ATPnovel Chapter 23 Xu Longxiang's Vision!
Chapter 23 Xu Longxiang's Vision!
"His Majesty has decreed that 50,000 troops from the northern border be dispatched to reinforce the western border. The Ministry of Revenue will allocate provisions, and they must set off within ten days."
Xu Longxiang slowly read out the contents of the imperial edict, his voice deep and resonant, echoing in the empty hall.
After reading it aloud, he placed the imperial edict on the table and looked up at the crowd: "Gentlemen, what do you think?"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Sikong Xuan spoke first, his aged voice hoarse like a broken gong: "Your Highness, this is a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain."
He stepped forward, his withered face deeply wrinkled, but his eyes gleaming with a sharp light:
"When the Western Liang invaded the border, Lü Bu commanded 80,000 border troops. Even if they were outnumbered, they could hold out for two months without any problem. However, Your Majesty ordered 50,000 troops from the northern border to rush to the aid, and gave them ten days to set off. This is clearly a deliberate attempt to weaken the military strength of the northern border in preparation for the future reduction of the power of the vassal states."
Fan Li waved his feather fan and continued, "What Master Sikong says is absolutely right. Moreover, everyone, think about it: the imperial edict arrived just yesterday, and today the heir apparent has already left the capital. What does this signify?"
He paused, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes:
"This shows that the dog emperor had planned this all along. He deliberately waited until the crown prince left the capital before issuing this imperial edict. If he had issued the edict in person while the crown prince was in the capital, the crown prince might have been able to find an excuse to refuse. Now that the edict has arrived, if the crown prince disobeys it, he will be guilty of treason."
Tie Tu slammed his fist on the table, the sound like a booming bell:
"So what? Our 300,000 iron cavalry in the North only obey the Crown Prince's orders! What is Qin Mu? A tyrant who only knows how to play with women, does he dare to command us?"
The bald, scarred, burly man's eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
"If you ask me, let's just ignore him! What does it have to do with us in the Northern Border if Xiliang is fighting Xiliang? Let's stick to our original plan, and when the time is right, we'll storm the capital and seize that damned throne!"
Liu Hongyan covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her red dress trailing on the ground, her eyes sparkling with spring, yet her voice was as cold as ice:
"General Tie Tu, do not be hasty. It is easy to disobey the imperial decree, but it will leave us without a legitimate reason. The Crown Prince's prestige is currently at its zenith. What is it based on? It is his loyalty to the emperor and his patriotism, and his outstanding military achievements. If we disobey the decree now, what will the world think? Will those officials and generals who are still observing still pledge their allegiance to us?"
Mo Shen, hidden in the shadows of his black robe, flashed his eerie green eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice like the flick of a venomous snake:
"Hongyan is right. A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan. The four-step plan has only just begun; it's not wise to alert the enemy."
Xu Longxiang listened quietly, his fingers tapping on the armrest at a slower pace.
Dog Emperor...
He sneered inwardly.
On his first court appearance in six months, he was subjected to this stunt.
Dividing the army into 50,000 is easy to say.
Once these 50,000 troops leave the northern border, it will be difficult for them to return.
As for the war in the western border, if Lü Bu is truly as brave as rumored, he will not need reinforcements at all.
This was indeed a test.
Test his loyalty, test his bottom line.
What good would it do to know?
As Liu Hongyan said, he still needs the cloak of "loyalty to the emperor and love for the country".
"What you all say makes sense," Xu Longxiang finally spoke, his voice steady, "but we must send out these troops."
He stood up, walked to the map of Kyushu hanging in the hall, and pointed to the western border:
"Liu Meng of Xiliang is indeed a fierce general. Although Lü Bu is brave, his troops are insufficient. If Xiliang breaks through the defense line and advances deep into the territory, the western border of Qin will be in danger. At that time, the Qin governor will surely order all regions to come to the aid of the king, and our northern border will also find it difficult to remain unscathed."
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd:
"Therefore, these 50,000 troops must not only be deployed, but deployed brilliantly. The whole world must see that I, Xu Longxiang, am loyal to the emperor and love my country, and that I put the overall situation first. Those who are still observing must know that by following me, they can not only achieve great things, but also gain a good reputation."
Fan Li clapped his hands in praise: "Your Highness's insight is brilliant! This is a strategy of advancing by retreating!"
Sikong Xuan frowned and said, "But Your Highness, 50,000 elite troops is no small number. Although the Northern Border has 300,000 troops, they need to be divided among the passes of the three provinces. If 50,000 are transferred away, the defenses will inevitably be weak. What if the Northern Barbarians take advantage of this weakness and invade..."
"The Northern Barbarians wouldn't dare," Xu Longxiang said decisively.
"Last year's battle severely weakened the Northern Barbarians. I killed the Left Wise King Tuoba Hong with a single spear thrust, and the rest of their generals tremble at the mere mention of my name. Without three years of rest and recuperation, they will never dare to march south."
