Chapter 327 – About to Reclaim the Northern Hebei, Someone Wants to Pick Peaches?
After the departure of the Wuxi Duke, the court finally fell silent. With two out of the three rebel kings quickly defeated, Empress Long Yan was overjoyed and laughed, “The Prince of Southern Jiang and Wuxi Duke have been thrown into the dungeon. Their armies are either disbanded or crushed. The regions of Southern Jiang and Wuxi have returned to the realm of Great Wu. Now, only the Prince of Northern Hebei remains! My esteemed advisers, what strategies do you propose?”
“Your Majesty,” Li Kaiguang, the Minister of the War, exclaimed, “since the beginning of the year, our Great Wu has defeated the 800,000-strong army of Great Xia, the 500,000-strong army of Prince of Southern Jiang, and the million-strong coalition army of Wuxi Duke and the Dayue! Three consecutive battles, three resounding victories, have shaken the four seas and awed the world. No one dares to defy us! Thus, it is time to reclaim the land of Northern Hebei!”
“Minister Li speaks the truth. The time has come to reclaim Northern Hebei!”
“Put an end to the fragmentation of Great Wu!”
“Our nation must rise from the ashes and achieve rejuvenation!”
…
The Empress listened with great delight, “What you esteemed ministers have said is absolutely right. So, how do we reclaim the land of Northern Hebei?”
Gao Tianyao, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, spoke solemnly, “Your Majesty, we can issue a decree to strip the Prince of Northern Hebei of his military and jurisdictional powers. Simultaneously, we can summon the Prince of Northern Hebei and his family to the capital, treating him as an idle prince!”
“Now, our court has achieved consecutive victories, which have reverberated throughout the land. Our supplies are plentiful, the morale of our troops is soaring, and there is no adversary under the heavens! If the Prince of Northern Hebei is wise and sensible, he will surely obey the imperial decree!”
The Empress asked with concern, “And if he refuses?”
“If he refuses, we fight!” Li Kaiguang the Minister of War exclaimed, “Among the three rebel kings, in terms of wealth, the Prince of Northern Hebei resides in a frigid and economically challenged region. He is no match for Prince of Southern Jiang, and only slightly surpasses Wuxi Duke!”
“In terms of military strength, the Prince of Northern Hebei commands only 300,000 troops, far less than the other two kings. He has merely cultivated some relationships with martial artists of Jianghu. But these individuals are inconsequential before our vast armies. Having defeated Prince of Southern Jiang, Wuxi Duke, and the Dayue Army, what threat does a small Prince of Northern Hebei pose? With an army of 400,000 to 500,000 and some skilled experts, we can certainly defeat the Prince of Northern Hebei and reclaim the land of Northern Hebei!”
“Very well, Minister Li, you’ve put forth an excellent idea!” Empress Long Yan was pleased, “And what are the opinions of the rest of you esteemed advisers?”
“Your Majesty, issue an edict to curtail his power, and if he resists, then we fight!”
“If the Prince of Northern Hebei is sensible, fine. If not, we’ll march to his stronghold, capture him, and make him confess!”
“Our imperial forces are strong, our morale high. What do we have to fear?”
…
The court officials clamored excitedly. It seemed as though the string of victories had made them exuberant. Truth be told, they couldn’t help but feel elated!
Defeating the 800,000-strong Great Xia army!
Overcoming the 500,000-strong army of Prince of Southern Jiang!
Conquering the million-strong coalition of Wuxi Duke and the Dayue!
After these continuous battles, the might of Great Wu had not diminished in the least. On the contrary, it had grown stronger. Could they not feel exuberant?
Only the Prince of Northern Hebei remained, and he was hardly a cause for concern!
Empress Long Yan was greatly pleased, as this was her plan as well. The division within Great Wu had lasted for too long, and it was time to bring it back together. However, she was cautious in her approach and asked, “Minister Lin, do you have any thoughts on this matter?”
Lin Beifan bowed and replied, “Indeed, it’s time to take action against Northern Hebei! However, Prince of Northern Hebei is stubborn and self-willed. He has devoted many years to his ambitions and will not surrender without resistance. He will inevitably rise in rebellion, so we must be prepared for war!”
The Empress nodded and sighed, “Minister Lin, you’re right. It seems that we have no choice but to fight this battle. You have my full trust in handling this matter.”
As Lin Beifan was about to accept the command, the civil and military officials grew excited.
“Your Majesty, there’s no need to entrust this matter to Minister Lin!”
The Empress was puzzled, “If not Minister Lin, then who? Since the beginning of the year, Minister Lin has commanded three battles, each time achieving glorious victories against superior forces. His military talent and capabilities have been proven beyond doubt. He’s the most suitable candidate!”
Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, urgently interjected, “Minister Lin’s military prowess is indeed exceptional, and I have full confidence in him leading. However, dealing with a minor figure like the Prince of Northern Hebei seems a bit of an overkill.”
“Indeed, Minister Lin is the war god of our dynasty, the cornerstone of our nation! For a small Prince of Northern Hebei, there’s no need for Minister Lin’s intervention. It’s an overestimation of the King’s significance!”
“Minister Lin’s presence in the capital can intimidate the world, sending shivers down the spine!”
“Moreover, Minister Lin has been away from the capital for too long, leaving behind many matters. The capital needs him to oversee the situation. Our court also needs his counsel and strategies!”
“Leave the matter of dealing with the Prince of Northern Hebei to others!”
