Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

"As for the Imperial Concubine..."

Feng Anguo turned to look at Feng Mulan, his eyes filled with a father's authority and a hint of pleading.

"She was young and vigorous, brave and skilled in battle, and it was the perfect time for her to serve her country and charge into battle."

"The Vermilion Bird Legion also needs a commander like her to lead it. Let her go north with His Majesty. With this old minister here, she can have no worries."

Feng Anguo's words were reasonable, well-founded, and full of righteous indignation.

He not only took on the most arduous rear-area responsibility, which might have meant missing out on the greatest military achievements, but also solved the problem of Chu Ning's selection of generals.

As a father, he also secured an opportunity for his daughter to go to the front lines, fulfilling her aspirations as a soldier and her responsibility to her subordinates.

Listening to this, Jia Yu's eyes flashed with a hint of realization and admiration.

He instantly understood Chu Ning's deeper meaning!

Does His Majesty truly want the Imperial Noble Consort to stay?

That's almost impossible.

His Majesty's seemingly unreasonable appointment is clearly a brilliant move!

He knew Feng Mulan's temperament and Feng Anguo's love for his daughter all too well.

Taking this opportunity, we not only let the generals see the weight of the responsibilities in the rear, which are not something that ordinary people can bear, but also cleverly "forced" the most suitable and most likely to take the initiative to volunteer for this task.

In this way, what remains are seasoned generals with enough prestige and ability to command respect, thus resolving the hidden worries in the rear.

Feng Mulan was able to go to the front line as she wished, which made everyone happy. No one among the generals had any further objections, after all, even General Feng had taken the initiative to make a "sacrifice".

As expected, after listening to Feng Anguo's request, Chu Ning showed a relieved smile, a smile that conveyed the composure of a successful plan and appreciation for the loyalty and bravery of the old minister.

He immediately stood up from his throne, strode over to Feng Anguo, and personally helped him up, his voice filled with emotion and praise:

"Minister Feng! General Feng! You are truly a pillar of the nation and my right-hand man! You are deeply righteous, consider the overall situation, and volunteered to take on this important task. I am truly filled with admiration for you!"

He patted Feng Anguo's hand and said solemnly, "Good! Since the old general has such determination and responsibility, then I entrust you with the important task of guarding Zhennanguan, overseeing the grain supply, and ensuring the rear!"

"I will also leave Minister Jia with you to advise you and make plans. With both civil and military affairs in hand, I can truly feel at ease!"

He then looked at Feng Mulan, who was still sulking but whose eyes were already revealing complex emotions, and smiled:

"As for Mulan... since the old general has said so, it would be unreasonable for me to insist on keeping you here."

"Your request is granted. The Vermilion Bird Legion will remain under your command and will march north with the main army! Are you satisfied now?"

Feng Mulan looked at her father, who had taken on the heavy responsibility, and then at Chu Ning, who was smiling and seemed to have everything under control. She felt a mix of emotions.

Although she was straightforward, she wasn't stupid, and she vaguely guessed what was going on.

That stubbornness gradually dissipated, replaced by a complex sense of relief and gratitude towards his father.

Finally, she faced Chu Ning and her father, and solemnly clasped her hands and bowed:

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness! I will certainly not fail you!"

"Daughter...thanks, Father, for granting my wish!"

A seemingly thorny "selection" controversy was resolved satisfactorily thanks to Feng Anguo's righteous act of volunteering.

The generals in the hall finally breathed a sigh of relief, casting admiring glances at Feng Anguo. At the same time, they were even more eager to prepare for the upcoming, magnificent Northern Expedition.

Chu Ning's wisdom in employing and managing people was on full display at this moment.

The meeting adjourned, and the generals went about their respective tasks and preparations.

Chu Ning and Feng Mulan returned side by side to their sleeping quarters deep within the palace.

The candlelight inside the hall was warm, dispelling the damp chill of the southern winter night and temporarily isolating the outside world from important military and national affairs.

As soon as she entered, Feng Mulan broke free from Chu Ning's hand, took a few quick steps, turned her back to him, and let out a soft snort that was both coquettish and slightly dissatisfied: "Hmph! Your Majesty, did you take good advantage of me in the front hall just now?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Ning smiled slightly, but did not rush forward.

He simply strolled leisurely to the table, poured himself a cup of warm tea, took a sip, and then feigned ignorance to ask:

"My beloved, what are you saying? I cherish you more than anything, how could I possibly take advantage of you?"

Feng Mulan turned around, her eyes, sharp as an eagle's on the battlefield, now widened, filled with a mixture of reproach and understanding, as she glared at Chu Ning.

"Your Majesty, are you still pretending to be confused? You know perfectly well that I would never willingly stay behind to guard the rear, yet you specifically named me in front of all the generals to stay and guard Zhennan Pass. Isn't this putting me on the spot?"

“You clearly calculated that I would definitely disobey your orders, and Father felt sorry for his daughter. He saw that I was determined to go to the front line, and he also saw that the responsibility of staying behind was indeed crucial and no one was willing to take it.”

"He puts the overall situation first and has a deep love for his children, which is why he had no choice but to step forward and solve this problem for you."

"Your Majesty, your tactic of feigning retreat to advance and forcing the enemy to volunteer is truly masterful!"

The more she talked, the more convinced she became of her analysis, and the feeling of being manipulated in the hall earlier welled up in her heart again.

Although the result was what she wanted, the process left her with a subtle unease, as if Her Majesty had seen through her and even subtly "manipulated" her.

Seeing that she had seen through his lie, Chu Ning no longer tried to hide it. He put down his teacup, laughed loudly, stepped forward, and took Feng Mulan's hand again, this time holding it tightly so that she couldn't break free.

He pulled her to sit on the soft couch by the window, his tone both coaxing and explaining:

"Alright, alright, my clever Consort, nothing can be hidden from you."

He dropped his joking tone and said seriously, "Indeed, I have such intentions."

"But I am not using you. Rather, I know your and General Feng's temperament well. This method is the best way to achieve the best of both worlds and resolve this matter safely."

He analyzed in detail: "General Feng is a veteran of the court, the Minister of War, and the emperor's father-in-law. No one can match his prestige in the army."

"With him stationed at Zhennanguan, this crucial location, to coordinate supplies and secure the rear, I can rest assured without any worries about the rear, and the generals at the front can be completely at ease. Besides..."

Chu Ning paused, a hint of barely perceptible sympathy in his eyes:

"General Feng is advanced in years. Although he is still in good spirits, it is not appropriate for him to personally risk his life in long-distance raids and charges into battle."

“Leaving them behind to strategize and make use of their experience and prestige is not only making the best use of their talents, but also a way of showing care for veteran officials.”

“If I were to directly name him to stay, it might hurt his pride and make me seem unsympathetic to meritorious officials.”

"Wouldn't it be better if your disobedient daughter, my beloved consort, led him to step forward on his own initiative?"

As Feng Mulan listened to Chu Ning's explanation, the small resentment in her heart gradually dissipated.

She was not unreasonable; she knew that her father was indeed the most suitable candidate, and that His Majesty's arrangement was indeed based on considerations of the overall situation and the health of the old minister.

Her earlier "interrogation" was more of a girl's way of being affectionate and seeking reassurance from loved ones.