"Your Majesty," General Zhou began, his voice barely above a whisper as he cast nervous glances at the other council members. "Your imperial person is too valuable to risk—"
Jin felt a flash of irritation burn through him. Always treating me like I'm made of gold.
"My imperial person was already attacked once," he interrupted, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his fist. "I won't cower behind palace walls while others fight my battles."
General Feng blurted, "But Your Majesty has no military experience," then immediately looked like he wanted to bite off his own tongue. Horror washed over his face—Shit, I shouldn't have said that, his expression screamed.
Jin raised an eyebrow, enjoying the general's discomfort. "Are you suggesting the Son of Heaven is incapable of leading his warriors into battle, General?" His voice dropped dangerously low, a trick he was learning to appreciate.
Feng practically threw himself to the ground, terror visible in the sweat beading on his forehead. "Forgive my loose tongue, Your Majesty! I meant only—"
"You meant that I've never shown interest in military affairs," Jin finished for him, surprising himself with how easily he was settling into this role. "That changes today. My presence will boost morale. Our soldiers will fight harder knowing their emperor stands with them." At least, I hope they will. Gods know I'm making this up as I go.
Sun Lo's hawkish eyes narrowed as he studied Jin's face, searching for weakness. "A bold move, Your Majesty. Prince Yong will not expect it." The strategist's lips curved slightly—the closest thing to approval Jin had seen from the man.
"Precisely," Jin agreed, growing more confident as his plan began to crystallize.
"War is shaped by perception—what people believe often becomes reality. If the Son of Heaven personally leads the army, it won't matter how small the battle is; the world will see it as a full-scale war. King Renhu will be cornered—either he publicly disowns his son, or he openly declares war on the Empire. That's when we'll see his real intentions."
Minister Gao stroked his beard, speaking with newfound respect. "A political masterstroke, Your Majesty. Either outcome benefits us."
General Zhou's face remained etched with worry, deep lines forming around his mouth. "And if something should happen to Your Majesty?" The unspoken question hung heavy.
Jin met his gaze steadily. "Then my brother, the Phoenix Prince, would ascend the Dragon Throne—and you would have a warrior emperor at last."
Something flickered in Zhou's eyes—concern, calculation, or perhaps both.
"I will personally command Your Majesty's guard detail," the general declared. "No harm will come to you while I draw breath."
"Good," Jin said. "And speaking of my brother—where is Prince Kwan? I would have expected him at this council."
The silence that followed was thick enough to cut with a knife. Council members avoided his gaze, suddenly fascinated by the floor patterns.
"The prince was... not invited, Your Majesty," Minister Gao admitted. "As per your standing orders regarding military planning sessions."
Jin frowned. "My standing orders?"
Gao and Zhou exchanged glances—a silent conversation passing between them.
"Your Majesty has traditionally excluded Prince Kwan from war councils," Zhou explained carefully, choosing each word as if stepping through a minefield. "Given the... tensions between you."
More evidence that Emperor Tao was a first-class jerk to his brother. Jin filed it away in his mind with the growing list of his predecessor's sins.
"Those orders are cancelled," Jin said firmly. "Prince Kwan has military training and battlefield experience. We need his insight."
"As Your Majesty commands," Zhou bowed, though Jin detected a hesitation in his tone.
Would he even show up? After years of being shut out, maybe he'd laugh in my face, Jin thought.
"Now," Jin continued, his mind racing ahead to practical matters, "General Zhou will coordinate with the Jade Banner Army. General Feng, return to your Western Garrison and begin positioning troops along the Crane River." He turned to the minister, who was watching him with sharp attention.
"Minister Gao, I want your agents spreading rumors in Qiushan that we're mobilizing eighty thousand men, not forty-five thousand. Let's add problems to Prince Yong's calculations."
As the generals bowed and prepared to depart, Jin added, "And send messengers to the provincial governors. The militias are to be activated and placed under imperial command."
Forty-five thousand men, dressed up as eighty thousand. Let's hope Prince Yong doesn't call this a bluff... or worse, outplay it.