Having many children brings many blessings; the struggle for power begins with marriage.

Chapter 338 Wanwan, you're thinking about men!

The Great Wu Dynasty.

Lizheng Hall.

Today, there were some figures in the imperial court that are not usually seen.

At this moment, two old men, dressed in armor and with gray hair and beards, stood in the center of the hall, carrying weapons.

Although they looked very old, their bodies were still very robust, with a height of nearly two meters. Most importantly, their muscles stretched their armor, giving them a powerful appearance.

Generally speaking, court officials are not allowed to wear armor or carry weapons when attending court, even military officers. However, these two people are different; their status is special, and they can wear armor and carry weapons when attending court.

At this moment, the Martial Emperor in the main hall spoke up: "For this attack on the Northern Kingdom, I intend to have Minister Xu and Minister Zhan jointly lead the troops!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers in the hall immediately began to discuss it amongst themselves.

The ministers were somewhat incredulous that attacking a vassal state under a dynasty would require the deployment of two Grandmasters.

In the past, no matter how intense the war was, Grandmasters would not be used unless one country reached the capital of another.

The Grandmaster is the trump card; no dynasty would use its trump card right from the start.

At the same time, not using Grandmasters is also a tacit understanding among the major dynasties. If one dynasty breaks the convention, more and more Grandmasters will appear on the battlefield in the future, which will make the war more brutal and more soldiers die.

This is the same for both sides.

Once a Grandmaster is reached, ordinary armies have almost no chance of resistance, which is why no dynasty in the past used the Grandmaster level in foreign wars.

During the Great Xia Civil War, the imperial family sent Grandmasters to wipe out the remnants of the Jiangnan aristocratic families. Apart from that, the activities of Grandmasters were rarely seen.

At this moment, a minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Northern Kingdom is just a small country. Why send General Xu and General Zhan to attack it? If we send Grandmasters to the battlefield, I'm afraid other dynasties will also send Grandmasters to the battlefield in their foreign wars in the future."

Once the norm is broken, more and more people will disregard the "rules." If it becomes the norm for Grandmasters to go to the battlefield, then in the future, when the Great Wu goes to war against foreign powers, it will inevitably encounter Grandmasters from other dynasties, and their casualties will become even greater. This is not a good thing.

Upon hearing the minister's words, Zhan Hong said unhappily, "What a pedantic person! After Your Majesty destroys the Northern Kingdom, your next target will be the entire Great Xia Dynasty. Do you really think that when Your Majesty launches a war of annihilation against Great Xia, Great Xia will not send Grandmasters to the battlefield?"

Since becoming a Grandmaster, Zhan Hong had relinquished all his military power and had been living a leisurely life in the General's Mansion. It was only with great difficulty that the Martial Emperor had managed to get him out of retirement as a Grandmaster, and he didn't want anyone to ruin his plans.

Moreover, what he said was indeed true. Putting aside the fact that the Northern Kingdom has a strong military, even if the Great Xia is destroyed in the future, the Great Wu will still send out Grandmasters. Since Grandmasters will be sent out sooner or later, why continue to maintain the previous tacit understanding?

It's time to abolish the rule that Grandmasters don't go to the battlefield.

Of course, there is another crucial point: the Northern Kingdom once wiped out a barbarian army that possessed a Grandmaster, and the Northern Kingdom itself also possesses Grandmasters, and certainly more than one. If the Great Wu wants to destroy the Northern Kingdom, how can it do so without deploying Grandmasters?

After Zhan Hong finished speaking, Xu Xingwen added from the side, "The Northern Kingdom already has Grandmasters. If you want to destroy the Northern Kingdom, why not send Grandmasters instead of you civil officials to defeat their Grandmasters?"

Upon hearing Xu Xingwen's words, the civil officials in the hall fell silent instantly, and no one continued to discuss the matter of sending a Grandmaster.

Indeed, they almost forgot that they were going to destroy the Northern Kingdom. At that time, the Northern Kingdom would use all its strength to fight Da Wu to the death, including sending the Northern Kingdom's Grandmasters to the battlefield. If they didn't send Grandmasters, how could they possibly destroy the Northern Kingdom?

