Chapter 176: Fight Our Way Back
The saying “plans can’t keep up with changes” is always true. Two hours ago, everyone was focused on discussing how to use the Empress’s token to enter the Royal Court and meet the Left Wise King.
Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, the Left Wise King’s forces had invaded Batu’s tribe. What surprised everyone even more was that the Left Wise King had come in person!
Although the Crown Prince was foolish, he still had a conscience. Upon hearing the cries of Batu’s youngest daughter, his face instantly filled with guilt: “It’s all my fault, the falcon discovered me…”
Jinsui quickly interrupted him: “Even if the falcon discovered you, the Left Wise King couldn’t have rushed from the Royal Court to the tribe so quickly!
There’s only one possibility: he already knew you were hiding in Batu’s tribe, and the falcon was observing how many people were in the tribe.”
At this moment, making the child feel guilty might lead him to do something foolish in anger, so we must stabilize him first.
As a hardworking laborer, I have my own ways of dealing with bosses, clients, suppliers, and subordinates. It’s very important to stabilize partners at this time.
Batu’s son immediately reacted, filled with hatred: “This morning, Father sent some men to exchange for provisions. They must have been discovered by the Left Wise King’s men.”
Yan Jiu said gravely: “They are waiting for this moment. With fewer people in the tribe, they will take the opportunity to capture everyone in one fell swoop.”
Although this made Batel feel a little better, the death of Batu, who supported him the most, would make his situation even more difficult.
Batu turned his horse around and said to his sister: “You lead the way, I’m going back to avenge Father!”
Princess Tuoya quickly stopped him: “No! If you go back, you’ll be walking into a death trap. Tuolei, I swear by my title as Princess, once Batel becomes King, I will definitely avenge Batu’s tribe!”
Tuolei’s eyes were bloodshot, and he roared at the sky in frustration: “Leizan! I will personally cut off your head!” Leizan was the Left Wise King’s full name.
Tuoya finally felt relieved, but then saw Tuolei flick his riding crop. His dozens of personal guards immediately followed. The young man was impulsive; they still had to return to the tribe to save their clansmen and avenge his father.
Batel chased after them for two steps but was grabbed by Tuoya, who yanked him by the collar and yelled: “Are you going to be reckless too?”
Jinsui thought to herself, if it were me, I would have slapped him twice to calm him down. Tuoya isn’t being a tough enough elder sister!
It’s best to discipline younger brothers early; once they get older, you won’t be able to beat them.
Tuoya, with red eyes, comforted Batu’s sister: “Ayue, you lead the way. We need to leave quickly. Leizan’s forces will be chasing us.”
At this moment, Tuoya noticed two people who hadn’t moved: one was Gu Changxiao, and the other was naturally Jinsui.
When they didn’t move, the Black Feather Camp soldiers who were about to mount their horses stopped in unison.
Yan Jiu raised an eyebrow and immediately realized: “Miss Ji, don’t be impulsive.”
Miss Yan, not understanding, ran to Jinsui’s side: “Sui Sui, what are you planning to do?”
Jinsui looked at Gu Changxiao and saw him smiling encouragingly at her. She understood he had the same idea; it was truly a meeting of minds.
She then said loudly: “Don’t you think it’s our great opportunity that the Left Wise King has left the Royal Court? Killing him in Batu’s tribe is much easier than killing him in the Royal Court!”
Yan Jiu said calmly: “It’s too hasty and too risky. Batu’s tribe doesn’t have many soldiers, and we have no idea how many men the Left Wise King brought!”
Jinsui shook her head: “From the moment we arrived in the Northern Frontier, every step has been a risk. Too many variables have occurred, and things will never develop according to our script. We must adapt to the situation and make a decision quickly.”
“Our main objective remains unchanged. While the Left Wise King is away from the Royal Court, Lord Yan, you will escort Princess Tuoya and the Crown Prince to the Royal Court and seize the opportunity to unite with those five thousand troops to control the Royal Court.
