The Empress Kneels in Her Palace to Admit Her Mistakes After Slaying Her Ways in the Female-Oriented

Yunji City.

The guerrilla general has already returned after going to Shanhe City.

He came to report back to Ren Tianye.

"General, I have brought back all the families of the Eight Hundred Army soldiers on this mission, leaving none behind. In addition, I have also brought back more than 5,000 citizens of Shanhe City, who have been temporarily settled."

Ren Tianye nodded, a great weight lifted from his heart. With the families of the Eight Hundred Army soldiers brought back, there were no more worries.

However, the extra 5,000 people brought back need to be properly arranged, and we need to recruit more soldiers and expand our strength immediately.

Just then, Sun Xiang said, "General, when I returned, I looked back at Shanhe City. Under the cover of night, the sounds of battle cries and weeping were deafening, and there were also endless fires. I'm afraid..."

"I fear the barbarians will massacre the city."

Massacre the city!

When Sun Xiang uttered those two words, even though Ren Tianye was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but be shocked.

However, he didn't say much, but instead said, "Xiao Mingzhao just handed over this Shanhe City to the barbarians as a dowry, and the barbarians dared to massacre the city."

"It seems that Xiao Mingzhao's trust in that barbarian third prince has reached an absurd level."

"Heh, but that's normal."

He paused, then asked, "Any other discoveries?"

"Yes!" Sun Xiang said, "General, after I left the city, we were chased by barbarians, but they did not give up as usual. Instead, they could not find us and returned to Shanhe City."

"I found it strange, so I looked back for a while and could vaguely sense that a barbarian army was entering Shanhe City."

"Moreover, the number is considerable, probably in the tens of thousands!"

The scouts who accompanied my men also reported that, based on observations of the barbarian army, the number entering Shanhe City was likely as high as 100,000!

100,000!

These two words immediately put Ren Tianye on alert.

"The barbarians entered Shanhe City with 100,000 soldiers?"

"It should be; even if it's not quite there, it won't be too far off."

"That's not right..."

Ren Tianye frowned slightly.

He was well aware of the basic strength of the barbarian army. Previously, under the strong suppression of the Crimson Beacon Army, the barbarians, though powerful, could hardly make any significant progress.

Therefore, according to statistics, the number of soldiers was about 150,000, including about 40,000 light cavalry, about 5,000 heavy cavalry, some elite long-range cavalry, and infantry, especially the logistics and miscellaneous personnel numbering about 100,000.

Moreover, it is shared by multiple tribes.

In other words, besides the royal family, there were also ten powerful tribes on the grasslands, as well as many peripheral tribes, which combined to form such a large number.

There are only 150,000 in total.

There are now 100,000 people arriving in Shanhe City!

Two-thirds of the entire grassland has reached Shanhe City?

Moreover, most of them were soldiers, and only a small number were logistics and miscellaneous workers.

"This looks like war is brewing!"

Ren Tianye thought to himself.

Although I knew the barbarians had ill intentions, I didn't expect them to act so quickly, sending an army of 100,000 to occupy Shanhe City.

This clearly indicates that a major battle is imminent.

But what kind of actions will they take?

Ren Tianye considered it.

According to the customs of the barbarians, they rarely conquer cities and territories; they always move swiftly, raiding for supplies.

But the mobilization of 100,000 troops would not be a simple matter of raiding enemy camps.

Ren Tianye tried his best to put himself in the barbarian's shoes, considering their next actions and methods, and soon...

Their eyes lit up!

"Head south!"

"The barbarians want to move south!"

Sun Xiang was taken aback: "Heading south? Wouldn't that mean the capital?"

"Now the North is practically nonexistent, and the insurmountable barrier that once made it insurmountable for them no longer exists."

"If the barbarians command 40,000 light cavalry, given their speed, they could cross the Yellow River in just a few days and march straight towards the capital!"

Sun Xiang gasped.

"In this way, the Great Yu Dynasty is in imminent danger!"

"Empress, I fear you won't even have time to react before you become a prisoner of the barbarians!"

Ren Tianye, however, looked excited: "This is great news!"

"The barbarians are marching south, making the already chaotic world even more chaotic. If they can successfully abduct the Empress, the world will be without a ruler, and that's the perfect opportunity for us to rise up."

"At that time, the world will change hands, and we will not only avoid the infamy of being illegitimate in our rule, but also have the prestige of sweeping away the barbarians and restoring our homeland!"

Thinking of this, Ren Tianye could no longer hide the smile on his face.

This is a golden opportunity!

Let the barbarians do the work of overthrowing the Great Yu. They can not only gain great benefits by following behind, but also become the army of the king!

That was a brilliant move by the barbarians!

"General..." Sun Xiang said, "But what if the barbarians don't march south, but instead invade and annex the northern border of our Great Yu?"

Ren Tianye's eyes narrowed: "Instead of heading south, you want to invade the northern border? Hmph, my Yunji City is the throat of the northern border. If the barbarians want to invade the northern border, they must take over my Yunji City first."

