Summoning from Another World: A Grand Ambition

Chapter 20: Arranging for those left behind, the army sets off.

Tian Heng rode back to his residence and immediately issued a stern summons: "Quickly invite Chief Secretary Ji and Mr. Li to the study for a meeting!"

Before he finished speaking, he strode into the inner hall, a hint of anxiety in his eyes. His right hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of his sword, his thumb repeatedly rubbing the dragon on the guard.

Seeing this, the guards in the corridor all held their breath and lowered their heads, knowing that His Highness's demeanor must mean something important had happened.

A moment later, Ji Dan and Li Ru arrived side by side. Ji Dan wore a blue robe with a loose belt and a composed expression, while Li Ru wore a black scholar's robe and walked with a calm gait.

As soon as the two stepped into the study, they saw Tian Heng slam a border report heavily onto the rosewood desk, causing the ink in the inkstone to ripple slightly.

He said in a deep voice, "The Eastern Barbarians have invaded the border, the Youzhou border army has suffered a crushing defeat, Li Yuan has been imprisoned, and all the prefects have perished! His Majesty has appointed me as the Grand Commander of Youzhou, in charge of all military and political affairs in Youzhou, and ordered me to lead the troops out to war immediately!"

As soon as they finished speaking, Ji Dan and Li Ru exchanged a glance, both flashing a knowing glint in their eyes, showing no sign of panic.

Ji Dan stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his clear laughter dispelling some of the solemnity in the room: "Your Highness, this is a calamity, but also a godsend!"

Upon hearing this, Tian Heng raised an eyebrow: "Why do you say that, sir? The border is in ruins, and the people are suffering terribly. What is there to be happy about?"

"Your Highness, please take a look." Ji Dan stepped forward slowly, his fingertip precisely landing on the location of Youzhou on the map on the table.

"When you first arrived in Youzhou, you were nominally the governor, but the local aristocratic families were deeply entrenched, and the county and prefectural officials were mostly their eyes and ears, while the generals and officers in the army also had their own factions."

If things proceeded gradually according to common sense, it would take at least three to five years of open and covert struggles before one could truly seize power.

His fingertip moved north, tracing the marks of fallen cities, but then his tone abruptly changed:

"Now that the main force of the border army has been wiped out and all the officials have been lost, the old structure has collapsed overnight! His Majesty has appointed you as Grand Commander, and it is the right time to establish your own government and headquarters."

The Youzhou Guard has been rebuilt. From recruiting soldiers to appointing officers, and for any vacancies in the ranks of officials, from prefects to magistrates, you can promote your trusted confidants to fill them.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If handled properly, within a year, Your Highness will firmly grasp the overt military and political power of Youzhou!

Tian Heng nodded, tapping his knuckles lightly on the table: "What you say, sir, is indeed a wise and insightful view on governing the country. However, the Eastern Barbarians are at the height of their military power. Can we sit idly by and watch them conquer cities and territories, and harm our people? I fear that I will lose the hearts of the people and fail the Emperor's expectations."

"Haha!" Ji Dan and Li Ru chuckled at the same time, their expressions revealing a calm and insightful understanding.

Tian Heng looked puzzled: "Why are you two gentlemen laughing?"

"Your Highness is blinded by concern; you see only the danger and not the whole picture," Ji Dan said seriously, his smile fading.

"Our Great Xia has been established for a hundred years and has a profound foundation. The elite troops on the nine borders are not limited to Youzhou. The Imperial Guard is the strongest force in the world."

Although the Dongyi were fierce, they were ultimately a tribe-based community and lacked the ability to sustain a prolonged siege.

Even if they succeed temporarily, once the battle lines are stretched out, their supplies will inevitably become unsustainable.

The terrain of Youzhou, with the Yanshan Mountains to the north and the plains to the south, features cities built along natural defenses, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. How easy would it be for the Eastern Yi to penetrate deeper?

Li Ru spoke up at the opportune moment, his voice steady and clear: "The so-called 'country' of the Eastern Yi is actually a common ruler elected by dozens of tribes, large and small, and they are outwardly united but inwardly divided."

