Novel Full Chapter 337: Tomorrow, Which of You Two Is Willing to Lead the Vanguard?
The three Northern Frontier provinces.
Had always been the fiefdom of the Northern Pacification Prince’s Xiao Manor.
Back then, the Xiao Manor’s ancestor and the founding Qin Kingdom’s ruler were sworn brothers. After conquering the realm together, the Xiao Manor’s ancestor voluntarily guarded the frontier and trained a force called the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry.
Through the efforts of two generations and with the support of the Qin Kingdom court, the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry now numbered three hundred thousand.
These three hundred thousand cavalry were the most solid defensive line on Qin Kingdom’s northern border.
However, although the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry had safeguarded peace on Qin Kingdom’s northern border for hundreds of years, one had to ask: which ruler could sleep soundly with a vassal commanding three hundred thousand cavalry?
Not to mention that the Northern Pacification Prince controlled personnel appointments, taxation, and finances for the three Northern Frontier provinces.
At that time, there were many rumors saying the three Northern Frontier provinces bore the surname Xiao rather than Qin.
If the three Northern Frontier provinces wanted to establish their own nation, it seemed to be merely a thought in the Northern Pacification Prince’s mind at the time.
Thus, by the third generation of the Xiao Manor, the Emperor of Qin Kingdom at that time found an excuse to have the Northern Pacification Prince, who had originally resided in the three Northern Frontier provinces, move his entire family to the Qin Kingdom’s imperial capital.
Then the three provincial governors of the Northern Frontier were all appointed by the court.
This move was seen as extremely dangerous by the court officials at the time.
Many believed the Northern Pacification Prince would surely rebel!
Several Qin Kingdom armies were already keeping close watch on the three Northern Frontier provinces but no one expected that the Northern Pacification Prince at the time did not resist and actually moved his entire family to the Qin Kingdom’s imperial capital.
At that time, many common people didn’t understand why the Northern Pacification Prince did this but after Xiao Mo learned about that period of history, he felt that the Northern Pacification Prince of that time, his own grandfather, could only have done that.
First, the three Northern Frontier provinces were desolate and remote, requiring financial support from the Qin Kingdom court.
Otherwise, maintaining three hundred thousand cavalry was no joke in terms of expenses, not to mention that all three hundred thousand cavalry were martial cultivators!
Second, even if the three Northern Frontier provinces became independent, they would be sandwiched between Qin Kingdom and Zhei Kingdom, making them a thorn in everyone’s side.
Unless the three Northern Frontier provinces submitted to Zhei Kingdom but the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry had fought Zhei Kingdom for many years and already had blood feuds with them. Moreover, successive Northern Pacification Princes had been men of steel and backbone. How could they possibly submit to an enemy nation?
Finally, if the Northern Frontier rebelled and Qin Kingdom fell into civil war, the ultimate beneficiaries would be other nations.
In Xiao Mo’s view, his grandfather back then wasn’t being “cowardly” but rather chose what was right for Qin Kingdom as a whole.
Of course, the previous Emperor of Qin Kingdom didn’t dare go too far either.
After the Northern Pacification Prince’s family moved to the Qin Kingdom’s imperial capital, the Northern Pacification Prince’s residence was second only to the imperial palace in specifications.
And the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry still remained loyal to the Northern Pacification Prince or rather, the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry only recognized the bloodline of the Xiao family.
Not to mention that with three generations of famous generals in the Xiao Manor, Qin Kingdom still needed the Northern Pacification Prince to lead the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry to resist Zhei Kingdom and intimidate other nations.
This was something the Qin Kingdom’s ruler had no way around.
One could only say that having the Northern Pacification Prince’s family members all in the imperial capital could make the Qin Kingdom’s ruler feel somewhat more at ease.
Now, in Xiao Mo’s generation, this was already the fifth generation of the Xiao Manor.
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler never expected the Xiao Manor would produce such an “anomaly” as Xiao Mo but in the Qin Kingdom’s ruler’s view, this was a good thing.
Although Xiao Mo was a son born of a concubine, he was talented in both civil and military affairs, with abilities no less than the two legitimate sons.
So as long as Xiao Mo showed promise, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler would strongly promote him and give him opportunities.
