Chapter 642: The Qi Emperor's One Arrow, Three Eagles

This struck the officer's heart; Hu Lu Cang's eyes snapped open and, without hesitation, he shouted in agreement, "Your Majesty, you speak truly!"

"The western bandits' blood debts are countless; we cannot let them roam free!"

Before the words finished, he rose abruptly, bowed and clasped his fists before Gao Ying, the fabric under his Purple Robe rustling faintly, and said, "I request to lead troops on campaign, subdue the western bandits, avenge the Third Prince, and also erase the past disgrace of Shuo Prefecture!"

Ku Di Gan rose sharply right after him, his towering frame stirring a gust of wind, the hem of his Purple Robe sweeping over the chair edge; he also bowed and clasped his fists, his voice booming like a bell, "I request to be appointed commander for the campaign!"

"I wish to issue a Military Order Document; I shall not return to court until the western bandits are crushed. Their blood debts shall be repaid in blood, and the Yuwen Clan shall pay the bloody price for their humiliation of the prince and trampling of the nation's prestige!"

The two men's battle fervor roared, the hall's solemn killing aura thickened sharply; Duan Xiang also rose and stood solemnly, but did not request battle, instead with a grave expression he clasped his hands and asked, "Your Majesty, where do you intend to deploy troops against the western bandits?"

"Is it still the Yubi fortress?"

Hu Lu Cang lifted his head slightly, his brows slightly raised, as if recalling earlier intelligence, and in a deep voice continued, "I have also heard that the old rogue Wei Shaokuan was recalled by Yuwen Hu to Chang'an to assist in governance, and the Yubi garrison commander has been replaced!"

"Breaking through from Yubi is not impossible…"

With the biggest roadblock gone, and no longer that most feared defensive master stationed, our chances have greatly increased!

Ku Di Gan nodded repeatedly at the words, a faint contemptuous smile crossing his face, his tone full of disdain, "The newly appointed Yubi commander is merely the obscure Yang Langhui; in strategy and daring he is far inferior to Wei Shaokuan, not worth worrying about!"

"If we can capture Yubi this time, it will be a perfect chance to avenge the late emperor's grievance when Yubi's spear broke and sank in the sand, ending in resentment, and let the western bandits see the sharpness of our Great Qi soldiers!"

Gao Ying rose, the hem of his dark regular robe sweeping over the table edge, causing the candles on the desk to flicker, and in a deep voice said, "All ministers, follow me to see!"

Having spoken, he stepped toward one side of the palace.

Hu Lu Cang, Ku Di Gan, and several others promptly replied, "Yes!"

Crown Prince Gao Xiaoyu and Cui Yi followed closely behind.

The candles in the hall stretched everyone's shadows, all reflected on the blue‑brick floor.

On the side wall of the hall hung a massive map of territories, drawn on plain silk with vermilion, indigo, and ink to delineate the realms of Qi, Zhou, Rouran, and the Turks.

Mountain‑river fortresses, prefectures, counties were all outlined clearly with fine ink; although the edges showed some wear from years of consultation, the markings remained clear.

Gao Ying paused before the map, lifted his hand to brush aside the hanging silk tassels, and his fingertip slowly traced the Yubi and Shuo Prefecture area along the Qi‑Zhou border.

Everyone assumed the Your Majesty still had his mind on the old battlefield.

But his fingertip suddenly turned, crossing the border line straight west, finally landing heavily on the northern frontier's Xiazhou, his finger pressing the inked characters on the silk, and he said, pausing after each word, "I intend to launch troops from this point!"

At these words, everyone was startled, their gazes instantly focusing on the Xiazhou direction.

Lou Ting stepped forward two paces, squinting at the prefecture situated in the northern frontier of Zhou, and murmured, "Xiazhou?"

