Exile: Empty half of the capital and blow up the enemy's palace

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's smile froze. The Protectorate was the patron saint of the Great Zhou. If they left, how could the border be peaceful? The horrific dream resurfaced in his mind, and his father's screams in the frying pan seemed to still echo in his ears. He opened his mouth and said after a long pause, "Marshal Yun, since you have no intention of going to the battlefield, I will not force you to fight. However, you are all capable, and it would be a pity to let your skills be buried among the mountains and rivers."

The Emperor paused, staring intently at Marshal Yun, and said, "Marshal Yun, why don't you stay in the court and help me rectify the government and purge the evildoers? Okay?"

The people in the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion are all capable. With the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion around, no foreign enemy dares to invade their Great Zhou Kingdom. He really doesn't want to let the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion leave just like that.

On the other hand, he was also worried that the Duke of Huguo would harbor resentment towards the Great Zhou Kingdom because they were falsely accused of treason, had their property confiscated, were exiled, and their families were destroyed. After leaving, they would defect to the enemy country, help the enemy country with strategies, and harm the Great Zhou Kingdom!

"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your kindness, but we, the Duke of the Protectorate, truly have no interest in attending court. Over the years, we have fought for the Great Zhou Kingdom, never complaining. However, the trumped-up charge of treason led to the confiscation of our property and exile. My family suffered immense hardship and even died along the way.

Now, although my injustice has been redressed, my family members can never come back. Now I just want to take my remaining children and grandchildren to find a quiet place and live a stable life.

"Your Majesty, the Great Zhou is rich in talent, and there are certainly capable ministers who can shoulder the heavy responsibility of rectifying the imperial order and eradicating the treacherous and evil." "I beg Your Majesty to allow us to resign," Marshal Yun said solemnly.

The Emperor looked at Marshal Yun's determined face and knew he was determined to resign. He could not keep him. However, he did not dare to stop him because of his father's tragic end in his dream. After a long silence, the Emperor slowly said, "Marshal Yun, since you have made up your mind to resign, I will not force you. However..."

The emperor paused and said, "Old Marshal Yun, I know that the Duke of Huguo's family was falsely accused of treason and exiled, their property was confiscated and their family was destroyed. They must have resentment in their hearts."

The Emperor looked straight at Marshal Yun and said, "I hope that even if you resign, you will not do anything that will harm the Great Zhou Kingdom."

It was also my father who said in a dream that the Duke of Protectorate’s Mansion was protected by the gods and could not be provoked. Otherwise, if the Duke of Protectorate wanted to resign and retire, he would have to die!

Thinking of this, a barely perceptible ruthlessness flashed across the emperor's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

Upon hearing this, Marshal Yun solemnly assured him, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Even if the Protectorate resigns and retires, it will not do anything that harms the Great Zhou Kingdom."

The emperor nodded slightly, forcing a smile on his face. "Old Marshal Yun, I naturally trust you, but people's hearts are unpredictable. I'm afraid that those with ulterior motives will deceive you and use you, and I'm afraid that you will be unable to control yourself."

The emperor paused, his tone becoming more profound. "With you gone, I feel very empty. If you want to come back and take up your post, you can come back anytime."

Marshal Yun nodded in thanks, and a conspiracy theory began to form in his mind. Why did the emperor so easily agree to the resignation of the Duke of the State? Could it be that the emperor had already planned to get rid of the Duke of the State?

Just as he was pondering this, he heard the Emperor say, "Old Marshal Yun, the Duke of the Protectorate has made great military achievements and also performed great feats in exterminating the rebels. Tomorrow I will hold a celebration banquet in the palace to celebrate the Duke of the Protectorate's achievements. Firstly, it will commend your achievements, and secondly, it will be a farewell banquet for you before you retire."

Marshal Yun's heart skipped a beat. This celebration banquet was probably the Hongmen Banquet!

"Your Majesty, the national treasury is empty now. We should increase revenue and reduce expenditure and spend money where it is needed most. Your Majesty, there is no need to hold this celebration banquet!" Marshal Yun said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, the emperor secretly calculated in his heart that the national treasury was now empty and he was overwhelmed by various expenses. He originally held this celebration banquet to make a gesture to stabilize the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion.

Since the Duke of Protectorate is going to resign and retire, and will hardly be of use to him in the future, there seems to be no need to hold a grand celebration banquet.

Thinking of this, the emperor's face showed regret, but he nodded and said, "Old Marshal Yun is very understanding and righteous. What he said is absolutely right. In that case, let's cancel this celebration banquet."

When Marshal Yun heard that he agreed so readily, he started to have conspiracy theories in his mind. It was really unreasonable for the emperor to be so straightforward, as his mind was smaller than a needle hole!

Could it be that he was planning a bigger chess game, retreating to advance, deliberately going along with the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion so that they would let down their guard, and then eliminate their entire family?

Just as he was thinking about it, he heard the emperor say, "Old Marshal Yun, remember your words. After you retire, don't do anything that will harm the Great Zhou Kingdom!"

Upon hearing this, Marshal Yun secretly thought in his heart that the Emperor extremely distrusted their Duke of Protectorate Mansion and would not let them go. He would definitely not let them leave so easily!

"Your Majesty, rest assured. The Duke of Protectorate will not do anything to harm the Great Zhou!" He promised with a serious face, "I am retiring this time with the sole hope of living a peaceful life. I have no other aspirations."

The emperor nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on Marshal Yun: "Marshal Yun, yours is a family of loyal and brave men. I believe in yours."

Upon hearing this, Marshal Yun secretly complained in his heart: I believe it, bullshit. If I believed it, I wouldn’t be afraid that the Duke of Huguo’s Mansion would surrender to the enemy in my words and deeds.

Just as I was complaining in my heart, I heard him say, "If there are people with bad intentions acting under the name of the Duke of Protectorate, I hope that Marshal Yun can inform the court in time and prevent the traitors from succeeding."

Marshal Yun's face darkened upon hearing this, and he said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, rest assured. If this happens, I will report it to you immediately."

This dog emperor really has no trust in their Duke of Protectorate Mansion at all!

After taking his leave and leaving the palace, Marshal Yun sat in the carriage with a frown on his face.

This dog emperor is narrow-minded and won't let them leave the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion so easily. He must be harboring evil intentions!

They have to prepare well when they get back, lest the Dog Emperor attack them secretly!