mtl008 Chapter 906: The Emperor’s Personal Expedition
Chapter 906: The Emperor’s Personal Expedition
The late spring wind, with a hint of heat, blew into the deep palace, carrying the smell of dust raised from the parade ground in the northwest corner of the imperial city.
However, this wind could not dispel the solemnity and awe that permeated the heart of the empire. From the southwest front, the alarm bells were no longer sporadic, but a flurry of urgent documents!
With the continued instigation and material support of Qi, the barbarian coalition's offensive became increasingly fierce!
No longer satisfied with looting border towns, they began to gather their main forces, divided their troops into three groups, and attacked the important town in the southwest - "Zhennan Pass" which controls the throat leading to the Central Plains!
The three citadels outside the Great Wall have fallen one after another. The defenders fought to the last man, and the black smoke from the beacon towers continued day and night!
Wherever the barbarians passed, the villages were reduced to scorched earth and the people were slaughtered. The situation has become precarious!
In the court, the voices of those advocating peace and those advocating war were arguing endlessly, but what was more prevalent was the fear and sense of powerlessness that permeated the ministers.
The barbarians are fierce and brave, the terrain is complex, and with Qi State behind the scenes, once Zhennan Pass is lost, half of the southwestern part of the country may be lost!
However, deep underground in the palace, in the strategic secret hall called "Dragon Throat", the atmosphere was completely different.
On the huge sand table, the scarlet flag representing the barbarian army, like a ferocious giant claw, has already reached the model of Zhennan Pass, which is shocking.
Lin Zhen and the core generals and important officials gathered around the sand table, their faces more solemn than ever before, and the arguments were low and intense.
"Your Majesty, the barbarian army is powerful and has the support of Qi's powerful weapons. The best strategy is to defend the dangerous area! If we attack rashly, we may..."
"If Zhennan Pass is lost, the consequences will be disastrous! We must immediately reinforce our forces! We can draw troops from the northern border."
"The Qi army in the northern border is watching closely, how can we act rashly?!"
"So are we just going to sit back and watch the southwest decay?!"
"Perhaps we can send envoys to negotiate peace with the barbarians? We can temporarily suspend our offensive."
Amidst the arguments, Lin Zhen remained silent. His deep gaze was fixed on the location of Zhennan Pass on the sand table, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the edge of the sand table, his face looking pale due to days of anxiety and his unhealed shoulder injury.
At this moment, the heavy mechanical sound was heard again and the secret door slid open.
All the arguments suddenly stopped. Everyone stood in silence, their heads bowed, breath held.
Murong Yan walked in slowly, wearing the black and gold Su Jin cotton nightgown with the pattern of "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" which was extremely gorgeous, light as a dream, but at this critical moment when the city was in flames, she looked even more majestic and seemed to be able to decide the fate of the world. The nightgown was made of black and gold Su Jin cotton and had the pattern of "Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" - the "Divine Phoenix Descent Dress".
Under the cold light of the Dragon Throat Hall, the extremely dark black Su Jin base material absorbed the light, presenting a quiet ink color that swallowed everything. However, the golden cotton wool and the thin gold thread woven into it flowed with sharp and cold dark golden waves under the cold light. It was mysterious and noble, and collided violently with the anxiety and murderous aura that permeated the hall, but strangely brought a heart-pounding and overwhelming pressure.
On top of the "Divine Phoenix Descent Skirt", the overwhelming giant phoenix is embroidered with only red gold thread. Against the backdrop of the crisis at this moment, it looks even more scorching and oppressive. The phoenix feathers are layered, as if flapping its wings in flames. Its noble majesty reveals a resolute and murderous spirit that is determined to crush all obstacles!
The black diamond in the phoenix eyes was cold and penetrating, reflecting the precarious Zhennan Pass on the sand table.
The wide, light trumpet sleeves fell to her sides, the golden tassels at the cuffs unmoving. And the five-meter-long train of Su Jin dragged unscrupulously and gracefully across the cold, smooth black iron floor!
The gems inlaid on the extremely luxurious train reflected a cold and dazzling light under the cold light, like a flowing ink-gold boundary, closely linking the crisis of the empire with her absolute authority.
She had a stunning appearance, but her expression was as cold as ice. Her gaze fell precisely on the shocking scarlet mark on the sand table. There was no panic in her eyes, only a kind of all-knowing, chilling calmness.
"Your Majesty." Lin Zhen bowed slightly, and the others knelt on the ground.
Murong Yan did not ask them to stand up, but walked slowly to the main seat of the sand table. The five-meter-long tail of the "Divine Phoenix Descent Skirt" spread out behind her, rolling over the model representing the mountains and rivers in the southwest.
She leaned forward slightly, and with her slender fingers, clad in black velvet gloves, she pointed precisely at the model of Zhennan Pass. "How long can we hold on here?"
Her voice was cold and emotionless, but it made everyone's heart tighten.
The general in charge of the southwest military intelligence knelt on the ground and said in a dry voice: "Your Majesty, General Wang Jian has written in blood that if reinforcements do not arrive within five days, the pass will be broken and people will die."
"Five days," Murong Yan repeated softly, her fingertips slowly tracing across the pass. "How soon will the reinforcements from the northern border arrive?"
The Minister of War was sweating profusely: "Your Majesty, the journey to the northern border is long, and we must be on guard against any sudden movement of the Qi army for at least twenty days."
"Twentieth day?" Murong Yan chuckled lightly, her laughter cold. "The bones of Zhennan Pass are enough for barbarians to beat drums."
Everyone was as silent as a cicada.
"Negotiation?" Murong Yan glanced at the minister who had just proposed peace, and a hint of sarcasm appeared on the corner of her mouth. "What do you want to negotiate? My kingdom? Or your heads?"
