From cute to empress

Chapter 197 The Siege of Luofengpo

Luofengpo! My mind exploded with a clamor. The name weighed heavily on my heart like a curse. This was the site of the fall of a previous dynasty, and legends abound of ominous omens. Now we are trapped. Are we really destined to follow in their footsteps?

"Your Majesty..." Zhen Youcai looked at me worriedly, holding my hand with a little force, "We still have a chance. The soldiers are waiting for you."

His words were like a flash of lightning in the dark night, pulling me back from the abyss of despair. Yes, I can't give up yet. My soldiers, my people, they are all waiting for my triumphant return!

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Looking around, I saw the setting sun, a blood-red hue, illuminating the exhausted yet resolute faces of the soldiers. Some bandaged their wounds, others wiped their bloodstained swords. Every one of them bore wounds, yet no one complained, no one flinched.

"Your Majesty!" A weak voice came. I looked in the direction of the voice and saw Princess Zhao being supported by someone. Her face was pale, but she was holding on to her breath and walked towards me. "Your Majesty, your servant... your servant can still fight!"

I was shocked. Princess Zhao resolutely chose the path of marriage for me and the country. Now she is enduring the pain to boost morale. Her loyalty and courage moved me.

"Princess, have a good rest. I will never forget your contribution." I held her arm and said firmly, "We will win this battle!"

My words were like a flame, igniting hope in the soldiers' hearts. Their eyes became more determined and their hands holding their weapons became stronger.

Zhen Youcai walked over to me and handed me a piece of dry food and a water bag. "Your Majesty, the soldiers have already eaten. You should eat a little too."

I took the food, but it tasted bland. The enemy was outnumbered, and we only had less than a thousand men left, and we were running out of food. Could we really win this battle?

"Your Majesty, don't worry. I have sent people to contact the nearby reinforcements. I believe there will be news soon." Zhen Youcai said in a low voice, as if he saw my worry.

I nodded, swallowed the last bite of dry food, looked up at the last ray of setting sun in the sky, and prayed silently in my heart.

As night fell, a blazing bonfire lit up on Luofeng Slope. Soldiers gathered around it, chatting and laughing in low voices. Their faces were filled with a determination to face death with equanimity, and a gleam of desire for victory.

"Youcai, do you think...will we win?" I asked softly, looking at the flickering flames.

Zhen Youcai was silent for a moment, then turned to look at me with a firm and gentle look in his eyes. "Yes, Your Majesty, we will definitely win!"

He held my hand, and the warmth of his palm gave me infinite strength. I knew that no matter what thorns and obstacles lay ahead, I would stand by him, fighting side by side, until the dawn of victory illuminated the earth.

"Report——"

A soldier hurried over and knelt on one knee, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Li requests an audience!"

Prime Minister Li? What was he doing here? A sudden sense of unease welled up in my heart, a sense of foreboding looming over me...

Prime Minister Li's arrival was like dropping a stone into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand waves. I suppressed my uneasiness and gave the order in a deep voice, "Announce!"

A moment later, Prime Minister Li entered the tent, led by soldiers. He remained calm, as if everything was under control. But I could clearly detect a hint of panic in his evasive eyes.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Prime Minister Li bowed and spoke in a respectful tone, but that could not hide the calculation in his eyes.

"Prime Minister, what's the important matter that brings you here so late at night?" I asked directly, staring at him sharply, not missing any subtle expression on his face.

"Your Majesty," Prime Minister Li calmly pulled a letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. "I have just received news that the enemy king is willing to negotiate peace and has promised to cede territory and pay compensation. He only asks Your Majesty to withdraw his troops."

Peace talks? I took the letter and unfolded it. Sure enough, it contained the enemy king's request for peace. This letter seemed strange. The enemy clearly had the upper hand, so why was they suddenly asking for peace?

My eyes fell on Prime Minister Li, and my suspicions grew. "What do you think, Prime Minister?"

Prime Minister Li stepped forward and spoke sincerely, "Your Majesty, our army is running out of food and supplies, reinforcements haven't arrived, and the enemy is far more powerful. If we continue fighting, I'm afraid we'll be disastrous. I believe this peace letter comes at the perfect time. How about..."

