The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

The study of the residence of the Princess Zhenguo.

The charcoal fire warmed the room to a spring-like temperature, but it couldn't dispel the heavy atmosphere that permeated the air.

The aftermath of the turmoil in the imperial court was still lingering, while the more pressing military situation in the south weighed heavily on everyone's minds like a boulder.

Yun Jin had removed her court robes and was now dressed in a neat and tidy outfit. She stood in front of the huge map of the Jiangqiong region, her gaze fixed on the "Anqing", "Jiujiang" and the northern grasslands.

Su Che sat to one side, with detailed battle reports from the southern front and preliminary investigations by "Di Ting" regarding rumors about the Northern Barbarian weapons spread out in front of him.

Li Gang, Zhou Bo, Zhao Jianing, Pang Xiaopan, Yin Wujiu, Han Lie, and others were all present.

Zhou Bo and Zhao Jianing were fully armored, clearly indicating they were ready for battle.

"Your Highness, His Majesty's decree has been issued, and the journey south is imperative."

Su Che spoke first, his voice steady, calming the slight anxiety in the room.

"However, this journey is not like that to the northern frontier. The northern frontier is a place of open warfare, where friend and foe are clearly distinguished. The south, on the other hand, is rife with rebels, bandits, local forces, and even corrupt officials within the court, all deeply entrenched in a complex web. Furthermore, the northern barbarians cast a shadow of suspicion, making it an unpredictable and dangerous place. We must plan carefully before we act."

"What good ideas do you have, sir?" Yun Jin asked, turning around.

"The troops were divided into three routes, combining overt and covert operations, with coordinated efforts from the north and south."

Su Che spoke succinctly, tracing lines on the map with his finger.

"The first route, the public one."

His Highness, in his capacity as Imperial Envoy and Inspector, carrying the royal decree and banner, openly traveled south.

The purpose of this trip is fourfold: First, to stabilize morale. His Highness's personal presence demonstrates the court's high regard for the troops and can boost the morale of the soldiers at the front.

Second, coordinate the various armies. The armies sent to quell the rebellion in the south come from different systems and are not under each other's command, often leading to friction. Your Highness, with the authority of an imperial envoy, can mediate and unify commands.

Third, investigate the facts. Whether the Northern Barbarian weapons are genuine or counterfeit, where they came from, and the strength of the rebel army—all these must be seen and heard firsthand.

He looked at Yun Jin, "Fourth, prove your innocence and lure the enemy out. Your Highness is in the south, making you a sitting duck. All forces that don't want Your Highness to find out the truth or to quell the rebellion will jump out. At that time, it will be clear who is loyal, who is treacherous, and who is secretly plotting."

"Luring the snake out of its hole... is too risky." Zhou Bo frowned.

"Risks and opportunities coexist."

Su Che said, "Your Highness's journey south may seem passive, but it is actually proactive. We are shifting part of the battlefield from the turbulent court to the war-torn south."

There, intrigue and scheming must give way to military might, and Your Highness is surrounded by battle-hardened elites like Commander Zhou and Commander Zhao, improved weaponry by Military Advisor Han, and the royal mandate of His Majesty.

If handled properly, safety can be guaranteed, and the opportunity to quell the rebellion can even be used to establish unparalleled military achievements and further consolidate control over the military.

Yun Jin nodded: "What you say is exactly what I think."

In the capital, we fought against our third brother with cunning and power struggles, and were constantly hampered by him.

In the South, we can at least partly rely on swords to communicate.

I will personally go on this first journey.

Commander Zhou, Commander Zhao, and Military Advisor Han, you will accompany me.

Li Changshi, you will remain in the mansion to work with Pang Jishi to stabilize the rear and deal with any changes in the court.

Mr. Yin, your "Jing'an Division" must operate at full capacity to provide us with intelligence support.

"Your humble servant obeys!" the crowd responded in unison.

"The second route, in secret."

Su Che continued, pointing to the north on the map.

"Investigating the source of the Northern Barbarian weapons cannot rely solely on Your Highness's investigation in the south. We must start from the source."

