Chapter 34 Princess Rouzhen
The temperature dropped sharply at night.
Inside the main camp of the Northern Rong army, braziers burned, casting a warm glow, but no one felt any warmth. This was because Ji Nuli, ever since returning to the camp, had been silently fiddling with a thunderbolt he had salvaged from the battlefield, his face grim. Naturally, everyone sat upright, barely daring to breathe, for fear of incurring his wrath.
After a long silence, Ji Nuli finally spoke: "Someone, convey my message to Mengzhou, Sizhou, and Suzhou: gather all the gunpowder craftsmen and send them all back to Huhan City."
Before the others could react, Meda preemptively cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is wise; this is an example of using their own methods against them."
Ji Nuli smiled slightly and said, "Although the Han people indulge in ingenious and frivolous skills, they have indeed created some useful things. If the thunderclap is used well, it can be a powerful weapon for defending the city."
The others then realized what was happening and laughed in agreement, praising Ji Nuli for his wisdom and decisiveness.
Dunluhe scoffed. The ten tribes of the Northern Rong were mainly nomadic, always moving with the flow of water and pasture. How could they possibly have so many cities to defend? Even the capital city of Huhan still consisted mainly of tents, with only a handful of houses and not even a city wall.
Sitting next to him was a lieutenant general named Lu Wang, one of Ji Nuli's confidants. He had always disliked Dunluhe, and seeing the mocking look on Dunluhe's face, he couldn't help but say, "General Dunluhe, why aren't you saying anything? Do you have a different opinion?" His voice was a little loud, just enough for everyone in the room to hear. The group of people who had just been smiling and praising Ji Nuli stopped talking and turned to look at Dunluhe.
"It's not that I have different opinions, it's just that I'm feeling frustrated. Today, the city was clearly on the verge of falling, but Yu Qing ruined it."
Ji Nuli, spinning a thunderous roar, said dismissively, "What harm is there in letting them prolong their lives for a few more days?"
Dunluhe stood up abruptly and said angrily, "Khan, I don't understand. We clearly had the upper hand today, so why are you withdrawing your medical treatment?"
"Good question." Ji Nuli's face darkened, and he raised his voice. "I was just about to ask you the same thing. Why did you only report to me that the thunderbolts destroyed the catapults, but not to me that the explosives contained pepper powder? You also didn't tell me that you launched a night attack on Haozhou City. As a result, several hundred people died and about a hundred were captured."
"Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war, nothing to worry about," said Dunlihe, his eyes scanning the crowd before he glared fiercely at Meda.
Meda looked away.
The atmosphere was somber, and the flames in the brazier flickered.
After all, Dunluhe was the leader of the Mona tribe, and Ji Nuli couldn't be too disrespectful to him. Slightly softening his expression, he said, "General Dunluhe, your elder brother and I have known each other since childhood, as both teacher and friend. When Father Khan asked him to teach me military strategy, he told me that there are no small matters on the battlefield; one must proceed cautiously step by step, otherwise, a single misstep can lead to total defeat." He lowered his eyes sadly and sighed, "That man is gone, but his words still echo in my ears. Every time I think of him, it breaks my heart. I regret sending him as an envoy to Zhou, causing me to lose not only a good teacher and a close friend, but also my elder brother." At this point, he covered his eyes with his hand, sighing deeply.
The soldiers in the central tent were deeply moved by his genuine emotions and urged him to "consolate your grief, Your Majesty."
Dunluye's body had not yet been buried, but Ji Nuli promised to bury him with the honors due to a Khan after the campaign, and this expedition was also to avenge him. In contrast, his own brother did not show the same grief and anger as him, which was unbearable. Dunluhe stood awkwardly.
Fortunately, at that moment, a guard outside announced loudly, "Reporting to the Khan, the prisoners sent by General Jiqida from Sizhou have arrived."
He breathed a sigh of relief.
The others also breathed a sigh of relief.
Ji Nuli wiped his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Bring him in."
Soon, the sounds of pushing and shoving came from outside, followed by the authoritative voice of an elderly woman: "How dare you! We have our own feet and can walk on our own. What kind of behavior is this, pushing and shoving?"
Another woman's voice said, "Mother, please don't be angry. These barbarians may look human, but they are uncivilized people. How could they possibly understand the etiquette of our great Celestial Empire?"
These words were quite harsh, and everyone in the central tent frowned.
Lu Wang snorted and said, "Who is this woman? She's already a prisoner, and she still doesn't know when to back down."
Meda said, "This woman is Princess Rouzhen of Zhou, and her daughter is Chai Xi's fiancée."
Some people in the tent, who hadn't known who the prisoners sent from Sizhou were, were surprised to hear Meda's words and turned to look towards the doorway. A moment later, the thick felt curtain was lifted, and a woman in her early thirties, still possessing a certain charm, walked in with her head held high and an air of superiority. A young girl supported an elderly woman with a sallow complexion, following closely behind. The old woman also held her head high, while the young girl lowered her head and lowered her eyes, obscuring her features. Despite this, she seemed to radiate a soft light, drawing everyone's attention involuntarily.
The three walked in and stood straight, especially Princess Rouzhen, whose face was full of arrogance.
Luwang shouted, "How dare you! You've come to see our Khan, why don't you kneel down?"
Princess Rouzhen glanced at him disdainfully and said, "I am a daughter of the Great Zhou royal family, and I have always only knelt before my emperor. How dare a mere barbarian chieftain receive my courtesy?"
