Chapter 107

Chapter 107: Winning Them Over The next morning, Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng went to the palace. Emperor Mu Yuye held a grand farewell banquet for them. Those attending were not limited to Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng; the various generals who would be accompanying them to the Northwest were there as well. The banquet was held to send them off and encourage them to fight bravely. Ling Jiayue also put on the battle robe specially made for her. It shimmered with silver light, making her look exceptionally valiant and imposing, with a heroic air between her brows. This time, Ling Jiayue did not leave by carriage. Instead, she rode a tall steed and galloped all the way to the Dismounting Stele. As luck would have it, Mu Yuheng arrived at the same time. Mu Yuheng was also dressed in a black battle robe today. He looked powerful enough to awe the world, and the outfit added a heroic boldness to his bearing. He had just dismounted and handed the reins to Feng Yan when he saw Ling Jiayue riding toward him at full speed, her posture strikingly spirited and dashing. Mu Yuheng looked at Ling Jiayue and smiled faintly. Teasing her, he said, “Dressed like this today, you truly look like a valiant female general. You have quite the bearing of Dayi. If I encountered you on the battlefield, I’m afraid I would have to beg for mercy.” Hearing him tease her like that, Ling Jiayue could not help laughing either. “Fortunately, I encountered you on the battlefield. If it had been someone else, they might not have shown me any mercy.” After Ling Jiayue finished speaking, Mu Yuheng also burst out laughing. The two exchanged a smile before entering the palace together. There seemed to be a tacit understanding between them; even their backs as they walked side by side looked exceptionally in sync. Seeing them walking shoulder to shoulder from behind, Feng Yan could not help smiling as well. When Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng reached the imperial court, Emperor Mu Yuye had yet to arrive. Most of the generals were already there. Mu Yuheng had led troops into battle from the age of fifteen, so the generals generally admired him. However, they wore entirely different expressions when they looked at Ling Jiayue, because they believed that a woman was unfit to be a general. Ling Jiayue sensed the hostility of the generals, but she continued standing with her head held high. There was no other reason than the fact that she herself possessed talent and ability. Ling Jiayue had absolute confidence that she could win these generals over. Seeing how calm she was, Mu Yuheng abandoned his original intention of speaking up on her behalf. He knew that Ling Jiayue could handle it. “His Majesty has arrived!” Eunuch Chen called out in a shrill voice. Dressed in bright yellow robes, Mu Yuye strode toward the Dragon Throne and sat down with an imposing air. “Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty! Long live, long live, long live!” Mu Yuheng, Ling Jiayue, and all the generals bowed and kowtowed to Mu Yuye. “All of you may dispense with the formalities. Rise. Come, grant seats to all the ministers!” Mu Yuye instructed Eunuch Chen. “Yes.” Eunuch Chen answered and then directed the little eunuchs to carry chairs over for Ling Jiayue and the generals. Only after everyone had taken their seats did Mu Yuye begin to speak. “Ministers, Sheyu Kingdom has invaded our northwestern border. As the saying goes, Raise soldiers for a thousand days, use them for one. The common people pay taxes every day so that the state has the provisions and funds to support you. Now that the people are being slaughtered by enemies from a neighboring kingdom, you soldiers must show what you can do and drive the enemy back.” The generals, filled with fervor, spoke in unison. “Your Majesty, rest assured. We will do everything in our power to eliminate the threat at the border. Those who trespass against Dayi, no matter how far away, shall be destroyed!” Hearing the generals’ bold declaration, Mu Yuye could not help becoming impassioned as well. “Those who trespass against Dayi, no matter how far away, shall be destroyed!” Amid those earth-shaking cries, Ling Jiayue felt somewhat dazed. Back then, when she had led the Liuhuo Army, they had fought on every front, casting aside their heads and spilling their blood on the battlefield to win Chu Chaoci a peaceful and prosperous age. But everything had already passed. At that moment, Eunuch Chen brought out the wine. Mu Yuye first lifted a bowl, and Ling Jiayue, Mu Yuheng, and the generals all followed suit. Holding their wine bowls, everyone drained them in one heroic gulp. After finishing his wine, Mu Yuye set down his cup and said, “I shall first use this wine to celebrate the victorious return of all the generals. Once you return in triumph, we will hold a victory banquet to celebrate your achievements!” “Thank you, Your Majesty! We will certainly not fail Your Majesty’s expectations!” The generals all expressed their determination to Mu Yuye. They were not fighting merely for Mu Yuye, but for the people of Dayi and the suffering civilians along the border. Every one of these generals possessed a patriotic heart, and naturally they were utterly loyal. “Good. I shall await your triumphant return here. There is still some time before the expedition, so all of you should return home and make your preparations. General Ling and the Seventh Prince, you should also go to the military camp and familiarize yourselves with military affairs so that you can lead the troops more conveniently in the future,” Mu Yuye instructed. “Yes, Your Majesty.” After receiving their orders, everyone withdrew. Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng followed the generals toward the military camp. Mu Yuheng quietly whispered into Ling Jiayue’s ear, “Do you know why Father wants us to make a trip to the military camp?” Ling Jiayue smiled. “Because these generals refuse to accept me, of course. He wants us to go there and win them over. That way, we can work together to fight our enemies on the battlefield and avoid the tragedy of discord between the commanding general and the troops. After all, discord between commander and army is a great taboo on the battlefield.” Listening to Ling Jiayue’s clear and logical analysis, Mu Yuheng could not help smiling. This girl was still so clever, just as intelligent and perceptive as ever. The two of them followed the generals to the military camp. They first arrived at the Archery Camp, where a bearded general at the head spoke up. “The strongest aspect of our Dayi military is our archery. But these bows are very heavy—not everyone can even lift one.” Ling Jiayue listened with a bright smile, acting as though she did not realize that the general was mocking her. They next went to the place where the soldiers trained in hand-to-hand combat, and then to the war room. Ling Jiayue clicked her tongue in amazement. No wonder Mu Yuheng had been able to capture her back then—the military strength of Dayi was truly formidable. At that moment, the bearded general spoke again. “General Ling, may I ask what your specialty is? Could you show us a few moves and broaden the brothers’ horizons?” As soon as the bearded general finished speaking, a well-featured general beside him reprimanded him, “Wu Feng! In front of the general, have you forgotten what should and should not be said? How dare you be so presumptuous?” After scolding Wu Feng, the general cupped his fists toward Ling Jiayue. “General Ling, please forgive him.” Ling Jiayue merely smiled. She walked straight to where the bows and arrows were kept, drew a bow, and took aim at the target. Then she released the string, sending the arrow steadily into the bull’s-eye. With practiced ease, she put the bow and arrow away and smiled brightly at Wu Feng. “I wonder what else General Wu would like to see. I can show you everything today.” Seeing how fierce Ling Jiayue was, Wu Feng did not dare to make another transgression. He fell silent, his face sullen and embarrassed. The other generals were also intimidated by Ling Jiayue’s display and put away their contempt for her. Ling Jiayue smiled faintly, knowing that she had achieved her goal of winning over the generals.