The "Listening" agents in the Northern Barbarians, especially "Number Seven," must be activated immediately to investigate the recent movements of the Tuoba Wugu tribe, their possible channels of communication with the south, and... any clues of their dealings with the Third Prince's residence or certain forces in the court.

At the same time, they investigated border smuggling and black market arms dealing through Pang Jishi's trade routes.

Mr. Yin will be in charge of this matter, with Pang Xiaopan cooperating. We must find concrete evidence and uncover that hidden 'thread'!

"Yes! Your subordinate understands!" Yin Wujiu and Pang Xiaopan replied solemnly.

"The third route: the imperial court."

Su Che's gaze turned cold.

"With Your Highness heading south, the capital will become the Third Prince's domain."

He will not let this opportunity pass. He will take advantage of His Highness's absence from the capital to intensify his plans, place people in positions of power, and may even launch a new offensive, such as using rumors to solidify His Highness's charges of "colluding with the enemy" or "failure in combat."

Therefore, we cannot let him live in peace.

Li Changshi, you have contacted the upright officials and censors in the court and continued to submit memorials regarding the Northern Barbarian military equipment, demanding a thorough investigation of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works' armories, and a clear investigation into the loss of border defense military equipment over the years. You have stirred up trouble and shifted the pressure back to the Third Prince and his cronies.

At the same time, mobilize our people in the court to closely monitor the movements of the Third Prince's faction, especially their contacts with the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and the inner court.

"In addition," Su Che paused, took out a secret letter from his sleeve, and handed it to Li Gang.

"Here are some clues about Mr. Jia, a disciple of the Third Prince, and his dealings with the remnants of the deceased First Prince's forces and some border generals."

Li Changshi could, at an opportune moment, reveal this information to a reliable censor through hearsay.

It doesn't have to be a fatal blow, but it should keep them on edge and distract them.

This is a proactive move to open up a second battlefield in the imperial court, preventing the Third Prince from focusing all his efforts on dealing with Yun Jin who is heading south.

Li Gang solemnly accepted the confidential letter: "I understand. I will certainly not fail in my duty."

"There's one more thing,"

Yun Jin added, looking at Han Lie, "Commander Han, please bring more samples and blueprints of our improved 'Armor-Piercing Crow Arrow' and 'Miniature Thunderclap Bomb'."

The water-rich, hilly areas of the south might be useful.

Additionally, could we design some countermeasures against the Northern Barbarian crossbows that the rebels might possess, such as stronger shields or better armor?

Han Lie's eyes lit up: "This subordinate obeys! I will do my utmost!"

"Your Highness's route south, the escort force, and the means of communication with the frontline generals also need to be carefully planned."

Zhou Bo said in a deep voice, "Now that the rebels have obtained the weapons of the Northern Barbarians, their fighting strength should not be underestimated. Moreover, they are familiar with the geography, so there may be an ambush."

We must be extra careful along the way. I suggest that the guard be composed mainly of Commander Zhao's personal guard battalion, with an additional 500 elite troops from the Shence Battalion, making a total of 1,000 men, all armored and armed with crossbows, the best of the best.

The route avoids dangerous terrain, taking the main roads and major cities as much as possible, traveling day and night to reach Anqing as quickly as possible.

Yun Jin nodded. "The specific details will be discussed and decided by Commander Zhou and Commander Zhao. We will depart in three days."

"Your Highness,"

Pang Xiaopan spoke at this moment, her face displaying the shrewdness typical of a businesswoman.

"I have purchased several properties in and around Anqing City through trading companies, which can serve as temporary bases and intelligence hubs. In addition, grain prices in the south have soared due to the war, and I have already gathered a batch of grain, which will be transported to Anqing. This will not only help stabilize grain prices and win over the people, but also serve as a supplement to military supplies."

"Well done," Yun Jin praised. "Pang Xiaopan, I'm entrusting all the rear-area supplies and intelligence transmission to you."

With assignments made, everyone accepted their orders and hurriedly departed to prepare.

In the study, only Yun Jin and Su Che remained.

The crackling charcoal fire illuminated the two serene profiles.