The Prince and I will lead the people of Batu’s tribe and the Black Feather Camp to counter-attack the tribe and annihilate the Left Wise King!”
Gu Changxiao agreed: “We must take risks. The battlefield changes in an instant; we must seize this opportunity.”
Batel instantly felt that this Miss Ji’s actions were exactly to his liking. He loved this kind of ‘impulsive,’ last-minute adventure.
He hated meticulously planned strategies the most; plans were like the wind, changing very quickly and unpredictably.
He immediately ran to Jinsui’s side and said to Tuoya: “Sister, you go to the Royal Court, and Miss Ji and I will go kill Leizan! I will bring Leizan’s head back to the Royal Court!”
Princess Tuoya was shocked: “No! You must come with me!”
Batel looked directly at Tuoya: “I am the Crown Prince of the Northern Frontier, the future King of the Northern Frontier! Are you asking me to obey you my entire life?”
Tuoya was speechless and looked to Yan Jiu for help. She used to think people from the Central Plains were too honest, and she was the one who liked adventure.
Now it seemed she was still the one who followed the rules. Are you people from the Central Plains so bold and brave?
Yan Jiu looked apologetically at Tuoya. He couldn’t dissuade Miss Ji once she made up her mind.
Thinking about what Miss Ji did when she was the Li King in the border city, leading a group of border soldiers who didn’t even have proper weapons, and daring to burn down a city to kill Tartars.
He wouldn’t be surprised by any more crazy things she did. What surprised him was that Gu Changxiao was cooperating with Miss Ji like this.
Lord Li was always so steady!
Only Liu Yun saw the truth: My Prince has long been corrupted by Daoist Ji!
Jinsui was afraid that the siblings would waste more time arguing, so she smiled and asked Tuoya: “Has there ever been a Queen in your Northern Frontier?”
Tuoya was stunned and shook her head: “No.”
Jinsui smiled: “Then let’s set a precedent. The Crown Prince is voluntarily going to save the clansmen of Batu’s tribe and kill the Left Wise King. If he dies, you will become the first Queen of the Northern Frontier!”
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.
Batel was the most surprised. Could it be like this? But he quickly reacted and immediately shouted:
“Soldiers of the Northern Frontier, listen! If I die at Leizan’s hands, you will be loyal to Princess Tuoya and help her become the Queen of the Northern Frontier!”
Tuoya was simultaneously shocked and speechless. Is this the way of thinking of women who serve gods? It was truly astonishing and extraordinary.
When the soldiers of the Northern Frontier all responded in unison, Tuoya knew she couldn’t stop them.
She could only send more troops with Batel, keeping only a few dozen personal guards for herself.
Miss Yan excitedly said to Jinsui: “Sui Sui, take me with you! I can also kill enemies!”
Killing Tartars openly on Tartar territory, how could it not make one’s blood boil?
Jinsui knew how to persuade Miss Yan. She whispered a single sentence in her ear, and Miss Yan’s expression instantly changed. She obediently went to Yan Jiu’s side and waved to Jinsui:
“We’ll wait for you at the Royal Court!”
Yan Jiu sighed softly and looked at Gu Changxiao: “Protect Miss Ji well.”
Gu Changxiao snorted: “Do I need you to tell me!”
After Jinsui and her group turned and galloped away, Yan Jiu curiously asked: “What did Miss Ji say to you?”
He was genuinely curious. When Miss Yan said she wanted to go with Jinsui earlier, Yan Jiu had thought of many ways to persuade her, but each seemed unlikely to succeed.
When Miss Yan was stubborn, no one could stop her. Unexpectedly, Miss Ji only said one sentence, and she was convinced without further argument.
Miss Yan pretended to be mysterious: “It has nothing to do with Eldest Brother. Let’s hurry to the Royal Court! Don’t let the Prince and Sui Sui kill the Left Wise King while we haven’t captured the Royal Court.”
