Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 198 Northern Frontier Layout

The military council in the Chengyun Hall dispersed, and new orders shot out like arrows across the Star Kingdom. The atmosphere in the royal city remained tranquil under the late autumn sun, but the hurried hoofbeats of horses relaying government orders veiled this tranquility with a thin layer of impending battle.

Murong Mingyue returned to her palace, shedding her formal palace attire from the military council and donning a more practical equestrian outfit. She didn't immediately summon anyone, but instead walked alone to the window, her gaze seemingly piercing through the palace walls to the distant, cold north. Her palm gently rested on her lower abdomen, where the pulse of life and the warnings from the northern frontier intertwined in her heart, creating a heavy sense of responsibility.

"Your Majesty, a copy of General Pound's urgent military report has arrived," the lady-in-waiting announced softly, presenting a scroll of documents.

Murong Mingyue took the report and quickly unfolded it. Pang De's handwriting was strong and vigorous, but the content of his report was more detailed and more serious than what she had heard at the military council. The Snow Wolf Clan's cavalry's activity range was expanding, and the frequency of their encounters was increasing. Their tactics of small-scale infiltration and quick strikes were clearly the result of rigorous training and were highly purposeful. Several border tribes that had previously maintained an ambiguous attitude had completely lost contact, which was definitely not a good sign.

She closed her eyes, and a map of the northern frontier unfolded in her mind, from Juma Fortress and Dingbei City to the many newly attached fortresses in the northern border of Xiliang. The long defensive line appeared in her imagination. Troop strength, supply lines, climate, enemy situation... countless factors were like tangled threads, and she needed to sort them out and weave a safety net strong enough to resist the wolf pack.

"Issue the order: in half an hour, I will summon the three chief clerks of the Military Affairs Department, the Revenue Department, and the Works Department, as well as the two military advisors on duty at the Military Affairs Office today, to my study in the side hall. Also, order the Imperial Stables to prepare the carriages and horses. We will depart for the Northern Frontier at dawn tomorrow. Keep the ceremonial procession simple, with only three hundred elite cavalry as escorts." Murong Mingyue opened her eyes, her gaze clear and resolute, and gave the orders to the female official.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The lady-in-waiting accepted the order and left, secretly feeling a chill. The Queen's actions were increasingly reminiscent of the King's decisive and efficient demeanor.

That night, after finishing his official duties, Chen Xing went to Murong Mingyue's palace. He found her still deep in thought under the lamp, studying a map of the northern frontier, which had been marked with several defensive lines and symbols in vermilion ink.

"You're leaving tomorrow?" Chen Xing walked to her side and naturally put his hand on her shoulder.

Murong Mingyue nodded slightly and leaned towards him: "Yes. General Pang De is under a lot of pressure. The situation at the front is changing rapidly. The sooner I arrive, the sooner I can clarify the situation and make adjustments. Theoretical discussions are ultimately superficial."

Looking at the lines she had drawn on the map, Chen Xing knew she had already considered everything comprehensively. "All the armies in the Northern Frontier are under your command. The Dingbei City warehouse has already dispatched a batch of winter clothing, kerosene, and arrows as ordered. In the capital, Jia Wen will provide full intelligence support, and the money, food, and supplies coordinated by Su Xiaoxiao will be continuously sent north. You only need to focus on military deployment; you don't need to worry about the rear."

He paused, his tone turning somber: "But the journey there will be freezing cold, and you're pregnant..."

Murong Mingyue raised her hand, her fingertips gently pressing against his lips, stopping him from speaking further. She tilted her head back, her face illuminated by the candlelight, beautiful yet resolute: "My husband, I am not only your queen, the mother of the crown prince, but also Murong Mingyue. Archery, horsemanship, and the harshness of wind and snow are all familiar to me. I know you are worried, but this is a matter of state, and also a matter of family. Without stability in the northern borders, how can the nation be at peace? The child in my womb will also be proud that his mother is able to defend the country's borders." She smiled slightly, a hint of mischief in her eyes, "Besides, the imperial physician said that appropriate activity is also beneficial to the health of the fetus."

