The official's final statement brought a sense of fortunate relief to many.

How could they not feel relieved?

Ever since the First Emperor created the concept of the emperor, one undeniable truth emerged: China's upper echelons of politics could only be built around imperial power. In theory, the emperor possessed control and authority over everything under heaven, held the ultimate right to interpret all legal principles, and had the power to decide on all political opinions...

Theoretically, an emperor possessed unlimited power.

In reality, this was a society defined by imperial power.

However, as history repeatedly unfolded and dynasties rose and fell, China's elite were not fools. They naturally gleaned from historical experience some tacitly understood materialist theories – for example, that the emperor was ultimately a living person, and living people have emotions, preferences, and desires.

More importantly, these emperors, due to their varying qualities, displayed enormous differences in the way they wielded their power.

There was Emperor Yang of Sui, but also Emperor Taizong of Tang; Emperor Hui of Jin, but also Emperor Shizu of Han; Emperor Gong of Zhou, but also Emperor Taizu of Song... And one fact that everyone had to acknowledge was that the Zhao Song imperial line had passed down for ten generations, and the current official, to some extent, was a semi-recognized restorer of the dynasty, at least not someone who could be easily bullied.

Du Chong and Liu Guangshi were executed on a whim, and the army was firmly under control.

Facing such an emperor, in all honesty, anyone who hoped for a peace agreement, from the bureaucracy to the common people, felt a little anxious... because if things really escalated, the outcome was uncertain.

But fortunately, this official, for the sake of the overall situation and the hearts of the people, made a proper choice.

Of course, the idea that the great Song could negotiate peace but he wouldn't was a bit of an ostrich act.

However, it must be said that whether it was an ostrich act or whether things might change, this matter concerning the overall situation of the world finally had a resolution.

And so, several days passed in the blink of an eye, April ended, and May arrived. On this day, in the Chongwen Institute's Central Hall Secret Pavilion (where books, original works, calligraphy, paintings, and documents were stored in the Song Dynasty), Duke Lü Haowen, Duke Zhao Ding of the Department of State Affairs, and Zhang Jun, the Privy Councilor, organized another routine meeting. The five Dukes, six Ministers, six Vice-Ministers, one Censor-in-Chief, the Nine Ministers, and five Directors were all present, but the scope was not expanded further.

The reason it was called routine was that the official had not uttered a word since that day, nor had he made an appearance, and he no longer summoned officials to meet by the fishpond as he used to. All memorials sent to the Inner Palace were basically turned around in the Inner Attendant's Office and the Inner Secretariat and sent back directly... In theory, the official had seen them, but in reality, everyone knew that the official hadn't looked at them at all.

In the words of Lan Gui, the official had said that before the return of the Two Sages, all handling of state affairs was to be limited to joint deliberation by the chief ministers.

However, while the position of chief ministers in the Great Song Dynasty was undoubtedly beyond question, at such a sensitive time, even the chief ministers were unwilling to act solely on their own authority. So, they simply held a meeting in the Secret Pavilion every day to discuss the overall situation, to demonstrate impartiality.

It could only be said that Wanyan Xiyin's thorough looting of the Great Song Dynasty's Secret Pavilion had indeed made the place much more spacious, providing a natural meeting venue.

"As I said before, since the official isn't showing his face, we must do our best to see this through to the end." On the third floor of the Secret Pavilion, Lü, Zhao, and Zhang, the three people with the power to make decisions, were seated in silence, but Liu Ji, the Deputy Duke of the Department of State Affairs, stood up to preside. "First, let's talk about what's urgent. How is the Honglu Temple progressing?"

Zhai Ruwen, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, did not step forward to offer his greetings, nor did he move from his seat, but spoke directly from among those seated: "There has been much progress. The Jin people do indeed have sincere intentions for peace talks, returning the Two Sages, the two Empresses Dowager, the princes, and prisoners..."

