activa-t Chapter 106 Preparing for the Northern Expedition
Chapter 106 Preparing for the Northern Expedition
"Young Master," Si Gu Jian lowered his voice, his eyes filled with unprecedented apprehension, "Emperor Qing's cunning and strength far exceed my previous expectations! He's been hiding his true nature far too well! Miss Ye was by his side back then, yet she ended up in such a state. I'm afraid the situation is a hundred times more murky and dangerous than we could have imagined!"
He glanced around and continued, "This place is a den of dragons and tigers. I can clearly feel Emperor Qing's killing intent towards you; it's higher than a mountain and deeper than the sea! He hasn't attacked you yet only because the time isn't right, or perhaps he has a greater scheme. I've achieved my goal and shouldn't linger here, lest I fall into his trap. Young Master, you must be extremely careful and proceed with caution!"
Ye Tian nodded slightly, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes: "Thank you for the reminder, senior. I understand. No matter how well that old fox, Emperor Qing, hides his tail, there will always come a day when it will be completely exposed to the sunlight. Please take good care of yourself on your journey to Dongyi City, senior. In the future, this world may still need you to wield your sword and right injustices."
Si Gu Jian nodded heavily, said no more, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Ye Tian, and quietly departed as he had come. He knew that the waters of the Qing Kingdom's capital had already boiled over because of Ye Tian's appearance, and it was not appropriate for him, an outsider, to get involved. However, he had already made up his mind that if Ye Tian and the Qing Emperor truly reached a point of no return, the sword of Dongyi City would not stand idly by!
.
After seeing Si Gu Jian off, Emperor Qing immediately summoned Ye Liuyun and Hong Sixiang, whose injuries had slightly improved, to the palace.
Inside the Imperial Study, the lights were bright, but the atmosphere was as oppressive as before a storm.
Emperor Qing's face was so dark it was almost dripping with water. He looked down at Ye Liuyun and Hong Sixiang, who stood bowing, their faces still pale, and his voice was filled with barely suppressed rage and murderous intent:
"Ye Liuyun, Hong Banban, you've both seen it! This Ye Tian has become a major threat to my heart! His martial arts are unparalleled, and his talent is beyond comprehension. Even the unruly Si Gu Jian seems to be looking at him differently now, willingly acknowledging him as his 'young master'! Chen Pingping has gone even further, openly rebelling and leading the entire Censorate to join him! If this boy is allowed to continue to grow powerful in the capital, contacting his old subordinates and colluding with outsiders, my empire will be in grave danger! When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact?!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Liuyun and Hong Sixiang were both taken aback, as they naturally understood Emperor Qing's concerns. The power Ye Tian was currently displaying had indeed reached a point where it was enough to threaten imperial authority.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." Ye Liuyun spoke first, his voice still somewhat weak. "This Ye Tian is too sharp and reckless in his actions. He seems powerful, but he has made countless enemies because of it. His greatest strength is nothing more than his own brute force and the support of Chen Pingping and the Censorate. If we can transfer him away from the capital, away from Chen Pingping's direct protection, and then cut off his wings and claws, he will be no threat."
Hong Sixiang quickly echoed, his voice high-pitched: "Master Ye is absolutely right. This old servant believes that Ye Tian should be promoted in name only, but demoted in reality. Doesn't he call himself the Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces of the World? The Northern Qi has been making trouble on the border lately, and has repeatedly provoked us. Why doesn't Your Majesty go with the flow and order him to immediately muster troops and march north to conquer them? Firstly, it would demonstrate his ability as 'Grand Marshal' and appease the public; secondly, on the battlefield, swords have no eyes, and life and death are unpredictable; thirdly, it would keep him away from the capital, the center of power, so that Your Majesty can make arrangements at your own pace and plan your strategy slowly."
As Emperor Qing listened to their suggestions, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. This "using one tiger to devour another" strategy was exactly what he wanted!
"Very well!" Emperor Qing slammed his hand on the armrest of his dragon throne. "As you have suggested! Immediately issue an edict ordering Prince Qin, Ye Tian, to assemble the troops and, three days later, to raise the banners and set out on a northern expedition against Northern Qi! There must be no delays!"
He paused, a cruel smile curving his lips: "I want to see what kind of trouble Ye Tian can cause after leaving the capital and Chen Pingping's protection! The iron cavalry of Northern Qi is not something his meager poetry and songs can withstand!"
.
When the imperial edict for the Northern Expedition reached the Prince of Qin's residence, Ye Tian was not surprised. All of this was within his and Chen Pingping's expectations.
He calmly accepted the imperial decree, and even gave the eunuch who delivered it a "tearful smile" and bestowed upon him a generous reward.
After the eunuch left, Fan Ruoruo anxiously took his hand and said, "Husband, His Majesty... he's going to..."
