Chapter 186 “Send Who, Your Wife and Daughter…”

Chapter 186 "Who are you sending? Your wife and daughter?"

Tuo Baxiao led his army through Luoyang and marched southward, finally arriving at Nanyang Commandery by late March.

The intention was obvious—to scout Jingzhou.

Jiankang was under unprecedented threat, and the court was in turmoil, with everyone fearing for their own safety.

They immediately ordered Xie Shao to lead 70,000 troops to repel the enemy. But how could Xie Shao’s small force possibly hold off the undefeated Prince of Mobei and the Xianbei Army? Besides, Tuo Baxiao now ruled over such vast lands that the two states were no longer on equal footing.

The court officials debated for days but failed to devise a plan to preserve Southern Liang.

"What if we cede all the lands north of the Huai River to Tuo Baxiao and beg for a ceasefire?"

Huan Jun almost laughed in frustration at this suggestion. How could they "cede" lands that were already under Tuo Baxiao’s control? Did they really expect hollow promises to stop his campaign?

"If Lord Luo’s still half-asleep, maybe he should go nap some more." Huan Jun’s blunt Eleventh Brother retorted.

Luo Rong glared at him, but Eleventh Brother shot back a defiant glare.

"What if we offer gold, silver, and beautiful women?" someone else proposed.

"Who are you sending? Your wife and daughter to him?"

The man’s face burned with humiliation, especially since the one insulting him was just a greenhorn who’d only gotten into court on Huan Jun’s coattails. He nearly lashed out on the spot, but a colleague quickly restrained him and signaled toward Huan Jun at the head of the room, warning him not to provoke the Eleventh Brother’s influential patron.

Suggestions flew left and right, but none held water. Some even floated a "last-ditch idea"—asking Jiang Huai to intervene.

"It’s said the Prince of Mobei deeply cherishes Princess You’an. Since the King of Chu is the princess’s father, a personal letter from him to her might persuade the Prince of Mobei to reconsider."

At first, everyone scoffed at the idea—since when does a conqueror give up his ambitions for a woman’s sweet talk? But then someone brought up the incident at Guyuan years ago, where Zhao Bian had captured Princess You’an to force Tuo Baxiao to retreat—and he had actually done so.

He’d actually picked love over conquest.

Given that, perhaps there was still hope?

Of course, whether Jiang Congyan would comply with their wishes was another matter. But desperate times called for desperate measures—who knew, it might work.

Huan Jun observed the spectacle with icy detachment.

The officials called for Jiang Huai, but he brushed them off.

"Tuo Baxiao’s ambition spans the heavens—you think I can sway him?"

But they pressed him relentlessly. "Princess You’an is your daughter. If you, as her father, write to her, she might plead with the Prince of Mobei out of filial duty. Perhaps there’s still a chance. Even if it fails, there’s no harm in trying..."

Cornered by their insistence, Jiang Huai finally agreed to write the letter.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he swiftly composed a heartfelt plea, appealing to both familial bonds and national duty—a letter so heartfelt it moved them to tears.

A glimmer of hope sparked among them, and they sent a courier racing at breakneck speed to Jingzhou, cross the river, and deliver the letter to Jiang Congyan in Nanyang.

——

Tuo Baxiao’s forces reached Nanyang, but he held off attacking right away.

Nanyang still had what was left of Liang State’s navy—few in number but stocked with warships and docks. Since Tuo Baxiao’s swift campaign the previous year had focused on the Guanzhong region, Nanyang had escaped the ravages of the Xiongnu, leaving these vessels intact. They’d be an asset—if Tuo Baxiao could get them in line.

Fighting in the south was nothing like northern land wars, so he first had to reorganize these naval forces for his own use. Naval warfare wasn’t his forte, but luckily, Xiao Yi knew the ropes.

Jiang Congyan also enlisted Zhou Hong, a descendant of the Marquis of Zhou, who held considerable prestige among the people of Liang State. With his assistance in reorganizing military affairs for Tuo Baxiao, the Han army’s morale steadied. In just over half a month, the riverside had taken on a completely new appearance during their inspections.

This complex army, composed of Han and Xianbei soldiers, cavalry, infantry, and naval forces, would give an ordinary person a headache just thinking about how to coordinate them. Yet Tuo Baxiao displayed astonishing talent in this regard.

In military matters, he picked up on every situation instantly, even possessing a freakishly sharp intuition that struck at the heart of issues. After just a short time, he had gotten the hang of it, showing no signs of his previous inexperience with naval warfare.

One day, Jiang Congyan accompanied him to a high platform by the river to review the army’s progress. Drums thundered and waves crashed, making for a spine-tingling spectacle, their power resonating even across the broad river to the opposite shore.

Looking down at the tens of thousands of elite troops below, such an atmosphere was indeed enough to fire up grand ambitions—the kind that could envision unifying the realm. Gazing further at the distant rising sun and the river shimmering with golden light, it was no wonder this stunning land had always drawn countless heroes to vie for it.

As breathtaking as the view was, it could only be truly appreciated when peace reigns.

By the afternoon, the two had completed their inspection and returned to the military tent. Just then, Si Zi came to report, “Princess, Southern Liang sent a courier.”

“Oh?” Jiang Congyan arched a brow. “Who is the messenger?”

“A man named Tu Qiao, claiming to deliver a letter on behalf of the King of Chu.”

The King of Chu?

Jiang Congyan instructed her to bring the man in.

Upon entering the tent, Tu Qiao was startled to find not only Jiang Congyan but also Tuo Baxiao present. Wide-eyed, he hesitated, clutching the letter in his hand.

