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

Chapter 337 Strange Soldiers
Happy New Year, Lao Liu!

Happy New Year, Brother Wang!

"Another year has passed... These days are chaotic and full of war, who knows when it will end~"

"I've been in the army for three years now, and I don't know how my children are doing or if they still recognize me."

……

After Zheng Jun was brought back, it was the New Year.

Even though he was outmaneuvered by Mingchen again and was furious, Ji Yuting remained calm and did not break off relations to start a war.

Both sides defended their respective cities, resulting in a stalemate and a balance of power.

With the arrival of the New Year, even the orderly army exudes a festive atmosphere.

We are all human beings, not machines.

Human nature.

The New Year inevitably eased some of the tension in the soldiers' hearts. During their rest, the soldiers greeted each other, exchanged a few words, and thought of their families far away.

Another year has passed, and they are still guarding this border, protecting their homeland. They don't know if they will ever have the chance to return home in glory.

"Hahaha, Lord Ming personally went deep into the mountains and hunted a big bear, along with some other prey. Go and see, we'll have meat to eat today."

“That bear is huge, like a small mountain.”

"Lord Ming has such abilities! He is truly a divine being, proficient in both literature and martial arts."

"Sigh... I wonder how General Ling is doing now. That damned Liu Xifeng almost succeeded."

"General Ling is seriously injured and cannot get out of bed. What should we do if the Northern Lie attack at this time?"

"It's alright, we still have Lord Ming!"

The Qian Yuan dynasty suffered successive major wars, its territory was shattered, and people were suffering from hunger and cold. Although the soldiers were not starving, it was clear that they could not eat well.

There is not much meat.

To celebrate the New Year, Mingchen personally went to the wilderness to catch some wild birds and animals, and made a bowl of meat soup for the soldiers as a celebration.

"Chen-di~ When will you be ready?"

The soldiers chatted and sighed.

On the other side, in the spacious mansion of the general, smoke curled up.

"Brother Chen, is it ready yet? I think it's almost done, the aroma is already coming out."

General Ling Yu, who should have been bedridden with serious injuries, was sitting by the fire with bright eyes, urging the young man beside him on.

The huge bear paws were roasting in the fire, coated with all sorts of spices, sizzling and oozing oil, emitting a wonderful aroma.

On such a cold day, to enjoy such fragrant roasted bear paws, accompanied by fine wine, and with my beloved in front of me, is truly one of life's greatest joys.

The little white dog on the side looked on with shining eyes, wagging its tail and running around the yard like crazy.

"Don't rush, don't rush, wait a little longer~"

This is a rare sight of my sister being so greedy.

Mingchen roasted the bear paw and said to Lingyu with a smile.

Liu Xifeng's task was completed.

We'll discuss the subsequent impact later.

Bei Lie is probably still racking his brains trying to figure out the current situation at the two passes.

However, the two highest-ranking officials in the North were relaxing in their courtyard, having a barbecue to celebrate the New Year.

Next year will undoubtedly be even more eventful, with storms brewing. However, this has nothing to do with this relaxed drink.

"Do you remember when we first met, after leaving Wangyang County? We were in the mountains, by the stream, just like this..."

Looking at the man's smiling face, memories flooded back, and she recalled the beautiful memories of their first meeting.

The young man, who was terrible at horseback riding, roasted wild boar with her in the evening, chatted, and drank together.

Time flies, and the world changes.

The once unknown martial artist and scholar have now become prominent figures in their time.

But now, they seem to have remained unchanged.

Enjoy a leisurely barbecue here during the New Year.

"Haha, yes... fate is truly amazing."

Mingchen sighed softly.

Even he couldn't have predicted that they would be in this state years later.

"Okay, let's eat!"

Mingchen handed the bear paw to Lingyu and said with a smile.

Ling Yu did not take it, but stared blankly at the handsome young man whose eyes were sparkling.

Time seems to have left no trace on him.

That spirited young man is still the same as he was back then.

He is a despicable villain who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals; he is a strategist who plots against the country; he is a monster who brings chaos to the nation; he is a hero who saves the country and its people; he is a liar who lies endlessly; he is a righteous man who is sincere and brave...

He had many identities, and he was full of contradictions. Many people hated him and wished they could grind him to dust, while many others respected him, loved him, and regarded him as a faith.

He is who he is.

"The luckiest thing in my life is meeting you."

They met, got to know each other, fell in love, and stayed together. Time flies, and this person is imprinted in the deepest part of her heart, never to be forgotten.

Ling Yu couldn't imagine what life would be like without this person.

Mingchen was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Meeting you, sister, is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me."

"Really?"

"Really! I..."

Ling Yu rolled her eyes at him and interrupted him directly, "I never lie? Don't even think about it!"

"Hahahaha~"

……

"Hey~ Happy New Year!"

Hahaha, Happy New Year! Happy New Year!

"Have you heard? Have you heard? Our Duke of Ying and Duke of Anguo went north to fight the enemy and reclaimed two of the three passes that the Northern Lie had occupied!"

"Ah? Really fake?"

"Hahaha, this is great news!"

