Who else but me?

It's late at night.

The charcoal fire in the central army tent was almost gone, leaving only a few dark red embers.

Ning Lingyi was wrapped in a half-worn black cloak and had not slept yet. The latest border maps and letters from the capital were spread out on the desk. The ink was not yet dry, and the candlelight cast a swaying shadow on her quiet profile.

When she was reviewing the documents just now, some ink stains accidentally got on her fingertips. She stood up and walked to the copper basin in the corner, and slowly scrubbed it with half of the basin's cold water.

The water was so cold that it made her fingertips numb slightly.

This feeling made her dazed for a moment.

Many years ago, in the palace, her hands had never touched such cold water.

At that time, she lived in Xuehan Palace.

Xuehan Palace...what a nice name. When you open the window, you can see the spring scenery all over the palace, and you can hear the clear sound of wind chimes under the eaves.

She is the daughter of Concubine Yu and the emperor's favorite, Princess Mingzhu.

My father has many children, but his appreciation for her is obvious to everyone inside and outside the palace.

When she first learned to read, it was her father who held her on his lap, held her hand, and traced each stroke of the Chinese characters. When she practiced martial arts and archery, the bow she used was carefully crafted by the imperial court, and even her teacher was carefully selected by her father, and was patient and strict.

Her mother, Concubine Yu, poured all her tenderness into her.

My mother was born in the common people, has seen the mundane world, understands the hardships of farming, and does not have any of the arrogance of a lady from an aristocratic family.

She taught Ning Lingyi to identify the five grains and distinguish between mulberry and hemp, and told her how ordinary people outside the palace lived; she also taught her poetry, books and etiquette, but not for her to use them to show off her talents, but to understand reason and cultivate herself.

"Lingyi," her mother often held her hand, "you are a princess. It is your right to enjoy the best things in this world. But you must remember that behind this right is the support of the people. You can enjoy it, but you must not take it for granted, and you must not forget your original intention."

She really has a lot of love.

The emperor's appreciation, the mother's kindness, the palace maids' respect, the sisters' companionship...

There might be occasional jealousy and small disagreements, but in that magnificent palace, her world was bright and warm.

What was your biggest worry at that time?

It was during the horse riding and archery class. He could never aim at the swaying bull's eye of the target, so his master punished him by making him practice for half an hour longer. Blisters formed on his palms, and he went back and cried bitterly to his mother.

She and a sister had a quarrel over who would choose a new tribute pearl flower first. They were so angry that they ignored each other. But half a day later, they made up because they chased a rare butterfly together.

Maybe she felt that the cherry yogurt made in the small kitchen today was a little overcooked, or that the color of the new spring clothes sent by the Shangyi Bureau was not bright enough. She would frown slightly, and the palace servants would hurriedly replace and correct them.

Her tongue was spoiled by the world's top chefs in the palace.

She can tell the difference between how many years of ham is used to enhance the flavor of a first-class soup and how many times the pastry of a pastry needs to be kneaded repeatedly until it melts in the mouth.

But now...

Ning Lingyi lowered her eyelashes and looked at her blurry reflection in the copper basin.

What she eats now is the same food as the most ordinary soldiers.

Corn rice mixed with various grains, occasionally with a few pickles whose original color can't be seen. If you're lucky, there will be a few scattered drops of oil floating in the soup.

She knew that this was the result of Chen Zhiwei, Zhou Yingxue and others doing their best to coordinate and provide support.

Many soldiers on the front lines cannot even have enough food like this every day.

She knows everything.

She knew that the food was hard for her to swallow and even made her want to vomit; she knew that the hard bed beneath her was far less comfortable than the soft and thick velvet-covered Qiangong Babu bed in Xue Han Palace; she knew that this military tent with drafts on all sides was a world apart from her palace room which was warm like spring all year round and filled with the faint fragrance of plum blossoms.

How did fate push her to where she is today?

Did it begin with the Guangqi Incident, when she hurriedly left the capital? Did it begin with the fall of Heshuo and her vow to restore it? Or did it begin even earlier, when she, unwilling to be just a princess admiring flowers and chasing butterflies, begged her father, the emperor, and her mother to let her study and practice martial arts?

She can no longer remember.

She only knew that she was standing here, with a vast country and millions of people behind her.

What he carries on his shoulders is the fate of the country that is almost crushing him.

