Way of Overlord
Chapter 151: A Word

Chapter 151: A Word

Xu Bai had thought of the worst-case scenario, and that is the formation of a coalition of Southern Great Steppe tribes, would be a nightmare for Yan.

History had shown that such unification often led to the rise of powerful Khanates, potentially challenging Yan’s dominance.

The term "Khanate" harkened back to the days when the Great Steppe was governed by powerful empires, a history that was once rich but now mostly erased from the annals.

One event in particular, known as the Sacking of Merah Batu, played a crucial role in this erasure.

Merah Batu had been one of the capitals of the Khanate, a symbol of the Great Steppe’s political and military power.

However, Yan forces had razed the city to the ground during a campaign led by a ruthless general.

They not only annihilated the inhabitants but also burned their books, seeking to sever the roots of Great Steppe civilization.

The Yan dynasty wanted to break their lineage and break their roots.

Yet, Xu Bai, with his deep knowledge of history and politics, saw through the short-sightedness of such an approach.

He realized that their attempt to erase the Great Steppe legacy would inevitably lead to consequences.

Someday, whether in the present or the future, a similar fate could befall Yan, mirroring the very destruction they had inflicted.

Xu bai learns the Analects and the three teachings and he also knows some methods of seeing the stars

But now, is not the time to explain all of this to the military official. Instead, he explains what he should

As he explains to the military official, they nodded. But the more he speaks, the more Qiao Meng sems angry

"You are just telling us that the nomads have large armies more than expected. Do you think we could not see it?" Qiao Meng said with gritted teeth.

Xu Bai frowned, his patience waning as he tried to Qiao Meng grasp the gravity of the situation.

He sighed, then retorted,

"I want you to understand that this force is different from the force that once raided this land. They are more organized and more united. And they would ravage everything in the north until Bingzhou if they are not stopped in Nurshira."

Qiao Meng, however, only responded with a dismissive click of his tongue, seemingly unwilling to fully grasp the implications of what Xu Bai was trying to convey.

"Master Xu, you must have suggestion?" General Xi Yan asked.

Qiao Meng was about to say something but General Xi Yan quickly said

"Please, Master Xu, share what you thought?" the other military official nodded, hoping for Xu bai to speak.

Qiao Meng snorted. He looks at the military men and he nodded.

But it is clear that he did not intend to make it easy for Xu Bai. Because from the beginning, Qiao Meng did not offer Xu Bai a seat.

"Look at the city" he suddenly said and he pointed toward the distance. Standing on the battlements of the city walls they could see the emptiness of the city, the eeriness of silence and on the other side of the city there is chaos as underworld crime element began to overtake the city.,

"Disaster and fear, uncertainty and anxiousness"

"The barbarians are the fault of this" one of the generals said but Xu Bai shake his head.

He chuckles bitterly and then said

"Everyone thinks that the disaster of the border town is all due to the harassment of barbarians.... he paused for a second before saying

"These are merely external threat. However, I believe that the external threat is secondary, and the main issue lies within."

"Xulang, please elaborate" general Xi Yan said

Xu Bai continue

"there are currently three main concerns in our city. Firstly, our garrison forces need support from the county. The position is not right so the consequences would also not be right"

Xu Bai did not need to elaborate that much as everyone could understand

It was an unspoken but well-understood fact that the Ji family wielded true authority in Nurshira.

The Qiao family, while influential, had never been officially appointed by the imperial court to their position.

Instead, their status was granted temporarily by the Ji family.

In the eyes of Yan Dynasty laws, this arrangement was far from legal.

However, the decline of imperial authority over the years, exacerbated by the chaos of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, had cast these legal matters into shadow.

The real power dynamics were evident, but not formally recognized, making the situation all the more precarious.

The authority of the imperial family, which had once held the vast empire in its steady grasp is waning, like a flickering candle threatened by the encroaching darkness.

As the central imperial government faltered, the lands of this realm became a patchwork of competing powers.

Mighty warlords and noble families, emboldened by the weakening of the emperor’s grip, rose to prominence.

These regional titans commanded armies, and their territorial domains sprawled like sprawling ink stains on parchment.

Each province, it seemed, had its own master, its own ruler, and its own laws.

Unity was but a distant memory, replaced by fragmentation and rivalry.

