151: Chapter 59 The Emperor "Plays the Victim"

On May 25th of the first year of Yongan, Li Ling was in the Imperial Study reviewing memorials when Empress Su Wanqing walked in carrying a bowl of lotus seed soup.

"Brother Ling, take a break," she said, placing the bowl on the table. "You've been reviewing memorials all morning."

Li Ling looked up and rubbed his sore eyes. "Empress Su Wanqing, you've come at the right time. I was just looking for someone to talk to."

"Talk about what?" Empress Su Wanqing sat down opposite him.

Li Ling sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Empress Su Wanqing, do you think I am... useless?"

Empress Su Wanqing was stunned. "Brother Ling, why would you say that?"

"Look, I've fought for three years, gathered an army of 500,000, and built the strongest fleet in the world, yet there are still people who refuse to submit to me. Warlord Yan Xishan is acting like a king in Shanxi, Yuan Shikai is eyeing Zhili covetously, and Zhang Zuolin is holding onto his troops in the Northeast. Foreign powers are plotting in the dark, and the imperial family is scheming behind my back. I can't even handle the relationships among the women around me. Am I a failure?"

Empress Su Wanqing was silent for a moment, then stood up, walked behind him, and gently pressed her hands on his shoulders.

"Brother Ling, are you too tired?"

Li Ling didn't speak.

"You've been too busy lately—busy researching the Northern Expedition, busy handling military affairs, busy dealing with the harem. You've stretched yourself too thin, without even a moment to rest. If you keep going like this, your body will collapse."

"I know," Li Ling smiled bitterly. "But I can't stop. Once I stop, I feel like someone is watching me from behind, waiting for me to make a mistake."

"Brother Ling, listen to me." Empress Su Wanqing sat down beside him and took his hand. "You are an outstanding person. You went from having nothing to possessing all of this in just three years. You've done well enough. You don't need to make everything perfect."

"But..."

"No buts." Empress Su Wanqing interrupted him. "You just need to remember one thing—you are a human, not a god. You will get tired, you will make mistakes, and there will be things you cannot do. You don't have to push yourself so hard."

Li Ling looked at her, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

"Empress Su Wanqing, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?" Empress Su Wanqing smiled slightly. "I am your wife; naturally, I should help you share your burdens."

"Then can you... do me a favor?"

"What favor?"

"Help me handle the affairs of the inner palace," Li Ling said. "I really don't have the energy to coax them these days. Could you tell them that I've been busy with military affairs lately, and that I'll spend time with them once this is over?"

Empress Su Wanqing laughed. "Brother Ling, you want me to be your shield."

"I know I've wronged you, but I really have no other choice."

"Alright, alright, I'll help you." Empress Su Wanqing stood up. "But you must promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"Get a good night's sleep tonight. Don't review any memorials, don't look at any maps. Just lie in bed, close your eyes, and think about nothing."

Li Ling hesitated. "What about the Northern Expedition plan..."

"Look at it tomorrow," Empress Su Wanqing said firmly. "You must rest tonight."

Li Ling looked at her determined gaze and sighed. "Fine. I'll listen to you."

Empress Su Wanqing nodded with satisfaction and turned to walk out of the Imperial Study.

That afternoon, Empress Su Wanqing, in her capacity as Empress, summoned the Princess, Emily, and Imperial Concubine Hui for a small meeting.

"Three sisters," Empress Su Wanqing sat in the main seat, her tone gentle. "I asked you here today to tell you something. His Majesty has been busy with military affairs lately, is under great pressure, and is not feeling well. So, for the next few days, I hope you can understand and not disturb him."

The Princess nodded. "His Majesty is indeed too tired. I went to the Imperial Study to deliver snacks these past few days and saw him rubbing his temples."

Emily also said, "Me too. Li Ling hasn't looked well lately and has heavy dark circles under his eyes."

Imperial Concubine Hui added, "I've noticed that his eating habits have been irregular lately; sometimes he only eats one meal a day. His body won't be able to take it if this continues."

Empress Su Wanqing nodded with gratification. "It seems everyone cares for His Majesty. So we have reached a consensus—for these next few days, none of us will disturb him, letting him handle military affairs in peace and get some proper rest."

The three replied in unison, "Yes."

After the meeting, the Princess stayed behind.

"Empress." The Princess called out to Empress Su Wanqing.

"Your Highness, is there something you need?"

The Princess hesitated for a moment, then said, "I wanted to ask—is His Majesty... under too much pressure?"

Empress Su Wanqing sighed. "Yes. He has to prepare for the Northern Expedition, handle military affairs, deal with foreign powers, and care for the feelings of us few. He is too tired."

"Then what can I do to help?"

"What you can do is not cause him any trouble," Empress Su Wanqing said. "Do not fight for favor, do not throw tantrums, and do not distract him with matters of the inner palace."

The Princess nodded. "I understand."

That night, Li Ling followed Empress Su Wanqing's request and went to bed early.

The room was quiet, with only the faint sound of insects chirping outside the window. He closed his eyes, but his mind was still on the Northern Expedition.

"System," he murmured in his heart.

"Hmm?"

"Tell me, can I win this battle?"

"Host, you have prepared for this battle for three years. You have an army of 500,000, the strongest fleet in the world, Radar, satellites, and airplanes. And your opponents? Warlord Yan Xishan only has 50,000 ragtag soldiers. Although Yuan Shikai has 150,000 men, his equipment is extremely poor, and morale is low. While Zhang Zuolin has 80,000 men, they are scattered across the Northeast and difficult to concentrate. If you use 21st-century weapons to fight 19th-century armies and still lose, then you would be the most useless transmigrator in history."

