At the tender age of eight, he was hastily dragged out and made emperor!

What the Great Yu needs least right now is war. The sudden death of Emperor Xuanzong and the ascension of Chu Ling to the throne have caused a sudden change and turmoil in the Great Yu, which has led to a loss of national strength and affected all social classes and groups in the Great Yu. Therefore, the Great Yu needs stability. Only with stability can those problems and situations be identified and resolved one by one, and then the burden can be lifted to reach new heights!

But at the same time, what the Great Yu needed most was war.

Because the Emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty needed it!!

Chu Ling needs to wage a war to make everyone in the Great Yu Dynasty realize that the sky above them is something they must look up to and revere!

Therefore, Chu Ling needs to win the war, and it must be a resounding victory. Otherwise, what awaits Chu Ling will be a more complex and turbulent situation.

Chu Ling had never fought a war, but he understood people's hearts and even more so, human nature.

Leave professional matters to professionals.

What Chu Ling needs to do is set up the scheme and create momentum.

"The story of Zong Qingdao's rebellion will be told in the Shanglin Garden."

That night.

Inside the Daxing Hall.

Chu Ling sat cross-legged on the Luohan bed, perusing the memorials he held. He addressed Sun Bin, who sat on a brocade stool with his head slightly bowed, saying, "Whether it's the Imperial Guard or the Shanglin Army, I want them to maintain high morale. This shouldn't be a difficult task for you, Father-in-law, right?"

At this point, Chu Ling turned his head, his resolute eyes looking at Sun Bin.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly handle this matter well!"

Sun Bin immediately stood up, raised his hand, and bowed to Chu Ling.

"Zong Qingdao's rebellion was caused by the upheaval in the central government."

Chu Ling put down the memorial and said coldly, "There are reasons for my previous killings, reasons for my clear demarcation of borders, reasons for my promotion of commercial tax reform... In short, this rebellion was caused by multiple factors."

"Father-in-law should be aware that there are still many people in the Great Yu Dynasty who harbor resentment towards me, the rightful emperor of Great Yu."

"Even though my grandmother had already accepted me when she was alive, and she removed many obstacles for me during her lifetime, there are still some things that I must solve myself."

"My lord, I understand!"

Sun Bin said in a deep voice.

"I am neither surprised nor angry that a rebellion has occurred."

Chu Ling rose from the couch, lifting his robes. "But I cannot accept that under the rule of my Great Yu, the Chu family has risen to power, yet there are traitors within and outside the court colluding with foreign enemies. In my eyes, this is betrayal!!"

As Chu Ling bent down to take Sun Bin's arm, the two men's eyes met, and Sun Bin's expression changed noticeably.

"Are they Northern barbarians?!"

Sun Bin's anger was uncontrollable.

"So Zong Qingdao's suppression of the rebellion was just a facade, a way to attract attention from all sides." Chu Ling did not answer Sun Bin's question, but instead spoke his mind.

"The real war is in the northern frontier, in the Tuowu Mountains!!"

"There, because of the rebellion of the vassal states, many of my Great Yu warriors died in battle. Among the Imperial Guards and Heroines under the care of the Shanglin Garden, many of their fathers and brothers died there."

"These countless blood debts must be avenged by me, the Emperor of Great Yu!!"

"But when it comes to war, timing and circumstances are crucial. I believe Zhang Hui understands this, and I also hope my father-in-law understands it."

"His Majesty!"

Sun Bin's heart rate increased significantly.

For no apparent reason, fear arose deep within Sun Bin's heart.

But at the same time, Sun Bin felt a surge of excitement.

Because he knew that his aunt had not made a mistake in choosing him; she had selected a wise, discerning, shrewd, and magnanimous emperor for the Great Yu Dynasty!

"It's late, father-in-law, please take care."

Seeing the change in Sun Bin's expression, Chu Ling calmly said, "Keep a close watch on the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Forest Guard. When my decree is issued, that will be the day our mighty army unsheathes its sword!"

