Starting with helping Zhao Kai ascend the throne in the snow

In Northern Mang, Jubei City is the capital of the entire Northern Mang, and also the place where countless high-ranking officials and nobles live.

At this moment, in the imperial palace, Empress Murong carefully stroked a worn-out fur coat. Her aged face occasionally revealed a shy smile like that of a young girl. If the people of Northern Mang knew this, they would probably be stunned.

The palace was empty except for Empress Murong. She had driven out all the maids and eunuchs. Every day at this time, Empress Murong would take the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, stroking the unassuming fur coat and lost in thought, reminiscing about her youthful days and the magnificent man she could only ever hope to have.

As time passed, many years went by. The leather of the fur coat had long since become dehydrated and dry, and much of the fur had fallen off due to the lack of water. However, Empress Murong still regarded it as a treasure. Once, a palace maid accidentally knocked off the fur coat and was immediately beaten to death by Empress Murong without any mercy.

Therefore, everyone in the palace was terrified of this unassuming fur coat and dared not touch it. They also knew that Empress Murong did not like to be disturbed at this time of day.

At that moment, outside the palace, Taiping Ling, still wearing that tattered Confucian robe, walked to the entrance of the bedchamber and said to the old eunuch at the door, "Eunuch Xiao, I request to see Her Majesty the Empress. Please inform her for me."

The old eunuch named Eunuch Xiao was Empress Murong's close confidant. He had been by her side since she first entered the palace, witnessing her rise step by step, her success in seizing the throne from the Yelü royal family, and her eventual becoming an unprecedented empress who ruled the world.

Even a trusted confidant like Eunuch Xiao looked bitter when faced with the Taiping Ling's request for an audience, saying, "My lord, it's not that I'm making excuses, but His Majesty is not seeing anyone at this time."

Upon hearing this, Taiping Ling's usually calm face suddenly revealed a strange expression, one that carried a hint of jealousy and helplessness.

Who hasn't been young? Who hasn't been impetuous? The word "love" has bound the lives of so many, and how many people in this world are not troubled by love?

Empress Murong was able to enter the palace and become a favored concubine because she was a woman of exceptional talent and beauty. After the old emperor died, she used her amazing skills to overpower all others and become empress. Naturally, she had countless admirers who supported her, and Taiping Ling was one of them. However, as the head of the Chess and Sword Music Academy, he realized that the empress's heart was always with Xu Xiao, the King of Beiliang, so he kept his unrequited love buried in his heart.

The reason he was willing to wholeheartedly assist the Empress and help her defeat Li Yang and seize the world was largely due to love. Although he couldn't have the goddess, he still wanted her to live well. This is the true inner feeling of most admirers.

However, he failed back then. Northern Mang was defeated by Li Yang. Before he could even confront Xu Xiao, his number one rival in love, he was defeated by Huang Sanjia. For this reason, he lived in anonymity for more than 20 years, traveling all over the country, all for the purpose of first defeating Huang Longshi to avenge his previous humiliation, and then conquering Northern Liang to fulfill his long-cherished wish and let Empress Murong see that his talent was no less than Xu Xiao's.

Although so many years have passed and Taiping Ling has grown old, he thought he had let go of all those feelings and loves from the past. However, upon hearing Eunuch Xiao's words, a ripple still stirred within him.

But Taiping quickly regained his composure. He stood quietly outside the door, waiting, while mentally rehearsing the battle between Beimang and Beiliang, striving to win the war, break through Beiliang's defenses, and then launch a major southward offensive against the Liyang Dynasty.

After an unknown amount of time, the palace gates opened, and Empress Murong's face regained its majesty. She looked at the figure of Taiping Ling and said in a deep voice, "You've arrived. Come with me."

As the only female emperor of her time, she naturally knew about Taiping Ling's secret love for her back then. However, with Xu Xiao in her heart, she could not accept anyone else. This is the cycle of love. She loved Xu Xiao, and Taiping Ling loved her. Both of them loved but could not be together, wasting their lives.

"How are the preparations going?" After some time, Empress Murong stopped by a lake that had been dug inside the palace.

Back then, after learning that Xu Xiao had built the Tingchao Pavilion in the Prince's Mansion, she also built a lake in the Imperial Palace. At this moment, a gentle breeze was blowing, and the lake water was rippling.

"Your Majesty, everything is almost ready. If war breaks out now, Northern Mang will have a 70% chance of winning," the Taiping Ling said respectfully.

"Huh? How can we have such a high chance of winning?" Empress Murong looked at the Peace Decree in surprise.

Although there have been no major battles between the two sides in recent years, the border disputes have never ceased. The two sides, Beiliang and Beimang, have been raiding each other's territory, and small groups of troops have been fighting each other frequently at the border between Liang and Mang. However, Beimang has always been suppressed by Beiliang in all aspects. Several adopted sons of the King of Beiliang have even ventured deep into the heart of Beimang, hundreds of miles away, to attack cities and capture strongholds.

Therefore, according to the Empress's calculations, if Northern Liang and Northern Mang were to go to war, the chances of victory would be 50/50. However, Taiping Ling's claim of a 70% chance of victory was truly unexpected. Knowing that Taiping Ling was not one to speak carelessly, she looked over with curiosity.

"Your Majesty, as this old minister knows, as Prince Xu Xiao of Beiliang grows old, the hidden injuries he accumulated on the battlefield in his youth are constantly flaring up. In recent years, his health has been deteriorating, especially after he personally led the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry to support Prince Xu Fengnian in the Iron Gate Pass incident this year. His body is now unable to bear the burden and he can no longer ride a horse to fight on the battlefield."

At this point, Taiping Ling looked at Empress Murong, who still showed no emotion, and continued, "The King of Beiliang is old, and his son Xu Fengnian has not been able to fully take over the Beiliang army. He doesn't even know all the officers and soldiers in the army. Therefore, if we go to war with Beiliang now, I am very confident that Xu Xiao will still lead the army. However, given his physical condition, once the war between Liang and Mang breaks out, he will only face death."

"As soon as the King of Beiliang dies, the Beiliang army will immediately fall into chaos. A prince who has not yet been recognized by the Beiliang army is simply unable to control Beiliang and Beimang to fight each other. Therefore, now is the perfect time to start a war with Beiliang. I urge Your Majesty to give the order, and this old minister will immediately mobilize troops to start the war between Liang and Mang."

After hearing the Taiping Decree's words, Empress Murong stared blankly at the lake. After a long while, she came back to her senses and looked towards Liangzhou, saying, "If Xu Fengnian takes over Beiliang and then starts another war, what are the chances of victory?"

Taiping Ling looked at Empress Murong with confusion. Seeing that she was expressionless, he spoke truthfully, "Once Xu Fengnian successfully takes over Beiliang, even if the King of Beiliang suddenly passes away, the shock to the morale of the army will not be as great as it is now. At that time, the chance of victory will only be fifty percent."

After he finished speaking, he continued to say to the Empress, "Your Majesty, how could you miss such a golden opportunity? As long as Your Majesty is willing to start a war now, my Northern Mang will have a great chance of taking over the Central Plains, and Your Majesty will become the ruler of the world with the largest territory in history."