Sheng Li dropped Ying Lili to the chamber. After making her sleep, he came out of the chamber and asked Court Lady Xu and Ki to keep a close check on the Empress.
"Yes, Your Majesty." They both walked in while Sheng Li told Xing-Fu to follow him.
"Your Majesty, General Xiao, and Commander Yao were looking for you earlier. It seems General Xiao has an important matter to discuss with His Majesty," Xing-Fu said humbly.
"Where are they?" Sheng Li asked.
"In the military barracks," Xing-Fu answered.
Sheng Li hummed and descended the stairs when saw Wang Hao coming in his direction. He reached the bottom of the stairs where Wang Hao had stopped. "You look happy," Sheng Li said and took the last step down from the last stair.
"It is an occasion to get happy, Your Majesty," Wang Hao answered. "I came to fetch you. The Emperor shall not go out alone without his General," Wang Hao remarked.
Sheng Li laughed and after a few seconds said proudly, "I used to be a General. Who can harm me while traveling to your house?"
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but a General must not take a risk," Wang Hao asserted and the two started to walk.
"Before going to your house, I need to go to the Barracks. Xiao Zhan has an important matter to discuss with me," Sheng Li stated.
"Then, I must accompany His Majesty," Wang Hao said.
"Xing-Fu, go back," Sheng Li commanded him, who bowed his head and stayed at the same place until Sheng Li vanished from his sight.
Sheng Li and Wang Hao reached the barracks. The soldiers lowered their heads upon seeing the Emperor. Wang Hao asked a soldier about Xiao Zhan.
"General Xiao is in the main equipment house," the soldier informed them. Sheng Li turned to the route of the Equipment house accompanied by Wang Hao. They reached outside the house when the soldier guarding outside greeted them.
Sheng Li and Wang Hao walked in. They were surprised to see the First Prince along with the General and the Commander. The trio stood up from their respective seats and bowed before Sheng Li.
Sheng Li found a few maps on the table with a scroll. "What is it?" Sheng Li asked.
"Your Majesty, uprisings have started in the Eastern Province. A message has come from the Governor. Last week, a group of rebels severely thrashed the local officials, who were returning to their respective houses in the evening. Moreover, the daughter of a sixth rank official has been taken hostage," Xiao Zhan reported the entire incident to Sheng Li.
"Hostage? Why?" Sheng Li asked.
"Your Majesty, they have certain demands and the main demand is that they want to become independent," Commander Yang stated.
"Out of a sudden?" Sheng Li asked and furrowed his eyebrows.
Jian Guozhi handed the scroll to Sheng Li. "It has come from Governor Chen," he stated. "Please read it," he said. Sheng Li opened the scroll and started to read. He threw the scroll on the table.
"How could people declare their independent leader, out of the blue? Do they not know the consequences of this?" Sheng Li angrily said. "Why is this matter reported to me so late?"
"Your Majesty, Governor Chen thought that he would handle the matter. But in just a week, the situation went out of control," Xiao Zhan answered. Wang Hao had read the message in the scroll.
Sheng Li rubbed his thumb on his index finger.
"Your Majesty, I will go to the Province and check the matter myself," Jian Guozhi stated.
"I will accompany Prince Jian," Wang Hao said.
"No, you cannot. You have a marriage ahead," Sheng Li refused to let Wang Hao go to the Eastern Province. "Give me the map," he demanded.
Commander Yang acted fast and handed the map to Sheng Li, who spread it on the table. "How much the area has this independent leader taken?" He looked at Xiao Zhan for the answer.
He picked the brush and marked the area on the map.
"The problem is that the people are in his support," Jian Guozhi opined. "Why don't we give them this area?" He suggested it to Sheng Li.
"First Brother, if I give the area to them, then do you think it will end the problem? The person who started this will surely think that I am afraid of him. I cannot do this. Also, we have ports and a supply of seafood from this region. Losing this land to them is not an option," he affirmed.
"First Prince, General Xiao, and Commander Yang will go there and look into the matter. Report everything to me. The town city of the Eastern Province is close to Luoyang, so the messages will be received in a day. I will initiate the war against them if this independent leader does not surrender," Sheng Li commanded them and made his decision.
"Your Majesty, a war at this time is not advisable," Jian Guozhi replied.
"That's why the First Prince needs to suppress these uprisings. I cannot lose this region to them," Sheng Li pronounced and looked at the map. He knitted his brows and wondered how an independent leader could arise out of nowhere.
"I will do my best, Your Majesty," Jian Guozhi stated.
"If things do not go well, do not delay in informing me. I will myself come to the Eastern Province to deal with this matter," Sheng Li stated. Jian Guozhi nodded his head.
"Your Majesty, can I take the Sixth Prince with me?" He then asked.
"Why does the First Prince want Lei Wanxi to accompany him?" Sheng Li had a bewildered look upon hearing the request of Jian Guozhi.
"Lei Wanxi is qualified for this kind of job. He makes good deals and also, I want him to learn," Jian Guozhi asserted.
"What if he gets harmed. Brother Jian knows that Lei Wanxi is not good at warfare. Also, it is not the time to teach him anything. The situation seems serious to me. The Fourth Prince can accompany the First Prince if he wants. He is a better choice in this matter," Sheng Li affirmed.
Jian Guozhi bowed and agreed with Sheng Li's decision.
