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When news of the fall of Nanping reached Shangjing, the Liao emperor Yelü Jing was drinking in the palace.

He put down his wine glass, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"Half a month? That National Defense Army really pacified Nanping in just half a month?"

The spy who reported knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head, and said, "Your Majesty, it is true. From the dispatch of troops to Gao Baorong's surrender, it took no more than fifteen days."

Yelü Jing remained silent for a long time.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gray sky over the north.

"Guo Que'er is dead, and his two sons..." Yelü Jing murmured with a face full of emotion, "They are both more troublesome than the other."

The Khitan nobles standing in the hall looked at each other, none of them daring to speak.

"Pass on the order," Yelü Jing suddenly turned around, "tell the Northern Han to make preparations."

"His Majesty intends to send troops?"

"It's not that I want to send troops," Yelü Jing sneered. "It's that Guo Rong wants to secure his throne, and I won't let him."

"Tell Liu Min to gather his troops, and I will send cavalry to assist him. Before Zhou's army can withdraw from Nanping, let's catch them off guard!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

……

In November of the first year of Xiande, Liu Min, the ruler of Northern Han, personally led an army of 30,000, joined forces with 10,000 Khitan cavalry, and claimed to have 100,000 troops, marching south with great momentum.

The army marched unimpeded all the way to the city of Luzhou.

When the news reached Bianliang, the imperial court was thrown into chaos.

"Your Majesty! The Khitan cavalry are swift as the wind; we must not underestimate them!"

"Although the Northern Han is weak, it has the help of the Khitan, so this battle will not be easy!"

"Your Majesty, I urge you to hold firm and not engage in battle until the Khitan run out of supplies and retreat, then we can devise a plan for the future!"

Inside the Chongyuan Hall, civil and military officials were arguing amongst themselves.

Guo Rong sat on the throne, his face ashen.

He looked at Feng Dao at the front of the train.

"Prime Minister Feng, what do you think?"

Feng Dao stepped forward and began to speak slowly and deliberately:
"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that it is not advisable for you to personally lead the expedition."

Guo Rong frowned.

Why?

"Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and your foundation is not yet secure. The hearts of the people in the court have not yet been won over. If Your Majesty personally leads the expedition, victory would be fine, but if there is any mishap..." Feng Dao paused, "This old minister dares to ask, has Your Majesty considered how many people in Bianliang City are hoping that Your Majesty will never return?"

These words were so blunt that the hall fell silent instantly.

Guo Rong's face turned even uglier.

He certainly knew what Feng Dao meant.

Those former generals he reorganized, those military governors forced to relinquish their military power, those regional warlords still observing...

Who wouldn't want to see him suffer a major setback?

But that is precisely why he had to personally lead the expedition.

Moreover, seeing Suning's national defense forces quickly pacify the small state of Nanping, Guo Rong felt somewhat itchy to do the same.

“Prime Minister Feng,” Guo Rong said in a deep voice, “if I do not personally lead the expedition and instead hide in the city, those who are hoping for my downfall will only be happier.”

"I want to show them that the emperor of the Great Zhou is not a turtle hiding in its shell."

Feng Dao sighed and didn't try to persuade him any further.

He knew that the young emperor had made up his mind.

That very night, Guo Rong summoned Su Ning to the palace.

"Your Highness, I intend to personally lead the expedition."

Su Ning stood at the lower end, his expression calm.

"Your subject knows."

"I want you to..." Guo Rong paused, "to release your elder brother's former subordinates."

Suning's brow twitched slightly.

"Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi, and Zhao Kuangyin are all veteran generals who have fought in battles. If I lead them on the expedition, the chances of victory will be much greater."

“Your Majesty is right,” Su Ning said. “Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi and the others can be released. Not only can they be released, but I can also give them new military positions. As long as they are loyal to the country, I will certainly continue to give them important positions.”

Guo Rong's eyes lit up.

"really?"

"really."

"Then... what about Zhao Kuangyin?"

Suning remained silent.

The imperial study fell silent.

After a long silence, Su Ning spoke, "The three Zhao brothers cannot be released. In fact, the entire Zhao family must be exterminated."

Guo Rong was stunned.

