Yang Gong and Li Mubai exchanged glances, and the latter said:

“To be frank, this matter has troubled my mind for a long time. I’ve always felt that the Yunzhou rebels shouldn’t be operating at merely this level. But given the current situation, taking Qingzhou within a month would be impossible unless Wei Yuan were still alive.

“What are your thoughts on this?”

The battlefield was like a chessboard, though even more unpredictable than chess. As great scholars of the Yunlu Academy, Li Mubai and Yang Gong were no ordinary men, and they didn’t mind “seeking trouble” in such important matters.

Hearing this, the advisors began speculating:

“In the current situation, it would be extremely difficult for the Yunzhou rebels to capture Qingzhou. Could it be… perhaps they have another main force, dividing their troops to take a different route, attempting to seize other locations? And here at Qingzhou, they’re merely keeping us occupied, tying down the imperial main force.”

“But that would be meaningless, separately capturing other regions? Then becoming isolated forces, trapped in desperate situations, allowing our Great Feng to divide and conquer them? As written in Commissioner Xu’s military treatise: ‘Use the orthodox to engage, use the unorthodox to win.’

“This would merely be an unorthodox move, and nothing more than that.”

“Master Yang, I don’t find it strange at all. It’s not that we overestimated the Yunzhou rebels, nor that they are ineffective. It’s simply heaven’s will. Consider this: if not for Commissioner Xu bringing the Gu tribe’s elite forces, relieving pressure on Qingzhou, and allowing us to catch our breath, thereby enabling us to deploy troops and maneuver, this second line of defense would likely have completely collapsed.

“If not for Commissioner Xu allying with the Southern Demons, holding back the Western Regions’ allied armies and Buddhist forces, the current situation would have the imperial court fighting on two fronts, unable to reinforce Qingzhou, and the battle line would likely have been pushed to the Central Plains heartland.

“Therefore, it’s not that the Yunzhou rebels are ineffective, but rather that every path and strategy has been neutralized by Commissioner Xu’s external operations.”

After this deep analysis, even Yang Gong and Li Mubai had to admit this explanation made the most sense.

Because even these two great scholars couldn’t think of other possibilities.

After the meeting concluded, Li Mubai finished the tea in his cup and cupped his hands toward the advisor who had earlier suggested “eating people” to solve the flying beast army’s food supply problem, saying:

“Brother Lingzhan, may I have a word?”

The advisor with the goatee rose and walked out with Li Mubai.

After leaving the main hall, and walking through the Administrative Commissioner’s office, Li Mubai suddenly said:

“There’s something I’d like to trouble Brother Lingzhan with.”

The advisor cupped his hands: “Brother Chunjing, please speak freely.”

Li Mubai nodded and said:

“I hope Brother Lingzhan can write a letter to Songshan County, telling Xu Cijiu that in extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken. But don’t use Master Yang’s name.”

The advisor understood and said solemnly:

“Lingzhan understands.”

…

In the capital, at Yangshen Palace.

On a quiet afternoon, Emperor Yongxing awoke on his dragon couch, feeling refreshed. It had been a long time since he’d had such a peaceful sleep.

The first thing he did upon waking was summon Chief Eunuch Zhao Xuanzhen and instructed:

“I recall the Spring Sacrifice is in a month.

“Notify the Court of Justice to make it grand. I want to properly honor the ancestors and heaven and earth.”

After the Spring Sacrifice, the earth would return to spring.

This winter disaster that had nearly broken Great Feng was finally reaching its end.

When the season of revival arrived, first the cold would no longer threaten the common people, and second, even if grain remained scarce, people could always find something to eat by foraging in the mountains and fields.

A few days ago in the Imperial Study, the ministers had analyzed the Qingzhou situation in depth and unanimously concluded that the Yunzhou rebels couldn’t take Qingzhou before the Spring Sacrifice.

And given the disparity in foundations between the two sides, the Yunzhou rebels would only grow more weary as they fought on, their initial momentum fading with each engagement. What had been a raging fire threatening to spread across the land would gradually dim until it was extinguished.