Raiding the border regions allows various tribes to rush in and share the spoils, but when it comes to mobilizing the entire nation for a direct war against the Great Xia, aside from a few tribes bordering Youzhou and whose interests are directly at stake, which tribal chief would be willing to sacrifice their own men and pull chestnuts out of the fire for someone else? Internal strife is their greatest weakness.

Ji Dan pointed heavily at the location of Li Yuan's defeat on the map:

"The root cause of this defeat lies in Li Yuan's greed for merit and his overconfidence in underestimating the enemy. This forced the various tribes to temporarily set aside their past grievances and join forces to ambush them. This is an exception, not the norm for the Eastern Barbarians. Moreover..."

He lowered his voice slightly.

"The land occupied by the Eastern Barbarians is barren and difficult to cultivate. Even if our army were to recover it with all its might, the subsequent garrisoning and governance would consume countless amounts of money and grain, which would be a heavy burden on the court."

On the other hand, keeping them outside would allow His Majesty to restrain the states of Yun and Ping in the west, and give His Majesty a reason to continue strengthening the military power of the border garrisons... Your Highness should ponder the deeper implications of this."

He then changed the subject, lowering his voice even further, almost whispering:

"Among the imperial clansmen, there are very few who can shoulder great responsibilities. Luo Ce, the governor of Yunzhou, and Cao Ling, the governor of Yizhou, both command 100,000 troops, but they are not of royal blood. Your Majesty has no choice but to employ them."

Youzhou borders Yunzhou. If Your Highness can establish a foothold here, it will be a strong wedge driven into the north by His Majesty. Furthermore, the Prince of Qi and the Prince of Jin each have their own factions, and the powerful clans in the court are becoming increasingly difficult to control…

His Majesty's eagerness to support His Highness is crystal clear. This expedition, ostensibly to quell the rebellion, is in reality paving the way for His Highness!

The fog in Tian Heng's eyes cleared, and he let out a long sigh of relief: "Hearing your words, sir, is like seeing the sun after the clouds have parted. I was indeed blinded by my own involvement."

"That is indeed the case." Ji Dan stroked his beard and nodded.

"If it were merely to repel the enemy, sending a lieutenant general and mobilizing tens of thousands of border troops would have been sufficient. Why must Your Highness personally brave arrows and stones? His Majesty's granting you the authority of a governor-general is precisely to entrust Youzhou entirely to Your Highness's management."

A sharp glint gathered in Tian Heng's eyes. After a moment of contemplation, a hint of worry surfaced:

"With the army marching north, I must remain in Youzhou. However, the capital is a place of treacherous intrigue, and it is essential to have someone to keep watch and control it. If communication is disrupted, I fear that some villains may sabotage our supply lines from the rear, cutting off our supply lines and falsely accusing me of submitting false reports..."

His gaze swept over the two of them.

Ji Dan is skilled in overt strategy and needs to accompany the army as an advisor, while Li Ru is adept at discerning people's hearts and acts meticulously... Having made up his mind, he said in a deep voice, "Mr. Wenyou."

Li Ru immediately stood up: "Your subject is here."

"You are meticulous, insightful, and loyal to me. The important task of guarding the capital, overseeing the residence, maintaining old friendships, and keeping abreast of the court's movements cannot be left to me. You must ensure that my rear is well-informed and that everything goes smoothly."

Tian Heng's eyes were sharp. "We need to pay special attention to the movements of the Jin and Qi princes' residences, as well as whether the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue are delaying or withholding supplies and weapons from our army."

Li Ru bowed deeply, his expression solemn and dignified: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will do my utmost to spread my spies and smooth things over. Any disturbance in the capital will be promptly and secretly reported to Your Highness. I will remain here as long as Your Highness is safe, and will ensure that Your Highness has no worries!"

Ji Dan also bowed solemnly:

"Your Highness's arrangement is very prudent. With Wen You in charge of the central government, we on the front lines can focus wholeheartedly. Once Your Highness has taken control of the military and political affairs of Youzhou and established a solid foundation, the foundation for your great undertaking will begin here!"

Looking at his two trusted advisors, Tian Heng felt a surge of pride and slammed his hand on the table: "Excellent! This is the plan. Mr. Ji, quickly prepare the army's supplies and review the records of Youzhou's geography and customs. The army will set off at dawn tomorrow!"

