Chapter 89: Speed is of the essence in military operations; I urge Father Emperor to make a decision immediately! ...
The hall, which was bustling with discussion just a second ago, fell silent the next second after Jiang Chen finished speaking.
There were no recommended generals, no one to bring their own forces to the forefront. The only general mentioned, He Zhiju, was the Crown Prince's brother-in-law. Even so, the Crown Prince only assigned him the task of escorting troops, without securing any authority for him to lead an army. Even when the Crown Prince wanted to lead the army himself...
Everyone present was shocked.
"Speed is of the essence in war. The situation at the front is critical. I urge Father to make a decision as soon as possible."
The Crown Prince spoke again, and everyone present snapped out of their daze. Immediately, an official stepped forward to object: "Absolutely not! The Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the nation, the cornerstone of Great Xia. How can he risk his life to go to the northern frontier?"
"Then I urge you gentlemen to discuss and devise a plan as soon as possible!"
Jiang Chen sternly interrupted the official's affected words, "The battlefield is not a drill. Soldiers are sacrificing themselves on the front lines every moment. The time gained by the swift marchers, who have lost several horses, is not for you to argue!"
His eyes were cold and sharp, and wherever his gaze swept across, those who met his eyes felt a chill run down their spines. This was the first time the Crown Prince had revealed his sharp edge, and every word he spoke was powerful and resounding.
"Our Great Xia's military equipment is already scarce, and the troops in the northern border are even more insufficient. Over the years, it is thanks to General Qi, General Liu, He Zhiju and others that the northern barbarian troops have been able to defend the border and prevent them from trampling into our Great Xia territory. Now that the border is in dire need of attention, what is being done in the Xia capital?"
"Besides, which of the soldiers fighting on the front lines isn't a son, a husband, and a father? Are they all people without fathers or mothers, without children, and without siblings or close relatives? As a fellow citizen of Great Xia, I really can't understand you all."
In the main hall, Jiang Chen could see everyone's expressions clearly. His stern gaze swept across the entire hall, finally landing on the face of Prince Huan. He glanced at him indifferently, then looked up again at the head of the hall: "Regardless of which general is dispatched, I urge Father to make a decision as soon as possible!"
Although the emperor's gaze towards the crown prince still held scrutiny, it also held a hint of surprise. He hadn't expected the crown prince to think this way, but the crown prince's words had given him a wake-up call. He turned to the assembled ministers and asked in a deep voice, "Do any of you ministers have any objections?"
"minister......"
In a corner, a minister tried to speak, but was quickly stopped by those around him. Then, the hall fell into complete silence.
"Very well, since all the ministers have no objections, then issue the decree that the garrison in Hejian Prefecture shall immediately break camp and head north, and that each of the three prefectures in the northern border shall dispatch 20,000 troops to reinforce the northern frontier. Liu Qin, the General of the Northern Garrison, shall be the commander-in-chief, Lu Zhanming, the General of Hejian Prefecture, shall be the deputy commander, and Wu Wanglin shall accompany the army into battle to revitalize the military prestige of our Great Xia border!"
As the imperial edict was issued, all the officials and princes in the hall knelt down and shouted that His Majesty was wise. Jiang Lin, who had just been enfeoffed as the Prince of Wu, showed a hint of surprise on his face, but the next moment he was pulled to kneel down to express his gratitude by the Prince of Tai. The Prince of Zhao had an inscrutable expression, while the Prince of Huan was calm and composed.
The emperor's gaze finally fell on the crown prince, who knelt down to receive the decree like everyone else, but his face remained expressionless.
"The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War should take stock of the grain and troops. Once the stock is complete, they should immediately head north. With the war at hand, the northern frontier is the priority."
After giving his last instructions, the emperor rose and walked toward the back of the main hall. His chief eunuch, Feng Xu, stepped forward and announced the end of the court session. After everyone had left, he stepped forward and called to the crown prince, "Your Highness, please move to the Imperial Study."
The princes were the last to leave, and by sheer coincidence, everyone overheard this remark. Jiang Chen stepped forward, and then heard Feng Xu respectfully say again, "Your Highness Prince Huan, please also come along."
