BXG - 71

◎ The War Begins ◎

However, the Crown Princess did not have the chance to find out what Song Shiyu’s words truly meant.

Not long after the Qixi Festival, the relatively calm political situation in Bian capital—after Fu Qingnian’s death—was suddenly thrown into chaos. At the end of July, the Western Shaos launched a surprise attack from the weakest point of the eleven western frontier states. The former Liangzhou fell overnight, and an urgent military dispatch was sent back to Bian capital with eight hundred miles of haste.

The Fifth Prince, who had recently gained favor, happened to be present in the inner court when the military report arrived, so he learned of the news before the Crown Prince. However, according to those who overheard, His Majesty was already in a foul mood due to the Fifth Prince’s perceived incompetence. Upon hearing about the fall of Liangzhou, His Majesty became even more agitated, scolded the Fifth Prince briefly, and immediately summoned the imperial physician.

Song Shiyu kept his eyes lowered as he listened carefully to the detailed report from his advisors outside the curtain.

“The Western Shao generals are fierce, and this surprise attack was unexpected. Former Liangzhou has always been the most barren and remote among the eleven states, unlike other prefectures that possess coal and iron mines. No one expected the Western Shaos to strike here.”

He lifted his eyelids slightly and caught a glimpse of the Crown Princess’s figure flashing past the door. It seemed she had sensed they were discussing something important. She quietly placed the tray in her hands outside the door and turned to leave.

She never pried or asked too many questions—that much was certain.

Song Shiyu straightened himself and looked at the frontier defense map spread before him. He asked, “Who is the commander of Liangzhou? I remember it was...?”

The advisor replied, “It’s the Fifth Prince’s maternal uncle. Years ago, he was exiled there for his unruly behavior in the army. We’ve heard that the Fifth Prince had previously intended to transfer his uncle back to Bian capital. But now, having abandoned the city and fled, this act will count as a grave offense. The Fifth Prince’s plans might very well be in vain.”

Song Shiyu rubbed his forehead and laughed softly. “The Fifth Brother doesn’t have deep roots in the court. Useful relatives by marriage are already few, and losing this maternal uncle means that even if Father favors him, his glory won’t last long. Just now, I wondered why Father reprimanded him—it turns out it’s because of this useless uncle.”

The advisor chuckled, “Your Highness need not worry. You’ve been groomed for succession for years without ever making a misstep. As the legitimate son of the Empress Dowager, you enjoy the support of the ministers. Even if His Majesty intends to elevate someone else, it would only be a passing whim. Deep down, he still cherishes you. Remember how you dealt with that Su family...”

He abruptly stopped speaking. Song Shiyu gave him a deep look but didn’t press further.

“Jing’an, you don’t fully understand Father,” Song Shiyu shook his head, his fingers tracing the deployment map. “Back then, his struggle for the throne was exceptionally perilous, and he ascended the throne in his thirties. To prevent any prince from thinking the position of heir was uncertain and taking risks, he established me as the heir early on. Afterward, fearing my growing influence, he forbade officials from forming alliances and promoted Fu Qingnian to suppress me for all these years...”

“Your Highness has endured much these years, swallowing your pride and keeping a low profile. Apart from governing, you rarely associate with others, and even when you do, you maintain distance.” The advisor lowered his gaze. “Now, with Lord Fu gone, Governor Gao will likely assume the role of chancellor soon. The old officials in the court are adept at reading the winds; we’ll see where they blow once that happens.”

Song Shiyu remained noncommittal, his gaze fixed on the deployment map. “Liangzhou has sent letters to both Bian capital and the western camp requesting reinforcements. Jing’an, what do you think should be our strategy?”

The advisor pondered for a moment and cautiously replied, “Given the urgency in Liangzhou, any available troops from the western camp will undoubtedly be dispatched there first. If Bian capital sends additional forces from the main camp, we must decide beforehand which city among the eleven states is most worth defending.”

He stepped forward from behind the screen, his fingertip tracing over Liangzhou and stopping at Ruozhou. “Jing’an, do you recall? There’s someone in Ruozhou whom Your Highness wishes to win over.”

