Chapter 657: Small Matters Call for Grand Meetings, Major Affairs Call for Small Meetings

Night fell like ink poured over the Huangcheng.

The glazed tiles of Tian Guan Fu, under the faint light of the waning moon, glowed a cold, desolate bluish‑gray; the bronze bells hanging beneath the eaves were brushed by the evening breeze, chiming a few delicate tinkles, which only heightened the solemn tranquility of this power hub.

Inside the council hall, candles burned brightly, and dozens of coiling‑dragon golden pillars upheld the towering dome.

The auspicious cloud patterns carved on the pillars flickered in the wavering light, appearing and disappearing like a coiled giant beast.

On the main seat, Yuwen Hu sat alone.

He wore a reddish‑brown four‑claw python robe, its serpent pattern embroidered with silver thread that wound around his body, reflecting a muted sheen in the candlelight.

His brows knit tightly, his deep eyes fixed on the Secret Letter on the table; his fingertips rubbed the edge of the paper, and the pads of his fingers whitened from the pressure.

The hall was silent, save for his slightly heavy breathing intertwining with the occasional drumbeats from outside the window, and an intangible oppression filled the air.

"Grand Preceptor, Chen Zhuguo and the two gentlemen Qin and Lu have arrived!"

The Personal Guard's low, respectful voice broke the hall's stillness, like a stone dropped into a calm lake.

Yuwen Hu snapped back to attention, his tightly knit brows easing slightly, the weight in his eyes lightening a bit, replaced by a hint of resolve.

He lifted his head and said in a deep voice, "Proceed quickly!"

His voice was resonant, bearing unquestionable authority, yet a trace of urgency could not be hidden.

Footsteps approached from afar, carrying youthful lightness and middle‑aged steadiness, soon echoing within the hall.

The first to step into the hall was Chen Yan, still clad in a moon‑white brocade robe, his posture as upright as a pine.

But the moment he entered, his gaze met Yuwen Hu's tense expression, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

It's been ages since I've seen Grand Preceptor dad's face look so grim.......... Chen Yan muttered to himself, yet his steps did not halt; he hurried forward, smoothed the hem of his brocade robe, bowed and said, "Greetings, Grand Preceptor!"

Close behind were Qin Zhao and Lu Mo.

Qin Zhao still wore that stone‑blue brocade robe, his features firm, his gaze sharp, exuding steady competence.

Lu Mo walked beside him, his steps steady; after Chen Yan, they both halted together, bowed, and in unison said respectfully, "Greetings, Grand Preceptor!"

Yuwen Hu raised his hand, his tone softening slightly, "No need for excessive courtesy!"

His gaze swept over the three of them like a hawk, then in a deep voice he asked, "I suppose you already know what has happened, don't you?"

Chen Yan straightened, clasped his fists, and replied earnestly, "Upon receiving the news, I came here at once together with the two gentlemen!"

His tone carried a hint of urgency, clearly understanding the gravity of the matter.

Yuwen Hu nodded slightly, pointed to several rose‑wood chairs before the table, and said, "Please sit for a moment first!"

"When A Heng and the elder Chen Zhuguo arrive, we'll begin the discussion!"

As the saying goes, a trivial matter calls for a grand meeting, a major affair calls for a small meeting.

At this moment, only a few core military figures are needed to set policies and adjust strategies.....

"Yes," the three replied in unison, then each took a seat.

Chen Yan sat upright, hands on his knees, his eyes occasionally glancing at Yuwen Hu's Secret Letter on the table, his mind full of doubt and unease.

Qin Zhao furrowed his brows slightly, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop, as if pondering something.

Lu Mo sat upright, his eyelids slightly lowered, his expression calm, yet he was silently reviewing the military affairs concerning Lingzhou.

The hall fell silent again, the candle flames flickered, casting the three figures onto the floor, stretched and wavering, mirroring the chaotic thoughts of everyone present.

A incense stick's worth of time slipped by silently.

From outside the hall came two almost simultaneous heraldic calls, clear and urgent: "Grand Tutor arrived!"

"Grand Protector arrived!"

Before the words finished, two figures hurried into the hall.

On the left was Yuwen Heng, also clad in a four‑claw python robe, but in deep purple.

The moment he entered, his gaze went straight to Yuwen Hu on the main seat; his face bore a hint of urgency and doubt, and he asked impatiently, "Brother, is there some great affair?"

"Why at this hour, so urgent that you summon me and the elder Chen Zhuguo?"

On the right stood Yu Jie, his beard and hair all white, yet still vigorous, his back straight as a pine.

He wore a deep gray brocade robe embroidered with simple longevity‑peach motifs; his face was weathered, but his eyes remained as sharp as knives.

He said nothing, merely scanning the solemn expressions of those in the hall; in his mind it was already clear that tonight's discussion was far from ordinary.

