Troubles erupt again on the border; Chengyou volunteers for duty.
Before the spring breeze of clean governance could spread throughout the entire Dajing territory, war reports from the northern border arrived in the capital like thunder. Taking advantage of Dajing's period of recuperation, the Khitan people secretly expanded their military strength and were now fully powerful. They brazenly tore up the peace treaty of many years ago and invaded the border in three routes—the eastern route plundered the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, the western route besieged Yanmen Pass, and the central route went straight to the important town of Shuozhou. Wherever they went, they burned, killed, and looted. Cities were destroyed, and people were displaced. The border guards fought hard but gradually became overwhelmed.
Urgent battle reports were delivered three times a day, and the atmosphere in the imperial palace was so tense it was almost suffocating. The emperor, staring at the border line stained red on the map, roared in fury: "Those Khitan barbarians, ungrateful and treacherous! I shall personally lead my army to raze their nest to the ground!"
The ministers all tried to dissuade him. Some suggested sending veteran generals to fight the enemy with their rich experience; others advocated strengthening the border defenses and using defense as a means to weaken the enemy's morale; still others proposed a marriage alliance to seek peace and temporarily avoid the enemy's sharp edge. Opinions were divided, and it was difficult to reach a consensus.
Standing among his ministers, Shen Chengyou looked at the battle report, which read, "Countless civilians have died or been wounded, and cities have fallen one after another." He recalled his grandfather, Shen Qingci, and his deeds of guarding the border and protecting the people. His heart surged with patriotic fervor. He stepped forward, knelt, and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, the Khitan are ambitious and have gone too far! If we yield today, they will surely become an even greater scourge in the future! I volunteer to go to the border to supervise the battle and assist the defending army in repelling the Khitan!"
Upon hearing this, the emperor hesitated: "Chengyou, you have done a good job in reforming the bureaucracy, but you have never had any experience in leading troops into battle. Border wars are dangerous, and swords have no eyes. How can I let you put yourself in danger?"
Standing to the side, Shen Nianqing quickly advised, "Your Majesty, Chengyou is young and impetuous, unaware of the cruelty of the battlefield. This matter concerns the safety of the nation; let the veteran generals who have been through many battles go."
“Father, Your Majesty,” Shen Chengyou looked up, his gaze firm as iron, “Although I have no practical combat experience, I have studied military strategy since childhood, and I have long been familiar with the military books and strategies left by my grandfather; this rectification of officialdom has also taught me how to unite people’s hearts and coordinate resources. The people on the border are suffering terribly, and as an official of the court, how can I sit idly by?”
He paused, his tone becoming increasingly earnest: "I swear on my life that once I reach the border, I will humbly learn from the veteran general, work together with the defending troops, and vow to fight to the death to repel the Khitan! If I fail to recover the lost territory, I am willing to offer my head to you!"
At this moment, Wang Ruoxi, dressed in court attire, calmly entered from outside the hall. Although a woman, she possessed exceptional intelligence and had often accompanied Shen Chengyou, offering him advice and strategies, earning the emperor's deep appreciation. Now, she knelt and bowed, saying loudly, "Your Majesty, Chengyou is known for his strategic acumen and sense of responsibility; his request to serve is not a spur-of-the-moment decision. I wish to accompany him to the border to treat the wounded soldiers, comfort the people, and be his strongest support. I beg Your Majesty's permission!"
Looking into the resolute eyes of the couple in the hall, and recalling Shen Qingci's courage in accepting the mission and guarding the border in a time of crisis, the emperor was slightly moved. He pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Very well! I will trust you this once!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the emperor rose and paced back and forth, saying in a loud voice: "I hereby appoint Shen Chengyou as deputy general, leading 10,000 elite cavalry to Shuozhou immediately to supervise the battle and control the border troops; I hereby bestow upon him the Imperial Sword, which allows him to act first and report later, and to act at his own discretion! Wang Ruoxi is appointed as 'pacification envoy', in charge of military medical care and the pacification of the people."
He looked at Shen Chengyou and said solemnly, "Your grandfather pacified the border with his own strength. Now I entrust this important task to you. I hope you can inherit the legacy of your ancestors, protect the territory of our Great Jing, and save the people from suffering!"
"Your Majesty, we obey!" Shen Chengyou and Wang Ruoxi kowtowed together, their voices firm and powerful. "We will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust and the people's expectations, and return in triumph as soon as possible!"
After the court session, the Shen family was bustling with activity. Shen Nianqing handed the long spear that had accompanied Shen Qingci in battle for many years to his son, his eyes filled with expectation and reluctance: "This spear has witnessed countless victories, and today I pass it on to you. Remember, on the battlefield, you must be brave and skillful in battle, but also have a kind heart, and never kill the innocent indiscriminately."
Li Yanran and Wang Ruoxi packed Shen Chengyou's bags together, preparing medicine for his injuries, dry food, and warm clothing. They repeatedly reminded him, "When you get to the border, you must take good care of yourself, think twice before you act, and never act impulsively."
Shen Chengyou held his wife's hand and said softly, "Ruoxi, the journey to the border is uncertain, I'm sorry to trouble you."
Wang Ruoxi shook her head, her eyes full of determination: "Chengyou, I don't understand the saying that husband and wife are like birds in the same forest, flying away separately when disaster strikes. If you go to war for the country, I will go with you, sharing life and death, never leaving you."
At dawn the next day, as the sun rose, Shen Chengyou, clad in armor and wielding a long spear, ascended the city wall with Wang Ruoxi, followed by ten thousand elite cavalrymen ready for battle. Looking down at the people and colleagues seeing them off, he silently vowed: "Grandfather, Father, I will not let you down. I will protect the land of Dajing!"
As the bugles sounded and warhorses neighed, Shen Chengyou led his army, galloping towards the border. A fierce battle concerning the safety of the nation and the lives of its people was about to begin.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