Chen Xing knew he couldn't dissuade her, and there was no need to. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, his chin gently resting on the top of her head: "Be careful. Consult with Pang De and the veteran generals of the Northern Frontier in all matters; do not act alone and take risks. I await your triumphant return."

"Mmm." Murong Mingyue responded softly in his arms, feeling this solid support and unspoken trust.

The next day, at the first quarter of the morning, as dawn broke, three hundred elite cavalrymen were already lined up outside the palace gates, men gagged, horses hoofs tethered, silent and still. Murong Mingyue, clad in gleaming silver armor and a scarlet cloak, her black hair neatly tied in a single bun with a jade ring, adorned with no other ornaments, mounted her horse with agile, fluid movements, showing no sign of the clumsiness of pregnancy. Glancing one last time at the majestic royal palace shrouded in morning mist, she took a deep breath of the crisp air and softly commanded, "Let's go!"

The sound of horses' hooves broke the silence of dawn, and a cavalry caravan sped northward like an arrow released from a bow.

Upon hearing that the Queen was personally inspecting the northern frontier, the counties along the way dared not be negligent. However, Murong Mingyue strictly ordered that no one be welcomed or escorted, causing any disturbance to the people. They were only to make brief stops at key locations to inspect the city defenses and granaries, and inquire about the border situation before continuing northward. Ten days later, the entourage arrived at Dingbei City, the heart of the northern frontier.

Upon hearing the news, General Pang De, the General Who Guards the North, led his officers and soldiers from Dingbei City out of the city to meet them ten miles away. When he saw the red-clad knights galloping towards them from afar, and the black-and-golden phoenix banner at the head of the procession that represented the Queen's authority, Pang De felt reassured, but at the same time, he also felt the pressure on his shoulders increase.

"This humble general, Pang De, pays his respects to the Queen! All the generals of the Northern Frontier respectfully welcome the Queen's arrival!" Pang De, fully armored, clasped his hands and bowed, his voice booming like a bell. The officers behind him also bowed, their curious and awe-inspiring gazes fixed on the Queen, who sat regally on her steed, exuding an imposing aura.

Murong Mingyue reined in her horse, her gaze sweeping over the weary yet resolute faces of the generals. She raised her hand to help them up, saying, "General Pang and all the generals, please rise. The military situation is urgent; formalities are unnecessary. We must enter the city immediately. I need to hear the most detailed military report."

"Yes, sir!"

Dingbei City, Military Council Hall.

The charcoal brazier dispelled the chill of late autumn in the north, but the atmosphere was even more solemn than outside. A huge sand table of the northern frontier had been brought into the hall, clearly showing the mountains, terrain, castles, and fortresses.

Holding a thin stick, Pound began to give a detailed report, from the initial discovery of the unusual hoofprints to the increasingly frequent skirmishes, from the rumors of the Snow Wolf Clan's "White Wolf Guard" to the unusual movements of the border tribes, analyzing everything meticulously and leaving no detail unmentioned. Several captains responsible for reconnaissance in different directions also added details.

Murong Mingyue listened intently, her gaze never leaving the sand table. After Pang De finished his report, she remained silent for a moment before speaking: "Uwei has just assumed power and is eager to establish his authority. Choosing to launch an attack in late autumn and early winter is because he has anticipated the most difficult time for our army to prepare for the cold and transport supplies. He intends to take a risky strike, using the cold winter as a weapon. His vanguard cavalry, ostensibly for reconnaissance and harassment, is actually cutting off our army's eyes and ears, creating a sense of pressure, and forcing us to shrink our defensive lines and be trapped in an isolated city."

Her voice was clear and steady, yet carried a calm insight into the situation, which made the generals in the hall even more focused.

