnames of the ruler of the Shang Dynasty until now succeeded. After walking back and forth for a few minutes, Zhao Jue still couldn’t calm down the anger in his heart.

Glaring at the ministers and generals who were still kneeling on the floor, he said, "General Yao, take one hundred thousand soldiers and go to the northern border. Take back those cities from the Bei Wei Empire!"

As soon as Emperor Ming said these words, Yao Zhen stepped forward, cupped his fists and knelt down under the throne. Lowering his head, his loud and strong voice came.

"This subordinate accepted the order."

Zhao Jue then looked at the Left Prime Minister and said, "Left Prime Minister Yang, prepare enough rations for the army within two days. When General Yao leaves for the northern border, Zhen wants to see the ration is ready by then."

Yang Lihuo stepped forward and knelt beside Yao Zhen. He lifted up the long jade board of the first rank minister in front of him with his hands, lowered his head and spoke calmly.

"This subordinate obeyed."

Zhao Jue looked at the others and said, "If there is nothing else, then end the morning court!"

He flicked his sleeves and left the Hall of Benevolence angrily. Seeing that the Emperor had left the hall, the chief eunuch hurriedly shouted, "The morning court is adjourned!"

As soon as his sharp voice fell, all the ministers and generals knelt and spoke in unison.

"Long live the Emperor!"

Seeing that the chief eunuch had left, all the ministers and generals got up one after another. Looking at the dragon throne, Yang Lihuo sighed deeply. General Yao Zhen, who was standing beside him, patted his shoulder and shook his head.

Looking at the old Left Prime Minister with pity, he said, "Left Prime Minister Yang, it’s hard on you."

Yang Lihuo sighed again, shook his head and said, "The Emperor’s will must be carried out. But with the current situation of our empire, I am really at my wits end."

Seeing that he couldn’t help with anything, Yao Zhen sighed and cupped his fists at Yang Lihuo. He said in a deep voice: "There is still a lot to do. This general will take my leave first."

Yang Lihuo returned his salutation and said, "General Yao, go slowly."

He looked at Yao Zhen’s back, sighed again, and then walked out of the Hall of Benevolence. When he reached the hall entrance, Cao Qinbo was already waiting for him there. Seeing Yang Lihuo coming out, he approached him and calmly walked beside him.

"Left Prime Minister Yang, how do you plan to fulfill the Emperor’s will?" He asked calmly without even looking at Yang Lihuo.

As the two of them walked side by side, Yang Lihuo said, "Right Prime Minister Cao must know that the treasury of our empire is empty now. Without money, I really can’t prepare the military rations in two days. Our empire also suffered from a seven years long drought. Which had led to a shortage of production, and an uncontrolled rise in prices."

Cao Qinbo glanced at him indifferently, and said, "This is indeed a difficult situation."

After a moment of silence, he said again: "I have a solution, but I don’t know if Left Prime Minister Yang is willing to listen."

Having known Cao Qinbo for more than ten years, Yang Lihuo knew that nothing is free, and it was not easy to deal with him. Although he knew that accepting his help today was a very risky and dangerous decision, he had no other choice but to accept his help. Otherwise, two days later, when the Emperor asked for rations, he would not know if he could survive or not.

If he is the only one who gets executed, it’s not a big deal since he is already old. But looking back at the punishment imposed by the Emperor, he is afraid that the whole clan will accompany him to the underworld.

With a heavy heart, the old Left Prime Minister Yang opened his lips and said, "It doesn’t matter if this old minister hears it first. Right Prime Minister Cao, please speak freely."

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