As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 316 Plotting Three Barriers
"Not leaving?"

Mingchen lowered his eyes, playing with His Majesty's beautiful black hair, and asked in return.

"We're not leaving for now!"

Xiao Xinyue also hung a map in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, letting Mingchen play with her hair as she looked at it and replied to him.

The crime of deceiving the emperor has occurred.

The way the two interact doesn't seem to be much different.

Even after reclaiming her identity as the emperor, Xiao Xinyue remained a workaholic.

If we're talking about official business, then we're talking about official business.

What is Your Majesty's opinion?

"I think……"

Xiao Xinyue was just about to speak.

"Report!"

"Your Majesty, Lord Feng Xiaozhong and Lord Xiao Ling request an audience."

A notice came from outside the door.

Xiao Xinyue casually said, "Let them in."

After a while, Feng Xiaozhong and Xiao Ling arrived.

The two were not surprised to see Mingchen there, and simply bowed to Xiao Xinyue, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Xiao Xinyue waved her hand: "No need for formalities."

"Lord Ming."

"Lord Feng, General Xiao..."

The group consisted of people who had escaped from Yueyang City and were close friends who could entrust their lives to each other. They exchanged simple greetings and bows.

After a while, Ling Yu and Yun Zheng also arrived.

There are also a few Mingchen who are not very familiar with him, but are loyal followers of Xiao Xinyue.

If necessary, Xiao Xinyue will hold a short meeting.

This small meeting brought together her most trusted confidants and close associates, ensuring absolute secrecy, absolute loyalty, and exceptional talent.

No more than ten people were present.

Small matters are discussed at large meetings, while important matters are discussed at smaller meetings.

The officials in the imperial court were discussing various matters, each holding their own opinions, which was indeed a good atmosphere for pooling wisdom and ideas.

However, too many conflicting opinions can make it difficult to distinguish between primary and secondary points.

Furthermore, with so many people, a mixed bag, it's difficult to guarantee loyalty and integrity, and it's also easy for truly important information to leak out.

Therefore, the existence of small meetings is very necessary.

This has always been the case with wise rulers and powerful warlords.

The small meeting brought together the team's most capable and loyal members. The meeting established the core principles of decision-making and determined the strategic direction. The larger meeting briefly addressed any shortcomings and discussed some mundane but unimportant daily tasks.

However, Mingchen didn't participate much. Most of the time, he would first discuss things with Xiao Xinyue alone, and then Xiao Xinyue would have these people talk about it again before finally making a decision in the court.

Xu Zhongling used the same pattern when he sent troops last time.

Xiao Xinyue nodded gently as everyone had arrived: "I have summoned you all here today to discuss the matter of sending troops to the northern border."

"The purpose of this expedition to the northern border is ostensibly to recover lost territory, but in reality, my target is the three passes in the north."

A monarch does not need to constantly refer to himself as "朕" (zhen, meaning "I" or "the emperor") to confirm his identity.

Sometimes, when people are already respectful enough to you, addressing you as "朕" (the imperial "I") actually creates distance. Using more intimate terms of address, on the other hand, earns more trust.

In private, Xiao Xinyue always refers to the leadership team she trusts as "I".

No one will look down on her because of this.

Everyone reacted differently upon hearing this.

Some people guessed what Xiao Xinyue was thinking, while others did not.

"I will not change my mind about establishing the capital in Jiqu."

"The reason I left room for maneuver in the court was to tell Bei Lie what to do. Bei Lie is not yet firmly established in the Three Passes, so they certainly won't send troops immediately."

"I plan to stay in Yueyang as bait to lure the garrison at the three northern passes into a large-scale southward advance. Our army will then lay in ambush in the north to see if we have a chance to win and reclaim the three northern passes."

Xiao Xinyue stood in front of the map, pointed to a large flat area in the northern border region, and spoke to the ministers present.

"I have already sent a secret order to Yulan Pass, ordering Zheng Chunting to muster 8,000 troops and secretly march north to garrison Tangwan. Once the Northern Army marches south, they can form a pincer movement with the garrison of Xingyue City to attack the pursuing Northern Lie forces from both sides."