As Minister of Revenue, he was most aware of the link between provisions, armaments, and terrain; after a moment of contemplation his brows knit, and he bowed to Gao Ying, saying gravely, "Your Majesty, Xiazhou lies in the northern frontier of Zhou, far from our Great Qi's Jinyang, and the route is riddled with barren Gobi deserts and rugged mountain paths; if we campaign from here, our logistical transport will be a serious problem!"

"Especially once a large army penetrates deep into Zhou territory, the supply lines lengthen; if the western bandits dispatch troops to cut the grain routes, our army will be caught in a dilemma!"

Duan Xiang also stepped forward quickly, his gaze wandering repeatedly between Xiazhou and Qi territory, nodding repeatedly in agreement, "Lord Lou's words are not without reason!"

"If we must transport provisions from Jinyang to the Xiazhou front, the loss along the way exceeds half, not to mention each prefecture's transshipment is time‑consuming and laborious…"

His tone was full of anxiety.

Clearly he understood the lethal importance of logistics to a great army.

After all, when the late Emperor Gao Shenwu chose to break through from Yubi, the campaign ended in defeat, and insufficient provisions were one of the fatal reasons.

But before Duan Xiang could finish, Crown Prince Gao Xiaoyu, standing beside Gao Ying, suddenly interrupted, his tone bearing the sharpness of a young heir, and said gravely, "No need to consider provisions!"

Everyone turned their gaze as he stepped forward; his pale, slender fingertips smoothly traced from the Xiazhou border to the adjacent Lingzhou, the silk slightly indented under his finger, a half‑smile curling his lips as he said clearly, "If we enter Zhou territory, we can simply resupply on the spot, can't we?"

"Where we strike, we seize!"

Hu Lu Cang was momentarily stunned, then his eyes flashed brilliantly as he blurted out, "Prince, do you intend to treat them with their own methods?"

At that moment, he recalled the earlier joint forces of Zhou and the Turks raiding Great Qi's northern frontier.

Hearing the prince's words now, his lingering frustration vanished, and a feeling of exhilarating vigor rose within him.

Gao Xiaoyu nodded, a ruthless glint incongruent with his age flashing in his eyes; his gaze returned to the map, a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, "Indeed! The western bandits collude with the Turks, plundering our people and destroying our fields; then why can't we join forces with Rouran to strike them back!"

"Rouran and the Turks already have old grudges; we can contact the Rouran Khan, explain the benefits, grant them profit, and as soon as our army moves, Rouran will dispatch troops to harass Zhou's northern frontier, restraining the western bandits!"

These words lit up everyone's eyes; Ku Di Gan couldn't help but clap in praise, his towering frame trembling slightly with excitement, "Excellent! Prince, your words are brilliant!"

"Rouran's iron cavalry has always been valiant; if we secure their aid, the western bandits' northern frontier will be too preoccupied to defend, and it's time to stir up chaos there!"

"It will both relieve our army's flank worries and let them taste the feeling of being attacked from front and rear!"

Ku Di Gan was not worried at all; Rouran would refuse to cooperate…

Besides the late emperor and Your Majesty, who each married the same Rouran princess in succession, being able to wreak havoc within the western bandits' realm is something they dearly desire!

Gao Ying looked at the prince, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, then his lips curled slightly as he said gravely, "Moreover, I have learned through secret channels a piece of information…"

He paused, deliberately lowering his voice; everyone held their breath, and his fingertip pressed firmly on both Xiazhou and Lingzhou, his tone resolute, "The governors of Xiazhou and Lingzhou are about to be recalled by Yuwen Hu to Chang'an for reporting…"

"These two northern frontier states of the western bandits will be leaderless in a short time!"

"The newly appointed governors have not yet arrived, and the garrison commanders each have their own thoughts; it is precisely the moment of the weakest defense!"

The news thundered like a sudden strike; Duan Xiang was first stunned, then his eyes brightened, unable to hide his excitement, and he clasped his hands, saying, "Heaven has granted a good opportunity!"

"With the two governors departing and the new officials not yet arrived, the troops' morale is scattered; a surprise attack now will be unstoppable!"