Song Shiyu’s gaze followed the movement. “Ruozhou’s borders have always been the most frequently harassed by the Western Shaos. I originally thought that if they were to launch a surprise attack, they’d target Ruozhou first.”

“Ruozhou’s walls are high and strong. Despite numerous attempts, the Western Shaos have never succeeded. It’s strange they changed their focus this time. In my opinion, capturing Ruozhou is equivalent to taking three cities in the eleven states, especially places like former and latter Liangzhou—what’s the point of conquering them?” The advisor continued, “Moreover, since Lord Zhou arrived in Ruozhou, he executed the governor, and now the city is undergoing significant changes. Its military strength is likely greater than before.”

“He is indeed capable,” Song Shiyu stared at the shadowy areas on the deployment map, sighing ambiguously with apparent regret. “A capable person unwilling to serve under me holds no interest… Look at the scale of the Western Shaos’ current operation—it surpasses anything they’ve done before. General Chu will surely accompany the western camp to Liangzhou first. My uncle will lead the main force from Bian capital to reinforce them. With Lord Zhou in Ruozhou, there’s no rush to send reinforcements there. Perhaps Tianhan State to the north needs more attention.”

“The Western Shaos have mobilized substantial forces. If Liangzhou is merely a decoy and they shift towards Ruozhou, it could mean overwhelming pressure. No matter how capable Lord Zhou is, he can’t conjure soldiers out of thin air.” The advisor was startled. “Ruozhou has always been a critical stronghold in the west...”

“What do you mean ‘if it’s a decoy’? Liangzhou is nothing but a place full of destitute people. Even ransacking the entire city wouldn’t yield much gold—it’s definitely a decoy.” Song Shiyu interrupted dismissively. “My move is simply cutting off rotten flesh to survive. If the Western Shaos manage to seize Ruozhou, which they haven’t touched for years, they’ll become arrogant. Arrogant armies are bound to fail. You should understand this principle better than I do. Besides...”

“As Jing’an said, if he’s managed to revitalize Ruozhou, perhaps he has the ability to defend it. When the time comes, I’ll offer assistance, and I’m sure he won’t refuse allegiance. If he fails to hold the city, losing such a crucial stronghold will conveniently remove a thorn in my side. Lord Zhou is someone who defeated Fu Qingnian and walked away unscathed. For half a year, I’ve tried subtly probing Father, yet I haven’t gleaned any information about that day.”

“A person like that refusing allegiance—if not allied with the administration, how could I dare let him leave Bian capital? Defeating a prime minister and emerging unscathed—I’ve often wondered if he’s content spending his life guarding the border. He used to reject me repeatedly. If he returns—whom does he intend to support?”

The advisor understood the Crown Prince’s implication and bowed his head, saying nothing more.

Song Shiyu yawned. “Tomorrow, when Uncle arrives, if I’m not in the residence, relay this message to him. Father probably won’t ask many questions now, and even if he does, the western front is far away, and battle conditions change rapidly—it doesn’t matter.”

“Yes.”

The advisor turned to leave but suddenly heard the Crown Prince ask from behind, “Did Uncle see the Crown Princess during his last visit?”

“They met, and they talked for quite a while,” the advisor replied respectfully. “Following your instructions, I had someone monitor closely. Aside from casual conversation, the Crown Princess didn’t say anything extra. General Li even scolded the Crown Princess, urging her to bear an heir soon.”

It was peculiar. For the sake of reputation, he married the Crown Princess and never took concubines, frequently showing her favor. Yet, strangely, the Crown Princess showed no signs of pregnancy.

Even the maidservants and mistresses he occasionally favored had conceived, though he avoided complications by not acknowledging those pregnancies. He simply hoped that once the Crown Princess bore a son, everything would fall into place.

“She’s clever,” Song Shiyan lazily responded. “Enough, you may go.”

After the advisor left, Song Shiyu stood up and gazed at the tall screen painted with a magnificent landscape. A cold smile played on his lips as the candlelight flickered. He walked to the window, half of his handsome face submerged in darkness.

Wang Yiran had recently tied her hair up high and spent her days riding horses, assisting He Yuankai in checking refugees flooding into Ruozhou from other parts of the eleven states at the city gates.

