Inside Xijing City, the debate in the Hall of Mental Cultivation had been going on for an hour.
Pei Lun's temple veins throbbed as he bowed again, saying, "Your Majesty! The General has been deep in enemy territory for nearly ten days, and his supplies are running low. Reinforcements must be dispatched immediately! Delay could lead to unforeseen circumstances!"
The newly promoted Minister of Personnel, Gu Cheng, shook his head:
"Minister Pei, why are you in such a hurry? The General's military tactics are always unpredictable. He dared to take Dengzhou with only five thousand men; he must have a foolproof plan. On the contrary, if we hastily send troops and are intercepted by the Fengtian Army halfway, wouldn't that be..."
"Isn't that what?" Zhou Hong interjected quietly, "Is Minister Fan worried about the loss of reinforcements, or is he worried that the General's achievements are too great?"
The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly froze.
Yinji sat on the throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze sweeping over several important ministers.
Pei Lun and Fan Nan are staunch supporters of Zhao's faction, Gu Cheng is a pragmatist, and Zhou Hong... Zhou Hong's thoughts are the most unpredictable. This Minister of Rites is polite to everyone on the surface, but every word he says is full of hidden meaning.
"What do you mean by those words, Minister Zhou?" Pei Lun glared at Zhou Hong.
Zhou Hong remained calm and composed: "Minister Pei, please don't be hasty. I am merely reminding you that the Grand General is now the Grand General of the State, Duke of Song, and Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, both inside and outside the capital. In addition, he has been granted the title of Iron Certificate, which is already the highest honor a subject can receive."
"If he achieves another extraordinary feat this time, how should the court reward him? Should he be made a king?"
"You!" Pei Lun trembled with rage.
"Enough," Yin Ji finally spoke.
The young emperor stood up and walked to the map hanging in the hall.
His gaze shifted from Xijing to Dengzhou, then from Dengzhou to the capital, and finally back to Xijing.
"I understand Minister Zhou's concerns," Yinji said slowly. "It has always been the case that meritorious officials overshadow their ruler. But—"
He turned around, his eyes sharp as knives: "What time is it for the Great Yin now? It's a matter of life and death! Li Jingang is in the east, the Northern Di are in the west and north, Yang Yan is in the south, we are surrounded by enemies on all sides!"
"At a time like this, why are you still arguing about how your merits are too great and threaten the emperor?"
Zhou Hong quickly bowed, "Your subject dares not..."
“You are the Minister of Rites, and it is true that you value rules and etiquette.” Yinji waved his hand, “But rules are for times of peace. Now we are in a chaotic world, and in chaotic times we need severe punishments, ingenious strategies, and… unparalleled talents.”
He looked at Pei Lun: "Minister Pei, how are the preparations for reinforcements progressing?"
"Five thousand troops have been assembled, and provisions and weapons are being loaded onto wagons," Pei Lun reported. "The Ministry of Works has also prepared three hundred newly manufactured thunderbolts, five hundred barrels of fire oil, and ten divine cannons."
Where is General Zhong Meng?
"General Zhong has already prepared the troops at the drill ground, awaiting His Majesty's decree."
Yinji nodded: "Issue the decree, appointing Zhong Meng as the commander of the reinforcements, and order him to depart immediately. Tell him not to rush to join the Grand General, but to first garrison Wuguan and secure the retreat route. If the Grand General needs assistance, he will send someone to make contact."
"Your Majesty is wise!" Pei Lun exclaimed with delight.
Fan Nan frowned: "Your Majesty, is sending only five thousand men... enough?"
"Enough." Yinji returned to the throne. "What Master needs is not troops, but provisions and equipment. With the Thunderclap Bomb and the Divine Cannon, he can defend Dengzhou. If he defends Dengzhou, Li Jingang will not be able to sleep at night."
He paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes: "As for the merit... if Master can really recapture the capital, what does it matter if he is made a king? This world belongs to the capable."
