Control the Emperor and Command the Nobles (4)

"You may think that I am being reckless about this matter. But the fact is, sending a punitive expedition against me, however it may be, will result in nothing. I don't think the Emperor will or can do anything against me when I have enough power to compete against the armies of the Longxuan Empire. However, since that is not the case now, I have to leverage external forces. That being said, once I grow strong enough, anyone that means ill will to me will have to carefully consider their own abilities."