Chapter 302: Chapter 300
Just when Lin Yi, the young Emperor, and Ying Yi, three people were conducting their martial arts contest.
In the residence of the Fourth Prince, he too had just received news, sent by his younger brother, the Eighth Prince.
According to investigations, they discovered that those lake people had already fled beyond Yumen Pass and had reached the grasslands.
They had also dispatched a large number of men in pursuit, yet ultimately returned without success.
Upon hearing this news, the Fourth Prince was infuriated to no end.
He was raging in his residence, smashing objects while cursively lamenting his useless Eighth Brother.
However, it’s far too late for regrets now, for these barbarians are not to be trifled with.
It seems he will have to make preparations, unsure of when the opposition might strike.
The Eighth Prince assured him there was no need for panic or worry, with him guarding outside Yumen Pass, the barbarians wouldn’t dare to approach.
But the Fourth Prince knew the true state of affairs better than anyone.
Indeed, the Eighth Prince may be the most powerful among their ranks, but compared to those barbarians, it was far from sufficient.
If it weren’t for the barbarians’ reluctance to sustain heavy casualties, unwilling to face a Pyrrhic victory, they would have likely invaded by now.
But at this moment, nothing could be said for certain.
He had been responsible for the deaths of two Princes, and according to his intelligence, that Second Prince was a leading contender to be the next Khan.
Because of this, might the opposition not act recklessly in anger?
Right now, the Fourth Prince was scheming how to shift the blame onto the young Emperor.
As long as he could convince the lake people that all this was the doings of the Emperor, his involvement would seem minor.
However, this was proving to be a significant headache, as among those fleeing barbarians, some knew the truth.
For a time, the Fourth Prince was deeply troubled.
“Grind the ink for this Prince!”
The agitated Fourth Prince suddenly had a flash of insight and quickly went to his desk, picked up the brush, and hastily composed a letter.
“Send it with all haste to Yumen Pass, to be personally opened by the Eighth Prince!
Remember, life can be sacrificed, but there must be no errors in judgment.
If it indeed comes to a desperate measure, destroy it, never allowing its contents to be seen by anyone else.”
Moments later, a fast horse thundered out from the residence of the Fourth Prince and galloped towards the border.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study Room, the young Emperor was listening to Lin Yi’s account.
Upon hearing that the barbarians had entered the grasslands, the young Emperor’s brow deeply furrowed:
“This action of yours was exceedingly reckless.
In the grand scheme, they should never have been allowed to return to the grasslands.
Now, these barbarians will undoubtedly pose a threat to our Great You Country.
But at this moment, in my hands, the military power is limited, and we lack soldiers ready for battle!
If they really attack, I fear no one will come to my aid.”
At this point, the young Emperor’s brow furrowed even tighter.
Just as he said, he genuinely lacked the confidence to deal with the barbarians given the current situation.
However, seeing the young Emperor’s furrowed brow, Lin Yi suddenly burst into laughter.
His laughter instantly disrupted the quiet atmosphere of the Imperial Study Room.
This made the young Emperor even more perplexed as he looked towards him.
The Emperor’s brow remained deeply furrowed, unable to comprehend Lin Yi’s thoughts – why he could still laugh in such a situation.
The Emperor thought that if the lake people truly invaded, the hard-won land he just secured may lose protection.
If he were no longer the Emperor, would Lin Yi have any good days ahead?
Even under these circumstances, the fact that he could laugh was baffling—was he audacious or simply brainless?
Yet watching Lin Yi’s demeanor, he suddenly reached out and gently scraped the young Emperor’s pert nose.
“Don’t worry, everything is within my plan. With me here, what’s there to fear?”
Although he spoke with great confidence and an imposing air, the young Emperor gave him a disdainful look:
Even if you are capable, what can one man do?
You must know that the barbarian tribes of the grasslands combined can muster no less than 300,000 warriors!
The only reason they haven’t attacked the Central Plains is that our garrison also numbers tens of thousands.
Besides, as the aggressor in a siege, the casualty rate is naturally not going to be in their favor.
To launch an assault, they would have to suffer losses of over a hundred thousand men, which would represent a significant casualty rate for them.
But if they genuinely resolve to attack, our defense is indeed precarious.”
The Emperor sighed deeply here, and with some helplessness and desolation, continued:
“This is under the assumption that we resist with full force, that they could break through after suffering tens of thousands of losses.
But have you considered, given the current political climate, how many will truly assist me?
By that time, the Eighth Imperial Uncle guarding Yumen Pass may not even make a move.
Furthermore, it is possible, based on my calculations, that the Eighth Imperial Uncle might conspire with the enemy.
Perhaps he’ll directly allow them through the pass, conveniently replacing me as Emperor.
If the barbarians do conquer Capital City, break through the Capital City, and execute me, he can legitimately claim the throne.”
Saying this, the young Emperor appeared to recall something and again explained to Lin Yi:
“Heh, you may not know that the Eighth Imperial Uncle and Fourth Imperial Uncle come from the same mother.
Years ago, the Eighth Imperial Uncle almost replaced my father as the Emperor of the Great You Country.
But he did not succeed, my father had no choice but to send him to Yumen Pass, allowing him to command troops autonomously.”
Lin Yi indeed did not know about these events.
The revelation left him quite shocked.
He had not expected such a dramatic turn of events had occurred in the past.
Hearing all that the young Emperor had conveyed, he could imagine that the Eighth Prince was not to be underestimated.
For the old Emperor to have assigned him to Yumen Pass was quite a strategic move.
And this instantly reminded him of a figure from history, a very well-known figure – the Ming Dynasty’s Yan King, Zhu Di.
Both commanded the border, both maintained troops with great autonomy.
Eventually, Zhu Di marched into the Capital City and took the throne for himself.
How similar were these events?