Alliances
"Assholes, a bunch of trash! Damn southern barbarians!"
Helian Bo's eyes were bloodshot. Under his feet was a shattered jade cup, with crystal fragments and spilled wine all over the place. A Western Qiang scout was kneeling on the ground, trembling, with clear whip marks on his face.
"Three thousand people! Just three thousand fucking people! And they were led by a woman! They drove me out of Qinghe? Ah?" Helian Bo kicked over the low table in front of him, and the map and command arrows on it fell to the ground.
He felt like he had been slapped hard in the face in public.
"What Princess Mingzhu? Who is Ning Lingyi? I'm going to skin her alive and set her on fire!" He grabbed the scimitar on the wall and shouted.
"Send the order! Call all the men around who can be mobilized! The Kulun tribe, the Agula tribe, and those dependent soldiers, all gather here for me!" His voice was hoarse, as if he was very angry.
If this news gets to the Qiang King, his life will be in danger.
"I'm going to flatten Qinghe! I'm going to use the blood of everyone in this city to wash away this humiliation! Get out!"
The scouts crawled back out.
Helian Bo's chest heaved violently. He would never tolerate being toyed with by a woman, and he would not allow this shame to be reported back to the royal court. Qinghe must wash away his shame with the most tragic death!
*
The atmosphere in Qinghe government office was solemn.
The news brought back by the scouts made everyone's heart sink to the bottom.
Helian Bo was furious and was frantically gathering troops with the intention of massacring the city to vent his anger. The Western Qiang people were already ferocious, and now they were coming with anger, their momentum would surely be even more fierce. The traces of new repairs on the city wall had not yet dried, the defenders were exhausted, and the consumption of arrows and food was huge. How could they withstand the fierce attack of more than ten thousand cavalry?
"Every word you said before was true. The revenge of the Western Qiang is imminent. In your opinion, how should we respond now?" Ning Lingyi looked at Nong Zishi.
Nong Zishi bowed, his expression solemn. "Your Highness, the enemy and I are vastly different in strength. Even if we can temporarily hold back the enemy by defending Qinghe, it won't last. Our only option now, if we want to break this deadlock, is to borrow their strength."
"Borrow strength? From whom? The imperial court?" Ning Lingyi raised a bitter smile.
"No." Nong Zishi shook his head. "The imperial court regards Heshuo as a discarded child and Your Highness as a traitor. There is no way they would send troops. I am referring to Beishuo."
"Beishu?" Ning Lingyi looked up suddenly.
She thought of Tuoba Hong. It had been a long time since she last saw him.
But at this moment, it is inappropriate for Beishuo to join the battle.
Her eyes were filled with resistance. "Sir, don't you know the principle of inviting a wolf into the house? What's the difference between the Northern Shuo Tuoba clan and the Western Qiang? Joining forces with them is like trying to get the skin of a tiger."
"Your Highness is wise." Nong Zishi did not back down and analyzed calmly.
"Beishuo is indeed a formidable force, but the situation has changed. Firstly, Beishuo suffered a severe snowstorm, and countless cattle and sheep in the tribe froze to death. Their strength has been weakened, and they are no longer at their peak. Secondly, they still have an alliance with our dynasty, which, while in name only, serves as a pretext for sending troops."
He paused and looked at Ning Lingyi: "The third point is also the most crucial one."
"Beishuo Khan Tuoba Hong is Your Highness's nominal fiancé. Although both nations are aware of the subtleties of this agreement, it is still a layer of involvement. Fourthly, Tuoba Hong is a man of great talent and vision, and is by no means a foolish or short-sighted person."
Ning Lingyi frowned, "Just because he's not stupid, how could he be willing to be used by me?"
"He will naturally not be willing to be used by us."
Nong Zishi continued, "But he certainly won't sit idly by and watch the Western Qiang devour the fat piece of meat in Heshuo. The Western Qiang's sudden capture of two towns is the perfect opportunity for others to take advantage. If my prediction is correct, Tuoba Hong must have already deployed his troops on the border, waiting for the right moment to march south to claim a share."
"Your Highness, the Western Qiang are a raging fire before us, capable of incinerating us in an instant. And the Northern Shuo, perhaps a distant flood, can be diverted into the canal and temporarily drown the fire. While this may leave a lasting legacy, it could offer a glimmer of hope. Between two evils, choose the lesser of two evils."
Ning Lingyi remained silent. Nong Zishi's analysis was so insightful that she could not refute it.
