Princess Xinyue had been unhappy ever since she learned the truth about her departure from Shuangyue City.
Even though Chu Chen had modified her carriage, expending great effort to channel his spiritual energy to craft several springs for shock absorption beneath the seat, it did not cheer her up.
Chu Chen knew this was a knot in Princess Xinyue's heart, a necessary part of her growth that no one else could help her through; she had to overcome it herself.
A full week passed, and the five hundred new recruits had developed a military bearing.
They would wake at eight in the morning to read for half an hour, followed by training in weapons and formations. In the afternoon, they continued eastward in an S-shaped march for field exercises.
With sufficient nutrition ensuring high-intensity training, not only had the new recruits changed significantly, but even the two hundred auxiliary soldiers could march sixty li a day.
On this day, Princess Xinyue, still sitting in the carriage and watching Chu Chen shout commands to train the soldiers through the window, received an imperial edict from the Empress of Shuangyue City.
Several soldiers, holding the edict and a token high, galloped their horses to the carriage.
"An imperial edict has arrived!"
"Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
Hundreds of soldiers around, along with Princess Xinyue and Chu Chen, knelt in reverence.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Eastern Chen Kingdom, having heeded slanderous words, has dispatched thirty thousand troops to invade the borders of our Yunyue Kingdom, thereby provoking and disrupting peace between the two nations. Though our Yunyue Kingdom is small and weak, we cannot endure such humiliation and wish to defend our territory."
"Therefore, Princess Xinyue is commanded to represent the royal family and lead her contingent, day and night, to the eastern frontier to take command."
"Permission is granted to establish a provisional government early to recruit talented individuals and soldiers to defend the homeland and serve the nation. Furthermore, you are bestowed with the Nine Ensigns and the authority to command all generals and soldiers in the eastern frontier, and to oversee all military and political affairs in Anping Commandery."
"Any official below the third rank who disobeys orders or colludes with the enemy and betrays the country may be beheaded without prior report; officials of the third rank and above shall be imprisoned and escorted to the capital for interrogation."
"Respect this!"
Princess Xinyue, rising to receive the edict, was a little bewildered. How could she, a pampered princess who grew up in the palace, understand matters of war and border incursions?
"Stop right there, Princess," she called out to the imperial messengers as they were about to leave.
"Does Your Highness have any further instructions? We still have other edicts to deliver."
The imperial messengers' expressions changed, and they cupped their hands with a wry smile.
Princess Xinyue asked uncertainly, "Are you sure this is from my mother? Did you make a mistake?"
"It is absolutely certain that this is an imperial edict from Her Majesty to Your Highness. Did you not just hear its contents?"
"Has the Chen Kingdom truly invaded our Yunyue Kingdom? Why would they invade?" Princess Xinyue asked after a moment's thought.
"This humble subject does not know the specific reasons. His Majesty merely ordered us brothers to deliver the edicts separately."
The imperial messengers were eager to leave. They had heard of Princess Xinyue's 'reputation' in the palace and did not wish to linger, lest they accidentally offend her and lose their lives.
"Then do you know..."
Princess Xinyue was about to ask more questions when Chu Chen suddenly interrupted, "Alright, you may go."
The imperial messengers cautiously glanced at Princess Xinyue. Seeing that she did not object, they seemed greatly relieved and quickly departed.
Seeing Princess Xinyue standing still and silent, Chu Chen reminded her, "Your Highness, since Her Majesty's edict is so clear, the war has likely truly begun. We should hasten to the eastern frontier."
"You knew this would happen all along, didn't you? Was it because we humiliated the Chen envoy on your birthday? Is it because of us that the war has broken out?" Princess Xinyue asked Chu Chen, her voice distant.
"Yes and no."
Chu Chen sighed and said, "The outbreak of this war is indeed related to the humiliation of the Chen envoy on that birthday, but more significantly, it is due to the overall national strength of our Yunyue Kingdom being far inferior to that of the Chen Kingdom."
"I have read history books that mention surrounding countries. Those stronger than Yunyue Kingdom always liked to stir up trouble. The fundamental reason is that Yunyue Kingdom is weak, and they find excuses to invade and plunder for benefits. The excuse itself is not important; what is important is that weakness leads to being attacked."
Princess Xinyue still did not understand and asked, "But our Yunyue Kingdom has always been law-abiding, and our people are very poor. How many benefits could they gain by plundering us? I heard from Mother that once a war starts, it consumes a considerable amount of money and provisions."
In her mind, she recalled the scenes she had witnessed outside the city after leaving Shuangyue City.
The people of Yunyue Kingdom were starving and freezing, their clothes tattered and coarse. How could such a country be coveted for its benefits?
"Wars without purpose are inevitably losses, while wars that are certainly won are inevitably profitable."
"As long as we can win, even if our Yunyue Kingdom is weak and our people are poor, we can gain immense benefits."
"For example, simply capturing our citizens and taking them back to be enslaved to work day and night, without paying a cent or even providing much food, can help them do many things, such as farming, mining, or labor. The output from these tasks is the benefit."
Chu Chen sighed again and explained, "Obtaining civilians from a defeated nation as slaves, slaughtering officials, nobles, merchants, and landlords to seize wealth and provisions. After the population is wiped out, they can acquire the land to settle more of their own citizens. This is the naked benefit of bloodshed."
"Does Your Highness understand?"
Princess Xinyue bit her lip and remained silent for a long time.
Before meeting Chu Chen, Princess Xinyue did not value the lives of lowly people, feeling they were no different from pets or livestock.
It wasn't until she left the city with Chu Chen last time and witnessed firsthand the suffering of many impoverished citizens, their yellowed, wrinkled faces, their thin, hungry bodies, and their crying children.
She saw how they struggled with all their might just to survive.
And the joyous shouts and hopeful eyes that followed the execution of corrupt officials, the gratefulness that made her feel unworthy.
She felt that human lives were, after all, human lives.
Since returning that time, Princess Xinyue had no longer casually killed or punished the eunuchs and maids around her. Although she still spoke of killing this and that, she had not taken any actual action.
She believed that with the pear tools and waterwheels invented by Chu Chen, the lives of the people would improve, and they would not be so poor. She would also gradually forget the unbearable, cruel realities of the lower class that she had witnessed.
But she never expected that after such a short time, she would have to face a scene more terrifying than starvation and freezing. She didn't know what to do.
"Xiao Chenzi, I read in books that when war breaks out, there are large-scale deaths. Is this true?"
"Absolutely true."
"Then do you have a way to prevent the war from breaking out?" Princess Xinyue asked with hope.
Chu Chen was silent for a moment, then replied, "Not at the moment, at least not while Your Highness is still a princess."
"Not for now? I understand."
Princess Xinyue turned and returned to the carriage.