Chapter 593

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“Mother Concubine’s lesson is well-taken.”

Xiao Ming smiled. Having been exposed to the court alongside Xiao Wenxuan, Imperial Concubine Zhen understood court affairs better than he did. As Imperial Concubine Zhen said, there were always conflicts among officials in any dynasty.

He, too, could not avoid this problem, and what he should do was to utilize these contradictions to make governance more harmonious.

Precisely for this reason, he had always been unyielding on the issue of the nine cabinet assistants, precisely to make the two factions of officials convert their conflicts into motivation for handling government affairs, making the internal administration run more smoothly.

At the same time, officials who disliked each other could also serve to supervise each other, just like a ruling party and an opposition party, ferreting out corrupt officials from the opposing camp amidst their quarrels.

“Alright, you think about this matter yourself. Your’er and I are going to watch a play. I hear there’s a new play out at the theater.” Imperial Concubine Zhen was just passing by the main hall and came in to take a look.

Xiao Ming nodded and said to Qian Dafu, who was following Imperial Concubine Zhen, “Steward Qian, pay attention to Mother Concubine’s safety.”

“Your Highness, with this old servant here, there will be no problems,” Qian Dafu said with a smile.

Supported by Lu Luo, the three slowly exited the main hall. Xiao Ming then stretched and walked outside.

For the past five months, he hadn’t had a single day of leisure: teaching grassroots generals, supervising production in various industries, writing books, training new recruits. At the same time, a bountiful harvest before the New Year had made the state’s granaries well-stocked.

And Yue Yun’s return from the Sanmyo Kingdom with 800,000 shi of grain further boosted Xiao Ming’s confidence.

Everything was gradually being completed through his efforts. Xiao Ming once again turned his gaze towards Jinling City. It was time to act. He had many enemies and could not continue to be bogged down with Prince Wei.

Moreover, the sooner Wei was taken, the fewer losses there would be. Prince Wei’s scorched-earth policy in Yangzhou last time had given him quite a headache.

Half a month passed in a blink of an eye. After the New Year, the weather gradually warmed, and the snow on the roads melted. At this time, Xiao Ming urgently ordered Lu Fei and Ye Qingyun to return to Qingzhou from their respective garrisoned cities.

After the order was given, Ye Qingyun diverted his route from the sea to reach Qingzhou, while Lu Fei arrived earlier than Ye Qingyun.

After the two returned, Xiao Ming summoned them and Niu Ben to the main hall for a discussion.

“Your Highness, is it time to act?” Lu Fei asked excitedly.

Xiao Ming’s expression was serious. He said, “Indeed, the six-month period has ended. It is now time to take Wei in one swift move. However, how have you two trained the new recruits?”

Ye Qingyun said, “Your Highness, the new recruits I trained are ready for battle at any time.”

“My new recruits are also ready,” Lu Fei said confidently. Now, the new recruits he had recruited were not only fully trained but also fully equipped with standardized gear.

Xiao Ming nodded. He then stood up, facing the map on the wall of the main hall, and said, “Lu Fei, after you return, you will be responsible for a feigned attack on Chuzhou. Ye Qingyun, Yue Yun will help you go straight to Jinling City. To catch a thief, first catch the king. If we can directly capture Jinling City, Wei will surely fall into chaos, and then conquering other prefectures and counties will be as easy as turning over one’s hand.”

Upon hearing this, a peculiar glint flickered in their eyes. If this plan succeeded, Wei would be entirely incorporated into the state’s territory. A wealthy Wei, coupled with the musketeers, meant that Prince Zhao would also not be their opponent.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Lu Fei and Ye Qingyun stood up simultaneously and saluted Xiao Ming.

At this moment, Niu Ben said, “Lu Fei, after you return, you will set off for Chuzhou on February 6th. Ye Qingyun, after you return, you will set off for Jinling City on February 15th.”

The two nodded upon hearing this.

With the battle plan for Wei decided, the entire state began to operate. Li San’s Secret Guard continuously sent intelligence on Wei to the army, while a batch of provisions departed from Yizhou and arrived in Pengzhou.

After Lu Fei returned to Pengzhou, he immediately led 45,000 men towards Chuzhou. As soon as the army moved, Wei’s scouts quickly relayed the news to Jinling City.

“What! Lu Fei’s army is marching towards Chuzhou?” In Prince Wei’s mansion, Prince Wei almost jumped out of his chair.

“Your Highness, it is absolutely true. This time, the southern expeditionary army, with about forty-five thousand men, is heading for Chuzhou. There are over a hundred cannons alone. Prince Qi is preparing to completely annihilate us,” a powerful family member from Chuzhou said tremblingly.

Prince Wei’s face was extremely grim. “Xiao Ming, you scoundrel, what kind of truce agreement is this? This is a trap, a trap!”

The officials in the main hall of Wei were all terrified. Chuzhou was only 300 li from Jinling City. Now they had no retreat.

Xiao Han’s face was even uglier than Prince Wei’s. He hadn’t even been a prince for a day, and now his country was about to perish. How could he be willing? Thinking of this, he hastily said, “Father King, Xiao Ming must despise us for paying too little silver in compensation. We can continue to cede territory and pay indemnities.”

Prince Wei roared, “Fool! What Xiao Ming wants now is not land nor silver. He wants my life! Giving him anything is useless! I have managed Wei for over twenty years, and I never thought that today I would prepare a wedding dress for someone else.”

Slowly sitting down, Prince Wei’s expression was frantic: “Xiao Ming wants a prosperous Wei to contend for supremacy. I will precisely not give him this opportunity! You are to immediately inform the Chuzhou generals to burn everything that can be burned in the city! Also, Shouzhou, Taizhou, Suzhou, and Jinling City! Burn everything!”

“Your Highness, absolutely not!”

“You cannot, Your Highness!”

“…”

In the main hall, all the ministers cried out. Xiao Han’s heart also grew cold. He looked at his father. At this moment, he was not the once formidable Prince Wei, but a madman.

“Imperial Father, if everything is burned, we will surely die without a burial place. Now, there is only one path: ceding territory,” Xiao Han pleaded bitterly. He was willing to exchange all the cities of Wei for the prosperity and wealth of Jinling City.

“Shut up! I knew I shouldn’t have compromised in the first place! It’s all you spineless cowards! Since Xiao Ming is pushing so hard, I will fight him! If any of you dare to say ‘no’ again, don’t blame my merciless blade.”

With that, Prince Wei suddenly drew the precious sword from his waist, his eyes blazing with fury.

Prince Wei’s fierce appearance startled Xiao Han and all the officials. They had never seen Prince Wei look so ferocious.

Scanning the crowd, Prince Wei said, “Xiao Ming is too deceitful! All of you, quickly gather your household retainers and personal guards! I don’t believe that Wei’s 400,000 strong army can’t defeat Xiao Ming’s meager forces.”

Xiao Han and the officials exchanged glances. In the past six months, Prince Wei had gathered provincial troops from various prefectures and increased Jinling City’s garrison to 200,000. All these actions were in response to Xiao Ming’s threat.

But no one expected Xiao Ming to launch an attack immediately after the New Year.