The imperial court itself, a once-great bastion of governance, became a theatre of intrigue and backstabbing, where eunuchs, nobles, warlords schemed and vied for the emperor’s throne.

Amid this chaos, economic strain ran deep.

The burden of upholding infrastructure and collecting taxes fell squarely on local shoulders, creating stark disparities between regions.

Cities teetered on the brink of disrepair, and the countryside was not much better off.

the land is gripped by turmoil.

Large-scale uprisings, like the thunderous roar of a tempest, shook the foundations of the empire.

The most notable of these, the Yellow Turban Rebellion, was driven by the cries of the oppressed and the call for change.

In this time of turmoil and transition, the Yan Dynasty once-mighty rule is slipping through its fingers like grains of sand.

And Ji family also wanted to compete for the throne.

The Xun Emperor lost his deer, and all under heaven chased after it. And now, the Yan dynasty also lost its deer and like the past, all under heaven is also chasing after it

Xu Bai knows this. And this is the trend of time. But, he could not let future predictions dictate present action

So, he would help Qiao Meng and hope Qiao meng could stave off the barbarians until the Ji family came back.

Xu Bai continued.

"Right now, we don’t have the supplies, equipment, or provisions needed to sustain our troops and fight against the barbarians. It is important to know that fighting is burning money, and the town is bitter and cold. Once the army is not supported, it will be impossible to fight against the barbarians "

Qiao Meng need to open the county office but he is not allowed to by law.

Qiao Meng had to made the decision to open to the county office, take the equipment and supplies and only then they could solve his problem

"Secondly, it’s about morale. If our soldiers morale is low, no matter how good our equipment and provisions are, they will be nothing more than a disorganized mob on the battlefield"

"With such an army with low morale., the army that one could raise would be only a bunch of rabbles, and it is impossible to compete with the barbarians. We can’t fight with soldiers, let alone defeat the barbarians.

The other generals listening to this could only look down on the ground

The city wall fell into a heavy silence as the weight of his words settled in.

The generals couldn’t deny the truth in his assessment, but it is a bitter pill to swallow.

No one had expected this battle, and the shock of the news, coupled with the daunting prospect of facing tens of thousands of barbarians, has left their troops demoralized and fearful.

A soldier that is already fearful even before meeting the enemy, how could such an army win against the raging attack of the barbarians?

Xu Bai sighed.

Xu Bai is well aware of the delicate balance he needed to maintain.

His assessment of the generals and their effectiveness had been conducted discreetly, allowing him to identify those whose leadership had faltered without causing undue offense.

The relationship between the scholars and the military had always been tenuous, marked by mutual distrust and scepticism.

It is a divide that stretched back through the annals of history. Acknowledging this, Xu Bai chose his words with great care.

He understood that directly pointing fingers at the generals would only serve to alienate them further, making it even more challenging to implement the necessary changes.

The scholars and military men have never been close with each other and if he did such a thing, he would alienate the only people that could make this advice of him pass through Qiao Meng.

But Xu Bai is well respected by both factions. That is the reason why even he did not have official title, everyone is deferring and listening to him right now

So, he speaks again

"Currently, out of our 40,000 garrison troops, only General Xi Yan and General Gu Yue army is spirited and disciplined.

He sighed and spoke

"What a pity and what a shame! They are afraid of being beaten by barbarians. It is a wonder that on ordinary day, they dare use their virtue of strength to bully ordinary people. But if they really go to the battlefield, they will just become fish and meat. What a Yan army!" he exclaimed, his voice clearly shows how angry and dissatisfied he is with the current condition of the Yan army

He look at the generals and some of them look down and some of them look defiant. Xu bai knows not to push too hard so he said

"The soldiers in the other armies have already been demoralized by the barbarians. If we send them into battle, they will be easy prey for the enemy. I believe that the barbarians are not as formidable as people imagine. Though they are fierce, they are still human"

"With someone who is charismatic enough to lead, I am confident that if can rally the morale of the troops, our generals will be no less competent than the barbarians."

Qiao Meng heard the words and his narrowed. The other generals did not notice that simple words that irk Qiao Meng so much. They all nodding profusely at Xu Bai words.

But Qiao Meng heard differently from the other people. What the other people heard are the problems with the army.

What he heard is the thing that poke his heart

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