Love Lock

Chapter 233 Guarantee Perfection
Zhao Zun's expression turned serious again: "This afternoon we received a report that the Turks have sent out scouts."

He walked to the sand table and pointed to the northern border, saying, "The Turks have no food to get through the winter, and I'm afraid they will come south to plunder after the autumn harvest."

Han Lei stood beside him, her slender fingers gently tracing the border line, and nodded slightly.

“This was within my expectations; their attempt to establish a marriage alliance with the Great Jing failed. However, now that the North Pass fortress is complete, the Turks have no chance of winning.” She looked up at Zhao Zun, “Why are you still worried?”

Zhao Zun sighed: "There's something even more urgent than this."

He took out a slip of paper from his sleeve. "I just received a message from Uncle Liu in the capital. The court has noticed the abnormality in Cangzhou and is mobilizing troops. They will be sending troops to attack soon."

Han Lei looked at the words on the note, pursed her lips and remained silent. Under the light, her eyes darkened, and her long eyelashes cast a faint shadow on her face.

Seeing this, Zhao Zun thought she was angry, so he quickly stepped forward and said, "But don't worry, preparing for the war takes time and will not affect tomorrow's wedding. In any case, I will give you a proper wedding ceremony tomorrow."

Han Lei shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips: "That's not what I'm worried about." She looked up and stared directly at Zhao Zun. "I'm just thinking that if we attack from both sides at the same time, we'll be attacked from both sides."

“Yes!” Zhao Zun looked into her bright eyes and said in a deep voice, “The current situation is like walking on a narrow bridge on the edge of a cliff. If we are not careful, we will be doomed. I am also thinking about whether there is any way to stabilize one side first and then focus on dealing with the other side.”

"Your Highness's plan is brilliant!" Xiao Zhengfei exchanged a glance with the pockmarked man beside him, both of them showing approval.

As Ma Zi nodded, he habitually touched the old scar on his chin. It was a trophy from a battle with the Turkic cavalry three years ago.

"There's absolutely no room for negotiation with the imperial court. In their eyes, we're nothing but traitors." Pockmarked man stroked his chin and spat. "Those civil officials are probably just waiting to see our heads roll."

Han Lei picked up the teacup on the table, the rising steam blurring her slightly furrowed brows.

She suddenly remembered that a few days ago, Tang Xiaotong had made a special trip to Cangzhou to ask her to persuade Zhao Zun to trade with the Turks.

If we can establish trade relations with the Turks and provide them with winter supplies, we can stabilize the Turkic situation for the time being.

But... Zhao Zun's father died on the battlefield in Turkic territory, and she didn't know if her suggestion was appropriate.

Han Lei looked at Zhao Zun, her lips moved, but she didn't say anything in the end. Instead, she asked Zhao Zun, "Have you thought of any specific methods?"
Zhao Zun's gaze deepened. "There is a solution, but it's very difficult to implement, almost... impossible."

"Oh? Tell me about it." Han Lei was very curious.

“A few days ago, your manager named Tang Xiaotong came to Ganluo County to see you.” Zhao Zun stared at Han Lei. “She wanted to ask you to send a caravan to trade with the Turks. This matter has been on my mind for a long time, but I haven’t made a decision yet.”

“I know that. I ran into Tang Xiaotong in Qingshui County,” Han Lei replied.

It turned out that Zhao Zun was also referring to trade with the Turks. However, the fact that Zhao Zun brought it up himself meant that he was already prepared, which saved her the trouble of persuading him.

"Did he tell you too?" Zhao Zun asked.

"Mm!" Han Lei nodded. "It's just that you've been too busy these days, so I haven't had a chance to tell you yet."

When they heard them talk about trading with the Turks, Xiao Zhengfei and Ma Zi both had complicated expressions on their faces.

"Your Highness, this...this is absolutely unacceptable!" Xiao Zhengfei said urgently.

“That’s right, Your Highness. This isn’t right…” Pockmarked man shook his head repeatedly.

Zhao Zun raised his hand to stop the two of them, gazing thoughtfully at the map. The border line marked in vermilion on the map resembled a hideous scar, stretching across the border between Cangzhou and the Turkic region.

Han Lei asked softly, "Do you have any plans?"

Zhao Zun's Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he suddenly turned around and took the sword from his waist.

He held his sword in his palms, the leather wrapped around the top of the scabbard worn smooth by time, and they could clearly see the two lines of intersecting characters on the blade.

One line is written in the winding Turkic script, while the other line is written in the upright and elegant regular script.

"This is..." Han Lei reached out to touch it, but she didn't recognize the words.

Ma Zi answered first: "That's an inscription praying for peace."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhengfei felt a pang of pain in his heart.

He turned his head away, looking to the side, trying hard to suppress the tears in his eyes.

Zhao Zun's personal guards all knew the inscription on the sword. It was Zhao Zun's remembrance of his father and a tribute to the spirits of all the brothers who died on the battlefield.

