activa-t Chapter 19 Have you ever seen the purple aura coming from the east for three miles?
Chapter 19 Have you ever seen the purple aura coming from the east for three miles?
Gu Jiantang perked up, stood up, and walked to the map:
"Although the Lancang River is wide, my Liyang Navy is invincible. As long as we control the river, it will not be difficult for our army to cross it."
His finger traced across the map:
"Of the seven towns in the eastern border, the most crucial is Luoxia Pass. The river is narrowest here, and the current is gentle, making it the best place to cross. However, the Qin army has stationed 15,000 troops here, and the terrain is treacherous; a direct assault would result in heavy losses."
"Therefore, I suggest we divide our forces into three groups."
Gu Jiantang's eyes gleamed: "The first route is for 50,000 naval troops to feign an attack on Luoxia Pass, drawing away the main force of the defending army. The second route is for 100,000 elite troops to cross the river at night from Heifeng Ferry, 50 li upstream. The current there is swift, and the defending army of only 3,000 can easily break through. The third route is for 150,000 troops to cross the river at Bailutan, 30 li downstream. The water is shallow there, and they can wade across."
"A three-pronged attack will prevent the Qin Empire from coordinating its efforts. If any one of them breaks through, we can penetrate deep into the eastern border, sever the connection between the seven towns, and annihilate them one by one."
He raised his head, full of confidence: "If all goes well, the seven towns in the Eastern Territory will surely fall into the hands of Li Yang within three months. At that time, we can use them as a springboard to gradually plot against the entire Central Continent."
Zhang Julu shook his head:
"General Gu is too optimistic. Although Qin may seem weak, it still has its foundation. Xu Longxiang's 300,000 iron cavalry in the north and Lü Bu's 80,000 border troops in the west are not easy to deal with. Once the war in the east becomes deadlocked, these two forces will return to reinforce, and our army will be caught in a pincer attack."
"Therefore, we must act swiftly and decisively," Gu Jiantang said.
"A quick battle?" Zhang Julu sneered. "A million-strong army crossing the river would require months of preparation just for supplies and provisions. The Qin spies aren't blind; by the time our army is ready, they'll already be waiting in full battle array."
The two men each held their own version of events, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense for a moment.
Zhao Qingxue listened quietly, her gaze fixed on the map.
After a long silence, she finally spoke: "General Gu's strategy is good, but Prime Minister Zhang's words also make sense. A direct attack would result in too many losses, and even if we take the eastern border, we will be severely weakened."
She walked back to the chessboard, sat down, and picked up a white piece.
"In chess, strategy is key. Until the very end, no one knows who will win."
The white piece landed, cutting off one of the black pieces' large groups.
"Qin Mu is making his moves, and so are we. But our moves will be deeper and farther than his."
Zhao Qingxue raised her head, her deep purple phoenix eyes gleaming with wisdom:
"The greatest weakness of the Qin Dynasty lies not in external factors, but in internal ones."
Zhang Julu's eyes lit up: "Your Majesty means... Xu Longxiang?"
"Exactly."
Zhao Qingxue's lips curled slightly. "The 300,000 iron cavalry in the northern border only obey the orders of the Xu family. Xu Longxiang has a distinguished military record, and his prestige in the army even surpasses that of the emperor. Such a powerful minister would be a scourge in any dynasty."
She paused, then continued, "But Qin Mu is still feigning incompetence, allowing Xu Longxiang to grow in power. Tell me, is this foolishness, or overconfidence?"
Gu Jiantang pondered and said, "If Qin Mu truly has hidden strength, then he is confident—confident that he can control Xu Longxiang. If he is truly a foolish ruler, then he is simply stupid."
"So, we should give it a try," Zhao Qingxue said.
"Try it?" All three looked at her.
Zhao Qingxue took out a jade pendant from her sleeve.
The jade pendant is entirely emerald green, carved into the shape of a qilin, and gleams with a warm luster under the moonlight.
On the back of the jade pendant is engraved an ancient seal character: Xu.
"This is a token given to Xu Xiao by the late emperor twenty years ago when he was sent as an envoy to Liyang."
Zhao Qingxue placed the jade pendant on the chessboard. "With this jade pendant, you can make a request to Li Yang. When Xu Xiao accepted it, he said he would leave this request to his descendants."
Zhang Julu suddenly realized: "Your Majesty intends to use this jade pendant to contact Xu Longxiang?"
"It wasn't contact," Zhao Qingxue shook her head. "It was a test."
She looked at Li Chunfeng: "Daoist Master, I need to trouble you to make this trip."
