Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

The Fourth Prince stood quietly outside the tent, hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Before long, he saw dust rising in the distance and the sound of horse hooves echoing through the air. He looked closely and saw Li Jing, leading a group of imposing generals, galloping towards him.

When he got closer, Li Jing dismounted and hurried to the Fourth Prince. He then bowed respectfully and said in a loud voice, "I pay my respects to His Highness the Fourth Prince! I wonder what important instructions have brought you here today?"

Seeing this, the Fourth Prince quickly reached out his hands and supported Li Jing. His face was filled with concern as he complained, "General Li, you're embarrassing me with your formalities! Please stand up quickly. There's no need for such formalities." He then waved to the crowd behind him and shouted, "Everyone, stand up!"

Seeing this, everyone stood up, but they still maintained a respectful attitude. The Fourth Prince carefully helped Li Jing stand up straight, and said with a smile, "I have come here to discuss something with you. I hope that Lord Li can spare some time to listen. I just wonder if Lord Li is available at this moment?"

Upon hearing this, Li Jing hurriedly clasped his fists and bowed, and replied sincerely: "Since the Fourth Prince has come here, no matter how important the matter is, it must be put aside for the time being. Your Highness, please move to the main tent for discussion." After saying this, he turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation, leading the Fourth Prince towards the tent specially used for discussing important matters.

When everyone entered the main hall of the camp, Li Jing smiled and gestured for the Fourth Prince's grandson to take the main seat. However, the Fourth Prince humbly waved his hand and politely declined, saying, "This is a major battle commanded by you, Lord Li. The main seat should rightfully belong to you!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jing quickly clasped his fists and bowed, responding respectfully and politely, "Fourth Prince, you are wrong! This world is the king's land, the territory of Great Shun. As the prince, you are the true master of this place. Naturally, the throne belongs to you. Please take a seat!"

The Fourth Prince was secretly delighted upon hearing these words, but he didn't show his joy on his face, remaining reserved and humble. After a moment's hesitation, he followed Li Jing's instructions, slowly approaching the main throne and sitting upright. Once the Fourth Prince was seated, Li Jing led the generals and vanguards to take their seats below.

At this time, the Fourth Prince looked around and saw that everyone had settled down, so he cleared his throat and said, "Lord Li, I have come here to discuss an important matter with you. I wonder if it is convenient for you now?" As he spoke, his eyes inadvertently swept over the people present, and it was obvious that he had some concerns about certain matters.

Li Jing instantly grasped the Fourth Prince's concern. He immediately stood up, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, the generals in this hall are all seasoned and loyal men. There is absolutely no possibility of spies among them. If Your Highness has anything to say, please feel free to speak frankly."

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince felt a sense of peace, and he ceased his coy attitude. He turned to his attendant, Zhu Qi, and nodded slightly. Zhu Qi understood and hurried forward, presenting a Xiongnu confession with both hands. The Fourth Prince then turned to Li Jing again and said slowly, "Lord Li, please first review this Xiongnu confession."

Li Jing stared at the piece of paper Zhu Qi handed him with suspicion. As his gaze slowly shifted downward, his expression grew increasingly gloomy, as if a storm was about to break out. After reading the contents of the paper, Li Jing felt a surge of inexplicable anger rushing to his head. With a loud "bang," he slammed the table in front of him, causing it to fall apart.

Li Jing was now furious, his chest heaving violently as he cursed, "These despicable fellows actually took advantage of the snowstorm to come and kill innocent civilians in our city! They are simply lawless and ruthless! Do they really think we are weak and can be bullied?" The Fourth Prince, who was watching this, was also furious, but compared to Li Jing, he seemed slightly calmer. Knowing that getting angry at this moment would not solve the problem, the Fourth Prince suppressed his anger and spoke soothingly, "General Li, calm down. Now that we know their movements and purpose, we should quickly think of a countermeasure. What is your opinion on this matter?"

Li Jing's anger subsided slightly after hearing the Fourth Prince's question. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. After a moment's contemplation, he said, "Indeed, the Xiongnu have a purpose and the confession in hand. I'm afraid they'll take action next. We absolutely cannot sit idly by and allow these beasts to continue their rampage across Dashun territory!" With these words, a flicker of determination flashed in Li Jing's eyes, clearly resolved to fight the Xiongnu to the bitter end.

