Chapter 1227 - 302: Forming the Momentum (3)

Chapter 1227: Chapter 302: Forming the Momentum (3)

And the Chu people are not wild people; the strongest point of the Chu is their infantry. If the Chu really surround us, their means of attacking the city are far superior to those the wild people used before.

In the worst-case scenario,

Lord Zheng could be forced to leave the pass for the snowy plains, leading the infernal king and the remaining troops, becoming a real "Lord of the Wild" on the snow.

War is like gambling; regardless of winning or losing, damn it, one must personally throw in their chips for a moment’s thrill, even if losing it doesn’t feel stifling, right?

Anyway, I’ve played, I’ve experienced, I can accept whatever result it ends up being.

But watching someone else roll the dice from afar and passively taking the consequences, what kind of thing is that?

But,

just before Lord Zheng spoke up,

and even before Ji Chengjue could say anything,

the Crown Prince,

already spoke first:

"Father, your son believes that if we are to engage in national warfare, our great Yan must prioritize its actions."

This is stating the obvious.

Great Yan’s finances are critical now; even if we deplete and squeeze the nation’s strength, we can barely manage one battlefield.

But what the Crown Prince said next surprised most in the Imperial Study.

"Therefore, your son believes that we should attack Chu first, while defending against Qian, for three reasons:

First, the Qian people are timid; if we attack Chu first, the Qian may watch from the sidelines; a hundred years ago, during our bloody battle with the barbarians, the Qian still chose to march north, showing their shortsightedness;

Second, from the capital to Yinlang County and further to the Qian’s three borders to Shu Prefecture is flat terrain. If the Qian dare to move north, we can rely on our cavalry advantage to hold the upper hand; and even if the situation becomes critical, King Zhennan can dispatch troops from Beifeng Prefecture to support in time.

Third, Lord Jingnan is familiar with the Chu territory."

Finally,

the Crown Prince hesitated momentarily,

then said:

"There is a fourth reason."

The Yan Emperor lightly tapped his fingers on the imperial desk, saying, "Speak."

"Your son has heard that the Jin armies are unstable, but the Jin land is vast, requiring Jin camps to fill it. If we attack Chu, we can expend Jin youths."

A major destabilizing factor in the Jin land is its armies; essentially, wherever they are stationed, there’s a Yan army nearby keeping watch.

These forces can be used as cannon fodder in an attack on Chu.

Attack on Chu would naturally involve dispatching troops from the Jin land. These Jin troops can move easily, whereas if we attack the Qian State, Yan forces would have to be withdrawn from the Jin land for the Qian battlefield, leaving fewer Yan troops to monitor the Jin forces.

These unstable factors are better off used as cannon fodder.

What was said is correct, but strangely enough, it was the Crown Prince who said it.

The Yan Emperor’s gaze intensified, saying:

"As a crown, one should cultivate virtue."

Wang Lian immediately kneeled and said: "I, as the Supervisor of the East Palace, have failed to properly instruct the Crown Prince. I am guilty and ask for Your Majesty’s punishment."

The Crown Prince’s suggestion is indeed right.

The error lies in the fact that he, as the heir, personally making such remarks, is inappropriate and lacks decorum.

Just as with the execution of captives beneath Jade Plate City,

The treaty proposed by the Chu people was not even glanced at by the Yan Emperor because he was aware of Tian Wujing’s tactics over there.

Eventually, merely stripped Tian Wujing of his noble title.

Keeping himself clean, with any bad reputation borne by Lord Jingnan.

This isn’t double standards nor hypocrisy, but rather as an emperor, he naturally needs to coalesce national unity, therefore he must remain pure.

He needs the people to see him as reliable, benevolent, like the parent of all.

The Crown Prince also bowed his head,

saying:

"Father, forgive your son for his audacity."

This was merely a small interlude because the Crown Prince’s proposal was excellent; the only flaw lay within the way it was expressed, but the flaw did not overshadow the merits.

Lord Zheng instinctively glanced at Ji Chengjue,

It was quite apparent,

Ji Chengjue was rebuffed by the Crown Prince.

Since Ji Chengjue had already decided to heed Zheng Fan’s advice and serve his father, making him happy, naturally, he would support attacking Chu first; otherwise, openly and covertly being aligned with Lord Pingye, the chief executor of the Sixth Prince’s Party would be useless?

Yet the Crown Prince said what he intended to say first,

Most frustratingly,

The Crown Prince abandoned his previous "benevolence and compassion" persona, seizing his character!

For a moment,

Even Ji Chengjue was perplexed by his Second Prince’s strategy,

Sometimes playing decadent, other times aggressive,

Could it be that the position of regent reignited his fighting spirit?

"Chengjue, what is your view?"

Being named, Ji Chengjue could only speak, and he couldn’t repeat what the Crown Prince previously said; reiterating others’ viewpoints is a major taboo in politics;

"Father, your son believes we should attack Chu; in large battles, the battlefield should be as far from our Great Yan’s territory as possible."

The Jin land, especially the eastern half of the former Cheng State, has already been decimated by the wild and Chu people; it’s a broken area, so let’s continue fighting there.

Defending against enemies at the gates also has another argument: the battlefield should be as far from our traditional territory as possible; the Three Jin land is newly annexed territory, whereas Great Yan’s original land is the result of eight hundred years of ancestors’ endeavor, is where Ji Family and the Yan people’s roots lie.

Ji Chengjue continued:

"In our last campaign against Qian, although we reached the gates of the imperial capital, the rear territory was not occupied, and the three borders of Qian are fortified; if just defended, our Great Yan forces would be immobilized in a quagmire.

However, if we seize Town South Pass, the strategic control over the Chu situation would become ours, and whether to further expand the war would be in Great Yan’s hands.

Your son believes that if we attack Chu, we must first capture Town South Pass, and whether we intend to assault Qian, we must first seize Town South Pass to block Chu from advancing north!"

The Yan Emperor then turned his gaze to Zheng Fan;

"Attacking whichever first has its pros and cons, with no perfect plan. Lord Pingye, speak up, say something they haven’t touched upon I need to hear."

"Your Majesty, I request that we first attack Chu!"

The Yan Emperor smiled slightly,

calmly said:

"Continue."

Zheng Fan took a deep breath,

and asserted:

"Because I am there!"