Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Launch the battle in winter?

It’s New Year soon, have you looked at the calendar?

New Year, do you understand what that means?

What happened to the seven day New Year holiday that had been agreed upon?

Was it eaten by a dog?

Launching the battle in winter meant that, even if they were to conduct blitzkrieg warfare and advance smoothly, destroying their enemies as easily as crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood, they still couldn’t conquer the county in less than two or three months.

This meant that they would have to continue the war until spring!

If they were lucky, they would be spending the new year in the army tents. If they were unlucky, they would be at war, putting their lives on the line while others celebrated the new year.

While other people had their New Year’s Eve reunion dinners, they would be beheading people and caressing the dead.

Feng Zhen thought about what had happened after they’d conquered Chengde County and felt his chest hurting. He rolled his eyes back and gave a short and exaggerated “ah,” then slumped on the mat. Because he was born frail and then further sought trouble by consuming the Five Minerals Powder, Feng Zhen always looked pale.

At the moment, as he acted ill, it seemed as if his illness had acted up as a result of him being too angry.

However, he could trick others, but not Jiang Pengji.

Jiang Pengji acted as if she did not understand the situation and straightforwardly asked him, “Have you been having ‘fun’ the past few days to the extent that your kidneys are suffering from a deficiency of yang qi? 1”

If he couldn’t even sit in his seat, surely it was because of a painful waist and a kidney that lacked yang qi?

Feng Zhen almost choked. Resigned to his fate, he could only plaster on an expression that made it seem as if he would prefer death over life and push himself up, his wide eyes glaring at Jiang Pengji like those of a dead fish.

Ever since he’d arrived at this lair of darkness where various demons congregate, he hadn’t even consumed the Five Minerals Powder. He’d also stopped drinking and given up his habit of going out to find ladies of the night.

Boohoo, despite this, his lord still accused him of having a kidney that lacked yang qi. Feng Zhen felt so wronged.

He said, “My lord, wouldn’t it be inappropriate to launch a battle in the dead of winter, so near the new year? Firstly, the soldiers are supposed to be reunited with their families since it’s near the new year. It would be rather cruel to separate them now. Secondly, the world is covered in snow and ice at the moment. The heavy snow has blocked off the mountain and it is difficult for the troops to travel. The soldiers and horses will tire easily, so it isn’t a suitable time to launch a battle.”

At the moment, they were in an agricultural society, and suitable timing for war was closely linked with agriculture and land.

Spring plowing must be done in spring. If it was affected due to war, there would be no harvest for the year. What would the people eat the next year, thin air?

Some crops must be planted in summer. The rice plants would not be mature, and the weather would be terribly hot. It wouldn’t be a good season for war either.

Winter would be too cold, especially in the north, where the world would be engulfed in snow and ice, making the conditions very harsh.

One was asking for trouble if they went to war in winter, be it on the offensive or defensive side.

Having considered all the possibilities, the most suitable time to launch a battle would either be after the spring plowing and before the planting of crops in summer or after the autumn harvest and before the dead of winter.

The weather would be just nice, not too cold and not too hot. At either of those times, it would be a suitable time to stir up trouble.

But at the moment?

It would be the new year soon, how could the weather outside be suitable for war?

Feng Zhen’s words were not baseless, but the situation at the moment was unusual. They had no choice but to launch a battle.

Feng Jin automatically ignored Feng Zhen who was “acting up.” His first impression of the prodigal had been very bad, but after getting to know him better, he felt that Feng Zhen wasn’t so annoying after all. This was especially true when Feng Zhen went through the similar pains of working overtime and looked half-dead, making Feng Jin feel unusually at ease.

He put his hands together in a salute and bowed, then took a step forward and answered, “In my opinion, Zixiao’s suggestion is a good strategy. My lord, you have ruled well. The people have enjoyed a decent harvest this autumn, and the grain depot of the government has already been filled up. We have sufficient food resources for the army. Although it is winter at the moment, the troops have not been slacking in their training and can be considered elite. If we launch a battle now, we will not suffer many losses. Furthermore, wool shirts are widespread, and every soldier has at least two sets to wear interchangeably, in addition to the leather clothing and armor that you have distributed to the troops. Even in such weather, the advancement of the army won’t be inhibited. In my humble opinion, the plan can work!”

The conditions faced while fighting a war in the dead of winter would indeed be harsh, but everything had its pros and cons.

Their soldiers would face hardships attacking in winter, but would it be easy for the Red Lotus Group to defend their city?

If the wind and snow were considered, Jiang Pengji’s army would be weakened by 10%, while the Red Lotus Group would be weakened by 50%!

