Chapter 171: The Military Report - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter
Chapter 171: The Military Report
"An Yi."
With a soft call, a shadowy figure emerged from behind a pillar, moving silently like a ghost to stand before Prince Ding.
"What are your orders, my lord?"
"Tell Su Cheng that he can proceed."
"Yes."
Outside, the streets were bustling with festivities, but inside the Prince Ding's mansion, it was eerily quiet.
On the imperial street, after the envoys left, the crowd began to disperse.
Bai Siruo, tired from watching for so long, turned to Feng Jinyao and said, "Ah Yao, come home with me. My aunt recently got a Siamese cat. It's extremely beautiful."
Everyone knew that her aunt loved cats. Princess Wen Yi had mentioned looking for one for her, and she actually found one.
"Did she buy it from the Western Market?"
"No, my grandmother got it from the Empress in the palace. Three were tributed by a foreign envoy this year. One was given to the Fifth Princess, one to my grandmother, and the Empress kept one for herself."
Such favor was rare. It seemed that the Crown Prince did an excellent job with the tributes this year, earning the emperor's admiration.
"Not today. I'll visit another day. My mother asked me to return early."
"Alright. Since Second Cousin isn't home and Eldest Cousin is always so dull, it's good for you to go home and talk with your aunt. Tell her I'll visit in a few days and bring her favorite snacks from Jufang Zhai!"
Feng Jinyao smiled. This cousin seemed to know her mother's preferences better than she did. She nodded.
Xiao Mu Qian was to escort Bai Siruo home, leaving the task of escorting Feng Jinyao to Su Cheng. However, seeing a fleeting figure through the window, Su Cheng hastily said, "I have something to do." and left in a hurry.
Seeing how quickly he left, Bai Siruo wondered if he had run into an enemy and needed to seek revenge immediately. Feng Jinyao had no choice but to return home alone.
"Don't worry, this is the safest time in Dongdu City. Haven't you noticed soldiers every ten steps?" Bai Siruo was worried, but she couldn't argue with Feng Jinyao, so she let her go alone.
On the other hand, Xiao Mu Qian, escorting Bai Siruo home, looked a bit serious. "Cousin, what's wrong?"
Since last time, they had changed the way they addressed each other. Xiao Mu Qian called her by her name, while Bai Siruo called him cousin. Hearing her question, Xiao Mu Qian smiled lightly and said, "I didn't sleep well last night and got up early today. I'm just a bit dizzy, but it's nothing."
He gave a reassuring smile, and Bai Siruo believed him. "When I don't sleep well, I'm also not energetic. You should take a nap when you get home. It's very refreshing."
She suggested cheerfully while animatedly recounting the scenes she had just witnessed. Xiao Mu Qian, preoccupied with the war in the northwest, only half-listened.
Meanwhile, Su Cheng, who had left in a hurry, tracked down the shadowy figure in a secluded alley.
With a serious tone and attitude, he asked, "An Yi, did the lord give any orders?"
"Yes, the lord said you can proceed."
Su Cheng was slightly surprised. When they discussed the matter, the lord hadn't commented. He hadn't expected him to agree after so long.
Doing this at such a critical moment required careful planning.
He clasped his hands and said to An Yi, "Tell the lord not to worry. I will not fail."
Having received the desired answer, An Yi immediately disappeared into the alley, as if he had never been there. Su Cheng was left alone, deep in thought.
At the Duke Wei's mansion, the Ninth Prince and his most trusted advisor, Mr. Du, were seated in the study.
Mr. Du, slightly hunched and with a face lined with wrinkles, dressed plainly. However, his eyes shone with sharp calculation.
"Grandfather, why did you summon us so urgently?" The Ninth Prince spoke first. He had been enjoying a leisurely day at his mansion when he received an urgent message from Duke Wei's mansion, instructing him to bring Mr. Du along.
Duke Wei glanced at him, frowning slightly. Having lived for decades, he knew the prince's habits well. Indulging in pleasures in broad daylight was a behavior he disapproved of.
Unfortunately, the Wei family's entire fortune rested on this man. Even if he was unworthy, they had to push him to the throne to secure the family's glory and power.
Mr. Du, though unremarkable in appearance, was highly intelligent.
His drooping eyelids concealed a shrewd light. He stepped forward and respectfully said, "My lord, is there news of a battle?"
Smart man. With someone like him advising the Ninth Prince, they had a good chance.
Hearing this, the Ninth Prince, who had been disinterested, immediately perked up.
Compared to the debauched life in Dongdu City, he preferred the battlefield, where killing was justified, and no one could say otherwise.
That bloodthirsty impulse surged within him, like a hungry wolf excited by the scent of blood.
"Grandfather, where is it?"
"It's Di Rong."
The Ninth Prince frowned. "Di Rong? Just a small group of nomadic warriors on the grasslands. Can they cause such trouble?"
He wasn't underestimating them, but grassland tribes were all like this—strong yet scattered, preferring a free lifestyle, hence never uniting to become a significant threat.
Di Rong had at most a thousand troops. Such a small force was not even worth his attention.
His interest waned, but Mr. Du, after a moment of thought, asked, "My lord, has Di Rong been rampaging across the grasslands?"
Smart man. "Yes, General Xiao Ji, who guards Liangzhou, sent a fast horse to deliver the news to Dongdu City. The message arrived at my mansion. Di Rong, or rather, Beidi now, has gathered about one hundred thousand troops and is currently heading towards Liangzhou."
A hundred thousand!
Grassland warriors were different from other troops. They were always brave and skilled in horsemanship, often defeating opponents with minimal losses.
Although Liangzhou was easy to defend, the combined Jin troops in and around Liangzhou only numbered fifty thousand. With such a disparity, the chances of victory were slim.
"So, Grandfather, you want me to lead troops to save Liangzhou?"
The Ninth Prince was not foolish. He understood Duke Wei's intentions.
"Jizhou has two hundred thousand newly trained troops. The emperor has been looking for an opportunity to deploy them. If this news reaches the palace, those troops will be dispatched. Two of the deputy generals are already in our favor, so you can proceed without worry. Reinforce General Xiao Ji and securing the military merit of saving Liangzhou will be within your grasp."
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