Murong Mingyue stood up, walked to the sand table, and picked up the small blue flag representing her own forces: "Therefore, if our army passively defends and treats the fortress as an isolated island, it will play right into their hands. In the freezing cold, prolonged siege will easily demoralize our troops, and our supply lines will be easily cut off by their cavalry. We must change our 'point-based defense' to 'flexible joint defense, advancing to subdue the enemy'."

She first planted a blue flag heavily on the sand table to represent the location of the Juma Fort: "The Juma Fort is at the forefront, under the heaviest pressure, but it is also our army's forward 'eyes' and 'fist.' General Pang, what is the current troop strength, food supplies, and weaponry situation inside the fort?"

Pound immediately replied, "Your Majesty, the Juma Fortress has a permanent garrison of two thousand infantrymen, walls four zhang high, and enough provisions for three months, as well as ample bows, crossbows, logs, and stones. However, if it is besieged by a large force for a long period, the supply lines to outside aid may be cut off."

"Not enough," Murong Mingyue said decisively. "Reinforce! Deploy your most elite units, the Trapped Camp and the Divine Arm Camp, to garrison Juma Fort immediately, under your direct command. Juma Fort must not only be defensible, but also used as a fulcrum for proactive attacks. General Pang, I want you to use the fort as a base to send out several elite squads every day, thirty to fifty li ahead, to ambush and hunt down Snow Wolf Clan cavalry. Don't be greedy for merit; strive to capture them alive, gather intelligence, and continuously weaken their reconnaissance capabilities, turning them into 'blind' and 'deaf'. At the same time, demonstrate your strength to the enemy, let Uvi know that his vanguard cannot even handle one of our outposts, let alone advance further south!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" A glint flashed in Pound's eyes. He had always been inclined to active defense, and the Queen's order suited him perfectly.

Then, Murong Mingyue's finger traced across the vast area between Juma Fortress and Dingbei City on the sand table: "Although there are beacon towers and sentry posts in this region, the efficiency of communication and support is insufficient. From this moment forward, establish a three-tiered rapid early warning and relay counterattack system. Details are as follows..."

She meticulously planned the placement of sentries, signal transmission methods, and the size and reaction time of the standing mobile cavalry in Dingbei City. With these orders, the previously somewhat rigid defensive line was immediately given depth and flexibility.

Subsequently, she gave clear instructions on scorched earth measures, the Baojia system (a system of mutual responsibility among local officials), reaffirming military discipline, and establishing a reward and punishment system. Each order hit the nail on the head, demonstrating her profound understanding of military affairs and the border situation, as well as her comprehensive consideration of logistics and public sentiment.

The generals in the hall, who had initially listened with respect, gradually became convinced. The young queen's insight and decisiveness were in no way inferior to those of seasoned veterans.

"Gentlemen," Murong Mingyue said solemnly, glancing around at the crowd, "the peace of the Northern Frontier is crucial to the foundation of the nation. This is a time when the country needs capable people, and also a time for you all to make your contributions. I hope you will all work together and fulfill your duties. Those who perform meritorious service will be generously rewarded by the King and I; those who commit crimes will be punished without mercy by military law! I have been given the King's order to make decisions on the spot, and I hope you will all act accordingly."

"We, your humble servants, will obey the Queen's decree! We swear to defend the northern border to the death!" The generals responded with a roar, their morale soaring.

The military council lasted for nearly two hours. After the meeting, despite the advice of Pang De and others to rest, Murong Mingyue, accompanied only by a few personal guards, personally climbed the Dingbei city wall to gaze at the vast northern landscape. The biting wind whipped her scarlet cloak and the stray hairs on her forehead.

She knew the real test was yet to come. But she had already laid out her plans and was ready for battle. She would personally quell the flames of war in the northern frontier. And Chen Xing, far away in the capital, and the little life quietly growing in her womb, were her strongest support and the shore she had to protect.