CHAPTER 316: CHAPTER 15 BLUFF_2

The Tattoo-faced Master’s defeat at the hands of Minister Han was a deed the latter had once considered his most significant achievement. Before that Martial Cultivator became a full-fledged potentate or great warlord, Minister Han eliminated him, a hidden threat that could have plunged the Qian State’s court into chaos.

Originally, the court’s inclination, after quelling the disturbances in the Southwest, was to send the Tattoo-faced Master to the Northern Three Towns. A northern invasion was likely too daunting; truly unthinkable. As victors, the Yan people might not have deeply felt it, but the Qian people have never forgotten the tragic outcome of Emperor Taizong’s northern campaign with his half-a-million-strong army. It truly felt as if the sky had fallen, and its shadow looms over Qian to this day. Moreover, one must remember that this defeat occurred even as the main Yan army was engaged in a decisive battle with the barbarian Desert Royal Court; yet, the Yan still managed to rout the Qian forces.

Now, the threat posed by the Desert Royal Court to Yan is steadily diminishing. Furthermore, internal strife in Jin State is causing its national power to wane, making it appear somewhat subdued on the international stage. Back then, when they were busy fighting with both hands, you tried a sneak attack, only to be kicked back ignominiously. Now, they’re just sitting there waiting for you. How dare you take the initiative to provoke them?

The West Garden outside Yanjing City is the best proof of Qian State’s attitude towards Yan State. Although the court propaganda claims that the "Yan and Barbarians" admire Qian culture and begged us to build one for them to see, those in the upper echelons actually know the truth. Originally, Qian had hoped to wait for Yan State to slowly weaken on its own. Yan State had many problems: powerful clans, vassal towns—each a severe headache. But the deadliest issue was that Qian State itself was riddled with problems. The ’Three Redundancies’ had been discussed for years, and reforms had been attempted twice, yet none yielded significant results.

Weren’t we like two brothers, content to slowly outdo each other in decline? Hand in hand, leisurely rotting away together. You couldn’t strike me, and I couldn’t strike you.

Who would have thought that this generation’s Yan Emperor would actually stand with the Northern and Southern Marquises? After trampling the powerful clans, the Yan people were effectively unshackled, clearly poised for a major undertaking.

At this thought, Prince Fu nervously licked his somewhat dry lips.

At this moment, the various ministers in the imperial court and His Majesty the Emperor seemed to only now recall: if the Tattoo-faced Master hadn’t met such a bleak end back then, if the one currently occupying the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Three Borders was the Tattoo-faced Master instead of Old Bastard Yang...

Sigh... Considering their ages, Minister Han, who was of a similar age to the Tattoo-faced Master back then, is still hale and hearty. The Tattoo-faced Master was a Martial Cultivator; if he hadn’t been executed, he should also be quite robust right now.

At this moment, one of the guards rushed over.

"Prince!"

"How goes the battle?" Prince Fu immediately asked.

The guard swallowed hard and quickly reported, "Prince, the Yan people first stormed the city, but the local forces managed to drive them out."

"Good!"

Prince Fu heaved a sigh of relief.

Man Le also felt a wave of relief. He quickly got up and, with the guard, helped ’pull’ the Prince out from the pile of straw.

"This Prince must reward Lady Daxi! Ouch, ouch, my legs are numb... completely numb..."

The Prince leaned against the stable railing to sit down. The railing let out a protesting CREAK; this structure, meant for tethering horses, seemed unable to bear Prince Fu’s weight.

"Ouch, ouch... just need to sit for a while, I’m feeling dizzy..." The wild swing of emotions likely caused a spike in his blood pressure.

"It seems that the Yan people are not that formidable after all, at least, not as terrifying as we initially thought," Man Le commented.

Prince Fu chuckled, then said, "The most formidable force of the Yan people, the North Defense Army, hasn’t made a move yet."

"But Prince, our West Army Division hasn’t arrived either."

The North Defense Army is the pride of the Yan people, while the West Army Division is the hope of the Qian people.

"Hmm," Prince Fu nodded.

As a man of Qian, he naturally wished for his country to fare well. After all, Prince Fu had no intention of rebelling. Given this, his natural hope was for Qian State to endure for ten thousand years.

"I must congratulate you, my Prince. Upon your arrival in Mianzhou City, you personally directed our forces to repel the Yan invaders!" Man Le immediately cupped his hands in congratulation to Prince Fu.

"HEHEHE," Prince Fu chuckled, then shook his head and said, "Just mention it subtly. This Prince just needs to gain some reputation from it, enough to let those civil officials know that we of the Zhao imperial family still have some mettle."

This reputation is naturally needed, but not too much of it. After all, this Prince cannot possibly lead troops in the capacity of a vassal king; that would be too sensitive. It’s courting death!

Prince Fu massaged his numb legs for a while. They chatted leisurely for some time more when another guard ran over, panting, his face etched with bewilderment and panic.

The quality of the guards in the Royal Mansion, naturally, could not compare to the imperial bodyguards in the palace. According to regulations, Prince Fu was entitled to a private army of two thousand. However, this was merely ’according to regulations.’ Long ago, Prince Fu had proactively ’embezzled’ this fund, disbanding most of the Royal Mansion guards and starting to draw pay for these non-existent posts.

"Did something else happen?" Prince Fu asked instantly.

"Prince, our local troops chased the Yan out of the city, but they’ve been routed!"

"Ah!"

The shock made Prince Fu try to leap to his feet, but he failed, instead collapsing back down even more heavily.

CRACK!

The wooden railing shattered, and the Prince tumbled to the ground.

"Prince, Prince!"

Man Le and the other guard hurriedly helped Prince Fu to his feet.

"What is the state of the city gates?" Prince Fu managed to ask, his mind still clear enough to focus on crucial matters.

"The city gates are still under our control. General Meng led the army out of the city to halt the enemy. The Yan forces didn’t dare to enter the city, and the city gates have now been closed."