Chapter 45: All Forces, Forward!

Your Majesty, you may not know this, but the Wa nation is extremely cunning. Knowing they were no match for our cavalry, they refused to engage our forces in direct combat.

Instead, General Huo Huan launched a surprise raid under the cover of night, managing to locate the enemy's main force directly. Not only did he capture their commanding general, but he also beheaded countless enemies.

Through the captive Wa general, General Zhao Kuo learned the whereabouts of the main Wa army and immediately led our forces in a surprise assault. Although the Wa forces were numerous, they had very few battle-cavalry and were instantly routed.

In this battle, our side lost only a thousand men while slaying forty thousand enemies. It can truly be called a resounding victory, Your Majesty...

Listening to the soldier's oral report, Li Chen’s eyes held a daze and disbelief.

This battle report struck his heart like a bolt of lightning.

He had originally been full of anticipation, hoping that Zhao Kuo and Huo Huan—two makeshift, amateur commanders in his eyes—would suffer a crushing defeat.

Yet reality dealt him a ruthless slap in the face.

Who could have imagined that Zhao Kuo, widely criticized as a mere armchair strategist, and Huo Huan, a groom of humble birth,

would descend like divine generals, leading a mere fifty thousand troops and thrashing the hundred and fifty thousand strong Wa army into utter disarray?

This battle achievement was more absurd than a fantasy tale.

What on earth was going on here?

Li Chen roared frantically in his heart, yet forced himself to maintain a calm facade on the outside.

As he watched the high-spirited imperial scout below the throne, he found him blindingly dazzling and felt an overwhelming tightness in his chest.

"Long live Your Majesty! May our emperor live for ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

Just as Li Chen was consumed by gloomy depression, the officials in the hall seemed to have been triggered by a switch, suddenly breaking out into a synchronized, deafening cheer.

The sound was thunderous, almost lifting the rafters of the grand palace.

Prime Minister Ouyang Yu beamed, his beard trembling with excitement as he stepped out of the ranks first.

"Your Majesty! This great victory is entirely due to Your Majesty's discerning eye for talent!

Although General Zhao Kuo and General Huo Huan hail from humble backgrounds, under Your Majesty's promotion and appointment, they have fully displayed their heroic mettle.

All this is thanks to Your Majesty's brilliance. For our dynasty to have a sage monarch like Your Majesty is truly the blessing of all citizens and the supreme fortune of the state!"

Ge Siwang chimed in from the side as well.

"Indeed! The triumph of this battle relies entirely on Your Majesty formulating strategies within the tent that secure victory a thousand miles away. Dealing this crushing defeat to the Wa nation and uplifting our dynasty's prestige will surely strike terror into the hearts of barbarians from all directions!"

The officials vied with one another to speak, their praises rolling in like wave after wave of the tide.

Listening to these words, Li Chen had only one thought in his mind.

Can't you people realize that I actually want to be a tyrannical ruler?

Yet Li Chen could not voice these words aloud. He could only force out a smile uglier than tears and nod perfunctorily.

Meanwhile, feeling equally tormented was the Prince of Dai, who was also in attendance.

He had originally planned that if the emperor lost this campaign, he would seize the opportunity to incite the scholars of the realm and coerce the emperor into abdication.

Who could have predicted such an outcome?

With nowhere to vent his boiling anger, the Prince of Dai locked eyes with Cai Qing and shot him a vicious glare.

That look seemed to say:

Didn't you claim the emperor was incompetent? Weren't you constantly coming up with one scheme after another?

Why aren't you speaking up now? Where are your schemes? Where are your insights?

Useless trash!

At that very moment, upon the dragon throne, a wild notion suddenly flashed through Li Chen's mind.

The emperor, who had moments ago worn a face of profound sorrow, abruptly broke into a meaningful smile.

Very well, since you are all so remarkably capable of fighting, I shall concoct an even more absurd plan for you.

Li Chen slammed his hand down hard on the armrest of the dragon throne and declared in a loud voice,

"My beloved subjects, this victory is indeed the merit of Zhao Kuo, Huo Huan, and all our officers and men.

However, I believe that after this defeat, the Wa nation is already at the end of its tether. I decree that General Zhao Kuo shall lead our entire military force, strike while the iron is hot, and directly annihilate the enemy camp!

