Lord of the World
Thousands of miles away is Heshuo Zhenzhou, where Beishuo is located.
Tuoba Hong's fingers slowly traced the newly delivered secret report. The words on it were concise, yet they outlined the thrilling changes in the Southern Dynasty: Ning Lingyi had completely taken control of the capital, changed the reign to Jinghe, and was using thunderous means to purge the royal family, raise military funds, and intend to launch a northern expedition...
The fire inside the tent crackled, illuminating his deep features.
After the initial surprise, a complex emotion surged in his chest: shock, vigilance, and a hint of respect for his worthy opponent that he himself was unwilling to admit.
He had originally expected that the internal strife in the Southern Dynasty was difficult to resolve. Even if Ning Lingyi could take control of the center, he would be entangled and constrained by various forces. It would take three to five years to integrate the forces, and it was unknown when he would be able to march north.
He still had time to calmly make arrangements in Beishuo, and even wait for the enemy to tirelessly attack.
But he was wrong.
This woman...
Her decisiveness once again exceeded his expectations.
She was not cleaning up a mess, but cutting the Gordian knot and putting the entire Southern Dynasty on the line to start this war that would devastate the country. This courage made him feel a real threat.
Ning Lingyi's growth rate was so fast that she was no longer the inferior who stood beside him and smiled and raised a glass.
He couldn't wait any longer, couldn't give her time.
We must take advantage of the fact that her foundation is not stable and her army has not yet been dispatched, and use the force of thunder and lightning to completely send her to the eighteenth level of hell.
He stood up suddenly, and his royal robe brought up a gust of wind.
"Send the message!"
"The □□ unit will be the vanguard, attack Weizhou immediately! The rest of the units, press forward with all your might! I want to see Heshuo fall under the iron hoof of Beishuo before Ning Lingyi's Northern Expedition Army sets out!"
The general standing outside the tent responded solemnly, and his footsteps hurried away.
The Heshuo border, which had been quiet for a short time, was suddenly engulfed in flames again!
The Beishuo cavalry, like a pack of wolves that had been waiting for a long time, bared their ferocious fangs and pounced on the territory that had just had a respite due to the civil strife in the Southern Dynasty.
When the Heshuo Incident occurred, he rushed to the capital at an accelerated speed of 800 miles.
*
Inside the Minyou Hall, Su Qingfan was the first to step forward, holding a thick file and reporting, "Your Majesty, the land involved in the royal family's treason case is being distributed in batches to landless and landless refugees in the capital, Hebei, and other areas in accordance with the new policy. Approximately 278,000 households have been resettled."
She paused briefly before continuing, "Spring plowing has begun in various locations, and refugees are gradually being resettled, bringing some peace of mind to the people. The Military Affairs Office has already secured 1.5 million shi of grain and fodder, and all manner of military equipment and armor are being manufactured day and night. The money, food, and military supplies needed for the Northern Expedition will be sufficient to cover the initial expenses."
Ning Lingyi sat at the imperial desk, listening quietly, her fingertips unconsciously running across a memorial that had just been closed. The whole memorial was full of accusations of being "mean and ungrateful", "harming clan members", and "not being the image of a benevolent monarch".
Her face was calm, and she only nodded slightly: "Thank you for your hard work, Su Qing."
It was as if the criticism, which was so sharp in every word, was just like a breeze blowing across the hills, leaving no trace.
Xue Cheng immediately stepped forward and challenged the enemy: "Your Majesty, the reorganization of the Northern Expedition troops is almost complete! According to your order, the old and weak have been replaced with new and strong troops. We have now assembled 80,000 elite troops and 50,000 auxiliary troops. The morale is high, and we only await your order!"
His eyes were blazing, his desire to fight on the battlefield almost overflowing: "I request your permission to immediately lead the army north to reclaim our homeland!"
Ning Lingyi's gaze swept across the vast Heshuo territory on the map. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "The Western Qiang and Northern Shuo cavalry are coming and going like the wind. Our army must be on guard. How are the plans for the firearms battalion? Especially the artillery and the new muskets. We must urgently deploy them to the front lines."