"I obey the decree!!"

Sun Bin bowed and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Guards will be Your Majesty's sharpest blades, cutting down all powerful enemies for Your Majesty and for the Great Yu!"

"Ah."

Chu Ling responded with a relieved smile.

He was very satisfied with this answer.

To plan this war, Chu Ling made extensive preparations. He gathered a large number of border generals led by Li Gan, fierce soldiers active on the frontier, and young and promising soldiers he had deployed. As the overall situation gradually stabilized, Chu Ling brought them all together, and the Shanglin Army was thus expanded to a force of 70,000!

The mixed Yulin Army, which was the counterpart to the Shanglin Army, had a strength of 15,000. They had never been on the battlefield, but they had a blood feud with the enemy of the Dayu Kingdom. The key point was that they were equipped with a lot of new military equipment and were a mule-drawn army with absolute mobility.

This is not finished.

The 50,000 elite troops commanded by Zhang Hui, the Duke of Cheng of Dayu and the Grand General of the Southern Army, appeared to be suppressing Zong Qingdao's rebellion, but in reality, they were a mobile and powerful army arranged by Chu Ling. In the battle of the Northern Frontier, the central command alone numbered 135,000. Among this allied army were seasoned commanders, generals who had fought on the battlefield, fearless soldiers, and of course, young talents from different backgrounds who had passed Chu Ling's test.

The main force in a war against foreign powers must be led by the central government; therefore, the powerful army of the central government must perform exceptionally well!

This battle was won, bringing the emperor's prestige, the army's might, and military achievements, thus sowing the seeds of a lasting bond.

This battle was a defeat; the emperor's prestige was lost, the army's power was gone, the elite troops were gone, and the seeds of turmoil were sown.

Success and failure have vastly different impacts.

Therefore, Chu Ling must be cautious.

"Relay the decree to Master Ming."

Chu Ling's voice rang out in the hall, "Instruct all the merchant guilds and firms under the Ziguang Pavilion to fully assist those guilds and firms that have won border control quotas in the Northern Frontier. I do not wish for any mishaps in the supply of grain, salt, cloth, and other military necessities before the war in the Northern Frontier ends!"

"The slaves obey the orders!"

Qian Mu, who was standing in the corner, stepped out of the darkness and bowed respectfully.

"What border defense? Without the military might forged in battle, how can order be restored?" Watching Qian Mu's departing figure, Chu Ling revealed a half-smile. "Even if the Purple Light Pavilion's previous gains are completely depleted after winning this battle, I will still reap immeasurable benefits!"

"The rampant smuggling of the Great Yu will be determined, along with this battle in the Northern Frontier, whether it is nipped in the bud or continues. Sun Bin, Zhang Hui... don't let me down! This time, I've placed a huge bet!"

Night has gone, and day has come.

Daytime has gone, and night has come.

a few days later.

In the inner city of Yudu, in a secluded garden.

"Your Highness Prince Rui~"

Xia Ji entered the hall, looked at Chu Hui sitting in the main seat, and raised his hand to bow to this prince who was highly trusted by Emperor Yu.

Xia Ji knew there must be something going on with this invitation.

And he also guessed what it was.

"Your Highness Prince Jing."

Chu Hui stood up, avoiding Xia Ji's greeting, and raised his hand to return the greeting to Xia Ji.

Xia Ji was taken aback.

Since the death of Crown Prince Zhangde, he had not heard the title of Prince Jing for a long time. How could Xia Ji not be moved when it was suddenly spoken by a prince of an enemy country in a foreign land?

But at that very moment, Xia Ji's fear of Emperor Yu intensified.

"I wonder what brings Prince Rui here today?" Xia Ji composed himself, glanced at the table laden with delicacies and fine wine, then shifted his gaze to meet Chu Hui's eyes and asked directly.

"I don't think Prince Rui is just indulging in drinking and merrymaking. After all, a rebellion has broken out in your country, and yesterday, the army that was ordered to quell the rebellion left the capital."

