Grand Marshal Tang Long, General of the Left Ma Zhenling, and General of the Right Luo Xin stood together in a secluded corner of the Imperial Palace, discussing the current crisis. When Luo Xin reiterated that the Empire was in imminent danger of annihilation, Ma Zhenling scoffed, calling it alarmist fearmongering.
“Alarmist fearmongering? General of the Left, I wonder how much you truly know about the situation in the enemy-occupied territories? Your son controls our nation’s intelligence apparatus. Go ask him exactly how many Allied troops have made landfall in the Eastern Spirit Empire!
“Ask him how many are currently on the front lines, and how many are massing in the rear. Do you genuinely believe the invasion force is only three million strong?
“Let me enlighten you: the Allied forces have recently poured over a million reinforcements into the frontline sectors. Furthermore, stationed along our southwestern coast and on the larger islands between us and the Southern Region, they have amassed another force exceeding three million men.
“That means the Allied forces have already committed over seven million troops to the invasion of our Empire, and they are still transporting more men and materiel across the sea every single day.
“Simultaneously, massive Allied formations are stockpiling supplies and troops on the islands near Dongjun, Dongzhou, and the Dongzhi. What do you suppose they are preparing for?” Luo Xin demanded, staring down the two Army generals.
“What?! How is this possible? Why haven’t these intelligence reports reached High Command?!” Tang Long demanded, staring at Luo Xin in absolute shock.
“Reached High Command? Ha! I gathered this intelligence from merchants and smugglers, not from our illustrious military intelligence division. If you want the specifics, go ask the General of the Left’s son!” Luo Xin replied with a bitter smile.
“Are you saying… the other nations in the Central Region might also be facing imminent invasion?” Ma Zhenling asked, a note of genuine fear creeping into his voice.
“What do you think? If this intelligence is accurate, those ‘reinforcements’ currently advancing toward our borders will soon be recalled to defend their own homelands. When that happens, who will the Empire rely on? The pampered scions of the Army’s military clans? Grand Marshal, do you truly believe they are capable of defending us?” Luo Xin pressed, his gaze fixed on Tang Long.
“Damn it! I swear to you, I had absolutely no knowledge of this!” Tang Long cursed, his face pale.
“Hu Hao, and anyone else who actually knows how to fight, must be promoted. We cannot rely on foreign intervention. Furthermore, the gates of hell have only just opened for the Central Region!
“National annihilation and the extermination of our people is not alarmist fearmongering! It is a very real possibility! Why do you think I am advocating so fiercely for Hu Hao? Because right now, in the entire Empire, Hu Hao is the only commander who has proven he can consistently win battles!
“The others, including the current crop of junior officers, simply don’t know how to fight effectively yet. At the very least, they lack Hu Hao’s extraordinary capabilities.
“If you try to block Hu Hao’s promotion, set aside whether His Majesty or I would agree—go ask the officers of the Southwestern Combat Zone if they would accept it. You know as well as I do: without Hu Hao, could Jiang Kai have held the defensive line? Is Jiang Kai inherently that much better than the other Combat Zone Commanders?
“During the initial invasion of Tianyu Province, Jiang Kai’s forces held out for a few days before collapsing into a full retreat. Yet this time, they have held the line for over twenty days. How much of that is directly attributable to Hu Hao’s influence? Do you have any idea?
“Grand Marshal, I understand your desire to secure the Crown Prince’s position. But look at the bigger picture! Does it really matter to us, or to the common people, who sits on the throne? Right now, the people only care about two things: holding the defensive lines to reclaim our territory, and avoiding being slaughtered by the Allied forces!” Luo Xin lectured the Grand Marshal sternly.
Tang Long listened in silence, eventually nodding slowly.
“If the situation is truly as you describe, then I also support Hu Hao’s promotion!” Ma Zhenling finally conceded after a long moment of heavy silence.
“Sigh. You two… if you must engage in political struggles, at least pick the right time! Furthermore, regarding Jiang Kai… do you really think Jiang Kai’s rise is inevitable? If Jiang Kai is promoted to High Command, what happens to the Southwestern Combat Zone and its defensive lines?
“Who will command those forces? Especially if Hu Hao is appointed Commander of the 1st Group Army. It certainly won’t be Hu Hao. Who then? Sun Qinxue? He has some talent, but only as a staff officer. When it comes to actual battlefield command, he might not even match a competent division commander!
“Therefore, promoting Hu Hao is actually a move to pull the rug out from under Jiang Kai. Do you truly believe His Majesty trusts Jiang Kai implicitly? That he isn’t taking precautions against him? Has His Majesty ever fully trusted any of us? Has he ever fully trusted you, Grand Marshal?” Luo Xin lowered his voice, leaning closer to the two Army generals.
Tang Long could only offer a bitter smile in response.
“By elevating Hu Hao, His Majesty is simultaneously checking Jiang Kai’s power. Hu Hao is a recent arrival to the front lines and to the Southwestern Combat Zone. His Majesty wants to give him an independent command, molding him into a loyalist of the throne!
“If His Majesty simply allowed Hu Hao to take over Jiang Kai’s forces, Hu Hao would remain firmly in Jiang Kai’s camp. Do you understand now? Your political maneuvers are far too short-sighted. When Jiang Kai initially proposed opening the promotion channels, you all vehemently opposed it. Now that you’ve seen so many clan scions slaughtered, you’re suddenly desperate? Where was this urgency before?!
