"From what you say, it seems you were well-prepared. The three northeastern tribes are all fierce and battle-hardened generals. Even if the Crown Prince left you thousands of troops, without a commander well-versed in military strategy, you could never stop the northeastern iron cavalry." The Youning Emperor noticed the nearby chessboard.
He personally carried the chessboard over, while Liu Sanzhi hurriedly followed with the chess container.
Moyu drew her sword to guard against the approaching Youning Emperor, but Shen Xihe raised her hand, and Moyu sheathed her sword again.
"Would you care for a game with me?" The Youning Emperor set down the chessboard and sat opposite Shen Xihe.
The round wooden table was small, with the chessboard placed in the center. Both could reach any position on the board with ease: "As you wish, Your Majesty."
Shen Xihe maintained her respectful demeanor even at this moment, which amused the Youning Emperor. He handed her the white pieces.
White moves first. Understanding his meaning, Shen Xihe placed the first piece, and the Youning Emperor immediately followed.
Neither seemed to need time to think, as the sound of pieces hitting the board continued without pause. After some time, the Youning Emperor placed a piece that surrounded three of Shen Xihe's: "Who is your commander? You seem so confident."
Shen Xihe's moves were steady, reflecting her calm composure. She showed no trace of panic.
Ever since suspecting that the Crown Prince might have faked his death, Shen Xihe, along with Xiao Changqing and other imperial relatives in the capital, had been closely watched by the Youning Emperor. Shen Xihe had no one left to deploy—unless Xiao Huayong took to the field himself.
The pure white piece landed steadily under the soft light. Without even lifting her eyelids, Shen Xihe said, "It is not the person Your Majesty has in mind."
If possible, Shen Xihe wished he would return now. She did not feel weary or afraid, but longing lingered like a wind, leaving her heart desolate.
"Other than him, I cannot think of anyone else," the Youning Emperor said.
Shen Xihe looked up, her obsidian eyes gathering a silvery glow: "It is someone beyond Your Majesty's expectations..."
In the northeast—the region the Youning Emperor felt most secure about, the land Old Xun Wang had pacified for him with unwavering loyalty—flames of war had already erupted by the first watch. First, the Blackwater Tribe's military headquarters was ambushed in the dead of night. The attack did not come from outside; the enemy had long been lurking by the commander's side, striking before anyone could react and killing the commander.
This left the Blackwater Tribe's headquarters leaderless and in chaos. Before the subordinates could prepare to resist, a man galloped to the Blackwater Tribe's military camp, holding the head of the tribe's chief commander, and shouted, "I am the Sixth Son of the Emperor, ordered by His Majesty to capture the traitor!" The traitor is dead! You will now follow my orders!"
Some of the generals were bewildered and wanted to refute him, but others immediately knelt in submission: "We obey the Sixth Prince's command."
The confused generals quickly realized this was a premeditated scheme. The commander's death had been so swift, and they had received no prior warning. The ease with which these troops submitted suggested they had already defected.
What were they to do now?
The generals exchanged glances. If they questioned this, who knew how many in the army were no longer on their side? Would they be killed on the spot?
Resistance meant immediate death. Non-resistance might still lead to death if they lost, but if they won, there was a chance to survive.
The Blackwater Tribe had long been Xiao Huayong's territory. He had merely refrained from moving against the tribe's chief commander, leading the Emperor to believe the Blackwater Tribe was still under his control.Xiao Changyu easily assembled the Blackwater Tribe's army, leading them along with Xiao Huayong's men in a grand procession toward the designated gathering point agreed upon by the three tribes, awaiting the arrival of Your Majesty's Invincible Army.
"Sixth Prince!" The Youning Emperor paused, his expression one of profound surprise.
"The Sixth Prince did not perish. He merely grew weary of the palace's intrigues and fled his cage with his beloved, soaring free together." Shen Xihe placed another piece on the board. "Your Majesty, it is your turn."
Xiao Changyu was the child the Youning Emperor had paid the least attention to—not out of favoritism, but because Xiao Changyu himself appeared mediocre in all matters, neither striving nor contending. Yet even so, the Emperor never doubted Xiao Changyu's capabilities.
His sons were none of them ordinary!
"With just the Sixth Prince?" The Emperor's surprise lasted only a moment, and he did not hesitate in making his move.
"Has Your Majesty ever seen a Haidongqing?" Shen Xihe's gaze suddenly softened. She did not wait for the Emperor's reply but took out a bone whistle. The whistle had two holes, producing different notes—one to summon people, the other...
She blew the bone whistle. Zhao Zhenghao, an Embroidered Uniform Envoy, did not move, but a clear, melodious cry echoed as a robust Haidongqing circled above the Hall of Diligent Governance. After one loop, it landed on the windowsill Shen Xihe had earlier pushed open, tilting its head to observe the room.
This Haidongqing...
How could the Youning Emperor not recognize it?
Years ago at the temporary palace, someone had tried to capture it to present to him. Later, during the incident with the giant serpent, if not for this Haidongqing, perhaps...
So it had always had an owner.
"Changling..." The Youning Emperor looked at Shen Xihe.
Ignoring the Emperor's scrutinizing gaze, Shen Xihe extended her arm. The Haidongqing flew in and perched on her forearm. With the hand holding the chess piece, she gently tapped its head before raising her arm. "Go on..."
