We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 384: March to War!

The First Prince guided Xiao Mo into the palace.

Just as anticipated, Xiahou Nan, Bai Qi, Zhang Yi, Baili Xi, Jian Shu, and the rest had already gathered there.

"We pay our respects to the Frost Prince."

Bai Qi and his companions, catching sight of Xiao Mo outside the imperial study, offered deep bows of respect.

In this age where scholars willingly perish for their patrons, Xiao Mo stood as their talent discoverer and greatest supporter.

From their perspective, without Xiao Mo's aid, none of them would have ascended to their current lofty positions.

Thus, although they had come before Xiao Mo, they patiently awaited his arrival, insisting he lead the way inside first.

"Greetings to all of you." Xiao Mo bowed in return. "Please, everyone."

"Frost Prince, please," they all responded.

Xiao Mo gave a nod. Refraining from further courtesy, he stepped into the imperial study side by side with the First Prince, the others trailing after them.

The door sealed shut.

Even inside the palace, layers of formations in the imperial study repelled all divine sense scans, with the entire space further cloaked by the Qin Kingdom's national fortune.

"Those gathered here today represent His Majesty's most trusted allies. Naturally, Xiao Shi is another, though he remains at the border and cannot join us."

The Qin Kingdom's ruler grinned, diffusing the tense air, before turning his gaze to Xiao Mo, the Western Pacification Prince, and the group, and declaring deliberately, "Everyone, examine these documents first."

A flick of the Qin ruler's hand prompted Eunuch Li to distribute a massive bundle of papers to Xiao Mo and the others.

Having pored over each document in turn, Xiao Mo and his companions creased their foreheads in worry.

These reports stemmed from Qin spies embedded in the Qi, Zhao, and Jin kingdoms, alongside relentless observations by border sentries.

From this evidence, Xiao Mo and the rest verified that Jin had crushed its internal uprisings, secured stability, and drafted numerous troops to bolster its armies.

Presently, Qi, Zhao, and Jin were stockpiling supplies and armaments.

Before long, they would likely launch invasions against the Qin Kingdom.

Per the initial alliance plan of Qi, Zhao, and Jin, a triple assault on Qin was set, and the sheer magnitude of their preparations hinted at an all-out effort.

Victory for Qi, Zhao, and Jin would mean carving up Qin's territories into a tripartite stalemate.

Defeat in this colossal clash would strip Qi, Zhao, and Jin of any power to challenge Qin, leading to their slow but inevitable absorption.

"Now, share your thoughts, esteemed ministers."

With the frontline intelligence fully reviewed by Xiao Mo and the others, the Qin Kingdom's ruler inquired.

Their consensus rang clear and unified: "Fight!"

Negotiating peace with Qi, Zhao, and Jin was utterly out of the question.

Peace always demanded concessions, and yielding signaled weakness, inviting ever-escalating demands from foes.

Qin would then forfeit vast lands, yet regions from Chu, Yan, Zhei, and lesser states had been won through the blood of Qin warriors—how could they surrender them lightly?

Not only would Xiao Mo and the others refuse, but Qin's very citizens would rise in outrage!

Thus, battle was the sole path!

This millennia-spanning Warring States period—its fate of unity or fractured triad—hinged on this epic confrontation.

With full backing for war...

The focus shifted to battle tactics.

After four grueling days of deliberations...

The Qin Kingdom's ruler outlined the strategy: Xiao Mo and the First Prince would command 200,000 Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry, 500,000 Northern Frontier infantry, and 500,000 levies from Chu and Yan territories—totaling 1.2 million troops—to strike at Jin Kingdom.

Xiao Shi and Bai Qi would direct 100,000 Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry, 200,000 Northern Frontier troops, and 700,000 from Chu and Yan against Zhao Kingdom.

Xiahou Nan and the Western Pacification Prince would deploy 800,000 forces from Zhei and core Qin lands to hold back Qi Kingdom.

Every lord across the Qin Kingdom's territories had to command troops upon being summoned. Refusers would lose their fiefs and get demoted to commoners!

In essence, throughout the Qin Kingdom's lands, aside from a handful of soldiers kept to defend cities, handle crises, and preserve order, almost every soldier marched toward the borders.

Even inside the Qin Kingdom's imperial capital, the Qin Kingdom's ruler retained just sixty thousand Iron Tiger Army soldiers for garrison duty.

Over half of all these troops were cultivators at the Foundation Building realm or higher.

Apart from one flower peanut staying behind in the Qin Kingdom's imperial capital, every Upper Three Realms cultivator offering from the palace joined the armies on their campaign.

One could declare that the Qin Kingdom was betting everything this time around.

The Qin Kingdom kept amassing provisions, pills, and spirit beast flesh without pause.

Civilian cultivators could sell unlimited amounts of spirit beast and demon beast flesh they hunted directly to the government.

Acting on the Qin Kingdom’s ruler's commands, Baili Xi and Jian Shu turned their sights on corrupt officials who had escaped justice until now.

The full wealth of these corrupt officials got seized and funneled into military supplies.

On top of that, the Qin Kingdom's ruler unleashed a countrywide purge against corrupt officials.

The sole aim: to plunder their riches!

The Qin Kingdom's nobles faced even harsher fates.

Records of their offenses were already assembled, and with war demanding vast funds, who better to plunder than them?

For a spell, officials and nobles of every rank across the Qin Kingdom cowered in dread.

Though the Qin Kingdom’s ruler sought only to fund the war, in merely half a year, the realm from highest to lowest brimmed with order and unity...

Naturally, not every noble meekly awaited the knife. Some plotted defiance and even secret pacts with Qi, Zhao, and Jin. But with cataclysmic war on the horizon, the Qin Kingdom's masses aflame with martial zeal, and top military and civil leaders bound by common purpose, all hungering for legendary triumphs, how much havoc could these turncoats wreak?

These plotters were rooted out swiftly, their entire families utterly eradicated by the Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry!

Seven more months elapsed.

Qi, Zhao, and Jin—the allied trio—stood fully armed and ready.

The Qin Kingdom held back no longer. Xiao Mo and his comrades formed three mighty armies and surged into battle, determined to land the opening strike!

The Qin Kingdom's ruler personally farewelled generals like Xiao Mo before departure. Yet moments before Xiao Mo set off, the ruler drew him aside in private.

"Does Your Majesty have any instructions?" Xiao Mo inquired.

The Qin Kingdom's ruler shook his head and sighed, "At first, His Majesty planned for the Crown Prince to join the Northern Pacification Prince in confronting the Zhao Kingdom, but the Crown Prince was dead set on leading forces against the Jin Kingdom.

No matter His Majesty's persuasions, they proved futile.

The Crown Prince knelt outside His Majesty's bedchamber for a full month.

Now His Majesty dispatches you to the Jin Kingdom alongside Jingsu. Do you grasp why?"

"Your Majesty's intent?" Xiao Mo hazily surmised.

"Even today, Jingyuan's death lingers as Jingsu's inner demon. Only by annihilating the Jin Kingdom can he break free from its lifelong grip."

The Qin Kingdom's ruler seized Xiao Mo's hand.

"Xiao Mo, though you're younger than Jingsu, your judgment remains far steadier. Should Jingsu act rashly, you must hold him in check! Heed this well!"