"There are no princes, what princes are you talking about?" Before the other party could finish speaking, Liu Ji sternly interrupted him. "Since Emperor Yuan Sheng ascended the throne, and then His Majesty succeeded to the throne, the sons of the Retired Emperor Daojun are merely members of the imperial clan. Even the one born to Yuan Sheng is just an ordinary member of the imperial clan!"

Zhai Ruwen, having been rebuked in public by Liu Ji, was not angry, but instead said respectfully: "You are right, it was my negligence. Members of the imperial clan and nobles under the Two Sages and the two Empresses Dowager..."

"Hold on." Lü Haowen, who had been sitting silently, suddenly frowned and spoke. "How is it two Empresses Dowager? Shouldn't it be three?"

The people around him were slightly startled, but quickly became solemn and silent, obviously knowing what was going on. Lü Haowen only participated in the meetings and was not a permanent resident of the Chongwen Institute, so he was inevitably a little late in learning some details.

Zhai Ruwen was also slightly startled, but immediately gave a serious explanation: "The Jin envoy Ulin Dazanmo informed us that Empress Zhu (Empress of Emperor Qinzong of Song) passed away in Wuguo City three years ago."

Lü Haowen was momentarily saddened... Among the Two Sages who had been captured, he actually had little affection for the Retired Emperor Daojun, but he had been appreciated by Yuan Sheng and quickly promoted to Censor-in-Chief and Minister of War. He still had some sense of loyalty between ruler and subject towards Emperor Yuan Sheng and his wife, so he was naturally saddened to hear of Empress Zhu's death.

Seeing that Lü Haowen was no longer speaking, Zhai Ruwen was finally able to continue, but he spoke even more carefully: "Ulin Dazanmo's meaning is that the preliminary return of prisoners other than the Two Sages and the members of the imperial clan was a predetermined matter. The Jin state should already be doing this at this time. The reason for slightly delaying the Two Sages and the members of the imperial clan is not because the Jin state is unwilling, but because the Jin people are worried that His Majesty secretly does not want the Two Sages and the members of the imperial clan to return to the south, so they are deliberately catering to His Majesty... Now that His Majesty has spoken out to demand their return, this matter is actually not a major problem. It's just that the requirement to first send everyone back completely before discussing peace somewhat exceeds expectations, so it may require messengers to travel back and forth between Yanjing and Bianjing to give a formal reply. As for the matter of the five prefectures of Jingdong, he naturally only made excuses, saying that we were greedy and insatiable, but he didn't completely shut the door on the matter. In my opinion, he is also waiting for a formal statement from Yanjing."

As Zhai Ruwen roughly introduced the progress of his contact with the Jin envoy, silence fell over the Secret Pavilion.

There were two reasons for the silence. One was that they had not expected the Jin people to be so straightforward and to agree so readily to the unconditional return of the Two Sages. The other was that some topics were inevitably sensitive for these ministers.

Seriously, what does it mean to cater to His Majesty's private desires and initially plan to deliberately leave the Two Sages and the members of the imperial clan behind... As a minister, can you discuss such things? But the Jin envoy simply refused to conceal anything, saying everything so bluntly, that trying to avoid it was just deceiving yourself.

"So, the matter of welcoming back the Two Sages should be fine?" Zhao Ding helplessly opened his mouth, but then looked at Zhu Shengfei, the Minister of Rites. "If the Two Sages return to the south, what kind of etiquette should be used to greet them? And how should they be settled? Does the Ministry of Rites have any plans?"

"The Ministry of Rites has no plans." Zhu Shengfei spread his hands with a dark face. "There is no precedent for this matter. Please give us some guidance, Dukes."

Zhao Ding, along with several other Dukes, realized for the first time that Zhu Shengfei was so annoying?!

"Both are respected as Retired Emperors, and there are also the two Empresses Dowager Zheng and Wei, which makes four positions of honor..." Zhao Ding helplessly continued the topic, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he felt that Zhu Shengfei really couldn't possibly have a plan, because no one could possibly have a plan.

