Chapter 230: Alliance and Counter-Alliance, Ten Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains

The imperial palace.

Taihe Hall!

After Yu Ke's order was issued.

"Your servant obeys!"

The generals in the hall responded like thunder, their expressions alight with passion; no one doubted the Young Protector's command.

March straight to the Yellow Dragon Mansion!

It had long been the Lu family army's lifelong wish—now that the Young Protector had returned, the long-awaited battle, delayed for fifteen years, was finally beginning again.

Morale soared everywhere!

Dou Gu, having grasped the key point, spoke slowly:

"The Young Protector has secluded himself in cultivation for fifteen years, and his first battle out of seclusion has struck fear into all four nations!"

Zhou Cheng, whose mind was meticulous, had glimpsed fragments of the Young Protector's strategy, yet still could not suppress his doubt:

How could the Young Protector be certain!

The other three nations would not dare to move against our capital?

As for Zhou Jinyu, her thoughts remained mired in the sudden upheaval, like a tangled mess.

The order to march north struck like thunder, leaving her unsettled and agitated.

The safety of the capital, the sacred mausoleum, and countless commoners all hung by a thread.

Abandon the capital region and let Qianyuan and Han Chu draw near!

How could the capital be so easily abandoned?

She silently pondered: if Qianyuan and Han Chu succeeded, the north would plunge into irrecoverable ruin, caught between enemies, with the situation dire.

This hardly seemed a sound strategy.

Zhou Jinyu's thoughts involuntarily drifted to Lu Chen, a nameless unease rising in her heart.

She suddenly realized: why was she beginning to worry about Lu Chen?

She could only sigh.

Now, the two of them shared the same boat, their fates intertwined.

Yu Ke turned his gaze toward Feng Haiping and said:

"Begin preparations. At dawn tomorrow, the army departs."

"Yes, sir!"

A unified chorus echoed through the hall, then Feng Haiping led the generals away in haste.

Only a few remained in the hall!

Yu Ke chose to depart at dawn for deliberate reasons!

First, to allow the army ample time to rest and regain strength.

Second, there is the saying: "Let the news fly for a while."

He wished to observe the world's reaction—or rather, the four nations' responses!

Observe their moves, then determine his strategy.

A smile appeared on Yu Ke's face.

The "immersive experience" of personally participating was simply too rich.

He glanced again around the hall, his eyes settling on the three remaining figures.

Military Advisor Jiu Dou Gu, brilliant in strategy, devised plans for the Lu family army.

Li Xuedian, in charge of supplies, unassuming yet an indispensable minister of the army.

And the newly arrived, dust-covered owner of Penglai Pavilion.

Liu Wen!

He bowed deeply, humble yet radiating an air of distinction:

"Liu Wen pays homage to the Young Protector."

Yu Ke gave a slight nod.

In the Lu family army, generals abounded like trees in a forest, mighty warriors like clouds in the sky—but civil officials were exceedingly few.

Dou Gu was known for his open strategies, skilled at grasping the big picture.

Liu Wen was like an underground current, adept at employing covert tactics—but "covert" here was no insult; it meant the extraordinary measures necessary to achieve higher goals.

In times of chaos and war, great achievements often required a balance of yin and yang.

Besides the "personal younger brother" Lu Yu and the "personal eunuch" Yu Xu,

the hall also held Zhou Cheng and Zhou Jinyu.

Yu Ke knew time was urgent!

His own time for direct involvement was limited, so he rose and walked to a desk in the corner of Taihe Hall.

He had already made his decision: within this limited time, he would maximize the impact of his "direct participation."

The others followed in silence.

"Bring paper and ink."

Yu Ke spoke in a low tone; the palace maids and eunuchs hurried to act, swiftly preparing the writing tools and respectfully placing the four treasures upon the desk.

Yu Ke lifted his head slightly, his gaze piercing through the window lattice.

The horizon held only the last sliver of twilight, about to vanish into the mountains and valleys.

The day had reached its end!

