Abyss Solo

Yang Ming smiled and said, "I just want to ask you this, Your Majesty... What direction do you want things to go, and I will strive to let things go in that direction."

"Oh," the Old Emperor raised his hand and patted Yang Ming's arm, "You're still the one who understands people, Hanton. To be honest, letting the people below stir things up a bit can also uncover many issues and prevent bigger problems. For me, as an Emperor, it has no impact. I only need to step out at critical moments and make a speech to the whole nation, that's enough."

"I understand," Yang Ming nodded, "The power they hold is indeed too great."

The Old Emperor smiled but said nothing.

Yang Ming said, "Your Majesty, I have a small request."

"Just speak your mind."

"I would like a report on the Empire's slave status, the more detailed, the better. Give me some time to read this report."

"Alright, I'll have them send it over right away," the Old Emperor said warmly, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself, and don't push yourself too hard."

"But Your Majesty," Yang Ming slightly pursed his lips, a hint of anger in his eyes, "The history books I studied said the New Calendar Reform chained the imperial power to the Emperor Star, but it turns out the chains that bind the imperial power are actually the ones oppressing the people."

The Old Emperor's eyes lit up: "Your description is very apt."

"As your chief knight, I will unwaveringly support you," Yang Ming said softly, "You are someone who cares for the people."

"Of course."

The Old Emperor opened his arms: "Come, give me a hug, Hanton, my son-in-law."

Yang Ming inwardly rolled his eyes, but still earnestly gave the Emperor a hug.

"Go forth and do it."

The Old Emperor encouraged with a fiery zeal.

...

Yang Ming was sitting upright on a sofa in the corner of a palace conference hall.

Those old men took a lot longer to arrive than he thought.

He held the most official data of the Empire in his hands, pondering over the road ahead.

Politics, this thing, turned out to be far more complex than he initially thought.

Even knowing the Empire's weaknesses—the irreconcilable conflict between the noble class and the commoners, and the cruel exploitation of slave status by the Empire—finding opportunities to bring down the Empire is still not an easy task.

First of all, this is a galactic Empire with a population of tens of billions; its sheer size gives it immense inertia.

Although things are currently lively outside, in reality, this is the result of nearly all anti-Imperial forces within and outside the Empire rallying together, catalyzed by the questionable circumstances of an Earl's death, leading to the current troubled situation.

But attempting to rely on this tide to trigger a nationwide revolutionary uprising is far from enough.

The people have a dependency on their current lives.

No one would recklessly take risks if they can still make a living;

No one would sacrifice their personal interests for a political slogan when the future holds hope.

Of course, you can't be so absolute, as there are quite a few people who are swayed by politicians.

For instance, if the ordinary class of the Empire had a rage meter above their heads, it would now only be ten percent full, and as this event continues to ferment, it would only reach twenty to twenty-five percent at most.

The nobles currently causing chaos at the bottom levels are merely feeling their interests threatened.

Next, the Empire just needs to have the Great Nobles press these Little Nobles to apologize to the people, enact a law to threaten the people, and offer some compensation and rewards, and this crisis and unrest will quickly die down.

At this moment, Yang Ming must think about how to plant the seeds of the next disturbance in this chaotic scene.

He has a plan, but plans do not always come in handy.

The situation is changeable, and the forces are interwoven.

It's like he has to use the Old Emperor as a pawn to protect himself, while also looking for opportunities to sow discord between the Old Emperor and the Sherman family.

It's very complicated.

Boss Yang feels like he's not cut out for this kind of conspiracy and scheming.

However, the Dark Star-Wind System he created cannot be exposed on either side, especially Dark Star. If it gets hyped up by these powerful countries, it could easily become the enemy of all humanity, the light of the third natural disaster.

'Forget it, there aren't many years left to mess around with this.'

Yang Ming sighed softly in his heart, stretching a little.

Hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

Yang Ming initially thought that a group of big shots would come in person, but unexpectedly, it was just the old men from the Military Department and the Elder Court. The members of the Sherman family still did not show up directly, but used projection robots instead.

The Old Emperor wasn't here.

He now needed to put on a façade of indifference to everything, waiting for his uncles, grandfathers, and great-uncles to ask him to do something of their own accord.

But surely, the Old Emperor, at this moment, is in the adjacent hall, wearing loose robes, leaning against a maiden's embrace, enjoying the gentle service while watching the projection screen, and taking in the discussion that is about to start next door.

"Duke Hanton."

A middle-aged maid stepped forward and bowed slightly to Yang Ming, speaking softly, "All the lords are here."

"Are they?"

Yang Ming turned to glance at the center of the hall, where the oval conference table was already filled with people, except for the two ends of the long table.

The main seat was, of course, reserved for the Emperor.

Yang Ming picked out a pleasing fruit from the fruit plate, leisurely stood up, gnawing on this apple-like thing, and strolled towards the conference table with the middle-aged maid.