Xiao Mo followed the First Prince to the palace.
As expected, Xiahou Nan, Bai Qi, Zhang Yi, Baili Xi, Jian Shu, and others had all arrived.
"We pay our respects to the Frost Prince."
Outside the imperial study, when Bai Qi and the others saw Xiao Mo, they all bowed respectfully.
In this era where scholars died for those who appreciated them, to them, Xiao Mo was their talent scout and benefactor.
Because in their view, if not for Xiao Mo, they wouldn't have climbed to such heights today.
So even though they had all arrived earlier than Xiao Mo, they were willing to wait for Xiao Mo to arrive and let him enter first before they went in.
"Greetings to all of you." Xiao Mo returned the bow. "Please, everyone."
Everyone said, "Frost Prince, please."
Xiao Mo nodded. Without standing on ceremony, he walked into the imperial study shoulder to shoulder with the First Prince, with the others following behind.
The door closed.
Even in the palace, the imperial study was set up with layer upon layer of formations that blocked divine sense detection, and the entire room was even shrouded in the Qin Kingdom's territorial fortune.
"Those who can stand here today are all the people His Majesty trusts most. Of course, there's also that fellow Xiao Shi, but he's at the border and can't return."
The Qin Kingdom's ruler smiled, easing the sowhat solemn atmosphere, then looked at Xiao Mo, the Western Pacification Prince, and the others, slowly speaking, "Everyone, please take a look at these first."
The Qin Kingdom's ruler waved his hand, and Eunuch Li passed a thick stack of docunts to Xiao Mo and the others.
After Xiao Mo and the others finished reading them one by one, their brows all furrowed.
These docunts were all intelligence that Qin Kingdom spies had gathered within the Qi, Zhao, and Jin kingdoms, as well as news obtained from border scouts observing day and night.
Based on these docunts, Xiao Mo and the others could confirm that the Jin Kingdom had already quelled dostic rebellions, stabilized the country, and conscripted many able-bodied n to replenish their forces.
The current Qi, Zhao, and Jin kingdoms were already preparing provisions and equipnt.
It was estimated that before long, they would send troops to attack the Qin Kingdom.
According to the preliminary strategy of the Qi, Zhao, and Jin kingdoms, they planned a three-pronged attack on the Qin Kingdom and from the scale of their mobilization this ti, it seed they planned to use all their resources.
If the Qi, Zhao, and Jin kingdoms succeeded, they would partition the Qin Kingdom's lands, forming a three-way balance of power.
If they lost this great battle, the Qi, Zhao, and Jin kingdoms would completely lose their strength to resist the Qin Kingdom.
What they would face would be gradual annexation by the Qin Kingdom until nothing remained.
"Speak, what are your esteed ministers' views?"
After Xiao Mo and the others finished reading the intelligence sent from the front lines, the Qin Kingdom's ruler asked.
The opinions of Xiao Mo and the others were almost unanimous, that is, "Fight!"
As for seeking peace with the Qi, Zhao, and Jin kingdoms, that was absolutely impossible.
Seeking peace didn't co without a price, and moreover, seeking peace ant showing fear. If you showed fear, the other side would make outrageous demands.
At that ti, the Qin Kingdom would definitely have to cede a large territory but the territories of the three great nations of Chu, Yan, and Zhei, as well as various smaller nations, were all exchanged for with the blood of Qin Kingdom soldiers. How could they so easily hand them over?
Forget about Xiao Mo and the others not agreeing, even the common people of the Qin Kingdom wouldn't agree!
So! They could only fight!
This Warring States era that had lasted for thousands of years, whether it would move toward unification or toward a three-way balance of power, depended on this great battle.
Since everyone supported "fighting."
What needed to be discussed next was how to fight.
Finally, after four days of continuous discussion.
The Qin Kingdom's ruler preliminarily decided to have Xiao Mo and the First Prince lead two hundred thousand Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry and five hundred thousand Northern Frontier infantry, plus five hundred thousand soldiers conscripted from the Chu and Yan lands, for a total army of 1.2 million to march against the Jin Kingdom.
