Chapter 384: Chapter 24: A Way Out (Second Update)
War is about courage. Once the drum is sounded, the courage surges, but it wanes the second time, and it is exhausted by the third.
When Great Chu began its counterattack, the Tartars were continuously defeated. Not to mention Wala’s defection at the battlefield, even the Tartars themselves were on edge.
The leaders who led the army to battle were the same ones who had once resisted Bashahan alongside the Northwest Army. While ambushes were manageable, now in a direct battle, they recalled how the Northwest Army had once stormed through Shangjing and captured Bashahan with overwhelming momentum, and their morale was distinctly weakened.
When one weakens, there must be a stronger force. The Tartar Army was utterly defeated in one blow, while the Northwest Army seemed to be divinely assisted wherever they went; even in terrain warfare, they never lost.
Furthermore, within the Tartars, a new group of "ghost" bandits emerged to loot amidst the chaos, forcing various tribes to divert forces to unite against the bandits.
This situation split the already fearful Tartar interior into two factions. One believed that if no measures were taken, the Tartars would ultimately be destroyed by Great Chu;
The other faction believed that all the troubles were stirred by Batraj, and as long as they handed over Batraj, Great Chu, adhering to its usual practice, would not annihilate them entirely.
At this moment, although Batraj wasn’t completely abandoned by all, it was almost the case.
He was an ambitious monarch capable of being flexible, by no means a fool. If given ten years, he might indeed be able to co-govern the Central Plains with Great Chu.
However, due to his youth and the guidance of the ill-intentioned, he prematurely invaded Great Chu, leading to the current predicament.
Now, Batraj just wanted to return to the royal palace in Shangjing, where he was the Tartar Khan, had a beautiful, understanding Queen, and an uncle to entrust the state to.
So, after issuing a series of orders, he left the army with the command to stop the advancing Great Chu army towards Shangjing at all costs, while he himself, with trusted followers, embarked on a simple journey back to Shangjing.
Yet Batraj did not know that the Queen he trusted and the uncle were currently conspiring together to seize his throne and life.
In the Tartar Royal Palace, a delicate Han-style palace was originally built by Batraj to win over Great Chu’s Princess Yonghe, and he named it "Qiu Huang Palace," symbolizing the phoenix seeking its mate.
When Qin Miao saw this incongruent name, she only felt it was mocking. As for "Phoenix Seeking Mate," the Tartars didn’t understand the story behind it, so Batraj thought it romantic, but it only disgusted Qin Miao.
Now, confronting Boertiechina Aleta in this "Qiu Huang Palace," Qin Miao felt indifferent because only this hypocritically affectionate "Qiu Huang Palace" could cover up her political visage at the moment!
"I wonder what Prince Yin thinks of my earlier proposal?" Qin Miao changed out of Tartar attire into a deep dress with a strong Han style. At this moment, she was Great Chu’s Princess Yonghe, not just any Tartar Queen.
Boertiechina Aleta, who had been lurking in Hami, gave Qin Miao a deep, inscrutable look, "Do you believe that if I shouted right now that you are a Great Chu spy, at this juncture, you’d definitely be captured, perhaps even sent to threaten the Great Chu army at the border before Batraj returns?
The one leading the army now isn’t your father. Although Governor Liu is your uncle by marriage, our family has been in Hami long enough to know a few little secrets. I’m fifty percent sure that Liu Daneng won’t forgo the military glory he’s about to hand you.
Qin Miao nonchalantly blew on her newly painted pink nails, "The ’little secret’ you’re talking about isn’t about my uncle betraying my father, is it? Sorry, that’s really not a secret!
Also, I noticed your mention of the ’military glory,’ so it seems Prince Yin also knows the Tartars’ future is grim! Now that I’ve provided you with a way out, why refuse to take it?"
Aleta looked at the girl in front of him, beautiful as a fairy. His own daughter was of a similar age, albeit not as beautiful as Qin Miao, but
in his heart, she was also cherished as a treasure.
Yet this girl before him lived unabashedly, even in distant Tartar lands, forever exposed to life-threatening danger, continuing to bloom like a flower!
And his own daughter? She had already withered away!
Though Aleta was indeed a Tartar spy, he was genuinely a straightforward person, or he wouldn’t have many close friends.
Now with tears of rage in his eyes, he questioned, "I was threatened by Batraj to reveal the ancestral secret of the previous dynasty’s underground palace to Prince Ke, but after obtaining the treasure, how did he treat my daughter? How dare he face me again for cooperation now?"
Thinking about Prince Ke’s cunning, Qin Miao found herself bristling, also wondering how Prince Ke dared to cooperate with people again?
But regarding this, she followed orders, "Your Highness Prince Yin, you should know he’s not cooperating with you but giving you an opportunity to fulfill your ambitions?
As for Bai Lili, when you gave up on her for your son, you should have anticipated the dangerous situation she would face!"
As for explaining Bai Lili’s role in the demise of Prince Ke’s child, ending like this was her own fault—that explanation wasn’t necessary because parents never admit their own children did wrong.
After listening to Qin Miao’s words, the sadness and pain on Aleta’s face vanished entirely, replaced only by his deep eyes observing her, and Qin Miao, unaffected, let him scrutinize her boldly.
"Our ancestors swore an oath with Great Chu’s founding emperor. For a hundred and fifty years, Great Chu remains powerful, yet until now, it has not truly destroyed the Tartars. This time..."
Before Prince Yin could finish, Qin Miao burst into scornful laughter, swaying like a flower in the breeze, "Hahaha...You robbers who tear up peace treaties at whim actually believe in oaths, what a joke!
This I know, I’ve heard it said that my ancestor and your ancestor were sworn brothers. By that count, should I address you as uncle by blood?"
Gasping for air from laughter, while Aleta’s face turned livid, she struggled to stop, finally wiping her laughter-induced tears, quietly saying, "Perhaps the previous emperors of Great Chu truly acknowledged such treaties, allowing the Tartars to exist till now. But the current emperor..."
Upon saying this, Qin Miao’s expression betrayed unhidden hatred, "He is a madman! Hasn’t he already broken enough precedents? Let me secretly tell you, the Founding Saint Martial Emperor once stated that as long as the founding nobles did not rebel, they could share in Great Chu’s prosperity, yet Duke Li’s Mansion was still confiscated and their titles stripped.
The Northwest regions have always been guarded by the Qin family. For over a hundred and fifty years, the Northwest Governor has never been anyone without the surname Qin, but now it’s someone with the surname Liu;
Great Chu never had princesses marrying for alliance, yet in this emperor’s reign, such marriages have occurred;
And never a king with a different surname in Great Chu, but now, hehe..."
The further Qin Miao spoke, the more Aleta was astonished, knowing all these were true but never considered the implications. Now, upon reflection, "The Emperor of Great Chu is destroying his own domain?"
"No, he’s merely insecure!" Qin Miao’s scornful tone came forth.
"Batraj slapped him hard; with his nature, unless Batraj is ground to dust, his dignity won’t be restored. Now Prince Ke has provided the Tartars with a way out, even offering to support your rise, if only you accept!"
