Chapter 679
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Chapter 679
Upon being relieved of her duties as stand-in Legate of the Outer Provinces, Luo-Luos first instinct was to crawl into bed and stay there until she withered away.
Failure was not a concept she had much experience with, not in the conventional sense. Her greatest tribulation to date came from dealing with the consequences of being too remarkable and talented, but now, she would be known all across the Empire as the woman who failed to measure up to Falling Rains expectations. Perhaps they would say he was blinded by his love for her, which wouldnt sting so much if he actually loved her, or maybe they would whisper of how she was a fool who sought power for no purpose other than to wield it. It mattered little what others would say of her, but somehow, in this, she couldnt stop thinking about the possible gossip, because she couldnt help but wonder if there were a grain of truth to their accusations.
The facts were plain and simple. Lord Husband had trusted Luo-Luo with the mantle of his Office and expected her to carry out his duties while he was otherwise occupied. Then Luo-Luo failed so miserably it forced three Colonel Generals and two of three Marshals to band together and threaten rebellion if she should even try to hold the powers of the Legates Office over them. Not rebellion against the Empire, nor even rebellion against the Emperor or even against the Office of the Legate, but rather rebellion against an incompetent Imperial Consort who possessed more power than sense.
Of course, none of them said as much, not in so many words. Colonel General Shuai Jiao even took an Oath saying he would relinquish his emergency powers, as he so aptly termed it, as well as his military rank once the Defiled threat was contained or the Emperors appointed representative was able to serve in a competent capacity. All very carefully chosen terms that left no room for doubt in Luo-Luos mind that the ascetic Colonel General was up to something, else there would be no need for such caution. What was to keep him from deeming Lord Husband an unlawful representative or simply incompetent? She noticed he also made no Oath to retire from politics, or to refrain from using his emergency powers to benefit himself, or even to refrain from laying the groundwork for a true rebellion in the future. Who would stand against him? With Nian Zu, Ryo Dae Jung, Yo Jeong-Hun, and Quyen Huong all complicit in his rise to power, Shuai Jiao would only need to threaten to implicate them in his statements and they would all have no choice but to support him against the Emperor, because who would believe they did not share in Shuai Jiaos ambition?
Everyone Luo-Luo spoke to considered him to be a saint among men, a generous, kindhearted Warrior who placed great emphasis on honour and duty, but Luo-Luo now suspected it was all a sham. Well, not all of it, as even she had to admit Shuai Jiao believed in his ideals, but she also knew that even with all his strength and cunning, there was no way the mans hands were still clean, not after years of political machinations. One cannot walk by the riverside without getting their shoes wet, and Shuai Jiao was merely a more honest and powerful sort of politician. An honourable man would not have blindsided her like Shuai Jiao had, ousting her from her official duties without so much as a how do you do. An honourable man would not have placed the burden of choice on another and risk civil war in a time of hardship for the sake of seizing power, even if his intentions were good.
Which was likely why she never saw it coming, because until he made his move, Luo-Luo wholly believed Shuai Jiaos false reputation and thus took no measures to guard against him.
So in short, she had no one to blame but herself. She could have resisted his takeover, could have gathered her Death Corps and Royal Guardians, taken up Lord Husbands Divine Turtle Token and waved it about as he said she could. Then, the Colonel Generals and Marshals wouldve been forced to think twice, for then their actions would be made public. So long as Lord Husband was still Legate of the Outer Provinces, his word was law, and with his token in hand, Luo-Luo spoke with his voice, so she only needed to give the word and the loyal soldiers of the Empire would no doubt stand on her side. If she made a big enough issue of it, the Imperial Clan might even send a representative to assist her, if only for the sake of face.
But she didnt, because deep down, she knew she was not qualified for the job. Lord Husbands faith in her was misplaced, else the highest echelons of command in the outer provinces would not have banded together to overthrow her. With this abject failure hanging over her head, how was she supposed to face Lord Husband again?
