Chapter 160: The First Wave of war 3 (1/2)
The Emperor's war room.
”I am willing to protect the north,” Lu Yaozhu said from his position behind the minister of Wars, minister Tian. Everyone turned to him, they wide.
”That is a death sentence!” The Crown prince said looking at Lu Yaozhu with narrowed eyes. The Emperor called in all the adult princes to seat in the meeting, even if both the fifth and sixth prince initially intended to just dribble his thumb throughout the meeting.
The Crown Prince followed every intelligence that had come in. He understand what was at stake but even though he did, he didn't support sending one of their best generals on a suicide mission. He opened his mouth to say more but Lu Yaozhu beat him to it.
”Your highness, my main duty is to protect the people and last I checked the people in the north are also our citizens. We can't write them off because it seemed risky if the enemy takes the north. We can just consider the war ended. That is where a majority of the military weapons are made, letting them take the north is like supplying them without treasures”.
His argument was reasonable, there was nothing Zhongshan Ling could say to challenge him. He could only shut his mouth and walk forward, stopping a few steps away from his father. ”If General Lu heads north, we will be short of a general to guard in the west border. I would like to be permitted to lead the soldiers north and_”
”No!” Emperor Zhong shouted before he could finish his statement. ”You are the Crown Prince of Northern Wei, the next Emperor! You should remain in the capital.”
”Imperial father is right, I should remain at the capital and I would if this was not an emergency. We cannot allow the enemy to breach our borders, if General Lu goes north, we will be short on a general. For that, we need someone with military training and with no available general in the capital right now. I am the only one who can do that”
”No, you are not!” Emperor Zhong walked closer to him and held up the crown Prince's Chin, ”there is Duke Wu and unlike you, he has a little experience something you, my dear son lacks” he dropped Zhongshan Ling's chin. ”Leave the protection for people who know what they are doing. Just focus on being a good helper”.
Zhongshan Ling suddenly felt like burrowing the ground and burying himself underground in embarrassment. He had hoped to finally get acknowledged by his father but his father refused to budge and just destroyed his confidence. Lu Yingjie noticed the change in the Crown Prince's mood, he understood that the crown prince wanted to contribute.
However, like the Emperor, he also thinks that it was safest for the crown Prince to stay back in the capital. If the crown Prince had asked for his opinion, he would have advised the Crown Prince to stay back at the capital. This battle was bound to be difficult, it is not the best battle for the Crown Prince to try to get experience.