Chapter 574: Mainspring

Chapter 574: Chapter 574: Mainspring

The importance of the right to speak now reveals itself in all its intensity within the Temple Hall. When the military officials spoke, the civil servants could still mount a sharp retort, but it was obvious their vigor was not what it once was. When the Emperor finally opened his mouth, the civil officials tried several times to argue, only to be cut off by his cold, stern gaze. In the end, they could only kneel, with no room left for resistance.

If the Emperor were the one at a disadvantage, today’s court would be a completely different scene—but there is no such ’if’.

Now that the Emperor had pronounced his strategy with golden words, it meant no one could change it. In full view of all civil and military officials, a half-piece Military Token was produced, its seal broken, and together with a formal written Order, prepared and sent immediately to the South Military Affairs and Road Supervision Office. This marked the official opening of war with the Barbarian Race on the southern front.

Such news could never be kept under wraps—nor was there any need to. Once the urgent order left the palace, it spread swiftly through various channels across the Imperial City, and then, by official roadways or via Teleportation Array, it raced toward all corners of the realm at blinding speed.

The first and most common reaction was anxiety. Whether among the common people or those who considered themselves "upper-tier," any person with some wit knew that once a great war began, the Dynasty would unavoidably be affected deeply.

The common folk feared the rising prices of food and daily provisions, worried their own men would be conscripted, and dreaded that their livelihoods might be dragged down or even cut off by war. Full of worry yet helpless, all they could do was rush to the rice shops to stock up on grain—only to find a long queue had already formed at the door.

Wine shops, tea houses, the streets and alleyways—quickly, "fighting the Southern Barbarians" became the sole and burning topic. There were many who fretted, but more often, debate broke out about whether this time the Southern Barbarians could finally be crushed absolutely; to have a war every few decades was truly enough to drive people to irritation and gloom.

Those who thought themselves "upper-tier" also had their worries: their savings in the Money Shops might be appropriated by the Dynasty; their family businesses might be battered by the war; at the same time, they wondered if their sons or younger kin might catch some benefit—some merit—in the coming conflict.

In the elegant tea salons or the summer manors beyond the city, small gatherings of sumptuous, well-dressed gentlemen convened. The topics discussed were scarcely different from those of the marketplace, only conducted at a deeper level, and with more attention to money changing hands.

But regardless if they were just ordinary folk or the self-styled gentry, though their conversation mixed joy and unease, never did anyone utter a single word: "What if the Dynasty loses?"

The Dynasty lose? Be defeated by the Southern Barbarians? How could that be possible! Even the most unlettered fool wouldn’t think such a thing.

The will and confidence of the common people best reflect an Empire’s own spirit. If the people have not so much as thought of losing, the ranks of soldiers are all the more eager, their faces flushed, itching to rush to the frontlines and personally witness battle, to slay the foe. Such great wars come once in decades—miss it, and perhaps there would be no second chance.

That same day, all garrisons throughout the Dynasty declared a state of war-readiness. The Four Major Armies likewise entered a state of mobilization. Even Local Government Offices declared that, starting that very night after 9 p.m., a curfew would be imposed, and anyone caught on the streets without permission would be brought to the office for strict investigation.

The wagon trains along the official highways at once grew dense and busy, all manner of needed supplies being urgently relocated, whether by public or private means.

The massive "machine" of the Jingjiu Dynasty, upon the Emperor’s order resounding through the Ten Thousand People’s Palace, immediately quickened its rhythm of operation, the resulting energy surging southward with all its might.

All of this was the visible, conspicuous response, yet in the shadows, the Dynasty’s reactions and movements extended far beyond this.

The Military Token decreed by the Emperor would take several days to reach Zuo Yuliang, but the message would arrive faster. This time, the Ministry of War, with advice from Commander Pang Ban of the Xuanqing Guard, imitated the Xuanqing Guard’s methods and established three chains of Thousand-Mile Sound relay connections along the route. The next time, information would pass without wasting time on horses and carts in between.

For this, the Emperor was pleased and awarded the Xuanqing Guard a merit. Once introduced, this method multiplied the efficiency of intelligence transmission. As for why such a simple method had not been used before, it was finally learned that the one who devised it was Shen Hao, the particularly outstanding Deputy Thousand Households of the Xuanqing Guard. The Emperor felt a flash of realization—so it was him once more? Meanwhile, the southern region also became somewhat curious about this man.

When the Emperor’s Order and half a Military Token fell into Zuo Yuliang’s hands, he at once held plenary authority. That same day, fifteen thousand soldiers headed south out of Zhuo Huo Pass, splitting into three detachments, moving with urgency to fortify Jianchuan, White Head Gorge, and Hu Zhu Yuan. This was the second batch of fifteen thousand men sent as reinforcements since the Barbarian Race’s Sudden Attack beyond the pass on August 10. The key difference this time was that, of each group of five thousand, two thousand were Auxiliary Soldiers—not for combat, but to construct all kinds of necessary facilities along the way, including but not limited to supply stations and defensive works.

Prior to this, the Supply Battalion had already accelerated deployments and effort on the route from Zhuo Huo Pass to the front lines. With these additional Auxiliary Soldiers, it seemed Zuo Yuliang, dissatisfied with the pace, wished to speed up the completion of that long supply line even further.

The news also reached Shen Hao in the shortest time possible. There were two dispatches—one, a carbon copy of the Emperor’s order to Zuo Yuliang; the other, a private letter of admonition in Jiang Cheng’s own hand.

The war stance announced this time by the Emperor meant that Shen Hao, stationed in the Southern Border Army, was for the moment unable to extricate himself. At least, until the situation stabilized, it was impossible for him to leave. This also gave him the opportunity to properly help the Xuanqing Guard sort out the southern intelligence channels—so that nothing would catch them off guard, trapped in passivity.

After setting down the two Copper Rods, and putting them away, Shen Hao took his teacup and walked to the window. Looking at the busy scene outside, he felt the shadow of war pressing ever lower, the tense atmosphere already seeping in from Zhuo Huo Pass.

Clearly, the soldiers who had never seen the battlefield all looked uneasy, while the veterans who had seen blood were in much better shape. Those older, seasoned experts with high Cultivation and past war experience in the army looked not only at ease, but even faintly eager.

Shen Hao had never seen battle either, but he was not like those green recruits; he too felt tense, but only to a limited degree. The brothers of the Xuanqing Guard were much the same. Compared to these soldiers, life-and-death struggle was the daily routine of the Xuanqing Guard—battlefield slaughter was, in truth, just the same fight to the death. Their tension came only from the scale of this confrontation, the atmosphere bearing heavy upon them.

Now, as both Inspector and Chief Officer, Shen Hao was certain he would likely follow the army out of the pass to the south. He wondered what a battlefield of this world would truly look like.

As he was halfway through his cup of tea, there was a knock at the door. Pushing it open was Deputy Thousand Households Zhang Ye, whom Shen Hao had appointed to manage daily affairs.

"Sir, you called for me?"

"Yes. How is the preparation of personnel I previously assigned you going?"

"Reporting to sir, half has already been filled. The remaining half will be completed by tomorrow or the day after."