Governing the country, enriching the people, an unparalleled imperial tutor

"It's probably a ruse." Lu's advisor in the corner finally spoke up, his voice unhurried. "If Zhang Lin really could contact the Jurchens, he would have already sent troops together. Why would he just make a show of it on the battlefield? He made this statement to scare those wavering ministers in the capital, to make them think that their power was lost and to make them rush to surrender."

Lin Yanzhou glanced at Lu, the advisor. The man was fair-skinned and beardless, with calm eyes and clear, logical speech, as if he were a man of substance.

"But the Jurchens might not know that Zhang Lin was bluffing," Lin Yanzhou said.

Lu's advisor paused slightly, then narrowed his eyes: "What does the Grand Preceptor mean?"

"The Jurchens and the Northern Di have been fighting for so many years. The Jurchens know the true situation of the Northern Di better than we do." Lin Yanzhou stood up, walked to the front of the map, and pointed to the blank area behind the Northern Di pasture. "The three tribes of the Northern Di have mobilized all their forces and pressed their entire army along the Yanmen Pass line, leaving their pastures empty. The elderly, women, and children left behind, the winter fodder, and the foals for next year are all left in the empty camp."

"If someone were to tell the Jurchen Khan at this moment: 'The rear of the Northern Barbarians is vulnerable. If you lead your troops straight to their heartland, you can not only avenge the arrow wound from last winter, but also swallow up the territories of the three Northern Barbarian tribes in one gulp,' what do you think he would do?"

A moment of silence fell over the tent. Zhou Chongyuan blinked, then slapped his thigh: "He will definitely send troops! The Jurchens have been fighting the Northern Di for so many years, dreaming of seizing the Northern Di's pastures! As long as they can take over the Northern Di's grazing lands, the Jurchens can emerge from the mountains and forests and occupy the entire northeastern grasslands!"

"That's right," Lin Yanzhou said. "Moreover, this isn't a conspiracy, it's an open strategy. The Jurchens sent troops to seek revenge and seize territory, not to help Xuan Shuo. We don't need them to owe us favors; we just need them to cut off the Northern Di's rear. Once the Northern Di's rear is in danger, the three Khans will inevitably send troops to reinforce them, and Zhang Lin's 300,000-strong allied army will collapse without a fight."

All eyes in the tent were focused on the location on the map that Lin Yanzhou had pointed to twice—the rear of the Northern Di pastureland, empty and desolate, like a door that had been open for a long time.

"Who should we send?" Lu's advisor asked. "The Jurchens and Xuanshuo have no prior dealings. Sending an envoy rashly would only alert them."

"No envoys," Lin Yanzhou said. "Send a few scouts—no, I mean a few who speak Jurchen, you call them reconnaissance soldiers—to disguise themselves as merchants from the Northern Di border or fleeing herdsmen, and infiltrate the Jurchen border towns to spread the message: 'The Northern Di's rear is vulnerable; all three tribes have fled, and the grasslands are unguarded.' Just let three or five towns hear the same news, and the Jurchen scouts will naturally relay it back to the royal court."

Zhou Chongyuan suddenly stood up: "Grand Preceptor's plan is brilliant! Without losing a single soldier, just a few scouts and a few words are enough to get the Jurchens to hold back the Northern Barbarians' rear!" He turned to look at Lu, the advisor, and both of them had the same light in their eyes.

Lu's advisor hesitated for a moment: "But Grand Preceptor, the Jurchens may not believe the news spread by a few merchants of unknown origin."

"So I need to send another person, and this matter needs a final push—" Lin Yanzhou said, "a 'deserter' dressed in the attire of the Northern Di Left Wing and carrying the Left Wing token, hurriedly flees into the Jurchen border and tells them: 'The Left Wing Khan Ashina Gule has led his troops south, leaving behind only a few patrolling soldiers, and the horses on the grasslands have been neglected for three months.'"

Lu's advisor's eyes suddenly lit up: "The Jurchen left wing borders the Northern Di left wing the most. If they know that the left wing's rear is vulnerable, they will definitely be the first to send troops to seize that grassland! And once the left wing moves, the central and right wings will follow suit. With the three Jurchen wings joining forces, the Northern Di's rear—will surely be breached!"

