The Emperor's Plans

The first to receive news of the movements in Toungoo and Western Kang was the newly formed Hidden Guard merchant caravan.

Large-scale military movements could not be completely hidden; not to mention the gathering of tens of thousands of troops, the mobilization of large numbers of laborers and supplies could not be done entirely in secret.

Early in the morning, Wan Sanqian had just crawled out from his bed of pleasure and brewed a pot of tea. Before he could take a single sip, someone came to report.

"Manager, there is a secret message by carrier pigeon."

"Bring the secret message up."

The subordinate handed over the secret message and withdrew. Just as Wan Sanqian took out his codebook to translate it, another subordinate arrived with yet another secret message delivered by pigeon.

Wan Sanqian's expression grew solemn. With two consecutive secret messages, he felt a faint sense of unease in his heart.

After he finished translating the messages, his face turned even uglier. He had no heart to drink tea anymore and immediately picked up his brush to write six secret messages. Three were sent by courier to Guchang County, and three were sent by carrier pigeon.

The matter was of great importance, and he did not dare to write only one. If an accident occurred during transport, he could not bear the responsibility.

In fact, just as Wan Sanqian's secret messages were sent out, Gao Yuan already knew. The one who reminded him was none other than the system.

In the morning, a rooster in overalls crowed industriously to wake Gao Yuan.

Gently tucking in the sweet-sleeping beauty in his arms and covering her with the quilt, Gao Yuan got up and dressed for his morning exercise.

But just as he was halfway through dressing, a system prompt appeared unexpectedly.

"S-Rank Serial Event: Hegemon's Struggle, Phase Four - 'Enemy of the World' triggered:"

"As a rising new-generation hegemon, the Host has already caused Toungoo, Western Kang, and Great Qian to suffer significant losses. Faced with an imminent siege by the three nations, the Host should defend his fruits of victory with a posture of overwhelming pressure;"

"Event Objective 1: Repel the Toungoo offensive;"

"Event Objective 2: Repel the Western Kang offensive;"

"Event Objective 3: Repel the offensive of Great Qian's Jiannan Army;"

"Event Objective 4: Counterattack and seize at least two prefectures;"

"Event Rewards: Complete Objectives 1 and 2 to receive Wei Wu Soldiers Permanent Martial Soul Card X500. On the basis of completing Objectives 1 and 2, complete Objective 3 to receive one Random Attribute Boost Card. Complete all four objectives to receive the Special Card: People's Allegiance."

Gao Yuan almost threw out his back, his face filled with question marks.

"Isn't Toungoo locked in a death struggle with Khmer? How do they have the mind to come after me? The New Year isn't even over yet."

However, very soon, a battle report from Zhongnan Circuit answered Gao Yuan's question.

"Heh, no wonder Bayinnaung is thinking of coming after me. He wants to reclaim his face!"

Gao Yuan looked at the battle report in his hand, a cold sneer appearing on his face.

The war between Toungoo and Khmer had already ended before the New Year.

Khmer had committed a large number of troops, forcing Bayinnaung to fully contract his defensive lines. Not only did he lose the two county seats in Si Thep that he had occupied, but he also lost an additional two county seats in Phetchabun.

Gao Yuan estimated that within Toungoo, there were already doubts about this successor's ability. It seemed Bayinnaung's position was not very stable.

For a successor, losing their father's trust and their prestige before subordinates could be said to be fatal.

"Does the Commandery Duke mean that the toungoo people suffered a loss in their conflict with Khmer, which is why they are joining Western Kang and Great Qian to besiege us?"

Gao Yuan didn't answer. Beside him, Wu Xu shook her head.

"I, on the other hand, feel that it's unlikely Great Qian has allied with the two nations. They are likely just watching from the sidelines. If we fail in battle, they can then intervene in Diannan and Zhongnan Circuits with a legitimate reason."

"From the current perspective, the mobilization of the two nations is still in the preparation stage. It will take time before they truly launch an attack. This gives us time to mobilize our defenses."

Gao Yuan nodded, acknowledging Song Yong's words, and then began to arrange the deployment.