Palace maidens had entered the hall, beginning to light the lanterns in the four corners.

In an instant, the lights flickered softly.

Several gathered around the desk.

Yu Xu held a candle, its warm orange glow illuminating the large table and several sheets of white paper.

Zhou Jinyu obediently ground the ink with gentle care.

Yu Ke thought in silence!

The great hall was quiet.

Zhou Cheng had long harbored a question in his mind, yet found no answer.

Finally!

He could no longer hold back: "Young Protector, I have long wondered: how are you certain the other four nations will not seize the capital?"

Yu Ke looked at Zhou Cheng, the Prince of Jiangbei.

Zhou Cheng felt the Young Protector's eyes, lit by candlelight, piercingly bright—as if seeing through the darkest corners of the heart—and his chest tightened.

Yu Ke smiled faintly, his tone carrying the calm of one who understood the world:

"Because the hearts of the world are aligned."

He shook his head gently, continuing, "This war cannot be fought."

At this moment!

Wu Ying had appointed Gong Sun Pingxi as chancellor.

Tuoba Shu had entrusted Gu Yi with power.

Gong Sun Zhongshu focused on restoring peace and prosperity.

Yuwen Yan had recommended Li Xian as Grand Marshal.

What did the four nations seek?

Yu Ke picked up the brush, its tip lightly touching the white paper.

He slowly wrote the two characters: "Great Peace."

The two characters pierced through the paper, steady and powerful.

Liu Wen, Dou Gu, and the others nodded slowly.

Today, Qianyuan was the strongest of the nations, followed by Beifeng and Daqing, while Han and Chu were relatively weak.

Yet even mighty Qianyuan could not swallow the other four alone—it would only provoke a united resistance.

Beneath "Great Peace," Yu Ke added four more characters!

"Alliance and Counter-Alliance!"

Han and Chu had allied; Beifeng had joined them; Qianyuan had formed an alliance with Hexi.

Now!

The four nations were uniting to seize Daqing's lands south of the river.

In this chaotic age, there were no eternal enemies, no eternal friends—only eternal interests and ever-shifting circumstances.

Beside "Alliance and Counter-Alliance," Yu Ke slowly wrote: "Chaoling."

Just two characters, yet they drew every eye to Daqing's capital.

Chaoling, a city of unique geography and immense strategic value, instantly became the focal point of the entire situation.

Chaoling was not only Daqing's political heart, but also the vital throat connecting the four nations.

It was surrounded by mountains on all sides!

The natural defensive barrier formed a vast pouch, tightly enclosing the lands south of the river, making it a military stronghold nearly impregnable.

The southern lands, famed for their abundant harvests, fertile soil, and thriving economy, had been contested by warlords since ancient times, known as the "Land of Fish and Rice."

The saying "When Chaoling is bountiful, the whole world is fed" had long been passed down.

Should any nation seize Chaoling, it would mean controlling the rich resources and strategic depth of Jiangnan, allowing it to advance with advantage or retreat with security, gaining absolute superiority in the four-nation struggle.

In the north, an ancient saying goes: "Who holds Chaozhou, holds the reins of the world!"

Jiangnan's original name was Chaozhou.

Therefore!

Chaoling became the focal point of fierce competition among the four nations, each eager to claim it, yet each fearful of it falling into another's hands.

Thus!

Under the "Great Governance" and "Vertical and Horizontal Alliances" of the four nations, a situation emerged where all four encircled Chaoling.

The four nations were mutually wary yet secretly vied for advantage.

In black and white!

Only a few short words!

Beside him, Zhou Jinyu felt the weight of the world's tide pressing down; her heart grew heavy, yet an unexpected surge of boldness rose within her chest.

She had never felt this before—her former husband, Zhou Zhen, was merely a timid emperor who could barely breathe amid court factional struggles.

Where was the vision to look beyond the four nations?

Under such circumstances,

one who could see far ahead could, with pen and paper, conjure "swords and spears, ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains."

She could not help but stare, under the lamplight, at the man holding the brush.

(End of Chapter)