Deep down, she was not fearless.

She would be afraid too.

She feared a defeat, the Northern Shuo cavalry would overrun the mountains and rivers, and she would become a criminal of the Southern Dynasty. How would the history books describe her stubbornness and her warmongering?

I am afraid that war will break out and people will suffer. I am afraid that the brother and sister who are digging wild vegetables on the edge of the field will eventually not be able to escape the flames of war. I am afraid that tragedies like the one in Yehuling will happen in more places.

These fears, like vines growing in the dark night, quietly entangled her heart.

But she couldn't say it.

He could not show any weakness in front of his generals, in front of his ministers, or even in front of his closest followers like Su Qingfan and Zhou Yingxue.

She is the head coach and the pillar, and she must be the one who always firmly gives confidence to others.

The howling wind outside the tent disturbed her heart.

Ning Lingyi walked back to the desk, her eyes swept across the secret report about Prime Minister Wang's illness, and then fell on the several battle points on the map that were circled in red ink.

An unprecedented loneliness, like the chill in the tent, seeps into the body bit by bit.

She suddenly had an absurd idea.

There may be only one person in this world who can understand the weight she is carrying at this moment, and who can discuss with her on an equal footing the future of billions of lives after victory or defeat.

That person was her mortal enemy, Tuoba Hong.

She pondered for a long time, and actually spread out a piece of plain paper, ground ink and picked up the pen.

The letter was very short, just a few words, straight to the point without any greetings.

"Tuoba Khan: If you win this battle and I lose, and take control of the Central Plains, how will you treat my Southern Dynasty soldiers and civilians?"

After writing, she sealed the letter and called her trusted guards: "Find a way to deliver it to Tuoba Hong."

A hint of astonishment flashed across the guard's eyes, but he didn't ask any more questions and left.

*

In the Mobei royal court, a charcoal fire was blazing inside the golden-roofed tent, and the air was filled with the aroma of wine and meat.

Tuoba Hong held the text message that had been delivered to him and read it three times, his thick black eyebrows tightly furrowed.

Ning Lingyi?

At this critical moment when the two armies were facing each other and the battle was in full swing, she sent such a letter? What was her intention? A sign of weakness? A test? Or some kind of strategy that he had not yet seen through?

He waved his hand to dismiss the singing and dancing foreign girls and the servants serving wine in the tent, and fell into deep thought over the few words.

He recalled his battles with Ning Lingyi over the years.

At first, he thought strength was everything.

His cavalry roamed the northern desert, invincible. The Western Qiang wailed and surrendered under his hooves. He thought that the Southern Dynasty was just another fatter prey.

But Ning Lingyi made him witness another kind of power.

It was not simply force, but a terrifying power that he did not understand.

Why were the soldiers of the Southern Dynasty willing to fight to the death for her? Why did the common people kneel and weep on the roadside, calling her their reborn parent? Why, even after her "death," did her former followers still unite and unleash a tremendous force?

Because she gave them a way out.

Distributing land, redeeming slaves, cracking down on corruption, promoting education... Tuoba Hong was not completely unaware of all the things she did.

He once scoffed at it, thinking it was a woman's kindness and a waste of energy.

But as time went by, he gradually discovered that it was these "womanly kindnesses" that built the foundation of Ning Lingyi.

The warriors under his command were indeed brave, but that was based on the wealth and glory that Tuoba Hong was invincible and could bring them. If one day he were defeated, these people would immediately scatter like birds and beasts, or even turn against him.

And if Ning Lingyi loses, I'm afraid there will be countless people willing to fight and die for her and stand firm for her.

The difference between them made Tuoba Hong feel inexplicably irritated, as well as a hint of admiration that he himself was unwilling to admit.

He picked up the pen and dipped it in ink.

Since she asked, he answered truthfully.

On this issue concerning the world situation, he disdains and has no need to lie.

She, Ning Lingyi, is a natural born saint, so how can he, Tuoba Hong, not be a genius?

"Ning Lingyi: If Heaven's will favors me and I rule the Central Plains, I will emulate Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty, integrating the Han and the Hu peoples, promoting culture and education, and encouraging agriculture and sericulture. Iron cavalry can conquer the world, but to rule it, we must rely on the laws and regulations of your Southern Dynasty and the hearts of the people. At that time, there will be no Northern or Southern Dynasties, only the Xin Dynasty, and we will be the common ruler of the world, inheriting the legitimate orthodoxy and ushering in eternal peace."

