Where the Crown Prince Goes, It Is as If I Myself Were There; Any Command He Gives Must Not Be Disobeyed!

Star Luo Emperor did not care about this matter.

One match, no matter how much it cost, could not possibly drain that much wealth.

On the contrary, the Heaven Dou Empire had been itching to make a move lately.

"You killed the three chiefs of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Heaven Dou is deeply dissatisfied over this."

"They have always wanted an explanation. To put it bluntly, they want to use this opportunity to clash with us again."

Those were the three chiefs of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy council!

Meng Shenji and the other two might not have had the highest cultivation, but in terms of teaching, they had indeed trained an excellent group of students.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was the shining emblem of the entire Heaven Dou Empire.

Now that all three chief positions stood vacant, they naturally needed an explanation!

Dai Yunzhao drew his hands into his sleeves and leaned against the desk, shaking his head.

"The Heaven Dou Empire has never been our match on the battlefield. Now, they are merely using their subordinate states to wear us down."

"Then they will casually pull a few great sects into their camp and show that they still have the people's support."

"Father Emperor, if Heaven Dou truly sends troops to the border, I would like to fight this battle!"

Star Luo Emperor thought the same.

After suffering setback after setback, the Heaven Dou Empire desperately needed a chance to recover.

Now, the eyes of the entire continent were fixed on Tang Hao and his son. Even if Heaven Dou lost, it would not cause much of a stir.

But if they won, they would publicize it far and wide and gather the people's support once more!

And for the Star Luo Empire?

Dai Yunzhao had indeed defeated Heaven Dou before, and the recent battle at Three Gorges Pass had been impressive enough.

Yet in the end, they had gained not an inch of land!

Before ascending to the throne, Dai Yunzhao needed to raise his prestige to its peak.

Nothing could better demonstrate the weight of his position as Crown Prince of the martial court than seizing cities and conquering territory.

Star Luo Emperor's voice remained calm. "The generals at the border have all been waiting for you to make your move. Are you sure you can win?"

Dai Yunzhao nodded slightly.

"Of course."

Before this, Dai Yunzhao had already handed The Thirty-Six Stratagems and The Art of War to Xiong Ao.

Xiong Ao had long since taken them to study with a group of old brothers-in-arms!

If it had not been for military strategies several generations ahead of anything on Douluo Continent, the border army would not have responded to Dai Yunzhao so enthusiastically.

Dai Yunzhao had now returned to the position of Crown Prince without shedding a drop of blood, so their previous support had not been in vain.

If Dai Yunzhao won another splendid battle, the day he took over the throne would come sooner as well!

Who knew whom Heaven Dou's old emperor would send to lead the army?

Star Luo Emperor set down the cricket and crouched.

"Yunzhao, do you need me to suppress the voices in court and beyond?"

Dai Yunzhao nodded slightly.

"As long as Father Emperor supports me in fighting, then once the war begins, the entire army can only obey my orders."

"Any voices from the rear must be suppressed within the court. They cannot be allowed to reach the battlefield!"

Star Luo Emperor continued to agree with him.

He had even grown somewhat accustomed to going along with everything his son said!

Clearly, he was the sovereign and father, yet Dai Yunzhao could lead him along.

Perhaps it also had something to do with him no longer wanting to fight.

This was his only son.

His fatherly affection remained, after all, and he did not want things to truly reach the point where father and son turned their weapons against each other.

As for Star Luo's future, Dai Yunzhao could do whatever he pleased with it.

Star Luo Emperor rose and glanced outside.

"Come. Attend court with me!"

Outside the hall, Star Luo's civil and military officials were already waiting.

Only when they heard that piercing announcement did they all kneel. "His Majesty has arrived~~"

"Your servants bow and wish Your Majesty peace!"

Star Luo Emperor led Dai Yunzhao into the court hall.

"I am well. Rise, all of you."

Star Luo Emperor's voice was very easygoing. He ascended to the dragon throne and sat down, while Dai Yunzhao stood before the assembled officials.

The Fourth Prince, who had confronted the Son of Heaven in court not long ago, was now the Star Luo Empire's sole Crown Prince!

Star Luo Emperor leaned forward slightly, the dangling beads of his crown swaying faintly.

"The Heaven Dou Emperor has sent me a state letter, demanding that I give them an explanation for why the three chiefs of Heaven Dou Royal Academy were killed at Three Gorges Pass. My dear ministers, what do you think?"

Everyone knew that the battle at Three Gorges Pass had been Dai Yunzhao's famous battle before his return!

Dai Yunzhao had been granted the position of Crown Prince, and both court and country had praised him.

The Star Luo Empire would never yield over this matter!

The civil and military officials, who had seemed half-dead just days ago, were now all filled with righteous indignation.

"That petty Heaven Dou state goes too far! What state letter is this? It is clearly a declaration of war!"

"Those northern barbarians lack the skill, yet they still dare demand an explanation?"

"Your Majesty need not worry. I am willing to lead an army north and strike those Heaven Dou brats head-on!"

"Your Majesty, I shall immediately draft a proclamation condemning Heaven Dou and let those old fools of the Xue Family witness the might of our martial court!"

The ministers in the hall were seething with fury.

Beneath the dragon desk, Star Luo Emperor clenched his sleeve!

Why had none of you been this enthusiastic a few days ago?

So you truly think I am old and intend to support Dai Yunzhao's ascent to the throne, do you?

I am not senile yet, but every last one of you is already thinking of currying favor with the Crown Prince!

In the end, Star Luo Emperor sighed.

Forget it. Currying favor with the Crown Prince was also currying favor with him. They were all serving the Star Luo Empire.

Star Luo Emperor raised a hand and pressed it downward.

The hall fell silent in an instant.

Star Luo Emperor's gaze settled on Dai Yunzhao.

"Crown Prince, what is your opinion?"

Dai Yunzhao stepped forward and spoke with great respect. "Father Emperor, since all the ministers request battle, then Star Luo has no choice but to fight this war!"

"With the people's will behind us, Star Luo's border army shall surely become an invincible force!"

Star Luo Emperor sighed.

"I had no wish to resort to war, but since Heaven Dou has gone too far and the ministers are united in their wishes, then this battle... shall be fought!"

Hearing Star Luo Emperor's words, the ministers all bowed. "Your Majesty is wise!"

Star Luo Emperor lightly tapped the dragon desk.

"Since we are going to war, who will oversee provisions, and who will command the army?"

The civil officials all requested leave to draft a declaration of war, while the generals were even more impassioned!

But when Dai Yunzhao stepped forward again, everyone fell silent.

"Since they are coming for your son, then your son shall command the expedition!"

"My head will be on the battlefield. Let them come and take it!"

"There is no need for more words in the declaration of war. Tell them that Dai Yunzhao will be on the battlefield. Whoever wants my life, come and take it!"

"I will give them that opportunity. I only hope they have the ability to seize it!"

The generals had already fallen silent.

When it came to commanding armies, they were certainly no match for Dai Yunzhao.

They had heard that the border generals had all become arrogant and looked down on every other general.

Yet toward this Fourth Prince, they held nothing but the deepest admiration!

Star Luo Emperor's voice rang out. "Good! Then the Crown Prince shall command the expedition in my stead!"

"Wherever the Crown Prince goes, it shall be as if I myself have arrived. Any command he gives must not be disobeyed!"

All the ministers knelt on the ground and cried out, "Long live His Majesty!"

The declaration of war was drafted quickly. Scholars were quite skilled when it came to insulting people.

That declaration of war was rushed eight hundred li to the Heaven Dou Empire!