Chapter 463: Chapter 384: To War

Xiao Mo followed the Eldest Prince to the Imperial Palace.

Sure enough, Xiahou Nan, Bai Qi, Zhang Yi, Baili Xi, and Uncle Jian had all arrived.

"Greetings, Frost King."

Outside the Imperial Study, Bai Qi and the others bowed respectfully upon seeing Xiao Mo.

In an era where a man would die for one who truly appreciated him, Xiao Mo was not just their great benefactor, but the one who had recognized their talents.

They believed that without Xiao Mo, they would never have reached such lofty positions.

That was why, even though they had arrived earlier than Xiao Mo, they willingly waited for him, intending to let him enter first.

"Greetings, everyone." Xiao Mo returned the bow with clasped hands. "Please, after you."

The group replied in unison, "After you, Frost King."

Xiao Mo nodded and didn’t stand on ceremony. He walked into the Imperial Study side-by-side with the Eldest Prince, while the others followed behind.

The door closed.

Even within the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study was protected by multiple layers of arrays that blocked Divine Sense, and it was even shrouded by the Qin Kingdom’s Mountain and River Fortune.

"Everyone standing here today is someone We most trust. Of course, there is also that fellow Xiao Shi, but he is at the border and could not return."

The Sovereign of Qin smiled, easing the somewhat grim atmosphere. He then looked at Xiao Mo, Prince Zhenxi, and the others, and spoke slowly.

"All of you, take a look at this first."

The Sovereign of Qin waved his hand, and Eunuch Li handed a large stack of documents to Xiao Mo and the others.

As they passed the documents around and finished reading, their brows all furrowed.

These documents contained intelligence gathered by Qin spies in the three kingdoms of Qi, Zhao, and Jin, as well as reports from border scouts who had been observing day and night.

From these documents, Xiao Mo and the others could confirm that the Jin Kingdom had already suppressed its internal rebellions, stabilized the country, and conscripted many able-bodied men to replenish its forces.

The three kingdoms of Qi, Zhao, and Jin were now preparing provisions and war equipment.

It was estimated that before long, they would dispatch their armies to attack the Qin Kingdom.

According to the preliminary strategy of Qi, Zhao, and Jin, they planned to launch a three-pronged attack on the Qin Kingdom.

Furthermore, judging by the scale of their mobilization, it seemed they were prepared to bet everything they had.

If Qi, Zhao, and Jin succeeded, they would carve up the territory of the Qin Kingdom, creating a tripartite balance of power.

If they lost this great war, Qi, Zhao, and Jin would completely lose the strength to resist the Qin Kingdom.

All they could do then was wait to be devoured by the Qin Kingdom, piece by piece.

"Speak. What are your thoughts, my dear ministers?"

The Sovereign of Qin asked after Xiao Mo and the others finished reading the intelligence from the front lines.

The opinions of Xiao Mo and the others were nearly unanimous: Fight!

As for suing for peace with Qi, Zhao, and Jin, that was absolutely out of the question.

Suing for peace was not without its price. It meant you were afraid, and if you were afraid, the enemy would make outrageous demands.

If that happened, the Qin Kingdom would certainly have to cede a huge swath of territory.

But the territories of the three great kingdoms of Chu, Yan, and Wei, as well as those of the various smaller states, had all been won with the blood of Qin’s soldiers. How could they be handed over so easily?

Never mind Xiao Mo and the others—even the common people of Qin would never agree!

Therefore, their only option was to fight!

This great war would decide whether the Warring States Period, which had lasted for several thousand years, would culminate in unification or a tripartite standoff.

Since everyone supported fighting...

...the next topic of discussion was how to fight.

In the end, after four continuous days of discussion...

...the Sovereign of Qin made a preliminary decision. Xiao Mo and the Eldest Prince would lead 200,000 Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry and 500,000 Northern Wilderness Infantry, supplemented by 500,000 soldiers conscripted from the Chu and Yan Regions, for a total of 1.2 million troops to march on the Jin Kingdom.

Xiao Shi and Bai Qi would lead 100,000 Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry, 200,000 soldiers from the Northern Wilderness, and 700,000 soldiers from the Chu and Yan Regions to march on the Zhao Kingdom.

Xiahou Nan and Prince Zhenxi would lead 800,000 soldiers from the Wei Region and Qin itself to pin down the Qi Kingdom.

The other Dukes from all regions of Qin were required to lead their troops and answer the call to war. Any who disobeyed would be stripped of their fiefdoms and demoted to commoners!

Essentially, across all of Qin’s territories, aside from the soldiers left to garrison cities, handle emergencies, and maintain order, the vast majority of troops were sent to the borders.

Even in the Qin Imperial City, the Sovereign of Qin left only 60,000 Iron Tiger Army soldiers to stand guard.

The majority of all these soldiers were Cultivators at or above the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Aside from one Imperial Palace Honored Guest Elder named Hua Sheng who remained in the Qin Imperial City, all Cultivators in the Upper Three Realms went to war with the army.

It could be said that this time, the Qin Kingdom was truly going for broke.

The Qin Kingdom was also continuously requisitioning provisions, Elixirs, and Spirit Beast Flesh and Blood.

The flesh and blood of Magical Beasts and Spirit Beasts hunted by civilian Cultivators could all be sold to the Government, which would buy as much as was offered.

Under the Sovereign of Qin’s orders, Baili Xi and Uncle Jian also began to make an example of the corrupt officials they had long been observing but had not yet dealt with.

The family assets of these corrupt officials were all confiscated and used for the war effort.

Furthermore, the Sovereign of Qin began a nationwide crackdown on corrupt officials...

...all for the purpose of seizing their assets!

The nobles of Qin had it even worse.

Plenty of evidence of their crimes had already been collected over the years. Now that the country needed money for war, who else was there to slaughter?

For a time, officials and nobles of all ranks across the Qin Kingdom were gripped by panic.

Although the Sovereign of Qin’s goal was to raise funds...

...within half a year, the government of Qin had unexpectedly become efficient and its people content.

Of course, not all nobles were willing to be lambs led to the slaughter. Some wanted to resist, and even collude with Qi, Zhao, and Jin.

However...

...with a great war imminent, the morale of the Qin populace soaring, and the top military and civil officials united in their desire to achieve immortal glory, what kind of trouble could these rebellious nobles possibly stir up?

The moment any of them were discovered, the Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry would crush their entire families!

Another seven months passed.

The three kingdoms of Qi, Zhao, and Jin had completed their preparations.

The Qin Kingdom decided not to wait any longer. Xiao Mo and the others set out with three great armies, planning to launch a preemptive strike!

Before they departed, the Sovereign of Qin personally saw off Xiao Mo and the other generals.

However, just as Xiao Mo was about to leave, the Sovereign of Qin pulled him aside.

"Does Your Majesty have any orders?" Xiao Mo asked.

The Sovereign of Qin shook his head and sighed. "We originally wanted the Crown Prince to deal with the Zhao Kingdom alongside Prince Zhenbei, but he is fixated on leading the army to Jin.

Nothing We said could change his mind.

He even knelt before Our chambers for a month.

Now, We are having you go with Jing Su. Do you know why?"

"Your Majesty means...?" Xiao Mo had a faint guess.

"To this day, Jing Yuan’s death has become Jing Su’s Heart Demon. If the Jin Kingdom is not destroyed, he will be tormented by this Heart Demon for the rest of his life."

The Sovereign of Qin grasped Xiao Mo’s hand.

"Xiao Mo, although you are younger than Jing Su, you are much more steady and mature in your conduct.

If Jing Su does anything irrational...

...you must hold him back!

Remember this!"

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