Half a Spoiler Chapter 61

Wen Yanran glanced at Chi Yi, who once again assisted Tao Jia from the floor back to his seat.

During his first seating, Tao Jia had been respectful in posture, but by the second time, he seemed to have given up entirely, as if resigning himself to the worst. He practically slumped in the chair, gazing weakly at the Emperor with an expression that spoke of utter despair, as if nothing mattered anymore.

Judging solely by his demeanor, Wen Yanran felt that her performance today carried a certain flair of a tyrannical ruler. On this point, the long-dormant system shared her sentiment. If Wen Yanran could view the log records, she would have discovered that a statement reading “preparing to recharge” had finally appeared.

Of course, Wen Yanran knew that Tao Jia’s reaction was because he had realized that if she, as the emperor, was determined to go to Shangxing Pass, he alone would be utterly powerless to stop her.

Ever since she had shown an inclination to raise troops, a new function labeled “Imperial Personal Campaign” had appeared on her game interface. In small print beside it was a note: “Forcibly available only when personal prestige is above 80.”

Prestige signified control. Wen Yanran was well aware that, given the cautious nature of her court officials, very few would agree to her leaving Jianping. However, she now held military power in the central region, had just eliminated the Marquis of Quanling, and had secured the southern commanderies, establishing an overwhelming authority that the ministers were in no position to defy. If this had been shortly after her accession to the throne, even with the title of emperor, she would undoubtedly have been firmly restrained in Jianping by her ministers.

Wen Yanran smiled faintly. “Since I wish to invite Minister Tao to accompany me, it is naturally because there are matters where your assistance will be valuable.” She then inquired casually about the younger members of Tao Jia’s household.

Upon hearing this, Tao Jia’s face paled slightly – Even loyal families like the Song clan, when they believed the Emperor lacked virtue, would hesitate to let their younger generation enter officialdom. And the Tao family had already been on the fringes of the imperial court for over a decade. Even if he himself were willing to disregard life and death, he still wished to protect his children, lest they lose their lives due to the war.

Yet, Tao Jia could not refuse to answer.

Since the Emperor had come today, it was unlikely she was truly unaware of the Tao family’s circumstances. Her inquiry was probably only a prelude to what was to come.

Due to the family’s decline, there were actually few younger members in the next generation of the Tao clan. Among them, only two of Tao Jia’s nephews could be considered both brave and capable. However, in those times, people lived together as clans, and the distinction between nephews and sons was not significant – uncles and nephews could easily be referred to as father and son.

Wen Yanran gave a slight nod and glanced at the imperial guards inside the room.

Excluding Zhong Zhiwei and Chi Yi, there had originally been sixteen skilled imperial guards accompanying the Emperor on her incognito outing today. Half of them stood guard outside the study, while the other half remained inside. Upon receiving the Emperor’s signal, they all withdrew from the study, simultaneously opening the doors and windows of the room so that those inside could see the outside. At the same time, they positioned themselves at a distance to avoid accidentally overhearing the conversation between the emperor and Tao Jia.

Now, only Zhong Zhiwei and Chi Yi remained inside the study.

Wen Yanran spoke slowly. “I am well aware that I have no remarkable achievements in military affairs to boast of. Therefore, how exactly to wage this war against the Western Tribes requires careful deliberation with you, Minister Tao.”

Tao Jia had resigned himself mainly under the pressure of the Emperor’s authority, and in truth, he was not willing deep down. However, since his defeat and subsequent idleness, he had grown considerably in worldly wisdom. He thought it better to first adopt a submissive stance, win the Emperor’s trust and reliance, and thereby gain authority. Then, if the situation truly deteriorated beyond repair, he could strive to bring the Emperor back to Jianping.

With this in mind, he bowed respectfully toward Wen Yanran. “I am willing to share Your Majesty’s burdens.”

The Emperor, clad in a dark blue robe, paused, her face taking on a faintly amused expression. “Very well. Then I shall trouble you, Minister Tao.”

As a close minister to the Emperor, Chi Yi naturally understood Wen Yanran’s thoughts at this moment – Tao Jia’s approach was sound, but his shift in attitude was too abrupt. From a performance standpoint alone, it was clear this man had indeed been away from the imperial court for too long…

Wen Yanran’s decision to personally campaign against the Western Tribes actually had its own considerations.

Although she had seen spoilers in the comment section regarding the Western Tribes rebellion, the number of unstable variables here was simply too high, making it difficult to grasp the true starting point of events. To fully seize the initiative, it was better to strike first.

