Chapter 9: Political Pressure

The tension in the throne room was palpable. Ministers stood at attention, their faces lined with concern and barely hidden frustration. Nobles, who usually wore expressions of indifference, now murmured anxiously amongst themselves, casting uneasy glances toward the throne.

Zhihao sat at the head of it all, an impassive mask of calm and authority hiding the storm of thoughts beneath the surface. The gilded throne that once felt too heavy now felt like a tool—one he was learning to wield with increasing skill. But today, the room was a powder keg, and he was holding the match.

The Xu Kingdom was on the move. Reports from the northern borders spoke of a massive military buildup, and the threat of invasion loomed closer each day. The court had reached a boiling point, and the ministers demanded action. But Zhihao knew that the decisions he made today would ripple far into the future.

"Your Majesty," Minister Feng began, stepping forward with a deep bow. His voice was as oily as ever, each word carefully calculated. "The kingdom cannot afford indecision at such a critical time. The Xu Kingdom is amassing troops at our borders. We must act swiftly."

Feng's words were sharp, but Zhihao detected the subtle power play behind them. The minister's suggestion wasn't a mere request for action—it was a demand for Zhihao to show his hand. Feng wanted to see if the young king would act aggressively or crumble under pressure. Either choice could be used to further Feng's influence, and Zhihao wasn't about to hand him that victory.

He tilted his head, smiling gently as he leaned forward in his throne. "Minister Feng, your concerns are noted, but surely launching a pre-emptive strike would be... risky." His voice remained soft, innocent, a stark contrast to the rising tension in the room. "Our forces are still recovering from the instability following my father's reign. If we make the first move, we risk losing valuable resources. Perhaps a more... diplomatic approach is called for?"

The room shifted as the nobles and ministers reacted to his words. Zhihao saw the glint of opportunity in Minister Qin's eyes—an old ally of his father who had always favored diplomacy over military might. Predictably, Qin stepped forward, his voice thick with self-importance.

"Your Majesty is wise beyond his years," Qin said with a deep bow, his smile too wide to be genuine. "Diplomacy may indeed be our best course of action. The Xu Kingdom has shown interest in expanding their influence, but negotiation could offer them something they want without the need for war. A treaty could spare our kingdom unnecessary bloodshed."

The reaction was immediate. Several of the more hawkish ministers grumbled, exchanging frustrated glances. A few others nodded in cautious agreement, their eyes darting between Zhihao and the other nobles. Zhihao's smile deepened as he watched the tension ripple through the room. He had set the bait, and they were already beginning to fight among themselves.

General Tian Yi, who had remained silent until now, took a step forward. His presence, as always, commanded attention. He bowed deeply to Zhihao before speaking. "Your Majesty, while diplomacy is always an option, we must not ignore the strength of the Xu military. If we appear weak, they may strike with more force. I urge you to consider reinforcing our northern defenses while negotiations take place."

Zhihao's smile didn't falter, though internally, he was pleased. Tian Yi was walking the line perfectly—offering a suggestion that didn't undermine the idea of diplomacy but still keeping the kingdom prepared for the worst. The general's loyalty was still unshaken, and Zhihao intended to keep it that way.

"Thank you, General," Zhihao said softly, his gaze lingering on Tian Yi just a moment longer than necessary. He turned his attention back to the ministers. "It seems there are differing opinions on how to proceed. Minister Feng suggests pre-emptive action, while Minister Qin advocates for diplomacy. And General Tian Yi offers a middle path."

Zhihao stood, the movement drawing every eye in the room as he descended the steps of the throne, his robes trailing behind him like water. His smile was gentle, disarming, but his eyes were sharp as they moved from one minister to the next.

"I value all of your counsel," Zhihao said, his voice soothing as he slowly walked the length of the room. "But this is not a decision to be made lightly. If we strike first, we risk everything. If we hesitate, we may appear weak." He paused in front of Minister Feng, holding his gaze for just a heartbeat longer than necessary. "If we push for diplomacy, we may buy ourselves time... or we may invite more danger."