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince was filled with emotion, his eyes gleaming with rage and determination. He clenched his fists tightly and said through gritted teeth, "This time, we must inflict a heavy blow on the Xiongnu, so that they will never dare to covet our Central Plains again!"

As a formidable general who had long guarded the northwest, Li Jing's familiarity with the region was unparalleled. He knew the terrain, the climate, the enemy's combat style, and countless other details. Seeing the Fourth Prince share his resolve, he nodded slightly in agreement.

Li Jing said solemnly, "The Fourth Prince is quite right, but inflicting a heavy blow on the Xiongnu is by no means easy. This is not a goal that can be achieved in a short period of time. We must take a long-term approach and teach the enemy a lesson that will last a lifetime."

He paused and continued, "Over the years, the two sides have frequently engaged in battle, and we have come to understand each other somewhat. We have spies lurking beneath the Xiongnu camp. Now that the Xiongnu have dared to send envoys to provoke us, it's time to activate those spies hidden in the shadows and put them to work."

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince's eyes suddenly lit up, his entire being ablaze with excitement. He looked eagerly at Marquis Li, his voice trembling slightly with urgency as he asked, "Marquis Li, so you already have a detailed and comprehensive plan?"

Lord Li nodded slightly, his expression serious and steady as he replied, "Your Highness, arrangements have indeed been made. First and foremost, the most urgent task is to strengthen our defenses and ensure the unimpeded flow of information. To this end, we must focus on regular and rigorous inspections of the Great Wall, and absolutely no omissions are allowed. Furthermore, sections that have been neglected or severely damaged must be promptly repaired to ensure they are as solid as a rock and unbreakable. Especially at key points that are highly vulnerable to enemy attack, we should add arrow towers and watchtowers to strengthen our defenses and ensure the wall remains secure and unimpeded."

Lord Li paused briefly, took a deep breath, and continued, "Furthermore, regarding beacon fire communications, we must further improve their warning mechanism. The distance between each beacon tower should not be too far, so that as soon as the enemy is detected, fireworks can be lit immediately to give a warning. This will form an uninterrupted and rapid signal chain, ensuring that relevant information can be transmitted throughout the defense line in an instant, allowing our troops to prepare countermeasures in advance."

The Fourth Prince narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at Lord Li with a sharp gaze, and said in a deep voice, "Lord Li, please feel free to speak. This prince will do his best!"

Lord Li's face was solemn as he slowly spoke, "Fourth Prince, I do have a favor to ask of you. This matter concerns the survival of the nation and the safety of the people. I hope you will pay attention to it."

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince's expression instantly became extremely serious. He straightened his back and said solemnly, "Lord Li, please speak frankly. As long as it is within the scope of my ability, I will definitely not shirk even a little bit!"

Lord Li took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Fourth Prince, the task you are undertaking this time is of paramount importance. If war truly breaks out between the two countries, then the preparation of food and fodder will be extremely crucial. Small-scale conflicts like these are usually easy to handle, but if the two countries go to war, it will inevitably lead to a large-scale demand for food and fodder and numerous casualties. Therefore, I implore the Fourth Prince to ensure that the food and fodder supply to our rear is completely secure. Only then can I, without any worries, fight the enemy and defend our country!"

After hearing these words, the Fourth Prince understood the weight of his responsibility. He clenched his fists and nodded firmly, "Rest assured, Lord Li, I will do my utmost to accomplish this. Even if the challenges ahead are numerous, I will do everything in my power to ensure an adequate supply of food and fodder, and will not let the soldiers on the front lines fight on an empty stomach!"

Li Jing, the Fourth Prince, and the other ministers discussed numerous details within the large tent, clarifying all that needed to be done. Time flew by in the bustle, and everyone's stomachs were already clamoring for the empty city plan. Their deliberations had consumed most of the day, and by now the sun was setting, past lunchtime. Li Jing heard the Fourth Prince's stomach growl, and suddenly realized how much time had passed. It was time for dinner.

He hastened to apologize to the Fourth Prince, his words filled with sincerity and self-blame: "This is truly due to my poor care. It's past mealtime. I hope the Fourth Prince will forgive me." The Fourth Prince, hearing this, wasn't angry. Instead, he gently soothed, "This is all for the peace of Dashun. Lord Li, there's no need to blame yourself." Li Jing's uneasiness subsided slightly, and he immediately ordered his men to prepare the meal. The Fourth Prince, also hungry, didn't stop him, and instead huddled in the barracks with the other generals, devouring their meal.