Chapter 865 – Northern Supremacy (2)
Without a hint of preparation or concern, the Lord tossed them a shocking thunderbolt.
Just six short words, like a clap of thunder out of the blue, left the three confidants dazed and questioning the current date.
“Attack the Northern Frontier now?”
“My Lord, are you trying to reach the heavens? What do we have to fight with?”
“Use our heads?”
Even Feng Zhen, usually so carefree and humorous, was stunned into silence by Jiang Pengji’s bold statement.
Qi Guanrang appeared calm on the surface, but his feather fan was flapping anxiously, revealing his inner turmoil.
Wei Ci was the first to regain his composure, stepping forward and proclaiming, “My Lord, this is absolutely unthinkable!”
Attacking the Northern Frontier now? That wasn’t bravery, it was courting death!
Wei Ci had thought Jiang Pengji more cautious than in her previous life, but seeing her now, she seemed even more reckless.
Jiang Pengji chuckled internally but feigned seriousness, asking, “What’s so unacceptable about it?”
She wasn’t just randomly acting on a whim; she had clearly given it considerable thought.
Yet they were all acting like alarmed deer, as if she were the unreliable one.
Feng Zhen and Qi Guanrang rushed to advise her otherwise.
Regardless of the method, they had to convince the Lord to abandon this dangerous notion.
Qi Guanrang added, “My Lord, attacking the Northern Frontier right now is certainly not a good opportunity.”
Feng Zhen took a deep breath, stepping forward, “I completely agree with the two of you. The Northern Frontier has suffered greatly due to the Horse Plague, losing significant military strength, but even a dying centipede is still dangerous. If we lack the assurance of a guaranteed victory, we cannot hastily challenge the Northern Frontier. Attacking now is like striking a rock with an egg. Military texts state, ‘War is a grave matter for the nation, a matter of life and death, the path of survival and demise; it must not be taken lightly.’ In our view, we must consider five things: seizing the right time, utilizing the terrain, securing the support of the people… only then can we dare to engage in battle. The time is not ripe; we absolutely must not initiate a conflict.”
They had all agreed to bide their time for a few years before going to war; how could the Lord change her mind so suddenly?
The three felt inwardly tormented, but they understood Jiang Pengji’s temperament.
Unless they laid everything out for her, it would be hard to dissuade her from her idea.
Jiang Pengji sat at the head, leaning against a table, looking at Feng Zhen, “Continue speaking, Zishi.”
Feng Zhen explained, “The ‘five things’ refer to ‘Dao’, ‘Tian’, ‘Di’, ‘Jiang’, and ‘Fa’. The ‘Dao’ refers to the unity of opinion and shared fate between the Lord and her generals; ‘Tian’ refers to seasonal weather; ‘Di’ relates to geographical conditions; ‘Jiang’ refers to the martial prowess and capabilities of the generals; and ‘Fa’ pertains to the organization and responsibilities within the army, as well as logistical preparations. Currently, we disagree with you, my Lord, and we know little about the situation on the Northern Frontier and the subsequent weather conditions after war breaks out. Although our military generals are strong, the newly recruited soldiers haven’t been fully trained yet, and there are significant shortages in logistics and supplies. The farming method requires two to three years to yield real results. Waging war now, with all conditions unripe, I implore the Lord to think twice and consider carefully.”
To put it plainly, if Jiang Pengji went to confront the Northern Frontier under the current conditions, she would be the one to perish.
Feng Zhen and the others couldn’t comprehend why their Lord suddenly wanted to attack the Northern Frontier.
Who was the fool that encouraged her?
Jiang Pengji chuckled lightly, “I understand all that Zishi mentioned.”
If she understood, then why entertain such a bold thought?
Feng Zhen and the others could only grumble in frustration, even doubting whether their Lord was just toying with them for fun.
Then came her next sentence, which left them ready to spit blood—
“However, I still want to attack.”