"Prince Jing, you are truly a man of few words."

Chu Hui smiled and looked at Xia Ji.

But in his heart, he thought to himself, "Just as my elder brother said, this Xia Ji is no ordinary person!"

"I enjoy being with intelligent people, because only intelligent people understand intelligent people."

Under Chu Hui's gaze, Xia Ji walked towards the wine table. "It seems your country has discovered Zong Qingdao's rebellion, and Murong Tianxiang is stirring things up, isn't she?"

"So, what is King Jing thinking?"

Chu Hui raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Xia Jidao.

Does it matter what I think?

Xia Ji smiled and looked at Chu Hui.

"That depends on what Prince Jing wants."

Chu Hui smiled slightly, his gaze fixed on Xia Ji.

Xia Ji smiled without saying a word, then sat down, lifting his robe.

They really are the type to not act until they see a clear benefit!

Chu Hui showed no outward change, but inwardly cursed.

"Prince Jing may take a look at this first."

Chu Hui took out a secret letter, held it between his index and middle fingers, and looked at Xia Ji with a smile.

Xia Ji frowned slightly as he looked at the envelope a few steps away.

"This letter contains information that is very favorable to King Jing."

Seeing that Xia Ji did not move, Chu Hui maintained his smile and said, "If King Jing is not interested, then I..." Chu Hui stopped here, and his gaze turned to the charcoal brazier not far away.

Time begins to pass.

Chu Hui's hand moved little by little.

hateful! !

Xia Ji frowned, cursing inwardly. Under Chu Hui's gaze, Xia Ji stood up and calmly accepted the secret letter.

Chu Hui flicked his sleeves and walked towards the wine table with a smile.

Wow~

Inside the quiet hall, the sound of wine being poured could be heard.

Chu Hui picked up the wine cup and gently swirled it. Opposite him was a cup of fine wine that had already been poured.

Xia Ji's breathing gradually became rapid.

His eyes changed.

The contents of this secret letter were indeed something he was very interested in!

The Murong Dynasty's northern expeditionary army was engaged in a fierce battle with the Zanpu Qin Khanate in the northern region, but failed to repel the invading enemy, and the two armies were locked in a stalemate!

Xia Ji was thinking quickly.

Chu Hui was also pondering.

'So, all of this was under my elder brother's control.'

"Having ambition is good; with ambition comes the possibility of cooperation."

Chu Hui, lost in thought, turned his gaze back to Xia Ji.

"What does your country desire?"

After an unknown amount of time, Xia Ji put down the secret letter, met Chu Hui's gaze, and spoke calmly.

"King Jing is mistaken in saying that."

Chu Hui glanced at the wine cup he was holding and said with a smile, "It's not about what our dynasty wants, but what King Jing wants to obtain." As he said this, Chu Hui looked up at Xia Ji.

Xia Ji frowned.

"I am somewhat aware of Prince Jing's situation."

Chu Hui continued, "And I am also somewhat aware of the situation of the Xuanzheng Academy."

Xia Ji's expression changed.

His hands, hanging down, trembled slightly.

What he feared was not the person in front of him.

It's the person behind him!

"I know better than anyone that the Northern Barbarians, well, they should be called the Murong Dynasty, are in the most difficult situation right now," Chu Hui said with a hint of apology.

"Emperor Tuowu is indeed a man of great talent and ambition. These words were not spoken by me, but by my elder brother."

"My royal brother also said that while the situation in the Great Yu Kingdom is complex, the situations in other countries are not?"

"During this period, the overall situation seemed to be on the side of Great Yu. In this respect, Great Yu was fortunate, because the momentum had shifted in Great Yu's favor!"

Xia Ji narrowed his eyes, staring at Chu Hui, who bore a striking resemblance to the man in question.

"So your country is going to send troops against the Murong Dynasty?"

"I am unaware of that."

