Fighting Bloody Battles To Defend The Border, The Love-Brained Empress Ordered The Troops To Withdraw? - Chapter 36

Xiao Mingzhao felt deeply moved by Qin Hui’s words. Her heart, long burdened by ambition and solitude, softened in that moment.

This was what it meant to have a truly loyal minister by her side.

Wiping the moisture from her lashes, she nodded solemnly.

“Thanks to your reassurance, Prime Minister, I feel a great weight lifted from me.”

“The path I’ve chosen is full of risk. But with you by my side — with your wisdom and support — I believe it can be done.”

She glanced again at the scene outside Fengtian Hall.

Hundreds of high-ranking officials still knelt in the torrential rain, unmoved.

And for the first time, Xiao Mingzhao felt an unexpected unease settle over her.

This wasn’t just a few dissenters. These were the pillars of her court, the very spine of her governance.

Letting them continue like this… even if just a handful fell ill, it wouldn’t just disrupt state affairs — it would stain her name in the official histories.

Right as she opened her mouth to speak, Qin Hui, as though reading her mind, spoke up:

“Your Majesty, though they kneel in protest now, most of this is simply a moment of passion — it will cool with time.”

“Still, there may be a few diehards among them. But Your Majesty needn’t worry. I believe we should assist them.”

“We can provide warm meals and shelter.”

“Have imperial physicians on standby.”

“If anyone collapses from exhaustion, they’ll be taken care of immediately.”

“In this way, Your Majesty simply needs to wait. Sooner or later, their resistance will fade.”

Xiao Mingzhao was pleased with the plan and agreed at once.

“Well said. Let it be handled that way.”

“I’ll leave the matter in your capable hands.”

“I have other affairs to tend to.”

Qin Hui bowed deeply. “As Your Majesty commands.”

Once she left, Qin Hui remained, standing alone atop the palace wall, gazing down at the drenched mass of ministers outside Fengtian Hall.

So many… kneeling so resolutely.

And all for what?

To defy the Empress’s decree.

It was a rare sight — one that echoed across dynasties and ages — a silent warning of collapse.

A symbol of a kingdom cracking from within.

But Xiao Mingzhao didn’t seem to see it.

And that suited Qin Hui perfectly.

The once-mighty Dayu Dynasty… was finally showing signs of rot.

Meanwhile, at Shanhe City, deep in the north…

Inside the general’s mansion, Li Yunfei paced restlessly.

Food supplies were dangerously low.

What once was a surplus had now become barely enough to sustain daily rations. If his earlier strategy failed, it could mean disaster for the border troops.

Suddenly — a soldier rushed in.

“General! Word from the supply camp. Civilians — a large number — are arriving to deliver food!”

Li Yunfei blinked. “Civilians? Delivering food? On their own?”

“Yes! Each family brings a little, but there are so many of them — the total is substantial.”

Still incredulous, Li Yunfei grabbed his cloak and followed the soldier to the edge of the camp.

What he saw stopped him cold.

A long line of villagers stretched along the muddy road — just like those crowds who once gathered to witness executions, only now it was not fear but hope that drove them.

At the front, officers scrambled to receive the deliveries, frantically recording names and quantities.

Li Yunfei took a ledger and skimmed the entries.

His hands paused.

The amount of grain these people brought was modest per household — but taken from families that could hardly spare it, it was a heavy sacrifice.

He knew Shanhe County well.

It was a hard land. Famine and poor harvests were common. People survived by scrounging, often begging in nearby towns like Jiqing just to live through the winter.

And now — they’d given up nearly a tenth of their annual food reserves?

Some had even mortgaged their future harvests to purchase grain for the army?

“All this… just to keep us fed,” he whispered.

A voice interrupted him. “General, this is just today’s crowd. Many more are still on the road, bringing what they can.”

Li Yunfei turned to look at the faces of the people — tired, muddy, but smiling.

Smiling not because they had plenty, but because they believed in him.

Believed the army would protect them. Believed their sacrifice meant something.

His chest tightened.

Fighting emotion, he raised his voice:
“Thank you — all of you.”

“You gave what you could — some gave more than you should have. I will not forget it.”

“Every name, every delivery, will be recorded.”

“And I swear to you — when this crisis passes, you will be repaid. And not just in grain — I will give you peace. I will give you a future.”

“Even if the Dayu court forgets you—I won’t.”

“Even if the world falls to chaos — I will be here.”

“I will make sure you have good lives to live.”

A ripple spread through the crowd. Tears glistened in the rain.

“No need to repay, General,” someone shouted. “We only want to see our soldiers eat!”

Another voice rang out: “You’ve bled for Shanhe — our little offering is nothing.”

“General, without you, we wouldn’t have a city left to protect!”

“You’ve given us everything. This is the least we can do!”

Li Yunfei’s heart nearly broke.

But he remained resolute.

He ordered every single contribution to be logged — with names, villages, and exact amounts.

And the officials had already begun doing so — carefully and methodically.

By sundown, the final tally came in: 20,000 loads of food and fodder.

Enough to stave off the worst for now.

A nearby aide approached. “General — at this rate, I believe tomorrow we’ll see another 40,000 loads brought in.”