Chapter 837: War Begins!

Prince Pingxi's Pixiu was in an excellent mood today.

This time, the Prince had personally allowed it to show off its gleaming silver armor.

The beast raised its neck, shook out its mane, and even drew its hooves back slightly with every step, walking with the deliberate elegance of some pampered noble.

Before the surrounding warhorses, it was proud.

It was magnificent.

Even the white mist blasting from its nostrils seemed to curl into extra spirals.

And seated upon its back was Prince Pingxi himself, dressed in black armor.

In the early years, when he had commanded only a small force and often needed to gamble his life for wealth and advancement, Zheng Fan had personally charged formations and fought in the thick of battle.

Unfortunately for the Pixiu, it had missed the good days.

By the time it came to Prince Pingxi's side, the Prince had already grown less fond of personally leading charges and had entered the stage of "considering the greater situation."

Sometimes he even deliberately refused to ride the beast because it was too conspicuous.

Later still, the Pixiu could only carry the Prince beside the royal banner at the rear, circling slowly while staring with naked envy at all those black, white, red, and yellow shameless little horses charging at the front with their riders.

Fortunately, after having been "trained" by the Demon Kings, the Pixiu possessed a strong mind and excellent adaptability.

It gradually changed career paths.

For example, on certain occasions, its role was no longer to help its master charge and kill.

Instead... it became the "First Lady."

Riding the Pixiu and surrounded by armored soldiers, Prince Pingxi entered the capital of Zhao.

The city itself was not large. It could not compare with great cities like Yingdu or Litian City.

But a sparrow, though small, had all its organs.

Its political importance and military significance within Zhao territory could not be ignored.

Prince Pingxi himself, however, was not particularly pleased.

This was not some deliberate performance of majesty.

Before entering Zhao, he had explicitly ordered his army to concern itself only with requisitioning grain and not to start battles without authorization.

Attacking fortified cities was troublesome.

It required large amounts of manpower and supplies.

More importantly, it ground away the soldiers' sharpness.

It was like taking a fine blade and hacking at stone. By the time you actually needed to cut flesh, the edge might already be chipped and dull.

So while the Yan armies swept through Zhao gathering food, whenever they encountered a fortified estate that looked as though it held more than a thousand defenders, they generally left it alone.

Even if most of those thousand defenders were merely village militia.

Even if two hundred Yan cavalrymen could have scattered them on flat ground.

Once those men had walls and fortifications to rely upon, they immediately became a hard bone.

In fact, when genuine Zhao military cities and forts garrisoned by regular government troops faced the Yan, quite a few simply abandoned their positions and fled.

It was often the fortified estates built by local powerful families that actually protected nearby Zhao civilians and their property.

When the Yan arrived, the people inside would send out some grain and valuables.

The Yan accepted them and usually moved on without further trouble.

Public property and one's own property were, after all, two very different things.

Prince Pingxi had his own considerations for the greater strategy of this war, and he had been deliberately preserving the combat strength of his soldiers.

Yet even he had never imagined that Zhao's fortified estates would manage to hold, while the capital itself would simply fall.

It was a pleasant surprise.

Yes.

A genuine surprise.

But it also had a very real chance of disrupting Zheng Fan's original plan for the entire campaign.

Still, Zhao's capital had already fallen.

He could hardly hand it back.

Nor could he put on some display of lofty virtue and refuse to accept it.

So he could only grit his teeth and take possession.

As the Yan entered the city, Zhao's nobles and powerful families immediately led the common people out to reward the army.

The forced "harmony" of the scene made many Yan soldiers uncomfortable.

Prince Pingxi himself accepted it calmly.

After entering the city, he first received a jade pendant from the Ruler of Zhao, then took a whip and casually struck the man three times.

The Ruler of Zhao had already been untied.

He obediently crawled forward on his knees before Prince Pingxi, wailing loudly and begging the Prince not to harm the people of Zhao.

The entire ceremony proceeded according to the usual ritual for destroying a state.

It was dull.

Pointless.

And ridiculous.

The Zhao people cared about ceremony even more than the Yan did.

It was almost as though layer upon layer of complicated ritual could somehow dilute their guilt at losing the state.

By the time the entire day's procedures finally ended, even the Pixiu was exhausted.

It lay sprawled in a corner of the palace with its tongue hanging out, panting.

Yan soldiers had already taken control of the palace.

Zheng Fan sat directly on the Dragon Throne.