…
The officials chimed in one after another. Lin Beifan had caught on that they were trying to snatch credit from him. They didn’t want him to have a chance to excel and rise higher in rank, outshining them.
The Empress naturally perceived their intentions, but their points were not without merit.
Prince of Southern Jiang had been defeated, Wuxi Duke as well. Only the Prince of Northern Hebei remained, who was hardly a formidable adversary. Sending Lin Beifan into action seemed unnecessary.
The court needed Lin Beifan more. His administrative talents overshadowed his military prowess. As he held court in the capital, she felt secure.
“So, esteemed ministers, what are your thoughts? Or do you have someone else in mind?”
Seeing that the Empress was considering their suggestions, the court officials were elated.
Li Kaiguang, the Minister of War, was the first to speak, “Your Majesty, I have a candidate in mind! He possesses high virtue, formidable martial skills, and exceptional military talents! With him leading the troops, we can surely defeat the Prince of Northern Hebei and reclaim the land of Northern Hebei!”
The Empress’s eyes brightened, “Who is it?”
Li Kaiguang smiled faintly, “His name is Zhao Kuo. He is the eldest son of the Zhao family, a prominent military clan. He has been involved in military campaigns since childhood, displaying remarkable capabilities. Furthermore, he’s skilled in martial arts and is an innate expert.”
The Empress’s eyes brightened even more, “Summon him!”
Shortly after, a young general clad in silver armor walked forward with his head held high, radiating an air of confidence.
Without averting his gaze, he bowed deeply and proclaimed, “I, Zhao Kuo, respectfully greet Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!”
The Empress exclaimed loudly, “No need for formalities!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Zhao Kuo straightened up and bowed again, “I, Zhao Kuo, pay my respects to the esteemed officials!”
The court officials smiled and nodded. This young man understood etiquette.
However, the Empress frowned because this candidate was exceptionally young! In his early thirties, while not exactly young, among the generals, he was still quite youthful.
Although he had decent strength and a respectable family background, warfare was no trivial matter! If they lost, many lives would be sacrificed, and it could even affect the nation’s stability!
Allowing him to fight alongside the troops was acceptable, but if he were to directly lead a military campaign, the Empress was deeply concerned. Thus, she inquired, “Minister Li, who just recommended you to lead troops in battle against Prince of Northern Hebei, do you have any military achievements to share with us?”
“This…” The young general Zhao Kuo became embarrassed.
How could he have any military achievements?
For the past decade, he had been focused on studying military strategy, training troops, and hadn’t had a chance to make significant contributions. It was only this year that battles had become frequent, but each battle was extremely perilous. His family, valuing him greatly, had forbidden him from participating.
In the end, Lin Beifan had taken action and achieved three consecutive victories, earning him rapid promotions and even a noble title. The envy and jealousy Zhao Kuo felt were indescribable. Now, with only Prince of Northern Hebei remaining, it was his last opportunity. Seeing this, his family exerted their influence and had officials recommend him.
“Your Majesty, I don’t have any military achievements to speak of,” Zhao Kuo’s face reddened slightly, “It’s mainly because I’ve been studying military strategy and training troops for these years, without a chance to lead troops in actual combat. However, I humbly request Your Majesty to grant me this opportunity. I promise to march into Northern Hebei and capture the King, bringing him back to face justice!”
The Empress questioned with skepticism, “You have no combat experience and no military achievements. Can you really do this? I think it’s more appropriate to send an experienced and steady general.”
Seeing his chance at military glory slipping away, Zhao Kuo grew anxious, “Your Majesty, even Minister of Loyalty and Bravery, Lord Prefect, had no military achievements before leading troops into battle! If a civil official can lead troops, why can’t a military officer like me?”
The Empress let out an inward cold laugh. Could those situations be compared?
She had witnessed his military prowess herself!
His tactics were far too advanced, too invincible. Without even leaving the capital, he had turned the situation in the western territories upside down.
Furthermore, in addition to his remarkable military skills, he possessed terrifying martial arts mastery. Even if he didn’t use his military knowledge, he could dominate through sheer strength.
You’re nowhere near his level in stability and capability.
The Empress still hesitated to make a decision. Zhao Kuo became more anxious, signaling the civil and military officials nearby, hoping they’d speak in his favor.
“Your Majesty, everyone has a first time! Although Zhao Kuo is young and lacks military achievements, he has been steeped in military strategy from a young age. He’s only lacking an opportunity! If Your Majesty doubts, you can test him on the spot!”
“And if Your Majesty remains concerned, the Zhao family can dispatch some experienced seniors to assist Zhao Kuo! These are senior generals who have been in battles for years and can guarantee success!”
“Your Majesty, you should give the young a chance!”
…
Finally, the Empress relented, “Very well! I will give you an opportunity.”
She then presented several military questions, all of which Zhao Kuo answered confidently and comprehensively. The Empress’s apprehensions eased slightly, and she said, “It appears you are well-versed in military strategy. I will grant you the opportunity to lead troops in battle. However, it’s essential for senior members of the Zhao family to accompany you, offering guidance throughout the campaign.”
Zhao Kuo was overjoyed, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
And so, the matter was settled. Zhao Kuo would lead troops into battle, reclaim Northern Hebei, capture the King, and bring him to justice, while Lin Beifan would remain in the court overseeing affairs. Lin Beifan, with a contented smile, read the situation from beginning to end without uttering a single word.
