Chapter 183 - Its Mrs. Ye! (1/2)
Sometimes people thought today or tomorrow would always be like yesterday and that life would go on smoothly. There would always be streets thronged with people and carriages; stores packed with people who talked and laughed while eating; lanes occupied by barking dogs and crowing chickens; mothers punis.h.i.+ng their naughty children with canes; children escaping onto streets with naked b.u.t.ts before grimacing at their mothers…
Ye Xiaoxian also went out to buy flour as usual. However, she noticed that people’s expressions had changed. Written on their faces was horror, panic and confusion about their futures.
“It’s said that Hongyan country is attacking Hexin county and will soon arrive here.”
“Ah! How are the people there?”
“What else could it be? Once a place is captured, all the people there will be killed. They’re facing the same situation.”
“Will we be safe here?”
“It’s hard to tell. I’m going to leave. You’d better do the same.”
Fear had almost engulfed the entire county. Anywhere Ye Xiaoxian went, all the conversations were about the war. Hongyan was a small country on a southern island. It had been causing disturbances from time to time but had never launched a real attack. Hexin was a county near the southern border in the country of Daqi. If it was captured, Qinghe county would be the next target.
The forces in Xinhe county were only enough to handle some small riots, not a real attack. It was antic.i.p.ated that it couldn’t hold on for long. Until then, there had been quite a few people escaping from Xinhe county to Qinghe county. The people in Qinghe, therefore, went into a panic. They found it hard to give up their businesses and the peaceful life here. Escaping away from here was just like a nightmare. If one’s homeland was destroyed, he or she would feel like n.o.body.
Around half of the people had left, and the rest were hesitating out of fear. They would ask anybody they met, “Do you plan to escape? And when?”
Ye Xiaoxian was also rather perturbed and feeling sad about leaving this place. For one thing, she had a house and had been living a good life. For another, life could prove to be tough if she chose to leave. However, the war forced her to make the right decision as soon as possible.
…
The imperial court at the palace.
In front of the old emperor was a mountain of reports about Hongyan’s sudden attack, pressing him to give an effective order.
The ministers were also urging him. “Your Majesty, please dispatch troops as soon as possible, or the southern cities will be captured and people there will suffer for it.”
“Your Majesty, we can dispatch the troops near Hexin county and set up a strong defense.”
The entire palace was inundated with urgent admonitions.
Just then, the third prince cast a glance at the state preceptor who noticed this.
Then, the state preceptor voiced his opinion, “Your Majesty, we’d better dispatch the nearby forces to defend against Hongyan first. After that, let a reliable general or prince lead the troops to annihilate all enemies.”
After he had said this, all the other ministers fell into silence.
At this sensitive moment, dispatching a prince was equivalent to selecting the crown prince. After all, the chosen one would get a military token which represented the lifeblood of Daqi.
Cunningly, he continued, “Your Majesty, it’s up to you who shall lead the troops. However, he should have experience in war and know military strategies and tactics.”
All the people held their breath as they waited for the response. Some of them were considering the interests of their own parties, but none of them dared to voice their opinions.
However, the emperor did not say a word. His eyes were partially closed, as if he had fallen asleep.
…
After leaving the palace, the third prince and the state preceptor met again at the secluded house. The third prince kept his own counsel as usual. After taking a sip of tea, he said calmly, “Do you think my father was feigning deafness or not?”
“Yes, I suppose so. After all, he needs time to consider all this,” the state preceptor replied.