Lin Yanzhou nodded: "Go and do it. Select a few clever scouts, prepare the equipment, and set off tonight."

"Also, send two secret letters from me to the capital by fast horses, for His Majesty to open personally. Go and do it. Select a few clever scouts, prepare the fast horses, and have several groups of men depart tonight."

Zhou Chongyuan clasped his hands and bowed: "Yes, sir!"

As the generals filed out of the tent, each paused slightly as they passed Lin Yanzhou. The initial caution and probing in their eyes had faded, replaced by a more profound and resolute expression. Zhou Chongyuan, walking last, turned back at the tent entrance and whispered, "Grand Preceptor, the princess said you are trustworthy. I initially had some doubts. Today's deployment is truly divine; I am convinced."

After he left, only Lin Yanzhou and Lu, the advisor, remained in the tent.

Lu's advisor did not rush to leave, but stood in front of the map for a long time, looking at the area to the north marked with dense arrows in cinnabar, and then at the blank forest and mountains to the northeast.

"Grand Preceptor," his voice was low, "you just said the Jurchens would send troops. But what I'm more interested in is how you, in just one night, have a clearer understanding of this battle than those of us who have been fighting for three days?"

Lin Yanzhou didn't answer the question. He thought to himself, "I've watched countless ancient battle dramas. Today, I'm using a modified version of the 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao' strategy, getting the Jurchens to willingly besiege the Northern Di to rescue Xuan Shuo. Once I've reorganized Xuan Shuo and am strong enough, I'll take you all down one by one. Especially those little devils—I've had plenty of fun with them. I'll become a Genghis Khan too." He outwardly stood beside Lu's advisor, also looking at the map, his voice steady: "War is driven by interests. What matters in war isn't the size of the army, but the flow of people's hearts and interests. The Northern Di are attacking to seize territory and resources, not to truly help Zhang Lin conquer the world. The Jurchens are attacking to seek revenge and seize grasslands, not to truly help Xuan Shuo defend its territory. Once we understand these two lines of interest, the rest is about figuring out how to get them moving on their own."

Lu's advisor remained silent for a moment, then took half a step back, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply: "This humble general has learned much."

After he left, the central command tent fell completely silent. The morning breeze blew open a gap in the tent flap, letting in the grayish-white sunlight of the north, which fell on the vermilion arrow on the map, as if something was slowly loosening.

Lin Yanzhou stood alone in front of the map, reaching out to touch his brow. The mineral crystal remained still, without pain or pulling, as if telling him: this step was the right one.

As he turned to leave the tent, the sentry at the door suddenly straightened his back, his eyes filled with an almost burning intensity he hadn't seen that morning. Several soldiers in the distance, who were distributing porridge, stopped what they were doing and all turned to look at him.

Someone whispered, "I heard that the Imperial Advisor removed the arrow from the princess last night, and not a drop of blood was lost. The imperial physicians all say he's a god."

The person next to him didn't respond, but unconsciously raised the hand holding the porridge bowl, as if offering a toast.

Lin Yanzhou didn't stop, and walked back through the military camp. The silent gazes behind him followed him for a long time, until he lifted the curtain of the princess's tent. The morning breeze made the curtain billow and fall again, blocking the view from the outside.

Zhao Lingxi was still awake, leaning against the pillow, her complexion slightly better than the night before. Her gaze fell on the bed curtains, then on Lin Yanzhou who entered. Her voice was still hoarse, but stronger than the night before.

"Why did you take so long?"

"I went to look at the map and planned the next steps."

"Have you come up with a solution?"

"Um."

She didn't ask any further questions. She simply watched him walk over, sit down on the stool next to the low table, and then slowly extend a hand, gently placing it on the back of his hand, which was resting on his knee.

It was a very light touch, as if she was afraid of being rejected. Lin Yanzhou looked down at her fingers resting on the back of his hand. They were slender, with slightly cool fingertips, and felt like a layer of freshly fallen frost against his skin.

He didn't pull his hand away. He also really liked this ancient woman who was wholeheartedly devoted to her younger brother, Emperor Jinghe.