Li Ling opened his eyes. "Are you comforting me or mocking me?"

"The system is just stating facts. Host, you don't need to be so nervous. You are destined to win this battle."

"But I still feel uneasy."

"Because this is your first time fighting such a major battle." The system's voice was uncharacteristically serious. "In previous naval battles, you were the defender; the enemy attacked you, and you only needed to hold your ground. Now, in land warfare, you are the attacker, and you must take the initiative. The mindset for offense and defense is different."

"I know," Li Ling sighed. "I'm just afraid of accidents."

"There will definitely be accidents. But as long as you are sufficiently prepared, accidents won't affect the outcome."

Li Ling was silent for a while, then said, "System, thank you."

"What for?"

"Thank you for always being by my side. Although you have a sharp tongue, are stingy, and love to watch me get into trouble, you have never failed me when it counts."

"Host, are you complimenting me or insulting me?"

"Complimenting you," Li Ling laughed. "Of course, I'm complimenting you."

"Then the system will reluctantly accept it."

The moonlight outside the window filtered through the curtains, casting a silvery glow on the floor.

Li Ling closed his eyes; this time, he truly fell asleep.

The next morning, when Li Ling woke up, he felt much more refreshed. He washed, dressed neatly, and walked out of the bedroom, finding Empress Su Wanqing waiting for him in the courtyard.

"Brother Ling, good morning." She was holding a bowl of steaming millet porridge. "Eat breakfast first."

Li Ling took the bowl and took a sip; the temperature was just right, not scalding.

"Empress Su Wanqing, I slept well last night."

"That's good," Empress Su Wanqing smiled slightly. "What are your plans for today?"

"Go to the military camp." Li Ling finished the porridge in a few gulps. "The date for the Northern Expedition is set. I need to hold a meeting with the generals to finalize the last deployments."

"Then take care." Empress Su Wanqing straightened his collar. "Come back early tonight."

"Alright."

Li Ling mounted his horse and, with his adjutants and guards, rode toward the camp outside the city.

In the military camp, bugle calls echoed one after another, and soldiers were drilling. Li Ling walked into the command post, where the generals had already gathered.

"Gentlemen." Li Ling stood before the sea chart and got straight to the point. "The date for the Northern Expedition is set. Ten days from now, on May 29th, we will formally launch the campaign."

The generals stood up one after another and shouted in unison, "We are willing to die for you!"

"Good." Li Ling pressed his hand down. "Now, I will deploy the specific operational plan."

He picked up a wooden stick and pointed to Shanxi on the sea chart.

"The first battle is to take Shanxi. The target is Warlord Yan Xishan. The troop deployment is as follows: three corps of the Second Army Group will attack from the Hebei direction, two corps of the Third Army Group will attack from the Henan direction, and one corps of the First Army Group will serve as the general reserve. The Air Force will provide full support, and the Special Forces will infiltrate ahead of time to paralyze the enemy's command system."

"The second step is to take Zhili. The target is Yuan Shikai. The troop deployment is as follows: the First Army Group and the Second Army Group will launch a pincer attack from Shandong and Shanxi, while the Third Army Group will be responsible for blocking the Fengtian Army that might come to reinforce. The fleet will blockade Bohai Bay and cut off Yuan Shikai's maritime supply lines."

"The third step is to take the Northeast. The target is Zhang Zuolin. The troop deployment is as follows: the First Army Group will land on the Liaodong Peninsula and strike directly at Fengtian; the Second Army Group will attack from the Rehe direction to contain the main force of the Fengtian Army; the Third Army Group will serve as the general reserve. The fleet will provide fire support, and the Air Force will be responsible for reconnaissance and bombing."

He finished in one breath and looked around at everyone. "Are there any questions?"

An old general stood up. "Your Majesty, I have a question."

"Speak."

"Why attack Shanxi first instead of Zhili? Yuan Shikai's strength is greater than Warlord Yan Xishan's; he is the biggest threat."

"Because Warlord Yan Xishan is the weakest and easiest to defeat," Li Ling said. "By attacking Shanxi first, we can train our troops and establish our prestige. Once we take Shanxi, our morale will be high, and attacking Zhili will be much easier. Moreover, Shanxi has dangerous terrain and is easy to defend but hard to attack. If we attack Zhili first, Warlord Yan Xishan might send troops to reinforce, and we would be caught in a pincer attack. By attacking Shanxi first, other warlords will be out of reach and can only watch."

The old general nodded. "Your Majesty is brilliant."

After the meeting, Li Ling stood alone before the sea chart, looking at the attack routes marked with red lines.

"System," he murmured in his heart.

"Hmm?"

"Tell me, how long will this battle take?"

"If everything goes smoothly, you can take Shanxi in three months, Zhili in half a year, and the Northeast in a year. Within three years, you will unify the whole country."

"Three years," Li Ling murmured. "In three years, I will be the true Emperor."

"Host, you are already the Emperor now. You just haven't unified the whole country yet."

"That's not the same." Li Ling turned around. "What I want is true unification. It is for my flag to be planted on every inch of this land."

He walked out of the command post and stood on the high platform, watching the soldiers training in the distance.

"In three years, I will make this country brand new."