The capital city, the Privy Council.

This building, located within the palace grounds, is antique and elegant, with carved beams and painted rafters. Several nearby connecting corridors also became part of the Privy Council.

Although not all staff members of some Privy Council departments work here, the Privy Council as a whole has a considerable number of personnel.

In particular, the General Staff Department, the General Political Training Department, the General Military Training Department, the General Military Law Department, and the General Logistics Department all have a considerable number of personnel.

Meanwhile, in the main conference room of the Privy Council's General Staff Headquarters, a huge sand table model was placed in the center of the room.

Above, there is a yellowish-brown background, rolling brown mountains, and occasional specks of green.

This sand table model is a topographical map of the northern grassland bandits.

On the sand table model, flags are used to mark information such as the king's tent, camp, and encampment of the grassland bandits.

It looks a bit rudimentary, but it's much better than the usual simplified maps.

This sand table model was drawn based on information gathered by the Military Intelligence Bureau, Qingyu Trading Company, and packhorse caravans among the bandits on the grasslands.

Looking at this sand table model, Emperor Li Xin, who was in his twenties or thirties, frowned and stared at the situation on the sand table.

"Jingzhi, how long have you been preparing this sand table model?"

Li Xin asked with a smile, "It looks very exquisite!"

"His Majesty,"

Zhang Jingzhi clasped his hands in a fist salute and replied, "Since we took over the capital, our staff and intelligence personnel have been venturing deep into the heart of the grasslands and bandit territory to gather intelligence. The information on the sand table model is the result of our work over the past few years, and it also incorporates information from caravans and horse teams. There will still be some discrepancies, after all, the grasslands are very vast, and some oversights are inevitable."

"That's perfectly reasonable!"

Li Xin didn't blame them, after all, they had already done a very good job to get to where they are now!

At the very least, the main royal tents, camps, roads, oases, and rivers are all clearly marked.

Although the bandit camps on the grasslands may migrate, they won't deviate too much.

Moreover, with roads, oases, and rivers in place, battle plans can be formulated!

This time, I came to the General Staff Headquarters with only one purpose: to formulate a set of operational plans!

It is now March of the second year of the Yan Ning era. Spring has arrived in the capital, and the weeping willows outside have turned green. Even in the northeastern region beyond the Great Wall, spring has arrived.

After several months of intensive work, the reorganization of the Northeast Military Region and the Northwest Military Region has been successfully completed.

The organization and training of all eight divisions in the Northeast Military Region—the 1st Infantry Division, the 2nd Infantry Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, the 4th Infantry Division, the 5th Infantry Division, the 1st Cavalry Division, the 2nd Cavalry Division, and the 3rd Cavalry Division—have been completed.

After screening, most of the original Northeast Military Region's large force was incorporated into the Northeast Reclamation Army, except for a small number of retired personnel.

Despite having only eight divisions, their combat effectiveness is by no means weak!

The same thing happened in the Northwest Military Region!

Along with the Northern Military Region, after all the troops in the three major northern military regions had completed their training, the most important task was put on the agenda!

That was the Northern Expeditionary Grassland Bandits!

Looking at the sand table model in front of him, Li Xin said, "Ever since I was enfeoffed in Dongning City, we have frequently suffered attacks from grassland bandits. I'm sure you all still remember the dire situation we were in back then!"

"I remember, of course I remember!"

Zhang Jingzhi nodded and said, "Your Majesty, not long after we arrived in Dongning City, we were attacked by grassland bandits. How many people did we have at the time? Only a few hundred! In the end, with the help of the local people we recruited, we barely managed to defend Dongning City. It was at that time that I followed Your Majesty! Later, with the help of the Thunderclap Bomb, we were able to barely repel the grassland bandits and protect Dongning City! Thinking about it now, the conditions back then were truly difficult!"

Zhang Jingzhi's words evoked memories for everyone.

Inside the room were Mu Yunyan, Wei Jun, and others, all of whom had participated in the first Battle of Dongning City.

Wei Jun shook his head and said with a smile, "If it weren't for His Majesty's bravery and composure back then, things probably wouldn't be like this today!"

"Hahaha……"

Li Xin smiled and said, "We've fought several battles against the grassland bandits, including several battles in the Dongning City defense, several encounters in the wild, and even several ambushes by grassland bandits, as well as guerrilla warfare in the mountains and forests!"

"possible,"

Thinking about last year's battle, Li Xin said, "Our greatest victory against the grassland bandits was probably the ambush in the Yanshan Mountains last year, which almost wiped out the Left Khan of the grassland bandits. It can be said that we dealt a heavy blow to the grassland bandits!"

"However, the grassland bandits still wield considerable power and remain active on the grasslands. If these grassland bandits are not eliminated, they will ultimately pose a huge threat to our Great Gan Kingdom!"

"Especially in the Northeast, Northwest, and the capital area, they are frequently attacked by grassland bandits!"

"To resolve this situation once and for all, we must launch a major northern expedition, erect a monument on Yanran Mountain, and seal the wolf's lair!"

"Only in this way can we completely sweep the grassland bandits into the dust of history, and only then will the people of our northern border region no longer live in fear and be constantly harassed by grassland bandits!"

As he spoke, Li Xin scanned the faces of Zhao Bingzhang, Zhang Jingzhi, Wei Jun, Mu Yunyan, Yuan Weiwen, Zhou Liang, and others.

Li Xin licked his dry lips and said loudly, "Therefore, the reason I have gathered you all here today is to formulate a feasible plan for the Northern Expedition, and strive to wipe out the grasslands this year!"

"Jingzhi,"

Looking at Zhang Jingzhi, Li Xin said, "During this period, the General Staff has drafted a preliminary plan. Now, why don't you tell everyone about it?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Zhang Jingzhi nodded slightly, stood up, walked to the side, and picked up a baton.

Holding the baton in his hand, Zhang Jingzhi pointed to the location of the grassland bandit king's tent on the sand table model and said, "Gentlemen, according to the information we have so far, the grassland bandit king's tent is located deep in the grassland along the Kulun River, surrounded by lush grass and mountains, making it an excellent location!"

"Most importantly, the bandit king's camp is deep in the grasslands. If we want to take the bandit king's camp directly, we must cross the vast Gobi Desert north of the Yanshan Mountains. This area is desolate and uninhabited, making it the most dangerous part of this battle!"

"therefore,"

Zhang Jingzhi changed the subject and continued, "The plan for the Northern Expedition against the grassland bandits drafted by our General Staff was initially formulated after taking into account various factors!"

"This operational plan involves a three-pronged attack, aiming straight for the enemy's heart!"