When Qu You came to help, she brought her a bowl of tea.

By then, it was evening, and the crowd lingering outside the city gates had significantly diminished compared to daytime. Many who realized they couldn’t enter the city that day simply spread their bedding outside the gates, sleeping under the open sky. Before closing the gates, Qu You arranged for blankets and food to be distributed.

Though it was heartbreaking, the gates of Ruozhou closed every evening without exception. These gates and surrounding walls had been rebuilt multiple times after damage, ensuring they could withstand attacks from the Western Shaos.

The downside was that the gates were massive and heavy, making them difficult to open and close quickly.

Upon learning about the fall of former Liangzhou, He Yuankai even considered ordering Ruozhou to seal its gates and prepare for battle. However, given the continuous influx of refugees, the sight was unbearable. As a compromise, they decided to open the gates only between noon and evening each day, conducting thorough inspections before allowing entry.

This meticulous check aimed to prevent Western Shao spies from infiltrating. Sure enough, within just three days, several spies were caught at the gates.

While turning away large numbers of refugees from Liangzhou and southern states seemed unreasonable, Ruozhou’s generals had no choice. If the Western Shaos attacked, breaching Ruozhou’s walls would result in a massacre of the city’s inhabitants.

Unlike other impoverished states in the west, Ruozhou benefited from ample sunlight, supporting thriving agriculture and mining industries. Residents generally had some savings, and sacking the city promised significant loot.

Wang Ju led troops out of Ruozhou’s gates and engaged the Western Shao army several times near the state border. It was unclear whether the enemy was merely testing their strength, as each skirmish involved small units.

But Qu You, having studied the western defense maps with Zhou Tan in Bian capital, knew that Ruozhou was a key battleground for the Western Shaos’ invasion of Da Yin.

Seeing her lost in thought after serving tea, Wang Yiran asked, “What’s wrong? Are you frightened?”

Qu You hastily shook her head.

Wang Yiran smiled. “It’s normal for girls from Bian capital to be scared. Ruozhou isn’t like Bian capital—it’s often embroiled in conflicts. My brother has quelled unrest many times, and the townsfolk are accustomed to it. Don’t worry.”

Qu You furrowed her brow and asked, “Were there always so many refugees?”

Wang Yiran took another sip from her bowl and replied, “It’s strange. The Western Shaos’ invasions are common in the eleven states, usually targeting Ruozhou first. If they fail, they move elsewhere. Even when the northern two states fell a year ago, Ruozhou’s outskirts weren’t crowded with refugees. Typically, locals flee to nearby places rather than remote Ruozhou.”

Pausing, she realized something was off. “Sister, have you noticed anything unusual?”

“I don’t understand warfare, but seeing Prefect He so overwhelmed and confused these past few days is surprising. I assumed Ruozhou regularly dealt with refugees, handling them shouldn’t be this challenging.” Qu You mused. “From what you’re saying, this time seems different? When refugees come, we must open the gates, distribute food, and reassure the populace. This process inevitably exposes vulnerabilities. Moreover, the Western Shaos have planted spies among the refugees, leaving us overwhelmed and unsure where to focus our efforts. I’m wondering...”

Resting her chin on her hand, Qu You carefully continued, “Since the Western Shaos usually attacked Ruozhou first, why did they change tactics this time? If they initially captured the impoverished Liangzhou, drove out the populace, and spread rumors saying only Ruozhou among the eleven states can afford to accept outsiders—or that if Bian capital and the western camp send protection, they’ll prioritize Ruozhou...”

The two exchanged glances. Qu You forced a bitter smile. “Sister, what do you think would happen if that’s the case?”

“If such rumors spread, even without immediate conflict within the city, people from neighboring towns might seek refuge in Ruozhou. My brother, dividing his forces to protect civilians while dealing with small Western Shao contingments, will be stretched thin. By then...”

Zhou Tan lifted the flap of the makeshift command tent and approached them. Qu You stood up, continuing her thought. “Perhaps the Western Shaos never changed their objective—they’ve always wanted to attack Ruozhou?”

“You’re right,” Zhou Tan responded gravely. “Just now, He and I discussed and reached the same conclusion. It seems we need to prepare more thoroughly.”