Rebirth: So what if my husband is a little crazy? He loves me.

Chapter 65 Ah Li, you're teasing me again.

Gu Chang'an realized he might have gone too far, and just as he was about to apologize, he saw Shen Li extend her hand to him. The dim lighting inside the car made her fair hand seem to glow even more.

He took out a handkerchief.

"Let me wipe it for you." Shen Li's handkerchief arrived before him, and she carefully wiped his well-defined hands, as if she wanted to wipe away all the stains on his body.

She was so meticulous and earnest that Gu Chang'an's guard seemed to vanish instantly when he saw her eyelashes tremble slightly.

His Ah Li is truly a very, very good person. What have I done to deserve her?

"Alright." After wiping his hand, Shen Li held it tightly and said, "Yours is colder. Make sure to take your medicine properly starting tonight."

Gu Chang'an nodded, his expression surprisingly obedient.

"Leave this to me next time," he added. "Don't scare you."

He had made this suggestion when the plan began, but Ah Li said that his presence would make the King of Chess more vigilant. The matter of firearms concerns the lives of countless soldiers and civilians on the frontier, and she could not gamble with it.

“Okay.” Shen Li immediately agreed, looking up at him with a very dependent gaze: “My husband is naturally a hundred or a thousand times more powerful than me.”

"Ah Li, you're making fun of me again." Gu Chang'an chuckled softly, feeling a warm glow in his heart.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

That evening, another secret report from the Flying Fish Guard was sent to the palace, describing the grim situation on the border. Emperor Cheng couldn't sleep after reading it.

Everyone in the court and among the people knew that the Great Liang was ambitious and that war was inevitable sooner or later, but no one expected it to come so quickly.

Judging from this situation, within six months or even less, the Great Liang will march south.

At this time, the border troops were still completely unaware of the situation, so it seemed necessary to summon the Ministry of War as soon as possible to discuss defense strategies.

After the court assembly, Emperor Cheng left behind the cabinet ministers, the Minister of War and his vice minister, the vice minister of the Ministry of Works and his secretary, and only Prince Yi and Gu Chang'an from outside the six ministries.

The Prince of Yi held no official position; he was merely there to pay his respects after the court assembly. Emperor Cheng took the opportunity to keep him in office to oversee state affairs.

The moment Grand Secretary Zhou Zhen saw the secret report, he frowned. How come he hadn't received any prior warning? And when he saw the Prince of Yi here, his keen political sense immediately detected that something was wrong.

"Your Majesty, the Liang army is strong and well-equipped. This time, we may not be able to withstand them with our existing defenses." The Minister of War stepped forward first and said, "We need to send more troops to fight the enemy."

Others in the Ministry of War shared this view.

Zhou Zhen sensed that this wasn't the other party's true purpose, but he still gave the Second Assistant Minister a look.

"Your Majesty, the war has not yet begun. If the intelligence is wrong, wouldn't sending troops to the front lines be a waste of resources and manpower?" The Second Minister was a cunning old fox; he understood the meaning with just a glance.

“What Vice Minister Zhang said makes sense. The national treasury is not currently well-supplied with money and grain,” Emperor Cheng said, looking at Gu Chang’an.

Many people realized from the beginning that the Ministry of Revenue was indispensable in discussing war, since war was all about money and supplies.

Now everyone's eyes are on Gu Chang'an.

"Your Majesty, indeed, our resources are insufficient. We can sustain a swift war, but we cannot sustain a protracted one," Gu Chang'an replied, stepping forward.

Upon hearing this, the officials understood the situation. Gu Chang'an had recently been thoroughly investigating the Ministry of Revenue, and it seemed that His Majesty intended to promote him to the Ministry of Revenue.

Emperor Cheng understood, and casually remarked, "By the way, the positions of Minister and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue are all vacant. I hereby appoint you as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. It is not too late to leave once a suitable candidate is found at the Court of Judicial Review."

Gu Chang'an expressed his gratitude, and the people around him were all very surprised. The Ministry of Revenue did not have a Minister; the Vice Minister was the head official.

Although his official rank remained at the third grade, he wielded greater power than a second-grade minister, since other ministers did not concurrently hold positions in judicial departments like the Court of Judicial Review.

This is no ordinary honor, it's a divine favor! Keep in mind that Gu Chang'an is only in his early twenties, such a rapid promotion is truly astonishing.

Shen Zizai stepped forward and said, "I also think that what the Vice Minister said makes sense. Even if the grain and fodder are supplied by the local areas, the cost of transporting them and sending reinforcements is still huge. Wouldn't the court be dragged down by such a long-term war?"

Emperor Cheng nodded: "Do any of my beloved ministers have other ideas?"

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.

“Your Majesty, although the Great Liang is strong, our army is not without the ability to fight. Now that we have taken precautions, we will not be defeated in one blow.” Zhou Zhen stepped forward and cupped his hands, saying, “I think we should inform the border to strengthen the defenses, and it will not be too late to send reinforcements after the war begins.”

People readily agreed when they heard this.

Gu Chang'an felt that the court was beyond saving. In such a critical moment, they were still thinking of using the status quo to deal with all changes. It was only thanks to A-Li that they had put in some thought early on.

Emperor Cheng also thought it was the best solution: to raise the border's vigilance. As long as they didn't lose for the time being, they could find another way later.

Just as he was about to agree, King Yi stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Father, I have a plan."

Zhou Zhen sensed something was wrong when he heard the voice.

"Oh? Go ahead."

"Your subject has heard that the heavy cavalry of the Great Liang are invincible, but there is a tactic that can defeat them." King Yi then brought up Lin Wan'er's improved musket and boasted about it.

Emperor Cheng's eyes lit up upon hearing this, while Zhou Zhen's vision went black; indeed, they had come prepared.

"Very well, my son, stay here. Summon the Duke of Zhenguo and Lin Wan'er to the palace." Emperor Cheng intended to test the feasibility of these firearms and tactics.

"Yes," said the King of Chess, full of confidence.

"Oh, by the way, tell the girl from the Shen family to come along too." Before leaving, Emperor Cheng added, "Minister Gu, you stay behind for a moment."

Soon, only Emperor Cheng, Prince Yi, and Gu Chang'an remained in the Imperial Study.

"Go to the inner palace and see your mother. She's been feeling listless these days. Try to comfort her."

After Emperor Cheng dismissed Prince Yi, only Hua Gu Chang'an and the eunuch beside him remained in the hall.

"Minister Gu, do you know why I have kept you here?" Emperor Cheng rested his head on his hand on the dragon table, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

How did the once prosperous Great Zhao become a country without money or food? If things continue like this, it may not last long.

"Your Majesty's intentions are beyond my ability to fathom," Gu Chang'an said humbly.

"Come on, you're full of tricks, how could you not know?" Emperor Cheng laughed and scolded, "I appointed you as the Vice Minister of Revenue, not to watch over the meager funds in the national treasury. You should find ways to fill the national treasury, that's the right thing to do."

What he valued was Gu Chang'an's ability to make money. After the two major cases, the Ministry of Revenue was now much more flush than at the beginning of the year, and he needed Gu Chang'an to continue to demonstrate his talents.

"Your Majesty, I will do my utmost. Please rest assured." Gu Chang'an did not show any surprise, but gave Emperor Cheng a reassuring answer.

Emperor Cheng laughed: "You little rascal, good rascal, go ahead."

As Emperor Cheng watched Gu Chang'an leave, he sighed inwardly. Everyone in the court said that he doted on Gu Chang'an, but in reality, he, as the emperor, could not do without such a capable minister who was shrewd, discreet, and obedient.