Inside the imperial court, the tension had not cooled in the slightest.
Lu Xiangsheng looked at Gao Qiqian with an expression that mixed disbelief with faint disgust, as if he had just discovered that a man he once tolerated had quietly crossed a line he could no longer ignore.
"You argued for negotiation last time, and I could still write it off as poor judgment or a lack of strategic clarity," Lu Xiangsheng said, his voice steady but edged with something sharper beneath. "But now, with such overwhelming advantage and such a rare opportunity placed directly in our hands, you still insist on peace talks. That is no longer ignorance. That is something else entirely."
He paused for half a breath, then delivered the blow without softening it.
"Tell me honestly. Have you taken money from the enemy?"
For a single instant, Gao Qiqian's heart lurched violently in his chest.
Because he had.
Not long ago, when Dorgon had chased him like a hunting dog drives prey, he had fled in panic all the way to Shanhai Pass, hiding under the protection of Wu Sangui and refusing to step outside unless absolutely necessary. Then news arrived like a thunderclap. Lu Xiangsheng had annihilated Dorgon's forces and killed the man himself.
That should have been a moment of relief.
Instead, it filled Gao Qiqian with bitterness so thick he could almost taste it.
Such a massive merit, such a victory that would echo through the empire, and yet it had nothing to do with him. It all belonged to Lu Xiangsheng, that stubborn man who never gave him face.
Then, at the peak of that resentment, the Manchu agents found him.
They came quietly, respectfully, and most importantly, generously.
A heavy bundle of gold and jewels changed hands, along with a simple request. Speak for peace. Delay the war. Buy them time.
For Gao Qiqian, who already leaned toward negotiation, this was not even a dilemma. It was free money attached to something he already wanted to say.
So he took it.
And now, standing in the court, he let outrage flood his face as if insult alone could wash away guilt.
"You slander me!" he snapped, then immediately turned toward the throne, his expression collapsing into wounded loyalty as tears welled up on command.
"Your Majesty, I have served you since childhood. For decades I have lived only to ease your burdens. Every word I speak, every decision I make, is for you. And now he dares to accuse me of colluding with the enemy?"
His voice trembled just enough to sound convincing.
"How could I possibly do such a thing?"
On the dragon throne, Zhu Youjian visibly wavered.
He had grown up with Gao Qiqian at his side. Familiarity, in moments like this, outweighed logic far more easily than anyone liked to admit.
"Lu Xiangsheng," the emperor said, frowning, "this is the court, not a battlefield for reckless accusations. Gao Qiqian has served me loyally for years. You cannot simply accuse him without proof."
Lu Xiangsheng fell silent.
Not because he doubted himself, but because he understood exactly what kind of wall he had just run into.
Behind Gao Qiqian's lowered sleeves, his eyes flickered with a trace of smug amusement that only Lu Xiangsheng caught.
You are still too inexperienced for this game.
The court shifted again.
Zhu Youjian's thoughts began to tangle, pulled in different directions by every voice around him.
"What Gao Qiqian says is not entirely without reason," he murmured. "We have only just recovered from drought. The rebellions have only recently been suppressed. The foundation of the state is still unstable. If we launch a full campaign now, the cost will be enormous…"
At that moment, Liang Shixian stepped forward calmly, his tone as steady as ever.
"Your Majesty, the recent expansion of factories has significantly increased revenue through value-added taxation. From a financial standpoint, the burden is manageable."
The emperor blinked.
"Is that so?"
Hope flickered again.
"If funding is sufficient, then perhaps…"
Before he could finish, Gao Qiqian moved again, smooth and precise.
"Your Majesty, the Liaodong Guanning army is still owed several years of back pay. When Zu Dashou rebelled, unpaid wages were one of the causes. If we ignore that again, the consequences could be severe."
The emperor stiffened.
That was not something he could dismiss.
Before the tension could settle, another voice cut in.
Cao Huachun stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, since the lifting of maritime restrictions, taxation on domestic and foreign trade has increased sharply. If we allocate part of that income to settle the arrears in one go, the army's morale can be stabilized."
For a moment, the emperor's eyes lit up again.
"That… makes sense."
Across the court, the gazes of the two eunuchs collided, silent but violent, like sparks striking flint.
Gao Qiqian did not speak, but his eyes carried a clear message.
So you have decided to oppose me.
Cao Huachun did not retreat. Whether out of principle or something deeper, he held his ground.
And just like that, the court descended into chaos once more.
Officials immediately split into factions, some praising decisive war, others advocating caution and recovery. Words twisted, arguments layered over arguments, each side sounding convincing enough to blur the truth.
In the end, Zhu Youjian's thoughts jammed like a broken gear.
"Court dismissed. We will discuss this another day."
And just like that, the decision dissolved into delay.
Elsewhere in the capital, inside the residence of Sun Chuanting, the atmosphere was far more relaxed.
Sun Chuanting sat comfortably, listening with a faint smile as Liang Shixian recounted everything that had just unfolded in court. Behind him sat Chen Qianhu, silent but attentive.
These three men formed the true core of Gao Village's presence in the capital. The blue hats and yellow hats handled technology, but politics and strategy rested here.
Liang Shixian shook his head with a soft laugh.
"The Heavenly Book of Dao Xuan Tianzun was right. This feudal system is a serious obstacle to progress. In the end, everything depends on a single decision from the emperor. And that emperor… listens more to eunuchs than to strategy."
He exhaled slowly.
"When two eunuchs clash, the entire court gets dragged into endless argument, and in the end, nothing gets decided. Military timing gets delayed for no reason at all."
Sun Chuanting chuckled.
"Delay will not save the Qing. Our industry and science are advancing faster than theirs. The longer they stall, the wider the gap becomes. There is no scenario where they reverse this through time alone."
Liang Shixian nodded.
"That is true. But if we can finish them sooner, we can turn our attention to the sea earlier. Dao Xuan Tianzun has already made it clear that the Age of Exploration has begun. The Great Ming is already behind. We cannot afford to waste time entangled with steppe raiders forever."
Sun Chuanting's expression turned thoughtful.
"At sea, we already have Shi Lang, Zheng Sen, and Yao Xingjuan operating. The Zheng family along the Fujian coast maintains good relations with us, and Shi Lang's brother has even boarded a Western ship to explore routes toward Europe. Preparations are already underway."
He paused, then added quietly,
"But this system… is still a problem."
They had both read the Heavenly Book. They both understood the flaw at its core.
Too much power rested in one man's hands.
If the emperor was wise, the state prospered.
If he was not, everything collapsed.
Sun Chuanting leaned forward slightly.
"Perhaps it is time we establish a structure where major decisions are no longer determined by a single voice."
Liang Shixian tilted his head, a faint grin forming.
"That sounds dangerously close to treason."
Sun Chuanting did not flinch.
"I am loyal to the Great Ming. I have no intention of overthrowing it. But if we allow reckless decisions to continue unchecked, the empire will collapse on its own. Someone has to step in and place limits, or we will forever remain trapped in this cycle of paralysis."
Outside, the capital buzzed with recovery, industry, and hope.
Inside that quiet room, however, something far more dangerous had just begun to take shape.