Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 519: Marriage Alliance (Part 2)

Emperor Taihe was furious and furrowed his brow: "According to what you’re saying, this battle can’t be fought?"

The Left General didn’t speak much, but General Bao opened his mouth and said: "If the Rouran dispatch their troops, the first to face the Rouran Cavalry would be the border army. Whether they can fight or not depends on General Fan."

"Please, Your Majesty, issue a secret decree immediately, ordering the border army to be on high alert."

The border is a long way off, even with fast horses carrying messages, it takes about a month round trip. This means if a battle truly breaks out, message transmission will not be timely. It all relies on General Fan and the border army.

Emperor Taihe felt a heavy weight in his heart, and couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Shaohua.

Jiang Shaohua did not immediately offer comforting words to the Emperor, instead opting for a candid evaluation of the border army: "The border army primarily defends the city; facing the enemy head-on, they are certainly no match for the Rouran. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been previous defeats."

"I have no intention of belittling the Left General, he needn’t feel embarrassed. The Da Liang forces are weak, far from matching the ferocity of the Rouran Cavalry. The defeats cannot be entirely blamed on the Left General."

"Moreover, the border army has recently had a change in its main general. If another three to five years had passed, perhaps things would be better. Currently, General Fan cannot fully control the entire army, thus reducing their combat capabilities."

Emperor Taihe’s lips twitched: "So, you’re saying the border army is no match for the Rouran Cavalry at all!"

Jiang Shaohua nodded: "It’s not that I am deliberately discouraging, this is the truth."

Emperor Taihe turned his gaze to the Left General.

The Left General hesitated for a moment, then sighed: "I do not wish to demoralize our own and bolster the enemy, however, the Commandery Princess’s words are correct; the border army can defend, but facing the enemy head-on, the winning chance is less than thirty percent."

Even this thirty percent is optimistic. In reality, the border army’s outpost camps, when patrolling outside, face fierce battles as soon as they encounter the Rouran Cavalry, and it’s very difficult to retreat alive. This is why the outpost camps have the highest casualty rate in the border army, and everyone avoids it like the plague. Generally, those who make serious mistakes in the army are transferred to the outpost camps. The outpost camps also have an unseemly nickname, the "Death Camp."

These small matters shouldn’t be brought up in court, but several military generals all understand them in their hearts.

General Song was brave and took the initiative: "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead troops to support the border army."

General Liu and General Sima were not to be outdone, also volunteering to lead troops for support.

However, the Left General, being in a delicate situation, found it inappropriate to speak, so he continued to remain silent. General Bao, commander of the Imperial Army, responsible for the Capital City’s safety, couldn’t possibly leave the capital and so did not speak either.

After thinking for a moment, Emperor Taihe made a decision: "First reject Rouran’s Letter, and send an order to the border army to prepare for immediate response."

"The rest, we will discuss slowly."

At this moment, Prime Minister Wang unexpectedly spoke up: "Your Majesty, these matters require oversight and coordination from the Ministry of War. Please decree to pardon Minister Zheng, so he can return to the Ministry of War and take command sooner."

Ministers Zhang and Dai were also somewhat surprised, exchanged a glance, then echoed Prime Minister Wang’s words.

Jiang Shaohua smirked inwardly. That old fox, Prime Minister Wang, saw her creating storms in the court and deliberately unleashed Duke An to fight for power with her, creating an opportunity for himself.

However, his proposal was indeed impeccable, hitting the nail on the head with Emperor Taihe.

Sure enough, Emperor Taihe nodded in approval and instructed Eunuch Ge to go to Duke An’s Mansion with a verbal order.

...

News from the small court gathering quickly reached Jingyang Palace.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was utterly shocked, stood up abruptly: "I will go to Zhaohai Palace to see the Emperor at once."

Princess Bao Hua, who had come to pay her respects, was pale with a beautiful face, biting her lip: "Grandmother, granddaughter wishes to go as well."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng affectionately looked at Princess Bao Hua: "Bao Hua, do not be afraid. The matter of the marriage alliance has already been flatly rejected by the Emperor. Even I will not agree to such absurdities."

"You are Da Liang’s most noble princess, how could you marry that old scoundrel Fu Mingdun to become a Yan Shi. Bah! This old scoundrel has no sincere intentions of marrying, clearly, he’s humiliating Da Liang with this letter, hoping to provoke war!"

The more Grand Empress Dowager Zheng spoke, the angrier she became, slapping the tea table forcefully: "Truly hateful and infuriating!"

Jiang Wan Hua and Jiang Yuehua couldn’t remain seated, both stood up in anger.

Carrying her full fury, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng headed to Zhaohai Palace. Princess Bao Hua and Jiang Wan Hua, Jiang Yuehua accompanied her.

A group of people marched grandly, highly conspicuous. The eunuchs guarding outside Zhaohai Palace went inside to announce immediately. Moments later, Jiang Shaohua came out to greet them.

"Shaohua!" Grand Empress Dowager Zheng grabbed Jiang Shaohua’s hand aggressively: "Has the court meeting ended?"

"Great Aunt, please restrain your anger," Jiang Shaohua said softly with comforting words: "The small court meeting just adjourned, His Majesty is still talking with Prime Minister Wang, Minister Ji, and some generals."

Then, she looked at Princess Bao Hua, whose face was full of panic without peace: "Cousin, don’t worry, the Emperor has already decisively rejected the marriage alliance letter. The Rouran envoy has been expelled from the Capital City."

This life, you need not marry far away for alliance, nor will you die in a foreign land in desolation.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng also said: "Shaohua speaks rightly. Bao Hua, do not fear, your Grandmother will bear everything for you."

Princess Bao Hua, with reddened eyes, responded softly.

Jiang Shaohua silently glanced at Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. At this moment, Zheng genuinely wished to protect Princess Bao Hua, though it was she in the previous life who decided to make Princess Bao Hua marry far away for alliance.

Princess Bao Hua gazed blankly at Jiang Shaohua for a moment and suddenly began to cry: "But, if war arises because of this, causing countless soldiers and civilians to die tragically, would it not all be my fault."

As a princess, she was pampered and noble, enjoying all the wealth and glory. Now it seemed time to dedicate herself for the country and its people... Yet she shamefully realized that she didn’t possess such noble sentiments. She was unwilling to marry far for alliance.

Princess Bao Hua, gentle and dignified, always composed and proper, had never lost her decorum in front of others. But now tears rolled down like falling pear blossoms in rain, helplessly making one’s heartache.

Jiang Shaohua felt a slight pain in her heart, taking out a handkerchief to wipe Princess Bao Hua’s tears: "Wars stem from greed and aggressive ambitions; what does it have to do with you, a gentlewoman secluded in the palace."

"When Rouran previously defeated the border army and slaughtered Peng City, could anyone have been blamed for that?"

Princess Bao Hua’s tears gradually ceased, she spoke softly: "The previous war wasn’t my fault. I’m just afraid that if war breaks out next, and we are defeated, people will blame me, the princess who was unwilling to marry far for peace."

This is the dark side of human nature, unavoidable.

Jiang Shaohua sighed silently, continuing to speak gently with comforting words: "Cousin, you need not worry. Da Liang’s lands are vast, and its army plentiful. Should Rouran dare mount an invasion, they will pay a terrible price. Only then will the border have true peace."