He intended to say a few more words in favor of Yang Ge, but felt that too much would be as bad as not enough and thus turned to say, "Your Majesty, based on the information provided by Yang Ge, the coastal pirate troubles might be more serious than we anticipated. If not controlled promptly, I fear it will lead to the deterioration of the situations in both Jiangzhe and Jiaodong, giving opportunists a chance to exploit the chaos."
Emperor Xiping gave a noncommittal "hmm" in response, casually remarking, "There’s no rush, the time isn’t ripe yet."
Shen Fa understood the hidden meaning behind his words, but thinking of Yang Ge’s fists, he steeled himself to persuade once more.
Just then, Emperor Xiping, shaking the document in his hand, asked, "Where is Qin Feng, the vice commander mentioned in the report?"
Shen Fa replied, "Your Majesty, Qin Feng has not yet arrived in the capital."
Emperor Xiping asked, "Is he Ma Dai’s man?"
Shen Fa, taken aback, answered truthfully, "Your Majesty, Qin Feng is indeed a vice commander promoted by Ma himself."
Emperor Xiping carelessly tossed the document onto the imperial desk, replying indifferently, "Ma Dai has been the commander of the Imperial Secret Police for some years now, but he has grown complacent. Handle him too, and if you do it well, you will be the new commander of the Imperial Secret Police!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Fa was greatly shocked, his mind racing with countless thoughts, yet he still bowed deeply, with utmost respect, "I shall obey the imperial decree, long live my Emperor, long live, long live!"
He understood that this was not just a changing of the guard for the commander of the Imperial Secret Police, nor just about a former commander about to be eradicated.
It was also a signal released by the Emperor to all the civil and military officials.
The Imperial Secret Police, being one of the sharpest blades in the Emperor’s arsenal, has always been a barometer of the imperial court’s climate.
Take Ma Dai, for example, the commander who is very close to the civil officials... Although he thinks he has been being secretive, to the observant, he is as conspicuous as a louse on a bald head.
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His position as the commander meant that the Emperor was telling the civil and military officials: "Go about your duties peacefully, as long as you don’t make any major mistakes, I won’t trouble you."
And now, at a critical moment when all civil and military officials are eager to undertake a major task for Emperor Xiping, the Emperor decides to purge the Imperial Secret Police and place him, a staunch royalist, in command.
This is tantamount to declaring war on all the civil and military officials: "If you show no mercy, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"
The confrontation between sovereign and ministers has reached the point where it’s close-quartered and blood is drawn.
Continuing down this path...
Either the ministers will force Emperor Xiping to retreat and take over the reins of government,
Or Emperor Xiping will suppress the ministers and monopolize power.
There’s no longer any room for compromise.
This move, although long planned by them,
Was too hasty and urgent; they should have taken advantage of the great victory in the northern border and gradually seized control by boiling the frog in warm water.
But can all this be blamed on Yang Ge?
Shen Fa felt it could not, for even if Yang Ge’s behavior in Jiangzhe was outrageous and taboo-defying, it wasn’t worth such a large mobilization against him by the officials!
The situation was clearly targeted at Emperor Xiping!
It showed that they had long seen through Emperor Xiping’s strategizing, with Yang Ge being nothing more than an excuse, a facade, all along.
And obviously, Emperor Xiping had also seen through the ministers’ intentions from the start, which is why he had so resolutely and unequivocally protected Yang Ge.
Such high-level intrigue!
’Alas.’
Shen Fa sighed quietly in his heart, thinking of Yang Ge’s desperate plea for reinforcements that went unanswered, while he, inexplicably, got promoted.
Touching his still sore eye socket, he thought to himself, ’No, I must rectify this, I must prevent that fellow from entering the capital again!’