Su Qingfan stepped out upon hearing this, his face showing an awkward expression. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we understand that firearms are indeed a powerful weapon against cavalry, but they are extremely expensive, costing hundreds of gold coins a day. Even if we try our best to raise funds and forge them, we may not be able to produce a fighting force in such a short period of time."
"No matter how heavy the cost is, we have to do it. No matter how tight the time is, we have to practice." Ning Lingyi frowned.
Five million taels were spent like water. War is indeed a waste of money.
"This battle is not about the gain or loss of a city or a place, but a fight for the fate of the country. The Western Qiang are fierce, and Beishuo..." When she mentioned Beishuo, a trace of deep fear flashed across her eyes.
She was really worried about Tuoba Hong.
"Tuoba Hong is a real threat. Without drastic measures, how can we achieve victory? Although we have invested a huge amount today, it is for the sake of long-term peace on the border. The Military Affairs Office must work closely with the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works to prioritize protection at all costs."
Su Qingfan and Nong Zishi nodded in agreement. In the current situation, any tactics are useless. Material support, firearms and ammunition, weapons and food are the key to victory in the war.
The Southern Dynasty must have a way to deal with the iron cavalry, otherwise it can only allow itself to be humiliated and ravaged, which Ning Lingyi would never accept.
Ning Lingyi turned his gaze to Wang Jingzhi and Shen Qingyan. "Lord Wang, Lord Shen, if we launch the Northern Expedition, it will be like a giant ship entering the sea, costing thousands of gold coins every day and taking a long time. The court must operate efficiently to support the front lines. The rectification of officialdom is imminent. You two must ensure that government orders are carried out smoothly and smoothly."
Wang Jingzhi and Shen Qingyan bowed in unison and solemnly replied, "We obey your command. We will do our utmost to rectify discipline, sort out common affairs, and respond to military and national affairs."
After saying this, Wang Jingzhi raised his eyes, first looking at Xue Cheng, who was eager to try, and then turned to Ning Lingyi on the throne, and slowly asked, "Your Majesty, the position of commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition is related to the overall situation. Have you decided to let General Xue take the position?"
Xue Cheng immediately clasped his fists and said in a resounding voice, "I am willing to personally lead the royal army and march in Your Majesty's stead to annihilate the Western Qiang. If I fail, I will die!"
All eyes in the hall were focused on Ning Lingyi.
Ning Lingyi was silent for a moment and slowly shook her head.
"Mr. Xue is the most loyal and brave of the three armies. He is the perfect choice for commander-in-chief. I have no doubt about it." Ning Lingyi's eyes became extremely deep, as if he had penetrated the palace and looked towards the turbulent territory in the north.
"Tuoba Hong is the biggest variable in this battle. Xue Qing may be able to defeat the Western Qiang, but if Beishuo seizes the opportunity and takes advantage of our army's deep penetration and the country's emptiness to launch a sudden attack, our army will be attacked from both sides and the outcome will be lost."
She raised her eyes, met everyone's gaze, and said, "I intend to lead the army myself."
"Your Majesty, you cannot do that!"
"Absolutely not, Your Majesty!"
Suddenly, there was a chorus of urgent dissuasion in the hall, and all the ministers looked frightened.
"Your Majesty, this concerns the very foundation of our country. You must not venture into dangerous territory lightly!"
"Only when the Emperor sits at the heart of the situation, directing strategic plans, can victory be achieved thousands of miles away! This is a wise instruction from the ancients!"
"The front lines are full of blind men. If there is even the slightest mistake, the foundation of the nation will be shaken. Even a thousand deaths cannot atone for the sin!"
Ning Lingyi raised her hand slightly and stopped talking.
"I have made up my mind." Her tone was calm, but it was filled with great weight.
"I'm not one for the ladies of the palace. I've personally experienced the flames of war in Hebei and the cold swords of the border. The Pearl Guards were my own troops. They're currently on the front lines, ready for battle. I can't wait in the palace for news of their victory, or their death."
Ning Lingyi looked at the kneeling ministers and knew in her heart that if she failed, everything would be over, but some things had to be done.
