From cute to empress

Chapter 201 Black Wind Valley Surprise Attack Plan

A sharp wind, mixed with fine sand, whipped across my face. I squinted, but the scene before me shuddered. In the desolate Sunset Canyon, two armies faced each other, shouts and cries of battle deafening the heavens, the air thick with the scent of blood. This was the battlefield, brutal and real.

"Your Majesty, why are you here?" Zhen Youcai rode over and when he saw me, his usually resolute face was filled with worry.

I dismounted, threw the whip to the guard beside me, and said firmly, "I have said that I will live and die with my soldiers!"

"But……"

"No buts! The war is getting intense right now. How can I just sit back and watch?" I interrupted him, my eyes sweeping across the distant enemy camp. "How's the battle going?"

"The enemy is coming with great force. Although our army fought hard,..." Zhen Youcai looked troubled. "The enemy seems to have been prepared for this. Our several attempts to break out were repelled."

My brow furrowed as I recalled the scene of our previous defeat, and a sense of unease washed over me. What on earth gave the enemy such overwhelming confidence?

"How long can their food and supplies last?" I suddenly asked.

Zhen Youcai was stunned for a moment, then reacted: "Your Majesty, according to the spies, the enemy's food and fodder can last for more than half a month."

Half a month... I lowered my head in thought. Half a month is neither long nor short, but it is enough time for a lot of things to happen.

"Come on, follow me to look at the map!" I turned and walked towards the tent.

Inside the tent, the map looked exceptionally clear in the dim light. I pointed to a valley on the map and asked, "Where is this place?"

"Your Majesty, this place is called Black Wind Valley. The terrain is steep and easy to defend but difficult to attack." Zhen Youcai replied.

"Black Wind Valley..." I muttered to myself, my eyes wandering across the map. Suddenly, my eyes fixed on a small road behind the Black Wind Valley. "Where does this road lead to?"

"This road..." Zhen Youcai looked carefully. "This road has been abandoned for a long time and few people use it. It's said to lead to..."

Before he finished speaking, I already had the answer in my mind: "The road leads to the enemy's food and forage camp!"

Zhen Youcai's pupils shrank, and then he suddenly realized: "Your Majesty means..."

"That's right!" A gleam of light flashed in my eyes. "Instead of passively defending, it's better to take the initiative! You immediately select a team of elite troops and set off overnight. Be sure to..."

"We must burn the enemy's food supplies!" I said in a firm tone, with a determined glint in my eyes.

Zhen Youcai bowed and accepted the order: "I obey your order!" After that, he turned and left, and began to gather people.

That night, under a dark and windy moon, an elite force, led by Zhen Youcai, quietly advanced toward Black Wind Valley. I stood in front of the camp, watching their retreating figures, silently praying for their safe return.

Time passed by minute by minute, and my heart became more and more nervous as time went by. Finally, when the sky was turning pale, I heard bursts of deafening shouts and cries of killing in the distance.

"Report—" A soldier hurried into the tent, "Your Majesty, General Zhen has succeeded! The enemy's food supplies have been burned, and they are now in chaos!"

I stood up suddenly, a delighted smile on my face: "Okay! Pass the order down, all troops attack!"

"Kill!" Deafening cries of killing echoed through the sky. Our soldiers rushed towards the enemy camp like a tiger descending from the mountain. The enemy's morale was already low due to the destruction of their food and supplies. Now, under our fierce offensive, they were retreating step by step and were completely defeated.

"Your Majesty, the enemy commander requests surrender!" A soldier ran over excitedly to report.

I dismounted, took the letter of surrender from the soldier, and slowly unfolded it. Written on it were the words "willing to surrender," written in sloppy handwriting, revealing the writer's panic and fear.

"Pass the order down, withdraw the troops back to the camp!" I handed the letter of surrender to the guard beside me, but there was no sign of relief on my face.

When the enemy king heard the news of defeat, the wine glass in his hand fell to the ground with a "bang" and shattered.

"How could this happen?!" He stood up suddenly, his face full of disbelief, "How could my million-strong army be defeated by a young girl?!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down..." The eunuch beside him knelt on the ground trembling, not daring to breathe.

"Calm down? How can I calm down?!" the enemy king roared. "Our army has been badly defeated, and our country is in imminent danger. How can I calm down?!"

Prime Minister Li stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, now that things have come to this, the most urgent matter is..."

"Your Majesty, I believe this matter requires further consideration." Minister Wang interrupted Prime Minister Li. "Our army's morale is low, and the treasury is empty. We should not fight any further."

"What Minister Wang means is..." The king of the enemy country looked at Minister Wang, with a hint of viciousness in his eyes.

"Marriage." Minister Wang said calmly, "I suggest marrying Princess Zhao to..."

"Enough!" The enemy king slammed the table, stood up, and swept a gloomy look over the people present. "My mind is made up..."

I returned to the palace, exhausted. This battle had been so difficult, and even with victory, I felt little joy. Looking at the letter of surrender in my hands, I felt a heavy weight.