"If they obediently head south, that's fine. But if they dare to come to Yunji City, even if they are tigers, I will knock their teeth out."

"Let them know that Yunji City is impregnable and not something they can lay a finger on. They'd better obediently head south and kidnap the Empress; that's the right thing to do!"

Sun Xiang understood.

The key to the matter lies in their Yunji City.

As long as Yunji City exists, the barbarians will have no way to take over the northern border; otherwise, they will have to worry about unrest in the rear at all times, and the city will be in danger of collapse at any moment.

and so……

As long as we hold Yunji City, the barbarians... will have no choice but to march south!

"Alright, go and rest!" Ren Tianye said at this moment, "I'm afraid that after today, you'll have endless things to do in the entire Yunji City."

"Yes!" Sun Xiang accepted the order and left.

Ren Tianye's mind was still racing. The situation was becoming increasingly favorable for them, but they still lacked confidence.

The shortage of soldiers is not a major problem. There are hundreds of thousands of residents in Yunji City, so we can recruit them easily. We also don't lack weapons and armor for the time being.

Lu Qingke left him 70,000 sets of imperial guard equipment.

This included the equipment of 15,000 heavy cavalry, 30,000 heavy infantry, and a considerable amount of equipment for logistics and miscellaneous units.

That's enough for him to form a powerful army.

The biggest problem right now is still money and supplies!

Inside Yunji City, Zhan Shubai had used all the money and provisions for the construction of Yunji City and the training of soldiers, leaving a shortage of funds and provisions.

Now that the imperial court has stopped providing support, the country is gradually becoming strapped for cash.

"The simplest way would be to let the troops plunder. The wealth of the people of Yunji City is unimaginable, but that would be tantamount to destroying our own foundation."

"So, still..."

Ren Tianye's eyes narrowed.

The Su family!

These past few days, he has conducted further investigations into the Su family and discovered that the Su family is far more powerful and wealthy than he had imagined. It is the result of generations of accumulation, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they are as rich as a country.

With the full support of the Su family, the problem of money and food will not be a problem in the short term!

Thinking of this, he ordered, "Summon Su Jin."

Before long, Su Jin, dressed in plain clothes, hurried over and bowed deeply. Her beautiful face was full of trepidation, wondering why the general had suddenly summoned her.

"How are your preparations for my wedding?"

Upon hearing this, Su Jin breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "General, my second sister, Su Xiu, has agreed to the marriage between her and you. However, my second sister objects to you wanting to marry her as your principal wife..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ren Tianye interrupted, "What 'principal wife'? I only said I would marry her, not 'principal wife'!"

"Huh?" Su Jin was taken aback.

As far as he knew, the general had never been married before. Was this first marriage not with his principal wife?

Could she be a concubine?

How could his second sister agree?

The Su family would never agree to that!

"A wife is a wife. In my eyes, there has never been a distinction between a principal wife and a first wife. Do you understand?"

Su Jin understood.

All wives are equal.

This would allow him to marry multiple wives and rely more on the power behind them.

Therefore, the more wives one marries, the stronger one becomes!

This is such a heretical thing to do!

But when it came to the general, Su Jin dared not express the slightest dissatisfaction or rebuttal. Instead, she told herself that she must not speak of this matter openly, and she must not let her second sister know.

Once the deed is done, Su Xiu, the second sister, will have no say in the matter.

He continued, "Regarding the General's intention to marry my second sister, Su Xiu, she is rather proud and not very happy. Therefore, she will most likely ask the General for more dowry."

"It's alright, just give her more."

Ren Tianye said he didn't care about this.

The Great Yu Dynasty was, after all, a dynasty governed by rituals, and there were standards for marriage between men and women. The women were very accustomed to these standards, believing that the bride price represented face and power.

Normally, he now commands nearly ten thousand men, controls Yunji City, and is a great general. If he were to marry a merchant's daughter, the dowry would be less than that of a low-ranking official.

For lower-class betrothal gifts, in addition to the three rites of betrothal, presenting betrothal gifts, and welcoming the bride, a pair of gold hairpins and jade bracelets, several silver items, and a fine jade pendant must also be given.

We also need fifty bolts of high-quality silk and one hundred bolts of cotton cloth.

Ren Tianye will give this betrothal gift!

No, give her a chance to qualify.

Give her a moderately priced dowry.

In addition to the three rites of betrothal, presenting gifts, and welcoming the bride, the gifts included a pair of mutton-fat jade ruyi, eight sets of red gold jewelry, a quantity of pearls and jadeite, fifty bolts each of Shu brocade and Yun brocade, and two hundred bolts of fine silk and satin.

In exchange for these things, they would give the Su family their full support.

He stated that he would agree to such a deal as many times as needed!

"Then, on behalf of my second sister, I thank the General."

"Very well, go and prepare. In three days, this general will marry your second sister, Su Xiu!"

"Yes, General!"

……