Everyone, including Emperor Mingxi, was so frightened that no one dared even breathe too loudly. For a moment, the great hall was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
In the end, Emperor Mingxi gave a light cough and took responsibility for the matter. “My dear minister Huo is right. Xiqiang not only sent troops to support us when Dayan was at war with Beili, but also took advantage of the opportunity to harass our border regions repeatedly. If we do not attack them, the people will not be satisfied.
“But after such a long series of battles, shouldn’t we give our soldiers some time to rest and recover?”
Emperor Mingxi had set the tone for sending troops against Xiqiang. It would be easier to discuss the next steps with a justifiable cause for war. However, although Dayan’s military was at the height of its strength, gathering and transporting money and provisions would still take time. And then there was that godforsaken road in Xiqiang…
“My esteemed ministers, who do you think is capable of taking command of this great campaign?”
Emperor Mingxi and his ministers discussed which general should lead the army, how preparations for provisions were progressing, and the best time to launch the attack.
Meanwhile, Yue Fuguang had already begun complaining to the system.
“System, when it comes to shamelessness, no one beats politicians.”
She picked out a large, sweet cherry and popped it into her mouth.
“Anyone who didn’t know better would think Xiqiang had simply given Dayan its first border city.”
【After fighting major wars against several nations, the Dayan army’s morale is soaring. Wei Shouyi, Zheng Feng, and Yu Boming have all been ennobled as marquises. Even the surrendered generals from Nanyue and Nanzhao who fought bravely and achieved great merit were made earls or barons. Not to mention the soldiers of Dayan—even the surrendered generals are all rubbing their fists, eager for battle.
【And then there is Lan Xuan'er. Despite being a woman and the princess of Nanzhao, she was granted the extraordinary title of female marquis because of her military achievements. This demonstrates that Emperor Mingxi judges people not by their origins, rewards anyone who renders merit, and has greatly inspired the morale of the soldiers at the front.】
Yue Fuguang nodded. Emperor Mingxi certainly had a broad vision, and it had won him considerable praise.
“We’re getting closer and closer to completing our mission!” Such good days really did grow fewer with every passing day.
【Host, Dongyi, Nanyue, Nanzhao, and Beili have now all been incorporated into Dayan. Xiqiang has also lost three cities to Dayan. I don’t think it will be long before we reach their royal capital, Jincheng.】
The system’s voice was more cheerful than ever.
【Once Dayan takes Xiqiang, our mission will be almost complete!】
Infected by the system’s excitement, Yue Fuguang pushed open the window and gazed at the bright moon overhead.
“Yes. After more than two years of conquest, four of the five nations now belong to Dayan. It won’t be long before we leave.”
Yue Fuguang’s “it won’t be long” turned out to mean a very long time indeed. More than six months after Nanzhao and Beili had been absorbed into Dayan, only Xiqiang remained outside the territory of the Dayan Dynasty.
Three months earlier, the current Grand General, Shen Jian, had led Dayan’s soldiers and He Yan, one of the surrendered generals from Nanzhao, in gradually capturing the three Xiqiang cities of Dingyuan, Pingchang, and Gangu. Their army’s spearhead now pointed directly at Xiqiang’s royal capital, Jincheng.
But the army had come to a halt in Gangu. It was not because they could not defeat the enemy, but because their provisions could not keep up. Within Dayan’s territory, transportation was manageable. The deeper Dayan’s army advanced into Xiqiang, however, the more treacherous the roads became, turning the transport of supplies into a tremendous problem.
Shen Jian had once stared at the roads inside Xiqiang and gnashed his teeth.
“Damn it, I’ve never seen roads harder to travel than those in Xiqiang!”
He Yan nodded. “Even though Nanzhao is mountainous, it’s easier to travel there than here.”
At the time, Nanzhao had only recently been pacified. The blood in Beili’s capital had not yet dried, and the people had not fully submitted. The imperial court needed time to digest its newly acquired territories, comfort the populace, and, most importantly, implement the land policies promoted by the Grand Preceptor.
A handwritten edict from Emperor Mingxi arrived at the army camp. It contained only eight characters:
Preserve your strength and await the right moment.
That wait lasted three months.
Dayan had not been idle during those three months. Grain and provisions transported from every corner of the country had filled the twelve warehouses in Lianzhou. Horses from Beili arrived continuously to replenish the cavalry camps. Dongyi’s gold mines were being worked without pause, giving the sovereign and his ministers of Dayan the greatest confidence of all.
The Ministry of Works continued to improve its forging techniques, tripling weapon production.
By this autumn, Minister of Revenue Dong Qianli submitted a memorial and reported news that greatly heartened all the civil and military officials: Dayan had enjoyed a bumper harvest. Not only Dayan, but also places such as Nanzhao and Nanyue, which had benefited from the Grand Preceptor’s policies, had reaped abundant crops.
Dayan now had money, grain, weapons, warhorses, and manpower. Supplies had also been transported into the newly acquired cities of Gangu, Dingyuan, and Pingchang.
The foundation for the final decisive battle with Xiqiang had long been laid. All that remained was for the emperor to give the word.
Emperor Mingxi had waited for three months and no longer hesitated. Xiqiang’s terrain was high and cold, and winter warfare would disadvantage Dayan’s army. They had to capture Jincheng before winter arrived.
If they launched the campaign in August or September, the supply routes would remain clear. As long as the main fighting ended before November, the army could spend the winter in Jincheng.
On the third day of the eighth month, Emperor Mingxi summoned the most important ministers to the Hall of Supreme Harmony for a council of war.
On the sand table before the emperor, Xiqiang’s mountains, rivers, and cities were laid out in perfect detail. The entire nation was long and narrow, bordered by a desert to the north and snow-capped mountains to the west. The Huang River Valley ran from east to west through the country, with Jincheng situated in its middle reaches.
The three cities Dayan had already occupied—Gangu, Dingyuan, and Pingchang—were positioned at the eastern end of the valley, precisely where it lay closest to Lianzhou in Dayan. Together, they were like a wedge driven into Xiqiang’s gateway.
“Advance along three routes.” Zhou Xian, Shen Jian’s deputy, gestured over the sand table. “The central route will be our main force. We will advance westward from Pingchang along the Huang River and make straight for Jincheng.
“The northern route will set out from Gangu, cross the Huanglian Mountain Pass, and circle around to strike Xiqiang’s rear.
“The southern route will move south from Dingyuan and cut off Xiqiang’s connection with the Qiang tribes to the south. With the three armies surrounding it, Jincheng will be a turtle trapped in a jar.”
Shen Jian himself was still at the Pingchang military camp, but the strategic plan had already been sent to the emperor through confidential reports. After listening to Zhou Xian’s briefing, Emperor Mingxi did not immediately state his position. Instead, he turned to look at the Minister of War, Huo Ying.
Dayan’s successive foreign wars had clearly drained his energy. His once-powerful figure had grown somewhat gaunt, and the weariness on his face made him resemble another Wei Ping, who had gradually become haggard under the burden of Yue Fuguang’s revelations and the mountain of work they created.
Back then, Wei Ping had work he could never finish and documents he could never get through!
Now Huo Ying had wars he could never finish and battles he could never fight to the end!
