The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1692: 824 Out to Battle! (Second Update)_2

Chapter 1692: 824 Out to Battle! (Second Update)_2

The old head ceremonial officer understood Zhuang Jinse well; she would never leave Gu Jiao behind unless there was a compelling reason to do so.

He quickly grasped the key point and said to Gu Jiao, “Your grandaunt’s intention is for us to set off quickly and try to reach Chishui Pass before Zhan Country launches an attack. We must prevent the two countries from actually going to war.”

Jin Country and Liang Country cannot be stopped, but there’s still a chance with Zhan Country, Chen Country, and Zhao Country.

No matter who the commanding general of Zhan Country is, both he and Zhuang Jinse can stop them.

As for Chen Country, after several discussions between Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen, they decided that Xiao Hen would go to negotiate peace with Yuan Tang.

Xiao Hen will carry a letter personally written by Gu Jiao and the gold seal of the Crown Grandson from Dayan.

Actually, it would be most appropriate for Gu Jiao to handle this matter herself, as she has a personal connection with Yuan Tang. Yuan Tang has told Gu Jiao more than once that the future crown prince of Chen Country owes you a favor, and he will repay it one day.

However, there is a chance that Yuan Tang might not be present, and secondly, Gu Jiao has an even more important task to attend to.

Yuan Tang knows Xiao Hen and was once released by him from the Capital City, so Xiao Hen is considered the second-best choice.

Xiao Hen’s goal is not just to prevent a war between Chen Country and Dayan but also to leverage Chen Country’s military to block Zhao Country, which is taking a detour.

This is no easy task, but if these two countries cannot be stopped, once Yan Country’s eastern frontier is breached, the morale of the western frontier will drop significantly, making the war with Jin Country and Liang Country even more challenging.

After finalizing both plans, Xiao Hen visited the Imperial Palace to inform Shangguan Yun of the plans.

Shangguan Yun then engaged in intense discussions with military ministers from various prominent families throughout the night and finally finalized all the plans.

Xiao Hen, in the capacity of the Crown Grandson of Dayan, will head to Cangxue Pass in the northeast to negotiate peace with the Chen Country army, with Wang Xu leading troops to escort him along the way.

Duke An will go to Chishui Pass in the southeast as the emissary of Dayan to negotiate peace with the Zhan Country army, accompanied by the troops led by Geng Wuxiu, the head of the Geng Family.

The reason for selecting the young Geng Wuxiu is mainly because he has an ace up his sleeve — his powerful brother, the Taoist priest Qingfeng.

The grandaunt and granduncle will be part of the accompanying team.

Next on the agenda is the selection for the western campaign.

Both Tianshan Pass and Yanmen Pass are in the western frontier of Dayan. Hei Fengqi’s cavalry can reach there in fifteen days, while infantry and logistics will take a month.

That is to say, by the time they get there, it might already be September.

Outside Jinluan Hall, Shangguan Yun gazed dazedly to the west: “Tianshan Pass is already very cold in September; instruct the military officers to bring their winter clothing.”

Xiao Hen gave her a deep look: “What are you planning to do?”

Shangguan Yun softly said, “I am going to request another imperial decree.”

The odds of winning this battle are too slim, and the morale of Dayan’s military officers is not high. To win, the emperor needs to lead the campaign to boost morale.

But the national leader is old and has just suffered a stroke, making it unsuitable for him to travel afar.

That day.

The national leader issued an imperial decree, appointing the Third Princess Shangguan Yun as the Princess of Dayan, to represent the Emperor in commanding the western campaign!

Accompanying her are fifty thousand Hei Fengqi and a hundred and twenty thousand imperial troops.

This is the entire military force that Shengdu can currently deploy.

The rest of the forces have either been taken away by the Han Family and Nangong Family or are stationed at various borders and cities, unable to be easily mobilized.

At the Duke Residence, Gu Jiao was trying on battle armor for Black Wind King. It also had its own battle armor; the previous set was left at the Han Family, and this set was newly made by Duke An.

Gu Chengfeng walked over, curling his lips, saying, “Our forces aren’t even half of theirs. How are we going to fight?”

He didn’t even realize that he used the term “our.”

Gu Jiao adjusted Black Wind King’s armor and said, “We’ll fight however we should fight.”

Just as Gu Chengfeng was about to say something, he suddenly saw Gu Changqing at the door: “Big Brother!”

Gu Changqing’s condition had significantly improved, and he looked in good spirits.

He had a long sword hanging at his waist and a bundle on his back, suggesting he was ready for a long journey.

Gu Changqing looked at his sister and said, “Are you planning to go on such a dangerous mission alone?”

Gu Jiao glanced at him and said, “You have a more important task.”

The western army is scheduled to set off on the twentieth of August.

The night before departure, Gu Jiao decided to make a trip to the National Master Hall, and just as she opened the door, she saw Xiao Hen standing at her doorstep.

“What’s the matter?” she asked in surprise.

Xiao Hen opened his mouth, hesitated, and stopped.

“If you have something to say, just say it,” Gu Jiao said.

Xiao Hen lowered his gaze and handed over two boxes.

“What are these?” Gu Jiao asked.

Xiao Hen felt a bit embarrassed, took a deep breath, and said, “The box on top is last year’s birthday gift for you, prepared long ago. You left for the frontier in a hurry, and I didn’t have time to give it to you. This time, I guess I won’t be able to be with you for your birthday either, so I’m giving it to you now in advance.”

Gu Jiao opened the box.

Last year’s birthday gift was a golden charcoal pencil.

The casing was made of pure gold, with an inner rotation mechanism for changing the charcoal lead.

Wow, an ancient version of a mechanical pencil.

This year’s birthday gifts were a small gold-leaf notebook and a pair of hairpins.

It is true that her notebook was almost used up.

Giving a pen and notebook is not surprising, but giving hairpins is quite rare.

Indeed, having grown up, the gifts are now different from before.

Gu Jiao gently touched the white jade hairpins with her fingertips: “I like it very much, thank you.”

Seeing how much she cherished them, Xiao Hen felt relieved, knowing he had finally chosen the right gift this time.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief and added, “Were you about to go out? You should go first.”

“Oh, okay.” Gu Jiao turned, carefully placed the box away, and stepped out of the house.

Watching her departing figure, Xiao Hen steadied himself, suppressed the tension in his eyes, and called out to her: “Gu Jiaojiao, when you come back, let’s get married.”

Gu Jiao looked at him, bewildered: “Huh? Aren’t we already — married?”

Xiao Hen gave a gentle smile: “Not as Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiaoniang, but as Xiao Hen and Gu Jiao.”

I want to marry you, under the name of Xiao Hen.

Gu Jiao’s lips curved slightly: “Alright.”

When I return, I’ll marry you.