Elder Uncle is a good man. When he was still alive, every time he entered the palace, he would accompany Charles Carter to play, but Second Uncle always kept a stern face, just like Mother, never smiling or joking.

The Weiyang Palace had only just been built, so the palace grounds had yet to become lush and green. Timber was not easy to come by either. At this moment, the grand Han palace looked rather desolate, with gray and white everywhere, not yet painted, and from time to time, eunuchs would hurry past with their heads lowered.

Charles Carter spent a long time inspecting the imperial palace and finally found a precious source of raw materials.

First of all, this wasn’t a beam in some grand hall, so there was no danger, and no one ever came here anyway. It was just an empty display, with no practical use. It would be better to use it to benefit the people of the world.

Charles Carter hid the wood he obtained nearby, and every day he would return to the Jiaofang Hall covered in dust and dirt, collapsing into bed as soon as he got back.

Martha Clark watched him sleeping soundly and turned to the palace maid beside her. “Is he still working on that spinning wheel?”

“Yes... the young master is truly filial...”

Martha Clark said nothing more. In fact, as early as the day after Charles Carter had this idea, Martha Clark already knew about the surprise he was preparing for her. The mistress of the harem is not someone to be trifled with. Whenever there is even the slightest disturbance in the palace, Martha Clark is usually the first to know.

Martha Clark was the first empress in Chinese history. After all, the first emperor of China never established an empress. In this era, people still didn’t know how to treat an empress, nor how to define the powers she should have. The rule that the harem should not interfere in politics had not yet appeared. As a result, the empress’s power was astonishingly great.

Not only could she interfere in state affairs, but she could even meddle in the emperor’s appointments.

...

“This is a new pavilion I had built. Usually, no one comes here. It’s surrounded on three sides by artificial hills. When I sit here, I can enjoy a moment of peace...”

George Carter strode along the gravel path. Feeling a bit tired, he simply took off his shoes and walked barefoot. Following beside him was a middle-aged man with a stern face. The two walked one after the other along the path, and not far away, a group of armored guards watched them coldly.

This middle-aged man’s eyebrows arched upward, making him look very forceful, even a bit intimidating. He was thin but had a large frame, dressed very plainly, and followed steadily behind George Carter.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Here, we’re not ruler and subject, just friends. Don’t be so stiff like you are at court.”

George Carter scratched the sole of his foot and grinned as he spoke.

“If this is a gathering between friends, then why are there so many elite guards following behind us?”

“You’ve got me wrong. I’m walking with a fierce tiger—how could those guards dare to relax?”

The middle-aged man suddenly laughed, but after a moment, his laughter stopped abruptly.

“What do you think of John Howard?”

“Loyal and brave, imposing—a good vanguard, but not qualified to be a great general.”

“And what about William Howard?”

“Obedient, can carry out orders well, but lacks his own opinions. He can defeat the enemy but cannot lead an army.”

Chapter 10: The Warm and Kind Uncle

George Carter and the middle-aged man walked toward the pavilion, chatting as they went. George Carter was quite at ease, barefoot, talking and laughing, as if the two were not ruler and subject, but truly old friends.

This old friend of George Carter had a very arrogant temperament. When George Carter brought up several founding generals, this old friend harshly criticized them, as if none of them were worth his attention, his words full of disdain.

“I heard that a while ago you visited John Howard, and John Howard greeted and saw you off with a kneeling salute, saying: ‘Your Highness actually graces my humble home with your presence; it is truly my honor.’”

“Yes, I was quite moved.”

“But I also heard that after you left, you laughed and said to those around you: ‘I can’t believe I’m ranked alongside the likes of John Howard in this life!’ Is that true?”

The middle-aged man’s expression changed, then he replied coldly, “He’s simply not my equal. What’s wrong with saying that?”

George Carter burst out laughing. “If John Howard heard that, he’d be very upset. He’s always admired you so much.”

They continued walking, and only then did George Carter ask, “We’ve talked about many generals, but we’ve left out two people.”

“Oh?”

“Me.”

“How many soldiers do you think someone of my talent could command?”

“Your Majesty could not lead more than a hundred thousand men.”

“And you? How many soldiers could your talent command?”

“The more the better—no upper limit.”

George Carter looked at him teasingly. “In that case, I still have the upper hand over you.”

“Oh?”

“You can command as many soldiers as you like, but why did you still end up captured by me?”

The middle-aged man’s eye twitched, and his face flushed red, but faced with George Carter’s teasing expression, he quickly calmed down and replied seriously, “Your Majesty is not skilled at commanding soldiers, but you are skilled at commanding generals. That is why I was captured by Your Majesty.”

“And what else?”