The candlelight flickered red, and the dishes on the Eight Immortals table had been reheated twice.
Li Huilan poured the third round of osmanthus wine for everyone. The aroma of the wine mixed with the steaming hot air filled the hall.
"Try this, Senior Sister."
Xia He picked up a piece of crystal pork elbow and put it in Sister Zhu's bowl.
"This is what Huilan bought from Zui Xiang Lou. I'm sure Senior Sister will love it."
Zhu Yi put down her chopsticks and swept her crimson sleeves across the edge of the bowl:
"Brother, don't interrupt me. Where were we just now?"
She swept her sharp eyes over the people present.
"Yes, Your Majesty has suddenly decided to march north. Don't you think it's strange?"
Shan Ling took a sip of wine and took over the conversation:
"Your Majesty has been obsessed with alchemy for more than ten years, and even let the Crown Prince take charge of the morning court. Although this assassination attempt was an excuse..."
She suddenly lowered her voice.
"But do you know? Three of the assassins were killed on the spot by the Imperial Guards, and their bodies disappeared during transportation."
With a "pop", the chicken leg in Xiaowen's hand fell on the table.
Li Huiying quickly covered the child's ears:
"These things..."
Shan Xiong, who was standing by, understood and quickly stood up and took Xiao Wen away.
"Xiao Wen, let's go out and play."
Xia He smiled and rubbed Xiao Wen's head.
"Next year I should enter the Military Academy."
Seeing Shan Xiong taking Xiao Wen away, he turned to Zhu Yi.
"Senior sister, are you saying... those God-worshippers are really impossible to kill?"
Zhu Yi dipped her fingertips into the wine and drew a strange symbol on the table - three eyes arranged in a triangle:
"This is the mark found on the assassin's body. According to the survivors, they call this the 'Three-phase God'. As long as you have a sincere faith, you can gain 'immortality'."
Shan Ling suddenly sneered:
"What immortal body? It's just a mixture of northern border witchcraft and western region evil cult."
"When Master was in the Jingnan Army, he saw zombies controlled by this kind of evil magic. Even if their heads were chopped off, they could still jump around for half an hour."
"The most important thing is that it can prolong life."
Xia He frowned.
What is the purpose of seeking immortality? Isn't it for immortality?
He recalled the strange scene on the battlefield where those non-human barbarian warriors could still charge forward even after being shot by more than ten arrows.
His fingers unconsciously stroked the wine glass, and he suddenly asked:
"How is His Royal Highness now?"
The hall suddenly fell silent. Zhu Yi and Shan Ling exchanged glances.
“That’s where the quirk comes in.”
Zhu Yi lowered her voice to a very low level.
"On the day the crown prince was assassinated, he was only injured in his left shoulder. But three days later, the Eastern Palace was suddenly placed under martial law, and the director of the Imperial Hospital was summoned in overnight, and has not left since."
Xia He also found it very strange.
If it was just a cut on the left shoulder, even if it was an injury, it shouldn't be so serious, right?
If something happens to the prince...
"What about the Northern Expedition?"
He changed the subject.
"How many troops are the court going to mobilize this time? How many troops can the four major camps mobilize now?"
Shan Ling took out a roll of silk from his sleeve and spread it out. It turned out to be a detailed map of the northern border.
She pointed her finger at a mountain range:
"The Northern Barbarians annexed the Chi-Le tribe last year, and now they have no less than 200,000 soldiers. If we mobilize the whole country..."
The nails scratched the drawing heavily.
"Three hundred thousand cavalrymen can march south at any time."
Xia He took a breath.
The four major camps of the Qin Dynasty and the vassal states combined have a total of only 250,000 troops, and they have to guard the various passes...
If we break it down further, the number of troops capable of fighting, like the four major camps, does not exceed 100,000.
As for the others, I’m afraid many of them are just young soldiers.
Although Liangzhou and Youzhou won a great victory, it dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the northern barbarians.
But they still had no injuries.
"And this country of Rou."
Zhu Yi's fingertips touched the shore of the East China Sea.
"It was said that the remnants of the previous dynasty restored the country and lay dormant for half a year before it was fully announced to the world. However, less than half a year after the establishment of the country, they established a navy."
She sneered.
"The salt tax from Dengzhou and Laizhou accounts for 30% of the national treasury. If they cut off our sea route..."
Dengzhou Prefecture is an important coastal defense location with a developed fishery industry.
Laizhou Prefecture has a flat terrain and fertile soil. It is an important grain-producing area and has many salt fields.
If a war really breaks out, the economy of the Qin Dynasty will be greatly affected.
In other words, if the Northern Barbarians fail to attack by force, they will drag the Qin Empire to death!
Therefore, if we really march north this time, it is hard to say whether we should attack the northern barbarians first or the Rou Kingdom first!
Li Huilan suddenly coughed lightly and poured more wine for everyone.
Xia He understood and patted the drawing:
"Senior sister, what you mean is that the Northern Barbarians are playing 'Two Dragons Fighting for the Pearl' this time?"
"That's right."
“That’s why we need to expand the camp!”
"The four battalions have been experiencing military budget cuts over the years, from a full complement of 100,000 men fifteen years ago to less than 50,000 today."
Xia He sighed,
"The old emperor is really scared."
Shan Ling continued,
"The 5,000 reserve troops you brought back from Youzhou will all be incorporated into the new camp, and another 6,000 will be drawn from the guard posts in various places."
"No more recruits?"
Xia He thought about it and felt that it made sense.
The war is about to begin, where is the time to train the troops?
However, those garrison soldiers may not obey him, and they cannot be used just like that.
He stroked his chin.
"The Rou Kingdom Navy... So, are we going to have a naval battle?"
Xia He has no experience in water battles!
However, the Qin navy was not weak.
Even in normal times, pirates were used to train troops.
Encircling but not suppressing it allows it to thrive but prevents it from growing stronger, and it is maintained at a controllable level from beginning to end.
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