Chapter 100 Switching to Assassination
Two days later, inside the Sizheng Hall.
Yuwen Che unfolded the urgent military report, his expression growing increasingly grave as he read. He abruptly stood up and slammed the letter heavily onto his desk.
"Well done, Helian Bobo! He's going to use the entire nation's strength to fight me to the death!"
Li Dehai bowed cautiously to the side: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Helian Bobo has lost his only legitimate sister, and now that his country is on the verge of collapse, he is indeed determined to completely break ties with our Great Zhou and fight to the death. The war is currently at a stalemate, and the Marquis's side has also suffered heavy casualties... Your Majesty, do you... intend to personally lead the army to personally kill Helian Bobo and boost the morale of the troops?"
Yuwen Che did not answer immediately. He strolled to the side of the hall, his gaze falling on the black armor hanging on the shelf and the sword beside it. His eyes were sharp, filled with a fighting spirit eager to try.
Observing his expression, Li Dehai knew that he had considered personally leading the expedition, but he also understood his concerns. So, he whispered a reminder at the opportune moment: "Your Majesty, if this old servant may be so bold... Her Majesty the Empress is now more than seven months pregnant, and her due date is in just over two months. Her Majesty is carrying twins, and although the pregnancy is more stable than before, the Imperial Hospital has repeatedly warned that these last two months are the most critical and require utmost care. She cannot withstand the slightest disturbance or stimulation."
Yuwen Che's hand, which had been reaching for the armor, froze in mid-air. He clenched his fist tightly, withdrew his hand, turned and looked in the direction of Guanju Palace, his brows furrowed and his face filled with struggle.
On one side were the border troubles waiting for him to resolve and the opportunity to boost morale; on the other side were his beloved wife who was about to give birth and his unborn child who needed his protection.
Li Dehai held his breath and dared not speak again.
After a long silence, Yuwen Che took a deep breath, seemingly having made a decision. He called out in a deep voice, "Han Ying."
A dark figure appeared silently: "My lord."
"You will personally lead a team of shadow guards, carrying my tiger tally, to the northern border immediately in secret, to assist the Marquis of Zhenbei in breaching the city." Yuwen Che's voice regained the calmness and decisiveness of an emperor. "I want you to take Helian Bobo's head as quickly as possible."
"Your subordinate obeys!" Han Ying replied without hesitation.
Yuwen Che looked at him and added one last sentence, his tone icy: "Remember, I want everything to be foolproof. If things don't go well, you don't need to come back."
"Yes!" Han Ying's figure vanished instantly.
After Yuwen Che sat back down at his desk, he said to Li Dehai, "Issue my decree to expedite the transport of provisions and weapons to the northern border. Also, tell Pei Xuan that the imperial guards in the capital are on standby."
He cannot go to the battlefield in person, but he will use all his strength to add the heaviest weight to this war. For the sake of the Great Zhou.
Yuwen Che said to Li Dehai, "Summon Pei Xuan."
"Yes." Li Dehai bowed and withdrew to relay the order.
Before long, Pei Xuan, dressed in military attire, strode into the hall, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Your Majesty."
Yuwen Che pushed the military report on the table over: "This is an urgent dispatch your father sent two days ago, take a look."
Pei Xuan stepped forward, picked up the letter, and quickly glanced at it, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. He put the letter down and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, Helian Bobo is fighting like a cornered beast, trying to wear down our army's morale by relying on the strong defenses of the capital, waiting for reinforcements that may not even exist, or hoping that our army will run out of supplies."
Yuwen Che looked at him and said, "Go on."
"Father's military strategy is prudent. Since your letter states that casualties have exceeded 30,000 and the siege has been prolonged without success, it shows that the Northern army's resistance is indeed fiercer than expected. If this continues, even if we eventually break through the city, our army will be severely weakened, which is not the best strategy."
"Then what do you think is the best course of action?"
Pei Xuan's eyes sharpened: "We must break the deadlock with a surprise attack! Since a frontal assault is unlikely to be effective, we need to find another way. We could send an elite squad to infiltrate the city and create chaos, coordinating an attack from within; or we could cut off their water and food supplies, forcing them into disarray; or we could find the weakest point in their defenses, concentrate all our siege equipment, and deliver a thunderous blow!"
He paused, then looked at Yuwen Che: "However... these strategies require frontline generals to make on-the-spot decisions and seize fleeting opportunities. Father's military tactics tend to be cautious, so perhaps... His Majesty should grant him more authority to make on-the-spot decisions, or send someone more skilled in surprise attacks to assist him."
Yuwen Che tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "I have already dispatched Han Ying with the Tiger Tally."
Pei Xuan's eyes lit up: "Lord Han Ying is going in person? That's excellent! The Shadow Pavilion excels at infiltration and surprise attacks! With his help, Father will be even more powerful!"
"I hope so." Yuwen Che's gaze was deep. "This battle must be won quickly."
Pei Xuan knelt on one knee, his voice resounding: "Your Majesty, rest assured! The soldiers of the Northern Frontier will not fail Your Majesty's trust! I also request permission to personally go to the Northern Frontier to assist my father if the capital is safe!"
