At night.

Jiaodong, the city that never sleeps.

Tian Zhongxun was sitting on the throne.

On both sides were generals of the royal family with the surname Tian.

They are the real inner circle.

They hold military and political power in various places.

Take complete control of Qi.

Those sent out this time are not considered core figures.

"Your Majesty, the latest news."

"Ning Que has officially led his troops out to sea."

"It is said that there are as many as six hundred warships."

"The Liaodong side has also put out to sea, with a total of 200 ships."

"We sent out three hundred and fifty ships."

"Total number of warships exceeds one thousand!"

"good."

Tian Zhongxun stood up immediately.

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze cold.

"Ever since he ascended the throne, this young man, Ning Que, has been targeting my Qi territory at every turn. First, he used a treacherous scheme to seize Linzi County, and then he stationed a large army there. This time, during the Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo, he even drew away my Qi territory's elite troops. They are a sword hanging over my head, ready to fall at any moment! I ask you, are you going to just endure this?"

"I can't stand it!"

“That’s right!”

"Fuck them!"

"Ning Que also stole the Treasure Island and nearly bankrupted the salt merchants. He's clearly trying to kill us, so what else can we do if we don't fight back?"

Tian Zhongxun nodded in satisfaction and said coldly, "That's right, it's not just Ning Que. He's just a lackey of the Feng Emperor. Ultimately, it's the Feng Emperor who wants to attack Qi. The Feng Emperor came to power illegitimately, framing the former crown prince to take the throne. Before he even secured his position, he's already clamoring to break the ancestral system and reduce the power of the feudal lords. They don't even consider that my ancestors fought for my throne with their blood!"

"When Dafeng was first established, four kings of different surnames were appointed to guard the borders. Emperor Gaozu even swore an oath by beheading a white horse, stating that the title of king would be hereditary and last forever, along with the nation. Now the Emperor of Feng wants to target Qi. This is an attempt to kill us!"

“That’s right!”

"Ning Que is just a dog raised by the emperor."

"In the final analysis, this is all the Emperor's will!"

"They simply think that my Tian family's position is not legitimate, so they want to target Qidi!"

For a moment they were all filled with indignation.

This is the struggle between imperial power and royal power.

Emperor Feng was ambitious and had been concentrating power since he came to the throne, holding all the power firmly in his hands. The kings of other surnames who could compete with the imperial power and even threaten it naturally became an obstacle.

Since the reign of Emperor Wen, successive emperors have sought ways to weaken the kings of different surnames, enacting various laws to suppress them from all sides. Emperor Feng's methods were clearly more direct and brutal; this attack on the distant Goguryeo was, in fact, a disguised attempt to weaken Qi.

After all, Qi had developed over the years and was now very prosperous. If they did not send troops, it would be a blatant disobedience to the imperial order and a violation of ancestral rules; if they did send troops, they would have to contribute manpower and fight Goguryeo to the death, and then Dafeng would find a reason to reap the benefits.

Things have come to this point.

What else can they do if they don’t rebel?!

"Pass on this king's order and announce it to Jiaodong and Langya!"

"This king is sixty-five years old and serves as a general himself. My youngest son is fourteen and also serves as a soldier. Therefore, those above him are the same age as this king, and those below him are the same age as my youngest son. All of us will be dispatched!"

"We obey your orders!"

Tian Zhongxun’s meaning was very clear.

All men aged 14-65 must be conscripted as soldiers!

Even though he only sent some navy this time, he actually has quite a few people at his disposal, including many loyal warriors. Adding to this mobilization, he can gather at least 150,000 troops!

No matter whether it is useful or not, it is a huge success anyway.

"What are your plans, my Lord?"

"It's simple. Split the troops into two groups." Tian Zhongxun pointed to the sand table and said slowly, "Attack Gaotang and Anping counties first. There are many undercover agents and spies in these two counties, so it won't be difficult to capture them. Behind us is Linzi City, where there are many distant relatives of the Tian family. Ning Que thinks that by moving them to Linzi and changing their surnames, he can alienate the Tian royal family?"

"Hahaha, Your Majesty is right!"

"With their help, Linzi City will be easily conquered!"

Tian Zhongxun looked cold.

He had already secretly informed the Tian family in Linzi.

When the Qi army was at the gates of the city, they would secretly start a rebellion to control Shen Qinghe. As the princess, she was also pregnant with the heir, so as long as she could be captured alive, they would be able to firmly seize the initiative.

You can attack when you advance and defend when you retreat!

"Tian Bi, you will lead the troops to attack Gaotang!"

"Tian Ce, you are responsible for attacking Anping County!"

"promise!"

They both raised their hands and bowed at the same time.

They are all sons of Tian Zhongxun.

Tian Bi was the eldest son and also the crown prince of Qi.

"My sons are all on the front lines."

"Anyone who dares to retreat in battle will be killed without mercy!"

"Announce to everyone, you will be rewarded if you kill one enemy!"

"Kill five enemies and be rewarded with land, houses and titles!"

"Kill ten enemies and you'll be promoted to centurion!"

"We obey your orders!"

The generals were all eager to try.

War is a matter of both danger and opportunity.

Yes, they would likely die on the battlefield.

But if you survive, there will be many benefits.

It is obvious that Tian Zhongxun is openly rebelling this time!

If they can succeed, they will have the merit of following the dragon!

Then their status will naturally rise!

"This battle must be resolved quickly."

"Ning Que is not a fool, and Emperor Feng is certainly not a tyrant. They have taken things to this extent, forcing me to start a rebellion. Even though Ning Que has already set sail, as long as we fail to capture Linzi City, he will most likely rush back to provide assistance."

Tian Zhongxun wasn't a very good person, but since he'd decided to rebel, he naturally had to think things through. Even though he criticized Ning Que, he was actually quite wary of his abilities. Even though he'd laid a tight net on Bailing Island, he still felt it was unsafe.

"Not to mention Ningque, there are also Jinan and Jibei County."

"Prince Lu has long been the emperor's dog."

"I've had people inquire about it, and Ning Que has already made arrangements for Daye City. By sending troops from these two counties, we can reach Linzi within a few days. We must race against time and not delay any further."

"We understand."

Everyone nodded.

Tian Bi raised his hand and whispered, "Father, I think after we capture Anping County, we can quickly seize the port and destroy the shipyard. Sending a small force will prevent Ning Que from returning."

"Can!"

Tian Zhongxun nodded.

The port was indeed crucial. Destroying it would also delay Ning Que's return. He roughly calculated the timeframe and concluded that even if Ning Que was as fast as he could be, it would still take at least twenty days. Given the vast plains of Linzi, it would only take half a month to capture the city!

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Look at these generals.

"You are all members of the royal family of Great Qi. I will not say anything more." Tian Zhongxun picked up the wine glass and drank it all. "With this glass of wine, I wish you victory. This battle will completely change the situation in Kyushu. Your deeds will surely be passed down through the ages!"

"Don't worry, Your Majesty!"

"We will definitely take back Linzi!"

"Capture Shen Qinghe alive and overthrow the tyrant!"

All the generals stood up at the same time.