The minister was so frightened that he kowtowed repeatedly.
Murong Yan stopped looking at him and refocused her gaze on the sand table. "How many days will it take to dispatch elite troops from the capital and rush to support us overnight?"
"Your Majesty! The capital is the foundation, the imperial guards must not move lightly!" An old general hurriedly dissuaded.
"I ask you how many days it will take!" Murong Yan's voice suddenly became deep, carrying an unquestionable pressure.
"If we don't spare the horsepower and travel light, we can arrive in ten days at the fastest," another general replied in a trembling voice.
"Ten days." Murong Yan tapped the Zhennan Pass lightly with her fingertips. "Can Wang Jian hold out for ten days?"
No one dared to answer.
Deathly silence enveloped the Dragonmaw Hall, and the atmosphere of despair almost solidified.
Murong Yan slowly stood up, her eyes sweeping over the kneeling crowd, finally landing on Lin Zhen, who had remained silent beside her. She stared at him silently for a moment, her eyes dark and difficult to discern.
Suddenly, she spoke, her voice clear and calm, yet it was like thunder exploding in everyone's ears:
"There's no need to negotiate peace, and there's no need to wait for reinforcements."
Everyone looked up in shock!
Murong Yan's eyes swept across the entire place like lightning: "I will go there myself."
"His Majesty?!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Your Majesty, please think twice! The southwest is a land of malaria and the barbarians are fierce. How can Your Majesty, with his precious body, venture into such a dangerous place so lightly?"
Exclamations and voices of dissuasion rang out instantly! Even Lin Zhen suddenly looked up at her, his eyes filled with shock and a hint of unconcealable worry!
Murong Yan, however, seemed to have ignored any dissuasion. She paced slowly, the train of her "Divine Phoenix Dress" sliding behind her, making a subtle but clear friction sound.
"Don't the barbarians want my kingdom?" She chuckled, a hint of crazy amusement in her voice. "I will go and let them see what my kingdom looks like with their own eyes."
She turned around suddenly!
The movements were swift and graceful, with unquestionable determination!
The light and elegant five-meter-long Su Jin train was suddenly lifted up by the sudden turn, and the huge dark golden skirt spread out like the wings of a burning phoenix, sweeping across the cold black iron floor with a swish!
As the hem of the skirt suddenly floated up, it suddenly revealed the gorgeous lining inside. It was made of the same dark black Su brocade as the base, but with more brilliant and dazzling red gold thread, with the ultimate craftsmanship of "weaving gold all over the ground", and was embroidered with hundreds of phoenixes facing the sun, lotus patterns and patterns of longevity and blessings!
The golden phoenix and patterns on the lining suddenly flashed in the cold light of the Dragon Throat Hall. The golden light was dazzling and magnificent to the extreme, like the light of thunder that suddenly split open in a desperate crisis, noble, dazzling, and full of determination to crush all enemies!
The skirt falls down, and the brilliance is restrained.
But Murong Yan's determination was as firm as a rock: "My mind is made up."
She swept her cold eyes over the ministers who were still trying to dissuade her: "Anyone who dares to say another word will go to Zhennan Pass to defend the city for the king."
All the dissuading voices disappeared in an instant, leaving only the gasps of fear.
Murong Yan turned her gaze to Lin Zhen, her tone unquestionable, "You go and assemble the troops. The entire Fengling Battalion of the Imperial Guard, the new Firearms Battalion of the Academy of Sciences, and another 30,000 elite troops from the Beijing Battalion. Assemble them within three days."
Lin Zhen looked at her, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just bowed deeply and accepted the order: "Yes."
"Your Majesty!" The Minister of Revenue said stiffly, "Such a large army is dispatched, with all its food and supplies..."
"Food?" Murong Yan interrupted him, a cruel smile on her lips. "Do I need to bring food?"
She pointed to the rear of the barbarian coalition on the sand table and said, "Didn't the barbarians steal so much food from me? I'll go get it back."
She pointed to the gathering places of several major barbarian tribes and said, "Aren't their cattle, sheep, and tribes my mobile granaries?"
Everyone was horrified when they heard this!
This is about fighting to support the war!
Take the most dangerous risk!
"As for me," Murong Yan raised her chin slightly, flicking her wide flared sleeves lightly, "three days from now, at noon, I will select the generals on the parade ground. I will personally send off the army."
She paused, her eyes fell on Lin Zhen's pale face again, and her voice suddenly became a little deeper: "You come with me."
This is not a negotiation, but an order.
Lin Zhen's body trembled slightly as he met her gaze. Deep within those icy eyes, he seemed to see a trace of extremely complex, unquestionable dependence and possession. He was silent for a moment, then bowed again: "Your Majesty, I obey your command."
Murong Yan seemed satisfied. She no longer looked at anyone, and, wearing her gorgeous and heavy "Divine Phoenix Dress", turned around and walked towards the secret door step by step.
When she reached the dark door, she paused slightly without looking back. A cold voice came out:
"Order Wang Jian to tell him I'm here."
"Let him hold on for five more days."
"If he can't hold on," her voice suddenly turned icy cold, "I will send his family to the barbarian camp to 'reward' the army on his behalf."
After saying that, the secret door slowly closed, isolating her beautiful yet cold figure outside.
Inside the Dragon Throat Hall, a deathly silence reigned. Everyone stared at each other in bewilderment, their heavy clothes drenched in sweat. The Empress was leading the army in person! This news was too shocking, too insane!
Lin Zhen stood there alone, his eyes fixed on the location of Zhennan Pass on the sand table, his fingertips deeply sunk into his palms.
He knew that no one could change her decision.
This journey was destined to be bloody. He slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, only cold determination and a hint of deep worry remained in his eyes.