"Your Majesty, it's time for you to rest." Zhen Youcai walked over to me and said softly. He also looked tired, but his eyes remained firm.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Prime Minister Li's voice came from the side, "Now that we have won a great victory, you should celebrate it properly."

I shook my head and handed the letter of surrender to Prime Minister Li. "This war should never have happened. Now that so many lives have been lost and so many families have been torn apart, I cannot be happy."

"Your Majesty is merciful." Prime Minister Li accepted the letter of surrender, but a hint of disapproval crossed his face. "However, if we don't remove the grass at its roots, it will grow again in the spring breeze. Now that the enemy is severely weakened, it's our chance to annex it in one fell swoop!"

"Prime Minister Li!" I shouted sternly, "Have you forgotten why I started this war in the first place? I did it to protect my country and its people, not for invasion and expansion!"

Prime Minister Li wanted to say something more, but Minister Wang stopped him. "Your Majesty, please calm down. Prime Minister Li is also concerned about the country." He turned to me and said gently, "Your Majesty, I believe that we should now negotiate with the king of the enemy country and exchange peace for the minimum cost."

"Peace talks?" I looked at Minister Wang, feeling a little hesitant.

"That's right, peace talks." Shangshu Wang stroked his beard. "Although our army has won the victory, we have killed one thousand enemies but lost eight hundred of our own. The national treasury is empty and the people are exhausted. If we continue the war, I'm afraid..."

"Minister Wang is right," Zhen Youcai said. "Right now, we should focus on recuperating and not starting another war."

I pondered for a moment and said slowly, "I understand. We'll discuss this later."

Late in the night, I stood alone by the window, gazing at the bright moon, my mind racing. Prime Minister Li's words echoed in my ears. His proposals were radical, but not without reason. Minister Wang's suggestions, while sound, could they truly bring about true peace?

I closed my eyes, and the brutal scenes of war emerged in my mind. I could hear the shouts of soldiers charging into battle. This war has already claimed too many lives. I cannot allow any more to be sacrificed.

"Someone come here." I opened my eyes and had already made a decision in my heart.

"What does Your Majesty want?" The guard came in immediately.

"Send it to Minister Wang..." I paused, a hint of determination flashing in my eyes, "Prepare for peace talks."

Minister Wang arrived quickly, his face filled with unconcealed joy. "Your Majesty, have you truly decided to negotiate?" He spoke with a hint of excitement, as if he was looking forward to peace even more than I was.

I nodded. "This war has been going on for too long. The people need to recuperate, and the soldiers need time to heal their wounds. Minister Wang, you will be fully responsible for the peace talks."

"I obey your command!" Minister Wang bowed and accepted the order, his old face full of satisfaction.

"Your Majesty..." Prime Minister Li stepped out of the crowd, seeming to want to speak but stopping himself. I understand his concerns. He advocates pursuing victory, conquering the enemy in one fell swoop, and eliminating future troubles. But the pain of war can only be understood by those who have experienced it firsthand. I don't want to witness such devastation again.

I patted his shoulder and said firmly, "Prime Minister Li, I have made up my mind. Don't worry, I will strive for the greatest benefit for the country and the people."

Prime Minister Li opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing and just quietly returned to the queue.

I took a deep breath and turned to look at Zhen Youcai, who had been silent the whole time. "Youcai, what do you think?"

Zhen Youcai stepped forward and took my hand. His palm was warm and strong, as if giving me endless strength. "I believe in your majesty's decision," he said with a firm gaze and a steady tone. "Peace is hard-won, and we will cherish it."

I nodded, the uneasiness in my heart gradually dissipating. Yes, peace is hard-won, and I cannot let down all those who have worked for it.

A few days later, I dispatched a delegation headed by Minister Wang to the enemy kingdom to negotiate peace with the king. The delegation was a mighty force, carrying with them my prayers for peace.

After seeing off the envoys, I shut myself in the imperial study, looking at the mountain of memorials on the table, feeling a mixture of emotions. Although we were victorious in this war, it had also severely damaged our country's vitality, leaving us with a lot of work to do.

"Your Majesty, you should rest." Zhen Youcai walked in with a bowl of ginseng soup, his face filled with worry. "You haven't slept a wink all day and all night."

I took the ginseng soup and sipped gently, a bitter taste spreading through my mouth. "I'm worried about Minister Wang..." I put down the bowl, brows furrowed. "The enemy king is a treacherous and cunning man. I'm afraid he'll embarrass Minister Wang."

Zhen Youcai walked up behind me and gently massaged my shoulders. "Your Majesty, rest assured. Minister Wang is a veteran of three dynasties. He's mature and prudent, and he'll be able to handle it with ease. Besides..." He paused, a hint of chill in his tone, "We've made every possible preparation."

I closed my eyes, leaned against him, and felt his warm embrace. "I hope everything goes well..." I murmured to myself, hoping that my choice was right, and that peace would truly come.

At this moment, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, and then a guard ran in in a panic.

"Report—" He knelt on one knee, his voice trembling, "urgent news from the border…"

My heart sank, and a sense of foreboding washed over me. "Speak!"