Standing on different grounds, one naturally considers different matters.
Before setting off, Xiao Youcheng had been repeatedly cautioned by his father, the Emperor: all other terms could be negotiated, but the military power of the Xiao Army must never remain in the hands of the Xiao family—this was the bottom line.
"General Xiao, have you considered the people and soldiers in the city? Once the trade routes with Great Yuan are severed, merchants will hesitate to come, supplies will dwindle, prices will skyrocket, and the first to suffer will be the innocent civilians. Will they still want to stay in Shuozhou? Moreover, Shuozhou lacks iron mines—where will your weapons come from then? How can you even speak of protecting the people?"
Xiao Zheng curled her lips slightly.
"Prince Kang is right. The Xiao Army is vast in number, and soon, Shuozhou alone may not be enough."
Prince Kang’s heart sank.
"Prince Kang, don’t forget—it was the court that abandoned Shuozhou. The imperial decree bore the Emperor’s seal. Where were you when the people of Shuozhou waited for the imperial army to arrive? Do you know what kind of hell I witnessed when I stepped back into Shuozhou? The Tatars burned, slaughtered, and plundered! Rivers of blood flowed! If I hadn’t led the Xiao Army to reclaim it at the cost of our lives, the Tatars would have crossed Huaibei by now!"
"This general understands Your Highness’s position, but this matter must still be decided by His Majesty. I hope General Xiao can grant us a few more days."
Xiao Zheng studied him for a long moment before speaking slowly. "Tell His Majesty this—I, Xiao Zheng, am not one to cling to power. All I seek is justice. Seven days. I will wait for the court’s reply."
Xiao Youcheng nodded in acknowledgment. If Xiao Zheng had ulterior motives, she wouldn’t have chosen to join forces against the Tatars before entering negotiations. But the matter was too significant to decide on the spot, so he had no choice but to leave in haste.
In the imperial palace of the capital, the Emperor held a secret letter, his expression grave. His eyes scanned the contents, and after a moment of contemplation, he picked up his brush again. Soon, a new letter was written and swiftly dispatched to Shuozhou.
In the dead of night, Lu Chao woke groggily to find a shadowy figure sitting by his bed, staring at him.
His heart lurched, and he cursed aloud.
"What the hell?!"
"Shh! Keep it down—it’s me."
Xiao Youcheng’s voice floated eerily in the dark.
"What the hell are you doing sitting by my bed in the middle of the night?! You scared the life out of me!"
Xiao Youcheng ignored his outburst and patted his blanket.
"You refused to come with me to the negotiations. If I can’t sleep, neither can you."
Lu Chao sat up, glaring, then took a deep breath.
"Didn’t go well?"
"No. My father insists Shuozhou must be reclaimed. The rest is up to me to negotiate carefully—apparently, these are the burdens I’ll have to bear from now on."
Lu Chao gave him a sympathetic look. The old Emperor was quite the master at dangling carrots. Any other prince would have been moved to tears by such words, but for Xiao Youcheng, it was just another trick—like hanging a carrot in front of a donkey. Without an official decree naming him heir, nothing was certain. Just look at what happened to the Second Prince—same old playbook.
Wanting everything while giving nothing—trying to get a free ride wasn’t that easy.
Lu Chao gestured toward Shuozhou. "So, do you think Xiao Zheng’s demands are unreasonable?"
Xiao Youcheng shook his head, then nodded.
"Her terms aren’t excessive, but times have changed. The loyalty of the Xiao Army to the Xiao family has reached a point where a single call from her would rally them all. If this continues, who’s to say they won’t turn their blades toward the throne one day? Tell me, what ruler could sleep soundly under such circumstances? Right now, Great Yuan can meet her demands, but the real battle will be in the court—a battlefield without bloodshed."
Xiao Youcheng sighed.
"I admire her. These aren’t words I should say, but my conscience won’t allow otherwise. If a pillar of the state were to meet such a fate, it would be against my wishes."
The intrigues of the court were not like the straightforward clashes of the battlefield. A single misstep could lead to an abyss.
A glint flashed in Lu Chao’s eyes as he grasped the deeper meaning behind Xiao Youcheng’s words. He nodded slightly.
"Xiao Zheng isn’t like other women. What she seeks isn’t power for its own sake—she just wants control over her own fate. If she had rebellious intentions, we wouldn’t have repelled the Tatars so easily. Maybe there’s room for further negotiation—a compromise that satisfies both sides."
Lu Chao’s point wasn’t lost on Xiao Youcheng. If she had ill intentions, she could have just stood by and watched the flames spread. Rubbing his temples, Xiao Youcheng asked,
"Got any bright ideas?"
"Geographical reassignment."
Xiao Youcheng’s eyes lit up, and he nudged Lu Chao excitedly.
"Go on."
"Did you notice during the war? The imperial troops paled in comparison to the Xiao Army. As the saying goes, a weak general makes for weak soldiers. My suggestion? Appoint Xiao Zheng as Grand General, First Rank, and hand her command of the imperial forces. Let her train them, sharpen their edge."
"For her, this would mean greater authority than she ever had in the northwest. For us, it removes the fear of her amassing a private army and rebelling. Once the military power is openly transferred to her, surveillance and checks can be put in place. I’d also recommend rotating commanders among the armies from time to time—spare yourselves the constant paranoia."
Leading troops too well invites suspicion of rebellion; leading them poorly invites execution. Tough spot.
Xiao Youcheng smacked his forehead.
"You’re a genius!"
Then, lowering his voice, he added,
"There’s much I can’t say to her directly, but you’re close to her. Talk to her. My father even floated the idea of me marrying her. Her talents belong on the battlefield—I can’t bear to see her wasted in the inner chambers, her brilliance dimmed by domestic trivialities. Make sure she understands the stakes."
At this, Lu Chao’s hand trembled, spilling tea onto the table.
After Xiao Youcheng left, Lu Chao lay in bed, staring blankly at the canopy, his mind tangled in knots. The words echoed relentlessly in his head, leaving him restless.
Only when the first light of dawn crept through the window did he finally stir, as if resolved. He rose, draped a robe over his shoulders, and moved to the desk. Grinding ink and unfurling paper, he took up a brush and swiftly penned a note.
Then, he whistled softly. A little red bird fluttered in, perching obediently on his shoulder.
Lu Chao reached out, and the bird nuzzled his hand affectionately. Smiling faintly, he carefully rolled the note and tied it to the bird’s leg with a slender thread. With that done, he walked to the window and released the bird into the sky.
His gaze lingered on the vanishing speck until it disappeared beyond the horizon.
