Father, I really don’t want to be the emperor

Ning Fan sat on the dragon chair, his eyebrows raised slightly, and he listened to Zhou Qun's report, but there was no trace of fluctuation on his face. He was caressing the newly built matchlock model in his hand, calm as water.

"Your Majesty, the Huns have assembled 50,000 cavalry and are watching at the border of Yunzhou." Zhou Qun's tone was calm, but he could not hide his worry.

Ning Fan raised his head, his eyes blazing: "Zhou Qun, you and I both know that Dakang is not what it used to be. With our current firearms and steel armed forces, what do those Huns who still rely on horseback and bows and arrows count?"

"Yes!" Zhou Qun nodded, "I'm just worried..."

"No need to say more." Ning Fan waved his hand to interrupt, "Immediately pass my order to General Huang Chao to set up an ambush circle on the Yunzhou grassland. In addition, notify General Xiao Zhongzhong to deploy frontal defenses in the northwest."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Lingxi slowly entered the imperial study, "Your Majesty, are your arrangements really appropriate? The Huns have always been cunning and are not easy to deal with."

Ning Fan turned around and looked at his beloved concubine, "Ling Xi, don't worry. This time the troops are sent out with silence. If the Huns really dare to go south, they will play into my hands."

However, Xiao Lingxi still frowned: "But in the long history, whenever the Xiongnu invades the south, it always brings a lot of trouble. Your Majesty should be more cautious."

"Don't worry." Ning Fan said with a smile, "This is just a containment measure, not a full-scale attack. Besides, Jiangnan's 100,000 Dragon Scale Army is also on standby -"

Before he finished speaking, the sound of rapid footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. Qin Ying knelt down in front of the hall with a dusty face: "Your Majesty, Qin Ying is back!"

"Qin Ying?" Ning Fan was surprised and beamed with joy, "Get up quickly and tell me what you saw and heard."

Qin Ying stood up, with an exotic light shining in his eyes: "Your Majesty, this trip has been very fruitful. The countries on the other side of the Atlantic have different cultures and rich products. We have established preliminary trade relations and signed friendship treaties with them. There are also several rare species. Resources are available for extraction and utilization.”

After hearing these words, Xiao Lingxi eased her suspicions and said, "It seems that God has blessed you with great health."

However, at this moment, a Xiaohuangmen ran into the imperial study in panic: "Your Majesty! Urgent military report - the Huns have begun to cross the Gunshui River! Their intention is to point directly in the direction of the capital!"

The atmosphere in the entire imperial study suddenly became tense.

Ning Fan took a deep breath and said calmly: "Mobilize the Jiangnan Dragon Scale Army to establish a second line of defense, and notify Generals Huang Chao and Xiao Zhong to establish a circuitous encirclement network!"

Xiao Lingxi held Ning Fan's hand tightly: "Be careful..."

The north wind swept over the city of Kyoto, as if the voice of the Northwest War was echoing: 'Warriors protect their home and country'.

Xiao Lingxi frowned slightly, her eyes wandering back and forth in the imperial study room, and finally stopped at Ning Fan. She walked lightly to Ning Fan, with a trace of unconcealed worry in her voice: "Your Majesty, digging the canal and building the railway in the northwest requires a lot of materials and people. At this time, when the Xiongnu is pressing on the border, I am afraid that it will bring trouble to the empire. It caused considerable financial pressure.”

The pen in Ning Fan's hand paused, and he looked up at Xiao Lingxi, "Sister Lingxi, you are right to worry. But have you ever thought about it? These infrastructure projects are just to stabilize the country's foundation in the long run. Although the Huns are powerful , but they have never seen the power of our new artillery."

"But just in case..." Xiao Lingxi wanted to say something else.

Ning Fan had already stood up, walking firmly to the window and looking at the snowy scene outside. "Sooner or later, the Huns will be completely wiped out. Even if the Huns don't take the initiative to invade, I still plan to have some fun with them!"

Xiao Lingxi was speechless and could only lower her head and think.

At this moment, the sound of rapid horse hooves was heard outside the palace, and a guard rushed into the royal study in panic: "Report! General Huang Chao sent back a secret message. The Huns have made any changes and may be planning a night attack!"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Ning Fan turned around and picked up a map from the table and unfolded it. "Adjust the plan." He spoke quickly, "Immediately send an additional 3,000 elite troops to Yunzhou to support Huang Chao, and order the Jiangnan Dragon Scale Army to establish a second line of defense to respond."

Xiao Lingxi approached the table. She pointed to the densely marked area on the map and asked, "Does reinforcements also need here?"

"Exactly what I wanted." Ning Fan nodded in praise and then took a deep breath, "Tell all generals: stay alert and use the advantages of new firearms to contain the enemy."

There were footsteps outside the door again, it was Qin Ying returning to report. "Your Majesty!" Qin Ying looked solemn, "Western technical experts have agreed to come to help us improve the design of firearms."

Ning Fan heard a flash of light in his eyes: "Okay! Speed ​​up the progress. At the same time, continue to promote the construction of the canal and railway - no delay at all!"

After hearing this, Xiao Lingxi felt slightly comforted but still worried: "Your Majesty, please be careful... Every decision is related to the life and death of all people."

Ning Fan turned around and took Xiao Lingxi's arm, and said firmly in the cold wind: "Don't worry, my sister Lingxi. Your man once tolerated it, but now he shouldn't tolerate it anymore."

The two stood side by side on the high platform, looking at the city of Kyoto in the snow, speechless for a long time.

As night fell, the silence on the grassland was broken by the sudden sound of horse hooves. Dakang's elite cavalry led by General Huang Chao quietly approached the Huns' rear camp like ghosts in the dim starlight.

"Remember, everything is for the sake of prosperity!" Huang Chao whispered, a trace of determination flashed in his eyes. He waved the sword in his hand and pointed it at the enemy camp. "rush!"

The soldiers roared into the tent group, but what greeted them were screams and cries of terror. The tent was full of old, weak, women and children, but not a single soldier.

"General!" A deputy general stepped forward hurriedly, "These are innocent people! Do we..."

Huang Chao expressionlessly beheaded an old man who was trying to escape, "The Huns massacred countless of our compatriots! Today we have to pay with blood! No one will be left alive!" After that, he waved his sword again and joined in the massacre.

Fires were everywhere on the grassland, and the sound of crying was loud. Huang Chao never stopped wielding the sword, and every time he swung it, he seemed to be telling the story of deep hatred.

At the same time, inside the distant Huns main camp. Wusu Dayu sat in the spacious tent and was not moved by the news. Sitting across from him was General Chen Qiao, who looked at Wu Su with a complicated expression.

"Isn't the Great Chanyu angry? Your people are being massacred." Chen Qiao couldn't help but ask.

Wusu stroked his beard gently, "The only ones who died were those who couldn't fight. Their sacrifices can bring high morale to the entire clan, so it's worth it."

Chen Qiao's eyes were shocked, "Can you really calm down like this?"

"Haha!" Wu Su laughed loudly, "The sad soldiers will win! This tragedy will make every Xiongnu warrior feel hatred and increase their courage. When the time comes, we will capture Dakang City and take away their women to continue our bloodline. "

Chen Qiao was silent for a moment, "Is this the end of so many lives?"