Never mind the assembled ministers — Ning Chen himself was blank.

Giving him command of the Dragon Guard and the garrison. Was His Majesty not afraid he would rebel?

But before he could think it through, one of the censors jumped out.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject thinks this is not proper... Ning the Silver Coat's labors have been long and hard and his war record is a blaze of merit. Your subject has no objection to the marquisate. But command of the Dragon Guard and the garrison — that must not be, under any circumstances!"

"Your Majesty, your subject also thinks it is not proper. The Dragon Guard and the garrison are matters of the first importance and cannot be handed lightly to any man. Your subject asks Your Majesty to withdraw the order."

"Your Majesty, Ning the Silver Coat is indeed loyal to his sovereign and devoted to his country, and his war record is a blaze of merit. Your subject does not dispute it... But he is only sixteen after all. He already commands the musket battalion, and he holds a silver coat in the Inspectorate on top of that. Add the Dragon Guard and the garrison, and your subject fears he will be pulled to pieces."

"Your subject seconds it!"

"Your subject seconds it too!"

The Xuan Emperor's brows drew together slightly.

The ministers' worry was not wrong, either. Ning Chen was a marquis now, and if he commanded the Dragon Guard and the garrison on top of it he would be a marquis with an army at his back... his power would be so great that even the Right Chancellor would have to bow his head to him.

The Xuan Emperor spoke slowly. "The beloved ministers have misunderstood. This emperor gives Ning Chen command of the Dragon Guard and the garrison... but for now he does not receive the tiger tally."

The ministers went quiet all at once.

If that was how it stood, there was nothing more to say.

Command of an army without the tally made Ning Chen a puppet and nothing…