This wasnt even the worst part yet. No, that came when she brought Colonel General Shuai Jiaos ultimatum to Mother-in-Law Akanai with proof that these people were working against Luo-Luo. Rather than get up in arms about outsiders deposing Lord Husbands chosen replacement, Mother-in-Law Akanai instead quietly sighed, sat back, smoothed her robes and asked, So what do you intend to do?Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)
And there it was, spelled out in plain Common. There was no outrage or support coming from Lord Husbands people, no unity despite all their talk of family and solidarity, just quiet resignation and an inquiry as to how she intended to proceed, because when it came right down to it, Mother-in-Law Akanai believed Shuai Jiaos actions were warranted and thus was siding with outsiders against Luo-Luo. Having failed so miserably even her own family didnt see fit to defend her, Luo-Luo simply faked a smile and said she would accede to the Colonel Generals demands and step down from her rightful Office without contest. Mother-in-Law Akanai accepted this with a nod and a pat of Luo-Luos arm, as she no doubt thought it was for the best.
So ashamed of her failure, Luo-Luo almost couldnt bear the thought of having breakfast with the family, but having missed dinner due to a bout of depression, her empty belly forced her out of the room to greet the day as if nothing happened. She smiled and played with the adorable quin pups before eating her breakfast with gusto, making small talk with the in-laws and asking after their health the entire time. She also complimented Sister-in-Law Alsantset, practised her Forms, and even mentioned how she dearly missed the rabbits, wildcats, bears, and even the laughing birds, all without giving away her true feelings.
A good thing too, because throughout it all, she couldnt help but feel betrayed by this family who supposedly accepted her. For Lord Husband, they were willing to rebel against the Empire, but for Luo-Luo? A simple, What do you intend to do?. No mention of outrage or sympathy, no muttered curses or oaths of vengeance, just Oh, and what now?.
It wasnt fair to the family to think this way. The Bekhai would never have survived so long if they didnt pick their battles wisely, and it wasnt as if Lord Husband had lost his title. Though Luo-Luo could no longer act in his name, he was still Legate of the Outer Provinces. Shuai Jiao made no effort to wrest that title away, nor did he attempt to discredit Luo-Luo or any of her work. Not that he had any need to, as Lord Husband was in no state to contest her dismissal and time had done more to discredit Luo-Luo than any smear campaign ever could. Even now, in light of all her failures, she was still unable to see where it all went wrong. Take SuiHua Harbour, for example, one point the Colonel Generals repeatedly contested her on while she refused to back down. They thought her efforts were wasted rebuilding the harbour, effort that could have been better spent reinforcing the Districts or finishing Lord Husbands planned military stations, but Luo-Luo disagreed. So long as the Empire held the harbour, the Enemy would be unable to take control of the waterway that ran all along the border until it reached the Southern province, giving the Imperial Army the advantage of having ships to ferry troops and supplies wherever they were needed along the Western Wall. Alas, the Colonel Generals refused to make use of this advantage and instead set their ships to chasing Huanhuzis fleet wherever it came in sight of land. A waste of time and effort, in her eyes, as the Empire would have been best served by withdrawing from all but a handful of fortified harbours, ones too well entrenched for any fleet to assault head on. Then, all the Colonel Generals had to do was keep watch for the pirate fleet landing and have a force ready to meet them in battle, but somehow, this was not a suitable response.
What if the pirate fleet were to ferry an entire Defiled army behind the Western Wall? Luo-Luo countered that if the Enemy could do so, they would have already done so and the war would have been lost. Whatever method the so-called King of Bandits used to keep the monsters of the Azure Sea from attacking his ships was limited in some way, because every time he emerged from the dense mists, he only ever brought with him a handful of ships, with the vast majority staying in shallow waters like all other sea-faring vessels and fighting to the bitter and costly end. It was no easy task to fend off the constant raids, but while Huanhuzis limited ability to skirt into the no-mans land of the Azure Sea offered him an undeniable advantage over the Imperial fleet, there was no way the Enemy ships were able to traverse the deep waters with impunity, else they would have long since launched an attack on the North, and thus far, there were no reports of any Defiled armies landing on the northern shore. This much she knew for certain, as Colonel General Nian Zu assured her that such a thing would not go unnoticed even with the support of an Enemy Divinity, so she suspected the King of Bandits nautical protection had something to do with proximity to his flagship, the Bewildering Mist. Not because of its name, which so many believed was the source of the thick fog that accompanied every pirate attack, despite records indicating that fog was nothing out of the norm along the coast which meant Huanhuzi was merely adept at using it. No, there was some secret to the ship because no matter the prize or battle, the Bewildering Mist never once weighed anchor on Imperial land. Not when his fleet burned down Suihua harbour or in the subsequent battle against Father-in-Law Baatars forces, nor did it ever land in any nautical engagement since. Either Huanhuzi had no stomach for battle, which was hardly believable considering the half-badgers fearsome reputation, or he didnt dare risk his ship while treating all other vessels as disposable.