Aside from anything else, these four people, plus Empress Yuanyou in Yangzhou, were theoretically above the official, and practically only below the official. How should they be settled?

The Empress Dowager Yuanyou has a palace in Yangzhou, but would you dare to let the Two Sages escape the official's supervision?

But if you let these two, plus the two Empresses Dowager, stay in the same city as the official, the Genyue Garden has been abandoned, the Imperial Garden has been dug into fishponds, and three-tenths of the spacious Yanfu Palace has been given to the Military Academy. How many palaces are available? You can't really give them a side hall, can you?

Moreover, the official is so frugal, what standards should be used to settle these four?

Of course, the most important thing is that whether it's a side hall or a Taoist temple, no one can make a decision on this matter without the consent of the Zhao official by the fishpond.

"What about the Yanfu Palace?" Helplessly, after thinking for half a day, Zhao Ding asked all around with gritted teeth. "Most of the Yanfu Palace is vacant. First, clean it up. Then, use the Yanfu Palace as a preliminary plan for welcoming them. When the Two Sages return, the official will have to come forward in the end. And if the official has other plans, we can ask him then."

The other chief ministers looked at each other, and could only brace themselves and nod together, and then all looked at Zhu Shengfei.

Zhu Shengfei sighed when he heard this, and could only surrender: "Whatever the Dukes say is what it will be."

Zhao Ding and others felt that this person was even more annoying!

"If the Yanfu Palace is used to settle the Two Sages and the two Empresses Dowager... should the Military Academy be moved out?" At this moment, Zhang Jie, who was the magistrate of the Shaofu Jail, suddenly spoke.

However, this statement only drew angry stares from the chief ministers, and then Wang Shu, the Minister of Punishments next to him, sneered: "It is precisely because the Military Academy is there that the Yanfu Palace can be taken out and used. There is no intention of taking it back."

Zhang Jie suddenly understood, but his face turned red with embarrassment.

The chief ministers glared at Wang Shu again, but Wang Shu was aloof and disdainful.

"Is there anything else from the Honglu Temple?" After glaring angrily, Liu Ji quickly asked Zhai Ruwen again.

Zhai Ruwen hesitated, but still carefully opened his mouth: "There's an imperial clansman..."

Everyone frowned, all thinking that another son of the Retired Emperor Daojun had been confirmed dead. Liu Ji helplessly urged: "Who?"

"The Prince of Xin." Zhai Ruwen cautiously replied. "It is said that the Prince of Xin still exists in Wuguo City."

The officials in the Secret Pavilion were all puzzled, but then all realized the truth and became solemn.

"This is a negotiating tactic, a trick to make our dynasty give up on the Taihang Righteous Army." Zhao Ding immediately said solemnly. "This statement cannot be believed or spread unless we see the Prince of Xin returning with the Two Sages."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Is there anything else?" Liu Ji asked helplessly again.

"No, there isn't." Zhai Ruwen quickly shook his head.

"Alright, for today, the news from the Honglu Temple will be arranged like this for the time being. The rest will have to wait for news..." Seeing this, Liu Ji helplessly concluded. "Guest Minister Zhai (another name for the Minister of the Honglu Temple) will continue to talk to Ulin Dazanmo. The conditions that the official stated cannot be moved even slightly."

Zhai Ruwen bowed his head again and agreed.

"Does anyone have any other difficult matters?" After giving his instructions, Liu Ji asked the others again.

"Apart from the peace talks, what other difficult matters are there now?" Liu Dazhong, the Minister of Personnel, sighed, but cupped his hands to the people above. "Dukes, are you really not going to do anything about Hu Quan? He said in the Dibao (official gazette) that we are 'treacherous villains,' that we are 'guiding' His Majesty, who has the 'qualities of Yao and Shun,' towards 'Shi Jin (Shi Jingtang's Later Jin)' in order to 'privately secure our positions as Dukes, Ministers, and Vice-Ministers,' almost saying that all of us deserve to be executed... What is that supposed to mean?"