"As expected, destiny is on our side, Qian Yuan! This year is truly a good year!"

"Come on, cheers!"

"Cheers to the Great General and Lord Ming!"

"Long live Emperor Qian Yuan! Long live His Majesty!"

……

Since Xiao Xinyue returned to Yueyang City, it seems as if she has injected fresh vitality into this dilapidated 500-year-old capital.

Good news kept spreading, and the bustling city regained some of its former liveliness.

Now that it's Chinese New Year, people are even more joyful and have smiles on their faces.

This seems to be a sign.

After so much turmoil, a golden age has arrived, and everything seems to be getting better.

only……

"Then...what is that?"

"So many ships, so big, so huge, coming towards us!"

"No, run!"

"Where is this ship from?"

……

Shenghai Village is a fishing village located in Kangzhou, on the eastern coast of Qianyuan.

The villagers are preparing to celebrate the New Year.

Located on the border, they are not significantly affected by changes in the international situation. From Dong Zhuo's usurpation to the Blood-Clad Army uprising, and now the restoration of the Qian Yuan dynasty... their masters change every day. They have no idea what the future holds.

They continue their work and life as always.
The sea stretches to the horizon, with no end in sight.

Suddenly, the wind rose and the clouds surged, the distant waves rolled, and huge sails blotted out the sky.

People stared wide-eyed, gazing blankly into the distance, somewhat dazed.

what is that?
……

"Your Majesty! Urgent report from Kangzhou: A large number of Northern Lie warships have appeared on the eastern coast, and tens of thousands of Northern Lie troops are launching a landing attack on our army."

"The enemy's advance is swift and fierce. Taking advantage of our weak defenses, they have already occupied half of the state and are now plundering and looting Kangzhou's supplies."

"General Wang can no longer hold out. We hope the imperial court will send troops to support him as soon as possible."

In the imperial court, the messenger, his face filled with fear and his voice trembling, read out a message to the people present that was completely unexpected and could not be worse than it could be.

For a moment, the court was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The officials' expressions changed drastically.

Just a few days ago, they were overjoyed that Mingchen Lingyu had reclaimed the two passes in the Northern Territory. But now, at the turn of the new year, they have received this devastating news.

Everyone thought that Bei Lie would, as before, confront Qian Yuan head-on in the Northern Territory, obediently conquer the three passes, occupy the Northern Territory, and advance on Yue Yang.

Unexpectedly, their opponent took an unconventional approach, seizing the opportunity of the stalemate in the northern border during this harsh winter. They descended like a divine army, crossing the sea directly from the northern border to appear in the most vulnerable eastern part of Qian Yuan.

Everything happened so suddenly that their minds went blank.

The hall was eerily quiet. No one spoke first; everyone looked up at Xiao Xinyue, who sat on the throne, waiting for her to speak.

The news is bad.

Kangzhou is the prefecture closest to Yueyang City on the eastern coast. If we cannot effectively block them, they will soon be at the gates of Yueyang City.

They launched another attack on Yueyang.

The memory of the last time the Blood-Clad Army besieged Yueyang and destroyed the Chen Kingdom is still fresh in my mind.

How many years has it been?

Xiao Xinyue actually already knew this information.

She was the emperor, the pillar of strength for everyone.

Now that this has happened, she must remain calm and composed.

Xiao Xinyue asked a general, "How many troops are still garrisoning Yueyang City?"

The general replied solemnly, "Your Majesty, there are 3,000 Imperial Guards stationed in the north of Yueyang."

Xiao Xinyue never intended to establish her capital in Yueyang City, so naturally she wouldn't build a guard there.

These imperial guards were the same guards who escorted the officials to Yueyang.

Originally numbering ten thousand, eight thousand of them were transferred to the northern border to reclaim lost territory. This is a microcosm of the current strength of the Qian Yuan army. Xiao Xinyue wanted to unify Qian Yuan as quickly as possible, so a large number of troops were dispersed throughout the country to suppress bandits, quell rebellions, and reclaim lost territory, resulting in a somewhat loose military presence.

"Um……"

Xiao Xinyue knew the size of her army; she asked this question so that all the officials present would know.

For a moment, the ministers fell silent.

The forces are far too few. According to intelligence, Bei Lie is taking a huge gamble this time, as the number of soldiers coming across the sea is ten times that of Bei Lie.

Their objectives are quite clear from their war strategy.

Yueyang City!
The enemy, disregarding all else, launched a fierce offensive, their invasion as blazing as fire, their target being Yueyang.

Bei Lie has come to raid our base!

How could a mere three thousand defenders possibly withstand the massive army of the Northern Fierce Army?
Xiao Xinyue remained calm as she looked down at the assembled officials and asked in a deep voice, "Bei Lie has launched a surprise attack and taken a risky tactic, heading straight for Yueyang City. Their objective is quite clear. We are now in danger. What are your thoughts?"

Those who only know fear when faced with trouble are fools.

No matter what, no matter how critical the situation, we must try to find a solution.

"Your Majesty, I believe the best course of action now is to abandon Yueyang, immediately return to Jiqu, and then mobilize troops to support the capital and besiege the enemy."