"why?"

"Because the Taoist priests around my brother saw dragon energy on the Zhao brothers, they must die for the long-term stability of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

These words were so direct that Guo Rong's expression changed.

“Your Highness, this is utterly absurd! What can be trusted in the words of a Taoist priest?” His voice rose several decibels. “Zhao Kuangyin has followed me for over a decade, fighting from Yedu to Bianliang. In every battle, he was always at the forefront. He was utterly loyal; how could he…”

“Your Majesty,” Su Ning interrupted him, “Liu Zhiyuan was also extremely loyal to Shi Jingtang back then.”

Guo Rong's words stuck in his throat.

"Father is also extremely loyal to Liu Zhiyuan."

Su Ning's voice wasn't loud, but it pierced Guo Rong's heart like an icicle.

"Being loyal and whether one will rebel in the future are two different things."

The Imperial Study was so quiet that one could hear the water clock dripping.

Guo Rong stared at Su Ning, his gaze complex.

"What...what evidence do you have?"

“There is no evidence,” Su Ning said frankly, “but I have eyes.”

"Zhao Kuangyin has a very high prestige in the army. He has always been clean-living and has won people's hearts. None of the old subordinates in the Palace Guard have any objections to him. If His Majesty uses him to fight, he can win. After the battle, those people will respect him even more."

“Once the drug reaches a certain level, His Majesty will lose control.”

Guo Rong remained silent.

He knew that what Su Ning said was true.

Zhao Kuangyin was a man who had an innate ability to make people willing to follow him.

Those rough and tough soldiers were all willing to obey his orders when they came before him.

This skill makes one a great general on the battlefield.

In the imperial court, this is a hidden danger.

“Your Majesty,” Su Ning suddenly asked, “I have a question for you, please forgive me.”

"explain."

"If Zhao Kuangyin or someone else were to gain military power and prestige in the future, and their subordinates, for the sake of their own high positions and generous salaries and the merit of supporting the emperor, urged them to advance further, would they refuse?"

Guo Rong opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

“They will refuse,” Su Ning said. “And they will refuse three times.”

"Then they are 'forced' to accept it! And then, with a compassionate tone, they say, 'You have caused me so much suffering.'"

"Just like when Father and His Majesty ascended the throne."

That's too harsh a statement.

Guo Rong's face turned deathly pale.

He recalled the ceremony of "three refusals and three concessions" when he ascended the throne, and the civil and military officials who knelt outside the palace to urge him to take the throne.

Those are the rules! But anyone can follow those rules.

“Crown Prince…” Guo Rong’s voice became somewhat hoarse, “You… how could you have thought of these things?”

Suning did not respond.

He simply watched Guo Rong quietly.

His gaze was calm to the point of being indifferent.

Guo Rong suddenly realized that he had never really understood his third brother.

When did this boy, who climbed out of the well and cried uncontrollably while clinging to him, become like this...?

Silent and unassuming, yet meticulously planning every step.

They even calculated things that would happen more than a decade later.

“Your Majesty,” Su Ning finally spoke, “I am not being suspicious, I am afraid.”

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid that the empire my father built will be taken away in the future. The Guo and Chai families paid a heavy price to win this empire."

Guo Rong remained silent.

He suddenly remembered the words his father said to him before he died, holding his hand.

"Your third brother is more ruthless than you."

He didn't understand at the time.

Now he understands.

"What if we wrongly accuse Zhao Kuangyin?"

"How could there not be a few innocent people who died unjustly in every dynasty? But compared with the great Zhou dynasty, they are not worth mentioning."

“Fine…” Guo Rong suddenly closed his eyes, his voice full of exhaustion, “I will no longer concern myself with Zhao Kuangyin’s affairs.”

Suning nodded.

"Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi, your younger brothers will be released tomorrow. Their new military positions will also be drafted."

"Regarding Your Majesty's decision to go on the expedition, I would like to offer one more word of advice..."

"The emperor sits in the court, and the general goes to the battlefield. This is the rule."

"The rules cannot be broken."

Guo Rong opened his eyes and looked at Su Ning.

"What about the Khitans and the Northern Han?"

