“If the main Jin army suddenly attacks, can they hold the line?” John Harrison raised his eyebrows slightly. Faced with real difficulties, he no longer had last night’s petty satisfaction.

“……”

“I understand.” John Harrison adjusted his mindset a little, barely managing to keep his expression normal. “Then what if the Jin army ignores both and marches straight from Nanjing to Bozhou, pursuing the court southward all the way?”

“Defend along the Huai River, wait for reinforcements from all sides, and have the forces from Dongjing and Shandong attack from behind.”

“If the Huai River cannot be held, and Shandong and Dongjing cannot be relied upon, then what?”

“Abandon Yangzhou, move to Jiangnan, and defend the Yangtze River.”

“And if the Yangtze River cannot be held either?”

Arthur Lee fell silent once again.

“I see.” John Harrison sighed softly. “There’s something I must tell Scholar Lee. After I fell into the well, though my body is unharmed, I did forget some matters while ill, which led to unrest among the people in the court… So, Mr. Lee, you need not go to Xuanzhou. Resume your post as Right Vice Minister of the Secretariat and stay here with the court for consultation. It’s also to use your experience to reassure the people.”

Henry Carter, who had been silent all along, looked up in astonishment, instinctively wanting to interject, but suddenly realized that although these two in the hall had similar stances, they were not truly his political allies. According to protocol, as an inner attendant, he had no right to speak at this moment.

Of course, after the turmoil of the past two days, Henry Carter no longer demanded perfection. Arthur Lee was honest, but ultimately a supporter of moving south—what else could be done?

So, Mr. Carter immediately shut his mouth, and somewhat realized why the sovereign had been so confident yesterday… Ministers wanting to vie for power with the sovereign—how laughable.

On the other side, Arthur Lee hesitated for a moment, then wanted to decline slightly according to custom.

“With the nation in ruin and families destroyed, to insist on the ritual of thrice declining and thrice yielding is just pedantry.” John Harrison naturally understood his intent and spoke bluntly. “From now on, for such appointments, just say yes if you can, no if you can’t… The country is in chaos, the court is in exile, and we, as the core of the nation, are putting on airs here. Don’t you know that the paper and ink wasted on these formalities could save a few lives if turned into money and food in troubled times?”

This was moral coercion against a man of virtue, and the coerced Arthur Lee dared not say more, only bowing his head in acceptance. Then Henry Carter also dared not delay, quickly sending word to summon another reliable Hanlin scholar to the side room to draft the decree… After sending this message, Mr. Carter felt even more dejected. With the Song system as it is, if the sovereign truly wants to seize power, what can people like him do to resist? Only in these past few days, colluding with the prime minister and holding power, did Mr. Carter feel the pain of knowing he would never wield such authority again.

“Scholar Lee… Mr. Lee, please sit.” Seeing the other accept the appointment, John Harrison was greatly comforted. Looking to another person, he had little else to say. “Inspector Scott…”

“Your servant requests a private audience!”

Standing quietly all along, the palace censor Peter Scott, who looked to be just over thirty, and whom John Harrison had never counted on, suddenly did something that caught everyone off guard.

“What do you mean by a private audience?” John Harrison, coming to his senses, was momentarily confused. “Isn’t this already a private audience?”

“Your Majesty,” Arthur Lee, who had just sat down, immediately stood up. “There are many precedents for private audiences by chief ministers and censors. It is either to impeach a chief minister or hold a minister accountable, or to recommend key figures… Your servant requests to withdraw.”

“Why is a private audience needed for this?” John Harrison realized, feeling both wary and smiling lightly. “Not to mention there are few people here, and Mr. Lee is a reliable person. Even Mr. Scott’s name I have heard—it's said that both times Li Boji, Minister Li, was dismissed, it was related to your impeachments. Yesterday your memorial also sought to punish Minister Li, and your words were so sharp that I was deeply impressed…”

“If not for that, how could I have the chance to see Your Majesty?” For this private audience, not even bringing his ivory tablet, the young Peter Scott raised his head and spoke directly, cupping his hands. “But never mind… Your Majesty, I, palace censor Peter Scott, impeach Prime Minister Huang Qianshan, Privy Minister Wang Boyan, and the inner attendant Henry Carter for isolating the court from the outside and harboring ulterior motives; I request the recall of Grand Academician Li Gang and the Tokyo military governor Zong Ze; I request the recall of all commanders of the Imperial Army to temporarily return to the court, to reassure the people.”

The hall fell utterly silent. Mr. Carter was trembling in fear, and even our Mr. Harrison was stunned… Are there really so many clever people?

Chapter Eight: The Decisive Blow

After Charles Young defected, according to a certain sovereign’s self-assured plan to seize power, he should have advanced and retreated with skill, wisdom in hand, relying on courage and perseverance to overcome countless obstacles, finally, through meticulous planning, step by step gaining the initiative in court. In the end, after several months, before Jin Wuzhu could decide to march south, he would have seized control of the government, then, with everyone united, resolutely defending Dongjing for a year, achieving a brilliant victory, thus preserving the Central Plains, and opening a new chapter in history…

However, before any real difficulties had even appeared, before a word could be spoken, these so-called loyal ministers or clever people all jumped out one after another!

At least last time Charles Young said something about national enmity and family hatred, but this time he really hadn’t said a single word yet!