Yan Jiu didn’t press further. Miss Yan looked at him and Princess Tuoya behind his back and snorted. If Sui Sui hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known.
This princess actually wants my Eldest Brother to stay in the Northern Frontier as her husband of a princess! Absolutely not! I have to keep a close eye on her and not let Eldest Brother be bewitched by the princess.
My Eldest Sister-in-law can only be Sui Sui!
Turning to look at Liu Yun, who looked unwilling, she asked: “Why aren’t you going with the Prince and Sui Sui?”
Liu Yun was even more confused than her. My mission was clearly to protect Miss Ji, so why was I asked to protect Princess Tuoya at this critical moment?
When the Prince told him to stay, he was almost crying.
Jinsui also convinced him with a single sentence: “There are only Princess Tuoya and Yan’s family members over there, and no one from our side to keep an eye on them. What if they conspire to harm the Prince?
You are meticulous and highly skilled; you go to Princess Tuoya’s side and keep watch.”
Jinsui also patted his shoulder: “This is a crucial mission! It’s even more important than the mission to kill the Left Wise King! The Prince and I can only entrust this to you.”
Liu Yun: …
Why do I feel like you’re tricking me like a child, yet I can’t refute it?
Tuoya was worried about Batel. Seeing Liu Yun stay, she finally perked up.
There was another person who really wanted to stay with Princess Tuoya’s group. Although going to attack the Royal Court was very risky, going to kill the Left Wise King was even riskier!
If a choice had to be made, it was better to go to the Royal Court with Tuoya and Yan Jiu.
It was none other than Eunuch Zhou! Eunuch Zhou felt that this mission he was on was more difficult than Tang Monk’s journey to the West.
Unfortunately, our Li King had been watching him the whole time and directly had someone chase him away: “Eunuch Zhou, you are this King’s Supervisor of the Army, why do you want to follow Princess Tuoya?”
Eunuch Zhou cried. You remember I’m the Supervisor of the Army at this moment?
Your men dismantled my carriage, dripped chili water on my toilet paper, added bitter melon juice to my food, and stole my tent in the middle of the night. When did you remember I was the Supervisor of the Army then?
He tremblingly held up the jade pendant and pleaded: “Your Highness, spare this old servant’s life. Take this token to see the Left Wise King, and let this old servant go with the Princess!”
Jinsui smiled and comforted him: “Don’t worry, if we can’t kill the Left Wise King, we will all die. It’s just a matter of dying sooner or later. It doesn’t matter where you go, you can’t escape.”
Eunuch Zhou: … This beautiful young lady, how can your little mouth utter such venomous words? Are you comforting someone? You’re stabbing this old servant in the heart!
“Are we all doomed to die?” Eunuch Zhou’s voice was as unpleasant as a screaming duck.
Jinsui turned her head away in disgust: “As long as we kill the Left Wise King, we won’t have to die.”
Eunuch Zhou thought she was daydreaming. Killing the Left Wise King in his territory in the Northern Frontier was harder than assassinating the Emperor in Chang’an.
Li King actually agreed to this woman’s plan. Heavens, what kind of stimulation did Li King receive in the border city? When he was the Crown Prince in Chang’an, everyone praised His Highness for his steady conduct.
Does this border city have some kind of magic? People who go there turn into lunatics!
Lunatics, all of them! The Crown Prince of the Northern Frontier is also a lunatic! With just your small group, how can you kill the Left Wise King?
At this moment, the group caught up with Tuolei. Tuolei initially thought they were there to stop him from returning and quickly ordered his subordinates to speed up.
Then they heard Batel shout: “Tuolei, we are here to avenge Batu’s tribe and surround and kill Leizan!”
Tuolei then slowed down to let them approach, deeply moved. He was just short of pledging his loyalty to Batel with a blood oath.
“Crown Prince, Batu’s tribe will be loyal to you for generations to come!”
Everyone rushed towards Batu’s tribe. So far, not a single person had asked about the plan!
