Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 1260

Chapter 1260 -1255: Gratitude and Benevolence

“Now, Zhou and the Yan Kingdom have already clashed over this matter! The Emperor of Zhou, deeply affectionate toward her own brother, has neglected even her newborn to come to Xiliang, illustrating the extent of her fury!” General Cui Shanzhong recalled another matter and couldn’t help but chuckle, “However… I am aware that when the Yan Kingdom and Zhou jointly attacked the Tianfeng Kingdom, Zhou did most of the work since the Yan Kingdom lacked provisions and soldiers. Yet, each time the spoils of war were divided, Zhou always gave the majority to the Yan Kingdom!”

He turned to look at Li Tianjiao: “Your Majesty, consider this: Zhou treated the Yan Kingdom so sincerely, yet the Yan Kingdom stabbed them in the back. If this happened to anyone, who could endure it?”

“Thus, this Emperor of Zhou was overcome with rage, lost her senses, and, disregarding her health, hastened to Xiliang, ignoring even her prematurely born child…” Li Tianjiao found it quite unbelievable.

General Cui Shanzhong shook his head: “This Emperor of Zhou is certainly furious, but she is not reckless! As she comes to Xiliang, she also mobilizes troops to the Yan Kingdom’s border, clearly aiming to… trap the two armies led by the Ninth Prince of the Yan Kingdom and General Xie Xun, and then have the Zhou Army at the Yan Kingdom’s border attack the Yan Kingdom! Turning the Yan Kingdom into meat on the chopping board!”

Enlightened by General Cui Shanzhong, Li Tianjiao quickly bowed deeply to him: “The General is indeed formidable!”

General Cui Shanzhong hastily avoided Li Tianjiao’s salute and returned the gesture: “I am not formidable! The truly formidable one… is this Emperor of Zhou! Your Majesty… do you now understand what kind of opponent our Xiliang is facing?”

Though Li Tianjiao had previously admired Bai Qingyan, as an emperor, she did not think herself inferior to Bai Qingyan. She just felt that Xiliang was a mess when handed to her, and she had done her best.

But now, she realized this Emperor of Zhou was indeed more formidable, at least in terms of military strategy.

“So, General’s suggestion is that once the Emperor of Zhou arrives, we will declare… that we are willing to submit to Zhou! Then send Bai Qingyu back and try to sow discord between the Yan Kingdom and Zhou! Let the Yan Kingdom and Zhou fight!” Li Tianjiao placed her hands behind her back, “Before the Emperor of Zhou reaches Xiliang, we could seek out the Ninth Prince of the Yan Kingdom, express our willingness to vassalize to the Yan Kingdom, and stabilize them.”

Cui Shanzhong nodded: “For both Zhou and the Yan Kingdom, after wiping out Xiliang, any one of them wishing to unify the world must confront the other. Since ancient times, weaker nations have allied to resist stronger ones! Rather than exhausting their forces against our nearly vanquished Xiliang, they might as well destroy the stronger of the two first! Only if they both think this way can Xiliang survive in the cracks!”

“How does the General plan to proceed?” Li Tianjiao asked. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

“I intend to meet with the Ninth Prince of the Yan Kingdom now.” General Cui Shanzhong said.

“I leave everything to the General’s arrangements!” Li Tianjiao replied.

After watching General Cui Shanzhong leave, Li Tianjiao abruptly spoke: “Send orders to those hidden in various places of our Xiliang that if we lose this battle, after my death… spare no effort to rescue Li Tianfu!”

As Li Tianjiao finished speaking, the flickering lamp above her head seemed to suggest that her words were merely self-reassurance.

If General Cui Shanzhong’s strategy fails and Zhou and the Yan Kingdom eventually invade the city…

“Thank you for the regard, Murong Yan shall accompany you!” Xiao Rongyan dismounted with a single leap.

Accompanied by soft cushions and a small table prepared by General Cui’s attendants, the two sat opposite each other.

“Does the Ninth Prince know that the newly delivered Emperor of Zhou, while rushing to Yunjing, also stationed troops at the Yan Kingdom’s border? What do you think she is planning?” General Cui took the warming wine on the fire and poured a cup for both Xiao Rongyan and himself.

The wind-tossed torches cast changing shadows on Xiao Rongyan’s features, and he smiled silently, “Please enlighten me.”

Placing the wine pot back on the fire, General Cui slowly spoke: “The Yan Kingdom and Zhou are both ambitious nations, aiming to unify the world! Although the Emperor of Zhou is a woman, she is undoubtedly a hero of the times, mightier than many men! Naturally, she is more ruthless, otherwise, she wouldn’t have abandoned her prematurely born twins to rush to Xiliang!”

Xiao Rongyan remained silent, his deep, dark eyes fixed on General Cui.

General Cui took a sip of wine from the cup in front of him, smiled, “Zhou was stabbed in the back by the Empress Dowager of Yan, but at this furious moment, although the Emperor of Zhou abandoned her children to come to Xiliang for revenge, she did not directly attack the Yan Kingdom but stationed troops at its border. Why? Isn’t it to make you, the Ninth Prince of the Yan Kingdom, feel that she still remembers the kindness of your rushing to Jiangzi City’s aid, thus… you and General Xie Xun will not immediately take your troops back to help the Yan Kingdom!”

Xiao Rongyan chuckled, sipping his wine, continued to listen to General Cui. He had to admit… General Cui had quite the eloquence, almost making him believe it.