Li Chunfeng bowed slightly: "Your Majesty, please give your orders."
"Take this jade pendant and secretly travel to the northern border to see Xu Longxiang."
Zhao Qingxue's tone was calm, yet it conveyed an undeniable authority.
"Tell him that Li Yang is willing to help him succeed. As long as he raises an army against Qin, Li Yang can launch a feigned attack in the eastern border to tie down Qin's forces. After the matter is accomplished, Li Yang and Qin will divide the Central Plains equally, with the Lancang River as the boundary."
Gu Jiantang was startled: "Your Majesty, isn't the price too high? If Xu Longxiang really succeeds, possessing the three northern states and gaining half of the central continent, wouldn't he become another major threat?"
Zhao Qingxue laughed, a smile tinged with sarcasm:
"If Xu Longxiang succeeds, it will prove that Qin Mu is nothing special, and the fate of the Qin Dynasty is sealed. At that time, how could Xu Longxiang be a match for Li Yang?"
She paused, a cold glint flashing in her eyes:
"If he fails... then at least we've seen the true strength and weakness of the Qin Dynasty. Either way, Li Yang won't lose out."
Zhang Julu clapped his hands in praise: "Your Majesty is wise! This is a plan that kills two birds with one stone!"
Li Chunfeng then asked, "What if Xu Longxiang refuses?"
He won't refuse.
Zhao Qingxue said with certainty, "Would someone who has reached the Celestial Realm at the age of twenty-five, has made outstanding military achievements, and commands a large army be willing to remain subservient to others forever? Moreover, this person is a tyrannical ruler."
She stood up, walked to the railing again, and looked up at the western night sky:
"The human heart is both the hardest and the easiest thing to fathom. Give it a chance, an opportunity that seems within reach, and few people can resist reaching out."
The night wind grew stronger, making her clothes flutter loudly.
Under the moonlight, that figure was slender yet upright, as if it could bear the weight of the entire world.
"Master, you still have two tasks to complete on this trip."
Zhao Qingxue turned around, her gaze falling on Li Chunfeng.
"First, ascertain Xu Longxiang's true strength and ambition. Second..."
She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"If you have the chance, get close to the Qin capital and experience for yourself what kind of person Emperor Qin Mu really is."
Li Chunfeng bowed deeply: "This old Taoist priest obeys."
"Remember, this trip is top secret."
Zhao Qingxue walked back to the chessboard and handed the jade pendant to Li Chunfeng.
"No one else is to know this except the four of us. Even within the Li Yang Dynasty, the only word will be that I am sending an envoy to Da Qin to deliver a letter of state as a gesture of goodwill."
Zhang Julu understood: "Openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass. Your Majesty is brilliant."
"The choice of the delegation..." Zhao Qingxue pondered for a moment.
"Let Zhou Wenzheng, the Vice Minister of Rites, go. He is eloquent, greedy, and lustful, and easy to control. Let him go with lavish gifts and make a big show of it, the more ostentatious the better."
"Your subject understands." Zhang Julu nodded. "We will make sure that the Qin Dynasty, and the entire world, know that Li Yang has gone to seek peace."
Zhao Qingxue nodded in satisfaction.
She sat down again, her gaze fixed on the chessboard.
The black and white pieces are intertwined, creating a complex situation.
But in her eyes, she had already seen through the final outcome.
"Qin Mu, since you enjoy acting, then I will play along with you."
"I just wonder, when the curtain falls, who will be standing on the stage?"
She picked up a black piece and gently placed it down.
"Smack."
The pieces were placed, and a deadly intent was already brewing.
The conversation was drawing to a close.
Gu Jiantang and Li Chunfeng got up to take their leave and prepare for their respective missions.
On the star-gazing platform, only Zhao Qingxue and Zhang Julu remained.
The moon was setting in the west, and the Milky Way was gradually disappearing.
The sound of a watchman's drum came from afar; it was already three-quarters past midnight.
"Does the Prime Minister have anything else to say?"
Zhao Qingxue did not look up, but continued to look at the chessboard.
Zhang Julu hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, there is something I do not understand."
"explain."
"Why does Your Majesty care so much about Qin Mu?"
Zhang Julu asked, "Even if he is truly hiding something, he's just a young man in his early twenties. Your Majesty has been on the throne for five years, weathering many storms; why the need for such caution?"
Zhao Qingxue finally raised her head.
A complex emotion flashed in her deep purple phoenix eyes.
"Prime Minister, have you ever witnessed a purple aura rising three thousand miles eastward?"