Their eyes met briefly in mid-air before they simultaneously looked away.
Today, there was no ambergris in the Imperial Study. Instead, white mist with the aroma of medicinal herbs drifted out from the incense burner. Jiang Chen and Jiang Yu stood in front of the desk, both bowing their heads.
"Today, the Crown Prince volunteered to go north in the palace, which is very good. If the Crown Prince were to lead the troops on the front lines, it would surely boost morale. However, Xu Zhen is also right. The Crown Prince should not risk his life unless absolutely necessary."
The emperor paused slightly, then said, "This time I sent Lin'er with the army for two reasons. First, it is necessary to have a prince in the army to show the attitude of the court and the royal family. Second, he is young and there is no fear of him making mistakes."
Upon hearing this, the two understood the emperor's unspoken meaning.
The emperor had long anticipated that this would be a protracted war. As the first prince to be sent to the front lines, Prince Wu had achieved his goal as long as he did not make any mistakes and ensured his own safety. The emperor did not expect that the reinforcements from Hejian Prefecture and the three northern prefectures could defeat the enemy in one fell swoop.
Jiang Chen's hands, hanging by his sides, tightened slightly. This was the drawback of centralizing military power. Once a war broke out on the border, there were no capable generals or ministers who could strike decisively. They could only rely on consuming resources and the national treasury to wage a war of attrition against the enemy.
Jiang Chen guessed that the emperor's plan was that as long as the northern frontier could hold out until spring, the Xia army would not be constrained by the battlefield environment. However, the emperor seemed not to have considered whether the enemy's army would give the Xia army a chance to fight a protracted war. Moreover, who could know whether the Northern Di army would become stronger as the battle progressed?
"If Lin'er has to step down at that time, who among you is willing to go to the Northern Frontier to take over this position?"
Upon hearing the emperor's words, both men bowed and agreed, saying they were willing to go to the front lines to replace the Prince of Wu. The emperor, seeing this, had a general idea of what was going on and gave each of them some further instructions.
Jiang Chen still needs to supervise the Ministry of Works' progress in manufacturing firearms, striving to optimize them as soon as possible to boost the Xia army's strength.
Jiang Yu, on the other hand, was to keep a close eye on the Ministry of Revenue's grain and supplies, ensuring that the Xia army could not afford to suffer the same loss in terms of grain supplies as it had in the past.
With a major battle imminent, both men naturally understood the importance of the emperor's instructions, so after receiving their orders, they left the imperial study together.
"Fifth Brother truly has earned Father's trust. Firearms are essential weapons for the Xia army. It's remarkable that Fifth Brother was able to develop them. Judging from Father's words, the key to whether our Great Xia army can defeat the Northern Di lies in these firearms."
"Brother, you flatter me. The musket was not my invention alone. I have already informed Father that the design for this musket was only obtained with the help of the Crown Princess. The Ministry of Works also contributed significantly to its production..."
“Indeed, Fifth Brother is very fortunate. The Crown Princess is beautiful and intelligent, and she and Fifth Brother are deeply in love. But if Fifth Brother really wants to go to the frontier, what will the Crown Princess do when Ninth Brother returns from the northern frontier?”
“It’s not that I’m bragging, but the Crown Princess is strong-willed, much stronger than us men. So I’m not worried about her. On the contrary, the issue of provisions and supplies is that the previous incident had already made the generals distrust the Ministry of Revenue. This time… your job is even more difficult than mine.”
Jiang Yu knew exactly what to say to upset the Crown Prince, and Jiang Chen naturally knew exactly what to say to hurt the Prince Huan's feelings. The two walked side by side on the palace road, both wearing polite smiles, but their words were like sharp blades.
The long palace road eventually came to an end. The two nodded to each other at the palace gate to say goodbye. As soon as they sat in the carriage, the smile on Jiang Chen's lips vanished instantly.
Jiang Yu actually dared to threaten him!
Just now, Prince Huan almost said that if he were to go to the northern frontier, he would no longer care about any etiquette or constraints. Although he had absolute trust in Shen Yujiao, it did not mean that he could tolerate such provocation from Prince Huan!