After Liu Dazhong finished speaking, the chief ministers and the dozen or so other ministers in the Secret Pavilion all sighed.

To be honest, among the officials, there were many who agreed with the peace talks, and many who silently cooperated, but it could not be ignored that there were also people who strongly opposed the peace talks, and there were quite a few of them.

Before, when the Zhao official strongly advocated for war, the public sentiment below advocating for peace was so overwhelming that those advocating for war seemed unable to resist it for a while. But once the official dropped the matter and the court really began to negotiate peace, these war advocates became the opposition, and they also seemed to have an overwhelming public sentiment.

And in the past few days, the chief ministers, because they had to mediate between the two sides, had to conceal their original positions and do their best to maintain the overall situation. Below the chief ministers, three of the biggest representatives of the war advocates had already emerged. Wang Shu, the Minister of Punishments in the Secret Pavilion, was the biggest war advocate, representing the upper-level officials. And among the middle and lower-level officials, there were also many, especially the young Hu Quan, who was the most active in the Dibao, and yesterday even shouted the slogan that those who negotiate peace should be executed. As for the common people, an unexpected war advocate had also emerged, who was none other than Hu Anguo, the father of Hu Yin.

The reason for this great scholar was somewhat similar to that of the Zhao official - once peace was negotiated, the spirit of the Jianyan Restoration would be broken and it would be difficult to continue it. If they wanted to fight again in the future, they might not be able to rise up.

Faced with this situation, as important court officials, they still had to do as before - try to maintain the overall situation as much as possible and not let anyone overturn the table.

"Hu Quan cannot be punished." After thinking for a long time, Zhao Ding hardened his heart and said. "If we punish Hu Quan at this time, it will be seen as us acting for personal gain... It must be known that the peace talks at this time are only for the sake of welcoming back the Two Sages, recovering Jingdong, and recuperating for a while. It is not to truly abandon the Two Rivers and live in peace from now on!"

Liu Dazhong shook his head repeatedly.

Having said this, Zhao Ding seemed to remember something and looked at Zhai Ruwen again: "Guest Minister Zhai, do not mention or discuss the matter of a brotherly country. If this brotherly country is confirmed at this time, how can we fight again in the future?"

Zhai Ruwen bowed his head in response and couldn't help but sigh.

And at this time, Zhang Jun, the Privy Councilor, who had not said much, also sighed: "You all sigh, but how difficult is it for me in the Privy Council? I don't know how to respond if Yue Pengju writes from the front line to question us?"

Liu Dazhong waved his sleeves: "Yue Fei can submit a secret memorial to ask the official! Why should we worry about it?!"

"How can we be so self-righteous about military affairs?" As soon as Liu Dazhong, the Minister of Personnel, finished speaking, his subordinate, Lu Zhi, the Vice-Minister of Personnel, sneered: "Has it only been a few years of peace? And you already treat military affairs as nothing? Yue Pengju's Imperial Vanguard Army is mostly composed of refugees from Hebei, and Li Qiong and his Eight Character Army around Tokyo City are also refugees from Hebei. If a mutiny breaks out, who will take responsibility?! The official entrusted this matter to you in the Secret Pavilion. Is this how you all spend your days sighing and complaining?"

When these words were spoken, Liu Dazhong and others naturally became angry, and Zhao Ding also felt a burst of annoyance, because this kind of behavior, which did not offer solutions to the problem but only created opposition and ridicule, was the most hated by the chief ministers who were seeking stability at the moment.

"This matter must be considered." But as much as he hated it, Zhao Ding still spoke solemnly before Liu Dazhong could lose his temper. "And we must quickly come up with a response... Minister Hu, what do you have to say?"

