EWRN - Chapter 61
Chapter 61: War (I)
This was the second month since Huo Jinye had been enfeoffed as a prince.
Spring had arrived. All life was reawakening, and the climate was growing warmer. Thanks to the “generous gift” of five cities from the Great Yuan Kingdom, the Northern Kingdom had passed a rather comfortable winter, with more than enough food and warmth.
For years, the people of the Northern Kingdom had learned to cultivate the land under the leadership of the former Yan emperor, but the results were less than ideal. For one, the Northern Kingdom’s climate was harsh; for another, its soil was not fertile enough. Each year, after a full season of hard labor, their harvest was barely sufficient to survive the winter, with never enough for a surplus.
But this year was different. Under the leadership of the Wu Clan Chieftain, the Northern Kingdom had plundered five of Great Yuan’s cities in succession, reaping a bountiful harvest. Although they were forced to surrender a significant amount of supplies, the remaining food was enough to see them through a pleasant winter.
The people of the Northern Kingdom had tasted the sweet life. A life where one could obtain vast quantities of grain and cloth without arduous labor—this was what they truly desired!
For a time, the Wu Clan Chieftain’s reputation soared throughout the Northern Kingdom.
Having accumulated military achievements and been enfeoffed as a prince over the past two months, Huo Jinye had also tasted his share of the benefits. As for the fate of the five cities he had sold out, or how the common people had endured the harsh winter, he paid it no mind. What did the lives and deaths of commoners have to do with him?
Inside Young General Hou’s tent.
Huo Jinye had been rushing back and forth along the northwestern border recently, currying favor and building his own power base. Relying on his title as a prince and his recent, fraudulent military achievements, he had actually made some gains. Although most of the generals remained neutral, Huo Jinye was currently satisfied. The allegiance of five generals was already a considerable achievement. It meant that he, Huo Jinye, finally had a power base of his own in the truest sense!
Chief Steward Lu stood silently behind Huo Jinye as he and Young General Hou once again indulged in a feast of wine and meat.
The early spring weather still carried a chill. Huo Jinye drank warmed wine and savored delicacies not typically found in a border encampment, a look of contentment on his face. Young General Hou watched Huo Jinye’s sated expression, a dark glint passing through the depths of his eyes.
He didn’t know what was wrong with him, but he suddenly wanted to viciously “ravage” the noble prince before him. He wanted to hear this person of esteemed status beg for mercy under his oppression, wanted to see him on the verge of tears. A strange, wicked fire surged from his belly. Young General Hou was startled back to his senses, realizing he had been lost in thought while staring at Prince Anping, Huo Jinye. Shaking his head to clear it of the filthy thoughts, Young General Hou raised his wine cup and said respectfully to Huo Jinye, “Your subject, Hou Yuwen, congratulates Your Highness on attaining your princely title! This cup is a toast from your subject to Your Highness!”
Huo Jinye paused his chopsticks, also raising his wine cup. With a casual gesture, he said cheerfully, “Come, come, let us two brothers have a proper drink. It has been many days since I have seen Young General Hou. This Prince has greatly missed you, my younger brother!”
Hearing Huo Jinye, who was several years his junior, call him “younger brother,” Hou Yuwen’s mouth twitched slightly. He felt a bit unnatural, as if something deep inside him wanted to break through the surface but couldn’t. If he didn’t want the prince to address him this way, then how did he wish to be addressed?
Hou Yuwen was troubled.
But he soon pushed the thought aside. Huo Jinye and Hou Yuwen began to discuss the culture and scenery of the borderlands. Huo Jinye claimed he had never seen such varied landscapes in Great Yuan, and that it was far more comfortable than being cooped up in the imperial palace. Hou Yuwen agreed outwardly while complaining to himself. If he hadn’t gone to great lengths to find a master chef, how could Huo Jinye possibly be eating so well? The demonic diet of the border alone would have likely scared off this pampered little prince.
A sudden feeling of motherly pity for the prince welled up from the bottom of Hou Yuwen’s heart.
The two conversed happily. After three rounds of wine, both were slightly intoxicated. Their grand discussion evolved from the borderlands to the Northern Kingdom, and finally to the imperial throne—the content of which could only be described as treasonous.
Where the two couldn’t see him, a cold sneer touched the corners of Chief Steward Lu’s mouth, vanishing in an instant.
Seeing that the two were growing drunk, Chief Steward Lu knew his opportunity had arrived.
He took a few steps forward and knelt before them. “Your Highness, Young General, this slave… this slave has a matter he wishes to discuss with you two lords.”
