The civil and military officials present stared intently at Qin Feng, seemingly prepared to witness a grand spectacle.
Mu Xuan had already secured a moral high ground, intending to use the coronation ceremony to launch an attack, perhaps his only chance to seize power.
Qin Feng, having anticipated this, calmly responded, "Your subject acts upon the late Emperor's will, daring not to disobey. The late Emperor decreed that as the new sovereign is unfamiliar with state affairs and has not yet grasped the plight of the people, the return of power rests solely with your subject. For the sake of the nation and its people, I shall dedicate my utmost loyalty and effort, serving the emperor for more than a decade. My loyalty is evident. How can Your Majesty compare me to Xiu Ping?"
"Does this empire belong to you, Qin Feng, or to my Mu family?" Mu Xuan demanded furiously.
Qin Feng responded with impassioned words.
"The empire rightfully belongs to the Mu family, but the former Emperor's wisdom is known throughout the land! Even when the former Emperor was alive, he had made arrangements for this matter, known to both officials and commoners. How could your subject possibly fail the former Emperor's trust? If I harbored any intention of rebellion, why would I have welcomed Your Majesty back to ascend the throne?"
Mu Xuan was momentarily speechless, then sneered, "If you refuse to return military power to me, I have my ways! The armies across the land are the Mu family's armies, not your private forces, Qin Feng!"
"When the former Emperor was alive, he repeatedly emphasized that I should have full command of the national military to protect the Great Liang's empire. In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken. For Your Majesty's personal safety, it is necessary to stabilize the hearts of the people in the capital until the nation is stable. You absolutely must not leave the capital," Qin Feng replied.
Mu Xuan and Dong Chen, among others, were both shocked and enraged.
"Qin Feng! Are you attempting to emulate Cao Mengde from the books, holding the Son of Heaven hostage to command the regional lords?" Yan Ming exclaimed.
Qin Feng cast a cold glance at Yan Ming and responded proudly, "Is the Left Chancellor deaf? If I wished to usurp the throne, why would I have installed a new emperor? For the sake of the state and its people, I would rather bear the infamy of generations than cast the Great Liang's empire into a furnace! If Your Majesty proves to be incompetent, your subject shall, as per the late Emperor's will, emulate Yi Yin's actions until Your Majesty corrects your mistakes."
Qin Feng's unprecedented assertiveness stunned the entire assembly.
Only Zhi Rou and Ye Cheng Xiu stood quietly behind Qin Feng.
"Right Chancellor! Say something!" Yan Ming urged anxiously.
Cheng Qing then stepped forward and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, at the beginning of your reign, there are countless military and political matters to attend to. The Regent is also the sole regent appointed by the late Emperor. We dare not doubt the late Emperor's judgment. We believe that as long as Your Majesty diligently governs with virtue, the Regent will naturally return power to Your Majesty..."
This attempt to appease both sides drew scornful glances from the crowd.
However, at this moment, Qin Feng held nominal control over the national military, and with the Zhenbei Army, the Northern King's Guard, and the Xuan Guard, totaling 150,000 men, stationed in and around the capital, he was effectively in absolute control.
As for the consideration for Mu Xuan's safety and preventing him from leaving the capital, the purpose was self-evident.
It was to prevent Mu Xuan from raising troops in the name of defending the emperor once he left the capital.
In past eras, this would have been a blatant act of seizing power, yet the current Great Liang was entirely the opposite.
Mu Xuan glared at Qin Feng, but soon met Qin Feng's cold gaze, feeling as if he had plunged into an icy abyss.
It was the same look Liang Xiao had possessed—unprecedented resolve and ruthlessness...
The guards present, the Xuan Guard meticulously organized and managed by Mu Cheng, paid no heed to Mu Xuan whatsoever. Ultimately, Mu Xuan conceded.
The coronation ceremony had been extremely unpleasant, and the Emperor and his officials of the Great Liang had already formed a rift.
Upon returning to the Regent's manor, Qin Feng was covered in a cold sweat, his hands and feet icy, his breathing rapid.
"Qin Lang..." Zhi Rou embraced Qin Feng tenderly, offering soft comfort.