By granting Xiao Mo a princely title and having his mother granted the title of Imperial Lady, Xiao Mo’s status became equal to that of a legitimate son, naturally giving him the qualification to inherit the Northern Pacification Prince title.
And hereditary succession required an edict from the Qin Kingdom’s ruler.
If in the end, Xiao Mo truly established prestige in the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry and surpassed his two older brothers, when the Qin Kingdom’s ruler wanted Xiao Mo to inherit the Northern Pacification Prince title and completely take over the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry, Xiao Shi would have no reason to refuse.
After all, didn’t Xiao Mo also carry the blood of the Xiao Manor?
At that time, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler would have shown Xiao Mo the grace of recognition and promotion, and would marry his most beloved daughter to Xiao Mo. The two sides would be one family, which would be absolutely good for Qin Kingdom.
Xiao Mo knew about the Qin Kingdom’s ruler’s thoughts, and others surely knew as well. However, Xiao Mo didn’t care. Xiao Mo had his own plans.
A month later, traveling day and night, Xiao Mo arrived within the territory of the three Northern Frontier provinces and headed directly to the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry’s military camp.
The first thing upon arriving at the military camp was naturally to meet his “cheap father.”
As for this father of his, Xiao Mo had only seen him once at birth, and even then his vision had been blurry.
Other than that, Xiao Mo had never seen him once.
“This official Xiao Mo pays respects to the Northern Pacification Prince.”
Arriving at the military camp, Xiao Mo cupped his fists in salute to Xiao Shi.
Although Xiao Mo was also a prince, in Qin Kingdom’s title system, there was no such thing as a “prince of equal standing,” and there were quite a few distinctions in princely specifications.
The Northern Pacification Prince stood above other princes.
Not to mention that Xiao Mo had now been appointed as Left General of the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry, making him Xiao Shi’s deputy general.
Xiao Shi and the military officers all scrutinized Xiao Mo.
Meanwhile, Xiao Mo remained composed and calm, standing straight with an extremely peaceful expression.
In contrast, the Xiao Manor’s Second Young Master Xiao Yishe, standing to the side, clenched his fists tightly, his expression full of anger.
After all, the incident where Xiao Mo had thrown him to the ground with one spear thrust in front of five thousand Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry soldiers and stepped on his chest remained fresh in his memory.
“I’ve long heard of the Frost Prince’s great reputation.”
Xiao Shi looked at his son with a smile.
“His Majesty has appointed the Frost Prince to the position of Left General to jointly campaign against Zhei Kingdom, showing His Majesty’s expectations and regard for the Frost Prince. However, my Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry is not an ordinary army.
And the officers the Frost Prince sees here, aside from Xiao Yishe, all have illustrious military achievements. Most have already been granted princely titles.
Therefore, in the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry, we only recognize military ranks, not noble titles.
Does the Frost Prince understand?”
“Naturally I understand,” Xiao Mo said, looking directly into Xiao Shi’s eyes.
“Good!” Xiao Shi nodded. “Tomorrow we will begin our battle with Zhei Kingdom. Left General, please join in the planning.”
“Yes.”
Xiao Mo responded and walked to the sand table in the command tent.
Over the next hour, Xiao Shi and the other officers discussed various battle plans.
Xiao Mo said nothing, only listening.
Finally, Xiao Shi slapped the table. “In that case, tomorrow we’ll focus our main attack on Bichui City. That fellow Xiahou Nan has a fierce temperament and will surely come out to meet us in battle. Which general is willing to lead the vanguard?”
“I’ll do it!” a one-eyed officer shouted loudly. “I’ll definitely twist off that bastard Xiahou Nan’s balls!”
“Forget it, General Huang. Let me do it,” the officer named Fang Weiming said with a laugh. “Within ten exchanges, I’ll definitely take his head!”
“Nonsense! Tomorrow it has to be me. These past days my hands have been growing fur from inactivity,” another said.
“Damn it, let me do it! If I lose, I’ll commit suicide on the battlefield!”
In the command tent, officer after officer fought to lead the vanguard. They even got so heated they nearly came to blows.
This familiar feeling had returned. Xiao Mo was already preparing to break up a fight but at that moment, Xiao Shi looked at Xiao Mo and Xiao Yishe.
“Tomorrow, which of you two is willing to lead the vanguard?”