Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 701: Garrison Troops (Part 4)

Chen Jinyu reached out to support Jiang Shaohua: "Your Majesty, don’t let these small matters affect your pregnancy."

Jiang Shaohua snorted lightly: "This concerns the combat effectiveness of the Da Liang army camp, it is by no means a small matter."

Chen Jinyu helplessly changed his tone in agreement: "Yes, yes, yes, it is a big matter. However, wait until Your Majesty is stable on the Dragon Throne. Then go to inspect the Da Liang army camp!"

"Da Liang’s land stretches for thousands of miles, with troops stationed in almost every one of its forty states. Riding through it all is not a matter of three or five months. At least it will take one or two years."

As the Emperor, you should be sitting in the palace, there is no reason to leave for one or two years.

Jiang Shaohua was just displeased and said it out of displeasure. Achieving this, at least in the short term or for several years, is impossible.

Perhaps it was because her mood was turbulent today, the child in her womb was also greatly affected, constantly kicking and moving.

Jiang Shaohua had to reach out and touch her restless belly: "Be good, calm down."

The belly quivered under her palm, and the small bump slowly receded.

Chen Jinyu found it amusing, laughing softly: "Our Crown Prince is indeed very lively."

The fact that Jiang Shaohua was pregnant with a female baby was only known to Doctor Sun and his daughter. This father and daughter kept a tight lip and never mentioned it to anyone.

However, the palace was not lacking in experienced midwives who speculated based on Jiang Shaohua’s changing body shape during her pregnancy. The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng apparently also guessed, recently sending beautiful, exquisite little clothes made by palace attendants to Zhaohai Palace.

To the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, it was better for Jiang Shaohua to have a female baby first. This way, Prince Ping could be more secure in the palace.

It would be best if Jiang Shaohua only gave birth to this one and could not bear a son later.

Empress Dowager Li also sent some infant clothes. Even Imperial Concubine Fan, who had been secluded due to illness, somehow heard the news that Jiang Shaohua was likely pregnant with a female baby, and in good spirits, personally made baby clothes and had them sent over.

Jiang Shaohua accepted them all.

Rumors spread quickly in the palace, and Chen Jinyu also heard such rumors. He was not worried at all, whether boy or girl, the child would still be the Crown Prince of Da Liang.

Jiang Shaohua, made irritable by the child in her belly, smiled wryly: "Truly a little debt collector. I am unhappy, and she won’t allow it."

Chen Jinyu was amused: "Seems the Crown Prince is very filial."

"The bureaucratic atmosphere in Da Liang is not right; it is not something of one or two days. To completely rectify it will not be an overnight success. Your Majesty should not worry about these things, take it step by step slowly."

Jiang Shaohua exhaled deeply: "I have indeed been particularly irritable lately."

In the later stages of pregnancy, it’s easy to become fatigued, with swelling in the face and limbs. Sitting too long becomes uncomfortable for the belly, turning at night is difficult, and waking often in the night is common. These genuinely affected her daily life activities, let alone the fact that she was an Emperor, with mountains of state affairs to handle every day.

Thinking about having to give birth and do confinement later, even if she returned to court immediately after confinement, in that one month of confinement, she would have to rest a bit! But with so many matters in and out of the court, how could she peacefully lie down to rest?

Therefore, it is said that people who wish to do great things have no time to be a good mother.

Men busy with their careers likewise make for poor fathers. However, childbearing and raising are responsibilities women must bear, with little impact on men but significant impact on women.

Thinking about these things, Jiang Shaohua couldn’t help but sigh and said to Chen Jinyu: "I will only bear this one and will not give birth again."

Chen Jinyu, serving as the Imperial Attendant, who accompanies the Emperor day and night, knew most clearly Jiang Shaohua’s recent physical condition, and sighed upon hearing this: "Indeed. With state affairs so busy, how does Your Majesty have time to get pregnant and give birth?"

As they were quietly chatting, Song Yuan entered with a solemn expression on his face.

Chen Jinyu’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly having an ominous feeling. For Commander Song to show such a grave expression, it was clear that there was bad news.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes glanced over: "Commander Song, what happened?"

Song Yuan reported in a deep voice: "Reporting to Your Majesty, fifty trusted aides sent to the Yu State garrison were ambushed after entering the military camp and were all killed."

Chen Jinyu drew a sharp breath, her face turning pale.

The trusted aides sent out to escort military funds and materials mostly returned safely, cases like Tao Da and Meng Dashan were rare bumps.

This disastrous news of an ambush and slaughtering was the first!

Jiang Shaohua’s eyebrows twitched heavily, suddenly filled with killing intent: "Who is the garrison commander in Yu State?"

Song Yuan’s expression remained solemn: "The garrison commander of Yu State’s surname is Lu. He is related by marriage to Zhao Wu, who betrayed the border army years ago."

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze hardened: "After Zhao Wu fled back then, there has been no news or whereabouts. You mentioned Zhao Wu especially today, is it because Zhao Wu is in this Yu State military camp?"

Song Yuan responded in a low voice: "All the trusted aides were killed, except one who barely escaped, writing a blood letter to be sent back. The blood letter mentioned Zhao Wu and Zheng Chen."

Zheng Chen!

This name made Jiang Shaohua’s face cold, and the killing intent intensified: "Where is the blood letter?"

...

This blood letter had long dried. It was hastily torn from a piece of clothing, written with a finger dipped in fresh blood. By now, it had long dried, almost black in color.

There are only four short sentences.

"The Yu State garrison has rebelled!"

"We were welcomed into the camp and ambushed. No one surrendered!"

"Zheng Chen and Zhao Wu are in the camp!"

"Commandery Princess, avenge us!"

Seeing the last sentence, Jiang Shaohua’s eyes turned red. Unprecedented wrath burned in her heart, as if scorching her innards.

"Uncle," Jiang Shaohua suddenly used her former address.

Song Yuan looked deeply at Jiang Shaohua: "I am here."

Jiang Shaohua said: "I want you to go to Yu State and cut off the heads of Zheng Chen and Zhao Wu."

Song Yuan agreed without hesitation: "Alright, I will definitely quell the rebel army."

Jiang Shaohua exhaled a long breath, suppressing the surging anger in her heart: "Immediately summon Minister Ji, Vice Minister Ding, Vice Minister Wang into the palace. Also summon General Bao, Left General, General Sima, General Song and others into the palace. Furthermore, have Chief Historian Chen and Wang Zhongshu Ling come along."

Chen Sheren bowed his hand in compliance.

...

With an imperial decree, the summoned heavy ministers and military generals managed to enter the palace within an hour.

There was the Minister of Revenue, two Vice Ministers of the Ministry of War, and several military generals in charge of camps. Such a lineup could only mean going to war.

Meanwhile, the news of the Yu State garrison’s rebellion also spread rapidly.

Prime Minister Wang heard the news first and immediately called several advisers to discuss strategies... The strategy devised, of course, was to inform Wang Jin, who would report it before the Emperor.

Wang Jin was always able to present timely and practical solutions, with Prime Minister Wang earning great merit.

Duke An turned ashen upon hearing of Zheng Chen’s presence in the Yu State camp, and vomited a mouthful of blood.