"Prime Minister Han is advanced in years and has not commanded troops for a long time. Have you considered the consequences, Prime Minister?" Yao Zhinian objected.
Yao Zhinian, as Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, was indeed a deputy prime minister, but not quite.
Especially since Prime Minister Mo had assisted His Majesty since the late emperor raised his troops.
Yao Zhinian, the new favorite, was indeed a bit too rash.
Compared to Yao Zhinian, Prime Minister Mo was much more composed. "His Majesty inquired, and this old minister dared to mention it. The rest is for His Majesty to decide."
As soon as Prime Minister Mo finished speaking, Yao Zhinian knew he had been impulsive. Prime Minister Mo was an old fox.
For years, he had prided himself on being a pure and loyal official, yet secretly colluded with the aristocratic families. Hmph!
Yao Zhinian quickly looked at His Majesty. Seeing no change in His Majesty's expression, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"This minister misspoke. I beg His Majesty's forgiveness, and Prime Minister Mo, please do not take offense."
"Not at all, not at all. Lord Yao is concerned about the border. We are all serving His Majesty." Prime Minister Mo said with a smile.
The implication was that they were merely sharing the burden, not usurping authority.
Yao Zhinian cursed the old fox inwardly and dared not speak again.
Prime Minister Mo was the head of the officials. With his words, many other ministers echoed his sentiment. Although not many in the court knew of Xiao Changgong, most of the officials in the Zhongshu Province were old subjects of His Majesty and were aware of him.
Although His Majesty had not issued an imperial decree, the possibility of appointing Xiao Changgong to lead the troops was not nonexistent.
After leaving the great hall, Yao Zhinian gnashed his teeth in hatred. Although he had entered the Zhongshu Province, it was still Prime Minister Mo's domain, and everyone followed his lead.
Yao Zhinian did not leave the palace immediately but went to the Noble Consort's palace. Noble Consort Yao was quite calm.
"Second Brother should not have spoken today, because someone is more anxious than we are." Noble Consort Yao narrowed her beautiful eyes, a smile playing on her lips.
"Your Ladyship means... the Eldest Princess?"
"Otherwise? The Khitans only have a hundred thousand troops. If the Luo family, the Duke of Protectorate, who has been in Youzhou for decades, does not possess even this much fighting spirit, they are not worthy of being called a military family. It's just that His Majesty does not permit it." The Noble Consort lowered her head, fiddling with the gemstone ring on her finger.
"Is His Majesty truly going to let Prince Han lead the troops?"
The Noble Consort glanced at Yao Zhinian. "Second Brother, why are you so foolish? If His Majesty does not want to use the Luo family, he will not use Prince Han either. Do you know why His Majesty has not yet appointed a Crown Prince?"
Yao Zhinian suddenly realized. "It's because the Seventh Prince has not yet achieved any military merits. His Majesty wants the Seventh Prince to lead the troops."
The Crown Prince of Great Wei has always had military achievements to command respect. That was why His Majesty was appointed Crown Prince back then, as his military achievements surpassed those of other princes.
Noble Consort Yao glanced at Yao Zhinian. Her second brother was not entirely stupid, but he was still far from being as cunning as that old fox, Prime Minister Mo.
Prime Minister Mo had clearly discerned that His Majesty did not wish to use the Luo family, but he was afraid that suggesting a prince lead the troops would be seen as flattering the new ruler.
Prime Minister Mo must have also heard the recent news of His Majesty bestowing marriage upon Luo Yuan Niang and Che'er.
Speaking of which, Luo Yuan Niang was also a direct niece of the Wang family. This matter was particularly sensitive to the Wang family, so he put forth Prince Han as a diversion.
In fact, it didn't matter who was put forward; the important thing was that it couldn't be the Luo family.
Hua Yang wanted her daughter to be the Crown Princess, and it depended on how much she was willing to pay. Hua Yang, the Eldest Princess, was the late emperor's favorite in her youth and was personally tutored by him.
She had been married to Youzhou for over twenty years and must have cultivated her own influence. It all depended on which side she stood on at this crucial moment.
Noble Consort Yao, having served His Majesty for many years, was able to accurately guess His Majesty's thoughts, second only to Prime Minister Mo.
The news of Prime Minister Mo recommending Prince Han quickly reached Princess Hua Yang.