Hu Shijiang, the Minister of War, stepped forward solemnly amidst Lu Zhi's complex gaze and said respectfully: "Dukes and colleagues, I believe that we can send a high-ranking official to be stationed in Li Qiong's army to appease them, and directly state that the imperial court has no intention of abandoning the Two Rivers... As for Yue Fei, we might as well take a shortcut and temporarily cut off the news, not telling him about the peace talks... If the official wants to tell him, he will naturally tell him. Let's not interfere here."

"That's the way to do it!" Zhao Ding seriously made a decision. "Who will go to Li Qiong's army?"

Hu Shijiang cupped his hands and said: "I am duty-bound to go."

Zhao Ding nodded and was about to agree, but at that moment, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the window of the Secret Pavilion. It seemed as if someone had suddenly gathered and shouted. Like everyone else, the chief minister of the Department of State Affairs was startled.

Lin Qi, the Minister of Revenue, and Zhao Shi㒟, the Great Director of the Imperial Clan, who was just pretending to be asleep, were closest to the window. They instinctively leaned out to look, but unexpectedly, a shoe came flying towards them from two floors up, immediately causing Zhao, the imperial uncle, to bleed from the nose. Then it bounced off and hit Minister Lin in the face, causing both of them to squat down and cover their faces in pain.

At this, the important central ministers on the third floor of the Secret Pavilion naturally turned pale.

At this time, the noise grew louder and louder. Many words could not be concealed across the two floors, and the people upstairs knew what had happened below before they could go to help the two who had been hit.

Soon, the on-duty guards also hurried upstairs and clearly informed them of what had happened below - a group of middle and lower-level officials from the Department of State Affairs, the Privy Council, the Six Ministries, the Nine Temples, and the Five Directorates, seemingly having made a prior agreement, suddenly poured out during the Secret Pavilion meeting. There were dozens of them, and they demanded to meet the important ministers in the Secret Pavilion and ask them some questions in person!

The people listening felt that something was wrong and couldn't help but panic for a while, but the matter wasn't over yet. Soon, another on-duty guard came in a panic, saying that more than a hundred students of the Imperial Academy had gathered in donkey carts on the Imperial Way at Xuande Tower and were going to submit a memorial publicly.

At this, there was a great uproar in the Secret Pavilion... Speaking of which, even the youngest of them had experienced the Jingkang period, so how could they not know that this was a repeat of the Jingkang scene?!

At that time, the Jin people were attacking and seizing territory, and the court was divided over whether to fight or negotiate peace. The officials debated endlessly, creating a state of division. Scholars and students of the Imperial Academy also submitted memorials publicly. That kind of political chaos directly led to Emperor Yuan Sheng, who reigned for just over a year, replacing twenty-six chief ministers. The other Six Ministers, Nine Ministers, and Five Directors were countless.

"Is it the official?" Hearing the increasingly loud shouts from downstairs, Li Guang, the Censor-in-Chief, supporting Lin Qi, the Minister of Revenue, who was still covering his face, couldn't help but regretfully say. "Is he advancing by retreating? Why would the official resort to such tricks?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Secret Pavilion fell silent again.

"It's not the official!"

"This is not the official's doing!"

"It can't be the official."

After a moment, Lü Haowen, Zhao Ding, and Zhang Jun almost simultaneously denied it.

But the difference was that Lü Haowen stopped speaking after saying it, and his expression was one of sadness and loss. Zhang Jun shook his head repeatedly, as if he was lost in thought. Zhao Ding continued to grit his teeth and issue orders, ordering the guards to go down and have the people below choose a representative to come upstairs and speak, and ordered Chen Gongfu, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, who had been perfunctorily attending the Secret Pavilion meetings, to hurry to Xuande Tower and receive the memorial submitted by the students of the Imperial Academy.

After a series of words and instructions, order was restored to the Secret Pavilion. And when the representative of the middle and lower-level officials came upstairs after some confusion below, the important central ministers in the Secret Pavilion were already waiting in full battle array.

"Chen Kangbo, how is it you?"

