Chapter 704

Extra chapter: Da Wang wishes he could stretch his neck to go to Capital Wild to watch, but his imperial older brother is still busy tripping him up.

Eleventh Hall sees Baili Jin busy scheming against his younger brother in Bohai Commandery; for his inability to distinguish priorities, not putting the people and his father at ease, they are even more dissatisfied.

Lao Er's hand isn't that long, but he's no pushover; relying on his great wealth, he is vigorously expanding his own power. The ancestors went around in a circle and returned to the starting point; in this world, they still consider Xiao San reliable.

Great Jin is in turmoil; the ancestors have placed their hope of reversing the decline on Da Wang, who is currently… the sole hope of the whole village.

But the livestream sky obviously isn't preparing to let them have an easy time; after just a few days of Da Wang's carefree days, the livestream sky turned its gaze back to Perpetual Peace, because Ningde's northern expedition army has set out.

Heaven seems afraid to miss any of Ningde's great achievements, broadcasting the northern expedition army in all directions; even the main character of the livestream sky, Da Wang, disappeared for a while. Thus one can imagine that Zhang Zong's days are quite dire.

Anzong saw for the first time the emperor personally campaigning, riding in an imperial carriage drawn by six horses.

This time he circled around Zhang Zong without laying a hand, feeling that even kicking him would be letting him off easy! 'I can't tell at the moment whether he's out for a spring outing or going to war!'

Soon they discovered that moving slowly wasn't a problem either; Ningde took 200,000 from Perpetual Peace and also transferred 200,000 from the northwest, but he actually didn't bring enough provisions!

Halfway there they started raising provisions again!

He seems unaware of how serious the consequences are of taking so many troops without sufficient provisions; the imperial carriage leisurely goes wherever and rests wherever.

Da Wang's willful father hasn't endured this kind of hardship for over a decade; even riding in a carriage he feels he has committed a great crime, feeling he has devoted himself selflessly for the world. The livestream sky broadcasts every detail of the northern expedition army's daily life; Taizu, relying on his keen intuition, always feels it's not good.

No matter how you look at it, it feels extremely ominous!

He isn't as optimistic as Da Wang; this guy has no confidence in his father but great confidence in the Duke of Sukguo. Da Wang, upon learning that the Duke of Sukguo is also going, feels that with the Duke leading 400,000 troops, it will surely be an honorable battle, and Ningde is just a mascot. Thus Da Wang no longer thinks Great Jin will lose; he only thinks his father has made the northern expedition so drawn-out like a spring outing, which is somewhat embarrassing.

Xuanzong can see his father's face growing graver day by day: '... Although Ningde doesn't look capable of fighting, not to mention he transferred the garrison of Jade Gate Pass and that whatever Duke of Sukguo general? Father, don't worry too much...'

Taizu ignores him, points at Anzong: 'What do you think, does this army have a sure‑win appearance against the steppe cavalry?'

Anzong falls silent for a moment: '... There's still Jade Gate and Northern Direction; let's wait and see.' Meaning those 200,000 from Perpetual Peace are wasted.

As soon as those words were spoken, Zhang Zong's neck could lift even less.

After watching the Ningde emperor's northern spring outing for a month, the viewpoint finally switched to Da Wang; before Zhang Zong's neck could even lift, he heard that Da Wang had received news that 50,000 East Xianbei were heading west...

Eleventh Hall still has questions? This is the steppe peoples uniting to attack Capital Wild together! Ningde still optimistically thinks the enemy is just the bald‑haired Xianbei themselves; now not only East and West Xianbei are involved, maybe even the Xiongnu...

Zhang Zong draws a sharp breath; he dare not even imagine what Great Jin would become if this battle were lost, given its turmoil.

And the king had already recalled Bai Ze's prophecy made in Prosperous Prefecture—that Marquis of Wei Ting would fall in the northwest; perhaps this is it, and Du Ye is too close to the Xiongnu.

The king paced in the Year Feather Hall for half a day, muttering to himself what he should do to save his clueless father, making even those who look to the Grand Ancestor sigh. The state is about to fall; his only hope turns out to be a nine-year-old child.

The next day the king announced at court that he would personally lead troops to attack the East Xianbei, forcing them to withdraw.

As soon as these words were spoken, not only was the Bearing Light Hall of the You King's mansion silent, but also the Eleven Hall of the Yellow Springs Realm.

The king said: "Feudal lords may not keep private troops, and I cannot lead troops to aid Du Ye without an imperial order. Bringing over more than three thousand would be walking straight into a trap in plain sight before the court. Hiding in Secluded Prefecture doing nothing is also impossible… If I send troops against the East Xianbei, having the fifty thousand Xianbei troops in the allied forces withdraw to support would be best; if they don't withdraw, it's also a good chance to take revenge for long-standing grudges."

The nine-year-old Bai Li Jing spoke, and the Grand Ancestor immediately stood up.

The Great Jin is fortunate—unfortunately, they didn't give the qilin child enough time to grow up.

How cruel heaven is to the Great Jin!

"Your Highness has few troops and lacks combat experience; if the allied forces withdraw and attack from both sides, the danger would be extreme!"

"The East Xianbei royal city is said to be guarded by three hundred thousand troops."

"A direct northern campaign against the Xianbei is too rash; I disagree. Secluded Prefecture's population and finances are currently insufficient to support a campaign against the Xianbei. Your Highness, securing Secluded Prefecture is the best strategy."

As the officials each speak, someone in the Eleven Hall nods. Xiao San has this intention—he is the best of Ning De's several sons; there's no need to really go, after all, he's only nine…

The ancestors could not bear to watch.

"If Du Ye falls, Secluded Prefecture is also in danger. Secluded Prefecture will certainly hold firm; that's also why I won't involve myself in the northwest battlefield. Secluded Prefecture is the foundation—my cavalry cannot stray too far from Secluded Prefecture, or there won't be time for reinforcements… Can even such high walls hold out until the cavalry arrives as reinforcements? I have my own ways to know the movements of Secluded Prefecture!"

After the king finished saying those harsh words, the officials began to stare at the Cover-the-sky perched on his desk.

The Eleven Hall again grew confused; they weren't watching the king around the clock… "What's wrong with this bird?" "It's an eagle." "Never mind what it is—why keep staring at that eagle? Does it even monitor Secluded Prefecture's movements?"

Who would know!

Over there, the king's word is law; his mind is made up, and Xue Lin'an can't stop him.

The plot progresses rapidly; they've already reached eight hundred speed, with the king and Zhang Tu dueling to decide who will lead the northern expedition.

Minister Xue: "Can we win?"

Zhang Tu: "…Difficult."

Minister Xue: "But he's not even nine years old?"

The ancestors in the Eleven Hall all nodded together; although they had often seen in the grand vision the king diligently practicing martial arts, they hadn't yet had the chance to see him truly in action.

"Ning De chose this personal guard commander for Xiao San, yet he can't even beat a nine‑year‑old?" This time, Quan Ken and He Zong, who fully support Xiao San, are very displeased.

As soon as the words fell, Zhang Tu, in despair, said: "Your Highness is born with godlike strength."

In an instant, the king split Zhang Tu's spear with a single blow of his heavy blade; the match ended abruptly and unexpectedly. This time, An Zong rose to his feet, unsettled—that spear was iron, iron indeed!