Yuwen Hu looked at the two, exhaled a slow puff of stale breath, reached out, picked up the Secret Letter on the table, handed it to Yuwen Heng, and said in a deep voice, "Take a look at this first!"

Yuwen Heng hurried forward, took the Secret Letter with both hands, then turned to huddle with Yu Jie under the candlelight to read it.

The handwriting on the Secret Letter was scrawled and hurried, clearly written by a courier who raced through night and day.

As his eyes swept line by line, Yuwen Heng's urgency gradually gave way to shock; his brows furrowed tighter, and his breathing grew rapid.

Yu Jie's previously calm face also changed color the instant he grasped the contents, his graying beard trembling slightly.

"What?!"

Two exclamations rang out almost simultaneously in the hall, breaking the brief silence.

Yuwen Heng's complexion turned ashen, the Secret Letter in his hand nearly slipping from his grasp; staring at Yuwen Hu, his voice filled with astonishment and confusion, "Qi State and the Rouran are waging war without declaration, their combined forces attacking our Summer and Ling provinces!?"

Yu Jie jerked his head up, his eyes full of incredulous surprise, his voice trembling faintly, "How dare they?!"

Yuwen Heng's exclamation had not yet faded in the hall when his brows knit again; the gaze that had been slightly scattered by shock instantly focused, his pupils narrowing a bit.

The chaotic thoughts that the Secret Letter had just stirred now raced like a surging river, past intelligence on Qi State and border reports interweaving and colliding in his mind.

"The Qi force that attacked Yubi—was it a decoy to mislead us?!"

The question slipped out, Yuwen Heng's voice trembling with disbelief, yet more with the shock of sudden realization.

He clenched the Secret Letter tightly, his finger joints whitening, the rough paper creasing deeply in his palm.

The words on the Secret Letter about the attacks on the Summer and Ling provinces matched his memories of Qi troop movements, revealing a terrifying conspiracy.

But on second thought, his brows furrowed again, his eyes full of puzzlement, and he muttered, "That can't be right! If the main Qi force truly diverted from Jinyang to the northwest to strike Great Zhou's Northern Border, the supply line would stretch a thousand miles, blocked by mountains and rivers, making logistics extremely difficult!"

"A slight misstep would plunge us into a dire shortage of provisions, which completely defies military doctrine....."

His words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the slight agitation in the hall that had arisen from shock; everyone's gazes turned to him, evidently also confused by this illogical deployment.

Chen Yan sat up straight, his face full of contemplation; as the commander, how could he not know the importance of Provisions to a great army?

The Qi State army's actions indeed carried an oddity.....

Qin Zhao furrowed his brows even tighter, his fingers striking the table at an accelerated rhythm, as if calculating the Qi army's marching routes and the possibilities of Provisions supply.

Lu Bo slightly lifted his eyelids, his gaze scanning the Secret Letter in Yuwen Heng's hand, appearing thoughtful.

At that moment, Yu Jie slowly spoke, his hoary yet steady voice breaking the hall's silence.

He had already calmed from the initial shock, his graying beard neatly groomed, yet now trembling slightly with emotional fluctuations; his sharp eyes gleamed with insight. "Grand Preceptor's words are accurate; the Qi army's move seems to defy military doctrine, yet it precisely confirms one point—"

"This is likely a long‑planned conspiracy between the Qi State and the Rouran!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping the assembled, his tone heavy yet certain: "I recall, at the beginning of the year, Chen Zhuguo devastated the Qi State's livelihood, seized countless Provisions, and covertly contacted Turkic tribes, stirring unrest on Qi's northern border, causing the populace to wither!"

"Since then the Qi State has harbored hatred toward Great Zhou, but has kept silent, presumably secretly liaising with Rouran to plot this retaliation!"

Yu Jie's analysis was clear and precise, each word a gem; everyone nodded upon hearing it.

Yuwen Hu also slowly nodded, a look of agreement on his face, his deep voice saying, "I think so as well....."

He raised his hand, pressing it, signaling Yuwen Heng and Yu Jie to sit, "This is no accident; the Qi people have endured in silence for half a year, colluded with Rouran, choosing the moment of our personnel reshuffle to strike, aiming to catch us off guard, avenge the early‑year grievance, and simultaneously seize the Xia and Ling provinces, cutting off Great Zhou's northwest arm!"

Yuwen Heng and Yu Jie sat as instructed; the hall's atmosphere remained heavy, yet now tinged with a few degrees of calm deliberation.

The candle flames flickered, casting everyone's silhouettes onto the Qiangbi, wavering light and shadow, like the ever‑changing situation in the court at this moment.

Yuwen Hu's gaze slowly swept the five present, his deep voice saying, "I summoned you tonight to hear your opinions....."

"Now the Northern Border is in peril; the garrisons of Xia and Ling, though fighting fiercely, are beset on all sides and urgently need Reinforcements."

