Going out to battle (1)

  132. Set out (1)

  News from the border came day by day, and the atmosphere in the imperial court became heavier day by day. The Western Hill army had taken three cities in a row for half a month, pressing close to Xinyang. On September 9th, news arrived that the 100,000-strong army led by Leng Qingcheng and the Southern Marquis's son, who had rushed to rescue, was intercepted halfway by Zhen Nanhou's 50,000-strong army, suffering heavy losses, with only a small remnant retreating to defend Xinyang.

  September 10th, Xinyang was surrounded. At the same time, the Western Expeditionary Army divided into three routes and advanced simultaneously along the southern, northern, and central routes. Urgent requests for help were sent from various border passes. However, at this moment, the King of Dingguo, who had been guarding Great Chu for a hundred years, was still nowhere to be seen, and the gates of the Dingguo Palace were bustling with activity every day.

  "Queen."

  In the study, Ye Li raised her head and looked at the door, asking Mo Zongguan: "Who else wants to see me?"

  Mo Zongguan said in a low voice: "Hua Guogong and Nanhou have come to see you. The young master of the Southern Marquis has gone missing in the chaos of war."

  "Missing?! How could that be...” Yelü Xi's eyebrows furrowed, she somewhat understood what Huaguo Gong and Nan Hou had come for. However, this was indeed a bit troublesome for her. Sighing softly, Yelü Xi said: "Please let the old national duke and Nan Hou enter."

  Before long, Huaguo Gong and Nanhou arrived at the door. Yelü personally got up to welcome them and stopped the two who wanted to pay their respects: "There are no outsiders here, so let's dispense with the formalities. Old Guogong, Houye, please sit down." The two thanked him and sat down, and after the maid had brought tea, Yelü asked: "Guogong and Nanhou have come together; is it about the border affairs?"

  Nan Hou's face was pale and haggard, he let out a long sigh and said: "It's true, I've troubled the princess."

  Ye Li shook her head and said: "The prince and I are not outsiders, so there's no need for the marquis to be anxious. I will immediately order someone to search for the prince at the border."

  Nan Hou shook his head and sighed, "The loyal dog is devoted to the country, life or death is all up to heaven's will. However... Princess, news from the border must have reached the palace faster than us, if things go on like this, I'm afraid before the Crown Prince returns, the tens of thousands of troops at the border will be annihilated!" Ye Li also sighed softly, "The King of Xiling has been secretly accumulating strength for over a decade...

  Sharp, now that the situation has returned to its original state, can it be so simple? However, although the Ding Wang Fu had long since sent a message to Bei Rong, the king still had no news. The queen was also... helpless...

  Hua Guo Gong let out a deep sigh and said, "Just because of a trivial matter like sending off relatives, how could the Emperor have sent Ding Wang away? Coincidentally, at this time, General Murong who can lead troops in battle is far away in Yongzhou, and General Jingguo is guarding the northern border. I...". With a long sigh, Hua Guo Gong suddenly stood up and was about to walk out, saying "I will go into the palace to request an audience with the Emperor right now, let me..."

  "Let the old general lead the troops to war!" Ye Li and Nan Hou hastily pulled him back, Nan Hou bitterly smiled: "Old Guo Gong, even if we are going to lead the troops to war, it's us who will go, how can we let you labor again." Looking at the two old men in front of her, whose combined age exceeded 120 years, Ye Li couldn't help but smile wryly. She understood their purpose, but couldn't blame them.

  They are different from Mo Jingqi, Liu Chengxiang and Mu Yanghou. They really care about the safety of the people of Da Chu and the border guards. Because she was also a soldier, just because of this, she can't blame them.

  "Old Country Lord, Marquis..."

  Huaguogong turned around to see Ye Licheng's clear and quiet eyes, as if they were shining brightly like a lantern. He was taken aback for a moment before sitting back down. Huaguogong said with some embarrassment: "Your Highness, please don't blame this old man for not knowing the right time and coming to disturb you, it's just that..."

  Ye Li shook her head and said: "The old country gentleman has spoken heavily, Ye Li understands."

  "Hua Guo Gong Dao: 'Now that Emperor Yao is not around, you, a woman, are holding up the entire Dingguo Wangfu, which is no easy feat. This old man is well aware of it. However, with the urgent situation at the border, I fear we cannot wait for King Ding's return. I've heard about Your Highness' abilities, so please, for the sake of the people of Great Chu and the lives of our soldiers on the border, lend a hand. I was just saying that I will lead...'

  The troops will not be needed, the king's concerns are also clear to the old man. If the queen trusts this old man, I will personally lead the army and at least hold on until the return of King Ding. The emperor, no matter how anxious, would not think of taking away my military power when the time comes. Once King Ding returns, he will rush to the border to regain control of the army, and everything will be settled.

  "What do you think, princess?"

  Ye Li smiled bitterly: "Is the old national grandfather so sure that Ye Li can mobilize the Mo family army?"

  Hua Guo Gong raised an eyebrow and glared at Ye Li, saying: "Can the princess do it or not? If the princess says she can't, this old man will leave immediately."

  Ye Li fell silent for a moment, then raised his head and said: "The military power cannot be given to the old national grandfather. It's not that Ye Li doesn't trust the national grandfather, but even if he gave him the military token, it's likely that he would not be able to easily command." The Duke of Hua and the Marquis of Nan flashed a hint of disappointment in their eyes, but then heard Ye Li say calmly: "Ye Li will accompany you on a trip to the border. It's just that the old national grandfather is already advanced in age, and it's likely that he won't be able to withstand the long journey..."

  "Nan Hou Xi said: 'If the queen believes me, I will immediately ask the emperor to lead the troops out of the city. If not, I can take on a deputy general position and leave the main commander position for Ding Wang when he returns!'"