Zhao Ding sat in his seat, looking at the official representative who had come up, actually one of his right-hand men in the Department of State Affairs, the Left Assistant Secretary, and was momentarily stunned. "You are usually calm, prudent, and insightful in the Department of State Affairs, never uttering a reckless word. How did you get involved in this matter?"

"To let the Duke know, I usually never utter a reckless word precisely so that I can speak with certainty and gain people's trust at this time." Chen Kangbo, who was also in his thirties, the same age as Zhang Jun, but had entered the officialdom a few years later, cupped his hands in response, without the slightest trace of panic. "Duke Zhao, on behalf of seventy-three officials from the Department of State Affairs, the Privy Council, the Six Ministries, the Nine Temples, and the Five Directorates, I have 'concerns' to share with you superiors, and I also have 'doubts' to ask you superiors... May I speak?"

Zhao Ding sighed and nodded in response before several angry officials could speak: "Speak."

"We seventy-three officials, plus one hundred and twenty-five students of the Imperial Academy, are all opposed to the peace talks." Chen Kangbo stated his position and then explained in detail. "Firstly, we are concerned about the story of Shi Jin (Shi Jingtang's Later Jin)..."

"That won't happen." Before Zhao Ding could speak, Zhu Shengfei, the Minister of Rites, stood up as if he had been踩了尾巴的猫 (cǎile wěiba de māo, stepped on a cat's tail). "Our dynasty will not have any ritualistic relations with the Jin people. We will not even allow a brotherly country... Assistant Secretary Chen, we also know the 'stories,' not just you."

Chen Kangbo nodded slightly to Zhu Shengfei, then turned his head and continued: "Secondly, we are concerned that the imperial court will abandon the people and gentry of the Two Rivers; thirdly, we are concerned that the imperial court will forget the Humiliation of Jingkang... These are the three concerns."

"That won't happen." Zhao Ding sighed and quickly replied solemnly. "Don't forget, I am from Hedong myself... The imperial court's peace talks this time are only to welcome back the Two Sages, recover Jingdong, and recuperate for a while. We have no intention of continuing the peace talks forever. After recuperating for three to five years, with ample military resources, we will definitely launch a northern expedition."

"Then if these two concerns are gone, there will be two new concerns." Chen Kangbo listened carefully, unhurried, and continued to cup his hands and say. "Duke, the matter of Jingkang, the Two Sages being captured in the north, is unprecedented. The so-called shame of a great country cannot be washed away except with weapons. Therefore, even if we welcome back the Two Sages, it should be done with weapons. If we welcome them back with peace talks, aren't you afraid of being ridiculed?"

Zhao Ding was momentarily stunned, but Zhang Jun, who was next to him, took over the conversation: "Assistant Secretary Chen, you are worrying too much. The Two Sages are able to return this time because of His Majesty's victory at Yaoshan. It can already be considered as welcoming them back with weapons... The fact that the Jin people have taken the initiative to negotiate peace is clear evidence. Who would dare to laugh?"

Chen Kangbo nodded, but continued to speak: "If that is the case, why not continue to respond with weapons? It must be known that the last of our concerns is that the sudden peace talks will cause the loss of the hearts and minds of the people and the morale of the soldiers... Today, we are greedy for the benefits of Jingdong and the Two Sages. If we negotiate peace one day, how will we explain it to the righteous armies and people of the Two Rivers? And if, after several years, the people are content with their lot and the morale of the soldiers is lost, and the northern expedition cannot be achieved, then what? Who will be responsible? If..."

"I will be responsible!" Hearing this, just as the chief ministers were in difficulty, Li Guang, the Censor-in-Chief, who had been listening more and more impatiently, suddenly spoke sternly from his seat. "You can tell the world that if we cannot raise an army for a northern expedition after three to five years, I will撞死 (zhuàng sǐ, kill myself by ramming my head) in front of Xuande Tower to restore the country's spirit!"

"But if Censor Li dies and still cannot continue the country's spirit, and still cannot launch a northern expedition, or if the northern expedition fails... then what should we do?" Chen Kangbo did not care in the slightest that the other party was the Censor-in-Chief, who had the power of supervision.