He did not avoid it.

He sat there openly and without the slightest concern.

The Sword Saint stood on one side.

A'Ming stood on the other.

The royal surname of Zhao was Guo.

The former Ruler of Zhao, after being made to complete all the necessary ceremonial steps, had once again been thrown into prison.

He would bear every ounce of blame for the estrangement that had arisen between Yan and Zhao.

Crown Prince Guo Yi would now represent Zhao in negotiating terms with Yan.

Just as Prince Pingxi was beginning to yawn, Guo Yi finally stated his condition.

"This Yi has long admired Prince Pingxi and regards Your Highness as Heaven and Earth. Today, Yi begs permission to acknowledge Your Highness as my father!"

Zheng Fan, seated on the Dragon Throne, froze slightly.

He had become a godfather many times.

But those had always been requests made by people of his own generation on behalf of their children.

This was the first time someone had personally come begging him to become his father.

Guo Yi wanted to become an adopted son of Prince Pingxi, using that relationship to demonstrate loyalty and bind himself to the Prince.

Such practices were common in the present age.

There was nothing especially strange about it.

Zheng Fan, however, still carried a touch of affectation about such matters.

The children beneath him had all been treated as genuine children.

So this kind of purely interest-driven binding through "family affection" still made him somewhat uncomfortable.

But Zhao's capital had already fallen.

If he did not quickly pacify the situation, chaos could easily erupt.

At that point, Zhao would not only fail to support the Yan army's coming operations, it could even become a burden.

After hesitating for a moment...

Prince Pingxi finally said:

"Granted."

And just as he spoke... the Queen of Zhao arrived leading the palace women and consorts to pay respects to the Prince.

...

A full day of exhaustion became one night of deep sleep.

When Zheng Fan woke the next morning, he prepared to wash.

He had stayed inside the palace.

And he had slept in the Ruler of Zhao's own bedchamber.

The Dragon Throne during the day.

The royal bed at night.

It was not that Zheng Fan was deliberately stepping on one political landmine after another just to feed flies to Little Sixth all the way back in Yanjing.

Rather, as the conqueror, especially given his present position, if he deliberately put on the appearance of a "loyal minister" and carefully rejected everything that might possibly cause misunderstanding, the Zhao elite would instead become deeply unsettled.

And by "the Zhao people" here, one meant the powerful families and nobles inside the capital.

From their perspective, they desperately wanted Prince Pingxi to be domineering.

More domineering.

And even more domineering than that.

Only then could they feel secure.

Only then could they quickly refill the vacant spaces in the power structure and even begin running the state again.

It sounded absurd.

Yet it was perfectly consistent with human nature.

When the Ruler of Zhao sat on the Dragon Throne, everyone had been perfectly capable of closing one eye and selling him out.

Now that Prince Pingxi sat there instead, their initiative suddenly exploded.

Everyone desperately wanted to perform well before the new master.

The "convert effect" was not precisely the right term.

But psychologically, it was close enough.

Zheng Fan had only just finished washing when a message arrived from the Blind Man.

"Court will be held in two hours."

"Heh."

The Prince laughed.

The Zhao people had actually restored the entire morning-court routine already.

"Since things have reached this point, what does Master intend to do next?" the Blind Man asked.

"My original intention was not to let Zhao's affairs tie my hands, but looking at things now, avoiding that may be difficult. The chain reaction from this could very well make the Qian-Chu coalition avoid our edge entirely and choose to withdraw. Originally, I intended to maneuver without attacking. I wanted to give the coalition the impression that we were desperate and had an enormous appetite. If I were the commander on the other side, there would be a very high chance I would choose to proceed cautiously, fight a little first, test the waters. After all, if they can win this next battle too, half of Great Yan's skeleton might collapse along with it. The bait is very fragrant. Even the most cautious man would struggle not to take a bite. But now..."

Who could have imagined that one shout of "Ura" from Fan Li could open the gates of a capital and directly affect the course of a three-state war?

Zhao's position was simply too important.

And if Guo Yi, Zheng Fan's new adopted son, proved even slightly competent afterward, if the Zhao elite could sell their state with a little more enthusiasm and persuade the Zhao forces outside the capital to submit, especially the army originally returning from Sanshan Pass... then the Yan would automatically acquire a solid strategic foothold right on the frontline.

Yan's strategic advantage would immediately expand.

The Yan possessed large numbers of cavalry to begin with.

