327: Chapter 327 Does it need a reason?

Minister Liu Zongfu was stunned. "What Prime Minister Yang means is..."

"Our Crown Prince, ever since he got rid of the First Prince, hasn't thought of anything else all day but succeeding the throne and becoming Emperor."

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong said, "With such a great opportunity, why not give him a 'helping hand'?"

Minister Liu Zongfu's eyes flickered. "Internal strife in the imperial family, turmoil in the court, father and son killing each other... what a brilliant move to pull the rug out from under them!"

"In this way, the Da Gan Dynasty's grip on the world will be unstable. We only need to find the Imperial Seal, and our Empress can call upon the people to reclaim the throne!"

"But in this matter, Lin Xiao's assistance is essential for success!"

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong's expression was solemn. "Indeed. So... on this trip, even if I have to risk this old life of mine, I must see Her Majesty and Lin Xiao."

"The arrangements within the capital will depend on you to implement."

Minister Liu Zongfu was moved. "Rest assured, Prime Minister Yang. This student will not fail his mission. I hope you take care on your journey."

"Hehe... If I can personally pay respects to a true monarch of the Great Zheng Dynasty imperial family once, it will be enough for this lifetime!"

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong smiled, lowered the curtain, and headed home.

...

"The wind and frost of heaven and earth are gone; the spirit of the universe is harmonious;"

"The calendar adds new years; spring fills the old mountains and rivers."

Baishui City, Generals Mansion. It was New Year's Eve.

Lin Xiao was writing Spring Festival couplets with the women. The servants of the house had also gathered around, making it very lively.

On a whim, Xiao Qingxuan begged Lin Xiao to compose a poem for the New Year.

Lin Xiao spoke it aloud, and Xiao Qingxuan wrote it down on paper, drawing continuous cheers.

"I really didn't expect that our General is not only highly skilled in martial arts but also has such outstanding literary talent?"

"You don't understand, do you? I heard that Madam Su was won over by the General's literary talent..."

The servants chattered, their eyes filled with even more admiration for Lin Xiao.

"Husband, although this poem is wonderful, it is still the middle of winter. Where is the 'fullness of spring'?"

Mu Wanying was straightforward and felt it wasn't quite appropriate for the occasion.

Lin Xiao was quick-witted and said with a smile, "Aren't you few the boundless spring colors of the Northern Border?"

As soon as he said this, the women beamed with joy, looking like a vibrant spring scene.

So... he was praising them?

Just then, the Old Butler came in.

"General Lin, Princess Meng Xi of the Western Qiang requests an audience!"

Lin Xiao wasn't surprised, assuming she had come to give him New Year's greetings.

"Let her in."

Before long, Princess Meng Xi entered, her hair in two large braids and dressed in Western Qiang-style furs, accompanied by two attendants.

The girl seemed a bit more mature; after not seeing her for a few months, she had a more womanly charm.

However, her face carried an unshakeable gloom.

"General Lin, I beg you to save the Western Qiang!"

Before any pleasantries could be exchanged, Princess Meng Xi knelt down directly!

Lin Xiao was stunned. "Princess, why do you say that? What happened to the Western Qiang?"

Princess Meng Xi looked up, her eyes reddening. "Khan Jilun of the Northern Barbarians' Golden Tent was envious of our trade with the Zhenbei Army and invaded our Western Qiang pastures. My father personally led the troops to fight, but he was ambushed by the Northern Barbarian Marshal Suhe and severely wounded by a disciple of the Grand Shaman."

"Now my father is at death's door, and my brothers are only concerned with fighting for power, completely ignoring the suffering of the Western Qiang people."

"I... I really had no choice but to come and beg General Lin to send troops to save the Western Qiang!!"

"As long as the Western Qiang people are not reduced to slaves worse than dogs and pigs, Meng Xi is willing to serve you like a beast of burden to repay your great kindness!!"

With that, Princess Meng Xi kowtowed several times!

Even though she was only a princess of a northern barbarian tribe, she was still a princess. For her to go this far showed she was truly desperate.

Lin Xiao didn't expect things to have escalated so much.

He looked at Xiao Qingxuan beside him. "Wife, have you heard any rumors?"

Xiao Qingxuan frowned and whispered, "Husband, the Western Qiang people have indeed made a lot of money from the Northern Barbarians through the black markets on the border."

"But we really haven't had any news about the Golden Tent Khan mobilizing his troops."

Princess Meng Xi said, "Madam, that's because Khan Jilun was worried about the Zhenbei Army's intervention and blocked the news in advance."

"To get here this time, we had to take a secret detour through Liang Province!"

Lin Xiao pondered for a moment and said, "Princess Meng Xi, this matter is of great importance. Go and rest first. I will make a decision after I have investigated the situation."

Although Princess Meng Xi was anxious, she had no choice but to follow the arrangement.

"Su Wansha, go and confirm if the trade routes are still open. Yaner, have the scouts head north to investigate the situation."

Su Wansha and Leng Bingyan nodded and immediately walked out.

"Wife, do you think what Princess Meng Xi said is credible?" Lin Xiao asked.

Xiao Qingxuan smiled. "Based on my understanding of Princess Meng Xi, she is by no means a weak woman."

"Her crying just now was mostly an act, but the Northern Barbarians' invasion of the Western Qiang should be true."

"After all, the Western Qiang has been relying on our Northern Trade Alliance to drain the Northern Barbarians' wealth. The Golden Tent Khan certainly couldn't stand it anymore."

"But since the Northern Barbarians have a grudge against us, they naturally had to vent their anger on the Western Qiang."

"Moreover... Husband, you dealt a heavy blow to the Khitan in the Yan Region and killed General Yelu Chuku. This left the Northern Barbarians with no worries about their rear, making them even more unscrupulous."

Lin Xiao realized. "So, I'm somewhat responsible for the Western Qiang being invaded?"

"In terms of cause and effect... I suppose so," Xiao Qingxuan blinked playfully.

Lin Xiao laughed heartily, then said to the two women beside him, "Wanying, Caiwei, go and assemble five thousand cavalry. Just five thousand, they must be elites, no more than that!"

"Let them celebrate the New Year first. In three days, I will set out from the Stone Fortress to attack the Northern Barbarians!"

The two women looked at each other, somewhat surprised.

"Husband, aren't we still investigating? Isn't it a bit rushed to assemble the army now?" Zhao Caiwei asked in confusion.

Lin Xiao grinned. "Does one need a reason to fight barbarians?"

"Besides, Princess Meng Xi even came to kowtow. We have many shared interests with the Western Qiang; how can we not lend a hand?"

"As the saying goes, cutting off someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents!"

Mu Wanying's eyes lit up. "Husband is absolutely right. In the past, it was always the barbarian tribes coming to plunder us. It's time we vented our frustrations!"

"Exactly!"

Lin Xiao looked out at the hazy northern sky and said, "That northern grassland doesn't have Khan Jilun's name written on it."

"Why can't my people of the Northern Border graze there? My Zhenbei Army's warhorses should also gallop upon it!"

"If the bandits can go, so can we!"

Hearing this, Xiao Qingxuan felt a surge of excitement. The admiration and love in her eyes as she looked at her lover were beyond words.

Mu Wanying and Zhao Caiwei were also very excited and immediately went out to mobilize the troops.

If they didn't fight for a long time, they felt like two little fools at home, since they weren't good at anything else anyway.

As for whether the imperial court agreed to send troops? None of them cared!

In any case, it was their own soldiers and their own money. Could the imperial court even interfere?