Seeing that the civil officials were silent, the Emperor said, "To destroy the Northern Kingdom, we will definitely need to send a Grandmaster, but I still have some concerns."

At this point, the Empress's gaze fell upon Zhan Hong and Xu Xingwen, "Minister Zhan, Minister Xu, are you confident in defeating Zhuge Chongguang?"

Upon hearing this, Zhan Hong laughed loudly and then said, "Zhuge Chongguang entered the Dao through literature, and is merely a scholar. Even if he becomes a Grandmaster, he cannot possess the true strength of a Grandmaster. Your Majesty, please rest assured, Zhuge Chongguang is no match for us."

"In terms of strategy, General Xu and I are certainly no match for Zhuge Chongguang, but in terms of martial prowess, I could defeat Zhuge Chongguang with just one hand."

"Faced with absolute power, all strategies are insignificant. I will surely destroy the Northern Kingdom within four months and present the Northern King's head to Your Majesty."

Upon hearing Zhan Hong's confident words, the Martial Emperor revealed a smile.

"Seeing General Zhan so confident, I am relieved."

At this moment, Chai Jiliang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that you bypassed the Ministry of War and directly dispatched 300,000 troops northward without even preparing provisions."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wu said calmly, "I was just worried that the Northern Kingdom would send troops after learning that Great Wu was going to attack them, so I mobilized 300,000 troops to the north as a precaution. What, does Minister Chai find this inappropriate?"

Chai Jiliang immediately asked, "Your Majesty, you've mobilized 300,000 troops to march north so quickly. If the logistics can't keep up, what will these 300,000 troops eat?"

The Emperor replied, "I have already issued orders to several counties in the north, instructing them to immediately gather provisions for the 300,000-strong army. Minister Chai need not worry about that."

"I'm not stupid; I won't let my soldiers go hungry."

Upon hearing this, Chai Jiliang frowned.

Chai Jiliang then said, "Your Majesty, the north has suffered a severe drought in the past two years, and the people are already struggling to survive. After paying their agricultural taxes, the people have very little grain left. If we continue to collect the necessary provisions for the army in the north at this time, it may cause resentment among the people in the northern counties."

How to collect grain in the north is something everyone can guess: it's definitely by asking ordinary people to contribute grain. Those aristocratic families in the north won't voluntarily donate grain.

Those powerful families colluded with local officials. They only needed to give the officials some benefits, and they wouldn't have to provide any grain. In order to raise enough grain for the army, the officials in the northern counties would definitely ask the people to hand over their grain. This would inevitably intensify the people's hatred towards the imperial court.

These days, Chai Jiliang has been busy until very late every day, trying to gather the grain needed to attack the Northern Kingdom. His biggest worry is that the Emperor Wu will send the army to collect grain in the north. As a result, before he could even gather enough grain, the Emperor Wu dispatched 300,000 troops to march directly north.

Upon hearing Chai Jiliang's words, Emperor Wu was somewhat displeased, but he simply said, "Speed ​​is of the essence in war. To conquer the Northern Kingdom, we must always pay a price."

Just then, Zhan Hong said to Chai Jiliang, "Prime Minister Chai, rest assured, I know what you're worried about. You're worried that if the people see the army requisitioning grain in the area, it will cause them to distrust His Majesty, right?"

Chai Jiliang remained silent.

This is obvious.

Seeing that Chai Jiliang remained silent, Zhan Hong continued, "The 300,000 troops that His Majesty has transferred to the north are the same troops I once led. Once they arrive in the north, they will collect grain in my name. Rest assured, the people will not hold His Majesty responsible."

"Your Majesty is right. In war, speed is of the essence. How can we wait for you to slowly gather your supplies before we attack? By the time you have gathered your supplies, the Northern Kingdom will probably have already reacted."

"The people of the northern counties are all His Majesty's subjects. It is only right that they contribute some grain to the Great Wu. Prime Minister Chai, you don't need to worry too much. Let the people suffer a little, and I will bear the blame."

Seeing that Zhan Hong had said so, Chai Jiliang said no more; there was no point in saying anything now.

