"Who is this Grand Governor who suddenly appeared? Who is this person?" the Emperor asked the trusted ministers standing before him, his heart filled with doubt.
They all shook their heads. Binzhou was too far away, and its climate was harsh; they had no way to investigate.
"The fact that the other party dares not show their true face is something we should ponder. Is it someone we know very well, afraid of implicating their family, or is their identity something that cannot be revealed?" the Prime Minister cautiously voiced his guess. He noticed the Emperor had been looking serious and in low spirits ever since receiving the urgent dispatch. It was best to tread carefully.
"I have also considered what the Prime Minister has thought of. Binzhou is a barren and cold land with sparse population. If it is lost, it is lost. What pains me are the soldiers stationed there." To the Emperor, that place provided no rare treasures nor produced any grain. Within the empire, it merely increased the territory. Its loss was insignificant. The crucial point was that the soldiers stationed there had reportedly defected to the Grand Governor. With Prince Qin rebelling in the west and the urgent need for manpower, it was truly a pity.
"Do my beloved ministers think I should now divide my forces to quell them?" This was the Emperor's primary objective in summoning them today.
They exchanged glances, and finally, the Minister of War stepped forward to offer his opinion. "Your humble servant believes the war in the west has already begun. The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue are doing their utmost to support the efforts to completely defeat Prince Qin. If we were to engage in another war in the north, I fear the national treasury would be unable to sustain it."
"I believe it is more prudent for us to deal with them one by one. Let us first eliminate Prince Qin, and then deal with the Grand Governor in the north. Overall, Prince Qin's forces are stronger, and his influence is greater. The Grand Governor in the north is merely a minor disturbance. Although he commands eighty thousand troops, Binzhou restricts his development. Sustaining so many soldiers is no easy task," the Prime Minister said, his gaze falling on the Emperor. Without hesitation, he carefully articulated his views.
"Your humble servant concurs."
"Your humble servant concurs."
...
The ministers that followed were largely fence-sitters. They knew the Emperor already had an answer in mind but wished to bring the matter into the open. If problems arose later, they could shift the blame. After all, this was a result of collective deliberation, and all the fault could not be placed on him alone.
Wu Caiwei and her husband had already guessed that the Emperor would not deal with them first. They therefore agreed that Ye Xingli would remain in Binzhou to manage all affairs, while Wu Caiwei would secretly head west with her men.
Prince Qin looked at the person standing before him, who called himself a strategist, appraising him from head to toe with a scrutinizing gaze. He scoffed, "I am of royal blood. He usurped the throne through despicable means. What is wrong with me wanting it back now? You are all rebels and traitors. Why should I cooperate with you?"
"The war on the front lines has been rather strenuous lately, hasn't it? Although we are enemies in name, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Our current goal is the same: to survive. Faced with the imperial court, we all appear so weak. We can only huddle together for warmth. I have been dispatched by the Grand Governor precisely to help you. Only when you are well will the court have no troops to deal with us." Wu Caiwei was not bothered by his disdain, nor did she get angry. She was solely focused on persuading him.
"If he could send tens of thousands of soldiers to help, that would be something. But just you? What use is one person?" Prince Qin burst out laughing. He thought too highly of himself. Could one person really stand against an army?
"Your Highness should not underestimate anyone. We two are the ones who captured Binzhou without a single soldier's loss. Perhaps I can indeed create some miracles." Wu Caiwei snapped open her fan with a flourish, fanning herself with a confident smile as she looked at him.
This was also why Prince Qin had not immediately driven him away. Despite the constant mockery, this young man remained remarkably composed, maintaining a smile throughout, making him someone not to be underestimated.
After a moment of hesitation, he suddenly burst into laughter. "Since the strategist is so capable, accompany me to the city wall tomorrow morning to observe the battle."
"As Your Highness commands." Wu Caiwei bowed, knowing that the first hurdle had been cleared. Tomorrow would be the crucial part.
The battle commenced early the next morning. Wu Caiwei hurried to Prince Qin's side, holding a steamed bun and eating as she watched.
Prince Qin curled his lips in disdain. It was rumored that the strategist was the Grand Governor's most trusted person, and many decisions were made by him. With his demeanor, could he possibly achieve anything great? It was a fantasy. However, the weaker they were, the more satisfied he was. This way, it would be much easier to deal with them after he had dealt with the imperial court.
Watching the battle unfold below, his brows furrowed. It seemed the imperial court had sent reinforcements. A few days ago, his subordinates could hold their own, but in the span of this morning, they had already lost two battles, and even one general had been captured.
This was not a good omen. Firstly, the morale of the soldiers would be hit hard. Secondly, he was running out of capable men. He already had a shortage of generals, and if a few more were captured, who would be willing to fight?
He glanced sideways and saw Wu Caiwei happily eating. Hadn't he boasted about his capabilities? Now that he faced a predicament, it was natural to seek him out.
"Strategist, do you have any good strategies to help me resolve this current predicament?" Although General Qin found the person before him quite unreliable, he still held a glimmer of hope.
"It's very simple. We need someone with powerful martial prowess to hold the line. They capture a few of our generals, and we capture a few of theirs in exchange." Wu Caiwei blurted it out almost instantly. His indifferent attitude completely provoked Prince Qin.
"Anyone can understand the logic. But where are we to find such a general? Saying that is as good as saying nothing." He suppressed his anger, feeling that he should not have placed any hope in him.
Wu Caiwei knew exactly what he was thinking. She slowly took a spear from one of the guards behind him.
"What do you intend to do?" Prince Qin quickly retreated, fearing she might harm him.
"Rest assured, if I intended to kill you, you would have been dead hundreds of times over by now. Have your men open the city gate. I am going out to meet the enemy." With that, she brandished her spear and elegantly descended the city wall.
The soldiers looked up at Prince Qin, awaiting his next order. After a moment of thought, he nodded decisively. Perhaps this person did have some ability. Hadn't another general been captured in the time he had been speaking with him?
When Wu Caiwei appeared before them on horseback, the enemy couldn't help but mock her. "Have you run out of generals to send? Who is this masked person who doesn't dare show their true face? They're not even wearing armor. How much do they despise us? Let us teach you how to be humble."