I want them to fully understand the consequences of provoking our Great Zhou!"

As soon as these words left his mouth, the entire court fell into a silence so profound that the dropping of a needle could be heard.

Everyone stared with wide eyes, looking at Li Chen as if he had lost his mind.

Ouyang Yu and Ge Siwang, who had just been praising the emperor's brilliance, along with all the other civil and military officials, nearly popped their eyeballs out of their sockets.

Ouyang Yu immediately stepped forward.

"Your Majesty! Although General Zhao and General Huo won a fortuitous victory, our army has also suffered considerable casualties, and after continuous combat, the soldiers are utterly exhausted.

Furthermore, the enemy camp will surely have reinforced its defenses, and the terrain remains unknown. To rashly launch an all-out assault carries far too great a risk. We implore Your Majesty to think thrice!"

Ge Siwang quickly followed up,

"Your Majesty, what General Zhao said is entirely correct. If our entire army pours forth and this campaign ends in defeat, we risk total annihilation, with consequences too dreadful to contemplate. We beg Your Majesty to rescind this imperial decree and reconsider the matter thoroughly."

However, Li Chen at this moment seemed consumed by a fixed obsession, utterly deaf to any advice or persuasion.

He waved a grand hand and spoke impatiently,

"My mind is made up, no more needs to be said. Tell Zhao Kuo to simply obey the imperial decree and return in triumph, or else he can bring back his own head!"

Seeing this, the officials dropped to their knees in unison and cried out together,

"We beg Your Majesty to think thrice!"

Yet Li Chen remained entirely unmoved, as if he heard nothing at all.

At this juncture, Ge Siwang attempted to resort to his old trick—threatening the throne with his own death.

Fearing that the emperor might change his mind and seeing this as a golden opportunity to regain the trust of the Prince of Dai,

Cai Qing hastily stepped forward and pointed at Ge Siwang, who was moving to strike the palace pillars.

"Lord Ge, do you take yourself for a three-year-old child? How can you resort to such coercive tactics simply because Your Majesty does not adopt your suggestions?

Last time, Your Majesty showed leniency considering your advanced age and status as a veteran minister of three reigns, and thus altered his decision. Today, you attempt to pull the exact same stunt. Could it be that you take advantage of Your Majesty's youth?

Or do you believe that imperial decrees can be altered at will by your theatrical antics?"

As soon as Cai Qing uttered these words, they effectively halted Ge Siwang's suicide attempt.

Li Chen chuckled inwardly.

Splendid!

This Cai Qing always manages to do exactly what I desire at the most critical moments.

And he wasn't finished yet.

Immediately afterward, Cai Qing turned to face the emperor.

"Your Majesty, this subordinate believes that your decision is exceptionally brilliant. As the saying goes: strike while the iron is hot, win twice and the momentum fades.

Since we have already achieved a major victory, this is precisely the moment when the morale of the Wa nation is at its lowest ebb. If we do not seize this opportunity to completely eradicate them, when shall we?

This subordinate firmly supports Your Majesty's initiative. Wise is Your Majesty!"

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the Prince of Dai, who immediately took the lead in echoing the sentiment.

"Brilliant is Your Majesty!"

"Very well, the matter is settled!"

Seeing that there were no more dissenting voices for the moment, Li Chen stood up briskly, flicked his sleeves, and strode out.

He left behind the majority of the courtiers in the hall staring at one another in mutual dismay and heavy anxiety.

"Has the emperor lost his mind? This is sheer suicidal madness!"

"An all-out attack? If anything goes wrong and Great Zhou is defeated by the Wa nation, wouldn't our realm be in mortal peril?!"

"Alas, heaven knows what is going on inside the emperor's head!"

The ministers murmured endlessly among themselves, yet none could alter Li Chen's resolute decision.

Meanwhile, as Li Chen stepped out of the palace, he listened with joyous anticipation to the voice echoing in his mind.

[Congratulations to the Emperor for committing an act of a tyrannical ruler, causing the national fortune of Great Zhou to drop by 1,000 points. 9,550 points now remain.]

[Based on the current decline in national fortune, the reward is being distributed...]