“It is no easy task for Your Majesty to build a defensive line,” Dong Dahai continued. “To build a defensive line, you need both manpower and money.”
However, our years of fighting against various rebel groups have depleted our national treasury and impoverished our people.
Zhou Jian nodded repeatedly: "Your Majesty, to put it bluntly, we can't even catch any laborers now."
"We have to think of a way, right?" Qian Renxue was already furious, but no matter how angry she got, it was useless.
"Your Majesty, even a skilled cook cannot make a meal without rice. If you want us to resist the Khitan cavalry, Your Majesty must provide us with food and troops."
“But our troops are already trapped on the front lines. Are we going to move these 20,000 garrison troops out of the city?” Dong Dahai asked rhetorically.
"Your Majesty, if I may speak ill of this, what would be the real consequences if our 20,000 garrison were to be annihilated by the Khitan cavalry outside the city? They would be unimaginable."
The civil and military officials discussed it for a long time, but they couldn't come to a conclusion.
Instead, it was the unanimous demand of these civil and military officials that the imperial court provide the funds.
"Everyone, do you really want to just stand by and watch 100,000 Khitan cavalry charge into the capital? Do you expect the Heavenly Ladder to let you off the hook then?" Empress Qian Renxue's face turned pale with anger.
There was silence on the scene.
Not a single person stood up and said a word.
"Dismiss the court!" Qian Renxue roared.
"Dismiss the court..." Chief eunuch Lü Fang quickly cleared his throat and shouted.
Qian Renxue stormed off to the Imperial Study in a huff.
Lü Fang followed closely behind.
“A bunch of incompetent fools. When it really matters, I don’t have a single person by my side who can stand up for me.” Qian Renxue sat down.
Several palace maids quickly stepped forward.
Lu Fang winked at several palace maids.
The palace maids quickly withdrew.
“Lu Fang, now that things have come to this, we can only pin our hopes on Princess Xue’er. If Princess Xue’er can successfully marry into the Xiongnu, and the Xiongnu Chanyu can send 100,000 troops to help us deal with the Khitan cavalry, then the Great Xia Dynasty will still have a glimmer of hope.”
The eunuch Lü Fang shook his head: "Your Majesty, this old servant just received a message by carrier pigeon that Princess Xue'er's wedding procession was ambushed by the Khitan cavalry."
Lei Zhen, deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, died in battle.
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's face turned pale, and the teacup in the Empress's hand fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
The tea spilled onto the carpet, but Empress Qian Renxue was completely unaware of it.
"These Khitan traitors have shattered my last hope. Looking across the entire Great Xia Dynasty, who can I rely on?"
Empress Qian Renxue muttered to herself, and it was clear that the woman's expression was slowly turning cold.
"Your Majesty, this old servant has a candidate. This person has already occupied three cities of Dragon City."
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue coldly asked, "Are you referring to that nameless nobody named Jiang Tian? I already know that he might also become a rebel."
If this person does not emerge, he will surely become a major threat to our Great Xia.
But now, the Great Xia has so many major threats to its rule.
Qian Renxue propped up one arm to support her forehead.
“Your Majesty, Jiang Tian is no ordinary rebel.” Lü Fang stepped forward. “This old servant has met with Jiang Tian, and he is not a bandit who rules the mountains.”
This woman has an exceptionally large chest and extraordinary abilities; under her rule, the people of the three cities of Dragon City live a prosperous life.
"So what?" Empress Qian Renxue was already somewhat disheartened.
"Your Majesty may not know this, but when the Khitan's 100,000 iron cavalry approached the Great Wall, Zhang Shicheng's 50,000 troops were pressing straight towards Longcheng."
Before I left, Jiang Tian had already wiped out more than 10,000 of Zhang Shicheng's rebel troops.
"In Longcheng, this old servant witnessed Jiang Tian and his men kill over 40,000 of Zhang Shicheng's 50,000 troops and capture over 10,000."
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue immediately sat up straight.
The Empress was well aware of the fighting capabilities of Zhang Shicheng's rebel army.
The imperial army of hundreds of thousands has been fighting against various rebel forces for the past few years.
However, the imperial army of hundreds of thousands has never easily eliminated more than 50,000 enemy soldiers.
"How many men does Jiang Tian have that he could achieve such outstanding results?"
“Less than 5,000, but they are all elite soldiers, each one capable of taking on ten men.” After Lu Fang finished speaking, he knelt down. “Your Majesty, if we can offer Jiang Tian amnesty and generous terms, and have him quell the rebellion for our court, then we will have no need to beg the Xiongnu.”
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue nodded repeatedly.
"Lu Fang, sit down and tell me properly about Jiang Tian. I am becoming more and more interested in Jiang Tian."
A eunuch brought over a stool.
He helped the trembling Lü Fang sit down.
"Your Majesty, speaking of this Jiang Tian..."
Lü Fang spoke for more than two hours.
During this time, the old eunuch did not pause even once.
“Lu Fang, just now in the court, Zhou Chaoxian’s words reminded me that we cannot drive away the hungry wolf and then invite the fierce tiger.”
Could Jiang Tian be another fierce tiger?
Lu Fang was stunned.
After a while, Lü Fang slowly said, "Your Majesty, Jiang Tian is an extraordinary man. Although he currently only occupies three cities, his potential is the greatest."
If he can be used by me, I will be extremely grateful.
If this man cannot be used by us, he will become the court's number one enemy in a few years, and by then it will be much more difficult to judge him.
For Empress Qian Renxue, there are simply not many options left.
When faced with two evils, choose the lesser one.
"Even if it's like drinking poison to quench my thirst, I have to drink this cup of poison. Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable." Qian Renxue sighed again, her beautiful face full of sorrow.
"The princess's marriage to the Xiongnu cannot be stopped; we still need to send capable people over there."
Qian Renxue is currently only treating the symptoms, not the root cause. This woman, however, hopes that the Xiongnu people can also get involved.
Regardless of who has the last laugh, Qian Renxue hopes that the Xiongnu and the various rebel armies will kill each other.
"Your Majesty, could we postpone Princess Xue'er's marriage to the Xiongnu for the time being?"
"No, you must send someone to tell Grand Secretary Pang Hao to select people to escort the princess to continue the marriage alliance with the Xiongnu." Qian Renxue's attitude was very firm. "This matter cannot be taken lightly. As long as the Xiongnu agree to send troops, I will agree to whatever they want."
"promise……"
...
The courtyard of Grand Secretary Pang Hao.
The rebel leader Li Chuang stood respectfully in the middle of the courtyard: "Steward, I wonder if the Grand Secretary is available now?"
The steward came over and looked at Li Chuang: "The Grand Secretary is waiting for you in the study. General Li, please go in quickly."
"Thank you, Steward." Li Chuang took out a silver note containing 20,000 taels of silver from his sleeve. "It's just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it."
The steward took the silver note and tucked it into his sleeve: "Your Excellency is too kind. Your Excellency is the right-hand man of our Grand Secretary. With Your Excellency's assistance, the Great Xia Dynasty's empire will be secure..."
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