When news from the northern frontier reached the Eastern Palace today, Shen Yujiao and Jiang Chen were having a meal. Upon receiving the emperor's urgent summons, Jiang Chen disregarded everything else and hurriedly entered the palace, while Shen Yujiao, staying in the Eastern Palace, couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince's carriage has returned!"
Shen Yujiao was eagerly awaiting Jiang Chen's return. Upon hearing the news from the eunuch, she disregarded everything else, straightened her skirt, and hurriedly headed towards the door. However, before she could even leave the main courtyard, she saw Jiang Chen striding towards her.
"Your Highness, you..."
Before they could finish their act in front of others, Jiang Chen grabbed Shen Yujiao and pulled her into the main hall. The servants in the courtyard, seeing this, all assumed that the Crown Prince was out on business and immediately lowered their heads.
The main hall doors were slammed shut. Shen Yujiao had barely uttered a single "you" when Jiang Chen pinned her against the wall and kissed her deeply.
Shen Yujiao leaned against the wall, the back of her head resting on Jiang Chen's palm. She was caught off guard by the kiss and even forgot to breathe. Jiang Chen's hot lips lingered between her lips and teeth, the scent of pine mixed with a faint ambergris rushing straight into Shen Yujiao's nostrils.
"River......"
She tried to interrupt Jiang Chen, but the moment she opened her mouth, all her oxygen was instantly taken away. Jiang Chen's hands firmly held her waist, leaving Shen Yujiao trapped in his arms. This was the first time Jiang Chen had kissed her so eagerly.
The kiss was filled with intense emotions. Shen Yujiao didn't know what Jiang Chen had encountered in the palace that day, but she knew that Jiang Chen needed her response to soothe his restless heart.
As their lips met, Shen Yujiao raised her hands and climbed onto Jiang Chen's shoulders, her fingers stroking upwards, her fingertips lightly caressing Jiang Chen's neck. She opened her wet eyes and looked at Jiang Chen, gently biting his lower lip, before meeting his dark pupils, which were surging with uncontrollable emotions.
As they gazed at each other, the fervor in Jiang Chen's eyes gradually faded, and his breathing returned to normal under Shen Yujiao's soothing touch. His forehead pressed tightly against Shen Yujiao's, and he slowly closed his eyes, shutting out the burning heat that had once overflowed from them.
After a passionate kiss, the hall returned to calm, with only the lingering blush on Shen Yujiao's face a testament to what had just happened.
It was imprinted with Jiang Chen's insane jealousy, suppressed resentment, and intense possessiveness.
Jiang Chen rested his head on Shen Yujiao's shoulder. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze unfathomable. When he spoke again, his deep, hoarse voice held a chilling edge: "The emperor sent troops to aid the northern frontier, without giving me the opportunity to go on the expedition. Instead, he sent the Prince of Wu to the front lines."
Upon hearing Jiang Chen's report, Shen Yujiao breathed a sigh of relief. On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes, and moreover, in the Great Xia Dynasty, catching a cold could be fatal. If Jiang Chen had really succeeded in volunteering, she would have been at a loss for what to do.
After a long pause, Shen Yujiao finally felt relieved. She sighed softly, put her arms around Jiang Chen, and comforted him, "Don't think so much. You have more important things to do than go to the front lines."
Muskets are a crucial part of this battle. If Jiang Chen can accelerate the optimization of the muskets, they can play a greater role than if they were sent to the front lines. Jiang Chen naturally understands this, but he is still somewhat unwilling, and beneath this unwillingness lies deep worry.
He was the only one among the princes who had met General Qi, and the only one who knew that there might be spies in the army. So even though the composition of the troops this time seemed flawless to outsiders, he still couldn't help but worry.
General Liu is loyal and brave, General Lu is experienced and wise, and King Wu is a chivalrous and righteous man. If the army is well-governed, then such a combination is definitely the best choice to unite the army.
However, the current situation is that there are various forces in the capital that are constantly monitoring the movements in the northern border, there are unknown spies on the frontier waiting to take advantage of loopholes, and even in terms of military horses and provisions, the Ministry of Revenue has Li Lu as a major hidden danger.