This was not his usual demeanor, but for Mu Cheng's dying wish, for the people of Great Liang, he had ultimately acted as a powerful minister with the heart of a loyal subject.
He was Qin Feng, not Liang Xiao. He lacked Liang Xiao's earth-shattering capabilities, but possessed his own principles of loyalty to the sovereign and service to the nation, unable to break free from the constraints of his thinking.
Ye Cheng Xiu stated resolutely, "The Regent could have declared himself emperor with his troops, or installed the elder princess as empress, or even coerced the civil and military officials and surrendered to Great Qian. But you did none of that, proving your loyalty to Great Liang. I will give you my full support, for the late Emperor, and for the people!"
"The powerful aristocratic families within the country control the court and local governance, and if they were to declare themselves independent, install a female emperor, or surrender to Great Qian, it would ultimately be the common people of Great Liang who suffer. If events are allowed to unfold unchecked, local military power will likely slip from control, returning to the Emperor and the aristocratic families," Qin Feng sighed.
Zhi Rou said indignantly, "Why should Qin Lang blame himself? It is the third prince and Dong Chen and their ilk who are bent on starting a war!"
"I simply did not anticipate that Your Majesty would be so mad as to pressure me on his coronation day and publicly announce an attack on Great Qian," Qin Feng stammered.
Ye Cheng Xiu reminded him, "Regent, do not forget that Marquis Anguo mentioned to Your Majesty that at least three princes were followers of the Returning Spring Cult. His Majesty's current actions undoubtedly confirm this."
Qin Feng nodded, "Therefore, I will strictly limit Your Majesty's and the capital's officials' movements outside the capital. Simultaneously, I will thoroughly investigate the past affair of the Imperial Consort's adultery. I have already questioned the palace maids and eunuchs from that time, and perhaps we can find some clues. If Your Majesty is truly not the late Emperor's flesh and blood..."
"There is no need for the Regent to act. I will personally seek justice for the late Emperor and the people. At that time, Regent, please do not obstruct me..." Ye Cheng Xiu said gravely.
Qin Feng merely nodded silently, his face full of shame.
He and Ye Cheng Xiu were both foolishly loyal, but Ye Cheng Xiu was loyal only to Mu Cheng, while Qin Feng was loyal to Mu Cheng and the people, needing to consider more and facing greater constraints.
Within the imperial palace, Mu Xuan was furious, smashing all the porcelain.
"Send word to the local armies, have them rush to the southern bank of the Heng River and cross to surprise Great Qian's southern territories. This is a golden opportunity! Also, order the Ministry of Revenue to cut off all military pay for the Xuan Guard, the Zhenbei Army, and the Northern King's Guard. Let's see how long he can remain defiant!"
Long before Mu Xuan returned to the country, the armies across the Great Liang had made arrangements with the aristocratic families and were rushing to the capital.
Upon learning of Qin Feng's monopolization of power, his control over the Son of Heaven and officials, and his command of the three most elite armies, the generals in various regions, without clear leadership, could not form an alliance and dared not confront him. They could only accept orders and proceed to the southern bank of the Heng River, preparing to cross and attack Great Qian.
Great Qian's scouts had long since discovered the situation and immediately notified Jiangnan.
Within a month, one-quarter of the treasure and gold in the caves had been transported out. Coupled with military provisions, Great Qian had mobilized more than half of its national horse-drawn carriages, ox carts, donkey carts, and mule carts for this purpose...
But it was now autumn, and the Monan region was gradually growing colder.
The Xianbei cavalry patrolled and harassed the Great Qian army day and night. The Great Qian army was greatly troubled but suffered no major losses.
Both sides continuously dispatched scouts to ascertain the location of the enemy's main force and engage in mobile warfare.
That night, both armies returned to their respective camps to rest.
"Commander! Marquis Anguo has arrived!"
Ding Wu Yi, Nie Yuan, and Mu Hong, who were discussing matters in the military tent, finally received the news and ran out to greet him, immensely relieved.
"My Lord! These Xianbei are like a persistent plague, refusing to retreat. It seems they are searching for our gold caravan. Our army does not have four times the enemy's strength, and our civilian logistics train is too conspicuous, making it impossible to hide!" Nie Yuan warned.