As the night deepened, the East Palace was completely silent.

But in Ying Yuan's study, the lights were on and a heavy atmosphere weighed on everyone's heart.

Chen Ping stood in front of the desk, holding a scroll in his hand with a serious expression.

"Sir, the power of the aristocratic families in the local area is more complicated than we expected."

"Especially those generals on the frontiers, many of them have close ties with the noble families."

"On the surface, they obey the orders of the imperial court, but in fact, they secretly work for the aristocratic families."

Ying Yuan sat behind his desk with a deep look in his eyes. His fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound.

"These aristocratic families have been accumulating strength in the local areas, trying to use local troops to confront the imperial court."

"Although Feng Quji fell, his death did not wake these people up."

"It seems that the next step of the cleansing operation must go deep into the local military."

Chen Ping nodded and said, "I have sent people to investigate the movements of generals in various places."

“However, although some generals have connections with the aristocratic families, they themselves have not openly rebelled.”

"If we act rashly, it may cause local unrest."

Ying Yuan smiled coldly, his eyes filled with endless coldness.

"They don't dare to rebel openly just because the time has not come yet."

"As long as we give them a chance, they will show their fangs and strike back at the imperial court."

"I will never let that happen."

Chen Ping nodded slightly, feeling deeply impressed by Ying Yuan's decision.

"What the young master said is absolutely true."

"But if we want to deal with these generals, we must have sufficient evidence, otherwise the neutral faction in the court may take the opportunity to attack us."

"They will think we are eliminating dissidents and expanding our power."

There was a hint of coldness in Ying Yuan's eyes; he had expected this.

"Neutralists, huh, they are just people waiting for an opportunity to take sides."

"They have been watching the situation and dare not express their views."

"Now that the power of the aristocratic families has been damaged, they support me on the surface, but in fact they are wavering in secret."

"Sooner or later, these people will become obstacles that I must clear."

Chen Ping nodded slightly, with a hint of worry in his eyes.

"Sir, we must proceed in secret and not let the neutrals in the court see our intentions."

"I suggest that we start with the young generals in the border areas and gradually replace them."

"Then we will focus our efforts on dealing with those influential generals."

Ying Yuan glanced at the map on the desk, thought for a moment and said, "Your suggestion is good."

"But we need a more robust plan."

"We can't give them any chance to react."

Chen Ping nodded, and then said: "I have already started the layout."

"I will arrange some generals who are loyal to you to gradually take over the command of those local armies."

“That way, even if there is unrest, it can be quelled quickly.”

Ying Yuan's gaze remained calm and firm.

"I must ensure that these new generals are loyal to me."

"We can no longer allow the power of the aristocratic families to have the opportunity to infiltrate the local army."

"This time, the cleansing operation must completely eradicate their influence."

Chen Ping nodded slightly, and then said: "Sir, I have already started to prepare the list. These generals are all elites selected from the army. They are loyal to the Qin Dynasty."

"As long as you give the order, they will execute it without hesitation."

Ying Yuan's eyes quickly swept across the scroll, and then he nodded with satisfaction.

"very good."

"But this is not enough, we must ensure that every link is foolproof."

"Let the Royal Guards continue to conduct in-depth investigations to ensure that these generals do not have any hidden dangers."

Chen Ping responded, "I will continue to arrange personnel and ensure that every candidate is strictly screened." "You can rest assured, sir."

Ying Yuan nodded slightly, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"The noble families have always relied on their wealth and local power to compete with the imperial court."

"But this time, I want to make them understand that wealth and the army can no longer be weapons in their hands."

"These forces must serve the Qin Empire, not their own selfish interests."

Chen Ping bowed slightly, his tone respectful and firm: "My lord, what you said is absolutely right."

"I will do my best to cooperate with you to complete this reform."

Ying Yuan nodded slightly, and then said: "In addition, the neutral faction in the court must also be dealt with as soon as possible."

“They have begun to feel the pressure and if they are not controlled, they may become a new opposition force.”

Chen Ping said softly, "Sir, I suggest that we give the neutral faction a chance to express their views first."

"If they are willing to join you, we can keep them for the time being."

“But if they still waver, we will deal with it decisively.”

Ying Yuan smiled coldly, with a hint of contempt in his eyes.

"These people are always fence-sitters, they will lean towards whichever side the wind blows."

"I will give them one last chance, but if they still hesitate, there is no need to show mercy."

Chen Ping nodded and said, "I understand. I will have the Royal Guards closely monitor the movements of the neutral faction."

"If there is any unusual movement, report it immediately."

Ying Yuan turned his gaze to the map on the table again, and then said: "Next, our task is not only to stabilize the court, but also to ensure the stability of the border."

"Although Feng Quji's death did not cause large-scale unrest, the Xiongnu and other external forces on the border may take the opportunity to test the situation at any time."

"We can't let them take advantage of anything."

Chen Ping frowned slightly, and then said, "Sir, I have received news that the Xiongnu in the border areas have indeed made some unusual movements recently."

"They seem to be testing Daqin's reaction. If we relax even a little, it may cause a crisis on the border."

Ying Yuan said coldly: "The Xiongnu's ambition has never disappeared. They have been looking for opportunities to invade Daqin."

"But this time, I won't give them any chances."

"Pass the order down, and have the generals on the border strengthen their defenses and be ready to respond to the Xiongnu's attack at any time."

"At the same time, keep a close eye on the Xiongnu's movements, and take immediate action if you discover any unusual movements."

Chen Ping nodded and said, "I will immediately arrange personnel to ensure the stability of the border defense line."

Ying Yuan's eyes were still cold. He knew that the stability of the border was of vital importance to Daqin.

"If the Xiongnu dare to invade, they will court their own destruction."

"This time, I will not only defend the borders of Daqin, but also completely eliminate the threat of the Xiongnu."

Chen Ping bowed slightly, feeling shocked by Ying Yuan's determination.

He knew that Ying Yuan was not only dealing with problems in the court, but also planning for the future of Daqin.

"My lord is wise. I will fully cooperate with you to ensure the stability of the border."

Ying Yuan nodded slightly, his eyes deep.

"The storm has passed, but new challenges have just begun."

"Whether it's the forces in the court or the threats on the border, I must deal with them one by one."

"Only by completely eliminating these hidden dangers can the Qin Dynasty become truly powerful."

Chen Ping agreed with this and said, "My Lord, you are right. I will continue to strengthen our defenses in all aspects to ensure the stability of the Qin Empire."

Ying Yuan nodded slightly, then stood up, walked to the window and looked at the palace in the distance.

Feng Quji's fall marked the end of an old era, but new challenges were waiting for him.

"I, Ying Yuan, am destined to bring Daqin into a brand new era."

"No matter whether it is internal or external troubles, they can't stop me."

"I will become the helmsman of Daqin and lead it to true glory."

As his voice echoed in the study, Ying Yuan's determination and ambition were revealed.

He knew that this power struggle and reform had just begun. (End of this chapter)