Feng's lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes calculating as he nodded respectfully. He knew he was being tested, but he couldn't quite see how.

Zhihao turned to face the room again, clasping his hands behind his back. "This kingdom is fragile," he continued, his tone almost mournful. "The balance of power is delicate. And yet, despite the danger we face, I believe we have strength—both in our military and our diplomacy. We must find a path that protects the kingdom without risking unnecessary war."

He could feel the tension rising again. The ministers shifted uncomfortably, clearly unsure of where this speech was leading. Zhihao's smile widened internally. They were off-balance, just as he wanted.

"Therefore," Zhihao said, his voice ringing with newfound authority, "we will send a delegation to the Xu Kingdom to negotiate terms. At the same time, I want the northern defenses reinforced. General Tian Yi will oversee these efforts personally."

There it was—the reaction he'd been waiting for.

Minister Feng's eyes flickered with barely contained irritation. By choosing both diplomacy and military preparation, Zhihao had effectively neutralized the argument for a pre-emptive strike, but he hadn't gone all-in on negotiation either. Feng couldn't use Zhihao's decision to make him look weak, and more importantly, Zhihao had subtly placed General Tian Yi in charge of the military's movements, effectively sidelining Feng's influence over the army.

A low murmur spread through the room as the ministers digested the decision. Zhihao remained standing, watching with satisfaction as they began whispering to one another, their earlier certainty replaced with confusion.

Divide and conquer, Zhihao thought. His father's ministers had always thought of themselves as the real power behind the throne, and now they were scrambling to figure out how to adjust to the new order. They had no idea that Zhihao was weaving them into a web of his own design, pushing them to fight amongst themselves while he quietly pulled the strings.

Minister Qin stepped forward once more, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty's wisdom is unparalleled," he said, his voice slick with approval. "A balanced approach—diplomacy backed by strength. Truly, this is the way forward."

Zhihao smiled, allowing Qin's words to wash over him. The man's sycophancy was useful for now, but Zhihao would deal with him when the time was right.

"Thank you, Minister Qin," Zhihao said, his voice pleasant. "I trust you will help ensure the success of our negotiations. After all, you have much experience in such matters, do you not?"

Qin's eyes gleamed as he bowed again, clearly relishing the praise. "Of course, Your Majesty. I will do everything in my power to ensure we reach a peaceful resolution."

Zhihao nodded, dismissing the room with a wave of his hand. "That will be all for today. We will reconvene once the delegation has returned."

The ministers filed out of the room, their expressions ranging from frustration to satisfaction. Zhihao watched them go, his mind already working through the next steps. By sending both a diplomatic envoy and strengthening the defenses, he had bought himself time—time to solidify his alliances, time to gather more information about the northern families' true intentions, and time to ensure that the court remained divided.

Once the room was empty, Zhihao let out a quiet sigh, leaning back against the throne. It had been a delicate dance, but he had managed to keep the ministers from consolidating power against him, at least for now. But the threat of rebellion still loomed, and the Xu Kingdom's intentions remained uncertain.

"Your Majesty."

Zhihao looked up to see General Tian Yi standing at the entrance, his face as unreadable as ever.

"General," Zhihao said with a smile, "thank you for your counsel today. I trust you'll oversee the northern defenses with your usual... expertise."

Tian Yi nodded, though his expression remained guarded. "Of course, Your Majesty. But I must warn you... the ministers may not remain quiet for long. They will try to influence the court as much as they can."

Zhihao's smile deepened. "Let them try, General. I'm counting on it."

Tian Yi's brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing more as he bowed and left the room.

Zhihao watched him go, his mind already turning to the next challenge. The ministers were becoming restless, but as long as they were focused on fighting each other, they wouldn't have time to focus on him.

For now, Zhihao was content to let the court squabble. But soon, he would need to deal with the real threat—the nobles who were waiting for their moment to strike.