Chapter 2185: Each Harboring Different Intentions

"Tian Yuan Mountain?" Frost Leaf's pen tip paused, "How did it end up abroad?"

Tian Yuan Mountain is not within the borders of Bekka, but belongs to a small northern state. It is dependent on Bekka; though its area is not large, its products are relatively abundant, with plains, valleys, forests, lakes, and all kinds of terrain fully present, earning it the title of Tundra Pearl.

"It is said to be the Emperor's secret order."

"No wonder Hong Chenglüe was withdrawn from the battlefield earlier and then fell silent." Frost Leaf's voice remained calm as usual, "It turns out he was entrusted with an important mission."

Xi Yunhe responded very carefully: "Perhaps... the Emperor's command, even General Hong would not dare to disobey."

He knew what was going on.

Hong Chenglüe had been implicated in party struggles, originally living in seclusion in the State of Yuan, but Frost Leaf had reappointed him, pulling him back onto Bekka's battlefield, restoring his post and earning merit. However, Bekka's political arena has never been tranquil; after the conclusion of the Qingyang Elixir of Immortality case, the raging storms turned into turbulent undercurrents.

On the surface, Frost Leaf had toppled the old rival who had opposed him for over a hundred years, becoming the biggest winner in the Elixir of Immortality incident, with his power and influence reaching their peak.

Yet, the Emperor liked him even less.

Later, He Huotong and Shanjin Pingyuan, claiming to be the reincarnation of the Dragon God, had even the slightest entanglement between him and Frost Leaf magnified by those with ill intent, and brought before the Emperor.

If Qingyang were still alive, he would not have provoked this so recklessly, for facing an enemy like Frost Leaf, if one cannot land a decisive blow, it is better not to act at all. And in handling his relationship with He Huotong, Frost Leaf had cleaned up both ends neatly; his past assistance to He Huotong was also extremely concealed, leaving no trace for outsiders to find.

His political enemies could only find a few scattered clues, insufficient to serve as strong evidence in court.

Even if Frost Leaf, the National Preceptor, had once spoken with He Huotong and had some minor contact, so what? During his time in Lingxu City, He Huotong had interacted with countless nobles and officials—must they all be guilty, all be arrested and interrogated?

This was originally no great matter; falling upon Frost Leaf, it was even less significant than a mustard seed added to one's burden—blow on it and it vanishes.

On the contrary, the remnants of Qingyang's faction were thus exposed, and Frost Leaf seized the opportunity to strike them down one by one in retaliation.

However, after Qingyang's downfall, Frost Leaf, the National Preceptor, and the Emperor's estrangement became noticeable even to Xi Yunhe.

Hong Chenglüe's defection—whether it was a personal choice or forced upon him—remains unknown.

Frost Leaf said nonchalantly: "The Emperor is naturally without fault; Hong Chenglüe is truly a good choice. His return to Bekka is nothing but a desire to build achievements and establish a career."

First, Hong Chenglüe is not a native of Bekka; his roots there are shallow, incomparable to those of the aristocratic families.

Second, to avoid being struck down and retaliated against by Frost Leaf, the National Preceptor, Hong Chenglüe can only cling tightly to the Emperor's thigh.

These two points ensure Hong Chenglüe's wholehearted loyalty to the Emperor and make him easier to control by the sovereign.

Xi Yunhe softly assented.

In fact, he himself is no different from Hong Chenglüe.

To avoid exposing himself as a traitor of the Qing Palace, as the mastermind behind the Elixir of Immortality case, Mai Xuewen, he can only cling tightly to Frost Leaf, the National Preceptor, and be even more loyal than others.

Frost Leaf then asked: "How many troops does his army have?"

"The exact number is unknown, but at least over one hundred thousand."

"Besides training, what else does that army do?"

"I don't know."

"Interesting." Frost Leaf murmured to himself, "Being abroad, where do the provisions come from?"

