Chapter 64 Asking for Marriage
There was silence in the hall, and dozens of guests sitting upright and kneeling inside looked towards the door of the hall.
There was a woman standing there.
She wears a crimson dress with narrow sleeves and deep clothes, and her bright eyes and white teeth make her look walked in slowly, with a smile on her face, and said in a joking tone: "But I don't know how this lord is going to send me there. If you use a carriage, it's cold, please buy a hand stove."
"Xiaohe."
Wei Ji stood up from his high seat, called her name with a smile, and stood up to greet her in person.
"It's a joke, don't take it seriously."
"I am also joking." Jiang He smiled and sat down next to him. "Let me see what ideas you have come up with to fight against Chu."
The handsome young man in white looked around the palace, and finally said with certainty of victory: "I think the current plan is to use [-] soldiers and horses via South Korea to cut off the national road that transports grain and grass from Chu State to the north, making it trapped and tired, and has to retreat."
This is a good strategy, but it is a bit passive.
"In addition," Wei Ji continued, "I also want to ask Princess An to write a letter to Qi, asking the monarch of Qi to increase the number of troops stationed at the border to intimidate Chu."
If Chu was worried that it would be attacked from both sides if it went to war with Wei, it would have to consider the outcome of the war.
Subduing the enemy's troops without fighting is naturally the best policy.
But Jiang He didn't think so.
"I don't think Mi Fuchu will give up," she said with a slight frown on her brows, looking a little worried, "Young Master's plan is more than enough to deal with South Korea or Zhao. But someone like Mi Fuchu who can use such a trick as poisoning, There is no bottom line. I'm afraid that if he runs out of food and grass, he will become even more vicious."
Jiang He's idea was bold and left no escape route.
She suggested that Wei Ji mobilize the soldiers and horses stationed in various parts of Wei State, gather 50, and rush to rescue Daliang City, which was now besieged.
The sooner the better.
It is best for Wei Ji to lead the army, and Jiang He can go with the army.
But Wei Ji was hesitant.
The total number of soldiers and horses of the Wei State is only 70. If 50 are withdrawn, if the news leaks out, the Zhao State in the north and the Yong State in the west may take advantage of it.
He is a cautious person and is unwilling to take such risks.
"No." Jiang He shook his head and said, "Yong State is tired of building canals. Zhao State and Yan State have obtained my military letter. I am afraid that there will be a war between them, and they will not care about Wei State."
In the second volume of the book of war he sent, Jiang He described in detail how Zhao State defeated Yan and how Yan State controlled two countries have been at war for hundreds of years and have long been that I have this advantage, I might try it right away.
Wei Ji glanced at Jiang He with a complicated expression.
We haven't seen each other for three years. The girl who hated war back then is now very calm when talking about the war between the two countries.
"Xiao He," he said warmly, "Aren't you afraid of war?"
Jiang He's expression was slightly stagnant, and he thought for a while and said: "Even without my military manual, they will still fight, and they will fight in an unclear manner. I hope that the victory will be decided among the seven countries as soon as possible, and that one country can end the century as soon as possible. War. This process will definitely be full of blood and tears, and many people will die. But after that, the people will be able to recuperate, and the Chinese nation will be free from war for a long time."
Is that right?
Then her truce to end the war was really different from what she thought.
However, Wei Ji looked at Jiang He's clear eyes and the determination in her expression, and couldn't bear to argue with her.
"Okay," he finally agreed, "I will go and give advice to His Majesty."
"Hurry." Jiang He looked up at Wei Ji who was getting up, as if he couldn't wait.
Can't wait, want to fight? "Godfather, godfather, please wait."
In the small courtyard, Jiang Ben was panting after chasing him.
When giving Jiang Anqing acupuncture today, Jiang Anqing suddenly shouted and stood up. The silver needle pierced his head and he had no time to pull it out. Doctor An was so frightened that he fainted on the spot.
Jiang Ben had no choice but to step forward to help, but Jiang Anqing got up and ran away, spinning around the pear tree in circles.
Jiang Ben was sweating profusely after chasing him. Finally he saw Jiang He coming back and immediately called for help.
"Sister!" He pointed at Jiang Anqing, then patted his head and said, "Dad!"
He signaled Jiang He to pay attention to the silver needle on Jiang Anqing's head.
Jiang Anqing, who was circling the pear tree, suddenly stopped and stared blankly at Jiang He a few feet away.
The expression was somewhere between confusion and lucid shock, but it quickly disappeared and replaced him with a look even crazier than before.
"Sister!" He ran towards Jiang He, stretched out his arms and hugged her.
"Sister, sister..."
Jiang He's head was pressed on Jiang Anqing's chest. His arms tightly hugged Jiang He's shoulders and back, and he kept mumbling, but instead of calling her name, he followed Jiang Ben and called her sister.
"Father." Jiang He did not push him away. He let his father hold him and whispered, "Are you feeling better?"
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Jiang Ben, who sneaked over, reached out and pulled out the silver needle on Jiang Anqing's head.
I don't know whether using this method to remove the silver needle shocked her heart, or for some other reason. Jiang Anqing's head gradually dropped, her chin rested on Jiang He's shoulder, and she fell asleep.
Jiang He gently put him down, and Jiang Ben took Jiang Anqing away.
His empty sleeves hung dangling in front of him, and his tall and thin body looked distressing.
