Chapter 41: The Wrath of the Dragon is Unfathomable

Sun Ye was not a man of many words. Although he could see through everything like a blazing fire while standing in the imperial court, he still maintained the fundamental mindset of a military general.

Upon seeing the Prince of Zhenbei step forward, Sun Ye's expression could not help but turn dark.

In a place like the imperial court, one was expected to keep emotions hidden behind a calm exterior, remaining unfazed even if Mount Tai were to collapse right before one's eyes.

Yet, Sun Ye's reaction gave the Prince of Zhenbei an opening to exploit.

"Well, well, Sun Ye! This time you take the initiative to request command, I'm afraid it's not just because the Xirong are invading our borders, is it?"

"The strength of those Xirong is little different from my Northern Frontier Army, and comparable to the combat power of the Prince of Zhenxi's Estate. Right now there are few of them, but once their numbers swell, they will sweep across the realm, displaying an unstoppable and peerless might."

"As the saying goes: 'The Xirong number not ten thousand; once ten thousand strong, none can stand against them!'"

Sun Ye narrowed his eyes, wanting to hear what else the Prince of Zhenbei could say.

Sure enough, the heavy news followed immediately.

"Yet this time, the Xirong have mobilized a full fifty thousand troops, consisting entirely of cavalry with superior equipment."

"That is why they were able to completely crush Baiyue in a short span of time, blockade all news, and thrust straight into the heartland of our Central Plains."

"If their wild ambitions are allowed to succeed, our Great Qian will face endless trouble!"

Emperor Baoqing sat upon the dragon throne, gazing sharply at the two men.

Having occupied the throne for many years, Emperor Baoqing needed only a single glance to know what the civil and military officials standing below were thinking.

"My two beloved ministers."

Suddenly, Emperor Baoqing spoke.

Yet it was not in the tone of consultation, but rather...

"I require the two of you to divide your forces into two separate routes. It has been a very long time since Great Qian last went to war with the Xirong; fifty years have passed since the last campaign against them."

"I want you to form a pincer movement. The Xirong have already seized Jiameng City, and ahead of Jiameng City lies Jingchang Pass. This place is a vital hub connected in all directions; if we fail to form a complete encirclement before reaching Jingchang Pass, the Xirong will be given the chance to escape."

"I do not want them to escape once more. Do my beloved ministers understand my intent?"

This time, Emperor Baoqing, having accumulated his family fortune over several years, decided to make a desperate gamble.

Whether in troop allocation, weaponry, military provisions, or the number of civilian laborers, Emperor Baoqing decided to play for high stakes.

At all costs, he was determined to completely annihilate the fifty thousand Xirong troops. Only by doing so could he purchase a decade, or even several decades, of peace.

To raise and train a cavalry force of such massive scale required a tremendous expenditure of resources, especially in the cultivation of personnel, which demanded no less than five to ten years of effort.

Upon hearing this, Sun Ye glanced at the strategic map hanging in the grand hall and said, "Your Majesty! Your subject Sun Ye requests command of Songlin Slope beneath Jingchang Pass!"

Songlin Slope guarded a crucial fortress and chokepoint. Behind it, one might say, it neither leaned against mountain ranges nor bordered water sources, devoid even of lush vegetation.

There stood only a single fortress there.

It was extremely perilous!

The reason Sun Ye wished to go there was, firstly, because the overall combat power of the Northern Frontier Army was indeed inferior to the Western Expeditionary Army.

Secondly, because taking the most dangerous post upon himself gave Sun Ye greater peace of mind. Had he not chosen Songlin Slope, but instead gone to Xiong'an City west of Jingchang Pass, he feared the Northern Frontier Army might fail to hold the Songlin Slope fortress, forcing him to divide his forces to effect a rescue.

In truth, Sun Ye harbored one more hidden motive: to use the merits of this upcoming campaign to secure a pardon for his son, Sun Feng!

Emperor Baoqing sat upon the dragon throne, his narrow phoenix eyes narrowing.

After scanning Sun Ye up and down thoroughly, he finally nodded.