The Haidongqing leaped and flew out through the main door. It often visited the palace, but previously it had always been silent and nearly unseen within the palace grounds.
"This is the Haidongqing that Beichen subdued after spending days taming it in the Blackwater Tribe." Shen Xihe placed the chess piece that had touched the Haidongqing's head. This move was sharply aggressive, transforming the previously gentle game into one of clashing blades and gleaming swords. "I forgot to inform Your Majesty that Beichen maintains a falconry in the Blackwater Tribe, raising nearly thousands of eagles. It is a pity he never had the chance to show it to me."
A falconry with thousands of eagles—what a vast establishment that must be!
Yet no one had reported it to him. What did this signify? It meant the Blackwater Tribe had long been under Xiao Huayong's control!
Having reached this point, Shen Xihe had no intention of holding back. Her tone, like her chess moves, grew sharp: "Your Majesty has summoned the three tribes' troops, awaiting news from the northwest. Once the northwest Invincible Army is annihilated, the Invincible Army dispatched to the three tribes will join forces with them. But if these three tribal armies have long been under your son's command, then the Invincible Army you sent to the three tribes will be like turtles caught in a jar."
With a sharp click, a piece was placed, trapping a corner of the black stones in a deadlock.
The Youning Emperor's eyes cooled gradually. "It seems you and your husband have long schemed within the three tribes. Are you so certain of victory in the northwest?"
"The northwest also owes thanks to Beichen, who cleared out Your Majesty's spies for me long ago." During her trip to the northwest with Xiao Huayong, they had thoroughly purged the region. "Your Majesty has few usable men left, though there is one who could still surprise you."
The Youning Emperor made another move in silence, saying nothing."Duke Xue." Shen Xihe spoke while turning her gaze towards the Empress Dowager. "In this game, I was able to prevail over Your Majesty, thanks to the Empress Dowager's assistance."
Duke Xue was naturally not aligned with His Majesty; otherwise, having long been aware of Xiao Huayong's true nature, he would have disclosed it to the Emperor.
However, with the Xue family residing in the capital, no matter how open-minded Duke Xue might be, if His Majesty threatened the entire Xue clan, he might still be forced to compromise.
The Empress Dowager, confined by her narrow perspective as a woman, was adept at exploiting other women.
His Majesty, on the other hand, was not one to lack grand vision. To achieve victory through unconventional means, Shen Xihe pondered and concluded that Duke Xue was the only viable choice.
The Turks had been shattered and scattered, unable to regroup. Even if the northwest fell into chaos at this time, no foreign invaders would emerge immediately.
As for Tubo, they would face a pincer attack from both the Northwest Army and the Shunan Army.
Yet, after suspecting Duke Xue, she subtly instructed her brother to turn the situation to their advantage. They revealed to Duke Xue that Xue Jinqiao was being manipulated by the Empress Dowager. Once Duke Xue confirmed this suspicion, he would no longer guard against Xue Jinqiao.
Then, she had her brother secretly order the person abducted from Xiao Changyan to borrow Xue Jinqiao's Soul-seizing Art. Upon learning the truth, Xue Jinqiao would inevitably feel ashamed to face her brother and herself, perhaps even developing a desire to end her life.
To console Xue Jinqiao, the only way was to let her accomplish a meritorious deed to alleviate her guilt.
At this point, Xue Jinqiao became the surveillance on Duke Xue. She likely did not wish for her grandfather to betray her husband's family yet again.
"Brother will have Qiao Qiao steal the northwest 'Defense Map.' Duke Xue will obtain a copy and deliver it to His Majesty's Invincible Army. When Tubo erupts in chaos, Brother will lead troops to assist. At that time, Duke Xue will personally guide the Invincible Army into the city."
Shen Xihe calmly placed a chess piece, lifting her eyes to meet His Majesty's gradually chilling gaze, remaining unflustered. "Once Brother leads the army away, and Father is far away inspecting the border regions, His Majesty's Invincible Army will inevitably enter the city, aiming for a swift resolution."
She paused, her white piece advancing deep into the black pieces' territory. "But what if my father is not actually inspecting the border regions?"
The Invincible Army's intrusion would be nothing short of walking into a trap.
As for the outcome, it would depend on the capabilities of both sides.
Father must be eager to face His Majesty's meticulously honed Invincible Army in a real battle.
At this thought, Shen Xihe couldn't help but curve her lips slightly—not in smugness, but at the image of her father and brother vying for the opportunity to engage the Invincible Army. Both were itching for a fight, but one of them had to lead the main army away to maintain the facade. In the end, she was certain, without any communication, that Father would be the one to stay and await the Invincible Army.
Father must have argued that this could be the final battle of his life, while Brother was still young and had future opportunities, using a mix of persuasion and pressure to secure the advantage.
Tubo could not be ignored, as the Empress Dowager had exploited Shu Fei to forge an alliance with the Tubo Prince.
Meanwhile, the Tubo King followed His Majesty's orders, waiting for the right moment to act.
Whether it was His Majesty's schemes or the Empress Dowager's machinations, she, Shen Xihe, would crush them all!
[To be continued tomorrow at 10 a.m. Note: In ancient times, white moved first in weiqi.]
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