Moreover, it had been less than a year since her accession to the throne. No matter how fierce the rebellion in the Western Tribes region grew, others would only attribute it to the misdeeds of the previous emperor. If Wen Yanran truly squandered the family legacy because of this, the so-called chosen ones would place the main blame for the kingdom’s downfall on the rebellion itself, finding reasons to exonerate Wen Yanran. This would not fulfill the ultimate requirement of the Guide to Becoming a Tyrant.

Therefore, Wen Yanran was determined to subdue the Western Tribes. Only by truly grasping the authority of Great Zhou could she become the primary, undeniable culprit of the dynasty’s ruin from every perspective.

In addition, a new option labeled “War Sandbox” had been updated on the Guide to Becoming a Tyrant game interface. Wen Yanran opened it and found it significantly different from the screenshots she had seen earlier in the comments. A large portion of the content had been removed, and whether in terms of functionality or interface, describing it as rudimentary would be an understatement.

Wen Yanran thought that, in any case, her ultimate goal was merely to be a tyrannical ruler. A reduced version of the War Sandbox was still usable for local conflicts – when the final fires of war raged and defeat was inevitable, she could simply give up, lie back, and await the inevitable “Game Over.”

The full version of the War Sandbox could display the marching routes of both enemy and allied forces. This simplified version, however, only showed the movements of her own troops. As for tracking enemy actions, it depended entirely on the effectiveness of scouts and spies. Additionally, the simplified War Sandbox displayed current supply status, troop numbers, and morale levels. Overall, it functioned like a portable military clerk, and even with limited data, it could effectively enhance a player’s grasp of the overall situation.

With the War Sandbox functionality at her disposal, Wen Yanran felt more confident about personally leading the campaign. Even before arriving at Tao Jia’s residence, she had already outlined a general attack strategy.

As military strategy teaches, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting; the next best is to break the enemy’s alliances; the next is to attack the enemy’s army in the field; the worst is to besiege walled cities.” Wen Yanran thought that since the comment section hinted at “the united and harmonious Western Tribes,” it implied she could find a way to divide them. Having been emperor for over half a year, Wen Yanran had reason to believe that, for the local chieftains of the Western Tribes, their current unity and friendship were undoubtedly built on shared interests. Thus, as long as she could create conflicts of interest among them, their so-called alliance would crumble on its own.

Wen Yanran had no idea that if her reasoning were posted in the comment section, it would be a classic example of “how to logically deduce the correct answer based on incorrect premises”…

She looked at Tao Jia and spoke unhurriedly, “Minister Tao, your defeat at the hands of the Western Tribes in the past is known throughout the land, and the various tribes surely have not forgotten it…”

When the Emperor mentioned his past defeat, Tao Jia felt waves of shame and pain in his heart. He had assumed Her Majesty intended to use this to reprimand him. However, as the explanation gradually deepened and he grasped the Emperor’s plan for the Western Tribes, he realized this was not the case.

Tao Jia felt his heart as if being grilled over a fire. Indeed, according to her arrangement, he himself was indeed the most suitable candidate to serve as the frontline commander. Moreover, if executed successfully, it might not be entirely impossible to subdue the Western Tribes in a single campaign.

If the Western Tribes were pacified, Jianzhou could then free up its hands to calmly deal with the northern and eastern regions. Besides, most of the Western Tribes locals were brave and skilled in combat, precisely the kind of troops the Emperor could utilize.

The Emperor was young yet sharp, possessing both courage and strategic insight, along with a remarkable decisiveness. In a moment of clarity, Tao Jia suddenly understood why figures like Zhong Zhiwei were so willingly devoted to serving her.

Around the hour of Xu (7 to 9PM), the streets outside had long been deserted as people returned to their homes. The deep night enveloped Jianping like an endless, unseen curtain.

In the span of a single night, Tao Jia, whose emotions had swung repeatedly between despondency, indignation, astonishment, and delight, finally settled completely. He looked at the young figure seated at the center, rose once more from his seat, and bowed solemnly. “Your humble servant, Tao Jia, pledges to pacify the Western Tribes for Your Majesty.”

As soon as his words fell, the game interface that Wen Yanran had been ignoring instantly returned to calm. In the unseen log records, following the line “preparing to recharge,” several consecutive entries of “recharge failed” refreshed in rapid succession.

Having concluded the conversation, Wen Yanran finally had a moment to check the game system. She raised her brow slightly – had she just imagined the interface was about to update again?

