Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 545: Battle Report
Jiang Shaohua was mentally prepared, opened the bamboo tube, unfolded the paper, and a few lines of text quickly caught her eye.
The Rouran have indeed deployed their troops!
The Rouran Khan, Fu Mingdun, while sending envoys to Da Liang to seek marriage, was also gathering cavalry from various tribes, eyeing the Da Liang border with hostility.
After the peace envoy was expelled from the Capital City, they rode swiftly back to Rouran to deliver the message. Upon learning the proposal to marry the Princess was rejected, the Rouran Khan was furious and used this as a pretext to quickly deploy troops.
Fortunately, after receiving the imperial edict, General Fan actively prepared for war. The court allocated military funds to the border army, and 200,000 stone of military grain from Nanyang County was delivered to Si State before the new year.
With resources in hand, as the main general, there was confidence in heart. Even though the border army soldiers still remembered the Left General, they dared not hinder the current main general during a national war. General Fan’s preparations and defense were progressing smoothly.
The Rouran brazenly deployed their troops, and the border army defended the city walls steadfastly. In the first battle, the waiting border army surprisingly had the upper hand, achieving a small victory.
Such war reports take half a month to reach the Capital City. The route to Nanyang County is half the distance, and within Jingzhou, there are special communication channels to receive news much faster than the court.
After reading the information on the paper, Jiang Shaohua handed it to Song Yuan: "The Rouran have already dispatched their troops, and the border army has barely withstood the first wave of attacks."
After reading it, Song Yuan passed it to Liu Hengchang and others.
Qin Zhan was quite invigorated upon reading it: "Good! We won a battle, and it’s a great way to blunt Rouran’s momentum early on."
"The Nanyang Army sending provisions to the border army, isn’t it perfect timing for a battle?" Meng Dashan showed regret in his eyes: "It’s a pity that our Personal Guard Camp cannot go to the border army."
According to court regulations, a Vassal King can only have 500 trusted aides. The Nanyang Prince Mansion’s Personal Guard Camp has long surpassed the numbers set by the court. Especially in recent years, it has expanded significantly. If exposed, this would undoubtedly be evidence of rebellion. Therefore, the Personal Guard Camp can only operate secretly and cannot reveal its true strength.
Jiang Shaohua’s eyes flashed, and she said lightly: "That may not necessarily be the case."
At these words, all the military generals looked over.
Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept across the faces of the military generals: "Rouran’s ambitions persist, invading Da Liang. The refusal of the marriage proposal was just an excuse to ignite war. This war is a national war, it can only be won and not lost. If defeated, the people of the border states will have no way to live, and the entire North will descend into chaos."
"The border army is said to have 100,000, but none of us know how many actual soldiers there are. I am sending Yu Chong to lead the Nanyang Army to deliver grain, but in reality, it’s to assist the border army in defending the border."
"The court will likely continue to send reinforcements. If the war goes well, so be it. If the border army suffers consecutive defeats, the Personal Guard Camp will deploy under the guise of the Nanyang Army."
There are 5,000 troops on the Nanyang Army’s roster, and the Personal Guard Camp can openly dispatch a thousand men to support. If needed, more troops can continue to be sent. At that point, it will be announced externally as the Nanyang Army.
When it comes to that, the court will be too preoccupied to pursue whether it’s the Nanyang Army or the Personal Guard Camp. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Qin Zhanmeng and Meng Dashan unhesitatingly accepted their orders.
Liu Hengchang was a step slower in movement and saluted solemnly: "I understand what the Commandery Princess has said. I will definitely continue to train the troops diligently to prepare for any surprises."
Once the military generals left the camp, the relaxed and confident smile on Jiang Shaohua’s face faded, replaced by a somber expression.
Song Yuan asked softly: "Does the Commandery Princess lack confidence in General Fan?"
"I lack confidence in the court." With no others around, Jiang Shaohua did not need to maintain the Commandery Princess’s dignity and revealed helplessness in her brows: "The Rouran Cavalry are fierce and powerful. The Da Liang border army can defend the city, but it’s extremely difficult to drive back the Rouran Cavalry. Moreover, the major ministers at court are all scheming and vying for power, I fear some may hold back at critical moments."
Song Yuan furrowed his brow: "This is a national war, unity is paramount. Is Prime Minister Wang and Duke An still going to fight at such a time?"
Jiang Shaohua remained silent.
It’s not just Prime Minister Wang and Duke An who are constantly at odds; even inside the palace, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng and Empress Dowager Li aren’t peaceful. The secretaries around Emperor Taihe each have their own agendas.
The Da Liang Court is like a pile of loose sand, trying to clench it tightly into a force is easier said than done.
"Should the Commandery Princess return to the Capital City?" Song Yuan’s voice rose at her ear: "In the Capital City, the Commandery Princess can influence the Emperor and the court. Staying in Nanyang County is ultimately too far from the court. We can receive information promptly, but cannot respond effectively."
Jiang Shaohua sighed slightly: "Not being in that position, I don’t take charge. As a Nanyang County Princess, I have done all I can. Why should I return to the Capital City?"
"Let’s wait for a moment!"
Wait for what?
Song Yuan looked at the frowning silent Commandery Princess and quietly closed his mouth.
...
The news of the border army’s engagement reached the Capital City a few days later.
The ruler and ministers were not flustered upon hearing this and were relieved to have been well-prepared.
Duke An immediately spoke up to credit General Fan, but was stopped by Prime Minister Wang: "This is only the first battle, note the merit first. Once the war ends, then is the time for rewards based on military merit."
Emperor Taihe nodded: "Prime Minister Wang’s words make sense."
Duke An initially stood up for General Fan, followed the flow, and acknowledged: "Yes, your majesty, I shall first record this victory."
Then the ministers began discussing and deliberating the dispatch of reinforcements.
This was decided before the new year, that General Song would lead soldiers to support the border army. Initially, 40,000 soldiers were to be dispatched, but after a minor victory, some ministers suggested fewer reinforcements were necessary, proposing 20,000 soldiers would suffice.
Mobilizing troops requires funds and grain. With the National Treasury depleted, naturally, expenses should be minimized.
Minister Ji naturally didn’t oppose this proposal. The ministers chimed in agreement, except for Duke An who insisted on sending 40,000 reinforcements. They argued for half the day without resolution.
Emperor Taihe, pained by the argument, sighed after returning to his chambers, thinking to himself: I indeed am not as capable as my cousin. Previously, when Jiang Shaohua was at the court meeting, she suppressed the ministers who dared not speak out of turn. Now the court’s argumentative atmosphere was slowly restoring, bringing forth drawbacks.
Everything requires competition, causing administrative delays.
After several days of debate, it was finally decided that General Song would lead 20,000 soldiers as reinforcements. Shortly after General Song’s departure, the second war report from the border army arrived.
This time, the border army was lured to take the initiative and was severely defeated, resulting in over 3,000 casualties. The recently boosted morale of the border army was thoroughly crushed by this major defeat.
The court, which had relaxed for a few days, fell into panic and gloom.
Duke An once again submitted a memorial, requesting the court to send reinforcements.
Emperor Taihe immediately granted Duke An’s request and dispatched an additional 20,000 reinforcements.
However, reinforcements cannot arrive overnight. Under normal marching conditions, it would take over a month to reach the border army.
Following this, war reports from the border started arriving at the Capital City like snowflakes.