Ye Tian chuckled and pulled her into his arms, playfully pinching her nose: "Silly girl, how could I not know what that old fox, Emperor Qing, is thinking? He wants to use Northern Qi to get rid of me, his biggest threat." (Next chapter: Chapter 106 Preparing for the Northern Expedition, We Await Your Visit)
"Then, why did my husband agree?" Fan Ruoruo asked anxiously.
A deep glint flashed in Ye Tian's eyes, and an inscrutable smile appeared on his lips: "Heh, little does he know, this is exactly what I wanted."
He looked out the window, his gaze seemingly piercing through the layers of palace walls, looking towards the supreme imperial throne.
He looked out the window, his gaze seemingly piercing through the layers of palace walls, looking towards the supreme imperial throne.
"Emperor Qing thought that transferring me away from the capital was like sending a dragon back to the sea, making me uncontrollable. But he forgot that once a dragon enters the sea, it is no longer a creature of the pond. Once it has accumulated enough power, it can stir up storms, overturn rivers and seas, and soar straight to the heavens!"
Ye Tian already had a complete plan in mind.
The murky waters of Kyoto have, for the time being, achieved his desired effect: Emperor Qing's prestige has suffered a heavy blow, and Chen Pingping and the Overwatch Council have also made their positions clear. What he needs next is a territory of his own, an army truly loyal to him, and, importantly, a record of military achievements sufficient to command the entire realm!
The Northern Expedition against Northern Qi was the perfect opportunity for him to accumulate strength, win over the hearts of the army, and seize control of the military!
"Once I have pacified the northern border, my military might will be enough to challenge the Qing dynasty's imperial power!"
Ye Tian sneered inwardly. His next plan was to use this northern expedition to completely seize control of the Qing Kingdom's military, and then aim for the throne, becoming emperor of the world! This was his true ambition!
·······························································
Just after Ye Tian's wedding, while Kyoto was outwardly enveloped in a strange atmosphere of calm and fervor due to Prince Qin's formidable reputation and the title of "Poet God," deep within the palace, in Emperor Qing's study, undercurrents still surged and murderous intent lurked.
Emperor Qing stood alone by the window, his hands behind his back, gazing at the bright moon outside. But his eyes held no trace of the moon's gentle glow, only a bottomless chill and an extreme, suppressed rage.
"Ye Tian, Ye Qingmei, Chen Pingping," he chewed on these names that made him restless, one word at a time. The faint aura of a grandmaster emanating from him made the air in the entire imperial study seem to freeze.
A shadowy figure appeared silently behind him; it was the most mysterious and trusted commander of the secret guards by Emperor Qing's side.
"Your Majesty, Prince Qin, Ye Tian, has received the decree and will raise the banner and set out on a northern expedition against Northern Qi in three days." The commander of the secret guards said in a low, emotionless voice.
Emperor Qing slowly turned around, a sinister smile twisting his face: "Good, very good! He's finally leaving this dangerous place, the capital. Did he think I granted him military power so he could go and make a name for himself? Hmph, how naive!"
He paced back and forth, his eyes gleaming with a venomous light: "Ye Tian, that scoundrel, is a wolf in sheep's clothing, unruly and arrogant, and has become a major threat to our dynasty. We must guard against him, and even more so, we must eliminate him! With his expedition to the north, his power in the capital will be relatively weak, and this is precisely my opportunity!"
The commander of the secret guards stood quietly to one side, awaiting further instructions from Emperor Qing.
Emperor Qing turned his gaze toward the direction of the Princess's residence, a cruel smile curving his lips: "Princess Li Yunrui, hmph, I have long heard about the ambiguous relationship between her and that beast Ye Tian, which has corrupted the palace, but I have kept quiet out of consideration for the royal family's reputation."
"In my opinion, once Ye Tian's army has penetrated deep into the northern border and is engaged in fierce battle with the main force of Northern Qi, and is unable to spare any attention, you should immediately lead men to arrest Li Yunrui for me on charges of 'defilement of the palace and plotting rebellion,' and imprison him in the imperial prison under strict guard!"
"I'd like to see," Emperor Qing's voice was filled with resentment and calculation, "whether Ye Tian is willing to disregard everything for his so-called 'great revenge,' or for his 'deeply devoted' foster mother, to obediently bow down to me, relinquish his military power, and submit to me! A woman, especially one like Li Yunrui who holds special significance for him, is often the graveyard of heroes, hahaha!"
At this moment, he seemed to have already foreseen what would happen to Ye Tian after he learned the news.
His expression—caught between a rock and a hard place, consumed by rage yet utterly helpless—made him let out a series of suppressed yet smug sneers.
.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside and outside the Qin Prince's mansion, an atmosphere of solemnity and impending doom pervaded the air. Banners fluttered, armor gleamed, and countless troops were gathering, preparing to march to the northern frontier. Ye Tian, clad in specially made marshal's golden armor, appeared even more valiant and imposing, exuding an aura of power and authority.