The Young Swordsman of Dalu

Nabru Khan led his 300,000-strong army from the Western Regions forward relentlessly.

Li Linlie received news from the front lines while in the military camp that all signs indicated that Nabru Khan would attack them immediately, so Li Linlie rushed to Yuan Hui's tent.

"General! The Bulu tribe is about to arrive in Ningcheng. I think they will launch an attack on us soon!" Li Linlie said.

Li Linlie explained the strategic deployment to Yuan Hui in front of the war sand table, while Cao Yong listened attentively and asked, "General Li! You said that Bulu is going to attack us, how did you know?"

“Imperial Censor Cao! Wasn’t this based on intelligence analysis?” Li Linlie said.

"How come we didn't see it?" Cao Yong said sarcastically.

“That’s because Imperial Censor Cao has never fought a war and doesn’t know the intricacies involved,” Jiang Han said.

"How dare you underestimate me!" Cao Yong said to Jiang Han with displeasure.

"Imperial Censor Cao! Please don't worry, with a great battle imminent, just prepare the provisions for us," Li Linlie said.

“Imperial Censor Cao! Let’s listen to General Li. After all, he has been on this border for so many years, and he knows everything here better than we do,” Yuan Hui said.

“You, the Grand Marshal appointed by His Majesty, have become nothing more than a figurehead here,” Cao Yong said.

“Imperial Censor Cao! You mustn’t speak carelessly!” Yuan Hui said.

"General! We're here to discuss the war, not to argue!" Jiang Han said.

"Please everyone put the overall situation first!" Li Linlie said.

Cao Yong wanted to argue a few more points, but Yuan Hui stopped him. Cao Yong swallowed his words, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Zhou Shiyao received a secret report from the northwest border at Fuyuan Palace, saying that Li Linlie had seized military power from Yuan Hui and was planning to launch a border rebellion.

After reading the secret report, Zhou Shiyao couldn't sit still any longer. He angrily tore the report to shreds and threw it on the ground.

"Li Linlie! I had such high hopes for you and your father, yet you have betrayed me! I will not let you off lightly!" Zhou Shiyao roared in fury.

Yunze was summoned to the palace. Upon entering Fuyuan Palace, he saw the mess on the ground and said softly, "Your Majesty!"

"Prime Minister Yun! Your loyal Li Linlie has committed such a treasonous act against me. Tell me, how should I deal with him?" Zhou Shiyao asked, his eyes bloodshot.

"Your Majesty! What exactly has happened? I don't understand," Yunze said.

“Listen up! Li Linlie is plotting a rebellion!” Zhou Shiyao shouted in Yun Ze’s ear.

"Impossible! Your Majesty! Impossible!" Yunze couldn't believe that Li Linlie would do such a thing.

"Could it be that I'm lying?" Zhou Shiyao said.

"Your Majesty! That's not what I meant!" Yunze said, kneeling down.

"Yunze, draft an imperial edict for me!" Zhou Shiyao said.

"Yes, sir!" Yunze replied.

“The treacherous minister Li Linlie, taking advantage of the Western Regions’ attack on our northwestern border, did not lead troops to fight back, but instead seized the opportunity to usurp military power and betray our Great Lu Kingdom. This is truly a heinous crime! I hereby strip Li Linlie of all his fame and fortune, reduce him to a commoner, and escort him back to the capital to be tried by the Dali Temple!” Zhou Shiyao said.

"Your Majesty! It's ready!" Yunze said.

"Deliver it to the northwest border as quickly as possible!" Zhou Shiyao said.

Yunze handed the drafted imperial edict to the eunuch.

Zhou Shiyao said, "Could this be Heaven's will to destroy my Great Lu Kingdom?"

“Your Majesty! We are not at our wits' end yet!” Yunze said.

"Prime Minister Yun! Are you saying that I haven't tried hard enough? Why are they treating me like this?" Zhou Shiyao said.

“Your Majesty! The northwestern border is thousands of miles away from us. As for what has happened there, we here have no idea. Please calm down, Your Majesty, and think it over!” Yunze said.

"Does our Great Lu Kingdom not exist without the Li family?" Zhou Shiyao said.

“Your Majesty! Nabul is eyeing our northwestern border with hostility. If we replace Li Linlie now, it will have a great impact on the morale of the troops on the northwestern border, Your Majesty!” Yunze said.

"He's about to betray the country, how can I expect him to protect my empire? I don't want to hear you anymore! Send the drafted imperial edict to the northwest border immediately! Otherwise, my northwest border will be in danger!" Zhou Shiyao shouted hysterically.

The eunuch holding the imperial edict walked up to Yunze, unsure of what to do. Yunze knew the emperor had made up his mind, so he waved to the eunuch, who then left with the edict in his hands.

Yunze didn't know how he left Fuyuan Palace. His heart was heavy with sorrow. He knew His Majesty had made this decision because he had listened to the slander of treacherous officials. Faced with imperial power, he felt powerless to change the situation. He wanted to confide in someone about his frustration. Yunze walked to the training ground, where the sounds of battle were deafening. Wen Tao stood on a high point, overseeing the training.

Wen Tao saw Yun Ze, came down from his vantage point, and walked up to him. Seeing Yun Ze's dejected look, he smiled and asked, "Prime Minister Yun, did your wife run away?"

Yunze looked up at Wentao, and as if he had seen a relative, he suddenly buried his face in Wentao's chest and burst into tears.

"Our Great Lu Kingdom is doomed!"

Wen Tao quickly covered Yun Ze's mouth and asked, "What's gotten into you that you said such outrageous things!"

"Your Highness! The northwest border is doomed!" Yunze said.

"Don't talk nonsense! With Li Linlie in charge of the Northwest, it won't happen!" Wen Tao said.

"His Majesty has already issued an edict to bring Li Linlie back to the capital for trial," Yunze continued, weeping.

"Why would His Majesty do this?" Wen Tao asked, puzzled.

"His Majesty must have listened to slander," Yunze said.

"How did you know that the Emperor was going to escort Li Linlie back to the capital?" Wen Tao asked.

“I wrote the Emperor’s edict myself,” Yunze said.

“This is serious! It is of utmost importance for Minister Yun to inform Pavilion Master Li about this so that he can make a decision,” Wen Tao said.

"Look, I forgot about that!" Yunze said, slapping his forehead.

"Come to my camp. I have writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone there. Go quickly and write a letter to Pavilion Master Li. I'll have someone send it to Beijiang City by express courier!" Wen Tao said.

Yunze jogged into the military camp, wrote a letter to Li Chaoyang, and handed it to Wentao. Wentao then found his trusted confidant and ordered him to take the letter to Beijiang City.

Yunze felt a little better after watching the messenger leave. Wentao patted him and said, "Don't worry! Pavilion Master Li will receive the letter soon."

“Your Highness! How can our Emperor believe those rumors at this time?” Yunze said.

“Prime Minister Yun! After all, the Great Lu Kingdom is the Zhou family's territory, so his reaction is understandable. However, he doesn't realize how many ministers he will offend by doing this,” Wen Tao said.

"I hope General Li Linlie can escape this calamity," Yunze said.

"What's meant to happen will happen eventually, otherwise how could those scoundrels succeed!" Wen Tao said.

"It must be that bastard Cao Yong. Just because his daughter is the empress, he dares to spew nonsense in front of His Majesty. I really want to give him a good beating," Yunze said angrily.

“The winds are blowing in the Great Lu Kingdom!” Wen Tao said meaningfully.