"Your Majesty, I will go and fight."

Guo Rong was stunned.

"you?"

“Your Majesty is the Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Realm,” Su Ning said. “It is only right that we defend the northern border against the enemy.”

"Your Majesty is stationed in Bianliang, while your younger brother leads the main force of the national defense army northward. When the Khitans come, your younger brother drives them back. When the Northern Han come, your younger brother fights them back."

"We have won. It is thanks to His Majesty's wisdom and his ability to select the right generals."

“We’ve lost…” Su Ning paused, “I will take the blame myself.”

Guo Rong stared at him, his gaze complex.

This third brother never sought credit and never shirked responsibility.

He does what he's supposed to do.

He doesn't care about things that aren't his responsibility.

Like a wall, it stood firmly there, becoming the pillar that protected the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"Very well," Guo Rong finally spoke, "I grant your permission."

Three days later, Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi, and others were released from the government office and given new military positions.

On the same day, the 2nd Division of the National Defense Army was stationed in Nanping, the 6th Division continued to be stationed in Kaifeng, and the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Divisions began to be transferred north.

Suning personally led the army into battle.

Before leaving, he called Zhao Pu to the duty room.

"Have someone keep an eye on Zhao Kuangyin's residence at Mingli Hall. Report any unusual activity to me immediately."

"Yes."

"The Chengxin Trading Company will temporarily scale back its business in the Khitan region. Tell Zhou An that during this period, we will only gather intelligence and will not take any risks."

"Yes."

"We need to come up with an excuse to resolve this completely as soon as possible, so that it won't remain an eyesore."

"promise."

"Keep an eye on things in Bianliang. Report back immediately if anything happens."

Zhao Pu nodded, then suddenly asked, "Your Highness, do you really believe that Zhao Kuangyin will rebel in the future?"

Suning remained silent for a moment.

"do not know."

"Then why must we kill him?"

Suning looked out the window at the gray sky.

"Because we can't afford to gamble."

He turned around and picked up the sword on the table.

"The empire that my father conquered cannot be gambled away."

Zhao Pu did not ask any further questions.

He watched as the King of Qin strode out of the guardhouse, mounted his horse, and led his personal guards toward the military camp.

In the distance, the flags of the National Defense Forces fluttered in the wind.

The King of Qin will personally lead this battle.

But in Bianliang City, an even bigger game of chess has only just begun.

……

At the end of November in the first year of Xiande, Prince Su Ning of Qin personally led 30,000 elite troops of the national defense army, marching north day and night.

The army crossed the Yellow River, traversed the Taihang Mountains, and reached Zezhou.

On the opposite side, Liu Min, the ruler of the Northern Han, personally led an army of 30,000, together with 10,000 iron cavalry under Yang Gun of the Khitan, claiming to number 100,000, and had already set up their formation at Bagongyuan in Gaoping.

The decisive battle is about to begin.

Bagong Plain is a vast and open area.

In November, the northern plains are swept by a biting wind that stings the face.

The two armies stood facing each other, their banners obscuring the sun, and their warhorses neighing.

Su Ning reined in his horse and stood at the front of the battle, with the flags of the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Divisions of the National Defense Army behind him.

He gazed calmly at the dark mass of enemy troops opposite him.

"Your Highness," Cao Bin whispered beside him, "the Northern Han army is arranged in a '品' formation, with Liu Min in the center, Zhang Yuanhui as the vanguard of the left flank, and Yang Gun's Khitan cavalry observing on the right flank."

Suning nodded.

"Your Highness, what should we do next?" Shi Shouxin asked.

After his release, he was given a new post, and this trip with the army is his chance to redeem himself.

Moreover, during this period, Suning has been sending Minglitang personnel to work on him.

The main reason why Suning agreed to let Guo Rong reinstate them is that they have already pledged allegiance to Suning.

Otherwise, Shi Shouxin and his men would have met the same fate as Zhao Kuangyin and his two brothers—being imprisoned until death would have been the most merciful way to die.

Su Ning did not answer immediately. Instead, he gazed at the enemy formation opposite him, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly said:

"T-shaped formation".

"The left wing advances, the right wing follows behind, and the center wing covers the rear. Spread out on both flanks to lure the enemy deep into our territory."

