Song Yunyang stood by the window, her face as cold and gloomy as frost in winter, sending chills down one's spine.
Looking at her fierce expression, Lin Cheng couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
He never imagined that such a seemingly delicate woman could exude such strong authority and decisiveness.
"emperor……"
Lin Cheng called out in a low voice, a vague feeling that something was wrong. Song Yunyang's words seemed to have more than just their surface meaning, and contained some kind of implication.
Lin Cheng was shocked. Was she implying that she wanted to destroy Japan?
The thought sent a shiver down his spine, and he felt a surge of panic.
Lin Cheng coughed slightly and asked tentatively, "Your Majesty, do you mean that Japan has disappeared?"
Song Yunyang shook his head slightly and said calmly, "I am a human being and I will not do anything inhumane."
Her voice was like a cool breeze, carrying an invisible authority. However, her eyes then sharpened, as if recalling the horrific events of that night, though she hadn't witnessed them herself.
“My Beirong City was reduced to ashes, and more than 8,000 people died that night. Chen Zhennan settled that score, but I haven’t done it yet.”
Lin Cheng was startled, sensing the weight in Song Yunyang's words.
He had also heard about what happened in Beirong City. That night, the firelight illuminated the night sky, and countless people in Beirong City were killed or injured. The assassins of the Shadow Sect did not even spare children.
But Lin Cheng had gone to Japan with Chen Zhennan, and he had seen the terrible situation there.
"But Your Majesty, the Empress of Japan's Shadow Guard probably doesn't have many men left, does she...?"
Song Yunyang frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. His voice suddenly turned cold: "Brother Nan's benevolence will leave hidden dangers. I am not like him. Only by eliminating the root of the problem can we prevent endless troubles."
Song Yunyang's words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight into Lin Cheng's heart, making him hold his breath.
"I won't issue you an imperial edict for this order. I only wish for Japan to continue its lineage, not to be completely exterminated, understand?"
Lin Cheng was shocked, realizing that the emperor's decision was not a simple act of revenge, but a choice made after careful consideration.
Although Lin Cheng's mind was filled with countless guesses, he knew that as a subject, he could not presume too much about the emperor's true thoughts.
He lowered his head, his voice firm and respectful: "Your Majesty, I know what to do."
Upon hearing this, Song Yunyang's cold expression finally softened, and she revealed a slight smile.
"Well done, I will allocate another two million taels of silver to you."
Although Lin Cheng didn't really want the money, he still had to express his gratitude to the Emperor.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. Your humble servant will certainly not disappoint you."
"Alright, go about your business. I should probably be setting off soon."
Lin Cheng said yes, then turned and left the study.
...
On their way to the Northeast, Chen Zhennan led 1,500 elite cavalrymen like an iron torrent. Their warhorses galloped, their hooves thundering, kicking up clouds of dust, as if even the earth itself was making way for them.
Lingzhou is more than 800 li away from the northeastern border, which is a long and arduous journey.
After seven days of rapid travel, they finally reached the northeastern border, but were still more than two hundred miles from the border.
At this moment, they were on the outskirts of Kurokawa, but the wind was already biting cold, and the air was filled with a chilling cold.
Although the temperature has not yet dropped below zero, the earth seems to be sealed by ice and snow, exuding a biting cold.
"Stop!" Chen Zhennan suddenly ordered, and the team members immediately reined in their horses and stopped.
Chen Zhennan dismounted and looked around. He was about to enter the icy and snowy world, so he needed to make some preparations first.
Turning around, Chen Zhennan said to Yan Shiyu, "Shiyu, let everyone rest for a day and hurry up and buy cotton-padded clothes and shoes. Further ahead, it will be a real snowy and icy place."
"Yes, Commander!"
Yan Shiyu relayed the order and then led his team toward the nearby county town.
Chen Zhennan walked to the side alone and quietly gazed at the distant mountains and rivers.
In his memory, the winters in Kurokawa were unparalleled in their coldness.
Although winters are long in Northeast China, the ice and snow in Kurokawa seem particularly persistent, as if determined to freeze everything in this endless winter.
He recalled that in February, many places had already reached the frost-covered stage, the frozen mountains and rivers had begun to thaw, and spring was gradually in full bloom.
However, Kurokawa remains covered in ice and snow, and it may take another month for the ice and snow to begin to melt.
After a day of rest, Chen Zhennan and his special forces team prepared to continue their journey.
The morning sun shone through the thick clouds onto the earth, and a chill filled the air.
Chen Zhennan looked around at his special forces brothers, and their attire made him smile slightly.
Everyone was dressed in thick cotton-padded clothes, wrapped up like a rice dumpling, making them move a little clumsy, but revealing a kind of inexplicable cuteness.
However, some soldiers in the ranks were skeptical and scoffed at the cold of the Northeast.
"How cold can the Northeast get? I've heard from guys who've been there that the snow and ice here can freeze you to death. Is that true, sir?"
"Yeah, it's just a bluff. It snowed in Qingzhou before, but it was nothing special."
Their voices carried a hint of disdain, as if they were completely unconcerned about the impending cold.
Chen Zhennan just smiled and didn't say anything more. There was still a county town ahead. Once these stubborn brothers regretted it, they would naturally go and buy cotton-padded clothes.
He smiled slightly, deciding to let the facts teach them a lesson.
As the group continued forward, the cold wind grew increasingly biting, as if merciless blades were slicing across everyone's faces.
If you ride a horse at a slightly faster speed, you will feel a stinging pain in your cheeks, as if you are being hit by icy water droplets.
The team members all hunched their necks, gripped the reins tightly, and tried their best to resist the cold.
After noon, Chen Zhennan finally saw the true appearance of the ice and snow world.
The earth began to be covered in silver, and the snowflakes had hardened, turning into ice crystals that shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.
A gentle breeze swept by, bringing with it a chill that was icy and biting.
When they arrived at the banks of a frozen river, Chen Zhennan was deeply moved.
This river, hundreds of meters wide, was completely frozen, as hard as iron. Several horse-drawn carriages slowly drove across the ice, their wheels making a crisp sound as they glided across the surface.
Chen Zhennan looked back at the team members who hadn't been provided with cotton-padded clothes. They were all shivering from the cold, their teeth chattering, and their faces were red from the cold. They were completely different from their disdainful attitude yesterday.
"The cold in Northeast China really does cure stubbornness; your mouth must be frozen solid now."
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