Wei Ci remained silent, merely observing Jiang Pengji’s expression, while Qi Guanrang slowed down his flapping fan.
He asked, “Could the Lord share her reasoning?”
Their Lord was cleverer than average strategists and her thoughts often defied convention; perhaps she indeed had a valid reason.
Jiang Pengji replied, “Just relying on Wanzhou alone, we certainly cannot take on the Northern Frontier. Moreover, I didn’t say we would attack right now.”
The three: “…”
Feeling inexplicably defeated.
Qi Guanrang’s brow darkened, as if recalling something, increasing his anxiety.
“So, what does the Lord imply?” Qi Guanrang asked.
Jiang Pengji continued, “I think it’s time to discuss matters with my father. The situation in Wanzhou has stabilized, and our recruitment is proceeding smoothly, but Chongzhou and Hujun are under my father’s control. I lack knowledge about the situation over there, and even with my father’s assistance, the troubles we encounter will not be small. Those loyal to my father may not necessarily be loyal to me. As there is time, I want to quickly consolidate our existing forces. Only when we have everyone’s heart aligned can we contend effectively with the Northern Frontier.”
Feng Zhen’s eyes glinted, as he seemed to grasp Jiang Pengji’s reasoning.
He asked, “My Lord, are you worried your bastard younger brother may have ulterior motives?”
Liu Zhi had only one son and one daughter, meaning the family fortune would undoubtedly be divided between the two children.
The bastard son was fourteen now; in a few years, he would establish his own household. If he harbored great ambitions and chose to compete with Jiang Pengji, that would indeed be troublesome. With external threats unresolved and internal strife arising, conflict between siblings would definitely hinder them in turbulent times.
The best approach was to stabilize her position and power before that bastard brother could grow stronger.
Jiang Pengji’s desire to attack the Northern Frontier was a perfect excuse to take control of the military powers of Chongzhou and Hujun from Liu Zhi.
The three confidants suddenly found themselves convinced by their own thoughts.
Jiang Pengji chuckled softly, not wanting to explain too much; they would come to know the truth in due time.
Liu Zhi of course supported her.
However, even if she was Liu Zhi’s daughter, the local elite in Chongzhou might not be easily swayed.
Jiang Pengji did not wish for the situation years later—attempting to fight the Northern Frontier while her own forces remained disorganized and chaotic.
She added, “Today, I met someone who could potentially serve as a breakthrough for us to consolidate Chongzhou’s power. Chongzhou borders the Northern Frontier, and once war breaks out, they will inevitably be caught in the flames. As for Hujun, that area is vast but sparsely populated; while it produces abundant grain, we would still need a few years of farming to meet the war needs. Thus, consolidating Chongzhou’s power is far more critical than doing so with Hujun.”
Wei Ci and the others sighed in relief upon hearing this.
It seemed their Lord meant to begin preparing for war rather than engaging in it right away, allowing them to relax their concerns.
Wei Ci asked, “And who might this person be?”
Jiang Pengji smiled, “That person is a direct descendant of the Cui Family in Chongzhou. We can fabricate a life-saving bond and ally with the Cui Family, convincing them to stand with us. The Cui Family is known for their neutrality, having deep ties to trade with the Northern Frontier. In other words, they are most informed about conditions within the Northern Frontier. If we wish to go to war with them, we must have accurate information. Moreover, the Cui Family has been rooted in Chongzhou for a long time; if we win them over, we can use them to consolidate our influence among other local families.”
Whether facing external threats or internal discord, the Cui Family could become Jiang Pengji’s launching pad.
Although Liu Zhi had held the position of Governor of Chongzhou for many years and controlled some power, the majority still resided within the local elite families.
These families were keenly aware of their own interests, placing them above national concerns; at a critical moment, they could easily stab her in the back.
Jiang Pengji was determined not to embark on her campaign with impending treachery lurking behind her.
Before declaring war on the Northern Frontier, she absolutely needed to tidy up the entire Chongzhou power structure first.
