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Yun Xianxian did not reply anymore and continued drinking the white liquor brewed by the Prince's Mansion.

After the banquet ended.

The women looked at Lu Chen, wanting to know how he would arrange things tonight, as he was to leave early the next morning.

Lu Chen glanced at them and smiled, saying, "Madam Chu, stay in the Wind Cloud Palace tonight; I have something to discuss with you."

In the past few days, Lu Chen had already taken care of his wives and concubines, visiting each one.

There was only one night left, and since he had to head south early the next morning, he couldn't possibly have all his wives and concubines stay in the Wind Cloud Palace.

Hearing Lu Chen's words, the beautiful Madam Chu Yuqin felt a faint blush rise on her face, "Okay, I understand."

Afterwards, the women began to leave the Wind Cloud Court one after another, leaving only Mu Zixuan and Chu Yuqin.

Lu Chen first took a quick bath with Mu Zixuan and Chu Yuqin and then got down to business with Chu Yuqin who, feeling somewhat helpless, remembered it was her who had suggested having two wives or concubines take care of him each night.

But every time Lu Chen involved her in such misdeeds with another woman, she would feel overwhelmingly ashamed.

However, tonight's focus for Lu Chen wasn't to commit misdeeds with Chu Yuqin; after they were done, he had a thorough discussion with Chu Yuqin and Mu Zixuan about what they should pay attention to in the North Prince Mansion after his departure.

The conversation lasted until daybreak.

When the first rays of dawn entered the room, Lu Chen also realized it was time to depart.

He had made up his mind when he left the Capital city that one day he would return, and now was the time to fulfill that aspiration.

Lu Chen released Chu Yuqin from his embrace and then got up to head towards the bath, with Chu Yuqin and Mu Zixuan quickly rising to help him bathe and then personally dressing him in the black robe with golden trimmings.

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After getting dressed, Lu Chen looked at Chu Yuqin and Mu Zixuan and said, "Madam Chu, my beloved wife, I leave the Prince's Mansion in your care."

Both women spoke in unison, "Prince (Chen'er), be careful on your journey, we await your early return!"

Lu Chen smiled faintly, not saying much more, and then he walked towards the exit.

As Lu Chen arrived at the Prince's Mansion's main gate, his wives and concubines were already there waiting for him.

At this moment, the women came forth, wearing expressions of reluctance on their faces, as no one knew how long it would be before Lu Chen could return from his journey to the South.

Lu Chen glanced at his wives and concubines, a smile touching his face, reflecting on the nearly twenty years he had been in this world. He felt fortunate to have such a happy and large family.

In his past life, it would have been impossible to have what he had now.

Regardless of why the system chose to bond with him, he had at least enjoyed it.

He was thankful for this world and the system.

After saying his farewells to each of his wives and concubines, Lu Chen got into the carriage and then headed to the train station platform.

This time they would take a train to Anping City, where they would complete the assembly of the Imperial Army and launch a campaign to annihilate Qi Country.

For the upcoming period, Lu Chen would stay in Anping City until all obstacles impeding the southward advance were thoroughly removed, and only then would he lead his troops directly to the Capital city for the relief effort.

The autumn wind rustled, and as Lu Chen boarded the southbound train, he watched through the window as the scenery turned to a blanket of yellow. The leaves danced in the wind, and his heart was filled with deep sentiment.

Back on Earth, during his studies, he had learned about the histories of others, never imagining that one day he would also become a person who created history.

He hoped that everything would go smoothly this time.

Once he seized the throne and unified the world, it would mean success for halfway, and after that, toppling the remaining great dynasties would not be so difficult.

...

Qi Country, the Capital.

Qi Prince Mansion.

Qi Prince Lu He and Tai hosted an evening banquet to entertain the heads of the aristocratic families within Qi Country's boundary.

At that moment, Qi Prince looked at the glass in his hand and said, "The North Prince has been eyeing us from North Country covetously and has even published a 'call to arms' in the newspaper. It seems that it won't be long before he leads his troops southwards."

"Everyone, think carefully about what we should do next," he added.

