197: Chapter 0197 Cold Iron Armor

"Your Majesty is wise. The latest news is that Prince Bai has yet to leave his mansion and has been bedridden for over half a month!"

"Although Prince Qing hasn't made any moves, Prince Yan is already stirring, mobilizing troops toward the border of E Prefecture!"

Emperor Hong narrowed his eyes. "Prince Yan... it seems he cannot hold back anymore. Prince Bai now only has five provinces left."

"If he loses E Prefecture as well, he will be in the same position as him, both holding four provinces. In the north, Prince Bai will no longer be the sole dominant power."

"Such an opportunity is indeed rare. The key is that if we can provoke Prince Bai and worsen his condition, it would be much more significant than just gaining E Prefecture!"

Crown Prince Li Chenghao was also excited. "Father, shouldn't we do something? Even feigning an attack on Yong Province to pressure Prince Bai would be good!"

Emperor Hong, however, decisively rejected this. "There are only thirty thousand Imperial Guards left near the capital. I still rely on them to defend the imperial city; not a single soldier is allowed to move!"

Crown Prince Li Chenghao sighed. Seeing he couldn't persuade Emperor Hong, he had no choice but to take his leave.

"Hmph, this Crown Prince of mine is a bit too impatient."

Zheng Yangwei smiled from the side. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is merely trying to resolve the rebellion of the vassal kings as quickly as possible to ease your burdens."

"If he truly thinks that, then he is an idiot! He is simply not fit to be the Crown Prince!"

Emperor Hong dismissed this. "Given Prince Bai's cunning, even if he were truly angered to the point of vomiting blood, it is impossible for him to be utterly defeated."

"Staying in his mansion to recuperate for so long is nothing more than fishing, waiting for an idiot to take the bait!"

"The Crown Prince cannot possibly fail to understand this. He is merely testing to see if I have become a senile old fool..."

Zheng Yangwei looked as if he had just realized something. "Your Majesty and the Crown Prince are truly father and son."

"You servant, always playing dumb..."

Emperor Hong scolded him with a laugh, then looked toward the northeast.

"The Crown Prince is feigning ignorance, but Prince Yan, who was spoiled by the late Empress, is truly not very smart..."

...

Yan Region, Tai Prefecture.

Cold Iron Guard camp.

The commander, Zhao Yunting, with graying temples and an ashen complexion, knelt on one knee inside the tent.

"Your Highness Prince Yan, it is the dead of winter; this is by no means a good time to attack E Prefecture. I implore you to reconsider!"

Prince Yan, dressed in a black python robe with fair and handsome features, sat above, toying with a jade thumb ring.

"General Zhao, the Cold Iron Guard is most skilled at fighting in winter. Have you forgotten this signature ability of yours!?"

"Your Highness, the Cold Iron Guard is merely better at winter warfare than other cavalry; it does not mean we must fight in winter!"

Zhao Yunting pleaded earnestly. "Although it is said that Prince Bai is seriously ill, the E Prefecture army has not moved. If we force an attack, we will suffer heavy losses!"

"I have already told you that the morale of the E Prefecture army is scattered, and many have already been bought off by my men. You just need to lead fifty thousand troops to campaign, and this battle will be a certain victory!"

"Your Highness..."

"Silence!!"

Prince Yan slammed the table. "Zhao Yunting, I know you look down on me! You only lead the Cold Iron Guard to follow me because the late Empress showed you kindness!"

"But do not forget, your Zhao family's honor and ruin are now tied to mine!"

"If you wish to continue commanding the Cold Iron Guard, you must listen to me!! Distinguish clearly who the master is!!"

Zhao Yunting's face flushed red and turned pale. He could only let out a long sigh. "This general obeys your order!"

Prince Yan stood up, satisfied. "Rest assured, Lu Sanchuan has taken the Silver Armor Army to deal with the Qing Kings Army. I have also considered this carefully before ordering you to deploy."

"Besides, fighting in winter is difficult, but it depends on who is doing the fighting. Could it be that my Cold Iron Guard is inferior to that rabble of the Zhenbei Army in Cang Province?"