"Do you want me to kill myself now to prove my innocence?!" Li Guang, remembering the incident where he had been mocked in front of the official that day, almost the same words, was completely enraged. "After so much chaos, doesn't the country need to recuperate? The hearts of the people in the Two Rivers are hearts, but aren't the lives of the people in Jingdong lives?! Are only you young people loyal and patriotic, and are we just confused fools and selfish thieves?!"

Li Guang's words immediately evoked a sense of emotion from many important ministers... There were still many pro-peace people among them, and they were mostly indignant for Li Guang. Even the few pro-war chief ministers and important ministers actually believed in Li Guang's personal integrity and were moved beyond words.

"I didn't say that." Chen Kangbo continued unhurriedly, cupping his hands in response. "I am here on behalf of many people, and Censor Li doesn't need to bear such a great burden alone."

"That's right." Zhang Jun, who was somewhat sensitive to the word "young," also coughed and urged Chen Kangbo. "Assistant Secretary Chen, whatever the concerns of the people downstairs that you have spoken of, we already know them. What other 'doubts' do you have? Please continue to speak."

"Yes." Chen Kangbo bowed slightly to the Privy Councilor, who was the same age as him, and then continued calmly. "The so-called doubts are actually only two... Firstly, in these peace talks, how should we appease the several military camps of the Imperial Army that are mostly composed of refugees from Hebei? Once we cannot handle it properly and a mutiny breaks out, what should we do?"

"We have already discussed this matter and are about to have Minister Hu of the Ministry of War go to see Vice-Commander Li." Chen Gui finally interjected. "The Privy Council is also preparing to make some adjustments for defense."

Chen Kangbo nodded and finally hesitated for a moment, but still seriously opened his mouth: "The last 'doubt'... May I ask, Dukes, Ministers, Vice-Ministers, and Secretaries, is the official safe?"

The entire hall was silent.

After a long time, Zhao Ding finally sighed softly: "What do you people think we are?"

"We also know that this is absurd, but this time, the students of the Imperial Academy and the colleagues are united and still want to see the imperial countenance directly. At the very least, we must see a memorial personally approved by the official." Chen Kangbo said proudly.

"What if you see it? It will only make things difficult for the official again." Zhao Ding said earnestly. "Assistant Secretary Chen, do you really think that we can isolate the inside from the outside? Or do you really think that there were fewer people in the pro-peace political tide that the official faced before than there are of you? Even in this Secret Pavilion, among the chief ministers and ministers, there are not a few pro-war people. It's just that everyone can focus on the overall situation, perform their duties, and fulfill their responsibilities!"

"We actually understand what Duke Zhao is saying." Chen Kangbo was still neither humble nor arrogant, but said loudly. "But our actions today are only to let the official know that there are still some young and ignorant people in this world who do not understand the overall situation and are willing to follow the official and fight the Jin people to the end with their reckless courage... And not all civil officials and ministers are so thoughtful, prudent, and seeking perfection, to the point that they are only thinking about the old systems of abundance and prosperity."

In the Secret Pavilion, from Lü Haowen downwards, Zhao Ding, Zhang Jun, Liu Ji, Chen Gui, Li Guang, Liu Dazhong, Wang Shu, Zhu Shengfei, Hu Shijiang, Lin Qi, Liang Yangzu, Lü Zhi, Zhai Ruwen... and so on, even including Zhao Shi㒟, the Director of the Imperial Clan, whose nose was still bleeding, were all staring at this person, but they were all silent, and their expressions were varied.

Some sighed, some laughed, some were angry, and some were sad, but most people were just seriously watching.

And after another long time, Zhao Ding finally composed himself and slowly nodded: "I understand. I will go ask Grand Official Lan to come over right away. Assistant Secretary... wait a moment!"

ps: The Sixteenth Middle School of Linghu has appeared!