"This is a rough plan I have devised, and it is bound to have many flaws. I have summoned you all here to hear your opinions."

Although his reputation for virtue spread far and wide, he worked diligently to govern the country.

However, Xiao Xinyue is not suited to be a stable ruler who maintains the status quo. On the contrary, she is full of martial virtue and often reads military books. She is capable of leading troops into battle.

Emperors who conquered the world generally needed to understand military strategy. They didn't necessarily need to be exceptionally skilled in commanding troops, but they also needed to be at least at an average level.

Over the years of peaceful development, Xiao Xinyue has not only built up her army but also never intended to remain in a quiet corner.

They could even be so reckless as to risk their own lives as bait to lure the enemy.

"Your Majesty, isn't this... somewhat inappropriate?"

"What if the Northern Fierce Army goes all out and mobilizes its entire nation?"

"If these people can't stop Bei Lie, what will become of Yueyang?"

"If Bei Lie doesn't fall for it, all our efforts will be in vain."

"I believe that this matter needs to be considered at a longer time."

Feng Xiaozhong is somewhat rigid and cautious, and dislikes taking risks, so his opinions are generally very conservative.

Although Xiao Xinyue's proposed outcome was favorable, it actually required the cooperation of the enemy and a bit of luck, making the chances quite slim.

Whether the Northern Fierce Army mobilizes its entire force or remains entrenched in its position, Xiao Xinyue's plan will fail.

Only if the general guarding the three passes of Beilie is ambitious and only leads his own troops out, is there any hope of success.

Yun Zheng frowned and asked, "Your Majesty, I wonder who the guards sent by Bei Lie to the three passes are?"

Ultimately, the decision to implement this strategy rests with the enemy. Only by understanding the character of the enemy's defenders and their marching patterns can the conversation continue.

Actually, the information is not yet accurate.

Xiao Xinyue was about to speak when she exchanged a glance with Mingchen.

The two were extremely in sync, able to discern each other's thoughts with just a glance, and Xiao Xinyue stopped speaking again.

Mingchen said, "The three generals guarding the three passes of Beilie are Deng Yingcheng, Liu Xifeng, and Bai Junxin, with Deng Yingcheng as the commander-in-chief."

"All three are experienced and capable generals of the Northern Army. Deng Yingcheng is the sworn brother of General Tian Hong and has inherited his true skills. His military style is very steady. He does not seek merit but only avoids mistakes. His ability to defend cities is outstanding."

"As soon as this man arrived at the Three Passes, he began to direct his soldiers to build fortifications, preparing to build a secondary city to the west of Zhenling Pass."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xinyue's expression darkened.

Mingchen knows more details than she does.

Mingchen has the ability to gather intelligence, so she doesn't doubt what Mingchen says.

This is clearly not good news.

Qin Lou was no fool. Having acquired this strategic location at great cost, he was determined to send trusted people to garrison it. He was resolved to firmly control these three important passes.

If it were so easy for Qian Yuan to take it back, he could forget about dominating the world.

Xiao Ling looked at the map, his brows furrowed: "Should we build another city?"

"Your Majesty, if another fortress is built, Zhenling Pass will be even more difficult to attack."

As an important pass in Beilie, Zhenling Pass has a very special location, situated between the North and South Rivers.

This eliminates the possibility of the army attacking the city from both the north and south.

Because there is a river.

Most generals don't have the talent or means to fight a battle with their backs to the river; no one wants to be besiege a city with a river behind them.

If the defending forces counterattack during a siege, disrupting the siege formation and chasing the enemy into the river, the entire army will be wiped out.

Zhenling Pass can only be attacked from the east and west.

Now another secondary city needs to be built.

Not only can it accommodate more defenders, but it also greatly increases the difficulty of attacking the city.

If the attack is launched from the east and the old city is captured, the defending army can preserve its strength and retreat to the new city in the west to continue defending the city and wait for an opportunity to launch a counterattack.

If the attack comes from the west, the city can be retreated to the old city, where it can be defended and a counterattack can be launched when the opportunity arises.

