Chapter 1224 - 301: Seeking Battle (3)

Chapter 1224: Chapter 301: Seeking Battle (3)

Once my line at Nanwang City contracts, if the Qian Army suddenly advances north, wouldn’t my Yan lose the opportunity to prepare?

Upon hearing this,

Lord Zheng immediately faced the Yan Emperor,

bowed deeply,

and said:

"Your Majesty, if the Qian dare to gather a large army for a northern expedition, then please grant me thirty thousand iron cavalry."

Grant me thirty thousand iron cavalry.

A hundred years ago, the fifty thousand northern expedition forces of Qian were decisively defeated by the initial Earl of North Border with thirty thousand troops.

And this is also the common aspiration within the Yan military ranks.

Wang Lian sneered and said, "Arrogance."

Lord Zheng retorted, "I have yet to lose a battle."

"..." Wang Lian.

The Crown Prince at this moment stood up and said, "Eldest Brother’s memorandum mentions the tremendous pressure."

Lord Zheng immediately responded, "So, step back, and the pressure won’t be so overwhelming."

"Why step back?" the Crown Prince asked, "I am aware of the court’s financial difficulties, but clearly, we can avoid retreating, or rather, it has not reached the point where retreat is necessary. According to Wang’s decree, deploying the imperial guard southward to open the city can serve as a warning to the Qian people, obviously, it is not yet necessary to retreat.

Ancestral efforts have maintained this state for eight hundred years; how can we just hastily retreat?"

"May I ask the Crown Prince, does Jin land count as a region managed by our ancestors? Isn’t it currently part of the Yan’s territorial domain?"

"Of course, it counts."

"Here it is, gains and losses, because of the annexation of Jin land, our Yan’s Zhennan Army and sections of the North Border Army have to garrison in Jin land. If the Zhennan Army were still stationed in Yinlang County like the past, would the Qian people dare provoke?

Now, it’s merely a small step backward in Yinlang County to preserve Jin land."

"How can it be calculated this way?"

"Why can’t it be calculated this way?"

"How will posterity view this?"

"Posterity will only see the territory left by their predecessors, whether it is larger or smaller; a retreat in Yinlang County compared to the entirety of Three Jin land, which weighs lighter? Which is greater or smaller?"

The Crown Prince looked at Zheng Fan and spoke, "How is Jin land at risk? Lord Pingye, I am not an inflexible person; I simply contemplate that every inch of Yan territory has been soaked with the blood and sweat of Yan soldiers. Until absolutely necessary, I am unwilling to abandon any inch of land. Otherwise, how could I face those who have shed their blood and made sacrifices to expand our territory?

I can agree, but can they agree?"

"Your Highness."

Lord Zheng bowed toward the Crown Prince. ℯ

"Lord Pingye, what is this?"

"I agree."

"..." The Crown Prince.

Wang Lian and Cao Que exchanged a glance, both revealing a touch of helplessness in their eyes.

This response,

is utterly shameless,

but nonetheless,

the young lord before them, not yet thirty years old, has earned the right to be shameless.

Because of his outstanding military achievements and his expansions of Yan territory, having shed blood and sweat.

Thus,

he can respond this way.

The Crown Prince, for a moment, did not know how to respond. Being familiar with the court affairs for a long time, he had witnessed ministers’ heated arguments, but never had he dealt with someone like Lord Pingye.

Ji Chengjue spoke at this moment: "Lord Pingye, the Crown Prince speaks true; how can the heroic spirits who died in battle agree?"

Lord Zheng immediately replied:

"They agree as well."

"On what basis do you say this?" Ji Chengjue asked.

"If you don’t believe, Your Highness can dispatch someone to inquire below."

Ji Chengjue angrily smacked the armrest of the chair, stating:

"Impertinence! This is before the Emperor, how dare you behave so!"

The Crown Prince coldly glanced at Ji Chengjue and Zheng Fan, silently sitting back down.

The Yan Emperor said nothing.

Wang Lian then said;

"Lord Pingye, I am eager to hear your insights; why is Jin land at risk?"

Alas,

Zheng Fan felt a bit weary,

finally shifting the topic.

At once,

Lord Zheng knelt down,

and said;

"I have learned in Chu land that Chu harbors ambitions for a northern expedition!"

For a moment,

every person in the Imperial Study,

was somewhat taken aback by this statement.

Not that the remark itself was particularly startling,

but because it was simply pointless!

Which country doesn’t wish to expand and unify the realm?

More so for Chu, if they didn’t aim north, would they now wage war against Qian?

Chu has ambitions for a northern expedition,

this statement is akin to saying the Chu need to eat and drink; what is so surprising? Why bring it up in the Imperial Study?