"Very well. Songlin Slope is rather perilous, but with you stationed there, Minister Sun, I feel more at ease."

"As for the Prince of Zhenbei, let him proceed to Xiong'an City to form a pincer formation with Songlin Slope. How does that sound?"

"The provisions for the army have already been dispatched ahead. Return to your respective camps and mobilize your troops."

With that, Emperor Baoqing waved his hand.

The grand eunuch immediately stepped forward bearing a long, narrow, dark box.

The moment the box was opened, anyone who laid eyes upon the sight could not help but gasp audibly.

For the object resting within was none other than the Tiger Tally!

Emperor Baoqing reached in and retrieved one half of the ink-dark bronze tally, gently stroked it in his palm, and gave it a twist.

The tally emitted a crisp snap as the bronze clasp was unlatched, and he picked up one half: "Prince of Zhenxi."

Sun Ye hurriedly dropped to his knees, raising both hands high above his head.

Yet after waiting for a long while, Sun Ye did not receive the tally.

When he raised his head in confusion to look at Emperor Baoqing, he saw the corners of the Emperor's lips curled into a slight smile: "Does the beloved minister not intend to explain to me how the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Zhenxi's Estate, Sun Feng, dared to block the transmission of military orders in the streets, preventing the military dispatches from entering the imperial capital?"

*Thump.*

Sun Ye's heart gave a violent leap.

It scared him into breaking out in a cold sweat on the spot.

Although the Prince of Zhenxi's Estate was arrogant and domineering, that was merely among the court officials.

Before the Emperor, no matter how overbearing the Prince of Zhenxi's Estate might be, they could only obediently submit to the ruler's boundless grace or wrath.

"Your subject, this old subject... failed to educate his son properly, I..."

Watching the rich variety of expressions on the old face of the Prince of Zhenxi—reminiscent of remorse, resentment, and bitter disappointment at iron failing to become steel—Emperor Baoqing felt a thrill of incomparable satisfaction deep within his heart!

This was precisely the feeling Emperor Baoqing desired: grinding the old face of the Prince of Zhenxi into the dirt over and over again. Such a sensation gave a supreme ruler the intoxicating feeling of keeping his subjects firmly within his grasp, holding absolute power over their lives and deaths.

"Enough, I am not blaming you. Today is, after all, the grand wedding of your son and Princess Anping; how could I not know?"

"Those soldiers bearing military orders collided with the wedding procession, ruining your festive mood, so getting angry was only natural."

"However..."

Upon hearing the first two sentences, Sun Ye had not thought much of it.

Yet hearing the latter part left him drenched in sweat once again.

"However, since the Prince of Zhenxi's Estate has such an ignorant Heir Apparent, I wonder if the beloved minister regrets his past plea asking me to replace the heir?"

Sun Ye's aged face flushed crimson with shame.

Indeed, had he not requested a change of heir back then, perhaps this vast Prince of Zhenxi's Estate would have continued to flourish.

The foundation he had painstakingly built with a lifetime of hard work would now gradually wither away as time passed.

Could Sun Feng truly manage such a massive estate?

Offering a bitter smile, Sun Ye shook his head and said, "This old subject... this old subject has already made a mistake; I cannot, I cannot continue to err any further!"

Yet Emperor Baoqing's next remark made Sun Ye's spine turn ice-cold.

"Sun Feng has his uses, and Lin Qian has his merits as well. Both are my subjects, and I will naturally make proper arrangements and employ them according to their talents!"

The underlying meaning was clear: let Sun Feng remain in his position as Heir Apparent for now; as for Lin Qian, he was the one the Emperor intended to heavily employ.

"Very well, now that you have received the Tiger Tally, beloved minister, make haste to the military camp and mobilize your troops."

In Great Qian's military apparatus, the Ministry of War strategized and planned, the Ministry of Revenue ensured supply and personnel provisions, and the Ministry of Works supplied weapons and armaments. Once the strategy was finalized and handed over to the commander, the commander's sole remaining function was simply to fight the war!