She explained to her ministers, "More importantly, only if I go to the front lines in person can I make decisions on the spot, coordinate the armies, and deal with Tuoba Hong. No one in the court knows him better than I do, and no one is more suitable to compete with him from a distance than me. This battle concerns the fate of the country, and I must go."
Wang Jingzhi took a deep breath, the wrinkles on his old face seeming to deepen a little. He said worriedly, "If Your Majesty insists on leading the expedition in person, there might be unrest in the capital. The country is just beginning to settle down, and people's hearts are not stable. Your Majesty is far away from the center, and if some scoundrels take the opportunity to cause chaos..."
"That's why I'm entrusting this great dynasty to you two." Ning Lingyi looked at the two important officials with a burning gaze, her trust and expectation self-evident. "The overall affairs of the court will be decided by Wang Qing; the administration of officials and the people's livelihood will be the focus of Chen Qing. You two are my pillars of support. You must help me stabilize this rear area."
Wang Jingzhi and Shen Qingyan looked at each other and saw immense heaviness in each other's eyes.
Finally, the two men lifted their robes, leaned forward and kowtowed deeply, their voices solemn and firm: "Your Majesty, we will faithfully obey your command! We will do our utmost, dedicate ourselves to stabilizing the government, and await your triumphant return!"
The voice echoed in the solemn hall, and the promise made was heavier than Mount Tai.
*
After dismissing the court, Ning Lingyi returned to Xuehan Palace.
Concubine Yu was sitting on the warm couch under the window, carefully mending the cuffs of an old dress for her in the bright sunlight, with fine and even stitches.
The sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices and shone onto her still beautiful and calm profile, casting a gentle halo on it.
Ning Lingyi dismissed the palace maids around her, walked slowly to her mother and sat down. After a moment of silence, she quietly told her the decision to lead the army in person.
The hand of Concubine Yu who was threading the needle trembled slightly, and the tiny silver needle almost pierced her fingertips.
She raised her head, her eyes thick with worry. Her lips moved, but ultimately, a long sigh emanated. "You're always like this, child. You could sit comfortably in this palace, waiting for the soldiers to conquer your kingdom. Why do you insist on enduring all that hardship and risking all that?"
Ning Lingyi leaned forward slightly and rested her head gently on her mother's warm shoulder, just like when she was a child seeking comfort.
"Mom, that's not building an empire for me." Her voice was very soft, but extremely clear.
"The country is related to the livelihoods of millions of people and to future peace. If I only sit in the palace, I will only see the embellished words in the reports, and I will not see the blood on the battlefield, nor hear the cries of the people who have lost their homes."
"How am I supposed to sit on this dragon throne?"
"Moreover," she said with increasing determination, "the soldiers of the Mingzhu Guard are still guarding the bitter cold land of Heshuo. They believe in me and follow me. I can't just enjoy their sacrifices without having the courage to face risks alongside them. More importantly, Tuoba Hong..."
When she mentioned this name, her voice became quiet. She knew Tuoba Hong too well. He would definitely not miss this opportunity. If she were him, she would have sent troops south long ago. Thinking of this, she was shocked.
After a long pause, he said, "Only if I go there myself can I respond to his actions in time. I can't trust anyone else to go."
Concubine Yu listened quietly, with thousands of words stuck in her chest. In the end, her eyes just reddened slightly. She put down the needle and thread in her hand and gently hugged her daughter's shoulders.
She whispered, "Okay, okay... Now that you've thought it through, go ahead. Mother doesn't understand the big issues of the military or the world, she only knows how to wait for you here. You must be well and come back safely."
"Well, I will definitely come back safely."
Ning Lingyi closed her eyes and snuggled in her mother's arms.
She didn’t know when would be the next time she would be in her mother’s arms, and she wanted to cling to a little more of that warmth.
*
The 100,000-strong army of the Western Qiang has already begun to set foot on the territory of the Southern Dynasty.
Beishuo's cavalry was like a prairie fire and had already rushed towards Heshuo.
The Southern Dynasty's troops for the Northern Expedition are also ready to go.
This world is destined to have only one master.
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