EBE Chapter 109 Requesting Battle!
Chapter 109 Requesting Battle!
Emperor Cheng was aware of the old Duke's prestige in the army, and the old Duke had once been a nightmare for the Great Liang. If he were to come out of seclusion, not only the bandits, but even the Great Liang would probably be somewhat afraid of him.
Bringing along the main force of the three battalions would be the best way to salvage the situation, but only if his body can truly withstand it.
Shen Zizai, hearing this, became anxious and stepped forward to help the old Duke up, saying, "Father-in-law, your health..."
"Then can you go?" Xiao Zhan glared at him.
“A son-in-law is naturally not suitable, but…”
"Shut up if you can't handle it, and step back." Xiao Zhan angrily reprimanded him, then turned to Emperor Cheng and said, "If Your Majesty is worried about my health, you may send some young generals to accompany me, and I can command from the rear."
Having no other choice, Shen Zizai could only give Emperor Cheng a meaningful look.
Emperor Cheng looked down at the crowd below and saw that apart from Shen Zizai speaking up to persuade them and Gu Chang'an preparing to step forward, no one else spoke.
Clearly, these people thought the old Duke was the right person to take the job, but such matters could only be decided by the old man himself; they couldn't afford to give others cause for criticism.
“Your Majesty, the old Duke is getting on in years. It would be better to have a young general lead the troops and send some strategists to assist him,” Gu Chang’an stepped forward and said.
Shen Li had no right to speak, but she nodded upon hearing this.
Xiao Zhan panicked and blurted out, "This old minister would rather die on the road than at home. I beg Your Majesty to grant my request."
Shen Li just felt something was wrong.
"The old Duke is devoted to the country, and I feel ashamed." Emperor Cheng softened his tone: "Then I will trouble the old Duke. You can personally select 50,000 men from the three major camps to accompany you."
Shen Zizai felt as if the sky was about to fall. The emperor was truly heartless; how dare he agree to such a thing?
But the decree had already been issued, and there was no way to reverse it.
Shen Li felt as if the strings in her mind had snapped, but in a moment of quick thinking, she immediately knelt down:
"Your Majesty, my grandfather is devoted to the country and no one dares to stop him. However, he is old and the journey is long and the weather is cold. We would feel uneasy if he were to be accompanied by family members."
As soon as she said this, Gu Chang'an looked up abruptly. He, who was usually reserved, was now filled with anxiety and worry in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, I wish to accompany my grandfather. Please grant me permission," Shen Li said, her forehead touching the ground, her voice firm and sincere.
Shen Zizai's reaction to these words was completely opposite to Gu Chang'an's. He suddenly felt more at ease. Although the situation ahead was complicated, he believed that it would not be difficult for his daughter.
Moreover, he knew his daughter's hidden talent; she wouldn't suffer any major losses in the military camp or even on the battlefield, and could instead take care of the old man.
What's most remarkable is that the old man listens to Shen Li, something very few people can do.
"This..." Emperor Cheng was still somewhat embarrassed, after all, there was no precedent for women accompanying the army.
The Crown Prince and Prince Yi were also taken aback. They never expected that a woman raised in seclusion would want to go on a military expedition, which would involve real fighting to suppress bandits, and she might even end up on the front lines.
"Your Majesty, the child's intentions are truly filial; please grant her wish," Shen Zizai said, cupping his hands in greeting. "This way, she can rest assured, and her family will be at ease as well."
Xiao Zhan's eyes lit up, and he coughed lightly, making a fist and placing it to his lips: "Yes, Your Majesty, this child usually serves by my side, and she knows best what medicine this old minister takes."
Gu Chang'an was extremely anxious and took two steps forward, but was stopped by Shen Zizai.
"Good, what a filial daughter! I will grant your wish." Emperor Cheng also approved, saying, "I cannot appoint you to an official position, so I will bestow upon you a gold token, granting you free access to the army, with the rank of deputy general."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shen Li's eyes lit up when she looked up again.
She had always thought she couldn't be of much help, but unexpectedly, this was her chance.
Anything she could do was better than being busy giving gifts and socializing in Kyoto and feeling anxious. Besides, wanting to take care of her grandfather was not an excuse; at his age, she couldn't let him do whatever he wanted.
The matter was settled. When Shen Li left the Hall of Diligent Governance, she saw that Gu Chang'an looked as solemn as if the sky had fallen.
Gu Chang'an couldn't understand why the old Duke and his father-in-law didn't love A-Li. Was the battlefield a place for a weak girl?
Ah Li isn't Lin Wan'er, who learned archery and horsemanship from a young age!
With Xiao Bailing and Shen Zizai taking care of the old Duke, Shen Li went to find Gu Chang'an on her own.
"Husband," she said softly as she walked out alongside him, "It happened so suddenly that I didn't have time to discuss it with you. You're not angry with me, are you?"
"Ah Li!" Gu Chang'an's brows furrowed in anxiety. "That's a battlefield! How could you go there?"
He had never been in such a hurry before; this was a matter of life and death, not child's play.
Shen Li felt that Gu Chang'an was about to break down in worry, so she grabbed his hand without caring that they were still in the palace, and found that his hand was colder than usual.
"Husband, don't panic. Think about why Grandpa and Father aren't worried about me?" She tried to get closer to him, hoping to bring him back to his rational thinking.
"That's exactly what's puzzling me." Gu Chang'an was completely baffled.
"Then let's go home, I'll show my husband something fun," Shen Li coaxed patiently.
Gu Chang'an's emotions were calmed, but he was still worried, and even his eyes could not hide his emotions.
Finally, she got into the carriage with Gu Chang'an. After getting in, she nestled in Gu Chang'an's arms and said, "I have a secret that I have never told my husband, but if I do, can you promise that you won't laugh at me?"
She was actually a little worried that Gu Chang'an wouldn't accept her talent, and her sisters had taught her that it was best to be gentle and weak in front of men, so she hadn't said anything.
“How could I laugh at Ah Li?” Gu Chang’an shook his head repeatedly.
Shen Li felt a little relieved, took a breath and asked, "Does my husband know about the founding general of the Xiao family who used the halberd?"
"Of course I know. He was born with superhuman strength. He could crush a tiger's head with his bare hands, lift a thousand-pound object, and enter and exit a battle formation of ten thousand men unharmed." Gu Chang'an recounted what he knew about this person from his memory.
It wasn't just him; all the people of Dazhao knew this legendary general. If this story were passed down to future generations, they would probably find the description extremely exaggerated.
Only when the world understands this will it become an undeniable fact.
"Can my husband believe what I'm saying?" Shen Li touched her nose, a little shy.
Gu Chang'an considered himself to have seen a lot of the world, but he was still stunned when he heard this. He kept thinking about what he had just heard. Did he really hear correctly?