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Upon hearing Zhao Wenhan’s words, the crowd pondered and felt there was some truth to them.

North City is indeed important for Great Sum, so the Sum Emperor couldn’t possibly stand idly by as it fell; hence, the dispatch of troops northward was inevitable.

Didn’t the Sum Emperor send an army of seventy thousand north last time?

At this moment, Zhao Wenhan glanced at Chu Qinwu and Wang Hai, then said indifferently, “Let’s go, His Majesty is awaiting our discussion regarding important matters.”

As his voice faded, Zhao Wenhan walked toward the side hall, with Chu Qinwu and Wang Hai exchanging a look before hurriedly following.

At this time, Wang Chengshuo approached Lu Shuyun and, seeing Lu Shuyun squinting at Zhao Wenhan’s retreating figure, Wang Chengshuo whispered, “Your Highness, I think Prime Minister Zhao’s approach is correct. Since we cannot prevent His Majesty from dispatching troops to the north, why not take the initiative to offer support for North City? By doing so, the number of troops sent north becomes a matter for the Ministry of War to discuss.”

After hearing Wang Chengshuo’s analysis, Lu Shuyun contemplated for a moment and found some merit in the idea.

It seems Elder Jiang is indeed astute. If it were him, he would surely find a way to stop my father, the emperor, from sending troops to the north.

With fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry in North City, why send more troops there? They would rather see those fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry dissolved; that kind of thinking reveals their impatience for quick success, which leads to inconsiderate decision making.

Lu Shuyun felt somewhat relieved that the old fox Zhao Wenhan was on his side.

Now, all that was left was to wait for the outcome of their discussions.

About two hours later, Lin Gaoyuan was the first to exit the Sum Emperor’s study. Today, he seemed much calmer, not as frustrated as he was last time over the matter of dispatching troops to the north.

Lin Gaoyuan quickly returned home.

Coincidentally, Lin Xiuming was also at home at that time.

Upon seeing Lin Gaoyuan’s return, Lin Xiuming proactively asked, “Father, when can I go to the front lines?”

Lin Xiuming’s army of seventy thousand had only recently returned from North City, so when the conflict between Great Sum and Great Wu erupted, Lin Xiuming and those seventy thousand soldiers were repairing in the Royal Capital and had not been sent to fight Great Wu on the front lines. This made Lin Xiuming grow increasingly anxious.

After all, which man doesn’t wish to achieve great deeds and carve out a legacy, especially in a state war unlike the skirmishes in North City? The scale of this war was immense; Great Wu had already assembled an army close to eight hundred thousand strong, while Great Sum had sent over four hundred thousand.

If Lin Xiuming could distinguish himself in this great battle, his prestige in the army would grow tremendously, and his status would be significantly elevated. Hence, Lin Xiuming eagerly hoped that the court would deploy him to the front lines as well.

Upon hearing Lin Xiuming’s question, Lin Gaoyuan revealed a slight smile and then stroked his beard.

“You’ll be going to the front line soon.”

At this revelation, Lin Xiuming was stunned for a moment and then overjoyed, “Really? How many soldiers is His Majesty planning to give me?”

Lin Gaoyuan responded, “Don’t celebrate too early. His Majesty is only planning to allocate twenty thousand soldiers to you, and your main task won’t be fighting, but transporting supplies.”

Lin Xiuming was dumbfounded. He, a General, not leading troops in combat but managing logistics instead?

Seeing Lin Xiuming’s astonishment, Lin Gaoyuan continued, “Additionally, the front line I’m talking about is not the conflict in the west but in the north.”

“The north… North?”

Lin Xiuming was full of confusion.

Hadn’t the northern conflict already ended? The Sky Wolf King’s tribe was dismantled by the North Prince, and he had only recently returned from North City. Why was there conflict in the north again? Who would dare provoke the North Prince, who commanded fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry, at this time?

Lin Gaoyuan went on, “We just received the battle report during the court session. The North Ere King is leading an army of two hundred thousand southward. The North Prince has sent a Red Ribbon Messenger seeking Imperial support. Zhao Wenhan and the others believe the confrontation with Great Wu is of greater importance, so they plan to dispatch you to North City to transport some supplies and incidentally assist the North Prince in repelling the North Ere King’s southern advance.”