Whats more, she speculated there were limits to whatever protection he could offer from the denizens of the deep, as there had been reports of unrecognizable wreckage drifting off in the distance or brought close to shore by the constant tides and getting in the way of Imperial ships. This meant that if Huanhuzi were to ferry a Defiled army to Imperial shores, it would not be a sizable one by any margin, because he simply couldnt protect that many ships out in deeper waters. Perhaps if he made multiple trips, but then the Enemy forces risked being spotted and dealt with long before they had their full strength in place.
Even if Huanhuzis ships dropped Defiled off away from shore had them swim several kilometres to reach land, there was no way for any Enemy infiltrators to escape the notice of patrolling Divinities, not even if said infiltrators were Half-Step Divinity Wraiths. Guarding the Western Wall, with so many Peak Experts moving about, was far different from watching the Northern shore, where anyone with a Core would stand out like a green hat on red robes. It wasnt that Wraiths went unnoticed when sneaking into the Citadels, but rather watching eyes were unable to differentiate Concealed Wraiths from Concealed Imperials, and there were far more of the latter moving about than most would believe.
Thus, Luo-Luo felt justified in concentrating her efforts on SuiHua harbour and turning it into an unassailable nautical fortress festooned with catapults and bolt-throwers a plenty. Cixi came up with the most ingenious idea of launching a payload of two smaller stones connected by thick iron chains, and they were most effective at destroying masts and oars that stood in their path, as well as anything else. Even if Huanhuzi were to personally lead another attack from the deeps, she was confident the harbour defences would hold with ease. Unfortunately, none of the military minds of the Empire seemed to care, since they only saw the harbour as a way-station, one needed to ship troops and supplies from the Northern Province. Thus, Huanhuzis constant raids on said ships and the continued viability of overland travel rendered the harbour useless in their eyes, because they didnt care about the increased costs that came with land-based transport. To them, the coin wasnt real, because at the end of the day, it was all paid for by the Imperial Clan, but there were limits to what Luo-Luo could do with the generous but still wholly insufficient consignments of coin that arrived every few months. War was costly, and manning the Western Wall would have long since beggared the Central Province if theyd been forced to pay for it themselves, without even taking into account the costs of building the Wall in the first place. If merchants all across the Empire could be convinced to accept paper currency, then Luo-Luo could ink as much coin as she needed, but until such a time when Lord Husbands idea bore fruit, she was constrained to paying with cold, hard coin, coin which she was woefully short of.
So instead of focusing their efforts defending Imperial ships travelling along the Azure Sea, the Colonel Generals wasted their time tracking and chasing Huanhuzis fleet, engaging him time and time again despite knowing they were at an obvious disadvantage. Now, Nian Zu had all but given up on nautical shipping routes, yet still maintained a powerful military presence along the coast out of misguided fears of an invading Defiled fleet, which was a source of heated contention between Luo-Luo and the Colonel Generals. Those troops would be of much better use defending the Districts instead, but Shuai Jiao, Nian Zu, Mother-in-Law (technically Grandmother-in-Law) Akanai, and even Father-in-Law Baatar saw things differently.