"It's better to agree to peace talks and save your life, right?" I took over his words in a cold tone.

Prime Minister Li was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head and said humbly: "I dare not, I just..."

"Just what?" I stood up suddenly, crumpling the letter in my hand. "Prime Minister Li, do you think I don't know what you're thinking?!"

I stepped forward, stared into his eyes, and shouted, "You've colluded with the enemy, deliberately fabricating the illusion of defeat, hoping to force me into peace talks so you can profit from it, right?"

My words rang out like thunder in Prime Minister Li's ears. His face turned pale instantly, his legs gave way, and he fell to his knees.

"Your Majesty, please spare me, Your Majesty, please spare me!" Prime Minister Li kowtowed repeatedly but did not dare to defend himself.

"Come here!" I shouted angrily, "Capture Prime Minister Li and throw him into the Sky Prison to await your punishment!"

Two soldiers stepped forward and dragged Prime Minister Li away. I watched him from behind, my heart filled with anger and disappointment. I'd treated him well, yet he betrayed me and the entire country for his own selfish desires!

"Your Majesty, please calm down." Minister Wang, who had been silent the entire time, stepped forward and spoke calmly, "Although Prime Minister Li was wrong, the most urgent task is to stabilize the military's morale and deal with the current situation."

Minister Wang's words calmed me down. He was right; now wasn't the time to assign blame. I took a deep breath, suppressed my anger, and said to Minister Wang, "Minister Wang, I order you to be responsible for the food and supplies in the rear. You must ensure that the front lines have sufficient supplies."

"I obey your command!" Minister Wang took the order and left. I watched him leave, feeling a little relieved. Fortunately, I still have people I can trust around me.

The night deepened, and outside the tent I could hear the chirping of insects, but I felt no desire to sleep. The legend of Luofengpo, Prime Minister Li's betrayal—all of it weighed on my heart like a huge rock, suffocating me.

At this moment, the curtain was suddenly lifted and Zhen Youcai walked in with a tired look on his face.

"Your Majesty, haven't you rested yet?" He walked to my side and asked softly.

"Yeah." I nodded, forcing myself to cheer up. "Why are you here? Is everything arranged?"

"Everything has been arranged." Zhen Youcai sat down next to me, held my hand, and said firmly, "Your Majesty, don't worry, I have already..."

Before he could finish his words, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the tent, and then a soldier ran in in a panic... "Report..." The soldier knelt on one knee, panting, "Your Majesty, General Sun... General Sun..."

"What happened to General Sun? Tell me quickly!" My heart suddenly tightened and a bad premonition came to my mind.

"General Sun... led a special force to raid the enemy's rear. Now... now the enemy's formation is in chaos!" The soldier said excitedly, his face full of excitement.

I was stunned for a moment, then a surge of ecstasy washed over me. General Sun, he actually succeeded!

Zhen Youcai was also pleasantly surprised. He stood up suddenly and said excitedly, "Your Majesty, this is a godsend opportunity. We should send troops immediately and join forces with General Sun to defeat the enemy in one fell swoop!"

I nodded solemnly, a determined glint in my eyes. "Pass the order down, all troops, attack!"

"Yes!"

The deafening sound of war drums resounded through the sky, and our soldiers launched a fierce attack on the enemy like a tiger descending from the mountain.

Zhen Youcai and I stood side by side on the high platform, overlooking the entire battlefield. The cries of fighting, the clashing of weapons, and the neighing of horses intertwined to form a tragic and majestic symphony of war.

The enemy had clearly not anticipated our general attack at this juncture, and they were caught completely off guard. The surprise attack led by General Sun was like a sharp knife, piercing the enemy's heart and completely disrupting their formation.

Our soldiers were in high spirits and fought bravely, and the enemy was defeated step by step.

"Your Majesty, the enemy commander is there!" Zhen Youcai pointed to an enemy general wearing golden armor and holding a long sword in the enemy camp in the distance and said to me.

I looked in the direction of Zhen Youcai's finger, and saw that the enemy general was charging left and right, extremely brave, but seemed a little overwhelmed by our army's overwhelming offensive.