This is very advantageous for the defending side.

The longer the delay, the more disadvantageous it will be.

Upon hearing Mingchen's words, the several military-savvy generals present frowned. Bei Lie was truly not giving them any chance at all.

"The good news is that these three people belong to different factions and don't get along, especially Deng Yingcheng and Bai Junxin."

This intelligence wasn't gathered by the little bird; Mingchen investigated it himself based on the name the little bird provided.

Bai Junxin was indeed capable, but unfortunately, he had incompetent teammates. His brother-in-law had been caught and beheaded by Deng Yingcheng for embezzling supplies during a previous war. Bai Junxin was implicated and demoted as a result.

Although everyone seemed to be getting along well on the surface.

However, in officialdom, everyone holds grudges, and even the slightest change in mood will be endlessly interpreted.

Even if you truly don't care, neither your allies nor your adversaries will believe you don't care.

The Northern Emperor didn't care about personal relationships; they only needed to do their jobs well. If they did well, they would be rewarded; if they did poorly, they would be punished.

The three brothers didn't get along, but they did share common interests, so most people wouldn't focus on such a trivial matter.

The crowd fell silent upon hearing this.

The more I listened, the more I felt that His Majesty's sudden inspiration seemed somewhat ethereal.

However, Mingchen continued, "I think Your Majesty's idea is good."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xinyue abruptly raised her head to look at him, anticipating his next words.

"Our dynasty should have recovered the northern border in the first place, and sending troops north was the right thing to do."

"His Majesty's idea is simply to stay in Yueyang a little longer and give it a try. This will not cause us any harm."

"If the Northern Lie forces its entire nation to march south, we will have a chance to organize an evacuation."

Which hegemon who unified the world did not experience risks and sit on the throne in peace and stability?
If you don't even dare to take this small risk, then you might as well just go to sleep and stop thinking about it.

Mingchen thought Xiao Xinyue's plan was actually quite good. He had been thinking about similar things these days, otherwise he wouldn't have sent the little bird to gather intelligence on the Beilie garrison.

If we have a chance to retake the three passes, we'll still need to put in the effort.

"Regarding the details, Chen has some thoughts that he would like to add to Your Majesty's understanding."

Xiao Xinyue was pleased that Mingchen had stood up for her at this time, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her face: "Please speak freely, Qing."

"As far as I know, General Song has a son who is brave and skilled, but lacks experience and is reckless and careless."

"Chen has a plan. After General Song's successful northward campaign and the recovery of lost territory, he can be recalled to receive a reward, and his son can be ordered to guard Xingyue City. At the same time, His Majesty will issue an edict to send General Ling south to suppress bandits, but in reality, he will secretly send General Ling to the northern battlefield. The army will be nominally commanded by General Song's son, but in reality, General Ling will be in overall command."

"Once everything is back in order, Lu Mang will lead his army to attempt to attack the three passes, allowing defeat but not victory."

"Investigate the local situation. The enemy commander has heard that the general in charge is a junior officer who acted recklessly and suffered a crushing defeat in battle. He will surely become arrogant and may send troops to pursue them."

"If they attack with their arrogant troops, then proceed with the follow-up plans according to Your Majesty's plan. If they don't take the bait, then we'll find another way."

My own silly older sister is a killer.

Let her try what another killing god from another era did.

"Bai Junxin is an offensive general. The Northern Emperor sent him to guard the three passes in order to form a well-rounded combination with Deng Yingcheng. However, if war breaks out, Bai Junxin will not want to miss the opportunity and will inevitably clash with Deng Yingcheng. Even if this matter does not come to fruition, it can further sow discord among the generals guarding the three passes in order to seek other advantages."

It's nothing more than a test.

If it succeeds, all the better, as it will bring huge benefits; if it fails, there will be no great loss.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Mingchen stood tall and spoke eloquently, sharing his thoughts with everyone.

Everyone shuddered, a chill running down their spines. The generals, in particular, felt that if they were the ones facing the enemy, they might actually fall for the trap.