Recently, the heavy atmosphere in the capital had begun to thaw like melting ice, suddenly becoming lighter.

The Cabinet had issued three successive edicts to boost public morale.

Just as Zhao Xuanzhen was about to withdraw to deliver the message, Emperor Yongxing waved his hand and said:

“Never mind, directly summon the ministers to discuss matters in the Imperial Study.”

He showed a slight smile: “Let’s continue discussing the Qingzhou situation.”

…

At Fengqi Palace, Huaiqing led two personal palace maids into this cold palace that countless women of the inner court dreamed of entering.

Charcoal fires blazed and curtains hung down as the devastatingly beautiful Empress Dowager sat behind her desk, eating pastries she had made herself while reading quietly.

“Mother Empress!”

Huaiqing performed a ceremonial greeting, cool and aloof.

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, not much warmer than her daughter, and said:

“Some days ago, His Majesty arranged the marriage between Lin’an and Commissioner Xu.

“It suddenly reminded me that I had neglected your marriages. When the previous emperor was still alive, it was acceptable for your daughters to remain unmarried.

“Now that the new emperor has ascended, your positions have all risen accordingly, and it’s no longer appropriate to remain unmarried.

“I called you here today to ask if Huaiqing has anyone in mind?”

Huaiqing smiled, though it was unclear whether in mockery or disdain and said coolly:

“Mother Empress need not worry about your child’s marriage. If I meet the right person, I will naturally marry.”

The Empress Dowager didn’t press the matter and nodded:

“You may withdraw.”

Huaiqing performed another ceremonial greeting and left Fengqi Palace with her palace maids.

The palace walls were layer upon layer, locking away pure dreams.

Huaiqing suddenly stopped along the way, gazing at the azure sky.

Someone in mind… she silently repeated these words in her heart.

Returning to Deixin Garden, Huaiqing suddenly lost interest in reading. She had planned to rest briefly when she felt a sudden unease. Without showing any change in expression, she dismissed her palace maids and took out the Earth Book fragment.

[Two: I saw notices in the city saying the Qingzhou war situation was excellent and the rebels were at their limit, and it made me angry. These good-for-nothing officials are deceiving the people.]

Huaiqing, who had been in a poor mood, almost laughed.

The Holy Son and Holy Maiden of the Heaven Sect should be judged by their cultivation talent; if judged by wisdom… they were merely passable.

[Four: We can’t say they’re deceiving the people. Throughout history, the imperial court has always emphasized the positive and downplayed the negative. In another month, it will be the Spring Sacrifice, the earth will return to spring, and the winter disaster will pass. The imperial court has endured its most difficult moment.

[And the Yunzhou rebels are being firmly held at Qingzhou – the longer they’re delayed, the more hopeless their situation becomes. Although the imperial court faces both internal and external troubles, its foundation is still stronger than Yunzhou’s.]

[Seven: Then haven’t we trained our troops for nothing?]

Indeed, they were fellow disciples… Huaiqing watched quietly without participating in the conversation.

[Four: What do you mean by that, Brother Li? The Yunzhou rebels have accumulated strength for twenty years – how could they be easy to deal with? When I say they’ll be hopeless after the Spring Sacrifice, that doesn’t mean they’ll be defeated right after the Spring Sacrifice.

[If we can quickly prepare our troops and reach Qingzhou before the Spring Sacrifice, we might become the final straw that breaks the Yunzhou rebels. Come to think of it, if not for Xu Ningyan’s diplomatic maneuvering, resolving both the Gu tribe and Western Regions threats one after another, wouldn’t Qingzhou have fallen long ago?]

Ah, we can’t let Brother Yang see this… Li Lingsu transmitted:

[The Celestial Observatory’s Sister Caiwei and Brother Yang are in my camp. Brother Yang also plans to gather wandering people to compete for the Central Plains and become a figure recorded in history.]