In response to Xia Ji's question, Chu Hui shook his head and said, "Such military secrets are beyond my ability to investigate. However, I do know one thing: Prince Jing, or more accurately, the Zhenjiao Army under the Xuanzheng Academy, needs a great victory to refute some doubts and criticisms."

Xia Ji's hand clenched.

"Of course, it's not just the Zhenjiao Army that needs a great victory." Chu Hui seemed oblivious to Xia Ji's change and said to Xia Ji with a smile.

“There are some generals who also need to win big, and coincidentally, the places where these generals are located are all adjacent to the Western Regions of the Murong Dynasty.”

At this point, Chu Hui slowly stood up, raised the wine cup in his hand, and the smile on his face disappeared.

Xia Ji glanced at Chu Hui, then looked at the wine cup in front of him.

"Isn't your country afraid that I will inform the Murong Dynasty's delegation of this news?" Xia Ji didn't move, but looked at Chu Hui and said.

"This is King Jing's business."

Chu Hui remained unmoved, and smiled as he said, "Once a person makes a choice, they must bear the risks and harms that come with that choice."

"I believe that Prince Jing is not the only one in your country who needs this secret letter. As far as I know, there is more than one person who is at odds with Prince Jing and also with the Xuanzheng Academy."

Chu Hui's lips curled up slightly.

"you!!"

A surge of anger rose in Xia Ji's heart.

But what can he do?

Kill this damned guy in front of me?

Does he dare?

He doesn't dare!

"It seems I have no choice but to drink this cup of wine?" Xia Ji suppressed his anger, walked forward with a half-smile, picked up the wine cup in front of him, and said to Chu Hui while playing with it.

"Whether to drink or not depends on King Jing."

Chu Hui took a few steps forward, meeting Xia Ji's gaze, and said, "I have already shown you a great deal of sincerity. What do you think, Prince Jing?"

"I will be leaving Yudu tomorrow."

"can!"

"But the news of my departure..."

"Not a single detail will be leaked."

"Murong Tianxiang is not easily fooled."

"Do you think I'm so easily fooled?"

"Ha ha!!!"

Xia Ji's laughter rang out, but it quickly faded away, and with it, Xia Ji, the Ninth Prince of Chuan Dynasty, also disappeared!

Chu Hui, holding wine cups in both hands, had a smile on his lips.

But that smile carried a chill.

"It seems this person is more ruthless and decisive than I am," Chu Ling said calmly as he stepped out from behind the screen.

"Does Your Majesty think he will launch a war against the Northern Barbarians and the Western Regions?" Chu Hui threw down his wine cup, turned and walked towards Chu Ling, but his slightly furrowed brows revealed his inner thoughts at that moment.

After all, Xia Ji is no pushover.

"I don't know."

Chu Ling shook his head and said, "It all depends on how much he values ​​the throne of Xichuan."

"If you miss an opportunity, it's all just wishful thinking."

“But has Your Majesty considered this? If we capture him, he will become a major threat to our dynasty.” Chu Hui frowned upon hearing this, saying, “His cunning and scheming are also…”

"That's something we'll have to consider later."

Chu Ling raised his hand to interrupt, and looked at Chu Hui, saying, "I have said before that one should not be troubled by the future. One should consider the future, but not be bothered by it."

"Right now, the Great Yu needs a great victory to tell the whole world, to tell the enemy, that the Great Yu is invincible, and that as long as I am here, the Great Yu will stand tall!"

"What does Your Majesty need me to do?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Hui said with a serious expression.

"This play must continue."

Chu Ling smiled and said, "Murong Tianxiang is also a smart person, but her intelligence is clearly based on underestimating me and the Great Yu, which means she is destined to fail."

"Because I am not that fragile, and neither is the Great Yu!"

"The day Murong Tianxiang leaves will be the day our mighty army marches north. As for Xia Ji, I have given him the opportunity. Whether he seizes it or not is up to him. If he fails to seize it, then he is not worthy to be my opponent."

Chu Hui remained silent, but his heart was filled with ripples of emotion…