"Supplying an army is a heavy expense." "Well, it seems to be locally sourced."

Xi Yunhe wondered: "How do you know?"

The National Preceptor has just received the news and hasn't even gone to investigate yet.

"Only one hundred thousand. The burden of feeding men and horses is not small; even if the number were greater, Tian Yuan Mountain might not be able to bear it." Frost Leaf did not look up, "If supplies were coming from within the country, it wouldn't be this few troops."

Bekka and Lingxu City—what aren't they used to spending lavishly? That scene was laid out on a grand scale.

"Lingxu City and the surrounding region command hundreds of thousands of elite troops, yet the Emperor wants to build a new army abroad—hm..."

Frost Leaf grasped the advantage of building an army abroad in an instant: to bypass the domestic military and political bureaucracy's constraints and establish a force directly obedient to himself.

Bekka has existed for six hundred years; Frost Leaf knows well how redundant its system is. Sometimes even moving a single army is no easy task.

Last time, when the Emperor sent reinforcements to Qingyang on the Shanjin Plains, he arrived a month later than the scheduled date.

Could this be the reason that made the Emperor reflect painfully?

Know this: if Bekka's demon-king vassals and noble generals did this, it would be private troop training and harboring ill intentions; but if Bekka's demon emperor does it, who dares to question him? The demon emperor can simply retort, "None of your business," and add a draconic breath.

Remember: raising troops for a thousand days, using them in a single moment.

Moreover, Hong Chenglüe's hundred thousand troops are likely only a beginning, or merely a trial; the demon emperor will not be satisfied with just this number.

What Frost Leaf cares about—or rather, what the faction he represents cares about—is who this army will be used against in the future.

"Perhaps the Emperor wants to test the new troops, preparing to fight Mou State in the future? For instance, equipping the new troops with special weapons?" Xi Yunhe said softly, "I heard that Cangyan State attacked Ya State's holy land using special weapons, and as a result, Ya State's army collapsed like a mountain."

"You are not wrong; the Emperor must certainly have considered this." Frost Leaf did not stint on praise, "No wonder he is an outstanding disciple trained by Qingyang—not only is he quick-witted, but Cangyan State's pioneering use of special weapons shows that the heavens and earth have undergone great change, and future warfare must inevitably follow suit."

"The Battle of Baiqiu Yuan shocked the world. Ya State's great defeat this time serves as a warning to Bekka and Mou State. If the military undergoes no reform, then in the future, Bekka's great army, when facing Mou State, might very well follow in Ya State's footsteps."

Bekka can certainly obtain the formula and materials for special weapons, but from research and development to production and installation, who knows how much time and money it will take. Frost Leaf estimates the cost will be at least three to four times that of Cangyan State, at the very least.

Frost Leaf chuckled: "Mou State and Ling Mountain shared the formula and materials for special weapons with Cangyan, yet did not expect Cangyan to turn around and seize Bailie—truly lifting a stone only to drop it on one's own foot. Heh, the Ya State war was originally instigated single-handedly by the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses, yet in the end he himself withdrew unscathed, while Mou State and Ya State suffered heavy losses. For so many years, Lingxu City has wanted to provoke Mou State and Ya State into fighting such a great war, but the Hui have never succeeded—either Mou State feigned deafness and dumbness, or Ya State outwardly complied while inwardly defying, yet who would have thought that in the end it was the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses who stirred it up?"

He used the word "probe" because, after reviewing the intelligence post-event, it strongly resembled the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses digging a pit for Mou State and laying bait; Mou State could not resist the temptation, leapt out to take over the Ya State war, and as a result, Cangyan State picked itself clean and withdrew lightly and nimbly.

Xi Yunhe is also accustomed to calculating people's minds, and without much thought said: "Mou State is too familiar with Bekka and also too familiar with Ya State, knowing well the methods of both sides. But Cangyan State was recently founded, so perhaps Mou State does not yet understand the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses's tactics, and thus fell for it."