Zhao Zun, however, seemed to have long been accustomed to this pain. His face was calm, and his gaze seemed to pierce through the distant years, seeing that bloody battle.

"When I was eighteen, my father died in battle against the Turks, wounded by 27 arrows. I carried his coffin back to the capital..."

Zhao Zun spoke calmly, his thumb tracing the raised and recessed marks, the metal rubbing against his skin producing a soft rustling sound.

"The peace prayer on this is what I begged for after kneeling in the Ministry of Works for three days and three nights." He suddenly drew his sword, the lamplight dancing on the blade, illuminating the complex emotions in his eyes.

"The night before my father went to the battlefield, he kept saying that if the two countries could live in peace, why would the people on the border suffer every year? But the only way to live in peace is through trade."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhengfei knelt on one knee, the clanging of his armor creating a resounding sound.

"Please reconsider, Your Highness! If the spirit of the old Duke in heaven were to see us making deals with our enemies..." His voice choked, and veins bulged on his forehead, "My brother died in the Battle of Shuofang last year, and his remains are still buried under the Turks' grasslands!"

Ma Zi also knelt down with a thud, the scar on his chin turning red with excitement.

"Your Highness, which family in Cangzhou hasn't been harmed by the Turks? My mother often says that she feels like grabbing a sword and killing them whenever she sees smoke rising from the grasslands! If Your Highness truly intends to engage in trade..."

As he spoke, Ma Zi suddenly ripped open his shirt, revealing a gruesome arrow wound on his chest. "Your Highness, then please stab me here again!"

The air inside the room suddenly froze, and everyone's heart seemed to stop beating.

Han Lei saw the veins bulging on the back of Zhao Zun's hand as he gripped the sword, his knuckles turning white from the force. He suddenly turned around, and the tip of the sword slashed across the hanging map, tearing the sheepskin in two.

"Look at this!" He pointed to the famine-stricken areas marked on the map, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "Why did the Turks risk raiding our granaries last winter? Because the cattle and sheep they froze to death were piled up higher than mountains!"

His sword then turned to the markers of Ling'an City and Yong'an City. "Look here again, the so-called important border towns of the imperial court, yet those in the court embezzle military pay for their own enrichment! The soldiers fight desperately against foreign enemies with their blood and sweat, but aren't they losing their lives too?"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Xiao Zhengfei and Ma Zi kneeling on the ground, his voice suddenly lowered, filled with heartache. "Your loved ones died on the Turkic battlefield. I understand your pain, but am I not in pain too? Although the Beiguan fortress is now fortified, and our pistols and rifles are incredibly powerful, we no longer need to fear the Turks. But Cangzhou is now attacked from both sides, and we face four battlefields: Qingshui County, Ling'an City, Yong'an City, and Fufeng County. Dispersing our forces is inevitable. Even with the deserters from Jingzhou, we don't have many capable fighters left. Have you thought about this? If our soldiers fall, whose fathers, whose husbands, whose sons will they be?"

Xiao Zhengfei and Ma Zi fell silent, with the former lowering his head in shame.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. It was my oversight that I didn't think things through," Xiao Zhengfei said, bowing his head.

At this moment, Han Lei gently put down her teacup, the soft sound of the porcelain touching the wooden table being particularly clear in the quiet room.

She walked slowly to the torn map, picked up the fallen half, and placed it on the table.

"The Turkic lands are bitterly cold, and the living conditions are extremely harsh. I heard from Tang Xiaotong that the imperial court has always refused to trade with them, on the grounds that the people of Dajing are not even enough to eat or wear, so how could they have any surplus to trade with them? And that year, when the Turks couldn't steal any grain, they slaughtered all the women and children in Tang Xiaotong's village..."

Before Han Lei could finish speaking, Ma Zi had already closed his eyes in pain.

Zhao Zun suddenly slammed his sword heavily onto the table, the blade vibrating and humming.

“That’s precisely why I’m taking this risky step!” He suddenly ripped open his collar, revealing a gruesome arrow scar below his collarbone. “You all know very well that this arrow was shot by Ashina Khan of the Turks, but I still have to say today… Rather than let new graves be added to the border every year, it’s better to find a way for the living to survive! Besides, Cangzhou is now surrounded by powerful enemies on all sides: the imperial court, the Turks, the Ala, and the Meng Kingdom. Trading with the Turks is just one step in a plan.”

“Yes!” Han Lei nodded. “I agree with Zhao Zun’s statement. Cangzhou is surrounded by powerful enemies. Moreover, the Turks are fighting for survival and will inevitably make a desperate gamble. Rather than being caught between two sides, we should give the Turks some hope for survival, keep them in check, and once we have dealt with the court, we can turn around and deal with the Turks at any time.”

Xiao Zhengfei asked thoughtfully, "What if, after establishing trade relations with the Turks, they remain unchanged and continue to raid southwards?"