The earlier worries about provisions and terrain have now been resolved one by one by the prince's and Your Majesty's scheming.

All anxiety vanished from his heart, leaving only exhilaration.

Ku Di Gan, even more excited, clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened, and shouted, "Exactly! It will catch the western bandits completely off guard!"

"With Xiazhou and Lingzhou's defenses hollow and Rouran restraining from the side, this battle will surely be a swift victory!"

He has already plotted the deployment route in his mind, awaiting only Your Majesty's command to lead troops to the northern frontier.

Hu Lu Cang also stepped forward, bowed and volunteered, "Your Majesty, Xiazhou and Lingzhou are full of Gobi grasslands, perfect for cavalry raids; I wish to be the vanguard, slip covertly to the Xiazhou border, and on the day the governor departs, launch an immediate assault!"

Gao Ying raised his hand to signal the others to hold, one hand behind his back, his gaze sweeping the northern Zhou lands on the map; his tone rose and fell with each word cutting like a blade, "Do you all understand, this battle is not only to avenge the late emperor and glorify Great Qi!"

"What I seek is not only to slay the western bandits' troops and capture Xiazhou and Lingzhou, but also to destroy the farmlands and irrigation canals in their path, burn their grain stores, and leave the western bandits' northern frontier with no harvest in autumn!"

Lou Ting's eyes lit up at the words, his hand stroking his long beard quickening, and he repeatedly praised, "Marvelous, truly marvelous!"

"Your Majesty, this plan truly is a three‑in‑one arrow!"

"Destroy the two states of Xiazhou and Lingzhou to restore the face of Great Qi, raze fields and burn provisions to cut off the Western Bandits' foundation, and ally with the Rouran to disturb the Northern Border, solving the threat to our army's flank!"

His eyes glittered, gazing at the outline of the northern lands of the Zhou realm on the map.

In that moment, it seemed he already saw the tragic scene of the Western Bandits' northern border after autumn, with provisions exhausted and starving corpses everywhere.

The worries between his brows dissipated, leaving only admiration for this great chessboard.

Inside the hall, candle flames crackled, casting an atmosphere of exhilaration throughout.

Ku Di Gan clenched his fist and struck his palm heavily, his knuckles producing a dull thud; Hu Lu Gua could no longer contain his battle spirit, and the two stepped forward half a step together, their voices ringing like a great bell as they jointly petitioned, "Your Majesty, issue an order!"

Duan Xiang stood aside, already holding his breath and focusing, having memorized Your Majesty's and the ministers' plans in his mind; his hands hung at his sides, his back straight as a ruler, ready to act the moment the imperial decree arrived, his eyes full of solemnity.

Gao Ying's gaze swept the assembly gravely, finally settling on Ku Di Gan; in that look lay both entrustment and expectation. In a deep voice he instructed, "Sir Ku Di, this battle is of great consequence; you shall lead, together with the Crown Prince, a hundred thousand troops to subdue the Western Bandits!"

Ku Di Gan's body trembled with excitement; he instantly lifted the hem of his Purple Robe, bowed and clasped his fists, "I obey the decree!"

Gao Xiaoyu stepped forward as well, his expression as steadfast as iron, likewise clasping his fists to receive the order, "Your son, I obey the decree!"

The two exchanged a glance, then shouted in unison, their voices shaking the hall, "We shall not fail Your Majesty's trust!"

Gao Ying gave a slight nod, his gaze turning to Lou Ting waiting aside, and called lightly, "Sir Lou."

Lou Ting immediately bowed, clasped his fists, and replied crisply, "I am here!"

"Immediately gather provisions sufficient for a month for the hundred thousand troops, stock them at forward supply points on the Northern Border frontier; no delays allowed!"

Gao Ying's tone was solemn; provisions are the lifeline of an army, and even with a local resupply plan, the initial provisions for the campaign must be flawless.

Lou Ting had already calculated the grain stores of each prefecture in his mind, and instantly nodded, "I obey the decree!"

