The Prince of Jin still wore a smile as he led his entourage out of Bing Province. Everything seemed like the perfectly ordinary conclusion of a visit to reward the troops.
But beneath that tranquil surface, hidden currents surged.
All of Bing Province had been pacified, but normal life had yet to resume. Instead, it served as the front line, with supplies pouring in without end.
His Majesty had resolved to retake You Province, and the campaign would soon begin.
According to intelligence from the Martial Suppression Bureau, the five Northern Barbarian tribes had temporarily set aside their differences and reached a consensus: they had to hold the strategic stronghold of You Province, no matter what.
Zhao Feng set down the intelligence report and gave a wry smile.
Wherever there were people, there was a martial world. The five barbarian tribes had their own grudges, as well as conservative and aggressive factions, which explained their earlier wavering policies.
If he had been the Northern Barbarians' Great Khan, he would have gathered most of his elite troops and sent them through the pass to reinforce Liang Qian. At the very least, he would have propped up that puppet emperor, rather than occupying You Province and then hesitating, forfeiting the best opportunity.
Now the roles of attacker and defender had reversed.
Amid this tension, with swords drawn and bows bent,
Zhao Feng received an imperial decree summoning him and Sun Chenzong to Capital City to report on their duties. They were also to bring back several important Puppet Liang officials for the emperor to interrogate personally.
I'm finally going to Upper Capital, Zhao Feng thought. He had never been there before.
"His Majesty has never summoned you to the capital before, but now he suddenly has. Why do you think that is?"