One of the ministers spoke first.

The enemy's target is obvious: to take advantage of the fact that Yueyang City is currently isolated and without support while their troops are all outside, and to target Xiao Xinyue who is still in Yueyang City.

Xiao Xinyue and the civil and military officials present were the most important heart of the new dynasty. If they were to fall to the enemy, it would be all over.

Yueyang City, a capital city with a history of five hundred years, was indeed extremely important to the political and cultural significance of the Qian Yuan dynasty. However, it was not indispensable.

Didn't you see that Xiao Xinyue was developing well in Ji Qu before?
Anyway, Yueyang City has changed hands several times already, so what's wrong with losing it again?
Where there is life, there is hope.

This is not cowardice, but necessary caution. Xiao Xinyue and her group cannot afford to take any risks.

For both Qian Yuan and Bei Lie, opportunities are fleeting.

Beilie needs to establish a foothold as quickly as possible, attack Yueyang, and form a strategic alliance with the three passes of the Northern Border.

If Bei Lie attacks quickly enough, captures Yueyang, and invades the northern border, then even if Ming Chen and his companion hold two passes, it will be useless, as their retreat and supply lines will be cut off.

No matter how strong the pass is, it cannot be defended.

Qian Yuan needed to annihilate the invading army as quickly as possible, while also protecting Xiao Xinyue and the safety of the central leadership of the imperial court.

Xiao Xinyue frowned slightly upon hearing this.

She knew the minister was loyal and that his words were sound advice, but she didn't want it to be like this.

"Your Majesty!"

Just then, Yun Zheng stepped forward, his eyes fixed intently on Xiao Xinyue, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, we have just returned to the old capital and just performed the sacrificial ceremony to announce our arrival to the world."

"Now that the Northern Lie have sent a large force to launch a surprise attack, are we going to abandon our city and people and flee in a sorry state? How will the people of the world view our dynasty and its officials? How will we win the hearts of the people?"

"Lord Yun, this is not the time for a fight of the spirit. How can His Majesty be left in such a dangerous place? If His Majesty's precious life were to be lost, could you bear the responsibility?"

Before Yun Zheng could finish speaking, a minister stepped forward and said urgently.

This is not a trivial matter like children playing house.

Xiao Xinyue has no successor.

If problems arise here, it would be tantamount to the downfall of the new dynasty. The rising new Qian Yuan dynasty would not even have time to shine before it is swallowed up by the tide of history.

The Qian Yuan dynasty was completely destroyed, and all of them are sinners in history.

Yun Zheng shook his head: "Gentlemen, abandoning Yueyang City is tantamount to abandoning the northern border. The efforts of General Ling and Lord Ming at the front will have been in vain."

"If we don't even put up a fight and let the Northern Lie occupy a lot of territory, will we still have a chance to win in the future?"

Yun Zheng looked up at Xiao Xinyue: "Your Majesty, no empire is won by running away! No monarch who unifies the world has not gone through life-and-death trials and tribulations."

"What about Bei Lie? They came at a risk. They dared to lead tens of thousands of people south, deep into our territory, surrounded by enemies on all sides, with no one to support them. They are an isolated army!"

"Yueyang City is fortified. Back then, the Blood-Clad Army, with its million-strong force, was able to hold off the enemy for a month. Why can't we?"

"As long as we hold off their overwhelming attack, we can mobilize troops to wipe them out."

Yun Zheng looked directly at Xiao Xinyue and said loudly, "Your Majesty, we must not retreat!"

Throughout history, which unified ruler did not undergo countless trials and tribulations, create miracles, and ascend to the throne before achieving his goal?

If you want to accomplish extraordinary things, you must become an extraordinary person.

All along, it was the monstrous Mingchen who cleared away all the obstacles and arranged all the most dangerous things.

Xiao Xinyue has won all the way up by doing nothing, only handling the complicated and arduous tasks, and the dangers she has experienced have all been under control. But that's not enough.

The king needs to step up at crucial moments, take responsibility, demonstrate his magnanimity and will, lead everyone, and give everyone hope.

Instead of trying to save their lives and escape.

In the past, Mingchen did these things, but now that Mingchen is not here, Xiao Xinyue needs to step up.

Who says that staying means we can't fight off the enemy?
Yueyang City was well-defended, and countless reinforcements were arriving from the surrounding area.

Bei Lie was also a lone force, and they also had to bear huge risks.

If Emperor Qian doesn't even have the courage to confront the enemy, how will the people of Yueyang City view us? How will the world view Qian Yuan?
If you escape, you might survive and perhaps even have a chance to turn things around and achieve great things.

However, that aura dissipated, and such a monarch became a level weaker, not the eternal emperor in Yun Zheng's mind.

He initially followed Xiao Xinyue in the thatched hut, driven by the idea that if the king was unaware of the truth, he would surpass the king's brilliance.

However, as time has passed, this monarch and this dynasty... also had countless efforts and hard work.

His mindset also changed without him realizing it.

He loved the country and respected the monarch.

Yun Zheng hoped that he had not misjudged his monarch.

(End of this chapter)