Normally, if an emperor personally visited a minister’s residence to discuss official matters and inadvertently stayed past the curfew, choosing to lodge there could be considered a charming anecdote. Wen Yanran had initially intended to do just that. However, after glancing around the room, she quickly realized that Tao Jia’s family had indeed fallen into realistic decline, and so she decisively took her leave.

The hour of Xu was the curfew period. For Wen Yanran and her entourage, merely traveling by carriage outside wasn’t an issue – after all, she could issue a nighttime travel permit on the spot. The problem was that the palace gates at Taiqi and Tianfu had already been locked, making it impossible to enter without exposing the Emperor’s identity.

Considering she still had court to attend the next day, and even though her current role didn’t require clocking in, Wen Yanran had no intention of being late. She asked Chi Yi which minister’s residence was closest to the palace, planning to simply stay there overnight.

Chi Yi first ruled out Yuan Yanshi and Attendant Song.

Their residences were indeed not far from the palace, and their living conditions were passable. However, Chi Yi believed that from the moment the Emperor entered until she retired for the night, she would undoubtedly have to endure impromptu lectures from both ministers, centered on the theme of “the Emperor should not leave the palace casually,” each likely spanning a thousand words. After careful consideration, Chi Yi suggested, “Actually, Marquis Lu’s residence is quite close to the palace. Moreover, Marquis Lu is well-versed in both civil and military affairs, and his temperament is meticulous and prudent…”

Wen Yanran thought for a moment. “Marquis Lu… That would be Lu Liangcheng, correct?”

Chi Yi replied, “Indeed, it is Marquis Luding.”

Wen Yanran was familiar with this individual. In the comment sections, his common description was “Lu Liangcheng, the Unrealistically Ambitious One,” which had always made her somewhat inclined to summon him to court.

What she didn’t know was that Lu Liangcheng earned the label “unrealistically ambitious” primarily because, across various side-story plots, he repeatedly uttered the line: “On her deathbed, my mother instructed that the Lu family must henceforth prioritize pragmatism and never again indulge in unrealistic ambitions as we did in the past.” Since this phrase appeared far too frequently, players unhesitatingly linked those words tightly to Lu Liangcheng’s name.

Lu Liangcheng’s family ancestors earned their noble title through merit. The lineage had persisted to the present day, making the Lu family a prominent aristocratic house within Great Zhou. The previous Marquis Luding was Lu Liangcheng’s mother, who unfortunately passed away early due to illness. Moreover, with too many distinguished elders in the clan who often indulged in unrestrained lifestyles and rarely returned home, the main branch of the Lu family had few descendants. Lu Liangcheng was compelled to inherit the title at a young age. Fortunately, the family culture was gentle and benevolent – the collateral branches not only refrained from seizing the main lineage’s property but often offered support. Lu Liangcheng himself seemed remarkably patient, in no rush to enter officialdom, and had been quietly studying behind closed doors at home. He held only an honorary title granted upon the new emperor’s accession.

Now, during the curfew hour, Lu Liangcheng received a report from his steward that Captain Zhong of the imperial guards had come calling, seeking to stay overnight with a companion.

Although Lu Liangcheng had no prior interactions with Zhong Zhiwei, both were officials of Great Zhou, so he would not turn her away at the door. Casually, he said, “Please invite Captain Zhong in…” Before finishing his sentence, he suddenly set down his book and stood up. “No, I shall personally go to greet her.”

His reaction was swift – if it truly were Zhong Zhiwei and her companion, why would they seek lodging at the Lu residence? Only if they had encountered a guest whom the commander’s own residence could not suitably accommodate would they come to the Marquis Luding’s estate.

Lu Liangcheng strode quickly toward the entrance, while the steward quietly reported at his side that the group had come from the west.

There were no prominent figures residing in the western part of the city. Therefore, they were not from the western districts but had gone to the west and were only now returning to the city.

Lu Liangcheng continued walking without pause, lowering his voice as he instructed, “Go and strictly order the household that no one is to speak of this matter.”

Since he was described by Chi Yi as meticulous and prudent, he naturally knew how to keep secrets and would not spread word of the Emperor’s visit.

By the time Lu Liangcheng reached the entrance, Zhong Zhiwei and the others had already entered. The latter spoke first, clearing her throat somewhat awkwardly and managing, “Lord Wen… has a curfew at home and wishes to stay the night at your residence.”

Lu Liangcheng bowed. “…A noble guest graces our humble abode, naturally bringing it honor.”

Not even bothering to change the surname – he felt that the concealment of the Emperor’s identity on this visit would clearly depend solely on the acting skills and mutual understanding of both parties…

The Lu residence had many servants, all well-trained, and they had already cleared the finest rooms for the guests to stay.