  Hua Guo Gong looked at Ye Li with some surprise, his eyes full of admiration, and nodded: "Good, Xiū Yáo indeed has good taste. This time, I'll trouble the queen."

  Ye Li shook her head and smiled: "Don't be too happy, Old Duke, the Emperor may not necessarily agree with our plan." The Duke of Hua said in a deep voice: "If the Emperor is truly a wise ruler, he will naturally agree." Upon hearing this, Nan Hou was taken aback, looked around the study and whispered: "Old Duke, you shouldn't say that." The Old Duke hummed softly and stopped speaking.

  After seeing off the Duke of Hua and the Marquis of Nan, Ye Li had just returned to the study when she saw Feng Zhiyao standing under the bookshelf with her head down, flipping through a book. Hearing her footsteps, she turned around with some concern and asked: "Did the princess really agree to go to the border with the old duke and the marquis?"

  "Did you hear that?" Ye Li smiled lightly and walked back to sit down behind the desk, saying: "The Western Hills are coming with a strong momentum, and it's impossible for the Mo family army to stay out of this matter, even if the king is not here. Now I'm holding back from giving military power, perhaps people can still understand, but once the war situation worsens further, no reason will be valid anymore. All the people in the world see is that Great Chu is suffering from external threats."

  The Chi You troops are approaching, but the Mo family army seems to be ignoring them. Besides, since we'll have to send out troops sooner or later, it's better to enter the battlefield early and take control of the situation. Moreover... I've agreed, but that person in the palace might not necessarily agree."

  "Feng Zhiyao coldly smiled and said: 'If he doesn't agree, in the future when people discuss this, it will have nothing to do with us.'"

  Ye Li nodded and said: "It's been so long, if everything goes smoothly on the king's side, our army will arrive at the border and the king should be back by then."

  As soon as Mo Xiu Yao was mentioned, Feng Zhi couldn't help but frown and say: "It's been so many days already, how could the prince still not have any news?"

  "Maybe someone doesn't want him to come back. At least there's no news, which proves he's still okay for now. You go prepare, and by the way, tell Manager Mo that if the secondary wife of the Southern Marquis' son comes, please ask her to leave first."

  "Yes." Feng Zhi Yao nodded, hesitated for a moment and then said: "Princess, this time let Feng San accompany you to the border again."

  Ye Li furrowed her brow and said: "Although Wang Ye and I are not in the capital, Jing City, at the Ding Wang Fu, we still need someone to stay behind and support the overall situation."

  Feng Zhiyao said, "Having Mo Shu here is enough. Although the Ding Wang Fu is heavily guarded, it doesn't pose a significant threat to the Mohist army. Besides, General Mo has been in charge of the Wang Fu for decades, he's much more capable than I am." Ye Li thought for a moment and said, "I understand, you can go first. Later, I'll consider it. Since you're preparing to set out together, go bid farewell to those who need it."

  "Let's say goodbye." Feng Zhiyao was taken aback, a bitter smile spreading across his face: "What do I, a vagabond, have to bid farewell to?" Ye Li looked at him with a hint of a smile: "Don't deceive yourself, or you'll regret it when it's too late." Feng Zhiyao's eyes glazed over for a moment before he came back to himself and walked out in a daze.

  Hua Guogong and Nanhou's proposal was rejected by Mo Jingqi without even listening to it in the early court. Ye Li didn't mind, but Xu Hongyan and Xu Qingze rushed to the Dingwang Mansion immediately after the early court. Xu Hongyan didn't say much, although he wasn't in a key position, he understood the situation more clearly than those who were. He just reminded

  After a while, he sighed and turned to leave. Xu Qingze was as silent as ever, only saying when he was about to leave: "If you insist on going, I'll ask the Emperor tomorrow and we can go to the border together." Ye Li smiled lightly: "Second brother is getting married soon. If it's for my sake that the wedding is delayed, won't Qin's mother and aunt scold me afterwards? The Ding Wang Fu has many guards,

  "Brother, rest assured." Xu Qingze furrowed his brow and said, "Let's go together, Uncle, Father, and Grandfather will also feel more at ease." After finishing speaking, he didn't care what Ye Li wanted to say anymore, turned around and left with a flick of his sleeve.

  Bad news from the border came one after another, although people in the capital city couldn't see the bloody rain and wind, but those lost cities and casualty numbers still shocked everyone. The voices asking the Dingguo royal family to send troops also grew louder. People had long been accustomed to having a large black army protecting their safety at all times, but this time, nearly a month after the war began, there was no news from the Dingguo royal family or the Mohist army, making many civilians and even officials feel uneasy. The entire capital city was in a state of unrest and anxiety.

  When the news that King Ding of Beijun was far away in the north and Queen Consort of Ding Country was rejected by the Emperor to lead the troops came out, the court fell silent, but among the people, discussions gradually started. The words against the Emperor's decision were naturally dissatisfied, but at this time, Mo Jingqi did not have the courage to suppress the remarks, resulting in the entire capital and even the people from all over the country submitting memorials, almost flooding half of the Imperial Study Room. Three days later, Mo Jingqi finally announced on the morning court with a dark face that Nan Hou was appointed as the deputy general, Queen Consort of Ding Country followed to supervise the army to go to the border to fight against the invasion of Xiling. After receiving the edict, Ye Li slightly curled up the corner of her mouth and turned back to prepare to leave.

  The news of the Mo family army's impending expedition has excited the entire capital, as if the Western Hill Army would collapse like a landslide once the Mo family army sets out. Ye Li watched with a silent sigh, thinking that Mo Xiu Yao was right - over the years, the strength of the Ding Wang Fu had directly led to the scarcity of truly famous generals in Da Chu. If something were to happen to the Ding Wang Fu, the situation in Da Chu would indeed be worrying.