Do You Know?: Rule the World

Zhao Zhen's heart suddenly trembled, but his expression remained calm. "Have you really thought it through?"

Zhao Han's eyes were firm. "Your Majesty, I have been working day and night for over a year now, not daring to slack off even for the slightest."

"Now, all the soldiers of the Cavalry Battalion are ready to go, just to show their strength against the Western Xia."

After weighing the pros and cons for a moment, Zhao Zhen slowly stood up from the dragon throne, stood with his hands behind his back, and said in a deep voice: "Since that's the case, let's fight Xixia this year!"

"Appoint Zhang Fu as the General of the Western Expedition, commanding 100,000 troops. Gu Yankai and Zhao Han as deputy generals, to cooperate in the battle!"

"On the first day of next month, we will march to the northwest!"

Zhang Fu could hardly suppress his excitement, and his hands were shaking slightly.

"I... obey your orders! I will live up to your trust!"

Several ministers followed suit and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Next, for several days.

The six government offices were brightly lit, and officials were busy day and night, preparing for the army's departure.

Documents from the Ministry of War flew to various places like snowflakes, and the Ministry of Revenue urgently dispatched food and fodder. Teams of food carts meandered along the official road towards the northwest.

The imperial doctors of the Imperial Medical Bureau were busy preparing military medicines such as wound medicine and anti-malaria pills. Even the Ministry of Rites, which was usually the most idle, was busy preparing for the flag-raising ceremony.

The people in the city would inevitably discuss the issue of sending troops to the northwest this year after dinner.

Even with the Duke of Ying as the General of the Western Expedition and the newly trained Cavalry Battalion, many people still firmly believed that this battle would most likely be disastrous.

After all, our dynasty has fought three major wars with Western Xia so far, and was defeated in all of them. We had to send envoys to negotiate with them in a humble manner.

Some people even boasted that if they could win this battle, they would walk upside down on Zhuque Street and crawl all the way from Xuande Gate to the Bianhe Wharf!

Chapter 88 Hualan is pregnant, father and son recognize each other

The day when the army sets out is approaching.

Early this morning.

Hualan specially took Shulan with her to the Yuqing Temple, a popular temple, to add some incense money and ask for a talisman for Zhao Han.

After worshipping the Three Pure Ones statues, Shulan took the initiative to help Hualan get up from the cushion.

"Don't worry, sister. The master is blessed by heaven and will surely return safely."

Hua Lan nodded, and just as she was about to speak, she felt her stomach churning.

Cai Zan, who was standing by, saw this and hurriedly handed over a handkerchief.

"Madam, have you caught a cold, or did you eat something bad? Let's go back home and ask a doctor to take a look."

Without giving Hualan any explanation, the group hurriedly got on the carriage and headed home with the help of Caizan and Shulan.

Soon, they arrived at the Zhao Mansion, the back house.

The doctor hurried over with a medicine box and carefully took Shulan and Caizan's pulse under their nervous gazes.

After a moment, the doctor took a step back, and with a smile on his face, he bowed and said, "Congratulations, Madam!"

"Your pulse is pregnant! I've been seeing it for nearly a month."

"The pregnancy is stable, madam, just rest assured and take care of it."

Hua Lan was stunned when she heard this. She gently stroked her still flat belly, tears of excitement welling up in her eyes.

"Quick, take the doctor down to claim the reward!"

Cai Zan responded with a smile, then took the doctor out of the room and gave him a reward of ten taels of silver.

Shulan quickly stepped forward and held Hualan's hand, tears welling up in her eyes. She said excitedly, "Sister, you are so kind! If the master knew about this, I don't know how happy he would be!"

"No wonder I've been feeling so tired these days. I thought I was just exhausted, but it turns out it's..."

Hua Lan lowered her eyes and smiled slightly, deciding to wait another two months before returning to the Sheng family to announce the good news in person.

If my grandmother and mother knew about this, they would definitely be very happy.

But after a moment, the smile on Hualan's face gradually faded, replaced by a look of deep thought and solemnity.

Shu Lan blinked her watery almond eyes and looked at her with confusion, "Sister, why are you so sad all of a sudden? Are you feeling unwell?"

Hualan sighed softly, took Shulan's hand and sat on the couch together.

"I have just thought about it carefully, so I'd better not tell you about this for now."

Seeing Shulan's puzzled expression, she softly explained, "We are about to go to war, and military affairs are very busy. If the master knew that I was pregnant, he would inevitably be distracted."

"On the battlefield, swords are blind and distraction is the most important thing. I would rather you lead the troops without distraction than have him worry about me."

"When the official and the soldiers return triumphantly, it won't be too late to give him a surprise."

Shulan's eyes flashed with heartache, and she whispered, "Sister, you've thought it through carefully. I was inconsiderate. I'm afraid I've wronged you by hiding it from you."

Hua Lan smiled and said, "As long as my lord can return safely, this little grievance is nothing."

After Zhao Han returned home, Hualan prepared to send him to Shulan's yard on the grounds that she was not feeling well.

"Hua'er, are you really okay?" Seeing Hua Lan's face a little pale, Zhao Han asked a little worriedly.