The boy meant well, Father-in-Law Baatar had said last night, patting Luo-Luos head as if she were a child, But in this, he is mistaken. Having withdrawn from the second line, we no longer have a forward buffer to buy time for our troops to get in position, as the border is too long to garrison in full strength all along in its entirety. Thats why the boy wanted a second line behind the Western Wall, for teams of soldiers to rapidly deploy wherever they might be needed. A plan Luo-Luo delayed to reinforce SuiHua harbour, which even he thought was a mistake. There was no accusation in his tone however, only straightforward pragmatism, and he continued listing Luo-Luos failures in the same manner. Whats more, there are two-hundred districts in total, so stationing the requisite two-hundred soldiers at each would occupy forty-thousand soldiers. However, you must double this number at a minimum because soldiers cannot serve indefinitely without rest, even if they do not see combat. Guarding against the remote possibility of attack still requires focus and discipline, both of which are finite in even the best of Warriors. Sighing as he shook his head, he aged before her eyes as his youthful features took on a cast of wisdom and regret. Eighty to a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers occupied, but for what gain? The fields still lie empty after winter due to constant Defiled raids, and while all life is sacred, these commoners should have known opportunity here walks hand in hand with danger. We will do everything we can to keep the Defiled from breaking through and running rampant in the districts, but we simply cannot afford to spare so many troops to protect the districts without benefit. The Defiled raids are small now, but only because we have every available soldier defending the Wall. Take even eighty-thousand soldiers away to defend the districts and those hundred-Defiled raiding parties could easily swell to ten times that number. What then, girl? How will two-hundred soldiers hold out against three times their number of Enemy cavalry? Not easily, and not without horrific losses, so the Imperial Army cannot afford to do this. Do you understand?
...Was that actually what was happening here? Why was Xuande starting to make sense? As much as Luo-Luo wanted to do something with all this information, her hands were tied. She had no authority to order the Imperial Army anymore, nor did she have the means to protect the districts on her own. What would Lord Husband do if given the same argument by Colonel General Shuai Jiao? Demand soldiers be placed at the districts? Directly countermand the Colonel Generals orders? No, he would seek out a suitable compromise, such as...
Glancing at Kuang Biao in stark realization, she finally understood what Father-in-Law Baatar had been trying to hint at, and the Death Corps guardsman nodded ever so slightly. Noticing their exchange, Xuande trailed off and fell silent as he tried to understand what just happened, but Luo-Luo was too busy trying to come up with a plan to speak. All this time, shed been too focused on following through with Lord Husbands plans, and while they were vitally important, shed failed to adapt. That was her greatest sin as stand-in Legate of the Outer Provinces, her inability to roll with the punches, as Lord Husband would say. She spent so much time struggling for power with the Marshals and Colonel Generals, she failed to realize Lord Husband would have simply gone in an entirely different direction instead.
He would have rolled with the punches and attacked from another angle.
Kuang Biao, she began, speaking out loud so that Xuande and Gunan could corroborate her story if she should later come under investigation. Gather the Death Corps and Royal Guardians and prepare them for travel. In light of the recent attacks and the casualties sustained, I feel the need to inspect the district defences for myself and see what improvements need to be made. I will personally visit the districts hit hardest by the Enemy to offer aid and assistance, but I will need the Death Corps and Royal Guardians to inspect the other districts in my place. Have we enough manpower to send, say... ten Royal Guardians and two-hundred Death Corps to each? Best to have our own people in place sending me reports rather than trust the word of soldiers and officials who have largely proven themselves unreliable.
By your command, Imperial Consort.
As Kuang Biao set off to carry out her will, Luo-Luo considered her actions from all angles. Technically, the Death Corps and Royal Guardians were here to protect the Legate, not defend the Empire as soldiers and Warriors. As this was the case, Kuang Biao was forbidden by his Oaths to suggest this course of action, but he knew full well what Lord Husband would have done in Luo-Luos place, and what Father-in-Law Baatar was suggesting she do as well. Granted, the Death Corps would follow her orders without complaint no matter what she demanded of them, but she still had to justify herself to the Royal Guardians and perhaps even the Emperor Himself if He should disapprove of her decision. Terrifying as that might be, Lord Husband had placed his trust in Luo-Luo and expected her to carry out his duties while he was otherwise occupied, and she had no doubt this was exactly what he would have done. How many times had he complained about how his Death Corps honour guard was wasted standing around doing nothing? They were here to defend the Legates honour and thus the Emperors authority, but how much face would be gained when word got out that tens of thousands of the Emperors own Death Corps guards were moving out in strength, just to defend the homes of mere commoners?
Then again, some might spin this as an affront to the Emperors honour, since Death Corps and Royal Guardians were meant to serve and protect Imperial Scions, but Luo-Luo would cross that hill when she got there.
