Deep within the palaces of those kingdoms, the kings, upon receiving the edicts from Heaven Dou City, mostly wore a scornful smile.
" Xue Qinghe? He's just a greenhorn who's only just ascended the throne." King Barak toyed with the jade thumb ring in his hand, his tone full of disdain. "When his father, Xue Ye, was in power, didn't he have to turn a blind eye to us? In terms of seniority and methods, he's far from qualified."
King Silves spread out a map in his military tent, and upon hearing this, scoffed. "Does he think that a new ruler can turn the world upside down? The foundation passed down from our ancestors cannot be shaken by a single decree from him. If he really wants to wage war, his Heaven Dou City's imperial guards could fill the territories of several kingdoms!"
At the banquet, the Duke of the Holy Spirit Duchy bluntly told his confidants, " Xue Ye couldn't do anything to me, so what can Xue Qinghe do? Heaven Dou City is far away from us. If things really come to a head, who's afraid of whom? He's only just ascended the throne and his power base isn't stable yet. Does he dare to start a war so easily? It's just bluffing."
In their view, this new emperor was young and lacked the prestige of the former Xue Ye, and was not necessarily able to fully control the court. He was merely testing the waters under the guise of a new ruler.
As long as they stick together and fight back, Xue Qinghe will eventually have no choice but to swallow his anger, just like his father. After all, no one would believe that a young emperor who has just ascended the throne would dare to launch a war that would shake the foundation of the empire just for the sake of so-called face.
Deep within the palace of the Heaven Dou Empire, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it. When Xue Qinghe threw the drafted proclamation of war onto the table, the court officials in the hall instantly erupted in uproar.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!" An elderly minister with white hair and beard stepped forward tremblingly. "Although the four great kingdoms and one great duchy have not obeyed the summons, they have not openly rebelled. A hasty military action could destabilize the very foundations of the nation, and the losses would outweigh the gains!"
A chorus of agreement rose and fell, even causing several usually tough military officers to show signs of difficulty. Xue Qinghe sat upright on the dragon throne, his face expressionless, only a hint of unyielding coldness hidden deep in his eyes.
He was well aware of these people's concerns, but the duchies' double-dealing had already crossed his bottom line.
"This matter needs no further discussion." Xue Qinghe's voice was not loud, but it carried a penetrating authority. "My mind is made up. Those who dare to defy the imperial decree will be subdued by force."
The courtiers wanted to persuade him further, but he stopped them with a cold look. No one noticed that his knuckles, gripping the armrest of the dragon throne, were turning slightly white—he was now the emperor of the Heaven Dou Dynasty, not a pawn of the Spirit Hall. Unless absolutely necessary, he could not allow the Spirit Hall's influence to easily interfere in court affairs, as that would only backfire and ruin everything he had painstakingly built.
Looking across the entire court, there were very few generals capable of leading a large army to attack the five major powers. Xue Qinghe's gaze swept across the hall and finally landed on a young and handsome figure.
" Yu Tianheng."
"Your subject is here!" Yu Tianheng stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and accepted the order.
Xue Qinghe looked at him and slowly said, "I hereby appoint you as the commander-in-chief of the punitive expeditionary force, Mu Qing as the deputy commander-in-chief. Immediately muster your troops and lead the Heaven Dou army to punish the four kingdoms and one duchy that have disobeyed the imperial decree. Remember, in this battle, only victory is allowed; defeat is not permitted."
A sharp glint flashed in Yu Tianheng's eyes, and he replied in a deep voice, "Your subject obeys!"
The discussions inside the hall gradually subsided, and everyone understood that this war, triggered by the imperial decree, had no room for maneuver.
What they didn't know was that this young emperor was plotting a far more complex game than any campaign.
The order to launch the attack spread throughout the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire at the fastest speed. When the scroll bearing the gilded imperial seal was delivered to the desks of the kings of the four kingdoms and the duke of the great duchy, the smiles on the faces of the rulers, who were secretly pleased with their disobedience, instantly froze.
"Has he gone mad?" The King of the Balak Kingdom slammed the scroll on the table, its gilded decorations gleaming coldly in the candlelight. "A mere brat, does he really think he can rule the world just by sitting on the dragon throne?" Despite his words, his fingers gripping the scroll had turned slightly white—no one had expected that this seemingly gentle new emperor would possess such Thunder methods.
Inside the palace of the neighboring Silves Kingdom, the king muttered to himself while looking at a map, "Is Heaven Dou just throwing caution to the wind? Their national strength has declined in recent years, and their border defenses have become lax. What gives them the confidence to fight this war?" But as soon as he finished speaking, he immediately summoned the Minister of Military Affairs and ordered in a deep voice, "Pass on my order: immediately take stock of the nation's military equipment, and put the border garrisons on high alert."
The other two countries reacted in the same way as the principality. After the initial shock came a hint of disdain and contempt— the Heaven Dou Empire was no longer the powerful overlord it once was. News of its turmoil in the court and the loss of military strength had already spread throughout the world. In their eyes, the young emperor's order to launch a punitive expedition was more like a blustering but ultimately weak clamor.
But the saying "even a starved camel is bigger than a horse" is ultimately ingrained in the bones of every ruler. The foundation of the Heaven Dou Empire, built over hundreds of years, is still intact, and its resources are far beyond what these subordinate forces can match. Even if they underestimate it, no one dares to take it lightly.
Within a few days, urgent bugle calls resounded throughout the territories of the five factions. Blacksmith shops worked through the night to produce weapons, granary doors were frequently opened, soldiers bid farewell to their families and assembled in formation, and cold barricades were erected at border checkpoints.
Meanwhile, in the military camp of the Heaven Dou Empire, Yu Tianheng stood on the command platform, holding the military tally. Below the platform, tens of thousands of iron cavalrymen, their armor gleaming and their spears like a forest, exuded a chilling aura that soared into the sky.
A war ignited by imperial decree has quietly begun amidst the covert vigilance of all parties.
The next morning, before the morning mist had fully dissipated, the hundreds of thousands of troops of the Heaven Dou Empire had already spread out in a magnificent array on the plains like a giant steel dragon.
Banners fluttered, armor gleamed, horses' hooves pounded the morning dew, and the heavy footsteps made the earth tremble slightly.
Yu Tianheng, clad in black armor, stood at the front of the formation, his spear pointing diagonally at the ground, the cold glint of the spear tip reflecting the sharpness in his eyes.
Target: The Balak Kingdom!
At Yu Tianheng's command, the vanguard cavalry moved first, their iron hooves kicking up clouds of dust, rushing towards the western border like a surging torrent.
Among the army, several lieutenants were inevitably puzzled. Of the five major powers to be attacked, the Balak Kingdom was neither the weakest nor the most arrogant. Why then did their commander-in-chief choose to strike it first?
Someone couldn't help but step forward to ask, Yu Tianheng reined in his horse and turned his gaze to the southwest, which was the heart of the Balak Kingdom and the Suotuo City, where his fiefdom was located.
"The reason? It's simple."
His voice came through his helmet, carrying an undeniable decisiveness, " Suotuo City is within Barak's territory. Once the war spreads, if they want to stabilize their rear, they will definitely target my fiefdom first. Rather than waiting for my fiefdom to be taken and my people to be trapped, it's better to take the initiative."