Lu Wang jumped up, drew his knife, and pointed it at her, saying, "You woman, if you don't kneel down, believe me, I'll kill you!"
Princess Rouzhen snorted coldly and looked away.
Ji Nuli chuckled a few times and said, “General Lu Wang, put away your sword. I’ve long heard that you’re clueless about romance, and I’m absolutely right. What need is there for swords to tame a woman? Have someone send her to your tent later, let her witness the might of us barbarian men, and she’ll naturally kneel before you tomorrow.”
The Northern Rong generals burst into laughter.
Luwang sheathed his sword, bowed to Ji Nuli, and said, "Thank you for the Khan's gift. I will definitely tame her well tonight."
The Northern Rong generals burst into laughter again.
Princess Rouzhen was both angry and frightened. Her face turned pale as she muttered under her breath, "Despicable, shameless."
Ji Nuli ignored her and said lazily, "Someone, take Princess Rouzhen to General Luwang's tent and take Miss Chen to my tent."
Several guards entered in response, strode menacingly toward Princess Rouzhen and Shen Hua. The mother and daughter, pampered and spoiled since childhood, had never witnessed such a scene before and trembled instantly.
"Absurd!" Old Madam Shen said in a low voice, blocking their way. She turned to look at Ji Nuli and said, "For the dignified king of the Northern Rong to insult women and the elderly like this, if word gets out, won't the whole world laugh at us?"
Before Ji Nuli could speak, Lu Wang mocked, "Old man, stop trying to make yourself look good. You're just too old, dry and hard. Even if you wanted us to insult you, we wouldn't be interested."
Another burst of unrestrained laughter erupted around them.
Old Shen was so angry that his face turned pale, his lips trembled, and he could only repeat, "Absurd...absurd..."
The guard shoved Old Madam Shen aside and reached out to grab Shen Hua. She took a step back to avoid him and said in a sobbing voice, "Grandmother, Mother, Hua'er is unfilial and will go first." After saying that, she pulled out the gold hairpin from her hair and stabbed it into her throat. But as soon as she moved her hand, something flew over and hit her wrist. She cried out in pain, her hand loosened, and the gold hairpin fell to the ground.
“Even if you commit suicide, I will still give your body to my men,” Ji Nuli said calmly.
Shen Hua had never heard such evil and chilling words before. She was both frightened and humiliated, but this also gave her courage. She raised her head, glared at him, and cursed, "Demon."
She had kept her head down since entering the main camp, but now that she raised it, everyone was suddenly struck by her beauty. Ji Nuli, who had been leaning back in his chair, straightened up involuntarily, looking at her tear-streaked face, a hint of pity flashing in his heart. "What a beauty, truly worthy of being called the pearl of Zhou's capital." He glanced at the dumbfounded guard, "What are you still standing there for? Take her to my tent."
"No!" Princess Rouzhen hugged Shen Hua and cried out, "Please, Khan, spare us. If you spare us, I will give you three thousand bushels of pearls and ten thousand taels of gold."
Luwang shouted, "What a joke! Our Khan has mountains of gold and silver, why would he care about your scrap metal?"
"Then...then...then I'll help you break through Haozhou City." Princess Rouzhen blurted out in her haste, and then she was stunned herself.
The others were also stunned.
After a moment, Ji Nuli said casually, "Haozhou City will fall in seven days, why would we need your help?"
"Then... tell me, I'll agree to any conditions you set, just let my daughter go." Princess Rouzhen was in tears, on the verge of collapse, completely devoid of her previous arrogance.
Ji Nuli snorted disdainfully, her gaze fixed on Shen Hua, who was burying her head in Princess Rouzhen's arms.
Princess Rouzhen naturally understood his meaning, and felt an indescribable despair in her heart, fighting like a cornered beast. "Please, spare my daughter! If you spare her, I will repay you with my life..."
Old Madam Shen could no longer bear it and said in a low voice, "Rouzhen, stop boosting others' morale and diminishing your own. You are a daughter-in-law of our Zhuque Shen family, and Hua'er is a daughter of our Shen family. You should know the last sentence of the Shen family precepts: 'Have the country and the people in your heart, what do you care about your own family? Be content with your lot and accept your fate.' Since fate has decreed our demise, why cling to life and fear death, only to become a laughingstock? When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; it's just a stinking carcass, no need to worry about it."
Princess Rouzhen sobbed, "Mother, it's not that I cherish my own life, it's just that Hua'er is only fourteen years old, I'm truly unwilling..." Speaking of unwillingness, she suddenly thought of Ruan Bi in Haozhou City, and of how the Prince of Jin had sent a group of skilled warriors to protect her while Shen Hua fell into the hands of the Rong enemies. A surge of hatred welled up within her, and her heart turned black. Wiping away her tears, she knelt on the ground and said, "Khan of Ji Nuli, you are merciful and compassionate, spare my daughter, and I can help you capture Fifth Miss Ruan..."
Old Madam Shen's eyes widened, and she shouted angrily, "Rouzhen..."
Princess Rouzhen ignored her and continued, "My daughter is merely a pearl of the capital, but she is a pearl of the Great Zhou. That's why Prince Jin sacrificed my daughter for her. In terms of both appearance and temperament, she far surpasses my daughter."
Ji Nuli's expression shifted slightly. Chai Xi was his lifelong rival, and he paid special attention to anything that concerned him. Therefore, he had long been curious about Ruan Wu, and after seeing Shen Hua, his curiosity intensified—what kind of woman could make Chai Xi abandon such a stunning beauty as Shen Hua?
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