Lord Zheng deliberately waited for a while,

until the attendants viewed him as a fool,

and then continued:

"I have learned that the Chu and Qian have already allied, agreeing to jointly initiate a northern expedition in three years, aiming to invade my Yan’s state!"

The alliance between Chu and Qian is no secret.

But three years later,

this crucial timing revealed does make it rather extraordinary.

Minister Hsu Qiutai immediately asked:

"Lord Pingye, this matter is not trivial. Can you confirm it?"

"This lord confirms it without error!"

"How can you be sure?" Hsu Qiutai asked further.

"Master, have you ever been to the Chu State?"

It’s here,

here it is,

here it comes again.

Wang Lian and Cao Que immediately exchanged glances.

Hsu Qiutai simply chuckled,

stroking his beard as he spoke:

"Indeed, I have been to the Chu State. In my youth, I traveled the world and visited Ing Capital City."

The remaining officials present all displayed amused smiles. Look at that, someone has actually been there. Now, how will you respond?

Lord Zheng immediately asked:

"May I ask, Master, have you ever seen the Chu Emperor?"

"......" Hsu Qiutai.

Why would I go see the Chu Emperor!

Moreover, I clearly mentioned that it was during my youth. I hadn’t even entered the court as an official back then, so why would I go see the Chu Emperor? After I entered office, how could I visit the Chu Emperor?

Ji Chengjue quickly interrupted:

"Lord Pingye, don’t dodge the issue. Speak first, where did you hear the news that in three years the Qian and Chu alliance would jointly invade our Yan? From whose mouth did you hear this?"

Lord Zheng immediately answered loudly:

"It was the Regent of Chu who personally told me. At that time, I was sitting in a carriage with the Chu Regent."

"......" Hsu Qiutai.

"......" All the officials present.

When you reach this position, everyone’s clever. They all noticed something different today, and they all felt Lord Pingye seemed to be speaking nonsense;

Yet,

No one dared to call Lord Zheng a liar, none dared to say he was speaking nonsense;

Because he brought back the Chu princess.

Furthermore,

A song "The Fury of Crown Breaking Through the Courtyard" has circulated.

Ji Chengjue broke the silence again,pointing at Zheng Fan asked:

"I don’t believe it. Is there anyone to testify?"

Everyone turned to Ji Chengjue with desensitized eyes.

This,

your support is just too obvious.

Earlier, you were synchronizing much better than the storytellers and apprentices in teahouses.

Lord Zheng immediately replied:

"The princess can testify!"

All the officials let out a sigh.

Ji Chengjue continued to ask;

"Then you say the alliance between Qian people and Chu people, how does it stand? Could it be that it was also personally told by that official of the Qian State?"

Lord Zheng immediately answered:

"I have been to Qian State’s imperial capital, and spoke face-to-face with that official. At that time, the official of Qian State told me directly, that for the losses and insults their Qian had endured, three years later, they would surely unite with Chu State to demand recompense from our Yan!"

All the officials present: "......"

Ji Chengjue suddenly trembled,

pointed at Zheng Fan,

and said:

"You, you, you’ve met them all?"

"Yes, I have met them all."

Lord Zheng revealed a confident gaze of having achieved the grand accomplishment of meeting all emperors of the Four Eastern Kingdoms!

He had also met Emperor Jin, except for this time, the preparation to gift the dildo to the Empress Dowager hit a snag, it couldn’t be found.

Ji Chengjue shakily turned around,

faced the Yan Emperor,

collapsed,

to the ground,

prostrated,

wept and said:

"Father, I oversee the Ministry of Revenue, I dare say, no one knows the financial strain our Yan is under better than I;

Yet, according to Lord Pingye,

in three years,

Qian and Chu will surely deploy a million troops against our Yan, it truly is the crisis of life and death for our Yan.

I dare,

to ask Father to consider the eight hundred years of the state’s heritage,

and dispatch troops in advance to conquer Qian and Chu!"

Once he finished speaking,

"Thud!"

Ji Chengjue’s forehead struck heavily on the blue stone brick of the Imperial Study.

Ji Chengjue abandoned the street’s lively atmosphere on his way to court, accepting Zheng Fan’s guidance.

Zheng Fan forcefully struck his left chest with his fist,

and loudly declared:

"I am willing to lead the charge for His Majesty, break through Town South Pass, and drink from Ing Capital City!"

————

Thanks to ws Blue Fox for becoming the 132nd alliance leader of Mokrin.

I had to go out during the day today and returned only in the evening. Only one update today, but starting tomorrow, we’ll resume two updates.