Chapter 13: Discourses on Dao Yan Strategy

The next day, Su Ye was in the heir's courtyard of the Cloud Prince's Mansion.

Su Ye sat opposite his nominal teacher, Yao Guangxiao.

Su Ye raised the white porcelain tea cup in his hand and asked Yao Guangxiao, "Now the world is about to fall into chaos; Teacher, what plan do you have for me?"

Upon hearing this, Yao Guangxiao's face grew somewhat solemn; ever since he resolved to travel a myriad of miles to become Su Ye's teacher.

At this moment, the opportunity I have been waiting for has finally arrived!

I, who was once acclaimed in Confucian circles as a talent fit to assist the world and a present-day hero, have come all the way to the Nine Heavens Mansion.

Is it not that when I first entered the world, I looked up and saw a brilliant Purple Forbidden Imperial Star slowly rising from the east?

Since then, everything has seemed fated.

That talent, without hesitation, refused the countless forces that came then to pay respects and invite him to emerge, and resolutely went to Nine Heavens City, where he became a literacy teacher for a young child.

And that has been going on for over ten years!

Now that young child has grown up and begun to show his fangs to the world.

The dormant dragon has startled awake; a single roar moves a thousand mountains!

This means that the time has come for me to officially emerge from seclusion.

Thinking this, this is my first plan after serving my lord; I must present a perfect answer to my lord to prove my ability.

"Heir, as far as I know, in recent years the great grasslands of the Northern Frontier have suffered heavy losses of cattle and sheep due to winter snow disasters, making it hard for the tribes to survive, so small detachments have continually crossed the border. Is that correct?"

"Indeed, that is the case."

"What do you mean, Teacher?"

Su Ye was somewhat curious; the intelligence sent by the Heavenly Net always contained information about the Northern Frontier grasslands' foreign tribes.

But the incursions are only small detachments; although the three great dynasties among the Five Great Dynasties that border the Northern Frontier grasslands' foreign tribes have internal undercurrents surging.

But their power in the Northern Frontier has not been affected.

For now, everyone still shares a little consensus that fighting among themselves behind closed doors is acceptable.

But the troops of the Northern Defense foreign tribe must absolutely not be moved lightly.

Even this time, when the three great different-surname kings secretly aided the Taiping Sect, the Night King of the Northern Frontier merely held a nominal position.

Therefore, in this Taiping Sect incident, the Cloud Prince's Mansion to the east and the War Prince's Mansion to the south, the two great different-surname kings, tacitly agreed not to involve the Northern Frontier Night King.

So, although the foreign tribes on the grasslands have suffered heavy losses due to the winter snow disaster, they have not launched a large-scale invasion.

And the foreign tribes on the grasslands have never feared the few armies stationed by the three great dynasties to guard the Northern Frontier.

What they have always feared are the three great dynasties that continually provide blood transfusions to those armies behind them.

As internal turmoil gradually arises in those three great dynasties, then the foreign tribes on the grasslands will no longer be so obedient.

Thinking of this, Su Ye's brows also furrowed.

Yao Guangxiao's eyes flashed with insight: "According to the Dao Yan treatise, this time not only the Xiongnu north of Cangzhou, but almost the entire grassland has been affected by the disaster; thus, not only the Xiongnu, but also the Wuhuan, Xianbei, Jurchen, Khitan, Manchu, and even some smaller tribes, all to some extent wish to rely on moving south to survive the crisis."

And since the Xiongnu have suffered the most severe disaster, Guangxiao estimates that perhaps the time for the Xiongnu to mobilize troops is now.

The foreign tribes on the grasslands dare not mobilize all their forces.

They fear provoking a united front of all the great dynasties against them, but they can let the Xiongnu act as the vanguard to probe the situation of the various great dynasties.

Therefore, it is possible that more Xiongnu tribes are still on their way.

Su Ye slowly ground the white porcelain tea cup in his hand, his face expressionless.

Whenever that northern group of foreign tribes cannot survive, they will launch a southern incursion.

If they can gain an advantage, that's best; if not, they can at least consume the tribe's population in the process.

"However, heir, there's no need to worry; this matter may not be a bad thing for you and the lord."

"Teacher, how should we proceed?"

Su Ye knew that, since Yao Guangxiao had raised this issue.

Then naturally he had already devised a countermeasure, and even felt confident about it.

He merely looked at the Dao Yan monk's inscrutable face.

Su Ye let out a helpless laugh inwardly and asked in cooperation.

Dealing with this bunch of scholars is just troublesome.