Cao Bin's eyes lit up.

"Your Highness means..."

“The Khitans won’t make the first move,” Su Ning said. “That old fox Yang Gun always waits to reap the benefits. He’ll attack the Northern Han first, and once he’s hurt them badly, the Khitans will run away.”

"Order all divisions to deploy according to this formation."

As the war drums sounded, the Later Zhou army slowly moved forward, forming a "T" formation.

In the Northern Han army, Liu Min watched the commotion on the other side and sneered. "Guo Rong, you brat, sent a greenhorn to his death."

He waved his hand and ordered, "Zhang Yuanhui, charge! Break through Zhou's right flank and take the center!"

The sound of war drums suddenly became more rapid.

Zhang Yuanhui led the elite left wing of the Northern Han army, charging towards the right wing of the Zhou army.

The sound of horses' hooves thundered, and the shouts of battle shook the heavens.

Then, something unexpected happened.

On the right flank of Zhou Jun's army, the commander-in-chief, Fan Aineng, was pale-faced and his hands were trembling as he watched the overwhelming Northern Han cavalry charging towards him.

"Withdraw...withdraw!"

He pulled on the reins and turned to run.

Deputy General He Hui hesitated for a moment, then spurred his horse and followed.

With their commander fleeing, the right-wing army instantly collapsed.

The soldiers abandoned their armor and weapons, scrambling to escape, their cries and curses mingling together.

Zhang Yuanhui's cavalry swept through the enemy lines as if they were in an empty field, penetrating deep into the right flank of the Zhou army.

Under the central banner, Su Ning's face darkened.

"Your Highness!" Cao Bin exclaimed urgently, "The right flank has collapsed! If we don't send reinforcements soon, we'll be surrounded!"

Suning did not make a move.

He simply stared at the fleeing soldiers and the pursuing Northern Han cavalry, his gaze as cold as ice.

"Fan Aineng, He Hui." He read these two names in a low voice, but it sent chills down one's spine.

"After the war, they will die."

Having said that, he pulled on the reins and drew the sword from his waist.

"National Defense Forces, follow me!"

Without waiting for anyone, he spurred his horse and charged off.

Cao Bin, Li Chuyun, Pan Mei, Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi... everyone was stunned.

Did the King of Qin personally lead the charge?

That's the commander-in-chief, that's the Crown Prince, that's the Grand Marshal of all the armies in the land!

"Your Highness!"

Cao Bin was the first to react, drawing his sword and following after him.

Next came Li Chuyun, Pan Mei, Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi, and the supervisors standing at the front of the battle.

"kill--"

Shouts of battle suddenly erupted.

The soldiers of the National Defense Army looked at the figure charging at the forefront, and at the Qin King's banner fluttering in the wind, and their blood boiled.

If the head coach isn't afraid of death, what are they afraid of?
"kill--"

Forty thousand elite National Defense Army troops surged towards the Northern Han cavalry like a tidal wave.

Arrows rained down, whistling past my ears.

One after another, Su Ning's personal guards fell from their horses, but he did not stop or slow down; he just stared intently at the large banner with the character "Zhang" in front of him.

Cao Bin charged to his left, and Shi Shouxin charged to his right.

The three riders advanced side by side, heading straight for the heart of the enemy formation.

Just as Zhang Yuanhui was getting into the heat of battle, he suddenly heard deafening shouts of battle coming from his flank.

He turned around and his pupils suddenly contracted.

A cavalry unit of Zhou army was charging toward him with unstoppable force.

"Stop them!" Zhang Yuanhui roared hoarsely.

It's too late.

Suning has already reached us.

With a flash of sword light, a Northern Han cavalryman screamed and fell from his horse.

Suning didn't stop and continued to charge forward.

His eyes remained fixed on Zhang Yuanhui and on that large flag.

"Kill him!"

Zhang Yuanhui's personal guards swarmed forward.

Shi Shouxin charged head-on and slashed one of them down with a single blow.

Cao Bin charged in from the flank, knocking two opponents away with his spear.

In the midst of the chaos, an arrow from an unknown source struck Zhang Yuanhui's warhorse.

