Chapter 267 - Deliberations and Strategy
Li Jinquan grew anxious. He still held onto the arrangements and instructions left by Qi Zongbi before his departure. Seeing Qi Yanzhu dismantle their carefully planned situation, Li Jinquan felt as though the opportunity to climb higher was slowly slipping away like a fading dream.
"This is madness!" Li Jinquan slammed the table repeatedly. "Jianxing Pass is Jianxing Pass. This is Liangzhou Prefecture! How can you treat them the same?"
Qi Yanzhu let out a cold laugh, leaning on the table with both hands.
"General Li, that’s a strange thing to say. Are you implying that I, Qi Yanzhu, had authority at Jianxing Pass but have no authority here in Liangzhou Prefecture?" As he spoke, Qi Yanzhu pulled a military command token from his robe and slammed it onto the table with a resounding thud. In a frosty tone, he uttered, "What do you think this is for?"
These words struck at the heart of the matter. The previously chaotic council hall instantly fell silent. Nobody dared to respond as they went as still as a cicada in the winter. Who would dare claim the military command token was useless? That would be tantamount to defying an imperial decree, a crime punishable by immediate execution.
Li Jinquan’s expression changed several times in quick succession. Everyone in the council hall stared at him intently, waiting to see how he would respond.
Li Jinquan found himself caught in an impossible dilemma. Even if he were a fool, he now realized he had walked straight into Qi Yanzhu’s trap. Clearly, Strategist Qi had planned all along to make an example of someone today to establish his authority. Li hadn’t expected to be so foolish, unwittingly volunteering to be the scapegoat. Qi Yanzhu had difficulty deciding who to use as an example of his authority, but he had delivered himself on a silver platter.
"Strategist Qi, you must be joking," Li Jinquan said, lowering his head and cupping his hands in concession. "His Majesty personally appointed you to come to Liangzhou Prefecture in this crisis, so naturally, Liangzhou is under your command."
He softened his stance, but after speaking, he raised his head and looked at Qi Yanzhu resolutely. "That said, I still believe this plan is flawed. Liangzhou Prefecture’s defenses have held firm despite significant casualties.