Unlike the white tiger, which bows its head upon seeing me at first glance.

It's much more lovable than this group of strategists!

Yao Guangxiao leisurely took a sip of tea, then spoke slowly and calmly:

"My lord, the northern border is about to encounter warfare, which will surely alarm the court."

In the Da Qian dynasty, the Eastern Land Two Prefectures, our neighboring Cloud Prefecture's Cangzhou, have the most severe warfare.

Therefore, we only need to temporarily delay the warfare in Cangzhou.

Then, by that time, the Taiping Sect in the heartland of the Da Qian dynasty will also be about to rise.

At that time, while the Da Qian court is busy suppressing the rebellion, it will also necessarily permit our Nine Heavens Army to recruit a certain number of troops in Cloud Prefecture and then march north to support Cangzhou in resisting the Xiongnu's blockade!

"Sir, do you mean to have my Su family take this opportunity to expand our strength?"

"Heir, please first listen to my next step plan; for over a hundred years, the Cloud Prince's Mansion and the Nine Heavens Army have infiltrated Cangzhou, which likewise belongs to the Eastern Land Two Prefectures."

And Cangzhou, as part of the Eastern Land Two Prefectures and close to the Northern Frontier, has long lain outside the Da Qian core; inside, bandits, gangits, and horse bandits run rampant, and aside from the court there are few major powers.

Therefore, we can take advantage of the moment when the Da Qian imperial family is unable to attend to both ends, and in one fell swoop control Cangzhou and the Eastern Tranquil Pass.

Thus, before the world falls into great chaos, my lord can begin to establish a stable stronghold.

By then, even if the Da Qian dynasty reacts.

Already possessing Cloud and Cangzhou Prefectures, after expansion and also holding the Eastern Mausoleum and Eastern Tranquil Passes, the Nine Heavens Army no longer fears the court.

Moreover, within, there are also two other different-surname kings providing support from the side.

Then the great undertaking can be achieved; gathering the strength of the three great kings of different surnames, changing strings and tracks is as easy as turning over one's hand!

Yao Guangxiao cleared his throat, then continued: "At this time, the heir apparent can also assist Prince Su Kai in vigorously developing Yunzhou for several years."

Quietly await the great chaos that the Taiping Sect will stir up within the borders of Great Qian.

Moreover, the Taiping Sect, from top to bottom, is merely a group of refugees by origin.

This inherently limits their future.

Perhaps, relying on popular support in its early stage, the Taiping Sect could enjoy a brief period of great prosperity.

But after that, it will surely head toward ruin; at that time, within the five central provinces of Great Qian, refugees will be everywhere.

At that time, His Highness the Heir Apparent can jointly petition the court with Prince Su.

Requesting the incorporation of refugees and even Taiping Sect captives to strengthen frontier defenses.

By then, with the court beset by internal and external troubles, it will surely be glad to hand this hot potato over to the Cloud Prince's Mansion.

Thus, Yunzhou's population will surely surge; His Highness the Heir Apparent need only vigorously develop internal affairs and stockpile grain and supplies.

Furthermore, by raising troops among the populace, awaiting a day when the world undergoes great change, the lord may take advantage of internal rebellions erupting within the Great Yong dynasty of the Eastern Lands, strike east to seize Eastern Prefecture, then fully occupy the lands north of the Eastern Lands, and hope to control the entirety of the Eastern Lands.

Or, by marching west through the Eastern Ling and Eastern Ning passes to control the court, holding the four passes of the Divine Capital, to stare down the world—all lies within the lord's single thought.

Yao Guangxiao lives up to his name; this time his strategies are in no way inferior to those Zhuge Liang proposed for Liu Bei at Longzhong, the division of the world into three parts.

He clearly proposed a future strategic plan for Su Ye.

Moreover, I hear that the lineage of the Northern Army's commander, Night King, in this generation consists of three golden flowers; I do not know to whom this vast foundation of the Northern Army will fall.

Finally, Yao Guangxiao suddenly sighed, then lowered his head and drank tea in silence.

Su Ye, who caught the hidden meaning in Yao Guangxiao's words, twitched the corner of his mouth; while he was still planning his grand future undertaking, he then brought up this topic.

The breadth of Yao Guangxiao's topic caught Su Ye somewhat off guard.

But to speak frankly, if marrying someone could allow one to take the Northern Army without bloodshed.

Never mind marrying; even if the partner looked like Bogang, Su Ye could grit his teeth and close his eyes to endure it!

(End of chapter)