freenovelworld Chapter 880 The Game on the Eve of the Decisive Battle
Chapter 880 The Game on the Eve of the Decisive Battle
The victory in Zhao Prefecture dealt a heavy blow to the arrogance of the powerful clans, but it did not completely eradicate their influence. The core forces of the Five Clans and Seven Families, especially the several large families with deep roots in Guanzhong and Jiangnan, continued to secretly accumulate power, attempting to find weaknesses in the imperial court.
Empress Liu Qian and Xiao Mingyue knew that this was just the beginning. A decisive battle that would determine the future of the Great Zhou Dynasty was brewing.
Through her nationwide intelligence network, Xiao Mingyue astutely detected that several top aristocratic families, led by the Wei clan of Guanzhong, the Zheng clan of Xingyang, the Lu clan of Fanyang, the Cui clan of Bowang, the Li clan of Zhaojun, the Cui clan of Qinghe, the Li clan of Longxi, and the Xie clan of Jiangnan, were secretly contacting each other, seemingly plotting a larger conspiracy. They were not only amassing military forces but also attempting to bribe personnel within the Great Zhou army, especially former officers dissatisfied with the Empress's new policies.
"Your Majesty, the various powerful clans are showing clear signs of unrest. They may be planning to unite and launch a direct attack on Luoyang!" Xiao Mingyue urgently reported to Liu Qian.
Liu Qian's expression remained calm: "If they dare to come, I will make sure they never leave. How is Lin Ping doing?"
"General Lin has stabilized the situation in Zhao Prefecture and has begun to train and equip the surrendered soldiers she has recruited. She suggested that she lead the army to attack the Zheng family in Xingyang to prevent them from heading north and joining forces with the Wei family. At the same time, she asked Your Majesty to lay a trap near Luoyang and wait for the Wei family to walk into it."
"Good!" Liu Qian stood up, her gaze resolute. "Issue my decree: appoint Lin Ping as the Grand Commander of the Henan Army, to immediately lead the 'Night Shadow Guard' and 'Night Owl Guard' armies, along with some of the surrendered troops, south to Xingyang, and annihilate the Zheng family of Xingyang! Order other female generals in various regions to strengthen their vigilance and strictly prevent collusion among powerful clans!"
"Your Majesty, what about the defenses of Luoyang..."
"With me in Luoyang, you are safe." Liu Qian smiled slightly, her smile filled with confidence. "Imperial Censor Xiao, you are responsible for continuing to investigate the traitors and ensuring the safety of Luoyang's defenses. We must not only defeat them on the battlefield, but also completely dismantle them in the court and in the hearts of the people."
A larger-scale power struggle unfolded across multiple levels, including military, intelligence, politics, and economics. Lin Ping's Pan Shi Army, on its southward march, constantly encountered harassment and obstruction from the Xie family, leading to a fierce tug-of-war along the Yangtze River. Meanwhile, in Luoyang, Xiao Mingyue's Censorate launched a crackdown on internal spies, uncovering several officers and officials bribed by powerful clans.
Wei Qiandu, the head of the Wei family, confident in his strong army and having allied with several military commanders near the capital who were dissatisfied with the Empress, believed victory was assured and was secretly assembling a large army in Luoyang. Little did he know that Empress Liu Qian had already laid a trap, waiting for him to walk right into it.
Lin Ping was also preparing for a fierce battle with the Zheng family in Xingyang. She knew that the longer she delayed, the more thoroughly Luoyang's preparations would be completed. Utilizing the advantage of modern weaponry, she maneuvered against the Zheng family's army, winning several brilliant ambushes that severely weakened them, preventing them from launching a full-scale northward advance. She also immediately dispatched Lin Xiaoyan, Lin Xue, and Bai Jie to infiltrate the pleasure boats in Xingyang as geishas to gather intelligence and prepare for the next phase of the battle against the Zheng family.
In Luoyang, Empress Liu Qian ascended the city wall, gazing into the distance, as if she could see the impending turmoil. She knew this was the most severe test since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and a crucial moment to completely end the era of powerful clans.
"Issue my decree: all armies, proceed according to plan." Liu Qian's voice was clear and powerful. "Tell Lin Ping, tell all the soldiers fighting for the Great Zhou, victory will surely belong to us!"
The final battle between the new dynasty and the powerful clans has begun. Lin Ping and her sisters, along with all those loyal to the Great Zhou, will write their own legends in this magnificent struggle. And the Great Zhou, equipped with modern weaponry and advanced ideologies, is steadily advancing towards ultimate victory.