A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

In late August, the summer heat in Beijing had dissipated, and the autumn atmosphere was gradually deepening.

An urgent military report from Quanzhou, along with a personal letter from Liu Jingshuang, was delivered to the brightly lit Imperial Study late at night.

When Hua Jieyu presented the letter, the corners of the envelope still carried a trace of the sea's moisture.

Wei Zhao opened the letter and read it very quickly.

A minor victory was achieved at Crescent Bay, with over three hundred prisoners captured.

This result was within his expectations.

With Liu Jingshuang weaving the net on the shore and Shang Wanqing acting as bait at sea, Ke Zhenchuan would inevitably suffer a loss if he dared to reach out.

But when his gaze fell on the prisoner's confession and he saw the words "There are still 13,000 to 14,000 people remaining on the island," his fingers unconsciously tightened.

A total force of over 20,000 men.

This is no longer a group of pirates. It is a separatist kingdom that entrenched itself in the South China Sea, possessing its own territory and manpower.

Wei Zhao put down the letter, leaned back in his chair, and remained silent for a long time.

Hua Jieyu stood quietly to the side, without making a sound to disturb them.

She knew that there must be something heavier than victory in that military report.

"That old fox Ke Zhenchuan has an even bigger appetite than I thought."

After a long while, Wei Zhao finally spoke, his voice devoid of any emotion.

He spread Liu Jingshuang's letter on the table. The request, "The more ships, the better," was written in sharp characters, as if it were about to see through the paper.

He understood the pressure Liu Jingshuang was under. Holding the long coastline with 20,000 cavalrymen was already at its limit.

However, to take the initiative and annihilate 20,000 pirates at sea, relying solely on Shang Wanqing's dozen or so fast boats is nothing short of a pipe dream.

Shipbuilding takes time, money, countless timbers, and skilled craftsmen.

Shin-euk's national treasury could not withstand such endless depletion.

"Go, invite Prime Minister Li here." Wei Zhao's voice returned to calm.

He did not rush to deploy troops, nor did he immediately approve the request to build ships.

War is not just about soldiers, but also about money and supplies.

Li Huai arrived quickly; he practically jogged into the Imperial Study, still smelling of ink from the official documents on his person.

Wei Zhao didn't let him see the military report, but instead posed a question to him:

"If a two-month-long war breaks out in the three southeastern prefectures, will this year's autumn harvest be able to sustain us?"

Li Huai's heart skipped a beat, and his expression immediately became extremely solemn.

He knew that His Majesty's question meant that a truly towering wave was about to rise in the southeastern sea.

"Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance, involving a wide range of funds and grains. I need to return to the Ministry of Revenue to do the calculations overnight."

"Go then." Wei Zhao waved his hand. "I await your confirmation."

The next morning, Li Huai appeared in the Imperial Study again, his eyes dark as if he had been punched, but he was holding a meticulously accounted ledger.

"Your Majesty, the calculations are complete."

His voice was hoarse, but his reasoning was clear: "If we only consider the autumn grain produced in the three southeastern prefectures, it's enough to support the war for two months. But the biggest problem is transportation. The journey from the grain-producing areas to the coast of Quanzhou is long and time-consuming. If the pirates cut off one or two supplies, the front line will be in danger of running out of food."

He paused for a moment, then proposed his own plan: "I believe that it is better to plan ahead than to dig a well when thirsty. We can order Huainan and Jiangxia, which are adjacent to the three southeastern prefectures, to allocate some autumn grain in advance and establish several forward granaries within a hundred miles behind Quanzhou and Mingzhou. In this way, the transportation line will be shortened and the risks will be greatly reduced."

"Granted."

After listening, Wei Zhao did not hesitate at all: "You are in full charge of this matter. Any government officials along the way who dare to shirk their responsibilities or pass the buck shall be executed first and reported later."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Li Huai bowed and accepted the order, a great weight lifted from his heart.

After Li Huai left, Wei Zhao summoned Hua Jieyu.

"Send a message to the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the southeast."

His finger pointed to the densely packed islands south of the Qiongzhou Strait on the map:

"I need to know which of Ke Zhenchuan's three strongholds is his main force and which is his granary. Send someone to infiltrate them; even if they only bring back a rough map, it will be a great achievement."

"Yes."

Hua Jieyu agreed: "There are also four spies in the capital who are skilled in drawing nautical charts and familiar with the waters of the South China Sea. I will immediately send them south to provide support."

Wei Zhao nodded and watched Hua Jieyu leave.

The game on the west side has already come to a living state; now, it's the turn of the game on the east side, which is now doomed.

The tense atmosphere in the imperial court has not yet reached the inner palace.

These past few days, Wei Xuan has become obsessed with a wooden sword.

That sword was carved by Liu Jingshuang for Wei Zhao many years ago when he had nothing to do. Now, Wei Xuan found it in a corner of the storeroom, and the blade was polished until it shone.

The little guy spends all day waving it around the yard, making "hehe haha" noises. He looks so cute and serious.

Tuoba Yue saw this and tried to take it away, muttering, "What kind of behavior is this, brandishing swords and spears? What if you get hurt?"

Wei Zhao happened to be passing by and stopped her with a smile.

"Let him play."

He looked at his son's small, struggling figure as he wielded the sword, a hint of longing in his eyes:

"When I was a child, I was weak and my mother wouldn't let me touch knives or guns. Later, in the Taoist temple, I secretly carved one myself, but my master found out and punished me by making me copy scriptures for three days."

After hearing this, Tuoba Yue released her grip.

She looked at Wei Xuan for a long while before letting out a soft sigh, leaning on Wei Zhao's shoulder, and whispering:

"I'm just afraid... afraid that he'll end up like you, knowing only how to fight and kill from a young age, spending his whole life on the battlefield."

Wei Zhao didn't say anything, but simply put his arm around her shoulder.

Compared to Wei Xuan's liveliness and activity, Liu Jingshuang's son, Wei Heng, was much quieter.

The little guy, who is just over five months old, is no longer satisfied with just eating and sleeping.

When Wei Zhao finished his official duties and went to see him, he was being held in his wet nurse's arms, his big, dark eyes looking around curiously.

Wei Zhao took him and held him in his arms. The little guy wasn't shy at all. He stretched out his chubby little hand and grabbed a jade pendant tied to his clothes, holding it tightly and even trying to put it in his mouth.

"Your Majesty, we dare not let him suck it."

The wet nurse quickly stepped forward and carefully freed the jade pendant from Wei Heng's small hand, smiling as she said:

"This little rascal now wants to put everything in his mouth. A few days ago, when Consort Liu was still alive, he grabbed a copper button on her clothes and wouldn't let go. Consort Liu was afraid he would swallow it, so before she left, she specifically instructed that from now on, no buttons were allowed on the clothes she dressed him."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhao looked down at his bewildered son in his arms, and felt a gentle touch on the softest part of his heart.

That iron-fisted female general on the southeastern front, who could command 20,000 cavalry to obey orders and work with Shang Wanqing to set up a deadly trap, was as meticulous as a needle when facing her own son.

He carried Wei Heng and walked slowly along the corridor.

The very empire he risked his life to protect was so that his women would no longer have to go to the battlefield.

So that his children could hold onto brass buckles and wield wooden swords without worry, instead of having to learn how to pick up real knives and guns and kill people at a very young age.