The 300,000-strong army had already marched north, and it was impossible to bring them back now. The only thing to do was to hurry up and find a way to replenish their supplies so that they wouldn't have to search for food in the north.

At this point, Emperor Wu said, "Do any of you ministers have anything else to attend to today? If not, let's end the court session here."

Seeing that no one in the hall spoke, the Martial Emperor stood up, waved his sleeve, and said, "Court adjourned."

"Congratulations to Your Majesty!"

……

The Great Yue Dynasty.

Wu Junwan was washing Yuehuang's body in the bath. Yuehuang's body was snow-white and smooth.

Inside the bathtub, steam rose, and only two fair bodies could be vaguely seen.

While rubbing Yuehuang's back, Wu Junwan said, "Qingrou, are you really not planning to form an alliance with Dawu?"

Emperor Yue replied, "Yunwan, it's not that I don't want to, it's that the ministers in the court won't allow it."

"I really want to help you. Besides, the Northern Kingdom is a major threat to Dayue. I also want to destroy the Northern Kingdom. Unfortunately, the people of Dayue have finally achieved their current life and they don't want to experience war again."

The Great Yue Kingdom has only been established for a few years. Before that, it was a chaotic place where the people lived in constant fear that they would die one day. It was only after the Emperor's father came that the place gained order and a slightly more peaceful environment.

Therefore, the people of Dayue really did not want to fight, but the people are the people. The ministers of Dayue were well aware of how great a threat the Northern Kingdom was to Dayue, and many of them agreed to send troops to the Northern Kingdom from the beginning.

Wu Yunwan wasn't stupid; she guessed it too. Emperor Yue was still somewhat wary of the Northern Kingdom, or rather, Emperor Yue wanted Da Wu to probe the Northern Kingdom's strength first before making a decision.

Wu Junwan sighed softly. Although she and Emperor Yue were good friends and sisters, they were born in two different dynasties.

Emperor Yue has his own dynastic interests, and he can no longer act on emotion as he did before, readily helping her as he always did. Wu Junwan can understand Emperor Yue's feelings.

If she were already the Empress of Da Wu, she wouldn't help Da Yue no matter what happened to her in the future. At most, she would only step in to save Da Yue when Da Yue's life was in danger.

At this moment, Emperor Yue in the bath turned around, put one arm around Wu Yunwan's voluptuous body, lifted her chin with the other, looked into her eyes and said, "Although Dayue cannot form an alliance with Dawu for the time being, I can persuade the ministers in the court to agree to allow Dawu's army to pass through, so that Dawu can enter the Northern Kingdom directly from Dayue."

Wu Yunwan had guessed this would be the outcome from the moment she set off, and as expected, the Emperor only agreed to allow passage.

Just as Wu Yunwan was about to say something, Emperor Yue continued, "Furthermore, if the Great Wu army encounters any problems, Great Yue will immediately send a large army eastward to deter the Northern Kingdom and prevent the Northern Kingdom's army from entering Great Wu."

Upon hearing this, Wu Junwan was slightly taken aback.

According to her best friend, she doesn't actually have a high opinion of Da Wu's army.

Empress Yue seemed to sense Wu Yunwan's thoughts. She smiled slightly and then said, "Yunwan, don't overthink it. I was just saying it as an assumption."

Although that's what she said, Wu Junwan could tell that her good friend really didn't think highly of Da Wu. No wonder she didn't agree to form an alliance and wanted Da Wu to test the Northern Kingdom.

Wu Junwan then thought of someone and asked, "Qingrou, has that maid you mentioned last time who looks a lot like me returned from the Northern Kingdom?"

Li Qingrou said, "She came back once, but in order to gather more information about the Northern Kingdom, I sent her back there."

Hearing what Emperor Yue said, Wu Junwan was basically certain of her guess. Emperor Yue did not have a high opinion of the Great Wu army. In Emperor Yue's view, the strength of the Northern Kingdom was probably already comparable to that of a dynasty.

Empress Yue did not say anything more, and her slender hands continued to gently caress Wu Yunwan's body.