The horse neighed loudly, its front hooves left the ground, and it crashed to the ground.

Zhang Yuanhui was thrown off his horse, and before he could even get up, he was hacked to death by the swarming Zhou soldiers.

Zhang Yuanhui is dead!

"Zhang Yuanhui has been killed!"

The shouts echoed across the battlefield.

The Northern Han army's offensive suddenly came to a halt.

Liu Min sat in the central command tent, and upon hearing the news, his face turned deathly pale.

"Yuan Hui...is he dead?"

He suddenly stood up and rushed out of the tent.

In the distance, Zhou Jun's banners were advancing.

The large banner embroidered with the character "Qin" was particularly eye-catching on the battlefield.

"Quickly, quickly summon Yang Gun to lead the troops!" Liu Min grabbed the messenger by the collar and roared, "Let him lead the Khitan cavalry to charge! Crush that despicable Zhou army!"

The messenger galloped towards the Khitan formation.

Yang Gun reined in his horse and stood on the high slope, watching everything that was happening on the battlefield in the distance, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

Zhang Yuanhui is dead.

Zhou Jun's elite force was pursuing the fleeing Northern Han soldiers like madmen.

He looked at the sky again...

A southerly wind has risen.

The wind was blowing from behind Zhou's army, making their banners flutter, carrying their battle cries far and wide, and sending their arrows even further.

Yang Gun shuddered.

"withdraw."

"General?" The adjutant beside him was stunned. "We haven't even fought yet..."

"That's good that we didn't fight." Yang Gun pulled on the reins. "If we had fought, we wouldn't have been able to move. Let's retreat!"

The Khitan cavalry roared away, leaving the Northern Han people to fend for themselves on the battlefield.

Instead of reinforcements, Liu Min was met with the departing figures of the Khitans.

He slumped on his horse, watching the fleeing Northern Han soldiers, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

"Your Majesty, hurry!" The guards dragged Liu Min away and ran.

Liu Min was forced onto a horse and fled in a sorry state.

Behind them, Zhou Jun's pursuit continued.

They chased him all the way from Bagongyuan to the city of Gaoping, and from Gaoping to the outskirts of Taiyuan.

Of the 30,000 troops of the Northern Han, less than 10,000 returned alive.

In this battle, the Later Zhou dynasty achieved a great victory.

That evening, Su Ning summoned his generals in his tent.

There was no celebration, no reward; only one question was asked: "Have Fan Aineng and He Hui been captured?"

"We caught them," Cao Bin said. "Those two fugitives were hiding in the mountains, but they were found."

"Bring it up."

Fan Aineng and He Hui were bound hand and foot and taken into the tent.

The two men were covered in mud and looked utterly disheveled. Upon seeing Su Ning, they knelt down and kowtowed.

"Your Highness, spare me! Your Highness, spare me! This humble general was confused for a moment..."

Su Ning didn't look at them, but instead turned to the generals in the tent and questioned, "What is the punishment for desertion in the face of battle?"

There was a moment of silence in the tent.

Shi Shouxin was the first to speak, "According to military law, he should be executed."

"Then execute him."

Fan Aineng and He Hui were dragged out of the tent.

The blade flashed, and two heads fell to the ground.

The news spread throughout the entire army, and every soldier heard about it...

To desert in the face of battle is to die.

The King of Qin did not recognize generals or generals; he only recognized military law.

……

The following day, Su Ning held a meeting and announced to the public:

"Cao Bin is promoted to commander of the Fourth Division."

Cao Bin knelt down to express his gratitude.

"Li Chuyun has been promoted to deputy commander of the Fifth Division."

Li Chuyun kowtowed.

"Shi Shouxin has been promoted to deputy commander of the Third Division."

Shi Shouxin was stunned for a moment, then kowtowed heavily, "This humble general will certainly repay Your Highness with his life!"

He knew that this was an opportunity given to him by the King of Qin.

An opportunity to atone for one's sins.

It's also a chance to survive.

When news of the Battle of Gaoping reached Bianliang, Guo Rong was pacing back and forth in his study.

He hasn't slept well for three days.

He would read each battle report sent from the front lines several times.

