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In the fourteenth year of Zhaoping, in March of spring, the battle report of the border army’s great victory was sent to the capital.

A group of cavalry rode into the city gate on fast horses, flying the red dragon flag and the frontier army flag. The cavalry leading the way shouted: "Great victory for the frontier army!"

"The Emperor personally led the army and defeated the Rouran barbarian cavalry! Eight thousand enemies were killed!"

"The border troops have won a great victory! Long live the mighty emperor!"

The border troops won another great victory?

Or will Her Majesty the Empress lead the army in person?

Wherever the victory news reached, there was excitement and cheers. Inside and outside the court, everyone was praising the empress for her wisdom and bravery.

Prime Minister Chen, who had been nervous and anxious for half a year, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Before Jiang Shaohua went to the border army, he wrote to him and Minister Feng. He was keenly aware of the true intention of the Empress at that time. Later, all the facts proved his guess one by one.

Jiang Shaohua inspected the military camps in the prefectures and counties, staying in each place for no more than two months. When he arrived at the border military camp, he seemed to stay there for a long time. He sent the personal guard battalion to patrol the grassland every day with the red dragon flag, which was a provocation to anger the new Khan of Rouran, Shi Luohou.

Shi Luohou endured and endured, but in the end he could not bear it any longer. First there was a small-scale cavalry conflict, then a battle between the two sides, and when the real fire came out, all the family wealth accumulated over the years was taken out. A large group of cavalry took the initiative to attack.

This was exactly what Jiang Shaohua wanted. The grassland was vast, and the cavalry came and went like the wind. It was almost impossible to accurately find the Rouran army in the vast grassland. Moreover, the grassland cavalry was usually scattered among the tribes. Even if they occasionally found traces of one or two tribes, the rest would flee. Only by forcing the Rouran barbarians to attack actively could they fight the opponent's main cavalry without any effort.

Jiang Shaohua stood on the city wall and personally beat the war drum for the soldiers.

This appearance made the new Rouran Khan Shi Luohou even more excited and crazy.

The Empress of Daliang actually came to the border in person. If she could be killed, it would be a great feat that has never been done before or since. Once the emperor of Daliang died, the country of Daliang would fall apart. He could do whatever he wanted with the splendor and wealth of the country.

It wasn't that Shi Luohou was not calm, it was just that the temptation was too great and shocking, and he couldn't help but be tempted. Even the leaders of the Rouran tribes, upon hearing that the Empress of Daliang was in the border town, their first reaction was to rush in.

There were also some bold and lustful people who said, "The Queen of Daliang is thirty years old this year. I heard she is as beautiful as a fairy. When the Khan conquers the border city, capture the Queen of Daliang alive, and don't kill her. Take her directly into the tent as a concubine. The Khan can have both the country and the beauty."

Shi Luohou became more and more excited as he listened, his eyes glowing, and he slammed the table hard: "That makes sense! This Khan will personally take the border city and capture the Daliang Empress."

Shi Luohou, blinded by lust and power, personally led his troops to attack the border town.

Jiang Shaohua, standing on the city wall, looked at the Rouran flag fluttering in the wind and smiled coldly: "Shi Luohou is here at last. I will take his life myself!"

The brutality of the siege is beyond description. For days, the walls were filled with broken limbs and bodies, blood soaked the ground and walls, and the air was filled with a nauseating stench of blood.

The casualties on both sides were becoming more and more alarming. Every time Shi Luohou wanted to retreat, Jiang Shaohua would wander around the city wall and order his guards to raise the flag.

I'm here, come if you have the courage!
Shi Luohou was so bloodthirsty that he refused to retreat even though his cavalry was repeatedly consumed in the bloody siege.

The border troops were almost unable to resist. Fortunately, there were 30,000 elite soldiers from the Royal Guard Battalion, who always stepped forward at the most critical moment and turned the tide of the battle.

One day half a month ago, a general under Shi Luohou's command died tragically. Shi Luohou rode forward angrily, pointed his hand at the Empress of Daliang on the city wall, and hurled obscene and insulting words at her.

In response, he received sharp arrows shot from the city wall.

The arrow flew at a speed unimaginable to ordinary people, as if it fell from the sky.

Shi Luohou was shot in the chest and fell off his horse, his life or death unknown. The Rouran barbarians were completely defeated and fled on horseback.

The border troops opened the city gates and pursued the enemy. In this battle, 8,000 Rouran cavalry were beheaded, a great victory worthy of being recorded in history books.

"Prime Minister!"

Minister Feng's familiar voice reached his ears faster than the figure: "The Emperor personally led the army to defeat the Rouran barbarians!"

Prime Minister Chen relaxed his brows and laughed: "The battle report is here, come and take a look."

The battle report sent to the court was the most detailed and thorough. Minister Feng received the report, read it quickly, and said with a smile: "This is great!"

"For the past six months, I have been worried every day, fearing that something might happen to the emperor at the border."

"After seeing this good news, I can finally sleep peacefully."

Prime Minister Chen sighed and whispered, "You should know the emperor's temper. The battle report did not mention the whereabouts of Shi Luohou, which shows that he was rescued and escaped."

"I'm afraid the Emperor will lead the troops in pursuit personally."

This is indeed what Jiang Shaohua would do.

The battle report only reported good news, and did not mention any follow-up matters. First, the border was far away and there was a serious lag in the transmission of information. Second, who would dare to publicize Jiang Shaohua's order?

Minister Feng frowned and paced back and forth, "What should I do?"

"The border troops suffered heavy losses, and the imperial guards camp also suffered losses. I'm afraid the emperor's fighting force is insufficient. Send reinforcements to the border troops quickly."

No matter whether the reinforcements can be used or not, just send them first.

Prime Minister Chen nodded and said, "I will go and ask Duke Weiyuan and others to come and discuss the matter of reinforcements."

Duke Weiyuan had been impatient for a long time.

Ever since the emperor stopped at the frontier army camp, General Zuo guessed the emperor's intention and regretted it. If he had known there would be such a big battle, he should have shamelessly tried to accompany the emperor that day.

Now that they are so far away, the border troops have 120,000 soldiers, and there are 30,000 guards around the emperor, a total of 150,000 troops. The court will not easily send reinforcements.

Prime Minister Chen invited a group of ministers and generals to the palace to discuss reinforcements. As soon as the matter was opened, General Zuo could not wait to volunteer: "Prime Minister, this duke has fought the most battles with the Rouran barbarians. This duke is also the most familiar with the terrain of the border and grassland. If the court wants to send reinforcements, this duke is the most suitable person to go."

As soon as these words were spoken, the other generals who were eager to try immediately stopped.

In terms of official rank, seniority, and ability to lead troops in battle, General Zuo is truly the best military commander. If General Zuo rushes to take the position, no one else will have a chance.

Sure enough, the person that Prime Minister Chen and Shangshu Feng favored was also General Zuo.

In just half a day, the decision was made, and General Zuo led 100,000 elite soldiers from the Yingwei Camp to support the border troops.

The money and food required to march out a 100,000-man army is staggering. However, at this moment, we can’t care about these things. The emperor’s safety is the most important. (End of this chapter)