Love Lock

Chapter 302 What if Da Jing loses?
Emperor Jing stroked his chin, his eyes half-closed, his gaze sweeping over Da Jiu and the others with flickering intensity.

The various wounds on these men's bodies clearly came from the battlefield. Although these men mentioned the name of Marshal Shen Daohong, the garrison commander of Nanguan, Emperor Jing still had some reservations.

He only needed one capable general, but those men also knew the "Six Harmonies Formation" and cooperated perfectly, clearly having undergone countless drills in the army.

If he were to leave only Da Jiu as a general, he would be reluctant to let the others go.

He wanted all such well-trained and talented individuals.

Emperor Jing was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Da Jiu and asked, "What is your name?"

Da Jiu clasped his hands and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, this humble subject is called Da Jiu."

Emperor Jing stared intently at him: "If I were to give you a thousand men, and you were to encounter enemy cavalry charging into your formation, what would you do?"

“I will decide based on the terrain. If it is in an open area, we will set up a wagon formation with strong bows, crossbows, and chevaux-de-frise; if it is in the mountains and forests, we will set up an ambush and divide and annihilate them; if it is in a narrow pass, we will hold our ground and wait for reinforcements to wear down their morale.” Da Jiu answered fluently and without hesitation.

He then added a quote that Zhao Zun often said: "The art of war lies in adapting to local conditions and responding to changing circumstances."

"What a brilliant example of adapting to local conditions and responding flexibly!" Emperor Jing clapped his hands, a smile finally appearing on his face. "Minister Cao, what do you think of this man?"

Cao Ge quickly bowed: "Your Majesty is wise; such talents are exactly what the border needs!"

Emperor Jing nodded, stood up, and walked to the front of the platform: "Your Majesty, receive my decree."

Da Jiu was overjoyed and quickly clasped his hands and knelt down, saying, "This humble subject is here."

"I observe that you are well-versed in military strategy and are by no means a mere brute. I hereby bestow upon you the rank of General Yangwei, leading an army of ten thousand men, and immediately establish the new army, the 'Thunder Battalion'."

Emperor Jing stood up and said in a clear voice, "Your five brothers are all appointed as colonels and placed under your command. I order you to train an elite force within three months, ready to be deployed to Dongguan to provide support at any time!"

Da Jiu kowtowed repeatedly: "This humble general would gladly die ten thousand deaths!"

The brothers of the Big Character Team immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "We would die a thousand deaths for you!"

Emperor Jing looked at Da Jiu meaningfully: "Don't disappoint me, and don't disappoint Marshal Shen either."

When the Emperor spoke of Marshal Shen, there was a clear hint of anger in his voice. Da Jiu was startled, knowing that the Emperor was angry about Shen Daohong's escape.

Da Jiu wanted to laugh, but he quickly bowed his head again and said, "Your subject is only loyal to Your Majesty and will fight only for the Great Jing!"

Three days later, banners fluttered in the camp outside Beijing, and 10,000 new soldiers had assembled.

Thus, Da Jiu and his men brazenly infiltrated Emperor Jing's army, while Da Shisan also infiltrated Emperor Jing's palace.

Da Jiu, dressed in full military uniform, stood on the command platform, with five brothers in armor standing behind him, their hands on their swords. Below the platform were newly recruited young men and newly transferred veterans.

In the gentle spring breeze, Da Jiu's voice resounded throughout the three armies.

"Brothers, I know some of you are wondering if our newly assembled army can fight tough battles. I'm telling you—yes! Because we didn't come here to win a martial arts competition, but to survive and to win battles! From today onward, forget about personal bravery and remember your comrades! We're not going to practice fancy moves, but the real skills to kill the enemy and save our lives!"

He drew his sword and pointed it straight at the sky: "Thunder Camp—"

The ten thousand people below roared in unison: "Victory is certain!"

The soldiers' shouts shook the heavens and earth, startling a flock of crows into flight in the distance. Da Jiu looked eastward, where beacon fires were burning…

...This is the dividing line for morning sickness...

Princess Han Lei of Cangzhou vomited for more than half a month, and the originally festive atmosphere of the New Year seemed to be shrouded in the clouds of sorrow that lingered on her bed.

After the New Year, Zhao Zun originally planned to go to the Yinshan Trade Market to inspect the progress again and urge the work there.

After all, he and Han Lei had put a lot of effort into that place, including his long-awaited new border trade policy, which was crucial to the stability of the border trade between the Turks and the Great Jing.

But now, seeing Han Lei vomiting everything she ate and growing thinner by the day, he finally put aside all political affairs and stayed in the palace every day, personally serving her tea and water and taking care of her every step of the way.

Han Lei's morning sickness came on suddenly and severely, even causing the most senior obstetrician and gynecologist at Cangzhou Hospital to frown repeatedly.

Han Lei's pretty and sweet face quickly became sharper in just over ten days. Her once lustrous chin now only had a fragile curve, making her almond-shaped eyes appear even larger and more hazy.

Whenever Han Lei reluctantly gets up to do her makeup in front of the mirror, she pauses for a moment, her fingertips lightly touching the mirror, as if to confirm whether the frail figure in the mirror is truly the radiant woman she once was.