The Black Feather Camp, without Han Xing, was like a brainless entity. In the Northern Frontier team, without Tuoya, they were all hot-blooded brutes charging forward.
Fortunately, there was still Gu Changxiao. He calmly said: “Our forces are too few to split up. The Black Feather Camp soldiers will use fish oil for long-range attacks, while the Northern Frontier cavalry will lead the charge in close combat.
Tuolei, you will protect the Crown Prince…”
Batel shouted loudly: “This Crown Prince does not need protection!”
Jinsui did not indulge him at all: “Fine, anyway, if you die, your sister will ascend the throne.”
Even in this moment of crisis, Gu Changxiao was amused by Jinsui. With Sui Sui around, even on the battlefield, one wouldn’t feel fear.
“Then Tuolei, you will be responsible for killing the Left Wise King, and I will cover you.”
Batel felt very uncomfortable after Jinsui’s words. He asked angrily: “Aren’t you afraid of death, woman? Why can you still be so calm?”
Jinsui smiled and said: “My life’s motto is, it’s good to be alive, and it’s okay to be dead.”
Which hardworking laborer isn’t in a state of ‘near death’? Perhaps if I die, I can transmigrate back.
She immediately realized that things were different now from before; she still had a mission to complete.
She quickly said to Hei Hu and the other Black Feather Camp soldiers: “If I truly die in the Northern Frontier, you must remember my last wish and destroy the Japanese! Otherwise, I will die with regret and be unable to reincarnate.”
Hei Hu and the others were startled and repeatedly assured her: “Don’t worry, Boss Ji. As long as there is one brother left alive in the Black Feather Camp, we will be dedicated to destroying Japan!”
Batel quickly asked: “Which country is Japan?”
Jinsui casually replied: “A small island nation in the East Sea.”
Batel looked at Gu Changxiao with indignation: “What do you take our Northern Frontier for? You don’t consider us a powerful enemy, but you consider an obscure island nation your number one enemy!”
Gu Changxiao: …
I truly hope Batel can survive and ascend the throne. With such a king in the Northern Frontier, the Great Xia’s borders will be stable for many years.
You’ve lost your mind! I’m still working with you to quell the internal strife in your Northern Frontier, and you’re still wondering if the Northern Frontier is a powerful enemy of Great Xia? Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you too during the chaos?
That’s right, if you die, your sister will ascend the throne, so you’d better stay alive!
Jinsui said flatteringly to Batel: “Of course not! The Northern Frontier is the number one powerful enemy of the entire Great Xia! Half of our forces are here to deal with you.”
“Then Japan is my enemy alone, and I’m asking for everyone’s help.”
Batel became interested: “Was it a revelation from the gods you serve? When I ascend the throne, I will also help you destroy Japan.”
If it weren’t for the inappropriate timing, Jinsui would have loved to laugh out loud, but at the moment, she said sincerely: “Then thank you, Your Highness! I will pray for you before the gods.”
At this moment, Captain Huang, holding a telescope, shouted loudly: “Your Highness, there are enemies, about two hundred of them.”
Balei was the first to draw his saber: “Warriors of Batu’s tribe, follow me and charge! Kill the enemy!”
Jinsui quickly shouted: “Wait! Don’t waste your energy. These peripheral scouts can just be blown up.”
The Northern Frontier people didn’t yet understand what ‘blown up’ meant.
Then they saw Gu Changxiao wave his hand: “Hei Hu, bring out the fish oil firearms!”
Hei Hu responded loudly, leading a few archers forward. They loaded their hand crossbows and aimed them all at the Left Wise King’s army.
The other side also drew their bows and nocked their arrows. Before they could fire, they saw exquisite glazed glass bottles being shot from the crossbows held by the Han Chinese.
Before they could react to what these things were, they heard several ‘boom’ sounds, like the mighty roar of summer thunder, spreading with fire and the screams of men and horses.
Seeking monthly tickets, seeking monthly tickets! I beg your prosperous little hands to throw your tickets at Sui Sui!
