"Sigh..."

Ning Chen suddenly let out a deep sigh.

After thinking it over again and again, he decided not to attack Zhang Tianlun this year after all.

The reason was simple: the timing was wrong.

By the time he reached Xiangzhou, the ground would be frozen solid and his men wouldn't be able to take the cold. Who knew how many would freeze to death?

Besides, only fifty thousand troops were stationed at the southern frontier passes, and that was nowhere near enough.

"Old Pan, go find Yuan Long for me!"

Ning Chen called out the door.

"Yes!"

Pan Yucheng answered and left.

After a while, Yuan Long's voice came from outside the door, asking to see him.

"Come in!"

Yuan Long pushed the door open and came in. "Greetings, my lord prince!"

Ning Chen waved a hand. "Yuan Long, this prince has given it a lot of thought, and now is not a good time to attack Xiangzhou... By the time we get there, the ground will be frozen solid. It's no weather for a war.

So this prince has decided to put this fight off until next spring."

Yuan Long nodded. He didn't think now was a good time to send out the army either.

Ning Chen said, "Send Yangzhou's fifty thousand troops to the frontier passes. The fifty thousand there aren't enough.

This prince has decided to head back to the capital in a couple of days... Next spring, this prince will draw troops from the northern frontier.

And while we're at it, use this time to build as many warships as you can... Otherwise, if Zhang Tianlun and the Zhaohe Kingdom's forces pull back out to sea, all we'll be able to do is stand there and watch."

Yuan Long bowed. "Yes! My lord prince, who should command at the southern frontier passes?"

Ning Chen picked up a sheet of paper from his desk. It had several names on it, capable officers Yuan Long had recommended.

He'd already made up his mind.

"This prince remembers this Qin Qiao. When Prince Rui rebelled, he attacked Xiangzhou with…