With this base, they could truly attack or withdraw at will and carve the battlefield apart with ease.

The Qian-Chu coalition would have only two options.

Either sit behind fixed defenses and wait to be beaten apart piece by piece.

Or take the initiative and attack, trying to break the Yan formation.

But if that active attack failed... the entire mountain would collapse.

The Qian-Chu coalition would probably choose to take its winnings and leave.

"This subordinate trusts Master's strategic judgment," the Blind Man said. "But if things end this way, it may be difficult to explain to the men below."

The Blind Man did not like wasting too much thought on fields outside his expertise.

But he understood one thing very clearly.

Master had come down from the mountain with far too much ceremony and momentum.

If the campaign simply ended through mutual understanding like this, everyone would appear satisfied on the surface.

In truth, it would feel somewhat like deceiving themselves.

The thunder had been enormous.

The rain too small.

The two did not match.

"Then we shrink the appetite a little. Originally I wanted to make dumplings and eat two different fillings. Now I may only get to taste one. Liang Cheng is still at home. When the time comes, he can create pressure again at Zhennan Pass. Gou Moli in Fan City will not miss the direction of the wind either. He should make some movement around Qishan and threaten the retreat route of the Xie Clan army. At Nanwang City, the First Prince should have arrived with his troops by now. Once he joins forces with Li Liangshen, they can also put pressure on Qian's Three Frontiers. Qian is terrified that our armies will repeat the old trick of bypassing the Three Frontiers and riding south to plunder. Besides, the only organized cavalry corps the Qian possess around the Three Frontiers is currently in Liang under Zhong Tianlang. That means we can raid south more freely. Little Sixth should not pass up such a good opportunity to recover some blood."

When the late Emperor had still been alive, Great Yan had emphasized "upright and open" warfare.

That had been because the court genuinely regarded the other states and territories of all Xia as future Yan lands and future Yan subjects.

After taking the Three Jin lands, Yan had not recovered strength from them.

Instead, occupying and restoring the region had consumed even more of the state's vitality.

If the war of unification could have continued that way all the way to the end, then naturally it would have been best.

Treat all the people of Xia as future subjects.

Reduce civilian killing as much as possible.

Reduce hatred as much as possible.

But Great Yan's internal machinery had now developed severe problems.

The carefully planned period of recuperation had been shattered by one accident after another.

Under such circumstances, the "unification mindset" had to be put aside temporarily.

Other states had to be treated as enemy states.

Plundered.

Used to replenish Yan.

That was the true essence of Zheng Fan's march beyond South Gate Pass this time.

He was raiding the grasslands.

The First Prince and Li Liangshen at Nanwang City would probably copy the same method.

Zheng Fan flicked water from his hands.

"That way, we can apply pressure to both Qian and Chu. An alliance like this will inevitably develop cracks, because in the end each state puts its own interests first. Qian especially. Most of the rising young generals around its Three Frontiers are currently inside Liang. Even if their Emperor is wise enough to order them to stay there and maintain the standoff against Great Yan, they themselves may not dare obey. If the First Prince raids south and they refuse to return, the political blame will inevitably fall upon their heads."

"So Master is waiting for the coalition to split apart, then choosing one side to devour?"

"Mm."

"Which side does Master prefer?"

"Xie Yu'an."

Zheng Fan answered without hesitation.

"Master wants to capture another one?"

Zheng Fan shook his head.

"Because Chu lies closer to our home. Whatever we do, weakening Chu has to come first."

"Master is wise. But..."

"But what?"

"This subordinate worries about one possibility. What if, for once, Qian and Chu truly maintain their alliance without the slightest gap and insist on wrestling with us inside Liang until the very end?"

"Then we trade pieces."

Prince Pingxi smiled easily.

"I'll trade every soldier I brought this time right here and see whether Qian and Chu are willing to match me. The Xie Clan is Chu's final Pillar of State. Qian has only just managed to train several new armies worth looking at. As for us... our true foundation is still sitting safely back in eastern Jin, isn't it?"

"Master truly thinks that way?"

The Blind Man would naturally be pleased to see Great Yan's military strength ground down in a way that indirectly strengthened the Prince Residence.

But he also understood perfectly well that Master still possessed a certain attachment to Great Yan.

"Once the bow is drawn, there is no turning back."

Zheng Fan stretched.

"I can only force myself to think this way. That way, when the time comes to place the pieces, my hand will be steadier. At the gambling table, momentum matters."

