RWNEFE -Chapter 605 Mobilizing Troops Against the Turks

Zhou Xinrou said firmly, “Impossible. He’s been taking the medicine for so long—there’s no way he could remember anything.”

The old nanny assumed she had simply been overly cautious and worrying for nothing.

…

Just as everyone expected, all sides were watching and waiting.

Jinmen was no exception.

“I believe we should send an envoy to the Turks now and form an alliance,” Yuan Lang said excitedly.

Zhou Ruyuan still had reservations.

“Great Zhou has always been hostile to the Turks. If we ally with them now, it may look like colluding with the enemy.”

Others scoffed at his words.

“Your Majesty, this is no time to worry about formalities or moral propriety. The Imperial Preceptor is right—we should ally with the Turks and attack the court together.”

“At worst, after killing Shen Lanxi, that traitor, we can turn around and attack the Turks as well.”

“His Highness is right.”

“If Your Majesty is unwilling to ally with them, we could also stir up trouble between the Turks and the court. Once they go to war, we can reap the benefits.”

“Exactly—while the court sends troops against the Turks, we can seize Dongchuan.”

“In recent years Dongchuan has had abundant harvests, especially around Tong Pass—it’s practically become their granary. The first step in our campaign should be to capture Tong Pass.”

“Agreed.”

Zhou Ruyuan was more inclined toward provoking conflict.

“If we stir up trouble, who do you all think should be sent?”

Those who had just been enthusiastically offering suggestions immediately fell silent.

“Royal Uncle, who do you think would be suitable?”

Zhou Yanxing, ever shrewd, had already prepared an answer.

“Send the Dragon Might General under Your Majesty’s command. He is both brave and resourceful—he will surely accomplish the task.”

Those aligned with Zhou Yanxing immediately echoed him.

“The Dragon Might General’s prowess is well known to us all.”

“With his intelligence and the Imperial Preceptor’s counsel, he will certainly be able to provoke conflict between the Turks and the court.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s face darkened, anger surging in his heart.

They were eager to give orders, yet when it came time to act, each one shrank back.

Very well, then—

“Since that is the case, this matter will be entrusted to the Dragon Might General.”

“However, the general has recently been occupied with gathering provisions. If he is sent out, the task of collecting grain will fall to all of you, my ministers.”

Quite a few people’s expressions changed on the spot.

Who wasn’t short of grain?

Why should they gather provisions for Zhou Ruyuan’s troops?

“That’s settled. Court dismissed!”

…

Muli Kui had been waiting for a reply from the Turks. Before long, he heard that Shen Lanxi had conferred the title of marriage-alliance princess upon her own younger sister.

Although Shen Yuantang had been married before, she was still Shen Lanxi’s full sister. After careful thought, Muli Kui sent another letter to the Turks.

Unfortunately, before receiving a reply, he heard rumors that Zhou Ruyuan intended to ally with the Turks.

This alarmed Muli Kui.

The Great Zhou court was strong in troops and horses. Though the emperor was a woman, she enjoyed deep popular support.

During his days in the capital, everything he saw and heard was the common people praising Shen Lanxi.

And this was a woman!

Even when men had ruled before, he had never seen such a scene.

He naturally knew which side was the wiser choice.

The only reason the Turks had not replied quickly was a matter of saving face.

He could only hope their Khan would not cooperate with Zhou Ruyuan.

He had thought he could wait out the one-month deadline, but before the time was up, Shen Lanxi made her move.

“When two nations are at war, envoys are not executed. Muli Kui, you may return to the Turks.”

“Tell your Khan to prepare to meet Great Zhou on the battlefield.”

Muli Kui hurried to protest.

“The month has not yet passed. Our Khan will never ally with Zhou Ruyuan. Please grant us more time, Your Majesty.”

Shen Lanxi’s face was cold.

“There’s no need. The moment you entered the capital and proposed that the court cease receiving tribute, I already knew the Turks could not be relied upon as allies.”

“We in Great Zhou have a saying: a new emperor brings new ministers. The previous treaty was signed between me and Abu Kuan. If you now refuse to acknowledge it, I can understand.”

“Go, while I have not yet changed my mind.”

Watched—rather, escorted—by the Imperial Guards, Muli Kui was sent out of the capital, where they saw him off as he rode away at full speed, almost as if fleeing.

…

“The Turks have repeatedly provoked Great Zhou. Though we are a nation of propriety, we do not indulge villains.”

“After the armistice, Great Zhou traded with the Turks, never levying commercial taxes, and even funded the construction of a broad road leading directly to their lands. Yet they repay us like ungrateful wolves. Great Zhou cannot continue to tolerate this.”

“Send word to the northwest: we will soon go to war with the Turks!”

“Yes!”

Not long after court adjourned, the people of the capital learned that war was coming.

“Good—there’s no need to be so generous to the Turks!”

“Wipe them out and see if they dare make demands of Great Zhou again!”

“The Turks have long been a grave threat in the northwest. They should have been eliminated long ago.”

…

Northwest

“Is General Wei inside?”

“He is.”

“General, a message has arrived from the capital.”

Wei Dongzhu stepped forward, took the message, and read it.

“His Majesty says—war!”

The Northwestern Army had long been waiting for those words. Hearing that war was imminent, cheers erupted at once.

“Prepare my horse. I will inspect the troops!”

“Yes, General!”

As the deputy left, he nearly collided with a soldier.

“Food from the general’s residence again?”

The soldier shrank back, afraid of being scolded.

“They insisted on sending it. I tried to refuse, but the young master threatened me—said if I didn’t deliver it, I’d regret it.”

The deputy sighed helplessly.

Why did Qiao Niang have to do this?

“Take it in.”

“Yes.”

The soldier went in and soon came back out.

The deputy was still standing at the door.

“The general said not to send it. He told me to take it back,” the soldier said bitterly.

The deputy spoke earnestly.

“I’ve told you many times—if it needs to be delivered next time, Wei Yan won’t do anything to you. And if he dares lay a hand on you, report it to the general.”

The soldier looked terrified. “I wouldn’t dare!”

The deputy sighed and walked away, shaking his head.

Ever since returning to the northwest, they could all see that the general still had feelings for the emperor.

Even though he had brought Qiao Niang and the child back, he had only acknowledged the child’s status. Qiao Niang herself had been assigned the identity of a wet nurse.

As the child grew older and more perceptive, how could he accept his mother being treated as a mere nurse?

And Qiao Niang would never be content living as a servant.

With the mother and son constantly making small moves, the only one who truly suffered was their general.

…

Wei Dongzhu met with Shen Yuanjing, and the two immediately began discussing plans to attack the Turks.

“From what I know of His Majesty, she has probably intended to attack the Turks for a long time,” Wei Dongzhu said seriously.

Shen Yuanjing nodded. “This provocation was likely just a pretext.”

“In two months, it will be His Majesty’s birthday.”

They exchanged a glance, silently reaching the same conclusion:

They would take the Turks within two months.