“Your opposition played perfectly into His Majesty’s hands; it gave him the justification to purge the incompetent elements of our military clans! It’s a pity you were so blindly focused on your own narrow interests. You allowed countless clan scions and ordinary soldiers to die needlessly. Now you’re panicking, aren’t you? So many military families are blaming you, Tang Long, and no one is blaming Jiang Kai anymore!” Luo Xin concluded his harsh assessment.
“I was indeed short-sighted in this matter. I genuinely believed our frontline forces could hold. I never anticipated a collapse of this magnitude. I need to seriously reflect on my actions,” Tang Long nodded, accepting the criticism.
“No one can stop Hu Hao’s rise now. If you continue to oppose him, you will only put the Crown Prince’s position in greater jeopardy. You should be paying much closer attention to the Fourth Prince. He is your true threat.
“Especially right now. The Fourth Prince is the greatest danger to your faction. If he manages to secure Jiang Kai’s support, the Crown Prince will be utterly outmatched! And you, Grand Marshal, are no match for Jiang Kai’s political maneuvering!” With a final, grim warning, Luo Xin offered a curt bow and walked away.
“We were all short-sighted. We calculated everyone’s moves, but we failed to calculate His Majesty’s,” Ma Zhenling sighed, looking at Tang Long.
Tang Long nodded heavily. In today’s Imperial Assembly, he had suffered a crushing defeat.
Meanwhile, the Emperor had led his sons to a secluded pavilion in the Imperial Gardens. As soon as they were seated, he ordered the guards to bring refreshments.
“Sit,” the Emperor told his sons. The five Princes gathered around the stone table.
“I want each of you to compile a detailed report on what you saw, heard, and thought during your recent deployments. Submit them to me as soon as possible,” the Emperor ordered.
“Yes, Imperial Father. We will prepare them immediately upon returning to our residences,” the Crown Prince replied promptly.
“What is your assessment of Jiang Kai? Tell me,” the Emperor asked, focusing on the Crown Prince.
“He possesses genuine capability in commanding troops. The defensive lines under his jurisdiction are solid. While his forces have suffered significant casualties, he has inflicted far greater losses upon the Allied forces!
“However, I believe recalling him to the Capital might be a wise move. He lacks experience within the various ministries of the Capital and is unfamiliar with their internal dynamics. Furthermore, whether he possesses the necessary prestige to command the entire Imperial Army remains a question,” the Crown Prince answered carefully.
“I disagree with recalling him. The front lines desperately need Jiang Kai!” the Fourth Prince interjected.
“Mm. I had previously considered recalling him, but I realized he is the only Combat Zone Commander currently capable of holding his ground. I dare not move him. If I transfer him, the front lines will be entirely devoid of capable generals, and the Empire will be in even graver danger.
“Now, listen to me, all five of you. First and foremost, you must remember that you are the sons of the Imperial Family. Your family owns the entire Eastern Spirit Empire. At all times, you must prioritize the interests of the Empire, for the interests of the Empire are the interests of our family!” the Emperor stated calmly but firmly.
“Yes, Imperial Father!” the five Princes nodded in unison.
“Crown Prince, you must remember this above all else: the Empire will one day be yours. You must elevate your perspective. Only by standing at the summit can you see the horizon. Do not squabble over petty, short-term gains. When the entire world is yours, what is there left to care about? What could you possibly desire that you cannot have? Hm?
“Your duty is to think grandly. How do we protect this Empire? Protecting the Empire is protecting our own interests. You should not be bickering over whether a specific general should be promoted. What does it matter if he is promoted or not? Hm?
“If he is promoted, he fights for the Empire. He fights for you. Can you truly not distinguish between what is important and what is trivial?
“Whether Jiang Kai or Tang Long serves as Grand Marshal… what difference does it make to you? You are the Crown Prince! You will rule the world! What are you afraid of?” the Emperor lectured the Crown Prince sharply.
“Yes… I realize my mistake!” The Crown Prince immediately stood up and bowed his head in shame.
“I sent you to Jiang Kai’s headquarters, yet you failed to forge a strong relationship with him? Yes, Tang Long is your father-in-law, but you are the Crown Prince! You could easily take Jiang Kai’s daughter or granddaughter as a consort! Is there a woman in this Empire who would refuse you? Hm?
“Your absolute priority must be the protection of this nation! Without this nation, you have nothing!
“Furthermore, Tang Long has disappointed me greatly. If it weren’t for his family’s long history of diligent service in managing the military, I would have replaced him long ago. The Empire provided him with everything he asked for, and this catastrophic failure is the result he delivers?! Has he done right by me? Has he proven worthy of the Imperial Family’s trust?
“Are you afraid that if you lose his support, you won’t be able to control the military? Do you think I am blind? Do you think I haven’t already considered this and made arrangements for you?” the Emperor continued his reprimand.
“Yes, I was foolish,” the Crown Prince admitted softly.
Seeing the Crown Prince stand, the other four Princes had also risen to their feet, their heads bowed respectfully. Hearing the Emperor’s harsh words, they felt a surge of intense jealousy toward the Crown Prince. Yet, none dared to show it. It was clear the Emperor still favored his eldest son—the man who had held the position of Crown Prince for over thirty years.
“Sigh. Zhili, you must understand: the world is yours. I will undoubtedly make all the necessary arrangements for you. Your only task is to be a worthy Crown Prince!” the Emperor’s tone softened slightly as he addressed his eldest son, Ling Zhili.
(End of Chapter)
The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/caleredhair