If he could not truly become cold-blooded... then he would simply brainwash himself.

The Blind Man nodded.

"This subordinate understands. Master can rest a little longer. Soon you must attend the Zhao Crown Prince's enthronement ceremony and announce to the world that you have accepted him as an adopted son."

"I know."

"This subordinate takes his leave."

The Blind Man withdrew with a smile.

Not long afterward, the Queen of Zhao entered carrying breakfast.

She was no longer young.

But her figure was full and voluptuous, the classic mature beauty.

Speaking honestly... she was quite attractive.

The previous night, she had brought two consorts of the Ruler of Zhao and offered to remain to serve Zheng Fan in bed.

Zheng Fan had refused.

Now she had come again.

"Leave the breakfast. You may go."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The Queen withdrew.

Zheng Fan did not consider himself some reincarnation of Liu Xiahui.

But both women at home were pregnant.

If he came out on campaign and started fooling around with other women, he genuinely could not get past his own moral line.

Besides, he was sentimental.

If something actually happened, then given his habits, he would probably end up bringing the woman home afterward.

Forget it.

No need to add another headache.

Prince Pingxi did not eat the breakfast the Queen had brought.

Instead, he had Liu Dahu fetch him an ordinary army breakfast.

After eating, he practiced his saber for a while.

When the hour arrived, Liu Dahu and Zheng Man helped him put on his armor.

Then he went to court.

The state had technically only just "fallen."

And yet the court hall felt strangely like New Year.

The palace hall of Zhao was much smaller than the great hall in Yan.

The number of officials standing in rows was barely half as large.

Even so, the ceremony still managed to preserve a sense of solemn grandeur.

Prince Pingxi once again sat high upon the Dragon Throne.

Crown Prince Guo Yi first completed the enthronement ceremony.

Then came the ritual of "acknowledging a father."

After that... the officials of Zhao first paid court to their new ruler.

Then... the new ruler led every minister in the hall in bowing before Prince Pingxi on the Dragon Throne.

Such was the fate of a small state.

It could be kneaded between powerful hands almost at will.

In the old days, even the Qu Clan of Chu had been able to interfere heavily in the internal affairs of nearby small states.

Xie Yu'an had taken troops into Liang and overturned the entire court there.

So Zheng Fan turning Zhao upside down now did not count as anything especially shocking.

These little states were merely lumps of dough in the struggle between great powers.

What shape they took depended on the preference of the stronger hands behind them.

After court ended... the new Ruler of Zhao, Prince Pingxi's adopted son Guo Yi, personally led the Zhao troops inside the capital from household to household, requisitioning wealth and opening the granaries of great families to provide food for the Yan army.

When one's own people robbed one's own people, the efficiency naturally improved.

Guo Yi was proving extremely diligent in his new role as ruler.

But bad news soon arrived.

The Zhao commander of Sanshan Pass had originally obeyed orders and led his army back toward the capital to protect the Ruler of Zhao.

Unfortunately, halfway through the journey... the Ruler of Zhao changed.

The commander had some real backbone.

He simply drew his saber and killed the "imperial envoy" Guo Yi had sent to him.

He announced that he would never recognize a new ruler who acknowledged a bandit as his father.

Then he cut down Zhao's royal banner... and proclaimed himself king.

The troops under his command immediately turned around and marched back toward Sanshan Pass.

When Guo Yi came before his "adoptive father" to ask forgiveness...

Zheng Fan played the role of a benevolent father and comforted him.

Afterward...

Zheng Fan issued orders.

The Vanguard Army would set out first.

The Blind Man would lead the Rear Army and remain behind to hold Zhao's capital.

Zheng Fan himself would personally lead the Central Army toward Sanshan Pass.

Later histories would call the campaign fought in the first year of Great Yan's Longping era the "War of the States."

Not only Yan, Chu, and Qian participated.

Several smaller states were dragged into it as well.

If Fan Li, greatest general beneath Prince Pingxi Residence, taking Zhao's capital without losing a single soldier could be called an auspicious opening... then what came next... the true blood and brutality of this war that would determine the future fate of many states... would begin to spread from Sanshan Pass.

During the march...

Zheng Fan ordered A'Ming to carry a verbal message ahead.

The message was simple.

It was meant for Xue San and Fan Li, who were serving as supervisors with the Vanguard Army.

"Take the leash off that old dog Chen Yang."

[End of Chapter 837]