The last sentence was spoken very softly, yet it resounded like thunder in the hall.
Several high-ranking officials all changed color.
Before Zhou Hong could say anything more, Yinji waved his hand and said, "You may leave. I am tired."
"We take our leave."
The three of them left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, exchanged glances under the corridor outside the hall, and departed with their own thoughts.
Inside the hall, Yinji stood alone in front of the map.
He knew perfectly well what Zhou Hong was worried about.
Zhao Muyun currently wields immense power in the court; if he were to achieve another great feat, he would indeed be eligible for the highest honors. But...
"I am not Emperor Gaozu of Han, and my teacher is not Han Xin," Yinji muttered to himself.
These are some historical anecdotes from another time and space that Zhao Muyun told him.
He summoned his personal eunuch: "Send a secret decree to Zhong Meng. In addition to the explicit decree, add one more point: closely monitor the General's movements. If anything unusual happens... report it immediately."
"yes."
After the eunuch left, Yinji walked to the window and looked southeast.
The snow has started falling again.
......
That night, at midnight.
The south gate of Dengzhou City quietly opened, and teams left the city under the cover of night.
Xiao Cheyun led three thousand light cavalry ahead, their horses' hooves wrapped in cloth, their men gagged, and they disappeared silently into the darkness.
Yang Chao's 1,000 infantrymen followed closely behind.
Zhang Tao, familiar with the geography, led the way.
Then, another captain led eight hundred feint soldiers to set off last.
They carried a large number of banners, drums and horns, as well as dozens of carts loaded with firewood—these were used to create smoke and dust.
Zhao Muyun stood on the city wall, watching the procession depart into the distance.
"General, everything is arranged." Chen Kai came to his side.
"Is there any news from the capital?"
"Deputy Commander Fan sent a secret letter: Li Jingang has ordered Li Bao to withdraw his troops from Hebei and return to reinforce the capital. But there seems to be a change of events on Xiong Dayong's side."
Zhao Muyun frowned: "What happened?"
"Xiong Dayong demanded that the court first grant him the title of King of Hebei before he would raise an army," Chen Kai said in a low voice. "He said that without a royal title, it would be difficult to win over the people."
"He certainly has quite the appetite," Zhao Muyun sneered. "Tell Han Zhong to pass on a message to Xiong Dayong: He can be granted a royal title, but only if he can conquer a certain amount of territory. If he conquers Youzhou, the court will bestow upon him the title of King of Hebei."
"What if he can't win?"
"Can't win?" A cold glint flashed in Zhao Muyun's eyes. "Then he has no right to negotiate. In chaotic times, strength is the only true measure of success."
Chen Kai felt a chill run down his spine: "Understood, subordinate."
"What about Yunzhou?"
"General Tian Qing displayed great prowess, repelling three attacks by the Northern Di at the Daqingshan Fortress and beheading a thousand. Governor Han has also deployed his troops, sending 20,000 men eastward, and they have now reached Huguan."
“Alright.” Zhao Muyun nodded. “Tell Han Zhong not to rush into a decisive battle with Li Bao. Hold him back and prevent him from fully returning to reinforce the capital. As for Xiong Dayong… give him a push.”
How do I add fire?
Zhao Muyun whispered a few words in Chen Kai's ear, and Chen Kai's eyes gradually lit up.
"General, that's a brilliant plan! I'll carry it out right away!"
Chen Kai left in a hurry.
Only Zhao Muyun remained on the city wall.
The cold winter wind blew his cloak, making it flutter loudly.
He looked south towards Lushan, then north towards Fengchao, the capital, and finally northwest—to Xijing, where the newly enthroned young emperor was, and his disciple whom he had personally raised.
"Your Majesty, I suppose you're playing chess too," Zhao Muyun murmured to himself. "Then let's see who between us, master and disciple, can play this game better."
The snow was falling heavier and heavier.
But Zhao Muyun knew that the day the snow melted would be the day of the decisive battle.
The first battle took place in Lushan.
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