Chapter 11: Commander of the Southern Campaign

“Mother, this isn’t fair. Fourth Sister cheated.”
Emperor Star Night had once been the talented woman of Eastern Zhou, but now that Emperor Luo Xi had Long Chen’s help, she could no longer match her.
The Empress laughed. “Come now, we are all family. What is there to quarrel about? Chief Long is well-versed in poetry and literature; you can learn from him as well.”
Emperor Star Night immediately bowed. “Your child obeys your command.”
Emperor Luo Xi protested, “Mother, Little Dragon is mine. How can you give him to Second Sister?”
The Empress smiled. “You all have your share. Let’s see who learns more.”
Emperor Luo Xi had no answer.
“Well then, think about how to attack Linjiang City. I have already begun to gather our forces; this will be a brutal battle.”
“Luo Xi, as we advance on Southern Liang, the northern barbarians may well cause trouble. When the time comes, your Third Sister will head north, while the south is your domain. Prepare yourself!”
Eastern Zhou’s southern frontier faced Southern Liang; the north faced the barbarian tribes. Beset from both sides, if the whole nation marched south, the northern barbarians would surely seize the opportunity to invade.
Thus, it was necessary to leave troops to guard the north, with the Third Princess, Emperor Ling Yi, in charge there; the south would be Emperor Luo Xi’s main battlefield.
“Your child obeys.”
Emperor Luo Xi ceased her playful antics and began to seriously consider the assault on Linjiang City.
Emperor Star Night asked, “Mother, what news from Jing Tian Lie’s side?”
The Empress replied, “No reply yet.”
Emperor Star Night asked unhappily, “Will they take this chance to pressure you into marrying Third and Fourth Sister into the Jing family?”
The Empress did not answer, but said, “We’ll discuss it once we hear back. Go and prepare.”
“Star Night, you make arrangements for provisions and military supplies, and reach out to them to see what support they can offer.”
Emperor Star Night hesitated. “Mother means them? Last time they aided Southern Liang against us; will they help now?”
The Empress replied indifferently, “When Eastern Zhou was strong, they helped Southern Liang. Now Southern Liang is at its peak; they should lean toward us.”
Emperor Star Night nodded. “Very well, I will reach out.”
...
Long Chen sat in his room, holding a martial arts manual describing spear techniques—Dominant Dragon Spear Technique.
The spear technique was formidable, but required advanced cultivation to master. Long Chen was only at the Martial Artist stage; reading it was of little use.
“This Fourth Princess is rather straightforward, giving me such a fine manual.”
Long Chen muttered, tossed the manual onto the table, and left his quarters to find Wu Jian in the cleansing chamber.
“Young General.”
“Uncle Wu, do you recall the Long family’s cultivation method?”
“The Long family’s method is unique; we don’t know it. Have you forgotten, Young General?”
Long Chen, having crossed over, found the host had forgotten his cultivation method, and he could not recall it either.
“That’s troublesome. Fourth Princess found me this Dominant Dragon Spear Technique, but I have no internal energy. Practicing moves alone won’t help.”
Wu Jian was surprised. “Dominant Dragon Spear Technique? Fourth Princess gave you such a powerful manual?”
“You know it, Uncle Wu?”
Wu Jian lowered his voice. “It’s said the Dominant Dragon Spear Technique shares origins with the Long family’s spear, but is even harder to master. If you can’t remember your old method, you could cultivate this one. It’s just... difficult.”
Long Chen considered; having something was better than nothing. Difficult did not mean impossible.
Moreover, he sensed that the lustful predecessor’s Yin cultivation method was particularly effective for developing internal energy. If he combined it with the Dominant Dragon Spear Technique, perhaps he could return to the Martial Sovereign stage.
To reach the Martial Sovereign stage meant standing above all but one.
As for the Empress’s Imperial Sovereign stage, that was a matter of fortune, not envy.
Returning to his quarters, Long Chen studied the manual carefully and sent the maid, Fragrant Ning, to forge a spare long spear.
