Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 555: Reinforcements
Ten days later, Li Tie’s letter reached Jiang Shaohua’s hands.
After reading the letter, the smile on Jiang Shaohua’s face disappeared completely. She silently handed the letter to Song Yuan. After reading it, Song Yuan let out a long sigh and passed it to Chen Sheren.
Chen Jinyu read the letter and couldn’t help stomping his foot: "How did General Yu get seriously injured? And the Nanyang Army actually suffered such heavy losses!"
Indeed!
To maintain an army is no easy task. In recent years, Nanyang County has spent countless resources, and Jiang Shaohua has employed many strategies to win the loyalty of the Nanyang Army and ensure rigorous training. Yet, after going to the border army, they have lost over a thousand men. This loss is enough to make one’s heart bleed.
With a heavy heart, Jiang Shaohua sighed: "War is just this brutal — it’s a life and death struggle, all fought with lives. Yu Chong led the Nanyang Army to infiltrate the Rouran Army Camp, burned the enemy’s supplies, and set fire to the stables, achieving great success. The border army pressed the advantage and won a significant victory."
"In this battle, both the Nanyang Army and the border army suffered casualties. However, the Rouran barbarians had even heavier losses. This is already a rare victory."
Thinking of the brave men lost from the Nanyang Army, and of Yu Chong who remains in a critical condition, Jiang Shaohua felt a weight in her heart. Yet, war is inherently like this, and feeling sorrowful is futile. Now, the most important thing is to completely drive back the Rouran barbarians.
Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and said, "Commander Song, go to the Personal Guard Camp and convey my orders to Liu Hengchang. Have him take two thousand men under the Nanyang Army banner to Si State, and send another batch of military provisions, especially more medicinal supplies."
Song Yuan acknowledged the command with a salute and immediately rode off to the Personal Guard Camp.
Liu Hengchang was already mentally prepared, and upon receiving the command from the Commandery Princess, he immediately began mobilizing the troops.
The Personal Guard Camp already had over ten thousand men, more than half of whom were scattered outside, acting as the "house servants" of the Tang Family Grain Shop. The camp still housed over four thousand elite soldiers.
Liu Hengchang invited Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan for discussion: "For a thousand days you’ve raised soldiers, use them within a moment. The Commandery Princess intends to fully support the border army in repelling the Rouran Cavalry. I am to lead troops to Si State under the guise of delivering grain and medicinal supplies."
"Do not consider any soldiers who have been in service for less than two years. As for the Third Camp’s shortage of manpower, I will also select some from the First and Second Camps."
Qin Zhan agreed immediately without a second thought: "You can use anyone you choose."
Meng Dashan also said: "What is there to discuss? Whoever you have your eye on, just take them."
Liu Hengchang, without holding back, directly selected Tao Da from the First Camp and Divine Archer Xiao Tian from the Second Camp. Captain Tao Da, with two hundred men under his command, all tall and strong with great bravery. Xiao Tian’s squad was about the same size, consisting entirely of skilled archers.
As for Li Tianxi from the Third Camp, he was always focused on taming eagles, surveying terrain, and reconnaissance. Liu Hengchang also brought Li Tianxi along.
Upon inquiring, Sun Guangbai volunteered to go with the army but was stopped by Sun Zelan: "Sister-in-law is newly pregnant, you should stay behind, I will go."
Sun Guangbai frowned: "How can that be? You’re a young lady, how can you withstand the toil and hardship? Better you stay in the military camp and also look after your sister-in-law."
Sun Zelan remained firm: "Last time when there was an epidemic in Pingzhou, you accompanied father. This time going to the border army, don’t stop me, just let me go. I am an eighth-rank Medical Officer of the court, and in treating external wounds, I am more skilled than you. I can save more people by going to the border army."
"But..."
"I will depart with General Liu. With General Liu’s capabilities, couldn’t he even protect a single military doctor like me? Don’t worry about my safety."
Seeing he couldn’t stop his sister, Sun Guangbai made a bitter face: "How about this, ask father first. If he agrees, I won’t object anymore."
Sun Zelan calmly replied: "Alright, I’ll have someone send a letter back to the Prince Mansion now."
Now, relaying messages between the military camp and the Nanyang Prince Mansion is very quick, taking just half a day. By evening, Doctor Sun’s reply was in Sun Zelan’s hands.
Doctor Sun also had confidence in Liu Hengchang and surprisingly agreed to the matter. Sun Guangbai couldn’t prevent it, and could only let out a long sigh before helping prepare for his sister’s journey.
After five or six days, Liu Hengchang led two thousand men to depart, and Sun Zelan sat in the carriage, waving goodbye to her brother and sister-in-law. Then she happily started the longest journey of her life.
She took a letter out of her parcel.
Actually, this was a letter personally written by Doctor Sun. Reluctant for his daughter to endure danger and hardship, he stated in the letter that Sun Guangbai should accompany the army. She, without changing her expression, forged a letter to fool her brother.
The aspirations of men reach the four corners of the world, and she, as a woman, harbors ambitions just as lofty and far-reaching.
...
"Commandery Princess, Sun Zelan has written a letter."
Chen Jinyu rushed over, holding a thin letter in his hand. Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly and opened the letter to read it. As she read, she suddenly smiled.
Since the news of Yu Chong’s injury, Jiang Shaohua had not smiled for many days.
Chen Jinyu was somewhat curious: "What did Sun Zelan write?"
Jiang Shaohua smiled and said: "Sun Zelan went with the army to Si State."
Chen Jinyu was taken aback: "Doctor Sun actually agreed?"
"She forged a letter, fooling Sun Guangbai, and has already set out." Jiang Shaohua couldn’t help but smile: "By the time Doctor Sun finds out, it will be too late to stop it. This Sun Zelan is truly clever."
Chen Jinyu’s eyes were full of admiration: "Si State has been at war continuously, and yet she dares to go. She is indeed risking her life."
"Given time, she will surely become the most renowned divine doctor of Da Liang!"
Jiang Shaohua’s gaze softened, and she softly laughed: "I think so too."
Who says women are inferior to men?
Sun Zelan’s outstanding medical skills, combined with such ambition and vision, are indeed impressive.
"By the way, Commandery Princess, the border army has already won a great battle. The Rouran Army Camp’s supplies were also burned. The Rouran should soon retreat. Why does the Commandery Princess still send reinforcements?" Chen Jinyu was somewhat puzzled.
Jiang Shaohua said blandly: "The Rouran barbarians have divided their forces, many in the camps are dead and wounded, and their supplies are burned. However, they are not yet at their last gasp. Given the ferocity of the Rouran, they might be incited to violence, and the coming war could be even more brutal." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
"If the Rouran retreat, we suffer no loss, just a wasted journey. But if the Rouran combine their forces and fiercely attack Si State, or if there is a standoff, then our reinforcements can be useful."
Chen Jinyu thought for a while and sighed: "I’m just bothered and unwilling. Our Nanyang County provides grain and manpower, fully supporting the border army’s fight. Yet, at the court, some are slandering the Commandery Princess, saying things like she has too much ambition."
"If the Commandery Princess truly had selfish motives, she could have hidden all her troops and supplies and waited for the border army to be battered, forcing the court into distress before asserting her power."
Chen Jinyu spoke more fluently, nearly blurting out "waiting for the right moment to rebel later."
Jiang Shaohua looked over with a smile: "I’m doing what I believe is right. No need to heed their gossip."
