frightfiction Chapter 257 The Emperor Wants to Negotiate Peace
Chapter 257 The Emperor Wants to Negotiate Peace
"Where is Prince Su?"
In the imperial study, the aged voice of Emperor Jingde sounded particularly heavy, like a thunderclap striking the hall, making everyone's heart tremble.
Duke Yong stepped forward and said:
"Your Majesty, according to military reports, His Royal Highness Prince Su has arrived in Weizhou and is currently deploying urgent defenses. As long as we can block the enemy north of the Wei River, our army still has a chance of victory!"
Emperor Jingde nodded.
"The Wei River is a natural barrier, easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is the last natural barrier to the north of the Hexi Plain. Send a message to Prince Su to hold this last line of defense."
"Yes!"
Duke Yong agreed, thought for a moment and said:
"Your Majesty, although His Royal Highness Prince Su is brave, he is still young. This old minister is truly worried..."
Before Duke Yong could finish his words, Marquis Yong'an interrupted him and said:
"Duke Yong, His Royal Highness Prince Su may be young, but heroes have always emerged from youth. Furthermore, His Royal Highness has several generals from the Lin family assisting him, making him even more powerful. Don't worry, in a few days, you will surely hear news of victory from the front."
When General Lin heard what Marquis Yong'an said, he showed a relieved expression.
Prince Su is his future grandson-in-law. This time, he gave the most capable members of the Lin family to Prince Su. With the full support of the Lin family army, Prince Su will surely be able to drive out the Tartars and establish an immortal cause.
Emperor Jingde nodded repeatedly after hearing what Marquis Yong'an said. His flustered heart gradually calmed down.
After leaving the Imperial Study, Duke Yong said to Marquis Yong'an unhappily:
"What are you doing stopping me?"
Yong'an Hou dragged the old man aside and said, "Duke Yong, if I don't stop you, you will be in big trouble."
"Bah!" Duke Yong turned his head and spat to the side, saying angrily, "I've been holding this in my heart for a long time, and I have to say it today! Pei Heng is the most experienced in dealing with the Beimang people. If he were to lead the army north, I would be completely at ease. The emperor is really getting old and confused. He doesn't use Pei Heng, who is so good, and is always suspicious of this and that. He deserves it..."
The rest of the words were blocked by Yong'an Hou covering his mouth.
"My dear Duke Yong! You don't want to live anymore, but my daughter, son-in-law and their family still want to live!"
Marquis Yong'an dragged Duke Yong all the way out of the palace, returned to the Marquis Yong'an Mansion, closed the door and talked.
"Hey!"
Duke Yong sighed deeply and slammed his palm on the table in anger.
"Ever since Prince Jing's death, the Emperor's temperament has changed drastically. He never considered that if it weren't for Pei Heng, Daqi would have been in turmoil. Alas, loyal ministers and good generals have always been helpless!"
Seeing Duke Yongguo like this, Marquis Yongan said:
"Duke Yong, the emperor is old after all."
The two looked at each other, understanding each other tacitly.
In the Imperial Garden, Prime Minister Cui was walking with Emperor Jingde on a pebble path. Wearing specially made soft, thin shoes, Emperor Jingde stepped on the raised stones one step at a time, and the stones stimulated the acupuncture points on the soles of his feet, causing bursts of pain.
This method was learned by Shun Dajian from the Marquis of Jinyuan's Mansion when Su Li was rehabilitating Pei Heng.
After walking around for several times, Emperor Jingde grimaced in pain. Prime Minister Cui quickly helped him sit down on a chair nearby.
"The emperor's dragon body has just recovered, so it is not easy for him to exercise for too long." Prime Minister Cui is a few years older than Emperor Jingde, but he is in much better spirits than Emperor Jingde and looks even younger than Emperor Jingde.
"I am really old. I have been seriously ill and am becoming less and less useful day by day."
Emperor Jingde sighed, took the handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"The war in the north is intense. If the natural barrier of the Wei River can no longer be defended, Prime Minister, what do you think we should do?"
Emperor Jingde lived a peaceful and smooth life without experiencing any major storms.
When he was young, several brothers fought for the throne with conspiracies and scheming, and it was a lively scene. In the end, they all died, and he was the only one left.
Among the late emperor's sons, he was the most mediocre.
But precisely because of his mediocrity, he always lived a peaceful life, did not participate in party struggles, and finally got the throne for free.
The biggest setbacks in my life were eleven years ago and four years ago.
Eleven years ago, someone reported that the eldest prince was plotting a rebellion. He immediately thought of the bloody battles his brothers had fought for the throne. He was terrified and hated his son to death.
After the incident, the entire Lu family was killed.
Four years ago, Tuoba Hong of Beimang ascended the throne and led his troops south with unstoppable force.
He was scared to death again.
Now, Beimang has made a comeback, and he has nightmares every night that he will become the king of a fallen country and will not be able to face his ancestors after his death.
As Prime Minister Cui, who had accompanied Emperor Jingde for almost his entire life, he understood his thoughts and feelings too well. He handed over a cup of tea and said softly:
"Your Majesty, the people of Beimang make a living by raising livestock. They live their entire lives following the water and grass, and their only hope is to have enough food three times a day and not freeze to death. This trip south is only for money and food. In fact, besides fighting, there are other ways to deal with them."
"Oh? What? Tell me!"
"If Your Majesty doesn't want to fight, you can negotiate peace. They want food and fodder, so we'll give it to them. The barbarians of Beimang will naturally return obediently after receiving the food and fodder. If that doesn't work, we can even give them the bitter cold land of Neicheng."
"..."
Emperor Jingde remained silent.
Prime Minister Cui continued, "If Your Majesty is reluctant to come forward, this old minister is willing to share His Majesty's worries. Tuoba Hong is not an unreasonable person. I will send him a letter, explaining the situation to him with both reason and emotion, to test his nerves first."
After a long silence, Emperor Jingde threw down the handkerchief he was using to wipe his sweat, put on his shoes with the help of Shun Dajian, and said something before leaving:
"In that case, what are you waiting for?"
Prime Minister Cui knelt down hurriedly and said, "I obey your order."
As soon as Emperor Jingde left, the maidservant beside Concubine De quietly appeared and saluted Prime Minister Cui:
"Mr. Xiangguo."
Prime Minister Cui glanced at her and whispered, "Tell Her Majesty, De Fei, that since some people have gone to the battlefield, it won't be easy for them to return. Your Majesty, rest assured, the throne of Daqi is destined to belong to His Royal Highness Prince Kang."
……
As the war intensified in the north, more and more people fled from Shengjing to the south. The wealthy families in the city had basically left with their families, and the nobles, officials, and women also began to pack up their belongings and prepare to go south to avoid the limelight.
But at the same time, the number of refugees fleeing into the city from the north was also increasing.
These days, there has been a constant flow of people coming in and out of the east, west, south and north gates of Shengjing City.
The East and West Cities, which were once bustling and prosperous, have become extremely depressed.
Outside Xichun Tower.
As soon as the Ninth Princess got off the carriage, a group of beggars waiting outside the building swarmed in like flies and surrounded her in an instant.
"Sir, please be kind and give us something to eat. We haven't had a full meal in several days."
"Sir, please save my child."
A ragged woman was kneeling on the ground holding a child. Her dirty hands grabbed the hem of the Ninth Princess's skirt, leaving two black handprints on the snow-white fabric.
"Get out of here! Do you know who this is?"
Several maids immediately started to chase people away.