Even if you don't fall for the trap, the escalation of conflicts with other colleagues is disgusting enough.

This top-ranking duke of the country, he sits in this position and enjoys the deep trust of His Majesty, and there is a reason for that.

He can find opportunities, seize upon the opponent's weaknesses and vulnerabilities, concentrate his own advantages, and use every means to achieve victory.

Unconventional, unorthodox, and elusive.

With that kind of brain and talent... he's truly sharing His Majesty's burdens!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xinyue's eyes lit up, and she unconsciously revealed a smile.

Her previous plan was just a rough outline, seemingly full of flaws and with little hope, and the courtiers did not offer her any good advice.

However, after this person said it and made this change... it turned into a series of interconnected schemes, greatly increasing the chances of success.

This person is truly cunning and calculating.

It's too dangerous to be his enemy.

It is always necessary to be vigilant and restrain subordinates to prevent them from coming up with endless schemes and plots.

However, if he's one of our own, then he's incredibly reassuring. It's as if he can find a solution to any problem, which puts our minds at ease.

Xiao Xinyue felt that giving him the character "An" was the right choice.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the Duke of Anguo's plan is feasible."

"Your Majesty, I also support Lord Ming's plan."

After discussing it further and finalizing some details, they felt they couldn't find any more loopholes and reported back to Xiao Xinyue.

Ling Yu also stepped forward, his gaze cold and sharp, and bowed to Xiao Xinyue, saying, "Your Majesty, I am willing to go into battle!"

She remained indifferent to many of the wars fought by the new dynasty.

When the country needed her, she led her troops into battle.

She was willing to give her loyalty for that salary and honor.

But when it comes to fighting Bei Lie, she's wide awake.

She came out of seclusion for this reason.

She has been very happy these past years since meeting Mingchen. But that doesn't mean she has forgotten the deep hatred she carries.

She wanted to kill the Northern Lie people and soldiers until the hatred in her heart was gone.

"it is good!"

Xiao Xinyue nodded.

At this moment, Xiao Ling added, "Your Majesty, I believe there is something more to add..."

"Lord Ming is exceptionally talented and has come up with many ingenious strategies. When he joins forces with General Ling, they are invincible. Since this strategy was proposed by Lord Ming, why don't we have Lord Ming and General Ling go together?"

Xiao Ling has known Ming Chen for a long time.

He felt that Mingchen was someone who could create miracles; as long as he took action, there was nothing he couldn't do.

If Mingchen is sent along this time, and he joins forces with Lingyu, then victory will be virtually assured.

If the three passes can be safely returned to Qian Yuan's hands, it will undoubtedly greatly enhance Qian Yuan's competitiveness.

Mingchen: ...

You old bastard.

It's not enough for me to use my brains, I also have to go on business trips with you, huh?

but……

Going on a business trip with my sister isn't so bad.

He glanced at Ling Yu, and their eyes met, both seeing deep joy in each other's eyes.

The ministers nodded in agreement: "Your Majesty, General Xiao is right."

Anyway, Mingchen doesn't attend court or do any odd jobs or tiring work.

If he stayed in Yueyang, he'd probably just go out for walks and dog strolls every day.

Xiao Xinyue: ...

Damn it, I just got married and you're already making me live like a widow?

After breaking through that layer of relationship.

Xiao Xinyue couldn't help but want to stick close to Mingchen, and couldn't suppress her desire to see him and be close to him.

She was just thinking about whether to let Mingchen live directly in the palace after Lingyu was transferred out.

This is just great.

With Xiao Ling saying that, she could forget about it.

Xiao Ling was a loyal subject, and the people present were all her confidants. What they said came from the bottom of their hearts, for the sake of Qian Yuan and for her, the emperor.

This is what makes her feel helpless.

Mingchen is too clever and quick-witted. If he sets off with Lingyu, it will definitely greatly increase the success rate.

You could even say that if Mingchen were to set off, she could already be popping champagne.

only……

They keep urging the government to establish an heir.

You bunch of guys, don't you even think about the future crown prince of Qian Yuan?!

(End of this chapter)