Great Ming, Forbidden City, Imperial Study.
The Emperor of Great Ming looked at Shangguan Haitang before him, a trace of eagerness in his eyes, but quickly suppressed it.
She was one of Master Lin's people. He dared not provoke her.
He knew how hard it had been to secure his position. Even within the Imperial Family, quite a few people wanted to replace him.
Taking a deep breath to suppress his stray thoughts, the Emperor of Great Ming looked at Shangguan Haitang. "Manor Lord Shangguan, you said you had a message from Master Lin. What is it?"
Cheng Shifei and the others had gone to Great Sui to offer Yuwen Huaji amnesty and bring him into the fold. The Emperor of Great Ming was waiting for good news, too.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Preceptor said to mobilize the troops immediately and prepare to attack Great Song."
The Emperor of Great Ming shot to his feet. "What did you say? Attack Great Song? Why?"
They had not even fully occupied Great Sui yet, and now they were going to annex Great Song?
Great Song was currently second only to Great Ming in strength. It had ample provisions and was stable, without any rebellions. Attacking it by force would disrupt their previous plans.
According to their previous plan, after annexing Great Sui this year, they would sweep through the north.
They would make Great Liao submit and pay tribute, then completely wipe out the remaining Mongol Yuan tribes and destroy the Golden Tent Khanate.
Then, next year, they would march south, destroy Great Song, make Dali, Tubo, and the others submit as well, and unite the world.
Afterward, they could sail overseas to destroy Nihon, or continue west from the Western Regions and destroy Persia and the others, expanding Great Ming's territory