"Pass down the order: the Third Division is to defend in place and cooperate with the First Division to guard against enemy attacks. Tell Liu Rengui that if necessary, he can abandon Phitsanulok, but must relocate all people and supplies;"

"Recall the Fourth Division to defend Guchang County. Move the Second Division into West City under Wen Pin's command to prepare for the Western Kang offensive."

At this moment, Hong Wantong, who had been sitting nearby without speaking, opened his mouth.

"Commandery Duke, This humble general has not achieved a single merit since coming to Diannan Circuit. Could you let me lead troops..."

Gao Yuan waved his hand and rejected his proposal. This inevitably made Hong Wantong feel a bit dejected, thinking he wasn't trusted because he was a newcomer. However, Gao Yuan's next words reignited his hope.

"The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Divisions of the Xuanjia Army must step up their training and wait for the right time. As mobile forces, they must be ready at any moment to follow me on an expedition to support the front-line operations."

Hong Wantong stood up excitedly and replied with a trembling voice,

"Rest assured, Commandery Duke. This humble general will definitely step up training upon my return."

Gao Yuan patted Hong Wantong on the shoulder.

"Go back and tell everyone that as long as they can make a name for themselves on the battlefield resisting foreign aggression, their past bad reputation will be worth nothing. When the time comes, I will personally petition the court to request an exemption for their crimes."

Hong Wantong was so moved that he knelt directly on the ground and performed a grand salute to Gao Yuan.

"This humble general thanks the Commandery Duke on behalf of my brothers for this life-saving grace."

Gao Yuan quickly helped Hong Wantong up.

"This is my promise. The specifics will depend on everyone's hard work."

"Rest assured, Commandery Duke. This humble general will definitely tell everyone this good news upon my return."

"Mhm. Go down and prepare. Everyone, hurry and prepare. The army will set out after the Lantern Festival."

On the thirtieth day of the twelfth month in the third year of era name, the last day of the year, in the imperial palace of Luoyang.

Emperor The Emperor looked at the secret report in his hand, not knowing whether to laugh or... laugh.

"Hahaha, this brother-in-law of mine is truly too arrogant and overbearing. Look, look, the retribution has come!"

The Chief Eunuch beside him actually knew the Emperor's thoughts very well, but still feigned ignorance and asked,

"Your Majesty, this foreign invasion..."

"You old thing, are you playing dumb with me? What are Toungoo and Western Kang? I could wipe them out with a snap of my fingers if I wanted to. But Gao Yuan..."

The Emperor's smile gradually faded, and his gaze slowly turned cold.

"This brother-in-law of mine is the true underlying threat!"

"Your Majesty, then how should we reply to Commander Song?"

The Emperor's fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk. Only after a long time did he speak.

"Reply for me with just one sentence: Watch from the sidelines and wait for an opportunity to act."

"This servant understands."

When Song Ren received The Emperor's secret decree, he had just finished delivering the grain. After reading the decree, his whole being felt unwell, and he sat blankly in his chair.

"Your Majesty, if you had sent the letter just two days earlier, I wouldn't have sent this batch of grain."

To raise the 300,000 dan of grain that The Emperor had promised Gao Yuan, he had emptied the granaries and even had to borrow some grain from many wealthy households.

After secretly complaining about The Emperor, Song Ren also began to get busy, starting to mobilize troops to garrison in Jia Prefecture and prefecture.

Gao Yuan never thought he had too much grain; only when the granaries were full did his heart feel settled.

However, when he saw the news of Jiannan Circuit reinforcing prefecture and Jia Prefecture, and even Governor Wang Chuan reinforcing Region as requested, he also understood the intention of his third brother-in-law.

Ultimately, although Diannan Circuit was in a state of an independent kingdom, on the surface it still belonged to Great Qian's territory, and Gao Yuan had the reputation of resisting foreign tribes and expanding the borders.

The Emperor could not bear the infamy of attacking him proactively. But if Gao Yuan's defense was ineffective and allowed the armies of Toungoo and Western Kang to invade, they could then legitimately send troops under the name of expelling the foreign tribes.

"What a fine calculation!"

Gao Yuan sighed and temporarily ignored the matter; he had many things to be busy with.