But cooperating with Beishuo, especially dealing with people like Tuoba Hong, made her feel repulsed from the bottom of her heart. Judging from the time she had spent with Tuoba Hong, Tuoba Hong was by no means simple.
He was able to send his younger siblings away on his own initiative before, but now it was hard for her to trust him because she could not agree to this.
She hesitated, unable to make a decision. "But sir, if we lead Tuoba Hong south, wouldn't the people of Heshuo just be escaping from a wolf's den and walking right back into a tiger's mouth? This is absolutely unacceptable. Let's just forget it."
Nong Zishi watched her struggle and suddenly asked, "Your Highness, are you aware that there's a brothel in Qinghe City where the madam specifically seeks out the daughters of poor families who can't make a living, buys them for a small sum of money, teaches them some singing and dancing skills, and then forces them to welcome the new and send off the old?"
Ning Lingyi was stunned, not understanding why he suddenly mentioned this.
Nong Zishi didn't wait for her to answer and continued, "My neighbor's daughter-in-law gets up early and goes to bed late every day, doing laundry, cooking, and serving her parents-in-law and husband. She is often blamed and often gets beaten black and blue. I often see her crying silently, but she dares not say a word."
"I have a friend who has studied hard for twenty years, but has repeatedly failed in the examinations. He is now only a student. To make a living, he can only teach in a rural elementary school. He earns only a few taels of silver a year. His elderly mother and sick wife are at home, and they often have no food."
"Some time ago, before the Western Qiang arrived, I could see old farmers outside the city every morning carrying firewood or seasonal vegetables, walking more than ten miles into the city to sell them. With a few coins, they might be able to buy a liter of brown rice to keep their family from starving. But if they were driven away by officials or extorted by bullies, their hard work would be in vain."
Ning Lingyi became increasingly puzzled: "Sir, why are you suddenly telling me these trivial matters?"
Nong Zishi took a deep breath, lifted his skirt, and knelt solemnly in front of Ning Lingyi, admonishing him in a deep voice: "Your Highness, these are not trivial matters. This is the life of all living beings. Are they suffering? They are suffering beyond words, but they are still alive."
"As long as you're alive, there's hope for survival, and the possibility of waiting for a hint of sweetness. If you're dead, you won't even be able to complain about the bitterness."
Nong Zishi did not give Ning Lingyi a chance to breathe and continued to speak.
"Your Highness's hesitation at this moment is out of kindness and compassion, and it's a good thing. However, on the battlefield, there is no room for mercy! If you hesitate today due to a small lack of patience, once the Western Qiang cavalry arrives tomorrow, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Qinghe will be destroyed!"
"By then, the wolves' den and tiger's mouth you mentioned will no longer mean anything to them, because they will have become dry bones under the scorched earth!"
"If you can't bear the small things, you will definitely give up the big things! This plan may attract Beishuo, which will bring new hardships, and even thousands of people will die in the subsequent war."
"But if we don't make this decision, the whole city will be wiped out. Your Highness, this is a chaotic world. We are trying to survive in the cracks. It's like choosing between two cups of poisoned wine. Maybe choosing one will delay the onset, but we have no choice."
Ning Lingyi was shocked. How could this happen? How did it come to this?
She had read so many history books and military strategies, in which the outcome of a war was summarized in just a few words, and the rise and fall of dynasties were written in a few lines. No one had ever told her that behind every decision were thousands of lives.
The burden was so heavy that she could hardly breathe.
She was afraid that her decision would push more people into the abyss. She really couldn't make this decision. She was afraid that she would see the eyes of countless people in her dreams at night.
She was not born to be a commander, so how could she easily decide other people's life and death?
Nong Zishi saw her fear and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Heshuo is abandoned by the imperial court. We, the Mingzhu Guard, are only a few thousand men, and we are surrounded by powerful enemies. We can only use this strategy of forming alliances and finding a glimmer of hope in this precarious situation. This may be a risky move, but it is our only chance of survival."
Ning Lingyi closed her eyes, and her mind flashed back to the young faces of the wounded soldiers in the camp, the Pearl Banner fluttering in the wind above the city walls, and the turbid yet expectant eyes of the old mother who blocked her way...
"Is there no other way?" she asked hoarsely.
Nong Zishi sighed and said, "We have no reinforcements, no weapons, no supplies, no food, only your Highness's Pearl Guards and tens of thousands of civilians in the city. Your Highness, what else can we do?"