Looking at his young and spirited face, Yuwen Che waved his hand and said, "The defense of the capital cannot do without you. I want you to guard the main camp well and ensure that nothing goes wrong."
"Your subject... obeys the decree!" Pei Xuan was somewhat regretful, but still accepted the order.
After Pei Xuan withdrew, Yuwen Che waved to the people standing in the hall: "Get out."
"Yes." The palace servants withdrew silently, and the palace doors were gently closed.
Yuwen Che walked to the window and, in a unique way, lit a small, seemingly ordinary spice. The smoke rose thinly and straight, dissipating after a moment without disturbing anyone.
About an hour later, the window frame swayed slightly, and a white figure swept into the hall like a wisp of smoke, landing silently in front of the imperial desk.
It was a young man who looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, with handsome features, dressed in flowing white clothes, and a somewhat cynical smile on his face. He casually said to Yuwen Che, "Oh, what kind of trouble have you run into? You actually managed to get me out of here."
Yuwen Che seemed to be used to his manner of appearance and tone, and sat down to pour himself a cup of tea: "Infiltrate the Northern Kingdom's court and kill Helian Bobo."
Upon hearing this, the white-robed youth was not surprised at all. Instead, he nimbly flipped over and sat directly on Yuwen Che's desk. Without any politeness, he picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup, and raised an eyebrow with a smile, saying, "What a joke! Killing a mere emperor of the Northern Kingdom would be an easy task for you, Yuwen Che, wouldn't it? Are your Shadow Pavilion just for show? Or has Han Ying defected? Do you need to bring out this great Buddha like me?"
Yuwen Che glared at him, a warning in his eyes. The boy pouted, his playful smile fading slightly.
Yuwen Che then spoke in a deep voice, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "Xue'er is heavily pregnant and cannot be separated from others. If I were to personally lead the expedition, it would take at least two or three months for the round trip. I do not have time to waste with them."
He put down his teacup and looked sharply at the boy: "I only want results. The fastest and most reliable results."
The young man in white swirled the teacup in his hand, a half-smile on his face: "So, you're asking me, an idle person, to run errands for you? And what's the payment?"
"What do you want?" Yuwen Che asked directly.
The boy leaned closer, lowered his voice, and a sly glint in his eyes: "After it's done, give me that jar of 'Drunken Carefree Wine' that the late emperor buried in your private treasury fifty years ago to try?"
Yuwen Che looked at him, and after a moment, simply uttered a single word: "Agreed."
The boy immediately beamed, jumped down from the table, and clapped his hands: "Deal! Wait for the good news!"
Before he could finish speaking, a white shadow flashed, and the person disappeared silently from the hall, just as he had arrived, as if he had never been there at all.
Yuwen Che gazed out the window, his eyes deep. Using him was indeed a waste of talent, but to ensure everything went smoothly, to end the war as soon as possible, to reduce casualties in the Northern Army, and to allow him to peacefully accompany Xue'er during childbirth, it was worth it.
After finishing his official duties, Yuwen Che got up and returned to Guanju Palace.
Inside the bedchamber, Su Luoxue, heavily pregnant, was being carefully supported by Fuling and Granny Zhang on either side as she slowly paced around the room. Her brows were furrowed, fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, and her steps appeared very heavy.
"I can't go on... Granny, I can't walk anymore, I'm so tired..." She stopped and pleaded with a sob in her voice, leaning back slightly as if she wanted to lie down immediately.
Zhang Mama quickly helped her up and coaxed her softly, "Your Highness, just a few more steps! This old servant knows you're suffering, but if you move around more now, the delivery will be smoother and you'll suffer less."
Fuling chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty, the imperial physician also advised you to engage in appropriate physical activity. Let me help you walk around one more lap, just one lap, shall we?"
Su Luoxue looked at Yuwen Che, who had just entered, with a wronged expression, and stretched out her hand: "A-Che..."
Yuwen Che quickly stepped forward and helped Fuling up. Looking at her tired face, he said with heartache, "If you're tired, take a rest. There's no rush."
Seeing this, Zhang Mama hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Empress has only walked for less than half an incense stick's time, which is really not enough. For the sake of the Empress and the imperial fetus, please walk a little further."
Looking at Su Luoxue's dependent eyes, and recalling the imperial physician and Zhang Mama's instructions, Yuwen Che weighed his options for a moment, then softened his voice and said, "Xue'er, did you hear what Mama said? It's all for your own good. I'll walk with you, okay? After we finish this little loop, I'll let you sit down and rest, okay?"
Seeing that he said the same thing, Su Luoxue knew she couldn't avoid it, so she pouted and, using his strength, took another step, complaining softly, "But it's so heavy... those two are definitely fighting inside..."
Yuwen Che chuckled upon hearing this, carefully protecting her: "When they come out, I will teach them a lesson for you."
With Yuwen Che's company and encouragement, Su Luoxue finally managed to complete the last lap, and he almost immediately helped her sit on the soft couch. Leaning against him, she breathed softly, feeling him gently massaging her swollen calves. Although her body was exhausted, her heart was filled with warmth.
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