Chapter 382: Small skirmishes

Xu Zaijing: "Ah?"

Zhao Fang was about to continue speaking, but the Emperor waved his hand to signal him to stop.

Zhao Fang looked at the bewildered Xu Zaijing, knowing the Emperor wanted Xu Zaijing to think for himself.

Xu Zaijing looked at the markings on the Great Zhou map and suddenly remembered that day in the Sheng family school when Scholar Zhuang asked everyone to discuss the timing of the Bai Gao Kingdom's destruction.

Not far outside the main hall door,

Zhao Fang, having finished his studies, walked over quickly and excitedly.

Seeing the Great Eunuch at the door, Zhao Fang was just about to speak.

The Great Eunuch hurriedly waved his hand to signal Zhao Fang to be quiet, and meeting Zhao Fang's eyes, the Great Eunuch whispered: "Your Highness, His Majesty is currently testing and guiding Jing Ge'er!"

Zhao Fang immediately covered his mouth and slowed his pace.

Arriving at the hall door, Zhao Fang poked his head in to look at Xu Zaijing, who was lost in thought.

Inside the main hall,

After frowning and thinking for a good while, Xu Zaijing's eyes lit up!

He immediately bowed and said: "Your Majesty, could it be that after the Bai Gao Kingdom learned of Father's plan, they might mobilize heavy troops to use a counter-strategy? The Bai Gao Kingdom wants to concentrate their superior forces near Keyi Gate, and then when Father sets an ambush... play the role of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?"

Seeing the encouraging looks from the Emperor and Zhao Fang, Xu Zaijing's mind raced as he continued:

"Long ago, when the Bai Gao Kingdom faced our Great Zhou's punitive expedition, they first defeated one route, then combined their forces to return and consume the other route."

"They... are trying to replicate their previous method of victory!"

"But Your Majesty is far-sighted and had General Cao Lao mobilize in advance..."

Before Xu Zaijing could finish, the Emperor and Zhao Fang nodded in approval.

Seeing their expressions, a flash of insight struck Xu Zaijing's mind:

"No, it's not 'could it be,' it's certain! Because there is a top disciple of Chief Zhao in the Chuihuan Division! In other words, the news of the Bai Gao Kingdom mobilizing troops to the north has already been confirmed!"

The Emperor laughed: "You brat, you're not too stupid!"

Seeing Xu Zaijing finish, Zhao Fang walked in with a smile: "Father! Chief Zhao! Jing Ge'er!"

Xu Zaijing bowed: "Greetings, Your Highness!"

Seeing the way Zhao Fang looked at Xu Zaijing, the Emperor asked with a hint of jealousy: "Then are you still going?"

Xu Zaijing bowed and said: "Replying to Your Majesty, this little one has honed his martial arts for many years, but in daily life, it's just been small skirmishes!"

He glanced at the Great Zhou map on the wall again and said: "Your Majesty, this plan is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly! If successful, the threat to our Great Zhou's northwest will be eradicated at once!"

"Previously, this little one only engaged in small skirmishes and caused Your Majesty much trouble! At this time of great national fortune, this little one also wants to contribute his meager strength; who knows, I might even earn some merit."

Hearing the words "small skirmishes" and "meager strength" from Xu Zaijing's mouth, Chief Zhao Fang, standing to the side, clicked his tongue.

Speaking of which, the fierce soldiers in the Jin Shan Mountain stronghold within Prince Yan's fief,

Those hundreds of men were cultivated by Prince Yan as seeds; if they were allowed to grow for another five or six years, to put it bluntly, he would have had the foundation for a rebellion!

And the result? Not a single one walked out of the stronghold in one piece.

And he also knew quite a bit about the skills of the Chuihuan Division experts of the Bai Gao Kingdom from his eldest disciple, Zhao Taifeng.

On the battlefield, one looks at courage, and the courage of a unit depends on its officers.

As the saying goes, a weak general leads a weak army; conversely, what if they were led by fierce martial officers?

Those thirty experts were originally from the military nobility of the Bai Gao Kingdom, and based on their background and martial skills, they could have served as battalion commanders for five hundred men in the Bai Gao army.

With their courage and martial arts, if they led the charge, who knows how many more formidable units the Bai Gao Kingdom would have had.

But now...

Hmm.

And there was the Bai Gao powerful prince in Pan Tower, whom Xu Zaijing killed!

If this own brother of the former Bai Gao Emperor hadn't died, with a backbone for the Bai Gao royal clan, the Liang Yi family might not have dared to rebel.

The future military stars of several Bai Gao military divisions were all buried at the hands of Xu Zaijing.

Even the revival of his own Imperial City Division was caused by the Xu family sending cotton batting to the Empress many years ago...

His Highness was also saved by him...

Zhao Fang shook his head: 'Small skirmishes... Sigh! I wouldn't dare say that!'

Seeing Zhao Fang's expression full of emotion, the Emperor guessed seven or eight out of ten of what he was thinking.

The Emperor knew of the miraculous nature of Xu Zaijing, and he had personal experience with it...

