Cunning General Si Ning-Chapter 218: Tasks

Just with Xiu Zhicheng raising a hand, Song Ouyang took his place facing the Officials as he cleared his throat. The hall went silent, Si Ning looked up, he expected his eyes to meet Xiu Zhicheng even if for just briefly but he was surprised to see that Xiu Zhicheng was reading a letter and seemed to be wearing a serious expression which means the situation between Xiu and Xilie seemed like a war was unavoidable. At that moment Si Ning seemed to detect that Xiu Zhicheng was tired even though the Emperor was far from him but he had a feeling that he was tired and he could even picture how Xiu Zhicheng was taking a few deep breaths and sighing due to tiredness.

At that moment Si Ning was slightly angry that a lot had been going on that he had no idea about and that gave Ling Qi the audacity and guts to see it as an opportunity to badmouth him, a whole General, and a whole Empress, if he was still his impulsive self when he was an Actor then he won’t hesitate to give Ling Qi a blow after giving Xiu Zhicheng a blow for keeping the state affairs from him. Xiu Zhicheng keeping it from him made him feel like he wasn’t needed and that feeling made Si Ning’s heart sink thinking his help wasn’t needed and he wasn’t allowed to help his husband.

Si Ning placed it at the back of his mind to make sure his Commanders ears were full when he summons them after the meeting, he couldn’t wait to demand the reason they kept the upcoming war from him.

Si Ning’s eyes finally rested on Song Ouyang because he wondered why he wasn’t talking, Song Ouyang was flipping a letter yet his eyes were on Si Ning like he was trying to tell him something, Si Ning had no idea why the old man was staring while nodding a bit then look away just to show he wasn’t staring at the Emperor’s man yet his hands kept moving to unroll more letters.

"I am glad to see we are all here but we have to wait for those that are missing." Song Ouyang finally said.

Si Ning’s eyes widened, he wondered who it could be but the one person that he knew that was missing was Shao Lang and he had a mixed feeling between happy and unsure because he was going to be disappointed if any other person than Shao Lang join them.

He doesn’t know all the Officials that do attend the court meeting so if one was missing he would never know but deep inside he hoped it was Shao Lang. He turned to Xiu TianZhao hoping to get a hint from him but Xiu TianZhao only turned to wink at him and then turned back to wearing a serious face.

"As much as I love you standing next to me, your position should be standing next to my brother." Xiu TianZhao said.

This time when Si Ning met Song Ouyang’s eyes, the old man turned and used his head to gesture to the throne and Si Ning finally understood him so he approached the steps and even heard Song Ouyang sigh in relief, with small steps he started to climb the stairs feeling like a star that was going to face his fans, he finally stood next to the throne because Xiu Zhicheng was sitting in the middle which means he is meant to stand, so with his chin high, wearing the look of omnipotent as he looked down on the rows of Officials, the view was quite nice, especially seeing Ling Qi with his head bowed.

After a while of the court being silent, Xiu Zhicheng with his eyes closed like he was meditating or thinking, all the Officials’ eyes darting around like they were waiting for the unknown, the doors finally opened and Shao Lang clanged in armour stepped in like a hero who had saved the day and just returned from war, he walked down the path on the golden-red rug with largely determined stride, his movement sharp straight and direct then he fell on a knee when he got closer to the steps leading to the Emperor, his armour made a ’clag’ sound as he bowed.

Si Ning was glad to see Shao Lang was safe that he smiled a little, he noticed Shao Lang’s hair seemed to have grown longer, he was even spotting beards but apart from the new changes that made his look rough a bit, he looked kept, neat with no sign to show that he might have suffered.

"Greetings Your Majesty, may Your Majesty live for a thousand years." Shao Lang said. "Greetings Your Majesty, may the Empress live for a thousand years, I am back from my errand to Xilie." He announced.

Si Ning was pleased and felt quite honourable that he was recognized by Shao Lang, he knew of some people who would love to dismiss him or pretend not to see him yet Shao Lang came forward and acknowledged him, this time Si Ning didn’t feel superior to Shao Lang, he was just grateful Shao Lang returned in one piece.