Hearing Qi Prince's words, everyone in the grand hall looked at each other, none speaking out, and the hall fell into an unnerving silence.

It was then that one of the family heads said, "Putting aside other matters, just from observing what the North Prince has done in North Country, we cannot allow him to ascend to the throne."

"Once he takes the throne, not to mention his measures to reduce the power of the nobles, he will surely take all the land for himself. From then on, we will be nothing but his slaves," he continued.

After hearing this family head's remark, another one agreed, "Exactly, we must assist the Imperial Court to stop the North Prince at all costs, ensuring he cannot come south."

Qi Prince swirled the wine in his glass and then replied indifferently, "With Great Wu's hundreds of thousands of troops defeated by North Country, do you really believe I have the power to stop the North Country army?"

At this, a family head promptly said, "Please be assured, Your Highness. To face this crisis, our aristocratic families will undoubtedly unite and offer our full support. Whatever you need, be it soldiers or food, we aristocratic families will provide."

Hearing this, Qi Prince showed a trace of a smile and then said, "With your help, I am reassured."

"However, North Country's mysterious weapons are still of some concern to me. The previous time when the North Prince aided Prince Lu Yi in attacking Heyang County, he managed to capture the entire county in an extremely short time," he added.

At that moment, the current head of the Wang Family stood up and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured. To fend off the North Prince's advance south, our Wang Family is willing to turn over the Piercing Cloud Bow and the Piercing Cloud Arrows to Qi Country. With these weapons, I believe Your Highness's soldiers will surely defeat the North Prince!"

After the Jiangnan aristocratic families were annihilated, some who escaped from Sufeng City came to Qi Country and were accepted by the Qi Prince.

Although the Jiangnan families no longer possessed their former glory, they still wielded significant resources. When they fled, members of the Wang Family took many of the Piercing Cloud Bows and Arrows with them.

The Piercing Cloud Bow was able to easily kill a Grandmaster; Qi Prince had always coveted it, but the Wang Family, wary of the Prince, had never revealed it.

However, the Wang Family had no choice this time. If the North Prince invaded southwards, they feared their family might never rise again. Compared with the Sum Emperor, the North Prince was considered far more terrifying to the aristocratic families.

Whereas the Sum Emperor eliminated only part of the ruling families, the North Prince's actions threatened the very existence of the majority, relegating them to mere dependencies of the North Prince.

Hearing the Head of Wang Clan's offer to bring out the Piercing Cloud Bows, Qi Prince felt an overwhelming joy. He drained the wine in his cup and then declared, "Be assured, as long as I live, I will not allow the North Prince to march south."

Qi Prince thought to himself that with the Imperial Court's two hundred thousand strong army, plus the tens of thousands of troops he had quietly expanded and the fifty thousand soldiers already at his disposal, this amounted to almost half a million men under arms.

If he could rely on the terrain and fortify cities for defense, North Prince's two hundred thousand strong army would find it nearly impossible to advance south.

With this thought, Qi Prince revealed a confident smile.

He was also aware that he should not directly confront the North Prince, as the North Prince's troops had defeated Great Wu's forces.

But victory in war didn't always rely on the combat strength of the armies. Qi Country was situated at the transitional zone between the plains and the mountainous regions, which were abundant in mountains naturally serving as barriers. Furthermore, some cities were strategically located between mountain passes, making them perfect checkpoints to stop the enemy.

Qi Prince believed that as long as he didn't initiate an attack and devoted all his resources to defense, with the help of the Imperial Army's two hundred thousand troops, it would be extremely difficult for the North Prince to advance even one step.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

As Qi Prince entertained this thought, suddenly a soldier rushed into the grand hall, exclaiming, "Your Highness, the North Country army is upon us!"

Hearing this, Qi Prince's expression instantly darkened.

"So soon?"

He immediately inquired, "Where is the Imperial Army now?"

The soldier quickly replied, "The Imperial Army has already reached Ziyang City."

After a moment of contemplation, Qi Prince immediately ended the evening's banquet and summoned all the military generals of Qi Country.