After hearing his father’s words, Lin Xiuming was somewhat bewildered.

So soon after returning from North City, I have to go there again?

What’s he going to North City for, to help the North Prince clean up the battlefield and carry bodies?

Reliant on the soldiers from North City, the North Prince was able to defeat the grand army of three hundred thousand led by the Sky Wolf King; there’s no need for the imperial court to send troops northward.

Seeing Lin Xiuming seemed somewhat reluctant, Lin Gaoyuan directly asked, “What’s wrong, you don’t want to go?”

Lin Xiuming came back to his senses, “Dad, with those fifty thousand heavy cavalry in North City, there’s surely no need for the imperial court to send additional troops, right?”

Lin Gaoyuan said, “Do you think you’re being sent north to hold off the twenty thousand strong army of the North Ere King? The court is sending you there merely to stabilize the North Prince’s position. After all, the North Prince has sent a Red Ribbon Messenger for aid. Who doesn’t know of the North Prince’s extraordinary strategies, suffice to say he doesn’t need the help of the court. Your twenty thousand soldiers and the peasant soldiers of the transportation team are no different.”

Lin Xiuming spoke unhappily, “Then it’s all the same no matter who is sent. Why must it be me? I still want to go to war with the Great Wu dynasty and earn more military exploits.”

Lin Gaoyuan chuckled, then said, “How old are you this year, why are you in such a hurry to earn military exploits? Look at Zhou Wangtian and Mu Changtian, did either of them end up with a good fate?”

Hearing Lin Gaoyuan say this, Lin Xiuming was stunned for a moment, then realized indeed, having too many military exploits was not necessarily a good thing.

Lin Gaoyuan stroked his beard and then said, “Now, ministers of the court along with those aristocratic families generally believe those fifty thousand heavy cavalry are the Emperor’s private troops, but based on the information you brought back from North City, to my understanding, the fact that the State Preceptor personally made a trip to North City and asked you so many questions means the Emperor doesn’t really understand North City.”

“These fifty thousand heavy cavalry likely only obey the North Prince’s commands. The North Prince is not a simple character, it wouldn’t harm you to make more contact with him.”

When Lin Xiuming heard this, he felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

His father was extremely cautious about the issue of succession, treating every Prince who came to see him with the same attitude, that was to decisively not stand with anyone, adopting an attitude of staying well clear of the affair.

But today, his father actually suggested he make more contact with the North Prince. Could this mean his father saw favorably the North Prince and that he was his father’s choice for Crown Prince?

Seeing Lin Xiuming looking at him with a surprised expression, Lin Gaoyuan said, “What’s with that look? Is there something on my face?”

Lin Xiuming regained his composure, then said, “Dad, do you really think the North Prince might eventually…”

Lin Xiuming did not continue, as such matters were not convenient to discuss openly.

Lin Gaoyuan said, “Who can tell for certain? By the way, didn’t you mention you saw Yun last time you were in North City?”

Having stayed in North City for quite a while, Lin Xiuming naturally heard about the Mysterious Moon Palace opening an inn there; he had even met and spoken with Lin Wanyun.

Lin Xiuming said, “Yes, I heard she seems to have been staying in the North Prince Mansion.”

Lin Gaoyuan pondered for a moment and then, with a smile on his face, said, “Although I have no idea what the Mysterious Moon Palace hopes to gain from the North Prince, if your sister could become the North Prince’s woman, it would be more than good for you.”

Um… that…

Lin Xiuming reminded, “Dad, if I’m not mistaken, Yun is already in her thirties this year. Some people her age have children almost as old as the North Prince…”

Although he did not spell it out, what Lin Xiuming meant was clear: Lin Wanyun was old enough to be the North Prince’s mother.

Lin Gaoyuan glanced at Lin Xiuming, then said, “What do you know, the North Prince lost his mother at a young age. People like him prefer mature women who are older than them. Look at Chu Yuqin, isn’t the Sky Wolf King’s wife also of a significant age?”

“Enough talk, get ready quickly.”

“The supplies for the campaign have been prepared by the Ministry of Household; you’ll be heading north in no more than five days.”

Lin Xiuming sighed and said no more.