"Don't worry, sir. It's just that there are a lot of things going on at the farm these days. Just let me rest for a few days. You should go and take care of Sister Shulan."

"If you don't go now, I'm afraid Sister Shulan will be waiting anxiously."

Hua Lan's face was filled with smiles as she was about to push him out the door.

Seeing her like this, Zhao Han lowered his head and gently touched Hualan's cherry lips, then turned and headed towards Jingguanyuan.

-

The day before the expedition, inside the camp.

On the altar, three huge animal heads were placed according to the rules of cow on the left, sheep on the right, and pig in the middle, to worship the god of the six military flags.

This is the most solemn sacrificial rule, called Tailao, which can only be used when the emperor offers sacrifices to heaven or when the army goes to war.

When a prince or a deputy general offers sacrifice to the flag, a small sacrifice is used and only sheep and pigs may be slaughtered.

Ordinary military ceremonies and county sacrifices only used an ox or a pig, which was called a special sacrifice.

The auspicious time has arrived, the green flags are waving, and the army is lined up in neat rows, standing solemnly here.

Duke of Yingguo, Zhang Fu, was wearing armor and had a solemn expression. He led the generals in performing the ceremony of bowing twice.

After the ceremony, Duke Ying faced the army and shouted, "The Western Xia have wolfish ambitions and have repeatedly violated the Celestial Empire, slaughtering border inhabitants and burning and looting prefectures and counties! Since the Qingli era, the massacre at Yanzhou and the defeat at Sanchuan have incurred a heavy debt of blood!"

"Today, the royal army marches north to avenge the national humiliation for the people of Guanzhong!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers' armor clanged, their spears slammed to the ground, and they roared in unison.

"Avenge! Avenge!"

Seeing that his soldiers were already eager to fight, he suddenly drew his sword, pointed it towards the northwest, and shouted loudly: "Tomorrow, the troops will march to Fuzhou. All the men of the Great Zhou will offer the blood of the bandit chieftain as a sacrifice to the wronged souls on our border!"

"The blood of the bandit chief is a sacrifice to the wronged souls at the border!"

"The blood of the bandit chief is a sacrifice to the wronged souls at the border!"

"..."

Suddenly, the war drums in the camp sounded like thunder, shaking the sacrificial flags.

After the sacrifice, Zhang Fu walked down from the altar, patted Zhao Han on the shoulder, and said in a deep voice: "Chengyuan, this is your first time to join the army. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

"The battlefield is unusual, swords have no eyes, and you must be cautious at all times."

Zhao Han cupped his hands and said, "This humble official will always keep this in mind!"

Gu Yankai looked at Zhao Han with eyes full of satisfaction, then thought of his good-for-nothing Erlang.

He couldn't help but sigh, "If Zhong Huai could be half as steady as you, I wouldn't have to worry so much."

"He has been intelligent since childhood, whether studying or practicing martial arts, he can grasp everything instantly, but he just refuses to put it to good use."

"I don't even know if this bastard studied seriously at the academy. He didn't even bother to bring back a letter home."

Although Gu Yankai's tone was blaming, he couldn't hide his deep concern.

Zhao Han smiled calmly, "Don't worry, Lord Gu. Zhong Huai will surely pass the imperial examination next autumn."

Gu Yankai raised his eyebrows upon hearing this, clearly a little surprised. "Why are you so sure? Could it be that the boy has boasted in front of you?"

"No, Lord Gu, just wait and see. Zhong Huai's misbehavior in the past was simply due to his youthful temperament."

"I guarantee that he will concentrate on his studies at the academy."

Gu Yankai stroked his beard doubtfully. After a moment, he laughed out loud and said, "If that idiot really can pass the imperial examination, I will definitely hold a banquet at home."

"You must be there, and we can celebrate behind closed doors."

"Okay! It's a deal!" Zhao Han smiled.

When dusk fell, Zhao Han wanted to go back home and spend some time with Hualan and Shulan.

Unexpectedly, he was stopped by a eunuch in casual clothes. "Deputy General Zhao, the emperor has ordered you to come to the palace to see the emperor immediately. No delay is allowed."

Zhao Han frowned slightly, his face full of confusion. It was really puzzling that the emperor summoned him at this moment.

He looked at the eunuch calmly, then bowed and said, "Thank you for leading the way."

Half an hour later, Zhao Han, led by the eunuch, entered from the inconspicuous side door on the west side of Donghua Gate and went straight to Funing Palace.

This is where officials live and rest on a daily basis.

He was seen sitting on the Arhat couch, holding half of a heart-shaped pendant in his hand, with a calm expression.

Empress Cao sat on the right, her dark green palace dress showing her elegance and grace, but there was a hint of worry in her phoenix eyes.

What surprised Zhao Han was that Princess Fukang was also there.

At this moment, she was standing aside, playing with the tassels on the jade belt around her waist. When she raised her eyes, she looked at herself with confusion.

However, Zhao Zhen's personal eunuch Zhang Maoze would smile at him from time to time.

The eunuch's smile made him feel uncomfortable.

Just as Zhao Han was about to salute, Zhao Zhen waved to him and said, "No need to salute, come closer to me."