Ning Lingyi understood that he was telling the truth.
But the truth is even more cruel.
Nong Zishi observed the struggle on Ning Lingyi's face, then changed his tone and continued, "Your Highness, this plan is risky, but not hopeless. By borrowing Beishuo's strength, we can temporarily drive back Helian Bo. With this respite, Your Highness can continue to march north and reclaim more lost territory. Once you have fully developed your forces, there's no need to worry about not being able to keep Beishuo out of the country, completely annihilate the Western Qiang wolves, and truly recover Heshuo."
Ning Lingyi opened her eyes and said, "Sir, your words are magnificent, but this is like trying to pick chestnuts from charcoal."
"Take chestnuts out of the charcoal?"
Nong Zishi looked directly at Ning Lingyi, "Your Highness! You've decided to lead 3,000 personal guards north to Heshuo. Since you dared to take such a life-threatening gamble back then, why don't you dare take another risky move today and fight for the future of these tens of thousands of lives?"
He knelt and took a step forward. "Your Highness, are you willing to sit back and watch Helian Bo's army march across the border, allowing the people to be slaughtered?"
"Of course not!" Ning Lingyi almost blurted out.
Nong Zishi said, "Since that's the case, Your Highness, you must drink the poisoned wine before you. This is the right way to survive in these troubled times and make steady progress!"
She finally stood up and helped Nong Zishi up: "Sir, every word you said is heartbreaking. Lingyi understands. What should we do?"
Nong Zishi's eyes flashed with relief, and he immediately said, "I am willing to personally lead a team of capable men to the north to find Tuoba Hong's army, explain the pros and cons, and tempt them with the benefits of the three towns of Heshuo, and invite them to jointly attack the Western Qiang."
"Your Highness, you must immediately mobilize the entire city's military and civilians, strengthen the city's defenses, and prepare to deal with the Western Qiang. As long as we can hold out for a while and delay Helian Bo's main force, I will attract the Beishuo troops, and perhaps we can work together inside and outside to inflict heavy damage on the Western Qiang!"
"If..." Ning Lingyi's throat tightened.
"What if you can't find Tuoba Hong, or if he refuses to send troops?"
Nong Zishi smiled calmly, a smile that held a certain detachment. "When Your Highness first decided to go north, the worst you could have imagined was dying on the battlefield, sacrificing your life for your country. I, too, have the same thought in mind as I head north today."
"If we succeed, Hebei will have a temporary respite; if we fail, it will only be a death, and I will have no regrets."
Ning Lingyi was moved. It turned out that she was not alone in this world. She had such a kind-hearted and brave person to accompany her.
She no longer hesitated, walked to the table, spread out the silk, picked up the pen and wrote quickly. In just a few words, she wrote down the intention of the alliance and stamped it with her own small seal.
She handed the silk to Nong Zishi and said, "Take care, sir. Qinghe and I are waiting for your news."
Nong Zishi solemnly took the letter, hid it close to his body, and bowed deeply: "Take care, Your Highness!"
Without saying anything more, he turned around and strode away, his figure quickly disappearing in the cold wind outside the mansion gate.
Ning Lingyi stood there in silence for a moment, then took a deep breath: "Wang Mengzi!"
"I will be here!"
"Send a message to the entire army! Everyone is mobilized immediately. All those who can move, reinforce the city walls, dig trenches, and make arrow logs! Tell everyone in the city that the Western Qiang army will arrive soon and intends to massacre everyone! If you want to survive, join us and defend Qinghe!"
"Yes!" Wang Mengzi clasped his fists and accepted the order, then rushed out quickly.
The heavy sound of the horn soon resounded over Qinghe City.
This city, which had just experienced war and had not yet recovered, mobilized again. The men carried tools and ran to the city wall, and the women hurried to make dry food and take care of the wounded. Everyone had fear on their face, but under the Pearl flag, they burst out with the tenacity to survive.
Ning Lingyi climbed to the top of the city wall and looked at the vast sky and earth line in the distance.
The cold wind blew up her cloak, making it rustle.
She didn't know whether Nong Zishi would succeed, what Tuoba Hong's attitude would be, or how long she could hold the city. But she knew that from now on, every decision would be of great weight, and the lives of many people would rest on her shoulders.
At this moment, she finally understood what it meant to be lonely at the top.
She gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, looking calmly towards the north, waiting for the coming bloody storm.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