He paused, a calculating glint in his eyes:
"Moreover, how to deploy these 50,000 troops, and which troops to deploy, is entirely up to us. We can deploy the old and weak, we can deploy new recruits, we can deploy troops from those generals who are not very obedient. Firstly, to fulfill the imperial decree; secondly, to take the opportunity to purge dissidents in the army; and thirdly..."
Xu Longxiang's lips curled into a cold smile:
"It will also make Qin Mu think that we have really obeyed."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall had a bright look in their eyes.
What a brilliant plan to kill three birds with one stone!
This not only preserved the reputation of loyalty to the emperor, but also purged internal forces and lulled the enemy into a false sense of security.
"Your Highness is wise!" the five exclaimed in unison.
Liu Hongyan covered her mouth and chuckled: "I heard that General Lü has a bad temper and dislikes old and weak soldiers the most. When the two armies disagree and cause conflict, the dog emperor will be the one with a headache."
"Exactly." Xu Longxiang nodded.
"Therefore, this decree must not only be obeyed, but also obeyed with great fanfare. We must let the whole world know that I, Xu Longxiang, am loyal to the country, and that no one dares to disobey His Majesty's orders."
He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"Once those four steps are completed, once a million-strong army is at the city gates... what I have lost today, I will reclaim a hundredfold!"
He was referring to himself as "朕" (Zhen).
Although it was very soft, everyone in the hall heard it.
A chill ran through everyone, followed by a surge of excitement.
Yes, why worry about temporary gains and losses?
Once the crown prince ascends the throne, the entire country will belong to the Xu family, not to mention the 50,000 troops.
"Your Highness is truly insightful and far-sighted; we are deeply impressed!" Sikong Xuan was the first to rise and bow deeply.
The other four people also stood up and bowed.
Xu Longxiang waved his hand, about to continue making arrangements for troop deployment, when footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.
A guard in black strode in and knelt on one knee: "Your Highness, a secret message from the capital."
Xu Longxiang raised an eyebrow slightly: "Read it."
The guard hesitated for a moment, then looked up at the people in the hall.
Seeing this, Xu Longxiang said loudly, "Everyone here is a trusted confidant of mine. There is no need to hold back. Speak frankly."
As he spoke, his gaze swept gently over the five advisors, and sure enough, he saw a hint of emotion flash in their eyes.
The guard then lowered his head and said clearly, "A secret message has arrived: tonight... His Majesty will stay overnight at Yuxiu Palace and favor Consort Xue."
The moment the words were spoken, time seemed to freeze inside Zhenyue Hall.
The air suddenly became heavy, making it hard to breathe.
Xu Longxiang's expression froze.
Those eyes, which were always as sharp as an eagle's, now had slightly contracted pupils, and the fingers gripping the back of the chair tightened suddenly, with veins throbbing faintly on the back of the hand.
The hall was deathly silent.
All five advisors lowered their heads, not daring to look at Xu Longxiang's face.
They all knew who Jiang Qingxue was.
He knew what place that aloof, snow-white woman held in Xu Longxiang's heart.
Knowing the details behind this "offering of beauty" plan, one can imagine how many nights Xu Longxiang drank alone, his eyes filled with struggle and reluctance.
And now...
The dog emperor is going to harm her.
Tonight.
Xu Longxiang felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart tightly, the pain almost making him bend over.
Clear snow...
The girl who followed him around since childhood and called him "Brother Dragon Elephant".
The woman who played the zither for him in Tingxuexuan and accompanied him in practicing swordsmanship under the moon.
The one he promised to marry after the deed was done... his lover.
The woman he watched grow up, the woman he vowed to marry and make empress, the purest white moonlight in his heart...
Tonight I'll be lying in another man's bed, pleasing and fawning over him.
That man was his sworn enemy, whom he hated to the core.
Xu Longxiang felt his breathing stop.
Something inside my chest was shattering, burning, and roaring.
It was jealousy, anger, humiliation, and excruciating pain.
He could almost see that scene—
In the flickering candlelight of the bedchamber, under a brocade quilt embroidered with dragon patterns, Jiang Qingxue was pinned beneath Qin Mu, tears welling in her eyes, yet she forced a smile...
A violent killing intent surged from the bottom of his heart, almost breaking through the cage of reason.
Xu Longxiang's eyes were bloodshot, and his teeth were grinding together. For a moment, he really wanted to immediately muster his troops, march on the capital, and tear that dog emperor to pieces!
But he can't.
The grand undertaking is far from complete; the plan has only just begun.
Qingxue's sacrifice... cannot be in vain.
Xu Longxiang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened his eyes again, all the pain, anger, and murderous intent in them were forcibly suppressed, turning into a bottomless calm.
He even... laughed.
"Hahaha!" Xu Longxiang's laughter echoed in the hall, hearty and cheerful. "Good! Very good!"
He stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and swept his gaze across the crowd: "Did you all hear that? This is incredibly good news!"
Everyone looked up in astonishment.
good news?
Is it good news that the woman you love is going to sleep with another man?