webnovelfull Chapter 1221 We Must Borrow Their Lives
Chapter 1221 We Must Borrow Their Lives
“Third,” Lin Zhen’s voice grew increasingly cold and cruel, “and also the most important point.”
"We must borrow their lives!"
His gaze fell on the Vice Minister of War.
"You just said that the Prince of the Western Regions and the Divine Machine Battalion are in dire straits. We must send troops to rescue them immediately."
"That's true."
"But are we short of troops right now?"
"No shortage!"
"Our Great Qian Dynasty has plenty of fearless and passionate men!"
What we lack is time!
"This gives us precious time to calmly deploy our troops and make strategic plans in the Western Regions!"
"And this time will be bought with the lives of millions of Japanese!"
"The Emperor and the Prince will personally lead the eastern expeditionary force to engage in a protracted and bloody tug-of-war with Oda Nobunaga's main force on the Japanese mainland!"
"We will turn Japan into a gigantic meat grinder!"
"We want to draw the attention of the entire world to this battlefield in the East!"
"We must make the Ottoman Turks, the East India Company, the Russian Empire, and all the wolves eyeing our Great Qian believe that we have exhausted all our strength and are trapped in the quagmire of war!"
"In this way, they will inevitably lower their guard against the Western Regions!"
"And this is our opportunity!"
Lin Zhen's move can be described as a completely new grand strategy of "deceiving the heavens and crossing the sea, using war to sustain war".
Once again, everyone present was completely captivated and enlightened!
They finally understood!
It turns out that the prince and the emperor never intended to confront the Ottoman Turks head-on in the Western Regions!
Their real purpose is to use this seemingly crazy war in the East China Sea to buy the most precious strategic buffer time for the decisive battle on the western front!
At the same time, we can also "borrow" all of Japan's money and talent!
This... this is no longer a simple case of killing two birds with one stone!
This is simply a brilliant move, killing three birds with one stone and achieving three goals with one arrow!
"Your Highness... is a divine being!"
"Alright," Lin Zhen said, looking at the civil and military officials who had been completely persuaded by him, "this matter is settled."
"The western expedition will be postponed for now. Marshal Zheng Kedi will lead the Northern Army to continue confronting the enemy along the Kunlun Mountains line and contain their main force."
"The Eastern Expedition shall commence immediately!"
"We, the Empress and I, will personally lead the command!"
"The army will set off in three days!"
"Target!"
"Japan!"
Lin Zhen's words, filled with absolute confidence and an unquestionable final decision, acted like a stabilizing force, instantly calming the already turbulent hearts of the entire Daqian court.
Those civil officials who had been wailing and threatening suicide were now flushed with excitement, as if they had been injected with adrenaline.
"Your Highness is wise! His Majesty is wise!"
"Using war to sustain war! Deceiving the heavens and crossing the sea! This is truly a divine strategy!"
Zhou Xing, the Minister of Revenue, jumped up from the ground. His fat face no longer showed any of the previous pessimism and despair, but was filled with the ecstatic joy and excitement of being blinded by greed.
"Fight! We must fight! Fight them hard!"
He brandished his massive fists, spitting as he roared, "It's just money! Your Highness, rest assured! Even if it costs me my life, I will definitely gather the military pay and provisions for you! If we don't empty that mountain of silver from Japan this time, I'll change my mind!"
His lively and playful demeanor instantly filled the otherwise solemn and dignified Zichen Palace with a cheerful atmosphere.
Even Wang Anshi, who always had a stern face, couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly.
Murong Yan looked at these "key ministers" who had been grieving for their parents one moment and were now acting like they had just been shot and were full of blood the next. Their attitudes changed so quickly that it was faster than turning the pages of a book, and she couldn't help but laugh and cry.
She finally understood.
Dealing with these old foxes is pointless; talking about grand principles or loyalty to the emperor and patriotism is useless.
There is only one thing that is eternal truth.
That's about interests.
As long as you can bring them enough benefits, let alone getting them to fight Japan, even if you asked them to follow you to attack the Heavenly Palace right now and mess with the Jade Emperor, they would be willing to rush forward with great enthusiasm.
Her husband, Lin Zhen, is undoubtedly the most cunning devil in the world, the one who knows best how to manipulate people's hearts by using the word "interests".
She glanced at the man beside her, who looked completely calm and collected, as if the earth-shattering plan he had just mentioned was nothing more than a trivial matter.
In those beautiful phoenix eyes, besides adoration, there was only endless love and dependence.
With a husband like this, what more could one ask for?
She knew that as long as this man was by her side, she would be fearless no matter how terrible the storms she might face in the future.
"All right."
She spoke slowly, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable imperial majesty that instantly silenced all the noise in the hall.
"Since all of you ministers have no objections..."
"Then the matter of the Eastern Expedition was settled."
"Zhou Xing, Li Ge, Wang Anshi."
"Chen is here!"
The three ministers immediately stepped forward, bowed, and accepted the order.
"I hereby order the three of you to immediately establish the 'General Logistics Department for the Eastern Expeditionary Army'!"
"Zhou Xing, you are in charge of the allocation of funds and supplies."
"Li Ge, you are in charge of the construction and maintenance of armaments and warships."
"Wang Anshi, you will be responsible for the political vetting and recording of all personnel who went to war with the army, as well as the cultural reform and education of Japan after the war."
"I will only give you three days!"
"Three days from now, I want to see a massive logistics and supply fleet, large enough to support an army of 150,000 for a six-month expedition, appear on the East China Sea!"
"Can you do it?!"
"Your Majesty, we... obey!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xing and the other two were all startled!
Three days!
Such a massive and complex logistical preparation had to be completed in just three days!
This is simply an impossible task!
But when they saw the legendary emperor and empress standing side by side on the imperial steps, their eyes filled with absolute confidence and unquestionable authority.
They knew they had no choice but to agree.
They can only, and must, do it!
"Yue Fei!"
"The general is here!"
Yue Fei stepped forward again, his resolute face filled with excitement and determination as he prepared to go to the battlefield.
"Although I and the Prince will accompany you on your eastern expedition..."
"However, the daily command and training of the army will still be fully managed by you and Admiral Elizabeth."
"I have only one request."
"That is, before arriving in Japan, I want to see a truly disciplined, invincible army that obeys orders without question!"
"I do not wish for any more scoundrels like Date Masamune, who commit arson, murder, looting, and breach of military discipline, to appear in our fleet!"
"Otherwise, no matter who he is, no matter how great his achievements are!"
"I will make him lose his head!"