Chapter 113 The Emperor's Personal Expedition
Song Zhimian was a little dumbfounded. Emperor Xiao Xuan was going to personally lead the expedition?
She watched as Xiao Jingjue skipped and hopped out of Zixiao Pavilion, and remained in a daze for a long time.
The two cities lost in the north due to the betrayal of the King of Zhou have always been a thorn in Emperor Xiao Xuan's side.
But Song Zhimian couldn't understand why, given the strength of Dayu, they hadn't taken those two cities all these years.
With cannons, firearms, and various siege weapons, how could Dayu possibly not retake those two cities?
Now the emperor is about to personally lead the expedition...
Song Zhimian had a lot on her mind.
Emperor Xiao Xuan has personally led the expedition, so who will be in charge of the capital? The Crown Prince?
Also, if the emperor personally leads an expedition, he will definitely take the princes with him. Who will he take?
What should we do if something happens in the capital?
Song Zhimian thought about it a lot.
But now she can't find anyone to talk to about this. The fact that the emperor is going to personally lead the expedition is something that no one expected.
I reckon all the princes are kneeling outside the Hall of Diligent Governance right now...
...
Outside the Hall of Diligent Governance, Xiao Jingjue, who had rushed over, saw the twelfth prince kneeling outside the hall and hurried over.
"Twelfth Imperial Uncle, you've arrived so quickly?"
The twelfth prince glanced at Xiao Jingjue, who was carrying a small bow on his back and a small sword hanging at his waist, and quickly moved aside.
"Kneel here, the sun won't shine on you here!"
Xiao Jingjue quickly lifted his robes and knelt down as well.
"You were delayed because you went back to find these things?" the twelfth prince asked in a low voice.
Xiao Jingjue nodded.
"Yes, if you're going to volunteer, you should act like you're volunteering. How can you go to the battlefield without weapons?"
The twelfth prince glanced again at the small bow and sword that Xiao Jingjue was carrying.
"Can these two things of yours... kill a rabbit?"
Xiao Jingjue...
"Something is better than nothing! My grandfather said that being prepared and not being prepared are two different things, and being attentive and not being attentive are also two different things."
"Twelfth Imperial Uncle, don't you understand these things?" Xiao Jingjue retorted.
The twelfth prince snorted, said nothing, and simply straightened his back.
He didn't actually have any weapons; his mother wouldn't let him play with them!
"Okay, I'm not going to talk about this anymore."
We agreed that if Father takes me, I'll plead for you and get you to come along too.
If Father takes you along, remember to plead for me and ask him to take me with him as well.
"It's a promise, no backing out!" the Twelfth Prince whispered to Xiao Jingjue.
Xiao Jingjue hummed in agreement, then asked a question.
"Who is Grandfather seeing inside now?"
"Everyone who was supposed to come has arrived, from Prime Minister Lin to the officials of the Six Ministries."
"In addition, your elder brother, the Crown Prince, who is also your father, my third brother, fifth brother, and seventh brother are all inside." The twelfth prince, who had arrived early, had already inquired about the good news.
"Is there enough room for so many people?"
Also, with so many people going in, were they all there to volunteer for the fight?
"They've all volunteered, do we two still have a chance?" Xiao Jingjue was a little worried.
The twelfth prince also thought of this.
"The chances are slim... but we should still try! What if Father softens and takes us both with him?"
...
Inside the Hall of Diligent Governance, Emperor Xiao Xuan sat on his throne, looking at the group of people kneeling below, without saying a word.
The Crown Prince stood beside Emperor Xiao Xuan, looking equally helpless.
He was originally going to kneel, but just as he lifted his robes to kneel, his father called him over.
"Grind ink for me!"
And so, the crown prince could only watch as his court officials and brothers knelt below.
Lin Xiang knelt at the front, still somewhat shocked that His Majesty had suddenly proposed to personally lead an expedition during today's court session.
And without allowing anyone to object, he issued an imperial decree ordering the Six Ministries and the Imperial Household Department to prepare.
"Your Majesty, General Shen has sent a memorial stating that the two cities in the north will definitely be captured within a month."
"This is a trivial matter; it's not worth Your Majesty personally overseeing the battle," Prime Minister Lin tried to persuade him further.
"Yes, Your Majesty! We are well prepared for the war in the north and will surely win."
Your Majesty has to worry about the affairs of the entire Dayu region. In fact, you could send a prince to oversee the battle.
"It would be best for Your Majesty to remain in the capital!" the Minister of War quickly added.
The other adults immediately echoed this sentiment, hoping that Emperor Xiao Xuan would retract his decision.
But the decree had already been issued, how could Emperor Xiao Xuan possibly give up!
"I understand what you gentlemen mean."
Actually, you don't need to worry at all.
The North... If others can go, so can I.
This matter is settled and there is no need for further discussion. You only need to prepare for the Emperor's personal expedition.
You have ten days to prepare.
"We will depart on time in ten days!" Emperor Xiao Xuan said slowly.
The ministers and princes are still kneeling...
Prime Minister Lin opened his mouth, wanting to offer further advice, but then he saw the Crown Prince, who was grinding ink nearby, gently shake his head at him…
Lin Xiang had no choice but to give up!
After watching Prime Minister Lin lead the officials of the Six Ministries back to discuss the matter, Emperor Xiao Xuan glanced once more at the Prince of Qi, the Prince of Zhao, and the Prince of Wu kneeling below.
"Father, they've been kneeling long enough, shouldn't they get up?" the Crown Prince pleaded with a smile.
Emperor Xiao Xuan snorted before nodding.
"Get up, all of you! If you dare to kneel here again without any regard for the consequences, I will make you kneel as long as you want."
"Speak up! Share your thoughts on the upcoming Northern War!"
...
Half an hour later, Xiao Huaijin, the Prince of Zhao, and the Prince of Wu all came out of the Hall of Diligent Governance.
The three of them immediately spotted the twelfth prince and Xiao Jingjue, who were still kneeling.
"What are you two doing?" King Zhao couldn't help but ask.
“Third Uncle, we’ve come to volunteer! Let Grandfather take us with him!” Xiao Jingjue said immediately.
The twelfth prince was a little afraid of the King of Zhao, so he just chuckled.
King Zhao smiled helplessly; in his eyes, it was just two children playing around...
"Alright! Kneel for a while and then go back. Father is busy!"
After saying this, King Zhao and King Wu left in a hurry.
Xiao Huaijin squatted down in front of the two kings after they left.
"Want to go to the North?" Xiao Huaijin asked.
They both nodded immediately.
"Hmm! How do those soldiers who want to go to Dayu fight?" the twelfth prince said.
"I want to see the soldiers of Dayu who are protecting us," Xiao Jingjue said.
Xiao Huaijin patted the two of them on the head.
"And you... you'll get what you want, and you won't! Keep kneeling here!"
Xiao Jingjue, the twelfth prince...
That was a bit too complicated, I didn't understand!
...
Inside the Hall of Diligent Governance, Emperor Xiao Xuan was looking at a map of the northern lands with the Crown Prince.
"Father..."
"No need to persuade me! I know that it will be easy to take back those two cities."
"But winning back the people's hearts is not so easy!" Emperor Xiao Xuan sighed.
Crown Prince...
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