"Zhen Youcai, follow me to take the enemy general's head!" I drew the sword from my waist, kicked the horse's belly, and rushed out first.

"Your Majesty, wait for me!" Zhen Youcai followed closely behind, leading a team of elite cavalry to kill the enemy general.

The enemy general also saw me. He roared, waved his long sword, and rushed towards me.

"Come on!" I rushed towards the enemy general without fear.

The two horses met and their swords collided, making a deafening sound.

The enemy general was so powerful that I felt my knuckles were numb from the shock.

"Who are you? How dare you fight with this general!" the enemy general roared.

"The emperor of the Great ** Kingdom, Niu Mengmeng!" I said coldly, and attacked the enemy general with the sword in my hand mercilessly.

The enemy general was stunned when he saw I was a woman, but then he burst into laughter. "Hahaha, God is on my side! If we catch you, this war will be over!"

As he spoke, he attacked me with the long sword in his hand even more fiercely.

I dared not be careless, so I concentrated and responded with all my strength.

For a moment, the air was filled with flashes of swords and murderous intent.

The cavalry led by Zhen Youcai had also rushed to the enemy general and surrounded him.

"Your Majesty, I'm here to help you!" Zhen Youcai shouted, and the spear in his hand stabbed at the enemy general like a poisonous dragon emerging from the sea.

The enemy was attacked from both sides and was suddenly in danger.

"kill--"

At this moment, our soldiers also rushed up and completely surrounded the remaining enemy troops.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the enemy general sighed to the sky, threw away his armor and weapons, and tried to break out and escape.

"Where to go!"

I roared angrily, and the sword in my hand turned into a flash of lightning, stabbing straight into the enemy general's back...

"Where are you going!" I shouted angrily, and the long sword in my hand turned into a flash of lightning and stabbed straight into the back of the enemy general.

The enemy general was a veteran of countless battles, and his reflexes were extremely quick. He instinctively dodged to the side upon hearing my voice. My sword practically brushed against his armor, and though I didn't injure him, the immense force still knocked him off his horse.

"Your Majesty is mighty!" Zhen Youcai took the opportunity to thrust his spear into the enemy general's throat.

The enemy general threw away his sword with a look of dejection and said dejectedly: "I lost..."

"Your Majesty!" Prime Minister Li galloped over to my side, his face flushed with excitement. "We won! We won!"

I looked around. The once-vigorous enemy army was now in disarray, fleeing in all directions, while our soldiers, with high morale, pursued the remaining enemies. This war, which had lasted for several months, finally came to an end with our victory.

I dismounted and approached the captured enemy general. He was dejected, not daring to look me in the eye. I asked in a deep voice, "Who are you, and why are you invading our country?"

He gritted his teeth and said bitterly, "I am the King of XX Country. You killed my father and took my throne. This feud is irreconcilable!"

"What nonsense!" Prime Minister Li shouted angrily. "It was you who started the war, and now that you've been defeated and captured, you still dare to confuse right and wrong!"

I raised my hand to signal Prime Minister Li to calm down, then continued to look at the enemy general. My tone was calm but carried an undeniable authority: "When will the cycle of revenge end? Now that you have been defeated and captured, the choice of war or peace is entirely up to you."

The enemy general suddenly looked up at me, a flicker of struggle in his eyes, as if he was weighing the pros and cons. I didn't rush him, but just stood there quietly, waiting for his answer.

After a while, he sighed deeply and said dejectedly, "I... I am willing to surrender..."

"Your Majesty!" Prime Minister Li wanted to speak eagerly, but was stopped by my look.

I looked at the enemy general and said slowly, "Put down your weapon. I can guarantee your life."

He looked at me, then at the soldiers around him who were watching him eagerly. Finally, he lowered his head helplessly and whispered, "I... I surrender..."

"Pass the order down," I jumped on my horse, raised my sword high, and my voice echoed throughout the battlefield, "Gather the remaining soldiers, clean up the battlefield, and prepare to return to the capital!"

"Long live His Majesty! Long live the Great Nation!" Deafening cheers echoed through the sky. Looking at the jubilant soldiers before me, a surge of lofty ambition surged in my heart. This was just the beginning...