1006 Before the Troops Move, the Grain Moves (1/2)

Chapter 1006 – Before the Troops Move, the Grain Moves

First day of the Chinese New Year, Shanhai City.

Based on the customs, the Imperial Court would hold a large-scale worshiping activity. The scale of this year's one was even bigger than the last, as this was their first ceremony since establishing the country.

Last year, it was based on the customs of a marquis, while this year it was based on that of a king.

The only difference was that apart from worshiping the Yellow Emperor and Yu the Great, he also had to pray in the ancestor temple. Before the New Year, when he decided to accept his family, Ouyang Shuo built a huge temple in the imperial city to worship his Ouyang family ancestors.

This ancestral temple could be said to be the last ring in the completion of the dynasty.

In the eyes of the people, the worshipping venue was huge and boisterous. However, in Ouyang Shuo's heart, this was something that he was already used to.

...

In the next few days, Ouyang Shuo would be busy attending various kinds of feasts.

On the second day of the Chinese New Year, Ouyang Shuo held a feast in the palace to receive Bai Hua, Mulan Yue, Gong Chengshi, Wufu, West Gate Big Official, and other player officials to strengthen their friendship.

Till this date, they had become a new source of strength in the official circle. Ouyang Shuo did not want to grow apart from them because of time or space.

Especially these few Provincial Governors, who had done so much for the dynasty.

Third day of Chinese New Year, Ouyang Shuo held a feast for the generals in the Guards Legion Corps camp, Baiqi, Han Xin, Sun Bin, Huo Qubing, Li Mu, Shi Wanshui, and the other marshals all came.

This was a chance for the generals to get familiar with one another. Especially generals like Li Mu, who had just joined the army recently.

After the end of the holiday, Ouyang Shuo would discuss with them the specific battle plans for attacking Annan.

On the fourth day, Ouyang Shuo held a feast in Xinan University, meeting the professors and exceptional students today, showing his focus on education matters.

That night, Ouyang Shuo also met with the various envoys of different countries who had moved into Shanhai City.

************

Gaia 5th year, 2nd month, 23rd day, fifth day of the Chinese New Year, the Imperial Court holiday was over.

The first day was the imperial assembly.

The symbolic meaning of this assembly was far greater than its practical meaning.

Jiang Shang as the Grand Secretary represented the civil servants to summarize the achievements of the past year, the plans for the 5th year, and the outlook for the year.

Dragon Legion Corps Marshal, the only commander-in-chief, Baiqi, expressed his thoughts about the border defenses. He also roughly described their battle plans for the 5th year.

In conclusion, it was a very friendly and peaceful assembly.

There were no disputes.

After the assembly ended, Great Xia, this machine that had been on a short break, started to work once more.

...

Xia Palace, Imperial Reading Room.

Ouyang Shuo met Yunnan Provincial Governor Bai Hua alone.

”Sit!”

The two of them were old friends, so their meetings were a lot more causal.

Ouyang Shuo did not call Bai Hua here to instruct her on Yunnan administrative matters, as the Cabinet would worry about that themselves. This meeting was mainly to coordinate military and administrative matters.

This was to prepare for the Battle of Annan in advance.

As they say, 'Before the soldiers move, the grain moves first.'

Although Annan was not large in size, it had eight million players. To win this battle, the Black Snake Guards had infiltrated Annan in the first half of the 4th year.

In the second half of the year, the Military Intelligence Division also joined in.

The Grand Council now had detailed information of the various places in Annan.

The important information included where their troops were housed at as well as lesser intel like the geography and rivers. All of this information was gathered in the Grand Council for the strategists to inspect.

To the Great Xia, Annan did not have any secrets.

Toward all of this, Annan Haiphong City Lord Ruan Tianque only had a guess and premonition. In terms of scouting, Great Xia was many times better than Annan, and they were not on the same level.

For this, Great Xia tossed in four to five million gold every year in the three intel organizations.

Apart from intel scouting, the war resource preparation had begun before winter. As one of the provinces connected to Annan, Yunnan Province became one of the main ones for this battle preparation.

”There's one thing I do not understand, the border between Mengding Prefecture and Annan is the Stone Mountain Ranges, how am I supposed to send the resources to the battlefield?” Bai Hua asked.

Logically speaking, since it was not during the country war month, Great Xia could only use the naval route to attack Annan. The movement of war resources should also be done through the sea.

If that was the case, territories like Lingnan Province and Minnan Province ,which were beside the sea, should be the main provinces for battle preparations.

Bai Hua did not understand.

However, the message from the Privy Court was really certain; they wanted the Yunnan Province to be ready.

Ouyang Shuo smiled, ”I called you here to clear your doubts.” As he said that, Ouyang Shuo passed her a seal that was half the size of a fist.

”What is this?”

Bai Hua took it and looked at its stats.

Mountain Opening Seal: After use, one can open up a mountain path through any mountain.