Chapter 384 Setting Off!

Xiao Mo followed the eldest prince to the palace.

As expected, Xiahou Nan, Bai Qi, Zhang Yi, Baili Xi, and Uncle Jian all arrived.

"Greetings, Frost King."

Outside the Imperial Study, Bai Qi and the others bowed respectfully to Xiao Mo.

In this era where scholars would die for those who understand them, Xiao Mo was not only their mentor but also their benefactor.

In their view, without Xiao Mo, they would not have been able to climb to such heights today.

So even though they arrived earlier than Xiao Mo, they were all willing to wait for him to come in first, and then they would go in after him.

"Greetings, everyone." Xiao Mo returned the greeting with a bow. "Please, everyone."

The crowd said, "Please, Frost King."

Xiao Mo nodded and, without any hesitation, followed the First Prince into the Imperial Study, with the others following behind.

The door closed.

Even in the imperial palace, the Imperial Study was equipped with layers of magical arrays to prevent divine sense from detecting it, and the entire room was even enveloped by the fortune of the Qin Kingdom's mountains and rivers.

"The people who can stand here today are all the people I trust the most, and of course there is also that fellow Xiao Shi, but he is at the border and cannot come back."

The King of Qin smiled, easing the somewhat tense atmosphere, and then looked at Xiao Mo, the King of Zhenxi, and the others, and slowly spoke.

"Please take a look at this first."

The King of Qin waved his hand, and Eunuch Li handed a large stack of documents to Xiao Mo and the others.

After Xiao Mo and the others finished reading the document, their brows furrowed.

These documents contain intelligence gathered by Qin spies in the states of Qi, Zhao, and Jin, as well as information obtained by border scouts through their round-the-clock observations.

Based on these documents, Xiao Mo and others could confirm that the State of Jin had quelled the domestic rebellion, stabilized the country, and captured a large number of able-bodied men to replenish its military strength.

The states of Qi, Zhao, and Jin are now preparing provisions and weapons.

It is estimated that it will not be long before they launch an attack on the Qin state.

According to the initial strategy of the three states of Qi, Zhao, and Jin, they planned to launch a three-pronged attack on the state of Qin.

Moreover, judging from the scale of their mobilization this time, it seems they intend to use all their resources.

If the states of Qi, Zhao, and Jin succeed, they will divide up the territory of Qin, thus forming a tripartite balance of power.

If they lose this great battle, the states of Qi, Zhao, and Jin will completely lose the strength to resist Qin.

All they could face was being gradually devoured by the Qin state.

"Speak, what are your thoughts, my esteemed ministers?"

After Xiao Mo and the others finished reading the intelligence sent from the front lines, the King of Qin asked a question.

Xiao Mo and the others were almost unanimous in their opinion: "Fight!"

As for seeking peace with the states of Qi, Zhao, and Jin, that is absolutely impossible.

Seeking peace comes at a price, and it means you're afraid. If you're afraid, they'll make exorbitant demands.

At that time, the Qin state will definitely have to cede a large area of ​​territory.

But the territories of the three major states of Chu, Yan, and Wei, as well as various smaller states, were all won by the blood of Qin soldiers; how could they be handed over so easily?

Not to mention Xiao Mo and others, even the common people of Qin would not agree!

Therefore! The only option is to fight!

Whether the Warring States period, which lasted for thousands of years, would lead to unification or a tripartite balance of power depended on this great battle.

Since everyone supports "fighting".

The next thing to discuss is how to fight.

Finally, after four days of discussion.

The Qin ruler initially decided to send Xiao Mo and the eldest prince to lead 200,000 Snow-Treading Dragon Riders and 500,000 Northern Wilderness Infantry, plus 500,000 soldiers recruited from Chu and Yan, for a total of 1.2 million troops to conquer Jin.

Xiao Shi and Bai Qi led 100,000 Snow-Treading Dragon Riders, 200,000 Northern Wilderness soldiers, and 700,000 soldiers from Chu and Yan to conquer Zhao.

Xiahou Nan and the King of Zhenxi led 800,000 soldiers from Wei and Qin to contain Qi.

All the other feudal lords in Qin were required to lead troops and answer the call to go on expeditions. Those who refused to obey would be stripped of their fiefdoms and demoted to commoners!

Basically, throughout the Qin state, apart from leaving some soldiers to guard cities, deal with emergencies, and maintain order, the vast majority of soldiers went to the border.

Even in the capital of Qin, the Qin ruler only left 60,000 Iron Tiger Army soldiers to garrison the capital.

Most of these soldiers were cultivators at or above the Foundation Establishment stage.

Apart from one peanut left in the Qin capital, all the cultivators of the Upper Three Realms in the imperial palace went on the expedition with the army.

It can be said that this time, the Qin state is truly going all in.

The Qin state was also constantly procuring provisions, elixirs, and the flesh and blood of mythical beasts.

The flesh and blood of demonic beasts and spirit beasts hunted by ordinary cultivators can be sold to the government, and they can buy as much as they want.

Under the orders of the King of Qin, Baili Xi and Jian Shu also began to take action against the corrupt officials they had been supporting but had not yet executed.

These corrupt officials' assets were all confiscated and then used for military equipment.

In addition, the ruler of Qin began to crack down on corrupt officials throughout the country.

It was all for the purpose of confiscating their property!

The nobles of Qin had it even worse.

They had been collected a lot of evidence against them in their daily lives. Now that the country needs money for war, who else should they fleece if not them?

For a time, officials and nobles of all ranks throughout the Qin state were filled with apprehension.

Although the Qin ruler's purpose was to make money.

However, within half a year, the Qin state was surprisingly harmonious and efficient.

Of course, not all nobles were willing to be lambs to the slaughter. Some nobles wanted to resist and even wanted to collude with Qi, Zhao, and Jin.

But.

With a major battle imminent and the people of Qin eager for war, and the military and civil generals at the top united in their desire to achieve unparalleled fame, how much trouble could these rebellious nobles stir up?

Once these people were discovered, the Snow-Treading Dragon Riders annihilated their entire families!

Another seven months have passed.

The three states of Qi, Zhao, and Jin were all ready.

The Qin state could not wait any longer. Xiao Mo and his men divided their armies into three routes and set out to launch a preemptive strike!

Before the expedition, the King of Qin personally saw off Xiao Mo and other generals.

However, just as Xiao Mo was about to depart, the King of Qin pulled Xiao Mo aside.

"Does Your Majesty have any instructions?" Xiao Mo asked.

The King of Qin shook his head and sighed, "Originally, I wanted the Crown Prince to join the Prince of Zhenbei in dealing with the Zhao Kingdom, but the Crown Prince only wanted to lead the army to the Jin Kingdom."

No matter what I say, it's no use.

The Crown Prince even knelt before my bedchamber for a month.

Now, I am sending you with Jing Su. Do you know why?

"What does Your Majesty mean?" Xiao Mo vaguely guessed.

"To this day, Jingyuan's death has become Jingsu's inner demon. He will be tormented by this inner demon for the rest of his life until the Jin Kingdom is destroyed."

The King of Qin held Xiao Mo's hand.

"Xiao Mo, although you are younger than Jing Su, you are more mature in your dealings with others."

If Jing Su does anything irrational.

You must stop him!

Remember this!

(End of this chapter)