Xiao Shi and Bai Qi would lead one hundred thousand Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry, two hundred thousand Northern Frontier soldiers, and seven hundred thousand soldiers from the Chu and Yan lands to march against the Zhao Kingdom.
Xiahou Nan and the Western Pacification Prince would lead eight hundred thousand soldiers from the Zhei lands and Qin Kingdom to contain the Qi Kingdom.
All other lords throughout the Qin Kingdom's territories were required to lead troops when summoned. Those who refused would have their fiefs stripped and be demoted to commoners!
Basically, throughout the Qin Kingdom's territories, except for so soldiers left to garrison cities, respond to ergencies, and maintain order, the vast majority of soldiers headed to the borders.
Even in the Qin Kingdom's imperial capital, the Qin Kingdom's ruler only left sixty thousand Iron Tiger Army to garrison.
Among all these soldiers, more than half were cultivators at the Foundation Building realm or above.
Except for one flower peanut who remained in the Qin Kingdom's imperial capital, all the palace's Upper Three Realms cultivator offerings followed the armies on campaign.
It could be said that this ti, the Qin Kingdom was truly going all in.
In terms of provisions, pills, and spirit beast flesh, the Qin Kingdom was also continuously collecting.
Spirit beast and demon beast flesh hunted by civilian cultivators could all be sold to the governnt, with no limit on quantity.
Under the Qin Kingdom’s ruler's direction, Baili Xi and Jian Shu also began targeting corrupt officials who had been kept around and not yet dealt with.
All the assets of these corrupt officials were confiscated and used for military preparations.
Furthermore, the Qin Kingdom's ruler began a nationwide crackdown on corrupt officials.
All for the purpose of confiscating their property!
The Qin Kingdom's nobility had it even worse.
Evidence of their cris had already been collected, and now that the nation needed money for war, if not them, who would be targeted?
For a ti, officials and nobles large and small throughout the Qin Kingdom all lived in fear.
Although the Qin Kingdom’s ruler's purpose was to raise money but within half a year, the Qin Kingdom from top to bottom actually appeared well-governed and harmonious...
Of course, not all nobles were willing to be lambs. So nobles wanted to resist, and even wanted to collude with Qi, Zhao, and Jin. However, with the great war imminent, and the Qin Kingdom's people's fighting spirit high, with the upper-level military and civil officials united in heart, all wanting to establish unprecedented achievents, how much trouble could these rebellious nobles stir up?
As soon as these people were discovered, the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry completely annihilated their entire families!
Another seven months passed.
The three kingdoms of Qi, Zhao, and Jin had everything prepared.
The Qin Kingdom also didn't wait any longer. Xiao Mo and the others split into three armies and marched to war, planning to strike first!
Before the expedition, the Qin Kingdom's ruler personally saw off generals like Xiao Mo. However, just as Xiao Mo was about to depart, the Qin Kingdom's ruler pulled Xiao Mo aside.
"Does Your Majesty have any instructions?" Xiao Mo asked.
The Qin Kingdom's ruler shook his head and sighed, "Originally, His Majesty wanted the Crown Prince to follow the Northern Pacification Prince together to deal with the Zhao Kingdom, but the Crown Prince was set on leading troops to the Jin Kingdom.
No matter what His Majesty said, it was useless.
The Crown Prince even knelt outside His Majesty's bedchamber for a month.
Now, His Majesty is having you go to Jin Kingdom together with Jingsu. Do you know why?"
"Your Majesty's aning is?" Xiao Mo vaguely guessed.
"To this day, Jingyuan's death has beco Jingsu's inner demon. Without destroying the Jin Kingdom, he will be trapped by this inner demon for life."
The Qin Kingdom's ruler grasped Xiao Mo's hand.
"Xiao Mo, although you're younger than Jingsu, you're more steady in handling matters. If Jingsu makes any irrational moves. You must restrain him! Rember this!"
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