He wrote very slowly, and every word and sentence was the result of his deep thinking over the past few years.

He had long understood that conquest and plunder could not sustain long-term rule over this vast and civilized land.

After sending the letter, Tuoba Hong drank alone for half the night, looking at the cold starry sky of Mobei outside the tent, and actually felt a little bit of anticipation for Ning Lingyi's reply.

*

When Ning Lingyi received the reply, she was inspecting a section of the city wall that was in urgent need of repair.

After opening the letter and seeing Tuoba Hong's reply which showed no concealment of his ambition, she was indeed surprised.

She originally thought that, given Tuoba Hong's arrogance, he would respond with arrogant words like "Those who obey me will prosper, and those who defy me will perish", or even show off his military power more directly.

Unexpectedly, he also saw this step, thought of sinicization, thought of integration, and thought of "common ruler of the world".

This opponent was more far-sighted and more terrifying than she had imagined.

She stood at the edge of the broken city wall, the cold wind blowing her hair in front of her forehead.

She thought for a long time, then picked up the pen again.

"Tuoba Khan is a man of great talent and vision, worthy of admiration. However, sinicization is not a one-day undertaking; integration requires centuries. The Khan's arrogant and valiant generals, who delight in plunder and take pride in conquest, would likely sit idly by and allow the Khan to elevate the southerners, whom they once regarded as mere sheep, to their own level?"

"Forcing a union between different foundations is probably not a blessing. If the world must have a ruler who leads all people, allows them to recuperate and continue the cultural heritage..."

The tip of the pen paused here, and the ink spread slightly on the paper.

Before Ning Lingyi's eyes, the plum blossoms in Xuehan Palace, the gentle eyes of her mother, the frightened faces of the brother and sister who were digging wild vegetables, and the resolute back of the Yehuling defender before he died for his country seemed to flash by.

After all, she and Tuoba Hong are different.

He only began to learn how to govern after conquering the country; but she, who was born and raised here, had an innate responsibility to govern with benevolence and educate the people.

Without further hesitation, she poured out her thoughts: "It's easy for the Khan to establish authority through force, but it's harder to win hearts and minds through benevolence and teaching. Since I became regent, I've distributed land, redeemed captives, eradicated corruption, and established education for women. The people don't fear my military might, but rather feel gratitude for my generosity. This difference is the foundation."

"Furthermore, even if the Khan wishes to exercise benevolent rule and restrain the tribes, preventing them from looting and bullying the people, it would be like tying a tiger to a thin rope. If he is not careful, the world will be in turmoil and war will break out again. This is not what the Khan wants, but it is the evil consequence he will inevitably bear, and it is also destined to lead to the resurgence of chaos in the world."

"On the contrary, if I were to rule this world, the people of Beishu would also be my people. My policies and education would follow. I would distribute fields and pastures to them, teach them how to farm and weave, and guide them to integrate into the Chinese nation. Great peace under the world begins with the implementation of laws and ends with the loyalty of the people. Therefore, for the sake of all people and for the sake of long-term peace and stability—"

She took a deep breath and wrote the last sentence.

"Let me do it."

*

When Tuoba Hong received the reply letter and read it, he was stunned at first, and then he laughed softly.

The laughter was light at first, then gradually became louder, echoing in the empty golden tent, with a hint of self-mockery, a hint of understanding, and a hint of the exhilaration of meeting a worthy opponent.

"That's great! Let me do it!" He clapped his hands in admiration. "Ning Lingyi, ah Ning Lingyi, you are so... arrogant and adorable!"

He seemed to be able to see the pride that flashed across the calm eyes of the woman in black clothes and plain face when she wrote this sentence.

She wasn't being provocative, she was stating a fact that she took for granted.

She really thought that she would defeat him and that she could rule the world.

Tuoba Hong smiled and held the piece of letter paper close to the flame of the tallow candle.

The orange-red flames licked the edge of the paper, spreading rapidly, devouring the ink, and finally turning into a small pile of ash, floating down.

He doesn't need to keep the letter.

Everything that needs to be said has been said, and everything that needs to be understood has been understood by both parties.

What remains is to see the real results on the battlefield.

Let’s see who this will of heaven belongs to.

Fate pushed them to opposite ends, and there was no other way but to move forward.