"Father," Jiang He looked at Jiang Anqing's back and murmured softly, "Are you feeling better? If you recognize me, you must let me know."
The winter wind pierced her eyes and blew away the body heat left by Jiang Anqing's He raised his hand and rubbed his eyes before stepping into the house.
Two days later, the new king of Wei agreed with Wei Ji's plan and sent General Mang Mao of Wei to cut off Chu's grain transportation route via South He and Jiang Ben also wrote to the king of Qi separately, requesting that more troops be sent to guard the border and deter the Chu army from besieging the city.
But the new king of Wei was undecided and didn't know whether Jiang He's strategy could be used.
Five days later, watching the courtiers arguing and not knowing what to do, Wei Zeng could only ask his grandmother, the Queen Mother of Wei, for help.
"How does the Ai family know that she is sincerely helping Wei, or that she has not yet avenged her revenge and is planning to make Wei worse?" The Queen Mother of Wei looked up at her grandson who had just succeeded to the throne, narrowed her eyes and said, "If it weren't for your uncle If you insist on marrying her, the Ai family will have kicked her out long ago!"
At this point, the Queen Mother of Wei stopped.
She naturally knew that Chu State besieged Daliang in order to destroy the marriage alliance between Qi and Wei.
What the enemy fears is exactly what they should do.
There are no disadvantages to marrying Jiang He.
Now that the woman has taken her revenge, there should be some sincerity.
"Pass the Ai family's will to her." The Queen Mother finally patted a few cases and said flatly.
Zong Jun has always made no secret of the fact that he is the spy of Zhao Zheng, the king of Yong State.
When sending the letter to Jiang He, he said with a natural and magnanimous expression: "Your Majesty is impatient, please reply to your letter."
Jiang He frowned and glanced at him.
Who are you hanging out with?
Zong Jun smiled carefully, as if he knew what Jiang He was thinking.
"I have been following Your Majesty for many years. Others always say that Your Majesty is unkind and ungrateful. However, I feel that His Majesty is clear about rewards and punishments. He is already a wise master."
Jiang He nodded to express his understanding and pinched the envelope made of black cotton.
There was a thin piece of silk inside, and I don’t know what was written on it.
Zongjun was standing not far away, secretly looking at her, urging her to read the letter earlier so that he could give Zhao Zheng an explanation.
Jiang He had no choice but to pull open the sandalwood buckle on the cotton envelope. Just as he took out the silk, a figure flashed outside the wall, and someone in the palace announced the order.
The chamberlain came forward, saluted and brought the Queen Mother's oral instructions.
"The Queen Mother said that if the court wants to follow the plan of Princess Anguo and mobilize the whole country to resist Chu, Princess Anguo must agree to the marriage with the young master."
Jiang He glanced past the respectful chamberlain and looked at Wei Ji's mansion across the street, with a look of astonishment on his face.
"Strange." She shook her head and said, "Could it be that the people who are unable to escape from the siege of Daliang City are not the people of your Wei State, but the people of my Qi State?"
The chamberlain gave a reserved smile, shook his head without saying a word, and slowly withdrew.
"Please come over, Mr. Wei."
Jiang He ordered Zongjun Dao.
Zong Jun ran away quickly and came back soon.
Jiang He looked at him and made sure that he didn't know about it. Then he felt relieved and told the Queen Mother's instructions.
Wei Ji first shook his head in surprise and some shame, then smiled slightly, with a slight blush on his cheeks.
After thinking for a while, he finally made up his mind and looked to the left and right.
Zongjun immediately retreated with his guards and maids, leaving him alone in the hall.
Wei Ji stood up and poured a cup of chrysanthemum water for Jiang He, carefully mixed it with honey, brought it to her, and coaxed her to drink: "You must be so angry when people threaten you with marriage all the time. Drink this cup of water first to moisten your throat. .”
Jiang He took it and pursed his lips with a wry smile.
"It's normal for the Queen Mother to be wary of me because of what happened a while ago. I'm anxious because I'm really afraid that Chu will do something shocking after its food route is cut off."
Wei Ji looked at Jiang He quietly.
She knelt down in front of the desk, her eyebrows furrowed in worry and thought, which made people's hearts move.
For three years, he had never honestly expressed his feelings to her.
At first, it was because she was young.
Later, they were caught in the spider web of fate and could not escape.
"Xiao He," Wei Ji gently held Jiang He's sleeve, looked into her clear eyes, and said, "Regardless of the Queen Mother, Wei Ji, the young master of Wei State, really wants to marry you. "
I don't know if he was surprised or something, but Jiang He looked at him suddenly, looking a little at a loss.
Wei Ji felt soft in his heart and tentatively held Jiang He's hand.
Her hands were cold and her fingers were clenched nervously.
Wei Ji said warmly: "Ever since the first time I played chess with you, the first time I ate with you, the first time I listened to your stories about your travels to the seven countries, I have liked you and wanted to marry you when you grow up. I have not I said it because I think this matter will come naturally and you will understand it without me having to explain it."
When he said this, he smiled self-deprecatingly, and his voice became a little softer, "But I didn't expect that you would go to see the bride off, and that by some strange combination of circumstances, you would get married instead of the princess. After many twists and turns, we were finally able to be together. Xiaohe, you marry me."
Jiang He sat quietly, her other hand still holding the letter from Zhao Zheng.
The letter was now as heavy as a stone and fell from her palm.
Quiet, yet like a stormy sea.
(End of this chapter)