Huo Jinye was in high spirits from the wine. He was also aware of how much help this Chief Steward Lu had been to him on a daily basis. Of the five generals who had been persuaded to join him, most had been won over by Chief Steward Lu’s moving eloquence.
“Speak… let’s hear it. This Prince is listening,” Huo Jinye said languidly, letting out a drunken burp.
“Your Highness, this slave has said before that if Your Highness truly wishes to ascend the throne and become the supreme sovereign, the assistance of the Northern Kingdom is absolutely indispensable!” Chief Steward Lu knelt on the floor, his back ramrod straight. “This slave’s meaning is this: the Northern Kingdom just recently gained many benefits from Your Highness. We can strike while the iron is hot and negotiate a partnership with the Wu Clan of the Northern Kingdom. Have them assist you in seizing the throne of Great Yuan! Wouldn’t that be a beautiful thing?”
Huo Jinye’s head was spinning. Listening to Chief Steward Lu’s words, his mind began to race. “Chief Steward Lu, tell this Prince, how can we get the Wu Clan to help this Prince ascend the throne?”
Chief Steward Lu gave a sly chuckle. “Your Highness, it’s quite simple. Have the Wu Clan attack the Great Yuan Kingdom with their full force. We will negotiate with them so that they do not harm a single one of Your Highness’s soldiers. They will clear a path for you to the south, allowing you to push into the heartland of Great Yuan, straight for the Imperial City! Once the city walls are breached, you kill that Emperor Yuanjin! And just like that, the throne will belong to Your Highness!” Chief Steward Lu’s face was a mask of fawning sycophancy, betraying no hint of any other motive.
“Oh? Chief Steward Lu’s words are sound. But what conditions must the Prince offer the Northern Kingdom to convince them to act?” Young General Hou asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had drunk a bit too much.
“This… this slave does not know if it is proper for me to say,” Chief Steward Lu said with some hesitation.
“Speak. This Prince will not punish you,” Huo Jinye said with a nod.
“Your Highness could promise the Northern Kingdom several cities and their farmlands,” said Chief Steward Lu.
“Insolence!” Huo Jinye’s hand slammed down on the table before his mind had even fully processed the words. “How could this Prince sell out the country for personal glory?!”
“Replying to Your Highness, it is not selling out the country for glory. Consider it merely leasing the cities to the Northern Kingdom temporarily. Once Your Highness has secured the throne, you can dispatch troops to reclaim them. There is nothing wrong with that. Between the imperial throne and a few mere cities, this slave is certain Your Highness knows how to choose,” Chief Steward Lu said, unafraid. He remained kneeling ramrod straight as his voice rang out.
Huo Jinye stopped eating and instead began to ponder the feasibility of this plan.
A glint of excitement flashed in Young General Hou’s eyes. “I think it’s feasible!” he declared loudly.
Cities versus the throne. Of course, one would choose the throne!
In the spring of the second year of the Jinxi era.
War erupted on the border. The Northern Kingdom, as if it had taken some strange medicine, mobilized nearly its entire military force to attack the northwestern border of the Great Yuan Kingdom. Everything happened with an unreal speed, catching the Northern Garrison Army completely by surprise. It is said that a thousand-li dike can collapse from a single anthill. No matter how formidable the Northern Garrison Army was, it could not withstand a few traitors from within.
Soon, the border cities began to fall, one after another. War reports flew from the border to the Imperial Palace in the capital, piling up on Huo Jinyu’s desk.
Huo Jinyu casually opened two of them. The corners of her mouth couldn’t help but lift into a cold smile.
How long had it been? Her dear Imperial Brother already couldn’t hold back. He actually dared to take such an enormous risk and enter into such a depraved partnership with the Northern Kingdom. It seemed the Prince Anping of this lifetime truly lacked the patience he possessed in the last.
Huo Jinyu casually tossed the war reports aside, rose, and walked out of the Hall of Imperial Governance, heading toward her own Hall of the Slumbering Dragon. She already knew what she would have to face next.
Before exiting the Hall of Imperial Governance, Huo Jinyu gave an order. “Eunuch Li, inform the captain of the guards to muster fifty thousand soldiers of the Brocade Guard Army and have them wait at the foot of Baili Mountain.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Eunuch Li acknowledged the order and turned to leave.
Huo Jinyu returned to the Hall of the Slumbering Dragon and took an exquisite small box from a shelf. She traced the patterns on its surface with her fingers and sighed softly.
This day had finally come.
Tucking the box into her robes, Huo Jinyu set off for Jinxiang Palace.
Before long, Huo Jinyu arrived at Jinxiang Palace. The few palace maids guarding the entrance saw her and offered respectful greetings. Huo Jinyu stepped inside.
