Cunning General Si Ning

Since Si Ning wasn't informed that the matter had been discussed in court which means it must still be a secret within the Empress Dowager, the Prime Minister, and the Emperor yet the words got out and since he never consider for people to know before solving the problem so he had no counter-attack to the army finding out. Addressing the whole. the army seemed impossible because he couldn't imagine summoning them all when there was no war or need to dispatch them.

"General only have to address the Lieutenants." Su Heng informed him. "The Lieutenants will address their divisions and then the Captains of the Company do not have a choice than to follow General's instructions but me as the second Commander and Commander Chen An as the first Commander while Commander Ji Ran as the third Commander means it is up to us to inform the Lieutenants first and if the Lieutenants want to see General then we will arrange a suitable meeting place since General doesn't need to address them but I think the situation calls for it." He suggested.

The situation that Chen An and Su Heng stated started to give Si Ning a headache that he had to close his eyes, he couldn't help but think that he had been unconscious while his Commanders had been working to prevent a riot. He was impressed that they were able to prevent the army from going wild. He opened his eyes and nodded, satisfied that the Commanders looking tired was the result of their handwork and not hanging around drinking.

"General I brought tea." Jiang Ye announced outside the door.

"Take it back." Si Ning said. It was rude not to serve his visitors but he doesn't have time to watch them drink tea and relax.

"Yes General." Jiang Ye replied after some time.

"You all are not questioning if it is true?" Si Ning continued their discussion as he folded his hands. Chen An regarding it as a rumor doesn't mean they didn't accept it as a rumor. His gaze shifted to Ji Ran.

"We do not follow rumors, the army should also not also follow rumors." Ji Ran said firmly, his eye lit that anyone could see the fire burning in it to show how disappointed he was about the unrest within the army.

Even though Ji Ran just spoke for the rest of the Commanders doesn't mean they do not believe it because Si Ning could see Chen An that kept avoiding looking at him while nodding to Ji Ran words and if Si Ning was right then he could bet they believed the rumor which means they might have heard it directly from a legit source.

"How many want to join the Imperial army?" Si Ning asked as he tapped the table now directing his gaze to Chen An. Him asking the question was his hint to show that the rumor was true.

"Almost a quarter of the army." Chen An informed him. "Half of the quarter are truly willing and the other half will follow your decision if General wants them to join the Imperial army." He added.

No matter how Si Ning sees it, from any angle. His army might decide to join the Imperial army according to his order but that doesn't mean they would be loyal to them since they were people who have wishes and thought of their own. He had never thought there would be a problem if he ordered them to join the Imperial army and now he realized how naive he was.

Si Ning felt his head going hot that he removed the diadem on his head, letting his hair flow lose, down his back and shoulder like a curtain as if it would help him think clearly. "Do you think I should give half of my army?" He asked, wanting to end the discussion because the real purpose he called for their attention was to ask for their opinion.

"General, we will abide by any decision you make." Chen An told him.

Si Ning had been expecting Chen An's reply. He banged his hand on the table and pointed at Chen An. "I want your opinion, Now." He said, his intense gaze on Chen An to how dire his situation was that he needed to find a solution fast. He tucked his hair behind his ears.

Chen Na places his hands on his knees. "General, by refusing means you are not siding with the Imperial family and they might see you as a threat and by complying will make them and some of the armies see you as weak and the army might even lose trust in you but it's better to be weak and get stronger, then I do not think the Imperial family will ask any more from you." He concluded.

Si Ning nodded before pointing to Su Heng. "And your opinion?" He raised a brow.

"We can pause the selection of soldiers coming from other states that want to join the Si family army and after the finalization of the soldiers that General will turn over to the Imperial family then we can continue the registration and accept all the suitable soldiers to join the Si family army." Su Heng said.

Si Ning nodded glad he was getting a fast reply which means they might have thought about it. "And Ji Ran?"

Ji Ran shifted forward. "I think we should accept all the men that want to join the Si family army and we don't need to do any special selection and there have been women coming wanting to join, we can accept them to join and protect the residence and from then General can recover the number of the army turned over to the Imperial family." He suggested.

Si Ning folded his hands and raised his head before closing his eyes, after some time he opened his eyes. "We won't accept any woman because I don't want to change the rules guiding the army, change is good but not that change." He pointed out. "Also we will do the selection of the army and not accept those that are not talented and also pause the selection for now."

The Commanders already advised him to turn over half of the army which means they were not against it and Si Ning was glad that he was given their advice that he thinks was good enough because he could form order from it immediately and could feel his rational thinking ability being sharper than ever.

"Yes General." Chen An nodded.

"You all can take care of it and also inform the army and about the selection of those that will be turned over to the Imperial army, I will only turn over those that are willing no matter how small their fractions maybe." Si Ning instructed. 

This was the decision he could come up with to avoid any revolt uprising, if he orders his army and they follow his order doesn't mean they would follow the order to the end and be loyal to the Imperial family and to prevent any chaos, only those that were willing to leave should be the ones that would join the Imperial family which means Si Ning could appear and tell them it was their decision to go willing to join the Imperial army in case of any problem occurring within the Imperial army and in case his presence was needed.