Zhao Zun saw it all and felt a pang of heartache.

He ordered the kitchen to be staffed around the clock, and all the delicacies he could think of, such as bamboo shoots from Jizhou, camel humps from the grasslands, and shad from Xuzhou, were brought to his bedside.

The cooks racked their brains to come up with different dishes, and boxes of all kinds of delicious food were delivered into the bedroom in a continuous stream, only to be brought out untouched.

Whenever this happened, Zhao Zun would wave everyone away, personally pick up the jade spoon, and gently persuade them, "At least try a bite, okay?"

Under the lamplight, the anxiety between his brows was even greater than when he was burdened with official duties. His hands, with their distinct knuckles, steadily held the bowl and cup, as if he were holding some fragile treasure.

Han Lei leaned against the brocade pillows, barely managing to swallow a few mouthfuls of clear soup before feeling nauseous again. Her pale fingertips gripped Zhao Zun's python-patterned cuffs, and cold sweat gradually soaked through her black hair.

Actually, as Han Lei continued to vomit, she was extremely anxious.

The crude oil she brought back a few days ago is still waiting for her to oversee its refining, and the newly built schools in various counties of Cangzhou are still waiting for her textbooks... All these grand plans and strategies are now being hampered by her sudden morning sickness.

"Brother Zun, go and do your business..." Han Lei pushed away the ginseng soup while panting, but before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a bout of dry heaving.

Zhao Zun hurriedly put down the bowl and cup, his warm palm gently stroking her thin back. Through the thin cotton nightgown, he could clearly feel her slightly protruding vertebrae, which made Zhao Zun's heart tighten.

“Cangzhou can function without anyone, but here I am…” Zhao Zun took Han Lei’s hand and pressed it to his chest, a firm heartbeat emanating from beneath his brocade robe. “Without you, the land is incomplete.”

"Brother Zun, I want to sit on the sofa." Han Lei's whole body ached from lying down, but she was too weak to sit up.

Zhao Zun carried her to a beanbag chair covered with a plush blanket. Han Lei's usually bright eyes had lost their sparkle, and she just stared lazily out the window, lost in thought.

Looking at her listless appearance, with a deep frown between her brows, Zhao Zun gently pulled the thin blanket around her. Just as he was about to say something, the walkie-talkie on the low table suddenly crackled to life.

"Your Highness, Your Highness." A soldier's steady voice came from the other end of the walkie-talkie, "Our country and Meng Kingdom have sent an envoy to our Great Jing. They have arrived outside Ling'an City and request entry. Please give your instructions on whether to allow them to pass."

The two countries' missions?
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zun frowned even more deeply.

The Eastern Ming Empire had just brought an army of 300,000 men to the border, and war was imminent. At this very moment, two neighboring countries to the north simultaneously sent envoys—

This is no coincidence!
Zhao Zun and Han Lei exchanged a glance, both seeing the same wariness in each other's eyes.

He pressed the call button, his voice calm and steady as ever: "Tell Pingchuan to allow them to enter the pass. However... have Pingchuan send someone to take them to the prefectural government office in Qingshui County. I will personally receive them." Putting down the walkie-talkie, Zhao Zun grasped Han Lei's slightly cool hand, his fingertips gently stroking the back of her hand.

His tone was grave. "The fact that Ala and Meng Kingdom are visiting at this time must mean they've caught a whiff of bloodshed in the east. They probably... want to take advantage of the chaos."

Han Lei sat up slightly, a worried look appearing on her pale face: "What do you plan to do?"

"Let's wait and see!" Zhao Zun tidied her disheveled hair. "It will take two or three days to travel from Beiguan to Qingshui County. You must get better quickly in these two or three days."

He softened his voice, "Otherwise, how could I feel at ease meeting the envoy? I really can't rest easy leaving you alone in the mansion."

Han Lei chuckled upon hearing this, her eyes curving into a gentle smile: "With so many maids and servants in the manor, how could they not take good care of me? You should go and attend to your important matters!"

Zhao Zun glared at her, annoyed, and gently squeezed her palm with his fingers: "How could they take care of you as carefully as I do?"

Han Lei felt a warmth in her heart and nestled into his arms, pressing her burning forehead against his neck. "Yes, yes, Your Highness, only you take such good care of me." Han Lei's voice was soft. "It's so good to have you by my side!"

Zhao Zun lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, his fingertips affectionately stroking the bridge of her nose.

"How I wish I could be by your side every moment!" He sighed, holding the person in his arms even tighter. "Unfortunately, we are always forced to separate. If one day we could cast aside these worries and stay together forever, accompanying each other every day, that would be true happiness."

Dusk was settling outside the window, the distant mountains catching the glow of the setting sun. The solar-powered lights in the bedroom flickered on, casting a warm glow in the deepening night…

Three days later, in the afternoon, sunlight shone through thin clouds as two envoy teams from Ala Kingdom and Meng Kingdom slowly entered Qingshui County.

The vehicles and horses made almost no noise as they walked on the smooth cement road.

The bustling markets on both sides of the street were teeming with people, yet there was no sign of disorder.

