Chapter 1099: Chapter 264: The Present Age (3)
"That girl, she’s quite clever."
Whatever Lord Jingnan wanted to discuss, Lord Zheng naturally had to accompany him in conversation.
"Indeed. It’s precisely because she’s clever that I dared to capture her and then let her return."
"In no time, your heroic feat, as Lord Pingye, will spread throughout the land. You always manage to surprise me."
"It’s all thanks to your good teaching, Lord."
"Strike while the iron is hot. I’ll give you another year to help me conquer Town South Pass."
"Lord, it’ll take two years."
Last year, it was about surviving, and the goal was accomplished.
This year, the theme at Snow Sea Pass will be development—establishing workshops, ensuring trade routes are busy, and developing population, military strength, and self-sufficiency to a certain level.
And the year after, that’s when the true transformation from quantity to quality will occur.
"Two years."
Tian Wujing neither agreed nor disagreed with this timeline.
The two of them had traveled far from the camp and began encountering the outer perimeter’s scout cavalry.
During the day, it seemed the Chu army wanted to expand its domain, to extend its influence outward, but they were forcibly restrained by the Jingnan forces.
This wasn’t because the Chu people suddenly had an impulsive thought, seeking some excitement, but rather, in warfare, even in defense, there’s no reason to completely sit on the walls. And the Chu army’s strength was adequate; they didn’t want Town South Pass to become a "lone fortress."
If completely forced back, to put it bluntly, the Yan army could dispatch small cavalry units directly from Town South Pass down through Chu to Shanggu County to raid the grasslands.
Town South Pass is merely situated at the junction of the most accessible plains and mountainous regions between Jin land and the Chu region—it doesn’t mean that Town South Pass has made Chu region impenetrable.
Otherwise, how did Lord Zheng return this time?
Of course, the path Lord Zheng took isn’t suitable for army travel, but moving a bit eastward, the road becomes much better, and the Chu people must control that area.
Therefore, sending troops deeper might mean just a few thousand cavalry, ten thousand at most, because the main force cannot enter ahead when Town South Pass hasn’t been conquered; otherwise, it might not come out, and strategically, it would become passive.
Besides, the Chu’s Grand General Nian Yao at Town South Pass wouldn’t want such a thing to happen either, because it would put him and the court in a politically passive position.
So, even though Nian Yao knows he can’t beat the Jingnan forces in field battles, he still constantly takes any chance to expand, to probe a bit.
Going further, they’ll encounter Chu scouts.
But Zheng Fan didn’t remind the Lord, instead silently dismounting, readying for vigilance.
"His Majesty’s idea is, in two years, Qian and Chu must fall first."
The Yan Emperor is impatient; Zheng Fan has long known this.
He’s a monarch of great talent and strategy, eager to advance the unification of the Yan world during his lifetime.
Two years, obliterate a nation.
"The court is currently weighing whether to attack Chu or Qian first. His Majesty wants to attack Qian first."
Qian State’s wealth is the greatest of the four states.
Conquering Qian State is also the Yan Emperor’s lifelong wish.
"I still think attacking Chu first would be more suitable," Zheng Fan said.
"Why?"
"Attacking Qian might make me redundant."
This is plainly self-interest.
Should the court focus on attacking Qian State, as a count guarding the Yan’s northeastern corner, Zheng Fan’s role is limited. His most probable task would be keeping an eye on Chu’s maneuvers from the west.
If the battle takes a turn, Zheng might even have to travel thousands of miles to Qian’s battlefield by imperial edict, which is the least profitable scenario. The battlefield is too far from his own base; even if he claims land, he can’t occupy it, and plundered goods would have to be hauled back over vast distances.
As for honors and reputation, after rescuing the princess, Lord Zheng isn’t lacking. What he lacks now is strength.
"I also think attacking Chu first is more fitting. The three borders of Qian State, neighboring our Yan’s Yinlang County, are like a fishbone stuck in our throats. After destroying Chu, even if we can’t immediately attack Qian, our Yan’s next generation won’t slack off.
In warfare, pick the soft fruit first, but for conquering a country, choose the tough nut first."
"Yes, Lord."
Ahead, Chu’s scout cavalry appeared, although merely observing from afar because these two riders came with an overly relaxed demeanor.
Tian Wujing continued advancing, with Lord Zheng close behind.
Scouts began appearing more frequently, and even fifty-man scout units had shown up.
Gilded armor,
riding a Pixiu,
their identity was unmistakably clear.
The Yan’s Southern Marquis!
Prince Jingnan!
Lord Jingnan is here!
Messages kept being relayed back incessantly.
"Once things here conclude, I’m planning to withdraw the troops. The Chu won’t dare act up north for a while. Then, I’ll lend you fifty thousand Jingnan troops to help you manage the Snow Plain affairs again."
Last time, after defeating the Wild People’s main force, because the troops were exhausted, and with tens of thousands of Blue Luan troops in Jade Plate City, Lord Jingnan didn’t order the Yan forces to push northwards to avenge the Cheng State populace.
But now, a year has passed, and after the standoff at Town South Pass ends, the Yan forces can be more relaxed than last year. Snow Plain still needs to be cleared.
"Thank you, Lord."
With fifty thousand Jingnan troops alongside Snow Sea cavalry, Lord Zheng is confident he can make the wild tribes on the Snow Plain utterly submit.
The population they once took, their cattle and sheep, no, even themselves, will become Snow Sea Pass’s assets.
One Naman Tribe already made Snow Sea Pass prosperous for a year, and there are many more tribes on the Snow Plain similar to or larger than the Naman Tribe!
Chu’s scouts continually flitted from afar,
and at this moment,
while chatting away,
unbeknownst to them,
Zheng Fan and Lord Jingnan had "penetrated deeply alone" into a very advanced position, already able to see the Chu’s front camp.
This was an area recently expanded by the Chu, where they had just set up camp.
The next scene,
Lord Zheng would remember for a long, long time;
Tian Wujing stopped talking,
quietly sitting on the Pixiu,
under the moonlight,
one man and one Pixiu, like a sculpture adorned with a halo of moonlight, exuding a cold and unapproachable aura.
After a short moment,
the front Chu camp began stirring,
they didn’t rush out attempting an encirclement,
contrarily,
they began,
withdrawing.
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