Yan Xi had already heard the palace maids’ greetings at the gate and was waiting at the entrance to the main hall for Huo Jinyu to enter.
This Huo Jinyu came to Jinxiang Palace every day, yet rarely stayed the night. It was truly enough to make one’s heart itch with anticipation, Yan Xi thought to herself.
“Jinyu, you’re here,” Yan Xi greeted her softly. But she noticed that Huo Jinyu’s expression was slightly different than usual; she looked somewhat worried, and also a little stern.
“A’Lu, pack the Noble Consort’s valuables and a change of clothes. Immediately. Right now.” Huo Jinyu nodded at Yan Xi and began ordering her palace maid around.
“Pack my valuables? Jinyu, are we going somewhere?” Yan Xi was baffled. Why were they suddenly packing things for no reason?
“Xi’er, do not ask.” Huo Jinyu did not seem to be in a good mood, her handsome face set like ice.
Yan Xi pouted to herself, thinking she would find out soon enough anyway. She had no idea what she was about to face.
A few palace maids deftly packed the valuables. Huo Jinyu took the bundle personally, slung it over her back, and took the initiative to lead Yan Xi by the hand out of the palace.
Eunuch Wang had already brought horses over. Huo Jinyu vaulted onto a horse, then extended her right hand and gently pulled Yan Xi up as well. Yan Xi sat before Huo Jinyu, nestled in her embrace. The warmth of her body radiated through the layers of cloth, and a faint blush crept onto Yan Xi’s cheeks.
Huo Jinyu flicked the reins, and the horse broke into a gallop, carrying them out of the Imperial Palace, out of the Imperial City, and toward Baili Mountain.
Yan Xi did not know that this would be the last time in the days to come that she would ride with Huo Jinyu.
The horse ran swiftly, and a cold wind blew against them. Huo Jinyu pulled her own robe over to shield Yan Xi from the wind. The person in her arms was so wonderful. It was a pity that she was about to say goodbye to her.
Soon, in less than an hour, Huo Jinyu and Yan Xi arrived at the foot of Baili Mountain, where a dense, dark mass of soldiers stood waiting.
Yan Xi was astonished. What was Huo Jinyu doing? While she was still on the horse, Huo Jinyu dismounted and walked over to the leading general. She murmured something to him, and the general nodded gravely. Then, Huo Jinyu returned to Yan Xi’s side. She took the exquisite little box from her robes and handed it to Yan Xi. “Xi’er, take this box. These fifty thousand soldiers of the Brocade Guard Army are my private army. I am lending them to you for the time being. Vice General Yan Liang will escort you safely to the Northern Kingdom. Command of these fifty thousand soldiers is yours now. Go, and do what you must without fear. Return to the Northern Kingdom and take back what is rightfully yours. The time is perfect. You must depart now! And remember, Xi’er, do not look inside this box until after you have crossed the border of the Great Yuan Kingdom. Do not open it before then.”
Yan Xi was dumbfounded. She never imagined that the reason Huo Jinyu had so hastily ordered the palace maids to pack her belongings was to send her back to the Northern Kingdom.
Yan Xi found it increasingly difficult to see through the person before her. What kind of secrets did she hold? Did she have any feelings for her at all?!
Yan Xi simply could not understand it, but there was no time for her to dwell on it. Huo Jinyu was lending her fifty thousand private soldiers just to escort her back to the Northern Kingdom? She wasn’t so foolish that she couldn’t see through this. Huo Jinyu was clearly sending her back to the Northern Kingdom so she could seize this opportunity and reclaim the throne in one fell swoop!
A sour feeling welled up in Yan Xi’s heart, an emotion that seemed to come from nowhere. She suddenly dismounted, walked up to Huo Jinyu, wrapped her arms around her shoulders and neck, and kissed her deeply.
Huo Jinyu froze for a moment, thinking to herself, This is probably the last kiss of this lifetime. Then she, too, deepened the kiss.
The moment of parting had to come. Yan Xi mounted her horse, which pawed at the ground a few times. “Jinyu, goodbye,” said Yan Xi.
“Goodbye,” Huo Jinyu replied, thinking, Perhaps it means we will never see each other again.
Yan Xi did not discern the hidden meaning in Huo Jinyu’s “goodbye.” She simply assumed it was a temporary separation. Once she had settled matters in the Northern Kingdom, she would return to find her. So Yan Xi thought.
Finally, Yan Xi departed. Huo Jinyu watched her figure shrink into the distance until it was finally swallowed by the sea of fifty thousand Brocade Guard Army soldiers, disappearing from sight completely.
She suddenly let out a long sigh, at a loss for words.
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