Shops lined up one after another, banners fluttered in the breeze, and goods were displayed in abundance. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, laughter, and the clatter of wheels created a vibrant and bustling atmosphere.

The leader of the envoys from the Kingdom of Ara, Gertai, raised his hand and lifted the carriage curtain, calmly surveying the scenery outside the window.

The streets are wide and clean, the houses are neat and tidy, and most of the walls are painted white, with occasional blue bricks outlining the contours, making them look even more exquisite.

The pedestrians on the street were neatly dressed and had rosy complexions. Even the ordinary people walked with ease and showed no signs of poverty.

He couldn't help but be slightly taken aback, a longing that was hard to describe welling up in his heart.

Hasa, the deputy envoy of the Meng Kingdom who was traveling with him, also rode up beside him and sighed in a low voice, "This kind of scenery doesn't look like a small border county at all. It looks more like a big city."

Gertai nodded silently.

Their two countries are separated from the Turks only by the Yinshan Mountains. The two countries have always been neighbors and friendly, and have jointly resisted the Turkic invasions.

The two countries shared a deep friendship. Although they were called a country, their national strength was ultimately limited. In the eyes of the Turks, they were no different from a slightly larger tribe.

The people of both countries still lived a nomadic life, moving with the water and pasture. Their royal camps migrated with the seasons, and their so-called capital was nothing more than a cluster of large golden-domed tents pitched in a pasture.

In contrast, every brick, tile, shop, and store here exudes a sense of stability and prosperity rooted in the land.

As the delegation's convoy approached a crossroads, they suddenly saw several children chasing and playing, nearly crashing into the horses in front of the procession. However, a street patrol officer gently stopped them, gave them a few words of advice, and then let them pass.

The child wasn't afraid at all, and ran away with a giggle, clearly showing that the military and civilians got along well, which made Gertai yearn for it again.

Of course, they had not yet seen another side of the county town that only appeared at night—the rows of solar streetlights that stood quietly on both sides of the street.

As night falls, the streetlights will emit a soft white light, illuminating the streets as if it were daytime.

At that moment, the sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze rustled the carriage curtains, leaving the envoys in a state of silent awe and complex emotions...

A quarter of an hour later, the two delegations of envoys from Ala and Meng dismounted in front of the Cangzhou prefectural government office and entered the main hall of the prefectural government office in an orderly manner.

The mansion was brightly lit, and the guards stood at attention, creating a solemn and oppressive atmosphere.

King Zhao Zun of Cangzhou was already seated in the main seat, dressed in a black python robe, with a cold and stern expression, exuding an imposing aura.

Prefect Luo Hai sat at the lower end of the table, looking cautious and occasionally glancing up to observe Zhao Zun's expression.

"Greetings, Your Highness, Prince of Cangzhou, Great Jing!"

The envoys from both countries stepped forward and bowed in broken and awkward Dajing dialect.

"Welcome to the envoys from both countries." Zhao Zun nodded slightly in return.

The envoy from Ala, Gertai, spoke first, his voice loud but with a hint of arrogance: "Your Highness, we are here on the orders of the Chanyu to travel to Dajing. We have important matters to discuss with His Majesty in the capital."

Zhao Zun tapped the armrest lightly with his fingers and said calmly, "Now that we've arrived in Cangzhou, if you have any important matters to discuss, please speak frankly."

Hasa, the envoy from Meng Kingdom, sneered and glanced at Zhao Zun: "Although the Prince of Cangzhou is of noble status, he is only a vassal king of a single state. I'm afraid the Prince cannot make decisions on matters of national exchange."

Upon hearing this, the air in the hall suddenly turned cold.

Zhao Zun's lips curled into a cold smile, and his body suddenly exuded a chilling aura honed on the battlefield.

Zhao Zun's voice was as deep as cold iron: "Coincidentally, I happen to be the one who can make this decision."

The envoys from both countries were taken aback by this imposing aura and were momentarily stunned.

They exchanged a glance; Gertai's clenched fist was slightly sweaty, while Hassa subconsciously touched the jewel-encrusted dagger at his waist.

After a moment of silence, Meng Kingdom's envoy, Gertai, finally stepped forward, his tone softening: "Since the Prince of Cangzhou can make the decision, then there's no harm in discussing it here."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Our Chanyu has always admired the culture of the Great Jing. This time, we have gathered the strength of both countries to find several experts who are well-versed in the culture of the Great Jing and have set three questions for our delegation to engage in cultural exchanges with your country."

comminicate?

Isn't this just taking advantage of someone's misfortune?
Zhao Zun lowered his eyes slightly, about to ask them how they communicated, when the Meng Kingdom envoy, Hasa, sneered and took over the conversation.

Kazakhstan smirked, “Your country only needs to answer these three questions correctly. If Dajing wins, we are willing to offer a thousand cattle and three thousand sheep as a congratulatory gift.”

Zhao Zun's gaze, sharp as a knife, swept over the delegation members, and he slowly asked, "What if Great Jing loses?"

The candlelight crackled in the hall, and meaningful smiles immediately appeared on the faces of the envoys from both countries.

Tomorrow is the 25th, I'll take a day off to catch up on sleep.