At the same time, Xie An, the Minister of War, returned to the Ministry of War hall after the court session and began to summon his subordinates to discuss the marching route, the supply line, the conscription of laborers and the allocation of transport capacity, as well as the distribution of military equipment and supplies.
Meanwhile, Qian Jieren, the Minister of Revenue, returned and began to calculate the expenses for this expedition, setting up account books and financial records.
The Ministry of Personnel began to select a list of reserve officials, preparing to assign them to govern the devastated areas after the rebellion was successfully quelled.
The Ministry of Rites was naturally busy drafting a reprimand for Ao Wen, dispatching personnel to admonish the King of Liu, and simultaneously working to delay foreign envoys in the city from learning about the country's affairs, playing a game of cat and mouse with them.
As for Chu Chen, he was busy supervising the work of various departments, occasionally visiting their halls to inquire, or rushing to the military camps outside the city to inspect the army's preparations.
Even the Five City Patrols were struggling to select personnel for the expedition, compiling them into a roster and handing them over to An Xian.
Yan Fa, the Director of the Five City Patrols, did not dispatch a single person to oversee this force of ten thousand, intending to hand over the selected individuals to An Xian and wash his hands of the matter.
War was no child's play, nor was it as simple as bullying defenseless civilians; it was a matter of life and death. Which of them, as high-ranking officials of the Five City Patrols, was willing to go to the battlefield?
Having someone else take charge was more than they could have hoped for! As for military merits, they were already in the Five City Patrols to pass the time; what need did they have for military merits?
Only the Ministry of Justice remained leisurely, acting as if nothing had happened, continuing with their original work.
At night, Chu Chen returned to his bedroom in the Prime Minister's mansion, a hint of exhaustion on his face.
"Hoo~ This is the second time I've been this tired since reaching the Foundation Establishment stage," Chu Chen sighed, sitting on the large bed.
The last time he was this exhausted was during the Eastern Frontier war, when the State of Chen invaded. He had been jolted incessantly by the carriage while rushing and training troops along the way.
Now, with him inspecting every department, even though the roads around Shuangyue City were well-maintained with at least one two-horse carriage path, it was still mentally draining.
"The first batch of troops will depart tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow will be when I lead the main army. Although I desperately want to rest now, my current points are a bit insufficient!"
Chu Chen opened the system and glanced at his point balance. It was only eight thousand points, not too much, not too little, but if any unexpected events were to occur during this war, these eight thousand points would likely not be enough.
"System, I want to start a life simulation!"
【Simulation loading complete, Protagonist: Chu Chen! Current points: 8000 points.】
【Spring of the 3243rd year of the Qingzhou Continent. You are 24 years old, holding the extremely powerful position of Prime Minister, ranked first grade. Despite your new policies offending many aristocratic families and powerful officials, you still hold sway in the imperial court.】
【The former Second Princess, Li Mengdie, who was enfeoffed in mid-autumn last year, has revealed her ambition after a winter of preparation. She has raised an army from her fiefdom, under the banners of "Clearing the Ruler's Side" and "Killing the Chu Traitor," launching a rebellion.】
【Despite the military's objections, the Empress has appointed you, the Prime Minister, as the Grand Marshal of the expeditionary force to quell the rebellion, with the Fifth Princess, Li Xinyue, as the Chief Supervisor, to suppress the King of Liu's rebellion.】
【Relying on the swift pigeon post of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you received the news two days earlier than the Empress. Through pigeon post, you commanded the cavalry stationed and raised in Shizhou to intercept the rebel army's advance, successfully delaying the rebels' expansion.】
【By the time you led your army, the area expanded by the King of Liu was limited to nine counties out of the thirty-six counties of Shizhou. Upon learning of your army's approach, the King of Liu withdrew his forces and concentrated them in the capital of Qiancheng Commandery, Qiancheng County, intending to fight a decisive battle with you in this heavily fortified city.】
【In the third month of spring, 3243rd year of the Qingzhou Continent, the King of Liu ordered two thousand men to infiltrate the ranks of refugees and flee towards your army. Your appointed vanguard commander, mistaking these thousands of people for fleeing refugees, did not attack them. Unexpectedly, as they approached, the enemy forces launched a sudden attack, and five thousand vanguard troops were routed.】
【The first engagement with the rebel forces began with a defeat, weakening the morale of the pacification army and casting a shadow over the court officials in the rear.】
【On the 16th of March, you set up camp outside Qiancheng County and arranged for defenses against a night raid. That night, the enemy forces indeed sent troops for a night raid, but they were caught in a trap by you, who was well-prepared. After winning a victory, morale rebounded somewhat, and the court in the rear was somewhat reassured.】
【On the 17th of March, you realized that the city was difficult to attack and were planning to send people to first retake the lost territories when enemies appeared from all directions. Your army was plunged into a bitter struggle.】
【In the latter half of spring, year 43, after several engagements with mutual losses, the rebellion could not be quickly quelled, and you were bogged down by the King of Liu's rebellion.】
【In the early summer, year 43, after two months away from the court, the rear court began to show signs of instability. Aristocratic families colluded with powerful officials, inciting court officials to slander you, but the Empress forcefully suppressed it.】
【In mid-summer, year 43, you recaptured five counties, leaving the King of Liu with only five counties.】
【In the latter half of summer, year 43, you recaptured four counties, conquered Qiancheng County, and the King of Liu fled to Mengdie County, regrouping over ten thousand men and holding Mengdie County with a deathly resolve.】
【In early autumn, year 43, you quelled the rebellion.】
【In autumn, year 44, Prince Lin, Li Yunting, rebelled, launching a rebellion under the banners of "Clearing the Ruler's Side" and "Killing Chu Chen." The successive rebellions by the princesses caused the common people in the country to harbor some doubts about the Empress's rule.】
【The Empress still appointed you as the commander, with Princess Li Xinyue as the supervisor, to lead the troops to quell the rebellion.】
【In early summer, year 45, you quelled Prince Lin's rebellion.】
【In year 46, on the occasion of your wedding with Princess Xinyue, you died suddenly.】
【Aged 27.】
【Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the life simulation and obtaining 4600 points. You now have 13600 points.】
【Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the life simulation. You can choose one of the following three rewards:】
【Legendary Talent: Death Replay: This talent allows the host, whether in reality or in a life simulation, to replay the hour before their death from a third-person perspective through memory factors, accompanied by relevant information.】
【Unranked Mysterious Black Box: Unknown. Do not open it lightly, or the heavens and earth will be overturned, and the sun and moon will be extraordinary.】
【Green-Rank Talent: Martial Dao Aptitude: This talent will slightly improve the host's martial dao aptitude, accelerating the speed of martial dao cultivation.】
"..."
Chu Chen was speechless. He had died even earlier this time.
Sudden death, sudden death, sudden death. The time of death was advanced each time. Could it be that next time he would just die suddenly next year? If he couldn't figure out the cause of this sudden death, he would have no sense of security.
"Legendary Talent: Death Replay. This talent reward from the system comes at the perfect time. Although the other Martial Dao Aptitude is also very tempting, its rank is too low, resulting in a negligible bonus."
"System! I choose Death Replay!"