Chapter 250: Yanbei Army: Does the Son of Heaven Have a Special Bloodline?

The land of Daqing.

Dawn!

In the encampments of Qianyuan and Hexi armies outside Jingyang City.

Zhou Xuan stared at the figure seated at the head, face hidden beneath a demon mask.

He said, irritated:

"Your Excellency, today is already the seventh day—why haven't you ordered the assault on the city?"

His words revealed anxiety and discontent.

"If Daqing's reinforcements arrive, we'll be at a disadvantage!"

"Your Excellency, do you still remember the pact between us?"

Yet!

The figure seated at the head, wearing the demon mask, paid no heed, offering not a single reply.

At this moment, Gongsun Pingxi chuckled:

"Heavenly King, do not rush. The Art of War says: fortify your walls, clear the land, rest and wait for the weary. With our mighty army, even all of Daqing's strength can do nothing!"

"Moreover, three great armies now flank us—Daqing has no one left to send!"

Gongsun Pingxi shook his head, nodding sagely:

"Ancient wisdom says: to attack a city is inferior; to attack the heart is superior. We hold all the initiative—why rush?"

His words revealed a sense of "complete confidence" in the situation.

Hearing this, Zhou Xuan's inner fury burned hotter, his resentment nearly bursting free from his chest.

These past two days, Gongsun Pingxi's excuses had all been the same tired refrain.

Had it not been for Gongsun Pingxi's exalted status and immense power, he would have already drawn his sword and cut off this man's old face!

His urgency stemmed from the earlier alliance among the four nations: "Whoever enters Chaoling first shall be king."

With their advantage,

They should have been able to sweep westward unopposed, straight to Chaoling.

But!

Upon reaching the outskirts of Jingyang City, Wu Ying had ordered the army to stand fast.

Zhou Xuan had been desperate for days!

He took a deep breath, forcing his resentment to subside, striving to keep his voice calm:

"If Your Excellency insists on holding back, Zhou Xuan will lead my Hexi troops and begin the assault!"

The moment he spoke!

The tent's atmosphere froze instantly; Qianyuan's generals glared at Zhou Xuan's group with impatience.

Military orders are as firm as mountains—how could they be treated as a joke?

Zhou Xuan's eyes locked onto the figure at the head; he still felt a flicker of fear.

The Qianyuan Empress's reputation was not fabricated—it was forged blade by blade, spear by spear.

Her fame was terrifying!

When they formed their pact, they had agreed: during war, all armies would be under Qianyuan's command!

The atmosphere in the command tent grew heavy.

Just then,

A scout rushed into the tent, breaking the taut silence.

"Report, Your Majesty!"

"Jingyang's reinforcements have arrived!"

At these words, Zhou Xuan's face darkened into something terrifying; his rage surged higher.

If reinforcements arrived, Jingyang City—already hard to take—would become even harder to breach.

His fury churned, threatening to erupt.

Gongsun Pingxi gently stroked his beard:

"How many reinforcements? Who commands them?"

Zhou Xuan also forced himself to calm down, asking quickly:

"How many men did Daqing send?"

The scout hesitated, his expression troubled—as if even he found the coming news unbelievable.

Your Majesty and all generals, the reinforcements appear to number only one thousand men…

His voice carried hesitation—he, too, was stunned by the number.

"One thousand men?"

Zhou Xuan frowned, his eyes filled with disbelief.

In his view, one thousand men were like a mantis trying to stop a cart—suicidal folly.

Their combined force totaled forty-five thousand—how could a mere thousand shake them?

The generals in the tent also looked puzzled.

Gongsun Pingxi, however, seemed thoughtful.

"The two leaders: an old man and a young general in white armor!"

"They must be Huang Song and Chai Zhong of the Lu family army."

The scout's voice returned, laced with unmistakable confusion:

"More strangely, upon arrival, the reinforcements did not rush into the city—they set up camp outside the gates."

At this, the tent fell silent again.

Zhou Xuan frowned, his confusion deepening.

Setting camp outside the city was like exposing one's throat to the enemy—this was not standard military practice.

Zhou Xuan speculated: "Could it be that Jingyang's commander and the Lu family army are at odds?"

"Refusing them entry?"

The scout shook his head and continued:

"Jingyang's commander opened the gates several times, inviting the reinforcements inside to defend together—but they refused each time."

"Moreover, the reinforcements have already begun shouting challenges for battle outside their camp!"

At this, the tent erupted into murmurs.

Seeing this, Zhou Xuan had already formed his plan.

He rose to his feet, his gaze firm as he looked toward the masked figure above, requesting permission:

"Your Excellency, since the reinforcements act so strangely, I propose we abandon the assault on Jingyang and instead crush this force. They've marched long distances—they are exhausted. This is the perfect moment for 'strike when the enemy is weary.' I beg Your Excellency's approval!"

The figure at the head remained silent, listening quietly to the report below.

Zhou Xuan was about to speak again when a man in black robes strode into the tent, his cloak billowing.

"Urgent report from Heibing Tai!"

The man's voice was low and powerful, instantly capturing everyone's attention.

Heibing Tai, Qianyuan's secret intelligence agency, was feared as much as Daqing's Eastern and Western Depots.

"Your Majesty,"

the man continued, "confirmed secret report from Chaoling: Lu Chen has been enfeoffed as Prince of Yan, placed in command of military and civil affairs in the north, granted the Nine Bestowments!"

"The Lu family army has changed its banner to Yanbei Army."

"Lu Chen has left fewer than twenty thousand troops behind; the rest have marched north with him."

At these words, a low stir rippled through the tent.

Prince of Yan!

The first non-imperial prince in Daqing's history.

Zhou Xuan's face instantly brightened with joy; the heavy stone in his chest finally lifted.

As for what kind of prince—he didn't care.

Does the Son of Heaven have a special bloodline? Only the strong and mighty become kings.

What is one non-imperial prince?

His greatest fear had been Lu Chen arriving with ten thousand Lu family troops at Jingyang's gates.

That would have been an unimaginable battle.

He would have lost his chance to be first into the capital!

Fortunately!

None of it happened.

The Heibing Tai officer continued:

"Lu Chen's army has crossed Mount Qilian and reached the northern territories."

"Yesterday, he assembled thirty thousand Lu family troops, preparing to march north."

"Today, those thirty thousand troops have begun crossing the Yellow River, pressing against the northern borders of Xu, Bo, and Yue provinces."

"Our scouts in the north report that Beifeng appears to be retreating—preparing to abandon Xu and Bo, holding only Yue."

Zhou Xuan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm his racing heart.

"Your Majesty, this is heaven's gift."

"Since Lu Chen has marched north, we must seize this opportunity to strike with full force, capture Jingyang City, then turn south and directly assault the capital—thus securing our royal cause!"

Gong Sun Pingxi, upon hearing this, showed no sign of joy and said:

"Your Majesty, the very scenario we most feared has come to pass."

"If Lu Chen truly crosses the Yellow River's natural barrier, our meticulously planned strategy will come to naught."

"At that point, we may find ourselves in an extremely disadvantageous position."

Zhou Xuan, upon hearing this, wore a look of deep confusion.

Our army of 450, 00 is now brimming with morale and fully prepared!

Jingyang City is within our grasp!

Everything is going splendidly!

Where is the disadvantage?

The question my foster fathers asked: how much longer until this ten-year simulation ends?

It will end soon! The plot is nearly complete! One more chapter tonight—thank you all!

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(End of Chapter)