General Bai is currently kneeling in front of the emperor. No matter how much he wants to just stand and leave, he knows he can't. He is not powerful enough to defy an emperor, yet.
" I order you to give me your seal. We have to protect our people for what will come ahead", the emperor ordered solemnly. After the death of General Jin, the emperor bestow his military seal to General Bai in attempt to give him some head ache. He thought that General Jin's soldiers will be tough enough to give General Bai a hard time. Though he knew that the two were friends, he never knew how close they were to each others' subordinates. He wants to divert General Bai's attention so that he won't have the time to invistigate what really happened.
What he does not know is that General Bai already saw through his intention from the very beginning. He never knew that general Bai and Jin's soldiers were like brothers and their military soldiers saw the two general in the same light and respected them both. So, he never gave general Bai a head ache, instead, a powerful army.
All these years, general Bai used his time wisely. He is just waiting for the right moment to release all the evidences he gathered against the hateful ruler in front of him.
" I apologize your highness, but the military seal should only be used during the time of wars", General Bai replied, while kneeling on the floor. The military seal of their kingdom should only be used during a war. If it isn't absolutely necessary, royal soldiers will do. The royal soldiers and the kingdom's military are separated. The royal soldiers protect and obeys the royal family, while the military obeys their general and protects the kingdom as a whole.
This was the way the founder of the kingdom thought to avoid the monarchs' over using their powers.
As their founder once said, which can be read in the Book of History of the Black Tortoise Kingdom, 'the rot from the inside is the most difficult to handle' .
" Impudent! How dare you disobey your emperor! Are you planning a treason?!", the emperor slaps the table in front of him. The general doesn't even flinch, he just continues looking at the floor, afraid that the hatred in his eyes will give him away.
" Your majesty, the military seal should only be used in tragedies, battles and calamities, may I know which of the three are we preparing for?", he said calmly but mockingly.
The emperor closed his eyes in irritation. He knows that general Bai already knew about the current situation of the kingdom. Is he intentionally opposing him? Is it because of the hardships he went through in pacifying that traitor's people? The emperor thought.
Never would he have thought that he has been seen through from the very beginning. As conceited as he is, he always believe that others will not know about his schemes.
" The ministers' lives are in danger, shouldn't you, the general, defend them? You know how chaotic our kingdom will be once the envoys from the Upper Court will arrive", the emperor calmed himself a little. What can this little general do infront of an absolute power?
" Thus, I order you to give me the seal, otherwise...", he didn't finish his sentence but general Bai already knows.
General Bai can't help but to smirk at the dumb emperor. He knows the reason why he wants to have the seal.
As an emperor, he is accountable for whatever crimes his ministers have done. No one in the Upper Court would believe that he was never aware of those big movements. Since he is already dragged in his ministers' mess, he will at least fight for his life. He clearly never intended to use the military soldiers to save the ministers, he just wants cannon fodder for whatever he is planning.
" My apologies, your majesty, but I am afraid I can't protect the interests of the ministers who committed heinous crimes. They already lost their citizenship the moment they plunged the kingdom with their selfishness and unforgivable crimes against the people", he righteously said. Kidnapping for slavery and experiment is no joke. It is a very serious crime that harms the people of the kingdom.
Why would he sacrifice his army for these insane people?
" Then you left zhen no choice but to do this. Guards! Kindly escort the general's family!", the emperor smile maliciously. For once, the general meets his eyes, but instead of shock or hatred , the emperor saw something else he can't pin point.
Until the general smirks.