novelhk Chapter 1208 Take Action and Seize Jiangnan Province!
Chapter 1208 Take Action and Seize Jiangnan Province!
Emperor Qing ignored them all.
He only said one sentence: "If I don't personally go to the front line, those people in Northern Qi will think that I'm afraid of them."
The army set off, heading north in a grand procession.
Emperor Qing stood on his chariot, gazing into the distance, his eyes deep and unfathomable. He knew in his heart that this battle would not be easy. The 500,000-strong Northern Qi army was no joke. But he knew even more clearly that this battle had to be fought, and he had to win.
If we win, the rebellion in the western border will be no longer a concern. With the Northern Qi troops withdrawing, the internal turmoil within Qing will subside. Those restless forces, seeing the court's firm stance, will also restrain themselves somewhat.
They lost...
Emperor Qing never considered losing.
He won't lose.
In the north, war raged.
Emperor Qing's army clashed fiercely with the Northern Qi army on the border. The two sides traded blows, with victories and defeats on both sides. Northern Qi had a larger and more numerous force, but the Qing army was well-equipped, well-trained, and highly motivated. Furthermore, with Emperor Qing personally leading the charge, the soldiers fought with even greater ferocity.
For a time, the battle reached a stalemate.
Emperor Qing spent his days in his military tent discussing matters with his generals, analyzing the battle situation, and deploying troops. He seemed to have forgotten about the situation in the west, the rebel army, and those miraculous firearms. All his energy was devoted to this great war against Northern Qi.
But has he really forgotten?
Nobody knows.
Meanwhile, in Jiangnan, thousands of miles away, Li Yunrui's movements became increasingly rapid.
When news of Emperor Qing's northward campaign to resist the enemy arrived, she was sitting in her command tent, listening to her subordinates report on the army's situation. Upon hearing this news, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"His Majesty is personally leading the expedition to the northern border..." she repeated softly, a strange look flashing in her eyes.
His subordinate cautiously asked, "Your Highness, should we slow down a bit?"
Li Yunrui glanced at him and shook her head.
“No,” she said. “Not only can we not slow down, we must speed up.”
Some of his subordinates were puzzled: "But what if His Majesty defeats Northern Qi, and then..."
“Turning back?” Li Yunrui smiled, a smile carrying an indescribable meaning. “Even if he defeats Northern Qi, it will take time. After the war, he needs to rest, clean up the mess, and deal with the affairs of the western border. By the time he finishes all that, it will be at least half a year before he can turn back.”
She stood up, walked to the tent entrance, and gazed at the distant, sprawling military camp.
"There is enough time."
Behind him, his subordinates dared not ask any more questions.
Two months later.
While Emperor Qing was still fighting the Northern Qi army in the north, and while the flames of war were still burning in the west, the situation in Jiangnan had already changed.
Li Yunrui stood on the high command platform, looking down at the dark mass of troops below. Sunlight shone on her, casting distinct light and shadow on her face. She was dressed in military uniform, a sword at her waist, looking heroic and valiant.
Below the stage stood an army of 500,000.
She had the entire border army in Jiangnan under her control. She had the armies of all the prefectures in Jiangnan under her control. Those armies that once belonged to the imperial court, those soldiers who once served Emperor Qing, now stood here, obeying her commands.
Two months is neither a long nor a short time. But for Li Yunrui, it was enough.
She consolidated the army, purged dissidents, installed her cronies, and streamlined relationships. Those who disobeyed were either killed, deserted, or imprisoned. Those who obeyed were promoted and enriched, and everyone was happy. Military pay was paid on time, and provisions were plentiful, so the soldiers were completely devoted to her.
Of course, there were also those who disagreed.
What can those people do if they're not convinced? Li Yunrui has plenty of skilled men, plenty of money, and plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Those who disagree should either shut up or disappear. The military is that simple—whoever feeds you is the boss.
At this moment, Li Yunrui looked at the 500,000 people below the stage, and an unprecedented sense of pride welled up in his heart.
An army of 500,000.
This was a number she had never dared to dream of before. But now, these armies were in her hands. What she said, they obeyed. Wherever she pointed, they attacked. This was power, this was what she had always longed for.
But she didn't get carried away with her success.
She knew this was just the beginning.
Half a million troops are certainly a formidable force, but not enough to truly contend with Emperor Qing. Emperor Qing also commands the Imperial Guard, the border troops, and the garrison troops stationed throughout the prefectures and counties of the country. Not to mention, Emperor Qing himself is one of the strongest warriors in the world, and his Red Cavalry are the elite of the elite.
Li Yunrui wasn't that foolish to think that having 500,000 people would allow him to conquer the world.
But she had other plans.
She turned around and looked at the person next to her—a middle-aged man dressed in gray with an ordinary face, one of the experts Gao Yao had left for her.
"Has the letter been sent?"
The man in gray nodded: "It has already been sent to the western border. If nothing unexpected happens, General Han Xin will receive it soon."
Li Yunrui nodded in satisfaction.
Han Xin. That man is one of Gao Yao's men. Or rather, another pawn left behind by Gao Yao. He's currently rebelling in the west, commanding a large army and possessing those incredibly powerful firearms. If we could integrate his forces as well…
A glint of light flashed in Li Yunrui's eyes.
But she didn't dwell on it. It was too early to think about such things now; the most urgent task was to consolidate Jiangnan and stabilize the 500,000 people there. As for other matters, she would deal with them one step at a time.
She raised her head, gazing at the distant northern horizon. There, Emperor Qing was engaged in a fierce battle with the Northern Qi army. He probably didn't know that behind him, the Jiangnan region had already changed hands.
“Your Majesty…” Li Yunrui murmured to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips, “You are busy fighting against Northern Qi and pacifying the Western Border, but don’t forget that this world is not just about Northern Qi, nor is it just about the Western Border.”
The wind blew across the command platform, lifting the hem of her dress.
Below the stage, 500,000 soldiers stood silently, like a silent forest.
Meanwhile, in the distant north, the drums of war still thundered.
Emperor Qing was unaware of what was happening in Jiangnan, or perhaps he knew but had no time to concern himself with it. All his energy was focused on the immediate battle. The 500,000-strong army of Northern Qi was not easy to deal with. Even he had to give it his all.
Little did he know, a far greater storm was brewing behind him. Li Yunrui, the woman he had always been wary of but never able to completely suppress, had finally gotten the opportunity she wanted.
Meanwhile, just as the war in the north had subsided, Emperor Qing received a secret report from Jiangnan.
It was an urgent document, sealed tightly with sealing wax and stamped with three vermilion seals—a top-secret document, not to be used except in urgent matters of state. When Emperor Qing received the document, a sense of foreboding already lingered in his heart. These past few days, he had been dealing with the Northern Qi army in the north, and although he had outwardly maintained a stable position, a thorn remained in his side.
It's so quiet in the Jiangnan region.
Li Yunrui, that woman, has never been one to stay put. When she volunteered to be transferred to Jiangnan, Emperor Qing sensed something was amiss. Given her personality, how could she willingly leave the center of power? But at the time, he was busy dealing with various forces, thinking that sending her to Jiangnan was for the best, at least far from the capital, so she wouldn't cause any major trouble.