Chapter 6: The Calamity of the Millennium Prophecy

Guo Jiuling smiled and nodded, saying: "Your Highness, the princess, need not worry. This battle is bound to be foolproof. I fear that the Western Qin is still reveling in the fact that they have their mole within our court, and so far, all the intelligence sent back by this mole has been genuine and credible. They would never expect that this person has already been captured by us. Once the western border troops achieve a great victory, the Second Prince's influence will undoubtedly rise significantly. Currently, His Highness the Crown Prince's eastern border troops have suffered consecutive defeats in their confrontation with Eastern Qi, and if the western border troops achieve a great victory this time, the comparison will be stark! I fear they would never expect that this person has already been captured by us. Once the western border troops achieve a great victory, the Second Prince's influence will undoubtedly rise significantly. Currently, His Highness the Crown Prince's eastern border troops have suffered consecutive defeats in their confrontation with Eastern Qi, and if the western border troops achieve a great victory this time, the comparison will be stark! I believe the balance in the King's heart will tilt a few degrees towards the Second Prince."

However, the left commander of the western border troops has always been unequivocally supportive of the Second Prince said Guo Jiuling with a smile

Princess Zhao Hua, Min Ruoxi, placed the exquisite porcelain cup, still steaming, on the redwood table in front of her. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she looked at Guo Ziling, who was seated to one side, and asked, "Old Guo, what are the odds of victory for the western border troops in this battle?"

Your Highness, this concerns a rumor. In the past, the founding emperor of the Li dynasty, Li Qing, was known for his wisdom and martial prowess, unmatched by the world. With bare hands, he gained fame across the land in just over a decade, pacifying the realm before the age of forty and establishing the enduring Tang Empire that lasted for a thousand years. However, the origins of this great emperor have always been a mystery. The personal accounts he provided about himself have been proven false by later historians. The emperor himself seems as if he suddenly fell from the heavens. It is said that the royal family of the Tang Empire left behind a legacy, stating that a thousand years later, the emperor would be reincarnated, and that reincarnated individual would undoubtedly be a descendant of the Li family. In the past, Cao Wending was a high-ranking official of the Tang and had intricate ties with the royal family, including many intermarriages. He must have been aware of this rumor. For a long time, people believed it was merely a case of misinformation. However, after Cao Wending successfully usurped the throne, he not only hunted down the scattered members of the Li family but also did not spare those of his own clan who bore Li blood, eliminating them completely. This led others to believe that this was not just a rumor; otherwise, Cao Wending would not have killed his own kin. It is worth noting that among those killed was a branch of Cao Wending's direct lineage, solely because this branch had intermarried with the Tang royal family and carried their bloodline. Guo Jiuling sighed and said, "Your Highness, you are well-versed in history. If another individual like Emperor Li Qing were to appear in this world, I ask, who could stand in their way?"

Even the greatest emperor of all time cannot ensure that his descendants continue unceasingly; instead, his legacy brings endless calamities to future generations. One wonders what thoughts the great Emperor Li Qing would have if he were aware of this from beyond the grave! Guo Jiuling smiled and said: "When a person dies, it is like a lamp extinguished; ultimately, one only cares for the present and cannot see what lies behind."

Your Highness, I am aware of your difficulties, but deep down in your heart, you may still lean towards the Second Prince. Otherwise, you would not have requested permission to come to the western border troops this time. Guo Jiuling said with a light laugh: "I fear that by now, the advisors of the First Prince have already listed you as a target to deal with.

They are all my brothers!" Min Ruoxi sighed

"Princess, the Second Prince is indeed your full-blooded brother, so he must be somewhat closer to you than the Crown Prince, right?" Guo Jiuling subtly pointed out the nuanced differences between the two princes and the princess.

"In order to select such a person, must there necessarily be mutual harm among brothers?" Min Ruoxi gently shook her head

"Your Highness, there is no need to worry; this is also a common human sentiment," Guo Jiuling consoled.

In fact, it is merely a matter of this humble minister supporting the Second Prince, while the other Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, Yang Jian, is a staunch supporter of the First Prince. As for the Grand Commander, he recognizes only Your Majesty. In truth, how could Your Majesty be unaware of the internal strife among the Imperial Guards? With Your Majesty's wisdom and martial prowess, it is clear in Your heart. Yet, Your Majesty is able to tolerate all of this, for You understand what kind of person must sit in that chair. Under the condition that it does not endanger the foundation of the state, the mutual conflicts will clearly determine the superiority of the two princes.

"Isn't it also an opportunity for your military to achieve merit and be granted titles and positions?" Min Ruoxie said with a tone of sarcasm

The Crown Prince is a cultured man, elegant and dignified, unlike the Second Brother, who has been well-versed in both literature and martial arts since childhood, yet is bold and unruly, deeply favored by the military leaders.

Listening to Guo Jiuling's words, Min Ruoxi furrowed her brows, and a look of disgust flashed in her beautiful Danfeng eyes. Her elder brother, Crown Prince Min Ruocheng, and her second brother, Min Ruoying, had been increasingly embroiled in conflict over the years. In the court, the civil officials supporting the Crown Prince held the upper hand, but in the military, it was her second brother Min Ruoying who had greater strength. Moreover, the imperial guards, such as the Inner Guard, now also showed a clear inclination. The conflicts over the years had become more and more intense; in the court, the civil officials supporting the Crown Prince held the upper hand, but in the military, it was her second brother Min Ruoying who had greater strength. Furthermore, the imperial guards, such as the Inner Guard, now also showed a clear inclination.