[Two: It’s to suppress Xu Qi’an, right?]

[Four: It’s to compete with Ningyan, right?]

[Six: It’s aimed at Master Xu, right?]

Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Master Hengyuan transmitted in succession.

Li Lingsu almost covered his face, but when he was about to criticize Yang Qianhuan, he changed his mind and said:

[Brother Yang is truly a person of utmost purity. However, he and Sister Caiwei were exiled by the Observatory Master.]

After explaining why Yang Qianhuan and Chu Caiwei were exiled, the Holy Son concluded:

[This pair of brother and sister disciples truly makes one sigh in bewilderment.]

The Heaven and Earth Society members, who had been quite emotional, saw this line and silently thought:

The brother and sister disciples of your Heaven Sect aren’t any better.

[Two: None of the Observatory Master’s disciples are normal.]

Seeing these words, the Heaven and Earth Society members sighed again.

At this moment, Daoist Jin Lian appeared to speak:

[Everyone, this poor Daoist has returned from seclusion.]

The Heaven and Earth Society was quiet for a few seconds, then exploded.

[Two: Ah, Daoist Jin Lian, you’ve finally emerged from seclusion. You don’t know how much has changed outside, so many things have happened.]

Yes, so many things happened that this poor Daoist thought he had been in seclusion for ten or twenty years… Daoist Jin Lian transmitted with emotion:

[This poor Daoist has already heard everything from the disciples in the sect. In the mountain, there is no sun or moon, but in the world, a thousand years have passed.]

[Four: Daoist, what you know is only what has spread throughout the world. There are some secret messages within the Heaven and Earth Society that you don’t know yet.]

Chu Yuanzhen transmitted.

Daoist Jin Lian’s heart stirred. He knew Xu Qi’an had stepped into the transcendent realm and participated in many major events, so he must have encountered numerous high-level secrets.

And given Xu Ningyan’s personality, he would likely show off in front of the Heaven and Earth Society members… no, share information mutually.

Daoist Jin Lian immediately transmitted an inquiry:

[Nine: What inside information is there?]

Chu Yuanzhen transmitted: [Four: I’ll tell you some things that can be said. As for the secrets Xu Ningyan has revealed, we’ll tell you after he agrees.]

Scholar Chu detailed everything that had happened after Jin Lian entered seclusion: Wei Yuan’s death in battle, their joint killing of Yuan Jing, wandering the jianghu, and the series of events killing the Buddhist Vajra in Jianzhou.

However, he omitted the relationship between Xu Qi’an and Xu Pingfeng and didn’t mention the Buddha’s secrets.

[Nine: Wei Yuan sacrificed himself for righteousness. As for Zhende’s matter, I truly apologize, it wasn’t this poor Daoist’s wish. It was all Black Lotus’s fault – everyone must help me eliminate this villain.]

While feeling complex emotions, Daoist Jin Lian didn’t forget to shift blame.

Half the responsibility for Great Feng’s current situation lay with Daoist Jin Lian, and the other half with Xu Pingfeng.

If not for Daoist Jin Lian’s evil thoughts taking the opportunity to corrupt Zhende back then, there wouldn’t have been so many subsequent troubles.

The Heaven and Earth Society members tacitly avoided elaborating, after all, it wasn’t a glorious matter, and the karma was too heavy – it was an indelible scar in Jin Lian’s heart.

Seeing that the Heaven and Earth Society members didn’t dwell on this matter, Jin Lian’s heart relaxed.

At this time, Li Na transmitted:

[Five: Daoist Jin Lian, what did you do wrong?]

Daoist Jin Lian: “…”

Daoist Jin Lian, why did you recruit Li Na into the Heaven and Earth Society back then… the Society members inwardly complained.

[Nine: This is a long story, I’ll tell you in detail when we meet someday.]

Daoist Jin Lian could only deflect like this.

[Nine: There’s something this poor Daoist thinks everyone should be vigilant about, regarding the Qingzhou war.]