Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 1055 Make good use of the Second Young Master's personality!

Zhang Liang's voice carried a calm, insightful quality: "As everyone here knows, the Second Prince and his supporters have consistently advocated for a more assertive military stance against foreign powers. Now, with the King absent and the situation within the palace delicate, if the Second Prince wishes to increase his leverage in the competition with his elder brother, is there a more direct and effective way than winning a decisive victory on the battlefield? A young prince eager to prove himself and establish his position through military achievements, once given the opportunity to command troops, will he choose a cautious, defensive approach, or will he choose a more risky but also more illustrious offensive to expand his gains?"

He surveyed the crowd and slowly asked, "So, the reason that can convince the Chu army is this: Second Prince Gao Zhe, in order to smoothly inherit the throne, defied public opinion and personally led troops to Longxi. He not only wanted to defeat the Qiang tribe, but also, driven by ambition, sought greater military achievements to surpass his brother. He disregarded the principles of military prudence, and after the initial victory, rashly led the 'main force' deep into Qiang territory, intending to establish unparalleled merit! This action will inevitably lead to a 'relative vulnerability' in the defenses of Xianyang and the north. Do you all think the Chu army will believe this reason? Will they see it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Xianyang and turn the tide of the war?"

A long silence fell over the council chamber once again. Xiao He, Li Zhao, and Wu She were all processing Zhang Liang's astonishing yet meticulously logical plan. This plan perfectly combined military deception with political calculation, exploiting the enemy's perception of their own internal contradictions and their greed.

The risks were extremely high, but if successful, the rewards would be unprecedented—potentially eliminating the Chu army, a major threat. However, the political turmoil involved, and the consideration of placing the second prince Gao Zhe in such a perilous situation, placed an unprecedented amount of pressure on everyone present.

In a side hall of Weiyang Palace, wisps of smoke curled from a bronze incense burner, the scent of sandalwood slowly permeating the hall, yet unable to dispel the heavy atmosphere. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone floor, where, at the boundary of light and shadow, the figures of several high-ranking officials stood motionless like stone sculptures.

Zhang Liang's voice broke the long silence. He bowed slightly, his sleeves drooping like clouds: "Lord Xiao He, this matter should mainly be decided by you. This is merely a suggestion."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes were on Xiao He. The Grand Secretary, dressed in a deep purple court robe and jade belt, had a calm and composed expression, with only his slightly clenched fingers revealing the turmoil within. Zhang Liang had directly posed the question to him, which was no accident—it touched upon the sensitive issue of succession to the throne; mishandling it could lead to turmoil in the court at best, and bloodshed at worst.

Xiao He understood perfectly. Zhang Liang was exceptionally wise; his suggestion to have the second prince, Gao Zhe, lead troops to conquer the Qiang tribe was ostensibly to resolve the border troubles, but in reality, it concealed a hidden agenda. Although Gao Yao had nominally retired, he still controlled the overall situation. The throne was vacant, and the three princes—Gao Lin, Gao Zhe, and Gao Ning—each held their own power, with undercurrents swirling for half a year.

Zhang Liang's reluctance to make the decision was wise. Even though everyone could see that sending Gao Zhe on the expedition would both train the military-minded second son and temporarily ease the tense situation in Xianyang, Zhang Liang could not say it. Although he was a trusted advisor to Gao Yao, he was neither a member of the imperial family nor the chief minister; interfering in the matter of succession would be overstepping his bounds.

Xiao He's gaze swept over everyone in the hall: Zhang Liang stood with his eyes downcast, looking respectful; Chen Ping played with the jade pendant in his hand, seemingly casual, but actually listening intently; Cao Can frowned, clearly aware of the thorny nature of the problem; Zhou Bo stood by a pillar, his hand on the hilt of his sword, as if facing a formidable enemy.

"This matter is truly..." Xiao He began slowly, his voice echoing in the empty hall, "Under normal circumstances, sending a general to lead the troops would suffice. But now, the Qiang tribe has 50,000 troops pressing in, and they are no ordinary force to be defeated. Although the Second Young Master is fond of military affairs, he is still young..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood the implication: if they won, Gao Zhe's prestige would greatly increase; if they lost, the border would be in danger. Even more intriguing was the question: if Gao Zhe left Xianyang, what would the other two princes remaining in the capital do?

Zhang Liang raised his head, his eyes clear: "Lord Xiao's concerns are very valid. That is why I suggest that General Gao Niu be appointed as his assistant. General Gao Niu is a veteran of many battles and a prudent person, so he can be assured of safety. In addition..." He paused, "I am willing to be temporarily transferred to the Fourth Army Group as a military advisor to plan with the army."

These words caused a slight commotion in the hall. Zhang Liang's personal presence with the army carried a completely different weight. A hint of surprise flashed in Chen Ping's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure; Cao Can seemed lost in thought; Zhou Bo loosened his grip on his sword hilt.

Xiao He frowned deeply. Could he really decide this? Decide my foot! If he didn't know that Gao Yao, though behind the scenes, controlled everything, how could he dare to consider such a scheme involving the succession to the throne? But the problem was right in front of him. The Qiang army had already reached Longxi, and urgent reports from the border were being sent out three times a day. He couldn't get around it or avoid it.

The water clock in the corner of the palace dripped silently, and time passed in silence. Finally, Xiao He took a deep breath and made his decision.

"Very well, I will consult Lady Yu Shu on this matter." His voice was steady and firm. "Gentlemen, let's leave it at that for today. Now that the King is not here, I urge you all to perform your duties diligently and not to do anything that is inappropriate or forbidden."

"Here!"

Amidst the resounding responses, everyone bowed and withdrew. Zhang Liang nodded slightly as he passed Xiao He, and the two exchanged a knowing glance. Chen Ping hesitated as he passed, wanting to say something but ultimately leaving silently. Cao Can sighed heavily, shook his head, and walked out of the hall. Zhou Bo was the last to leave, pausing briefly at the doorway to bow respectfully to Xiao He before turning away.

The palace doors slowly closed, shutting out the last ray of sunlight. Xiao He stood alone in the hall, shadows enveloping his face. He stood there for a long time before turning and exiting through a side door, walking through the winding corridors towards the inner palace.

Secret Meeting

Deep within the Weiyang Palace, there was an inconspicuous side hall, surrounded by ancient cypress trees, where ordinary palace servants were not allowed to approach. Xiao He arrived at the hall, and the guards silently bowed and made way for him. He pushed open the door and entered. The hall was dimly lit, with only a few bronze lamps illuminating one corner.

Gao Yao sat in the lamplight, dressed in casual clothes, toying with a black jade chess piece in his hand. He didn't look up, his voice calm: "You've arrived?"

"Your Majesty," Xiao He bowed respectfully.

"Please sit down," Gao Yao said, gesturing to the seats opposite him. "What suggestion did Zhang Liang make?"

Xiao He sat down and reported the discussions in court one by one. He spoke in great detail, including everyone's reactions and the implied meanings of every word. Gao Yao listened quietly, occasionally tapping the chessboard with his chess piece, making a crisp sound.