How come?

Here’s the analysis.

Jiang Pengji had plenty of prisoners of war. After sorting, most of them had been sent to Xiangyang County to mine iron.

She’d hired craftsmen that specialized in molding metal and creating armor. Using the specifications of the armor available as a reference, she’d designed a set of military equipment.

While also guaranteeing the safety and defensive capabilities, the weight of the new design had been minimized to the greatest extent possible so that more material could be saved to produce even more armor and weapons.

Not counting the almost 10,000 soldiers who were newly recruited from Shangyang County, the 20,000 soldiers who had been with her initially had all donned armor with strong defensive capabilities. The weapons they used were of a standard variety. They could now be considered elites. On the contrary, most of the members of the Red Lotus Group wore tattered shirts with zero defensive capabilities. They had various “weapons” such as batons, kitchen knives, axes, carrying poles, and hatchets… Some were even holding rocks. Even more were empty-handed.

Regarding the number of men, the Red Lotus Group had 100,000 people. That number of soldiers was terrifying indeed.

Regarding combat effectiveness, however, judging from the poor quality of the members, each of the elite soldiers under Jiang Pengji could take down at least 10 members of the Red Lotus Group.

While both sides would be fighting in winter, Jiang Pengji’s side would have an absolute advantage. Moreover, she still had An Cui, who would be coordinating their actions from within.

For the sake of the promised seven-day holiday, Feng Zhen still refused to give up. “But…”

Wei Ci added, “Our lord specifically chooses periods in the dead of winter and in the heat of summer to train the troops. It is indeed difficult to launch a battle in winter, but it isn’t as if the soldiers can’t fight in winter.”

Feng Zhen was totally devastated.

Feng Jin continued, “If we can conquer Chengde County before spring, we can make it for the spring plowing.”

The spring plowing going smoothly meant that there would be the possibility of a good harvest that year.

The grains from the entirety of Wanzhou would be enough to support them in any battle.

With a smile, Wei Ci said, “If we can conquer the whole of Wanzhou before going to Chenzhou to protect the king, maybe you would be given the title of the governor of Wanzhou, my lord.”

In terms of military strength, Jiang Pengji could rank among the top three warlords who had been summoned to protect the king.

The emperor of Dongqing must surely give them some reward in exchange for their help.

Jiang Pengji would already be the de facto governor of Wanzhou. If the emperor gave her some benefits, he would most likely bestow the title upon her, so that her position would be justified by title.

She would be the only governor of the state who was younger than 20.

One probably couldn’t find another governor of the state that was so young in Xia, the previous dynasty, let alone in Dongqing.

Feng Jin raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smile.

If things were to proceed according to plan, that scenario would very good for them.

Chongzhou and Wanzhou shared common borders, and they had occupied Hu County as well. This meant that Jiang Pengji would occupy one-third of Dongqing’s territory after Liu She stepped down. The biggest threat was that the northern kingdom had been greatly damaged because of the horse plague and couldn’t advance southwards. No one could stop Jiang Pengji from expanding her territory.

Feng Zhen lifted a hand and slapped it against his forehead, murmuring, “I am still thinking of the seven-day holiday for New Year.”

Wei Ci said in a low voice, “We can take a rest after we’re done with everything.”

Feng Zhen snorted coldly. “If I believe you again, I will allow everyone to read the two words ‘Feng Zhen’ backward.”

The conversation between the two did not escape Jiang Pengji’s ears. She cruelly added insult to Feng Zhen’s injury.

She said, “Zishi, you live alone with no wife or concubine. Regardless of whether New Year’s Day is a holiday, you will be by yourself, no?”

Feng Zhen couldn’t say anything.

You are too mean, my lord!

Even though he was single, that should not be an excuse for his lord to take away his holiday.

Jiang Pengji cruelly exposed the truth and shoved the brutal facts in front of Feng Zhen.

She said, “Furthermore, all the brothels and clubhouses will be closed during the seven-day New Year holiday, where could you go to have fun? You will be alone at home anyway, surely it would be boring. If you are busy with government affairs, at least there will be a cook here to cater to you, three meals a day. Go home? Are you planning to starve to death at home?”

Feng Zhen was silent.

Regardless of how desperate Feng Zhen was, it had already been decided that they would launch the battle in winter.

Just two days later, Feng Zhen banged his head against the table piled high with documents and spoke weakly.

He said, “I’d rather die high after consuming the Five Minerals Powder than die at my desk out of exhaustion…”

1 A condition believed to be a result of having too much sex.