The court had grown comfortable under Zhou Chen's guidance, but comfort was a dangerous illusion. The hidden faction, bruised but not broken, had quietly embedded themselves in the Emperor's inner circle. They whispered doubts, spread rumors, and waited for the perfect opportunity to strike. Yet Jeng Minh, guided by the chain, could feel their movements before they fully formed.
Bai Ye approached, his voice low. "The hidden faction's leaders are subtle. They've retreated into the Emperor's confidence, hoping to manipulate him directly. One misstep could undo all we've built."
Jeng Minh's eyes narrowed. "Then we remove them from the inner circle—not by confrontation, but by exposing the cracks they cannot hide. The chain will show me where ambition outweighs loyalty."
He began subtly probing the court. Through carefully orchestrated advice to the Emperor and orchestrated "accidental" slips, rival ministers' suspicions were subtly inflamed. The hidden faction, believing their schemes undetected, began overreaching, each action revealing weaknesses and internal conflicts.
Feng delivered intelligence reports showing disagreements and subtle betrayals within the faction. "They trust each other too much," Feng said. "They do not see the divisions forming in their own ranks."
Jeng Minh allowed a small smile. Zhou Chen's presence combined with the chain's insight meant that every faction member's ambition, pride, and fear could be turned against them. Letters were "accidentally" intercepted, promises miscommunicated, and subtle hints planted that made them distrust one another.
The first collapse came with Minister Lian, a cunning manipulator who had been the faction's primary advocate in the inner court. An innocuous suggestion by Jeng Minh, amplified by carefully placed rumors, made Lian's rivals question his loyalty. By the time the Emperor confronted him, Lian had no choice but to step back from influence—or risk complete disgrace.
Next came Minister Qiu, whose ambition had long outstripped his discretion. Jeng Minh orchestrated a series of events that made Qiu appear reckless and self-serving, undermining his position among both allies and the Emperor. Within days, the inner circle was fractured, each member distracted by doubts about the others.
Bai Ye observed quietly. "It is like watching a spider weave a web around flies, except the flies are tearing at each other without realizing it."
Jeng Minh's lips curled in a faint grin. "We do not strike them directly. We allow their own ambitions to unravel the faction. Each misstep strengthens our position while revealing opportunities."
By the end of the month, the hidden faction's influence in the inner court was reduced to whispers and shadows. Loyal ministers, subtly elevated by Zhou Chen, now held key advisory positions. The Emperor, increasingly reliant on Zhou Chen's counsel, remained unaware that his inner circle had been reshaped almost entirely without his direct involvement.
Standing alone in the study, Jeng Minh reflected on the chain's guidance. It had allowed him not just to see threats, but to manipulate them invisibly, to convert potential disaster into opportunity. The warlord's reach now extended from the provinces to the capital, from the courtiers to the Emperor himself.
The empire was bending beneath his control, yet the chain pulsed with a subtle warning: power unchallenged grows complacent, and the shadows of ambition are endless.
Jeng Minh allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction. The inner circle was his, the hidden faction in retreat, and the stage set for the final consolidation of power.
The warlord's empire of influence was complete—at least for now.