"I will immediately return to the office to draft the requisition documents, dispatch the edicts to each prefecture for overnight transport; within three days we will assemble a month's provisions!"

Gao Ying said no more; his gaze fell on the spot of Yubi City on the map, his fingertip lightly tapping it—once the site where the late emperor's spear broke, and also where the Western Bandits heavily fortified. Turning to Duan Xiang, he continued, "Sir Duan, you will initially lead thirty thousand troops to feign an attack on Yubi!"

He paused briefly, emphasizing his instructions, each word clear: "Remember, only create the appearance, do not assault the stronghold; you must bewilder the Western Bandits, making them think our army still covets Yubi, and shift all main forces to Yubi's defenses!"

Duan Xiang's mind cleared, and he instantly bowed, clasped his fists, and solemnly accepted, "I obey the decree!"

"I will make the spectacle complete—flags that blot out the sun, drums and horns that shake the heavens—so the Western Bandits will truly believe it, buying time on the battlefield of Xia and Ling!"

Hu Lu Gua, standing aside, saw everyone assigned yet himself still without a task, grew anxious, stepped forward and looked at Gao Ying, his tone tinged with urgency and resentment, "Your Majesty, what shall I do?"

"Such a great matter cannot possibly exclude me, can it?"

His brows were full of earnestness.

Gao Ying saw this, a faint, meaningful smile tugged at his mouth, his eyes steady, and he said slowly, "Sir Hu Lu, I have another crucial task for you; this assignment is even more urgent than leading troops into battle!"

Hu Lu Gua, upon hearing, instantly curbed his haste, solemnly clasped his fists, "Please give your command, Your Majesty!"

"I will brave fire and water without hesitation!"

Gao Ying lifted his hand, his fingertip striking firmly on the location of Luoyang on the map, his tone instantly becoming solemn and severe, enunciating each word, "You will guard the southern side!"

"To prevent the one in Luoyang from taking advantage of our western expedition and domestic emptiness, ensuring the rear of Great Qi remains safe!"

Hu Lu Gua was first startled, then suddenly understood the significance concerning a certain person in the Henan region; this task indeed bore great weight, and he loudly reported, his voice like thunder, "I obey the decree!"

Gao Ying nodded, his gaze turning to Cui Yishu waiting with his head bowed, and in a deep voice instructed, "Sir Cui, you shall immediately take my secret edict to contact the Rouran!"

"Make sure to finalize the alliance before the army departs, so the Rouran Khan knows our deployment schedule!"

"When our army moves north, the Rouran will immediately launch attacks on Zhou's northern border, tying down the Western Bandits' forces; the two will correspond from afar!"

Cui Yishu bowed, clasped his fists, and replied steadily, "I obey the decree! I will immediately pack my gear, travel swiftly by light carriage through night and stars, and will not fail Your Majesty's trust, ensuring the alliance!"

All matters were arranged, and every minister in the hall performed his duties without omission.

Gao Ying slowly raised his hand, gathering the hanging silk tassels to the side, his hands clasped behind his back, his posture becoming even more erect; the dark ceremonial robes, illuminated by the candlelight, further displayed imperial majesty, his eyes brimming with the edge of assured victory. He lifted his gaze over the assembly and proclaimed loudly, "Gentlemen, this battle is Great Qi's war to avenge humiliation and display might; success or failure hinges on this very move!"

"When the time comes, Sir Ku Di and the Crown Prince's army will, under the pretense of assisting the Rouran in attacking the Turks, march north first, proceeding with great fanfare toward the Rouran border…"

"Let the Western Bandits' spies mistakenly believe our army truly intends to join the Rouran in attacking the Turks, thereby loosening their defenses of the two northern states of Xiazhou and Lingzhou!"

He paused, his fingertip tracing from the Northern Border across Xiazhou on the map, his tone becoming ever more resonant: "When we reach the Zhou–Qi border, we will then silently swing the army southward, striking directly at Lingzhou of Xiazhou, catching the Western Bandits off guard!"