"Once a hero draws his sword, another decade of calamity befalls the common people. Must this world not enjoy a few years of peace?" The expression in Min Ruoxi's eyes was filled with compassion.

However, the Crown Prince has always been exceptionally kind and attentive to me since childhood, caring for me in every possible way. Min Ruoxi felt a slight sense of bewilderment, "How could I possibly let him down?"

The might of one person, even a thousand years later, can still awe the world in such a manner. Emperor Li Qing is truly admirable and worthy of respect. It is regrettable that Min Ruoxi was born a thousand years too late, missing the fortune to witness this person's visage!

"What nonsense are you talking about? This time, I requested permission to leave the capital simply to avoid the endless intrigues and conflicts within the court. Being in the capital, it is impossible to avoid getting involved, even if one does not wish to. Only by leaving can one truly be an outsider," Min Ruoxi said, shaking her head with a light sigh.

Your Highness, in today's world, the four powers are in a standoff: the three kingdoms of South Chu, West Qin, and North Yue are of similar strength, while the Eastern Qi, inheriting the majority of the former Tang Dynasty's territory, is the most powerful. The kingdoms of Chu, Qin, and Yue are all exhausting their efforts, balancing the challenge posed by Eastern Qi while scheming against one another, each seeking to expand their own power. Meanwhile, the Emperor of Eastern Qi contemplates daily the restoration of the former Tang Dynasty's unified dominion over the world. In such a perilous situation, it is feared that leniency may signal the omen of national demise. What Da Chu needs is an ambitious emperor, a leader capable of leading Da Chu in campaigns to the south and north, unifying the world.

"Killing one more means losing one more possibility," Guo Jiuling said. "In fact, it is not only the Cao family of Dongqi; even in the other three states, once they discover someone from the Li family, they will not hesitate to kill them immediately. No one wants that rumor to become a reality. It's just that others are not as serious as Dongqi, which has even established a special institution for this purpose."

Your Highness the Princess, this is the trend of the times. If our Great Chu does not closely follow this trend, we will inevitably be swept into the dust of history like leaves in the autumn wind. In the past, the Great Tang was immensely powerful, but once it lost its ambition and clung to the remnants of the past, it ultimately met with destruction, its nation perished, and its ancestral temples were left unprotected. The lessons of the past should not be repeated. In matters of national conflict, stagnation equates to death. " Guo Jiuling said calmly. "Your Highness the Princess, you are of the Great Chu royal family. From the moment of your birth, you have borne an obligation that cannot be shed. To speak frankly, in the event of national destruction, individuals like me may have other paths to take, but what can you do?"

In fact, Your Majesty must have already reached a conclusion in your heart. Guo Jiuling said with confidence. The Crown Prince has been in the position of heir for a long time, but his governance philosophy increasingly diverges from that of Your Majesty. The Crown Prince is benevolent and advocates for ruling the country with leniency, promoting harmonious relations with neighboring states. While this is not necessarily wrong, it is certainly not a blessing for the nation in the current era. The Crown Prince is well-supported and has never made mistakes, so even if Your Majesty wishes to replace him, there is no excuse to do so. However, if the Second Prince leads this great war to a resounding victory and secures the southern territories of the Western Qin, Your Majesty will then have a justification to advance the discussion on succession.

The Li Tang royal family has a legacy spanning a thousand years, with numerous descendants. How could one possibly eradicate them all?" Min Ruoxi shook her head and said

Indeed. Guo Jiuling said without any shyness: "As a soldier, what one yearns for is to achieve merit on the battlefield. Therefore, the Second Prince has a solid foundation in the military. Everyone hopes to follow the Second Prince to accomplish a heroic career."

What is wrong with the elder brother's political views

Two brothers are in conflict, which makes it difficult for Min Ruoxi, who is caught in the middle. In Nanyue, the royal family is not prosperous, and although Min Ruoxi is a woman, she must also take charge. The Jiying Hall, which she controls, is still filled with talented individuals and serves as the central hub for the Nanchu court's control over the martial world. Princess Zhao Hua, Min Ruoxi, has trained in martial arts since childhood and possesses skills that allow her to rank among the top experts.

"Your Highness, I am aware of your concerns, but in this struggle for the throne, there can only be one victor. It is impossible for you to remain impartial and stand in the middle. If you were merely a princess, it would be one thing, but the Jiying Hall under your control is filled with skilled individuals and exerts a tight grip over the martial world. Such a force cannot possibly be overlooked by the two princes," Guo Jiuling advised.

Min Ruoxi was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head to look at the rising steam from the tea on the table in front of her. The fragrance of the tea permeated the large tent, yet her heart was filled with bitterness. Deep down, did she ultimately still lean towards her second brother?

For over a hundred years, the Dongqi royal family has had an organization relentlessly pursuing and eliminating the scattered members of the Li clan. Is this really necessary? After a century, the Li clan has long since faded away. Even if there are remnants, they can no longer pose a significant threat. Although the Cao family has attained high office, their narrow-mindedness is truly lamentable and tragic

"Old Guo, why has your internal guard also intervened in this struggle for the throne? Are you not afraid that His Majesty will find out and punish you?" Min Ruoxie changed the subject.