After a moment, Emperor Yue smiled and said, "Yunwan, your body is becoming more and more alluring. I wonder which man will be lucky enough to kiss you in the future."

Upon hearing this, Wu Junwan smiled and replied, "I have long planned to remain unmarried for life, and no man will ever touch my body."

Li Qingrou held Wu Junwan close and whispered in her ear, "Never marrying doesn't mean you'll never have a man."

"If you don't have men, where will your children come from? And if you don't have children, how can you control the entire Great Wu Dynasty?"

Li Qingrou knew exactly what Wu Yunwan was thinking. As Wu Yunwan's best friend, she had long seen that Wu Yunwan also wanted to become an empress of a dynasty, just like her.

However, the situation in Da Wu is more complicated, and Wu Yunwan's strength is not as great as hers, so it is not so easy for Wu Yunwan to ascend to the supreme position in Da Wu.

Especially since Wu Junwan is a woman, the issue of succession is a major concern.

Upon hearing Li Qingrou's words, Wu Yunwan was stunned. Indeed, as Li Qingrou said, if she did not have children, who would she pass the throne to when she became the Empress of Dawu?

But that's all in the future. Her father was in his prime, and it was almost impossible for her ambitions to be realized within a few decades.

Thinking of this, Wu Junwan couldn't help but sigh, and then said, "Qingrou, let's not talk about me anymore. It's not even certain whether I can get that position."

"You're different. You're now the Empress of Dayue, and your family is small. If you don't hurry up and find a man to have a child, who will inherit your throne?"

Emperor Yue smiled faintly, "I still want to pursue a higher realm, so I won't have a child at this time. Besides, with my lifespan, managing the Great Yue for a thousand years is not a problem, so there is no need to consider the matter of succession to the throne so quickly."

"Besides, there are probably not many men who would catch my eye."

At this point, Emperor Yue rested his head on Wu Junwan's fragrant neck and took a deep breath, "Where men can you find my Wanwan fragrance? Wanwan, if only you were a man."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yunwan simply smiled. For some reason, the image of the Northern King suddenly appeared in her mind when men were mentioned.

The thought of the Northern King made Wu Yunwan feel restless and her whole body felt hot.

She still remembers what the Northern King said to her when she left the Northern Kingdom. He said that one day he would make her his woman, and that Da Wu would take the initiative to send her to the Northern Kingdom.

Thinking of this, Wu Junwan couldn't help but chuckle. To be honest, she quite liked the appearance of the Northern King, but unfortunately, they were enemies.

At that moment, Wu Junwan had a bold idea: if Da Wu could conquer the Northern Kingdom this time, could she ask her father to hand over the Northern King to her, and then imprison him for her to use?

The Northern King is so powerful, so the child he has will definitely be very powerful in the future. If she can have a child with the Northern King and then hide the child and raise him, she won't have to worry about the successor of the Great Wu in the future.

With this in mind, Wu Yunwan made up her mind. As long as she could conquer the Northern Kingdom, she would find a way to detain the Northern King. If her father was unwilling to hand the Northern King over to her, she would secretly seize him and then find a place to keep him as a pet.

The more Wu Yunwan thought about it, the hotter her body became. At this moment, her body was pressed tightly against Emperor Yue's, and even Emperor Yue noticed the strangeness in Wu Yunwan's body.

At this moment, Emperor Yue laughed and said, "Wanwan, are you thinking about men? Your body is so hot. Tell me, who were you thinking about just now?"

Upon hearing Yuehuang's words, Wu Yunwan was stunned for a moment. She quickly came to her senses and retorted, "Qingrou, what nonsense are you talking about? The water is so hot, your body will naturally become hot after soaking for a while."

"I also want to pursue a higher level of martial arts, how could I possibly be thinking about men?"

Emperor Yue smiled and said, "Wanwan, if you ever find a man you like in the future, you must tell me. I'll help you vet him."

Wu Yunwan gave a guilty "hmm" and didn't say anything more.

She calmed herself down and tried to stop thinking about that young man. If she continued to think about him, her body would probably become even stranger, and it wouldn't be good if her best friend discovered more abnormalities.

(End of this chapter)