"Report." Song Ouyang said.

"Uhn!" Shao Lang nodded. "The Emperor of Xilie, his Majesty Qiu Bai refused to accept our gifts and informed me that it is an insult to the Phoenix throne for us not to meet the heavens’ needs." Shao Lang reported. "..and sending me to Xilie instead of sending our Empress, his Majesty Qiu Bai tore our letter...."

"Aw..."

"Oh..."

"Ehhhh?."

"Wow."

Many murmurs filled the hall but the hall instantly went silent immediately Xiu Zhicheng placed a hand on his table. An Imperial sign for decorum.

"His Majesty Qiu Bai said our Nation should prepare for a war that he the son of heaven of the Phoenix throne is ready to invade our Nation because as the son of heaven, he doesn’t think a disrespectful Nation like ours should exist." Shao Lang concluded.

"Oh..."

"Wha..."

"Ehhh."

"You have done well on behalf of your home Xiu and you will be rewarded handsomely for staying alive for us and Xiu." Song Ouyang said cutting off the murmur that was starting.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shao Lang bowed before rising swiftly to fill the space Si Ning left right next to Xiu TianZhao.

"We all know that this war is unavoidable and each Governmental Officials have all contributed with different ideas and now it is the time for the Generals to stand up and the Government Officials concerning the war including the Minister of Finances, Minister of Trade, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defense, Minister of Arms among others should stay." Song Ouyang said as he turned to Xiu Zhicheng who nodded once as his permission. "Meeting dismissed."

The rest of the Governmental Officials who had no business with war but only had concern for Xiu started to shuffle out leaving the rest who was now half in number. The hall went silent when the last Official with no knowledge of war stepped out and Song Ouyang turned to the Emperor to show that the rest of the plans were in his hands, he would have continued but he couldn’t read Xiu Zhicheng’s mind.

"Minister of Defense." Xiu Zhicheng called out.

"Your Majesty." The Minister of Defense stepped forward at once.

"I want you to look over and go over the defense of Xiu plan and also you will be in charge of fishing out all the spies of Xilie, no stone must be left untouched including the nobles, all the people coming in to Xiu must have a pass and the citizen of Xiu must have their registration identity." Xiu Zhicheng said. "The search warrants will be prepared for me to seal with the Imperial seal and this must be done before the end of today."

The Minister of Defense knelt on the floor and bowed. "Yes Your Majesty." He accepted the Imperial Order before standing up. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Minister of Arms go to check the list of the raw materials for making arms and make as many as possible good quality arms, swords so strong, sharp that won’t break, make enough that will be able to arm at least a quarter of the army." Xiu Zhicheng said and he had already completed his order before the Minister had Arms get to the steps to kneel because he was standing at the last edge of the row of Officials.

"Yes Your Majesty." The Minister of Arms knelt and bowed.

"Minister of Foreign affairs you will have to find a way to help small villages who might be in our path, to find a place so I will leave you to communicate with them." Xiu Zhicheng said to Ling Qi.

"I will carry his Majesty’s order out putting all my effort without rest!" Ling Qi knelt and bowed.

"Minister of Trade you will be in charge of the opening of the Imperial stores, see how many provisions we have if it can feed our army for a year, if it is not enough then the taxes of the nobles must be increased because we need to make many trades as possible to secure provisions."

"Yes Your Majesty, your loyal Servant will see it done to my utmost ability." The Minister of trade knelt and bowed.

"We move on to the next meeting between me and the Generals." Xiu Zhicheng turned his head to look at Si Ning. "But before that, my Empress. " Xiu Zhicheng called.

"Your Majesty." Si Ning replied trying to make his head blank because he had no idea what his task would be, if Xiu Zhicheng decide not to give him a thing to do then he would have to protest because as the Empress now, he wasn’t meant to be a decoration.

"You will leave Your army, the Si army command in the hands of your Commanders because I will be leading the Imperial army to war and you as the Empress will stay to be in charge of taking care of Xiu."

Uh?