In such circumstances, the more loyal and brave one is, the easier it is to be exploited. Jiang Chen sighed deeply, feeling utterly helpless.
“Your Highness,” Zhu Yu’s voice broke the silence in the hall, “General He is outside requesting an audience.”
Jiang Chen and Shen Yujiao were both taken aback upon hearing this. It seemed that He Zhiju had received the news and rushed over immediately. Jiang Chen straightened up, smiled gently at Shen Yujiao, and then headed towards the door.
"Wait......"
Shen Yujiao grabbed his sleeve and then gently wiped away the lipstick that had been stained Jiang Chen's lips from their kiss with her fingertips. Her focused expression concealed her shyness. After Jiang Chen's face returned to normal, Shen Yujiao's face turned bright red.
"Alright, go ahead."
"Wait for me to come back."
Before leaving, Jiang Chen couldn't resist stealing a kiss on Shen Yujiao's cheek, so much so that even after he left the main hall, Shen Yujiao didn't dare to immediately call Mu Jin in.
In the front hall, He Zhiju was pacing anxiously. Jiang Chen hadn't even entered yet when he saw him like this and couldn't help but shake his head: "Do you know how many people are watching us outside? What's the rush?"
“Your Highness,” He Zhiju gave a rare, hasty bow, then said urgently, “I cannot be trapped in the capital and fight against the Northern Barbarians. The Northern Frontier Camp only has heavy cavalry that can fight them. Your Majesty should let me return to the Northern Frontier!”
"Ziwang, calm down."
“Your Highness, if General Qi’s words are true, then it proves that the Northern Barbarians have been preparing for this battle for a long time. Now the Northern Frontier camp is besieged on both sides. The soldiers of Hejian Prefecture are not good at fighting in extremely cold places, and in addition, it is the first time that the Prince of Wu has gone to the battlefield. There are too many possible accidents…”
“These are not issues you should be considering,” Jiang Chen interrupted He Zhiju, his tone serious and earnest. “Now that the imperial decree has been issued, military orders cannot be disobeyed. You have been in the army for many years; do you really need me to teach you such a simple matter?”
Upon seeing He Zhiju freeze instantly, Jiang Chen's tone softened considerably: "Father has no intention of expecting reinforcements to turn the tide. Ziwang, I think you should understand what Father is waiting for?"
He Zhiju deflated instantly, leaning back against the corner of the table behind him. The emperor was waiting for a surprise attack that could truly defeat the enemy and turn the tide.
The weapon that brought them victory through surprise is self-evident.
"When you have mastered the musket, I will ask my father for a decree to send you back to the northern frontier without you even having to ask."
Seeing that He Zhiju had regained his composure, Jiang Chen said no more, but before leaving, he couldn't help but remind him: "Don't forget, you'll know what the capital is to you the day you return to it."
As soon as the imperial edict was issued, the court sprang into action. The very next day, carts carrying provisions set off northward along the official road outside the capital. The escort was led by Shen Xun, the Vice Minister of Agriculture. The convoy was to travel without stopping and to supply the frontier soldiers with provisions before the reinforcements arrived in the north.
King Wu was ordered to leave the capital. Although he was overjoyed to be able to go to the battlefield, it was his first time going on a campaign. Although he was happy, he was still apprehensive. King Tai was afraid that King Wu would be without anyone in the army, so he sent most of his confidants to King Wu's army.
Although the first batch of grain supplies had been transported from the Ministry of Revenue, Prince Huan could not afford to relax his vigilance in the slightest. The situation at the Ministry of Revenue was complicated, and if he did not want to cause trouble for the emperor, then the subsequent grain supplies that were to leave the capital and head north could not be allowed to go wrong in the slightest.
The progress of musket improvement at the Ministry of Works was still in full swing. Jiang Chen traveled back and forth between the Ministry of Works and the Eastern Palace every day, and only took He Zhiju to the outskirts of the capital to practice shooting after nightfall.
Everything seemed to be proceeding in an orderly manner, but the people living under the emperor's nose had already keenly sensed that the situation in the capital was gradually becoming tense.
As war broke out in the northern frontier, an unexpected piece of news also came from the palace: the emperor granted Princess Yongxian's request to become a nun.
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