"Your Highness, the Zhenbei Army is not a rabble, but a lion of the border."

At this moment, a female general who had been silent the whole time spoke up.

Prince Yan glanced at the woman with a mix of appreciation and greed in his eyes.

"Zhao Caiwei, it seems you are quite knowledgeable?"

The woman, whose features were as exquisite as a porcelain doll and whose eyes were like stars, yet whose expression was as cold as frost, spoke softly:

"The garrison general of the Zhenbei Army, General Zhao Kuan, is a member of my family's collateral branch, my cousin."

"He has exchanged several letters with me. I know that the Zhenbei Army is by no means famous without merit; it is a battle-hardened, iron-blooded force."

"Their commander, Lin Xiao, is a rare military genius that appears once in a century. Your Highness should find a way to send someone to win him over as soon as possible."

Prince Yan's expression gradually turned cold as he listened, revealing a hint of impatience.

"Hmph, in your eyes, am I not even as good as that border soldier? A rare genius appearing once in a century?"

"Even if Lin Xiao has some ability, let him wait until after the three hundred thousand White Kings Army are destroyed before talking!"

After saying this, Prince Yan flicked his sleeves and left, leaving behind only one sentence:

"The Cold Iron Guard will depart today! If you do not capture E Prefecture, bring me your heads!"

After the prince's carriage left, Zhao Yunting finally couldn't hold on and began to cough violently.

"Father!"

Zhao Caiwei hurriedly joined several generals to support Zhao Yunting and helped him sit down.

"Caiwei, you shouldn't have contradicted Prince Yan. There is a distinction between sovereign and subject..."

Zhao Caiwei lowered her head. "Daughter knows she was wrong."

"This time, we must go to E Prefecture. With my health, I can only hold the rear. The command of the Cold Iron Guard is handed to you!"

"Father, Prince Bai is deep in schemes; it is highly probable he is faking illness. Are we really going to walk into a trap?"

Zhao Yunting sighed. "You also said it is highly probable, not absolute. Moreover... Prince Yan said he has bought off the generals of E Prefecture. Since we serve Prince Yan, we must listen to him."

Zhao Caiwei bit her lower lip, knelt on one knee, and cupped her hands. "This general obeys the order!"

Heavy snow drifted down.

Yangquan.

Generals Mansion.

Lin Xiao was chatting in the study with Old Yu and Xie Yu, who had only arrived two days ago.

The military factory in Baishui was basically on the right track. Lin Xiao planned to have Old Yu come to Yangquan to build a new "Industrial Development Zone."

After all, Yangquan had a better climate, was far from the Northern Barbarians, had convenient transportation, and could accommodate a larger scale.

Coincidentally, Xie Yu hadn't been home for a long time, so it was a good opportunity to return and have a look.

"Oh, this Thousand-Glare Star is a rare item. General, you are truly capable to be able to get your hands on this!"

Old Yu examined the used iron tube as if it were a treasure, unable to stop looking at it.

"Master, let me have a look too. I've never seen a treasure from the Xuanji Sect!"

Xie Yu now called Old Yu master. Although Old Yu hadn't accepted him as a disciple, he just insisted on calling him that.

"Look all you want, but the key is to replicate it for me. At the very least, you must install the needles back in!"

Lin Xiao was quite fond of the power of this item. Keeping it in his storage space, it would definitely be a lethal weapon in critical moments.

"It's not that simple, but I will give it a try," Old Yu didn't dare to guarantee it.

Just then, Su Wansha knocked on the door and walked in.

"Husband, General Zhao asked my father to send a carrier pigeon letter."

"Oh? Brother Zhao?"

Recently, the snow had been getting heavier and heavier, and regular letters were delivered very slowly.

Lin Xiao was a bit surprised, not knowing what urgent matter it could be.

Taking the letter and glancing at it, Lin Xiao revealed a look of amusement.

"Hiss... so this is the origin of Brother Zhao's military family. They hid it quite well."

"Husband, what happened?" Su Wansha asked curiously.

Lin Xiao smiled. "Prince Yan has dispatched his most elite twenty thousand Cold Iron Guard and thirty thousand crack troops to capture E Prefecture!"