Chapter 1447 - 349: Charge! (Part 3)

Chapter 1447: Chapter 349: Charge! (Part 3)

I used to not believe in national destiny, but now, I somewhat believe. Otherwise, why do the Yan people keep gambling and yet keep winning?

Regarding the Qian people, there shouldn’t be much threat. With no one tall to begin with, the tallest among the short ones is gone now, haha."

"Walking by the river often, there is bound to be wet shoes. After this campaign against the Chu, we probably won’t gamble anymore."

Because the one who is qualified and capable of pressing the entire country onto the gambling table,

is barely holding on.

"Lord, look, a troop has arrived," Gou Moli pointed outside the city and said.

"Report, Lord, the Fifth Prince requests to see you."

A patrol rider came in to report.

Old Fifth, he really is quite courteous. A dignified prince, yet he adds a request to see me.

However, this is also where Old Fifth is smart. The identity of a prince is indeed extremely prestigious and honorable, but it also depends on the place.

"Invite His Highness the Fifth Prince up."

"Yes!"

After a short while,

the Fifth Prince, dressed in a set of worn-out robes, hurriedly climbed up the city wall.

His appearance is not a disguise, nor did he purposely dress down to meet me.

Because Lord Zheng found that the entire body of the Fifth Prince had been tanned to an extreme, with the skin exposed outside bearing patches and spots—aftermath of sunburn.

This implies that over these days by the Wang River, this Fifth Prince wasn’t sitting inside the Elegant Building in Ying Capital City enjoying the local officials’ flattery, but actually working.

A prince who can settle down to do work,

Lord Zheng pondered whether to emphasize to Chengjue in the next letter, letting him pay attention to this.

Of course, Lord Zheng also knew that Ji Chengjue should know his Fifth Brother well, not to truly regard him as just a carpenter.

"Greetings to His Highness the Fifth Prince."

Lord Zheng nodded slightly.

He is the main general leading the troops here for the next phase of combat, theoretically still armored, so there’s no need for grand conduct. Naturally, even without these preconditions, Lord Zheng would not manage to kneel before this prince, and the prince wouldn’t dare receive it.

"Lord Pingye, you’ve been working hard. Although I’m at Wang River, I’ve continually heard about Lord Pingye’s illustrious achievements on the front lines. Alas, Lord Pingye truly is the pillar of Yan."

Lord Zheng immediately raised his hand to halt the Fifth Prince’s words.

Pillar of heaven is fitting for Prince Jingnan;

but Zheng Fan cannot bear it.

Such heavy compliments imply they have a request for you.

Under Lord Zheng’s gaze,

Gou Moli and several bodyguards retreated.

The Fifth Prince then moved a bit closer to Zheng Fan and said;

"Lord Pingye has come this time leading troops, and our newly built Yan navy is currently anchored at the upstream outpost thirty miles from Jade Plate City.

Cheng Min dares to ask if the dam is about to be breached?"

The Fifth Prince beforehand was unaware of the battle plan; almost certainly, no one would inform him of this plan even as the river work was underway.

For this campaign against Chu, Tian Wujing had begun preparations years ago, and would naturally entrust this project to reliable people.

Yet the Fifth Prince was personally involved, and he already had some knowledge in this area, willing to delve deeper in study.

For the ordinary military and civilians involved in the river work, they couldn’t discern the deeper intention because outwardly it did appear to be about repairing and reinforcing the river path.

But the Fifth Prince is adept at learning and reasoning, seeing through the irregularity himself.

Lord Zheng smiled, said:

"I ask Your Highness’ forgiveness, I, Lord, am not convenient to say."

"I know, I know, but... Lord Pingye, I came to ask a favor."

"Please speak, Your Highness."

"After the breach in a few days, the river will inevitably change course, and historically, when rivers change course, they invariably devastate the coastal populace. Affecting harvests causing displacement is minor, critically many may be swept away by the current unguarded.

Although the downstream are the people of Jin land, since Jin land is now under our Yan, they are essentially our Yan people, also my father’s subjects.

Therefore, I simply wish to request Lord Pingye to evacuate the downstream coastal populace, granting them a chance of survival."

Upon hearing this,

Lord Zheng wasn’t particularly moved emotionally,

just felt a bit of surprise looking at the Fifth Prince,

then immediately,

Lord Zheng shook his head,

said:

"Impossible."

"Cheng Min knows this is a difficult ask; military affairs are perilous, Cheng Min isn’t versed in this. Yet, I only hoped to try exerting some strength."

"Does His Highness know that the frontline army has been busying so long, sacrificing so much, just for these few days’ action by me at Wang River?"

It’s no exaggeration that the previous sieges and operations by the Yan Army were to create a fog of war.

"I understand..."

"Your Highness’ intentions are good; I admire that. But evacuating civilians will inevitably alert Chu spies, possibly even letting them directly uncover our military plan.

This battle relies on surprise, relies on rapid force; I am unwilling, and cannot take that risk.

Because my personal safety is negligible, for I have long prepared for total sacrifice for our Yan!

But,

should it impact the grand campaign against Chu, affect this national battle, such a cost surpasses the mere suffering of the downstream populace."

Optimally, after breaching the dam, when the water level permits naval progression, the troops should immediately set out.

The later the Chu people learn of this, the more security I hold.

This is not cavalry sweeping across, exploiting mobility against horse-lacking Chu for a hide-and-seek game. This time, my troops will enter by boat, and should the Chu be pre-informed and ready, then I, Lord Zheng would be the turtle trapped in the pot.

"Alas."

The Fifth Prince nodded, ceased his persistence,

sighing:

"I just hope the populace suffers a bit less."

Lord Zheng reached out, embraced the Fifth Prince’s shoulder,

smiling:

"Your Highness, strictly speaking, this speech shouldn’t come from me."

"Hmm?"

"It is more fitting from you; owning the Ji surname, you should also understand the magnitude of sacrifice made by our Yan for this battle, this war, we cannot lose. Should any mishaps occur, Yan’s very foundations might also..."

"I know, I know."

Lord Zheng nodded, patted the Fifth Prince’s shoulder.

Possibly, these days let this Fifth Prince experience the hardships among the people, naturally growing a touch of compassion, thankfully without becoming stubborn.

At this moment,

recollecting before departure,

what Prince Jingnan said to him,

back then, he actually asked a similar question as the Fifth Prince, albeit not as straightforwardly.

But,

Prince Jingnan’s response was blunt beyond measure, utterly unvarnished.

He said:

For us,

if we lose Yan, what use is the living world?

————

Ah, managed through so many days, an awkward point in schedule reversal, soon after sleeping I won’t set an alarm, wake naturally and then resume writing. So no update tonight, don’t wait.

Consider it half-day off, adjust, everyone hug tight!