Until the last battle report arrived...

"The great victory at Gaoping resulted in the defeat of the Northern Han, the withdrawal of the Khitan army, and the beheading of more than 10,000."

Guo Rong held the battle report, his hands trembling.

“Crown Prince…” Guo Rong murmured in shock, “My Crown Prince…”

Suddenly, I remembered the calm look on Su Ning's face when he said he was going to war in the Imperial Study that day.

"Your Majesty, I will go and fight."

"We have won. It is thanks to His Majesty's wisdom and his ability to select the right generals."

"If we lose, I will take the blame myself."

Suning took the blame, they really did.

……

One month after the Battle of Gaoping, Suning issued a reorganization order.

All armies of the Great Zhou Dynasty shall be immediately reorganized into the National Defense Army.

The main field army consists of ten Class A divisions, each with 10,000 men, and is responsible for external campaigns.
Ten additional Class B divisions, each with 10,000 men, were established to assist the Class A divisions in searching for and guarding the area.

Ten Class C divisions were established, each with 10,000 men, to serve as local garrison forces. Each prefecture was also assigned a garrison district with forces ranging from one battalion to one regiment, responsible for maintaining local security.

All officers of the rank of 100 or above must have a supervising officer to mobilize troops, namely the supervising officer of 100 households, the supervising officer of 1,000 households, and the supervising officer of command.

All military supervisors are selected, assessed, promoted, and dismissed by the General Political Department of the National Defense Force.

This decree caused a stir throughout the land.

Those regional military governors who were still observing finally realized one thing...

The Great Zhou Dynasty is no longer the Great Zhou Dynasty where anyone could hold military power and act independently.

From this day forward, the Great Zhou Dynasty will have only one master.

He is the emperor.

It is the National Defense Force.

It was His Highness Prince Qin, the Crown Prince, who led the charge and personally led the charge in the Battle of Gaoping.

When the news reached the Khitan, Yelü Jing remained silent for a long time. "That King of Qin... it seems we all underestimated him."

"Your Majesty, I deserve to die!" Yang Gun knelt in the hall, not daring to raise his head.

Yelü Jing looked at him with a complicated expression. "You did the right thing. In that situation, not running meant certain death."

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the gray sky over the north mirrored his mood at that moment.

"Tell all departments to behave themselves for the next few years."

“A man of such talent as the King of Qin of the Great Zhou Dynasty would certainly not be willing to be subordinate to anyone. Just wait until the King of Qin... wait until he and Guo Rong fight to the death.”

But will he be able to wait that long? Nobody knows.

……

Outside Gaoping City, the National Defense Army camp.

Su Ning stood alone outside the tent, gazing at the gray sky to the north.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

Cao Bin walked to his side and whispered, "Your Highness, the reorganization has already begun."

"How are the various military units reacting?"

"Some are convinced, and some are not. The supervising officer is talking to those who are not convinced one by one."

Suning nodded.

"If you can't reach an agreement, don't force it."

Cao Bin was stunned for a moment.

"Your Highness means..."

"Let them go," Su Ning said. "Those who want to stay, work hard. Those who don't want to stay, give them travel expenses and dismiss them."

"The army of the Great Zhou does not want disobedient soldiers."

Cao Bin was silent for a moment, then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes."

He turned and left.

Su Ning remained standing there, gazing northward.

He won the battle of Gaoping.

But he knew this was just the beginning.

The Khitans are still eyeing us covetously from the north.

Although the Northern Han dynasty was defeated, Liu Min was still alive, and Taiyuan City still existed.

The Southern Tang, Western Shu, and those other warlords who were still observing were all watching the outcome of this battle.

He had to keep moving forward until no one in the world could threaten the Great Zhou anymore.

In the distance, the sounds of soldiers talking and laughing could be heard from inside the camp.

That was the joy of winning a battle.

After listening for a while, Su Ning turned around and walked back into the tent.

There was also a thick stack of reorganized plans piled on the table.

I sat down again and picked up my pen.

As night deepened, the candlelight in the tent flickered dimly.

Su Ning hunched over his desk, reviewing the proposals page by page until very late.

...(End of this chapter)