“That’s easy to handle,” Han Lei said, puffing out her chest. “If you decide to take this step, then leave the rest to me. I guarantee that if the Turks don’t change their ways, I will definitely find a way to defeat them so that they will never be able to recover.”

With Zhao Zun's analysis and Han Lei's assurances, Xiao Zhengfei and Ma Zi were finally persuaded.

"Understood. We will certainly obey Your Highness and Princess's orders and cooperate fully." Xiao Zhengfei stood up, his gaze unusually firm as he clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Ma Zi also stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Yes! Your subordinates swear to follow Your Highness and Your Highness to the death. However..."

Ma Zi hesitated, a worried look on his face.

Han Lei raised an eyebrow at Ma Zi, her gaze becoming more serious: "But what?"

"The Prince and Princess love their people like their own children." Ma Zi glanced furtively at Zhao Zun, carefully choosing his words before continuing, "These past few months, they've been clearing land, diverting irrigation canals, building factories, and paving roads in Cangzhou."
The people of Cangzhou had only enjoyed a few days of good fortune thanks to tax reductions. If news of trade with the Turks were to spread now…

Ma Zi's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice lowered even further, "The court is just looking for a pretext. If this charge of 'colluding with an enemy state' is pinned on you, the Prince's accumulated popular support will probably be..."

Xiao Zhengfei's face was also full of worry: "What Ma Zi said makes sense! The Prince has guarded the North Pass for many years, with numerous military achievements. The scene of him distributing honeycomb briquette stoves to the people is still vivid in our minds. If someone with ulterior motives incites us to say that the Prince is secretly colluding with the Turks..."

His fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "The people hate traitors the most. I'm afraid that this will chill the hearts of countless ordinary people."

Zhao Zun looked up and took a deep breath, his shadow swaying slightly on the wall.

His slender fingers traced the winding border between Cangzhou and the Turks on the map, his fingertips stained with a little cinnabar, like an unhealed wound.

The sound of the night watchman's clapper came from outside the window; the night watchman's drum had begun. The early autumn night breeze, carrying the fragrance of locust blossoms, seeped in, but could not dispel the stagnant atmosphere in the room.

“I told you that this is a good idea, but perhaps… it’s not feasible,” Zhao Zun muttered.

Han Lei gently held Zhao Zun's hand and found that his palm was cold.

She understood that if Zhao Zun wanted to accomplish great things, he needed the support of the people. After all, public opinion is a powerful force, and if that happened, no matter how much Zhao Zun did, it would all be in vain.

She placed the teapot filled with hot tea into his hands, her silk sleeves brushing against the table, carrying a delicate jasmine fragrance.

She also understood that trading with enemy countries was not a simple matter; there were far too many issues to consider.

"Don't be discouraged, there's always a way out." Her voice was soft, but every word was clear. "How about... I take care of this. It's not convenient for you to get involved. After the wedding tomorrow, let me think about it carefully. Since we've already decided to take this step, we'll surely find a way that satisfies both sides."

"No, I will not allow it."

Zhao Zun frowned. Without thinking, he immediately grabbed Han Lei's shoulder, looked down at her, and gazed at her with deep affection.

"Your reputation among the people of Cangzhou is almost divine. Because of your existence, the people of Cangzhou have seen hope. You can offer us advice, but you must remain uninvolved. If the people find out that their beloved and respected queen is actually having an affair with an enemy country..." Zhao Zun shook his head, his attitude resolute: "I will never allow you to endure such rumors."

"Yes! Your Highness, please reconsider!"

“Your Highness is right. You are all one, so if one of you suffers a loss of reputation, what difference does it make?”

Xiao Zhengfei and Ma Zi spoke in unison to dissuade them.

Han Lei felt a warmth in his heart, but at the same time, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Han Lei blinked, a sly glint flashing in her bright eyes.

"Now that you mention it, I've come up with a great idea. Hehe..." Han Lei suddenly laughed, as if she had thought of something funny. "Don't worry! I'll handle this. Perfect, guaranteed!"

Although Zhao Zun and the others didn't understand what "Perfect" meant, Han Lei said it so casually, as if victory was already in her grasp.

"Really?" Zhao Zun asked uncertainly.

"Of course!" Han Lei smiled slyly and sweetly. "You can rest assured, I promise I'll do a perfect job for you."

"Wow! The Princess is so powerful!" Xiao Zhengfei exclaimed with delight.

"Good!" Zhao Zun's face also showed joy. "Since the girl is so confident, let's stop here for today. Ma Zi, you are responsible for escorting the princess back to the prefectural government. I will go back to prepare for the wedding. Remember! The matter of the court's expedition and the Turkic disturbances must be kept strictly confidential for the time being to avoid causing panic."

"Yes!"

"My subordinate understands!"

The group immediately felt relieved. Ma Zi accepted the order and escorted Han Lei back to the prefectural government.

Watching them disappear at the gate of the Prince's Mansion, Zhao Zun stretched and went back to his room with Xiao Zhengfei to rest, preparing for the grand wedding the next day.

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