Before deciding to launch the expedition against the Bai Gao Kingdom, the Emperor had talked deeply with the Empress,

To summarize:

If I, the Emperor, did not have Zhao Fang as my own son, would I exert all my strength to conquer the Bai Gao Kingdom?

Conquer my foot!

How could I still have such spirit!

I suffered this loss when I was young!

"Now that I am half-buried in the earth, I no longer have such grand ambitions! Especially when it means making wedding clothes for others!"

If there had been a few high-ranking officials who opposed it, I would have just followed the slope and waited for death.

But now?

Looking at the clever and robust Imperial Prince Zhao Fang, I find that Northern Liao is also an eyesore!

A very big eyesore!

To put it bluntly, the Emperor now has his own goal to strive for.

Today,

Hearing what Xu Zaijing said, the Emperor felt that the phrase "at this time of great national fortune" was very correct.

The Duke of Ying, the Marquis of Ningyuan, and the Marquis of Zhongjing, who were on the front line confronting Northern Liao, were all veteran generals experienced in battle.

The three of them had submitted memorials to the Emperor more than once, all requesting the Emperor to pay more attention to the Jin Kingdom.

Now Northern Liao and the Jin Kingdom are locked in a fierce struggle.

But, regardless of who wins between Northern Liao and the Jin Kingdom in the future, after licking their wounds, their next step might be to find trouble for Great Zhou.

If the Bai Gao Kingdom is not eliminated, half of Great Zhou's elite army must be stationed in the northwest.

What if the Bai Gao Kingdom is destroyed?

The might of destroying a nation is still before their eyes,

If the Jin Kingdom or Northern Liao wants to make a move, they will have to weigh the consequences.

After incorporating the Bai Gao Kingdom into Great Zhou's territory, Great Zhou will have two more horse-rearing grounds.

Moreover, with former Bai Gao royal clan members and nobles like the Li brothers and Mi Mu Tuoxia, Great Zhou can use the methods Wang Shao used in Hehuang—pacifying those who submit, conquering those who don't, trading with the people, and establishing schools—to integrate them into Great Zhou.

This is truly a great rise in national fortune!

With this,

The initiative of whether to act or not in the future will be in the hands of Great Zhou, not the other side.

Looking at the Emperor's expression,

Xu Zaijing continued: "Your Majesty, furthermore, last month at the Dao Academy, I saw many people wearing white cloth at the Marquis of Tuoxi Cao family's place! They were those who died in battle this year."

The Emperor nodded: "Hmm!"

Xu Zaijing lowered his head and said: "Some of those people died in battle protecting others! You know my archery skills, and I also want to contribute more; if things can be one point more secure, fewer Great Zhou sons will die."

Hearing Xu Zaijing finish,

The Emperor glanced at Xu Zaijing, who was about the same height as him, and said in a deep voice:

"I know you are safe on your own! But..."

"I agree here, but you must also ask the Empress; if she agrees, then do as you wish!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Xu Zaijing bowed.

The Emperor waved his hand: "Go!"

Zhao Fang: "Father, I will accompany Jing Ge'er!"

"Hmm!"

The Emperor turned his back and continued to look at the map.

"Thank you, Father!"

After saying this,

Zhao Fang grabbed Xu Zaijing's hand and hopped and skipped toward the outside.

On the way to the Empress's palace,

Zhao Fang asked curiously: "Jing Ge'er, I heard what you said to Father just now; what if the Bai Gao Kingdom doesn't move, what then?"

Xu Zaijing sighed and said: "Then it's to surround them on three sides, slowly grinding them down with human lives on one side, while letting the Li brothers and others slowly pacify them."

"But being slowly strangled like that is a dead end! Finding a way to defeat one route not only gives a slight hope of winning, but the Bai Gao Kingdom also has a chance to negotiate terms for peace."

Zhao Fang said: "Previously, Grandfather attacked with all his might in the east of Shizhou, drawing the Bai Gao Weifu Military Division and Chaosun Military Division to mobilize troops south, causing the north to be empty, and the Marquis of Yongyi took the opportunity to attack Houqu!"

"Now the Bai Gao Kingdom is mobilizing troops north again..."

Xu Zaijing smiled.

Their figures, followed by the eunuchs and female officials behind them, soon disappeared into the corridor in front of the main hall.

Inside the Empress's palace,

Her Majesty the Empress, who initially had no room for negotiation in her tone,

sighed heavily after hearing Xu Zaijing's words about the Cao family.

The personal guards of the Marquis of Tuoxi who were responsible for protecting Gu Tingyu previously included two collateral descendants of the Cao family, and she had seen them a few times.

Zhao Fang glanced at the Empress and also persuaded from the side: "Mother, Father said that Jing Ge'er is safe on his own; since Jing Ge'er wants to go protect others, please allow it!"

The Empress looked at Zhao Fang, who was shaking her sleeve, frowned slightly, and said: "This matter, wait until after the results of your examination are posted, Jing Ge'er!"

Xu Zaijing was just about to speak,

The Empress said: "Have your mother come into the palace tomorrow! Besides, the results will be posted in no more than two or three days, it's not a difference of these few days!"

Xu Zaijing pursed his lips, bowed, and said: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 383 =====