Chapter 321

The news of False Song's northern expedition mirroring Northern Han was like a huge stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring ripples within the Hall of Martial Virtue in the Huangcheng of Bian Liang.

Chen Wen held the military report, standing before a huge map, his gaze calm as it swept over the almost symmetrical terrain on both sides of the light curtain.

His fingertip first lightly touched the marker indicating the False Song northern expedition army's movement, then slowly moved toward the east side of the light curtain, to the former Northern Han lands under Great Chen's true control.

"Northern expedition... following historical nodes, to strengthen its momentum, restore its strength..." Chen Wen murmured softly, his eyes flashing with insight.

"Zhao Kuangyin, you sure know how to play a good abacus."

He well knew that he must not allow False Song's northern expedition to proceed too smoothly.

This concerns not only the strategic situation, but also that intangible 'momentum'.

If Zhao Kuangyin easily takes the mirrored Northern Han and smoothly completes this important 'node'...

The strength of the Iron Crow Army's remnants recovering behind it may well exceed expectations.

By then, the other side's ability to interfere with the real world will be stronger, and its means harder to guard against.

We must carry out containment!

But how to contain requires careful consideration.

Should we directly dispatch troops across the light curtain, enter the unclear mirror world, and go to war with False Song?

This is an inferior plan, with unpredictable risks.

The best method is to take strong action on our side of the controlled real world, apply sufficient pressure to force Zhao Kuangyin to divert troops for defense, thereby disrupting the rhythm and deployment of his northern expedition.

"Order the Northern Pacification General Shi Dun and the Deputy Chief Minister Qian Gui." Chen Wen issued the order in a low voice, already having a plan in mind.

Moments later, Shi Dun and Qian Gui hurried into the hall upon summons.

"Your Majesty!" the two bowed in salute.

Chen Wen handed the military report on False Song's northern expedition to the two and asked directly:

"False Song has raised troops to launch a northern expedition against Northern Han within its borders; what do you two esteemed officials think our dynasty should do in response?"

After reading it, Shi Dun furrowed his thick brows and spoke in a deep, resonant voice:

"Your Majesty! False Song harbors wolfish ambitions; its northern expedition is a pretense, merely to accumulate strength while truly coveting our dynasty's territory!"

"I, the humble general, wish to raise a brigade of elite troops and station them beneath the light curtain! If they dare make any move, or if we make their northern expedition forces feel pressure so they dare not commit fully, that would be success!"

Qian Gui pondered for a moment, then added:

"What General Shi said is an open stratagem."

"But if our army merely stations troops at the border, the deterrent force may prove insufficient."

"I believe we can use this opportunity to hold a large-scale practical drill on the northern front."

"First, we can show False Song the sharpness of our new troops and the advantage of our equipment, making them dare not underestimate our eastern defenses, forcing them to divert troops to garrison and not commit fully to the northern expedition."

"Second, we can practice new tactics, test equipment, refine coordination among units, and enhance our army's combat capability."

"Third, we can invite neighboring vassal forces and foreign envoys to observe, thereby displaying our nation's prestige and stabilizing the periphery."

Chen Wen heard them, slightly nodded, and his eyes showed approval.

"What you two esteemed officials have said exactly matches my wishes."

"Esteemed General Shi."

"I am here!" Shi Dun clasped his fists, his voice like a great bell.

"I command you to return immediately to the northern front to oversee coordination."

"Take the northern front's new troops as the main force, supplemented by some border units, mobilizing…… twenty thousand troops, select a suitable area beyond a hundred li east of the light curtain, and hold a five‑day live‑troop, live‑equipment large‑scale exercise!"

"The scale must be grand, the momentum mighty, so that the observers across the light curtain can see clearly and hear distinctly!"

"Let Zhao Kuangyin know that to his east lies a ferocious tiger ready to leap out and wound at any moment, allowing him no peaceful sleep!"

"I will obey the order!" Shi Dun's eyes blazed with fighting spirit, his voice of acceptance ringing strong and clear.

"Esteemed Minister Qian."

"I am here."

"The Jing'an Office must dispatch additional elite scouts to closely monitor any movements of the light curtain, especially the troop movements of False Song's eastern border garrisons."

"At the same time, in the name of the Secretariat, formally notify the neighboring powers of Southern Tang, Wu Yue, Jingnan, and the Khitan envoys, inviting them to send personnel to observe our army's drill."

"I, I want them all to see who truly is the heaven‑supporting jade pillar of the Central Plains!"

"I, I receive the decree!" Qian Gui replied with a bow, his eyes flashing with sharp light.

With the orders issued, the efficient war machine of Great Chen immediately began to operate.

Countless messengers bearing military orders stamped with the emperor's jade seal and the Secretariat's great seal galloped out of Bian Liang, heading for the various military prefectures of the northern front.

The various elite units stationed in Hebei and Hedong (the former lands of Northern Han) received the mobilization orders.

Rows of soldiers with bright helmets and gleaming armor, equipped with the latest gear, left their garrisons under the leadership of officers and advanced toward the designated exercise area.

Countless supplies of grain, fodder, arrows, and spare armaments were continuously transported to the front by laborers and supply convoys.

On the northern frontier, for a time banners blotted out the sun, men and horses clamored, and a fierce aura of solemn slaughter surged skyward.

Even faintly, it overwhelmed the agitation brought by the gathering of False Song's northern expedition forces across the light curtain.

The news quickly reached the other side of the light curtain.

False Song, the northern expedition army's main camp.

Within the commander's tent, Zhao Kuangyin was conferring with his generals about the advance plan when a scout captain was hastily ushered in.

