Chapter 140: The Unraveling Threads
The tension between the factions continues to build, and it isn't long before General Zhao makes a bold move. With the backing of several influential nobles and military leaders, he calls for a coup, seeking to remove Lin Yuer from power and restore the empire to its former ways.
The news of the coup spreads like wildfire through the empire. Rumors swirl about the loyalty of the generals and the fate of the Phoenix Path. The capital, once a symbol of unity and progress, is now a place of uncertainty. But Lin Yuer, ever the strategist, prepares to defend her empire.
She does not gather her army immediately. Instead, she sends emissaries to her allies, urging them to remain calm and not rush into battle. She knows that, as powerful as Zhao's supporters are, they are still a minority in the larger scheme of things. Her true strength lies not in military might, but in the hearts and minds of the people.
Lin Yuer also takes a more personal approach, reaching out to General Zhao himself. She sends him a private letter, urging him to meet with her and discuss his concerns face-to-face. She knows that, beneath his anger and ambition, Zhao is a man who has spent his life in service to the empire. She hopes that she can appeal to his sense of duty, to remind him of the greater purpose they once shared.