“Didn’t you say you had a letter for me?” Jiang Congyan asked.

Tu Qiao had no choice but to brace himself and hand the letter to Si Zi, who then passed it to Jiang Congyan.

After unfolding and reading it, Jiang Congyan chuckled.

It was indeed her father’s handwriting, and the contents urged her to persuade Tuo Baxiao to cease hostilities. But she knew he didn’t mean a word of it.

Without needing further explanation, the identity of the messenger alone told her this was undoubtedly the result of the court in Jiankang guilt-tripping her father with talk of “duty.”

“I’ve read it. I’ll send a reply with an envoy shortly.”

She kept her tone even, leaving Tu Qiao uncertain whether she was willing or unwilling to comply.

After Tu Qiao was led away, Jiang Congyan waved the letter at Tuo Baxiao. “Do you want to know what my father wrote?”

Hearing her playful tone and seeing her lively expression, Tuo Baxiao played along. “What?”

“See for yourself.”

Tuo Baxiao took the letter, scanned it, and scoffed—clearly, he understood the situation as well.

“But this might work in our favor,” Jiang Congyan added.

“Oh?”

After a moment’s thought, she sent for Cui Cen.

Every time Tuo Baxiao conquered a new region, Jiang Congyan would meet with local officials and members of the local gentry—partly to reassure them, but also to implement reforms.

Some were willing to switch sides, others were not. From among them, Jiang Congyan selected capable individuals to join her ranks. Cui Cen was one such person.

A descendant of the Boling Cui clan, though not directly related to Madam Cui of Liangzhou, he shared distant family ties with her lineage.

The Cui family had produced many talented scholars, and Cui Cen was a cut above the rest. Now part of Jiang Congyan’s southbound campaign, he served as both a tactician and counselor in the army.

Soon, Cui Cen arrived to await instructions.

He was around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a neatly trimmed short beard, a quietly impressive presence, and a commanding presence.

Jiang Congyan handed him the prepared letter and gave a few more instructions. Cui Cen glanced at her for a moment before lowering his head with a faint smile.

When the aristocratic clans in Jiankang learned that Jiang Congyan had sent an envoy, they got their hopes up. Did her action mean there was still room for negotiation?

They eagerly welcomed Cui Cen’s arrival and received him in the main hall.

Now, half of the court officials in Jiankang were former northern aristocratic clans who had fled south. They had once been northern clans with connections to the Cui family. Seeing Cui Cen was like meeting an old acquaintance, and they greeted him warmly.

"The King of Chu sent a letter—what does the princess think?"

Cui Cen pulled the letter from his sleeve and handed it over, then raised his head and declared, "The princess says that the unification of the realm is the unstoppable tide of history and cannot be reversed. Division between north and south will only prolong the conflict. Since it’s all for the sake of peace for the people, why don’t you just surrender?"

What? What???

The crowd was stunned. Such words were... absolutely shameless! Why should they surrender when it was Tuo Baxiao who had initiated this war?

Cui Cen seemed completely oblivious to their thoughts and plowed on, unfazed, "When the barbarians ravaged the Central Plains and slaughtered the people, had it not been for the Prince of Mobei leading his army south, there would be no peace today. In fact, you should all be grateful to him for keeping you safe till now."

Enraged, the crowd cursed him, "Tuo Baxiao is a barbarian! How dare you speak for him now?"

Faced with their accusations, Cui Cen kept his cool and shook his head. "You are mistaken!"

"The Prince of Mobei is half Han and steeped in Han traditions. The princess is also descended from the Founding Emperor and Crown Prince Zhaowen. How can the court they establish be considered barbarian? Moreover, the princess is benevolent toward the people, resettling refugees to farm and welcoming skilled people with open arms. If you surrender, you might even be entrusted with important positions in Chang’an. Why choose certain doom...?"

With his gift of gab, Cui Cen held his ground against the crowd. By the end of the debate, some couldn't help but start having doubts.

Afterward, Cui Cen stuck around in Jiankang, refusing to leave. He would "coincidentally" run into old friends from time to time, reminiscing about the past—and gradually steering the conversation toward Tuo Baxiao and Jiang Congyan, talking up how well-off the north had become and how the people had embraced their rule.

They had hoped to persuade Jiang Congyan to cease hostilities, but instead, she had slipped a spy into their midst.

The most infuriating part was that they couldn’t do anything to Cui Cen. Envoys were not to be harmed during war—and more importantly, they lacked the confidence. If they angered Tuo Baxiao by killing Cui Cen, they'd pay dearly for it.

Xie Shao remained unaware of the events in Jiankang. He was leading seventy thousand troops, facing Tuo Baxiao across the river.

Sometimes, he would climb to a high vantage point to gaze into the distance. Though the details were unclear, the sprawling enemy camps loomed over his heart like a storm cloud.

Back then, the princess had spoken to him as if she wanted him to save Liang State—yet everything she was doing now...

For two whole months, not a single smile appeared on Xie Shao’s face.

Time flew, and May arrived.

Summers in the north were mild, but the south was already boiling hot. Only at night did the river breeze bring a refreshing coolness.

For now, the two armies remained in a tense calm. One evening, Tuo Baxiao was feeling festive and took Jiang Congyan out on a boat.

He had a flagship—tall, broad, and capable of holding a thousand men—with a specially furnished living quarters inside.

That night, the spring river swelled under the starry sky, and the moon hung bright over the banks. Were it not for the war, the scenery alone would've been breathtaking.

Jiang Congyan stood on the deck when suddenly, the man embraced her from behind, planting a searing kiss to her ear.