As time passed, the Empress and Emperor Luo Xi busied themselves with preparations to attack Linjiang City.
Long Chen focused on martial training in his quarters.
The “Carving Dragons with Literary Mind” was published, and the news of an unrivaled eunuch in Eastern Zhou spread across the land. It was widely rumored that Long Chen had defeated Southern Liang’s literary leader, Yu Shinan, but his name was changed to Long Cheng’en.
News arrived from Southern Liang: Emperor Li Chengdao kept his word and agreed to return Linjiang City to Eastern Zhou.
However, Southern Liang’s Heavenly Might Legion entered Linjiang City, claiming to be volunteering to defend the city, unrelated to the Southern Liang court. The legion was led by the Shangguan General’s House.
...
Phoenix Dance Hall.
The Empress sat at the head, with her four daughters seated below.
“You’ve all heard—the Heavenly Might Legion has entered Linjiang City.”
The Empress spoke slowly.
Second Princess Emperor Star Night sneered, “The Heavenly Might Legion belongs to Southern Liang’s Shangguan General’s House. Though Shangguan Wei didn’t act personally, he sent his eldest son, Shangguan Xiu, to lead the troops. Isn’t this just playing tricks?”
Southern Liang had two general’s houses: Long Ye’s National Protector General’s House and Shangguan Wei’s Shangguan General’s House.
After Long Ye fell in battle, the Shangguan General’s House became Southern Liang’s most powerful military group.
The Southern Liang court withdrew its garrison from Linjiang City, then Shangguan Xiu, as a Southern Liang citizen, led the Heavenly Might Legion into Linjiang City. On the surface, Southern Liang kept its promise, but in reality, it was trickery.
First Princess Emperor Yu Wei remarked, “We all know this is trickery, but it silences the world’s criticism.”
Fourth Princess Emperor Luo Xi scoffed, “There’s nothing more to say. Just fight!”
Third Princess Emperor Ling Yi shook her head. “It’s not so simple. Reports from Yanmen Pass say the barbarians are already gathering troops. If we march south, they will attack.”
At these words, the mood grew somber.
“Mother, I am willing to lead troops alone to seize Linjiang City.”
Emperor Luo Xi suddenly declared.
The Empress was startled. “You alone? How will you fight?”
Second Princess Emperor Star Night said, “Shangguan Xiu has ten thousand Heavenly Might troops defending Linjiang City, and they hold the advantage. Even if we muster twenty thousand, it’s not enough.”
The Empress asked, “What did they say?”
Emperor Star Night replied, “I contacted them. They’re willing to sponsor ten large ships, on the condition that Eastern Zhou’s liquor trade be exclusively theirs.”
The Empress was silent. She disliked exchanging the livelihoods of court and people for support.
Emperor Luo Xi said disdainfully, “They stir up trouble everywhere—last time they aided Southern Liang, now they support us, fearing peace more than chaos.”
Emperor Star Night said, “As long as they help Eastern Zhou take Linjiang City, nothing else matters.”
Emperor Luo Xi bit her lip. “Mother, give me twenty thousand troops. I’ll lead them to retake Linjiang City.”
First Princess Emperor Yu Wei frowned. “Fourth Sister, you’re being impulsive. If you fail, do you realize how much we stand to lose?”
Second Princess Emperor Star Night also objected. “You’re as reckless as ever.”
Third Princess Emperor Ling Yi suddenly asked, “Mother, what does the Grand General say?”
The original plan was to recall Grand General Jing Tian Lie and join forces to attack Linjiang City.
The Empress shook her head slightly. “He says the pressure from Western Xia and the barbarians is too great; he cannot withdraw.”
Clearly, the Empress had not agreed to marry her daughters to his sons, so Jing Tian Lie had no intention of returning or sending troops.
“Mother, give me the troops. I will take the city!”
Emperor Luo Xi petitioned again.
Her three sisters felt she was acting rashly and ignored her.
The Empress looked at Emperor Luo Xi, her brows suddenly furrowing. “Very well. I appoint you Grand Commander of the Southern Expedition. Retake Linjiang City!”