"I wonder who you think should command the troops to respond most suitably? And what strategies to resolve the Northern Border crisis?"

As soon as the words fell, Yuwen Heng was the first to speak, his gaze burning toward Chen Yan, his tone firm, loudly declaring, "I think only A Yan can shoulder this heavy burden!"

His words just ended, Yu Jie immediately nodded, his hoary voice carrying unquestionable force, echoing, "I agree with Grand Preceptor's words!"

Then, looking at the crowd, he analyzed with reason and evidence, "Chen Zhuguo has spent these years campaigning north and south—quelling unrest in Qinzhou, suppressing bandits in Jingzhou, pacifying rebellions in Hezhou—never once defeated, truly a hundred‑wins‑in‑a‑hundred‑battles."

"At the start of the year, he further devastated Qi State's livelihood, inciting the Turkic to disrupt Qi's northern frontier."

"Now the Qi and Rouran allied forces attack, it calls for a commander well‑versed in enemy intel and bold in battle; Chen Zhuguo could not be more suitable!"

As Yu Jie's words ended, Lu Bo stroked his beard, slowly speaking, "I second that!"

His voice was gentle yet firm, "Chen Zhuguo is not only brave and skilled in war, but also adept at strategy."

"Furthermore, Chen Zhuguo enjoys extremely high prestige among the troops; the soldiers trust him deeply, and with him leading, morale will soar and they will fight valiantly!"

"Moreover, this time the Qi army comes from afar; the supply of Provisions is surely its soft spot....."

Qin Zhao also nodded heavily, a flash of admiration and praise in his eyes, speaking authoritatively, "Chen Zhuguo is Great Zhou's War God, his achievements illustrious, his fame far‑reaching."

"When the Qi army and Rouran hear he commands, they will inevitably feel apprehension."

"With the War God's might, we can surely subdue the invading foes and resolve the Northern Border crisis!"

The four senior ministers unanimously recommended Chen Yan; the hall's gazes instantly converged on this nineteen‑year‑old young Pillar of the State.

Under the candlelight, Chen Yan wore a moon‑white Brothel, standing tall, his face handsome, exuding an innate composure and sharp vigor.

Yuwen Hu looked at Chen Yan, a hint of expectation flashing in his eyes, slowly speaking, his tone partly probing but mostly trusting: "A Yan, they have all recommended you to command troops against the enemy; how do you, as the principal, feel about it?"

Hearing that, Chen Yan sprang to his feet, his movement crisp and decisive, without any hesitation.

He adjusted the hem of his Brothel, bowed to Yuwen Hu with clasped fists, bending his waist extremely low, his voice striking the floor: "Grand Preceptor, at this critical moment of the nation's survival, even a common man bears responsibility; moreover, as a Great Zhou Pillar of the State, living on your stipend, I must share your worries!"

"The Northern Border's beacon flames are imminent, the people of Xia and Ling are in peril; I shall not shirk my duty!"

"If Grand Preceptor trusts me, I am willing to lead troops on campaign, surely charging at the front, leading by example, exhausting all abilities, repelling the Qi and Rouran allied forces, retaking lost lands, dying for the country, never failing Grand Preceptor and the esteemed elders, never betraying Great Zhou's people's expectations!"

Hearing Chen Yan's resonant reply, Yuwen Hu couldn't help but loudly praise, "Excellent! Truly worthy of being Great Zhou's pillar stone!"

Looking at his own child kneeling to receive the order, the satisfaction in his eyes nearly overflowed.

As the words fell, he raised his hand to signal Chen Yan to sit, his tone bearing some urgency and expectation, loudly saying, "A Yan, since you are willing to lead troops on campaign, tell us your view on how to resolve the Northern Border crisis!"

Chen Yan returned to his seat as instructed; the moment he sat, everyone's gazes in the hall converged simultaneously.

Yuwen Hu's gaze was deep and trusting, Yu Jie's eyes held scrutiny and expectation, Yuwen Heng's face was full of concern, Qin Zhao and Lu Bo held their breath, awaiting this Great Zhou military immortal to reveal the breakthrough plan.

Under the candlelight, Chen Yan's youthful face shed some naivety, gaining a few degrees of strategic composure.

He pursed his lips, his fingertips lightly tapping his knee, as if swiftly sorting thoughts and weighing words.

After a moment, he raised his head, his gaze sweeping the assembly, his voice deep, "I believe that to resolve the crisis of Xia and Ling, a single point of reinforcement cannot suffice; we must act on three fronts simultaneously, each linked, to completely dismantle the Qi and Rouran allied offensive!"

Yuwen Hu raised his hand, stroking the slight frost at his temples, a gentle smile on his face; the Jade Ring on his right thumb glimmered warmly in the candlelight, "Speak, let us hear!"