“The Empress is young and inexperienced in state affairs. After I die, if she proves capable, assist her. If she is not, Chancellor, you may take her place.”
To repay the late emperor for recognizing his worth, Shen He took on the burden in the empire’s hour of need and spent half his life on the battlefield, preserving the peace for the Empress.
But once she came of age, the Empress staged a coup, seized power, and denounced Shen He as a treacherous chancellor, condemning him to eternal infamy.
After taking power, Empress Liu Ruyan embarked on a series of disastrous reforms.
“Our little fairies are kindhearted. We forgive the North Wokou for their crimes, so let’s tear down the border fortresses and share our land with them.”
“Fairies don’t like fighting. We’ll reason with our enemies, so let’s disband a million troops on the border and send the soldiers home to serve their wives.”
“Guns and swords are so scary. Our little fairies are frightened, so melt them all down.”
The North Wokou laughed. You brought this on yourselves.
And so the North Wokou invaded.
“Don’t worry. I, Liu Ruyan, am the true Son of Heaven. I’ll follow in Father’s footsteps and lead the troops myself.”
A few days later, Empress Liu Ruyan was soundly defeated. The elite forces of the Dafeng Empire were wiped out, and the entire north fell.
“Quick, go to the southern border and bring Chancellor Shen He back to command the army. The Dafeng Empire is about to fall!”
“Your Majesty, Shen He is no longer the chancellor. He is now the ruler of the Southern Kingdom.”
Holding the late emperor’s edict, Shen He sighed.
You called me a treacherous chancellor, so why are you crying now that your country has fallen?
Good book, keep it up! Worth reading.