"Your Majesty! Urgent military news!"

The captain knelt on one knee, his voice tinged with haste.

"East of the light curtain, the False Chen northern front has suddenly massed heavy troops, claiming over twenty thousand, conducting a large‑scale military drill at the border!"

"Their encampment stretches over ten li, the drilling shakes the heavens, smoke and dust fill the air, and the momentum is immensely grand!"

The tent fell silent at once.

All the generals' gazes turned toward Zhao Kuangyin seated on the throne.

Zhao Kuangyin's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes instantly filled with cold frost.

"Military drills? At this time?" he snorted coldly, "Chen Wen... are you trying to restrain me?"

A general stepped forward and angrily said:

"Your Majesty, this move by the False Chen is surely because they fear our heavenly troops' success in the Northern Expedition; thus they make a show of strength to restrain our army!"

"I, the subordinate, think we need not pay attention! We should follow the original plan and fully attack the Northern Han pretender!"

Another, more cautious general then said:

"Your Majesty, although the False Chen's drills are provocative, their military might is formidable and cannot be ignored."

"If our army fully commits to the Northern Expedition, leaving the eastern front empty, we cannot guarantee the False Chen won't seize the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on our territory."

"Then we would be attacked from front and rear, and the situation would be lost!"

"What's there to fear!" the hawkish general retorted.

"The Light Curtain heavenly moat—how could it be so easily crossed? The False Chen is likely just putting on a show!"

"Otherwise, in the previous border skirmish, the enemy already displayed considerable combat strength, and their new equipment is likewise not to be underestimated..."

Argument arose again within the tent.

Zhao Kuangyin listened to his generals' debate, lightly tapping the throne's armrest with his finger, his thoughts racing.

How could he not know Chen Wen's intentions?

Yet this open scheme made him feel extremely uneasy.

Completely ignore it?

What if Chen Wen really goes mad, sparing no cost to tear open the Light Curtain and attack?

Can the troops left to guard the eastern front withstand the Chen Dynasty's border forces, fierce as wolves and tigers?

Dividing troops for defense? Then the Northern Expedition's forces will inevitably be weakened, making the attack on Northern Han harder and longer—exactly what Chen Wen wants!

"Enough." Zhao Kuangyin spoke slowly, suppressing the argument.

"The False Chen is deceitful; we cannot let our guard down."

"Issue orders to the eastern front military districts: raise the guards' alertness, closely monitor the Light Curtain's movements; without my command, no one may abandon their post!"

"Moreover... draw five thousand elite troops from the central army of the Northern Expedition, led by Han Lingkun, to transfer to the eastern front to strengthen defenses, just in case!"

"Your Majesty!" the hawkish general still wanted to advise.

Zhao Kuangyin waved his hand, cutting him off, his tone grim.

"The Northern Expedition proceeds as usual!"

"But I will absolutely not allow a fire in the rear courtyard!"

"I want to see how long Chen Wen's act can go on!"

"Once I have pacified Northern Han and consolidated our forces, the next step will be to settle the score with him!"

Although he spoke firmly, Zhao Kuangyin knew in his heart that the decision to withdraw five thousand elite troops to defend the eastern front was already a weakening of the Northern Expedition's offensive.

Chen Wen's containment strategy has already taken effect.

He gazed toward the east outside the tent, his eyes seeming to pierce the invisible Light Curtain to see the opponent he loathed to the bone.

"Chen Wen... let you be smug for a few more days..."

And on this side of the Light Curtain, the Great Chen's northern drill grounds.

Shi Dun, wearing a helmet and armor, stood on a makeshift high platform, looking down at the twenty-thousand-strong army below, its military might formidable and killing intent rising.

War drums thundered, bugles echoed across the camp.

Soldiers followed orders, performing various complex formation changes, offensive and defensive drills.

Strong bows and powerful crossbows fired in unison, arrows falling like rain, tearing the air;

Heavy-armored infantry advanced, their steps clanking like mountains;

Cavalry on both wings interleaved, hooves thundering like thunder, moving like lightning.

The invited foreign envoys stood on the viewing platform, watching this magnificent display of military might, all with solemn faces, whispering among themselves.

They could clearly feel that this army differed from past Central Plains dynasties' forces—its vigor, confidence, and astonishingly excellent equipment all revealed a powerful, emerging dynasty's vibrant vitality and formidable strength.

Shi Dun sensed the suppressed exclamations of the envoys behind him, gazing toward the Light Curtain direction where the faintly visible, reinforced False Song scouts' silhouettes could be seen, his lips curling into a cold, hard arc.

He knew, the Majesty's purpose had already been half achieved.

This containment drill not only showed muscle to the False Song, but also proclaimed to the whole world the strong rise of Great Chen.

In the coming days, the drill will continue.

And the False Song's Northern Expedition army, upon learning that the Chen Dynasty had massed troops on the eastern front, forcing them to divert forces to defend, saw their originally high morale inevitably shrouded in a shadow.

The edge of their offensive seemed to have consequently dulled somewhat.

Chen Wen, in Bian Liang's imperial city, through incessantly transmitted battle reports, closely monitored the dynamics of the northern front.

When he learned that Zhao Kuangyin had indeed withdrawn troops from the Northern Expedition army to defend the eastern front, his face showed the expected expression.

"The first step, accomplished."

"Next, it's a matter of seeing how you, Zhao Kuangyin, will navigate your 'node' under this internal and external containment."

He lightly tapped the spot on the map representing the mirror Northern Han, his gaze deep.

This remote contest has only just begun.