Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

One month later.

Bianliang.

Taihe Palace.

The civil and military officials were divided into two sides, discussing state affairs.

Zhao Chong was feigning attentiveness on the dragon throne, but inwardly he was quite pleased because King Yan united with the three other princes and recently announced their opposition to Prince Zhen Nan, accusing him of monopolizing state affairs, harming loyal subjects, and slaughtering the Imperial Family. They had now amassed an army of a million, advancing toward Cold Water Pass.

Now the Capital had just over a hundred thousand Imperial Guards, lacking cavalry, and the remaining troops were not elite, because they had been dispatched to Jizhou, and there were also insufficient grain supplies in the Capital.

Now that King Yan was attacking, it represented a grave disaster for the Imperial Court.

The ministers were deliberating countermeasures, discussing how to resist King Yan’s overwhelming force.

However, Chen Mo appeared calm. Although the situation was indeed quite tricky, it was all within his expectations.

His only concern was that while he led the remaining forces of the Capital north to confront King Yan, someone might cause disturbances in the Capital.

For once he departed with the troops, the Capital would truly be vacant, defenseless, and should someone launch a surprise attack on it, he would not only be in a rear-end ambush but might also be coerced.

After all, his family was still in the Capital.

Just as Chen Mo arrived at a plan to not face the enemy directly but rather transfer the gunpowder workshops from Nanyang to defend the Capital steadfastly...

”Report, good news—victory in Jizhou!”

The battle report from the front lines, rushed overnight over 800 li, was delivered before the entire court and the Emperor and Empress Dowager.

In the cold winter, this battle report was like a blazing firewood, causing the blood of the officials to boil.

Wow—

A moment later, the hall was in an uproar.

Without the messenger even speaking, everyone could roughly guess the contents of this good news.

Because some time ago, the army had already penetrated deep into the heart of Jizhou, routing the Yellow Turban Bandits with no force to counter. Now, over a month later, without any bad news arriving, and with a report of victory coming, it could only mean the conflict in Jizhou had ended...

Sure enough, Chen Mo snatched the battle report from the messenger’s hands and announced loudly:

”Report, in the second year of Kaiyuan, on the sixteenth of December, in the afternoon, our army besieged Julu, advancing with unstoppable momentum to the gates of Julu City. With High-Explosive Bombs, we opened breaches, and General Huangfu Hao swiftly led troops in...

By midnight, Julu fell, with sixteen Yellow Bandit chiefs killed, three captured alive, and the heads of rival leaders Zhang Jiao’s second brother, Zhang Bao, and third brother, Zhang Liang, taken, while the Five Pecks of Rice leader Zhang Xiu was captured alive.

On the morning of the twenty-first, Yellow Bandit leader Zhang Jiao was killed by our main commander Zhao Qianyi at Hei River, with the leader’s head and his weapon, the Nine-Section Staff, as proof...”

...

”Excellent!”

”Jizhou has finally been reclaimed.”

”The princess is truly formidable!”

”It’s all thanks to the proper command behind by Prince Zhen Nan.”

”Now that the Jizhou campaign has settled, the moment we hold on to the Capital, once the princess returns with the suppression forces, our army can strike out, attacking King Yan’s forces from both ends. At that time, our Great Song can restore the glory it had during the Grand Ancestor’s era.”

Confirming the recovery of Jizhou and the pacification of the rebellion, the civil and military officials were visibly delighted. Now that the Jizhou rebellion was quelled, as long as they could guard the Capital, and awaited the return of the princess with her army, thereafter, it would just be pursuing the Fourth Prince. Peaceful days would surely stabilize.

With some time for recuperation and recovery, returning to the prosperity of the Grand Ancestor’s time wouldn’t be impossible.

Zhao Chong observed the ministers’ reactions, his gaze drooping slightly, his heart sinking.

Damn, how could the battle in Jizhou have settled so quickly?

Were not the Yellow Turban Army said to number in the millions?

And to have support from the Five Pecks of Rice sect?

How were they suppressed so quickly?

Even a few million pigs couldn’t have been captured this fast, could they?

Prince Zhen Nan’s words rang true; no matter the numbers, they were just a motley crew, unable to form any climate.

Zhao Chong was deeply troubled; with Jizhou settled, internally, only King Yan remained.

If King Yan loses again, then the entire Great Song would completely fall into Chen Mo’s hands.

At that point, when peace reins over the land, would Chen Mo just not consider further steps?

This supreme allure of sovereignty, surely no one can resist.

Could it be that the Great Song’s kingdom really would be buried in my hands?

Zhao Chong was deeply troubled, yet no one paid him any heed.

Chen Mo bypassed him, requesting credit for the princess and others before the Empress Dowager.

Such a great feat must be rewarded.

”According to Prince Zhen Nan, what else?” Xiao Yunxi looked at Chen Mo.

”Let the Empress Dowager decide,” Chen Mo decided to offer this favor to Xiao Yunxi, which would aid her future ascension as Empress.

The members of the Imperial Family watched as Chen Mo directly bypassed the Emperor, their eyes slightly narrowed.

Chen Mo treated Xiao Yunxi too well.

He involved Xiao Yunxi in everything, and allowed her to take the lead.

At this point, even if someone said there was nothing between Chen Mo and Xiao Yunxi, they wouldn’t believe it.

...

After the court session ended.

Chen Mo returned home, summoned Gao Zheng, and instructed him to personally lead ten thousand troops to Nanyang to escort Tie Li and the others to the Capital, and to also relocate the entire gunpowder workshop here.

Since the matter in Jizhou was settled, he needed only to lead the army to steadfastly defend the Capital, waiting for the princess to return with the anti-rebellion forces.

After Gao Zheng departed, Chen Mo lightly stroked his chin in the study, contemplating whether to take a risk and secretly infiltrate King Yan’s camp to assassinate him.

Given his current strength, it would be entirely feasible.

Even if discovered, he could escape by flight.

The only concern was being discovered before getting close to King Yan, surrounded by the enemy forces, getting into a fierce battle, which would be troublesome.

Of course, that’s the worst-case scenario.

The probability of it happening is low.

Chen Mo’s abilities, if he wanted to hide, how could it be discovered...

The only reason for concern is if there is someone among King Yan’s troops with extraordinary talent capable of detecting this...

Chen Mo deliberated further, making a mental adjustment.

He could have his army as backup outside, even if the worst-case scenario unfolded, he could still escape...

No, it seems he wouldn’t need backup either.

As long as Zhao Jiang dared to siege the Capital, shelling a few rounds first, then leading the troops out, charging directly at him, taking his head would suffice.

This would also avoid concerns over the Capital being undefended...

Indeed, why think so much, when I alone can crush thousands of methods...

...

Three days later.

Zhao Jiang, with King Feng, King Wu, and King Yue, totaling an army of a million, stationed at perilous ground outside Cold Water Pass.

Of this million-strong army, the forces of King Feng, King Wu, and King Yue combined did not exceed fifty thousand; Zhao Jiang brought them along merely to display a sense of ”justice”.

Among them, King Feng was the full brother of the Late Emperor Zhao Ji.

And the three kings knew Zhao Jiang was using them, but dared not disobey, so they dispatched only a handful of troops for assistance, while they themselves did not come.

In the large army tent light by candles, dozens of men sat inside.

Wearing armor, Zhao Jiang sat on a reclined chair, with a teacup in hand. To his left were a dozen army generals, and to his right were Jianghu experts recruited from Youzhou.