At dawn the following day, at the third quarter of the Yin hour, at the main camp on the outskirts of the capital.

The sky was as black as ink, with only a sliver of pale blue showing through the eastern horizon. The camp was already brightly lit by torches, which illuminated the cold gleam of the iron armor. The neighing of warhorses mingled with the clanging of armor, creating a deep, chilling roar.

On the command platform, Tian Heng stood tall and imposing, clad in frost-colored armor, a scarlet cloak draped behind him, and a royal sword hanging at his waist.

Below the stage, the dark, imposing army stood solemnly silent, with only the banners fluttering in the morning breeze.

Wang Kong and Xuanyuan Tianshang stood on the left and right respectively.

Veteran general Wang Kong, clad in armor, had eyes as sharp as an eagle's. Xuan Yuan Tian Shang, on the other hand, remained expressionless, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

At the very front of the stage stood Huangfu Gong, clad in heavy black iron armor and wielding the Dragon Gallant Silver Spear, resembling an iron tower. He was the commander of five thousand elite cavalrymen of the Southern Army.

"Soldiers!" Tian Heng called out loudly, his voice carrying clearly to the ears of every soldier as he channeled his inner energy.

"The barbarian traitors of the East have broken their promise, invaded our territory, slaughtered our people, and destroyed our homes! Youzhou is in dire need of help, and His Majesty is furious! Today, I have been appointed by the Emperor to take command of the military affairs of Youzhou and swear an oath to lead the army north!"

With a clang, he drew his sword, its blade pointing straight north:

"On this journey, I will surely use the sword in my hand to quell the evil forces, restore my land, and protect my people!"

"We swear to follow Your Highness! To pacify the Eastern Barbarians! To restore our land! To protect our people!" Tens of thousands of soldiers below the platform roared in unison, their voices soaring into the sky and dispersing the morning mist.

Tian Heng sheathed his sword and gave a stern order: "The military situation is urgent! Beique Pass is in imminent danger! General Huangfu!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"I hereby order you to lead your 5,000 elite cavalry from the Southern Army, along with my 3,000 Zhaowu Guard cavalry, to depart immediately, lightly equipped, with two horses each, carrying ten days' rations, traveling day and night, straight to Beique Pass! You must seize the pass before the Eastern Barbarians can encircle it, hold it, and await reinforcements!"

"Your humble servant obeys!" Huangfu Gong clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming like a bell.

"General Wang Kong!"

"Your humble servant is here!"

"The main force of the army and all provisions and supplies are now under your command and control. Once everything is in order, set off immediately, proceeding steadily northwards along the official roads. Exercise caution along the way to ensure the supply lines remain unobstructed, and reach Youzhou as soon as possible to rendezvous with me!"

"Your Highness, rest assured! This old minister will ensure the army's safety and that supplies are plentiful!" Wang Kong readily agreed.

Tian Heng's gaze swept across the entire arena, finally settling on the young yet resolute faces below the stage. He took a deep breath, mounted his horse, and shouted, "Zhaowu Guard! Southern Army Iron Cavalry! Follow me—let's go!"

"drive!"

He charged ahead, breaking through the camp gates. Behind him, three thousand elite Zhaowu Guard cavalry followed like shadows, their black armor and white tassels gleaming, their spears and lances like a forest. Five thousand Southern Army cavalrymen thundered like lightning, their hooves shaking the earth. Eight thousand iron cavalrymen merged into a steel torrent, shattering the silence of dawn, and rolled towards the northeast.

Amidst the swirling dust, Tian Heng glanced back at the receding silhouette of Kyoto, then resolutely turned his head, casting his gaze toward the distant northern horizon where smoke and fire were about to rise.

Beique Pass is the throat of Youzhou; it cannot be lost. We must arrive before the Eastern Yi army forms an encirclement and gain a foothold.

Only by holding this pass can we buy time to digest Youzhou, reorganize our defenses, and then... gain control of our own true power.

The cold wind whipped at his face, his mind a mix of strategy and heroic spirit. He swung his whip, increasing his speed by another third.