The new emperor saw the look on the Minister of Revenue's face, and his heart sank. Don't tell me it's more bad news.

The Minister of Revenue hesitated a good while before he spoke. "Your Majesty, word has come from the Gaoli Kingdom. They say last year's harvest was poor and their treasury is empty, so this year they won't be sending tribute to the Great Xuan!"

The new emperor's face turned ugly in an instant. Livid, in fact!

"The Gaoli Kingdom has some nerve, going back on its word. They obviously mean to break away from the Great Xuan... Aren't they afraid this emperor will send troops and flatten them?"

The Minister of Revenue stammered, "Your Majesty, there's more... Xiliang has sent a letter too. They say they were hit by locusts last year and the fields yielded nothing, and they ask whether the Great Xuan could help Xiliang out. Money or grain, either would do!"

"Insolence!"

The new emperor was so furious he flipped over the table.

"Does Xiliang want to die? Locusts, my ass. Xiliang had a bumper harvest last year... This is rebellion. They won't pay tribute, and they have the gall to ask this emperor for money and grain... Send troops. Send troops at once to crush Xiliang and the Gaoli Kingdom.

Do they think that without Ning Chen, the Great Xuan can ignore this emperor?"

The new emperor was raging up and down, the veins at his temples throbbing.

The singing girls and dancers in the hall dropped to their knees in terror.

The Minister of Revenue said quickly, "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. Your Majesty's health comes first!"

The new emperor's rage wouldn't subside. He roared, "Pinprick countries dare to ignore this emperor, and you want this emperor to calm down?

Send troops at once to attack the Gaoli Kingdom and Xiliang. They need to learn what happens when they ignore this emperor."

The Minister of Revenue said quickly, "Your Majesty, please think again. The fighting at Beilin Pass is going badly as it is. If we send troops against the Gaoli…