Turning to Xuande, she asked, Youve been training Irregulars all this time, correct? The man nodded, still startled she would dare use the Death Corps and Royal Guardians in such an overtly political manner, but he understood that she was siphoning support away from Shuai Jiao and funnelling it towards Lord Husband instead. While the gratitude of the people was cheap and fleeting, with enough support, she could get away with much more than she otherwise might. I would like a report detailing what you would need to begin training militia as well, not personally, but perhaps with the help of your more promising Irregulars. If they were going to train more militia, then the districts would need more crossbows, but Luo-Luo no longer had control of the Imperial finances. Not that they could have afforded it if she still did, but it stung to think that they didnt just stop at removing her from the military chain of command. Now, Marshal Yo Jeong-Hun held control of the outer-provincial purse-strings, a backbiting rodent who scurried from one ship to the next in hopes of rising with the tides. Perhaps Luo-Luo could prevail upon Sister Yuzhen for assistance, but truth be told, there was not much coin to spare, especially if Jeong-Hun behaved as expected and removed Lord Husbands luxury tax and the restrictions currently keeping the rampant housing speculators from earning a vast fortune.
No, again, Luo-Luo was looking at the problem in the wrong light again, where Lord Husband would behave differently. Gunan, call for Scion Jian Xianhe, she said, interrupting Xuandes verbal report. When she asked for a report, she meant one in writing, but Xuande did so love to hear himself speak, and she saw no point interrupting since he already had his thoughts prepared. Seeing his curiosity piqued, she explained, I intend to sell off some of Lord Husbands properties and personal War Bonds to fund the district repairs and improve the defences, and Gunan knows the local market best. Its what Lord Husband would do after all, for as he would say, What is coin for if not to be spent?. A terrible philosophy when it came to wealth, but he never cared much for luxuries.
So what if theyd stolen away her authority as Legate? When Lord Husband returned to reclaim it, she would not let it be said that she had failed in her duties, for he would never allow politics keep him from helping those in need. That was simply who he was, a man generous to a fault, and Luo-Luo was determined to see his will carried out. Let Shuai Jiao and Jeong-Hun take control of the Imperial Army and treasury; So long as Luo-Luos efforts bore fruit, then this meant Lord Husband would bear none of the risks of their failure while benefiting greatly from their successes, because at the end of the day, he was still Legate of the Outer Provinces. Perhaps he even foresaw Luo-Luos difficulties and instructed Father-in-Law to guide her to this decision, which took away some of the sting of her familys lacklustre support, but once again left her amazed by Lord Husbands brilliance and foresight.
One thing was for certain however, which was that Luo-Luo had allowed her personal prejudices against Xuande keep her from utilizing him to his full potential. I would welcome your company and insight during this journey to the districts, she said, her tone implying it was a command rather than a request, and the Imperial Scion clasped his fists and bowed in acquiescence. Prepare your carriage and stand by. I will send someone when we are ready to leave.
Because before doing anything else, Luo-Luo had to rush home to tell Mother-in-Law of her plans, say goodbye to the adorable baby quins, and pick up her forgotten Spiritual Weapon, which shed left lying beside her bed again. Not that she expected to need it, not with so many Death Corps and Royal Guardians around, but given the threat of Defiled raids, it was better to have and not need than need and not have.
Then again, perhaps if she took grave injury whilst carrying out Lord Husbands vision, this would be spark enough to kindle his kind affection and set it ablaze with fiery hot passion. If so, then maybe it wouldnt be so bad to encounter the Enemy on the battlefield, and possibly even test out her Martial abilities which had improved by leaps and bounds since Lord Husbands Insightful instruction. Yes, Luo-Luo could see it now, her struggle on the field of battle followed by a most devastating defeat, and when Lord Husband returned and heard of her struggle, his heart would ache with grief and anguish over her unfortunate suffering. Being the kind and upright man that he was, he would take it upon himself to further her instruction and dance with her from morning to night each and every day, until...
Cheeks flushed with excitement, Luo-Luo fanned her face as she approached the manor and reined in her imagination. One step at a time, advice suited for love as well as the Martial Path. She was in no rush, for she had a lifetime to convince Lord Husband to love her, and having felt his unchecked Emotional Aura in the days leading up to his expedition to the Brotherhoods monastery, she sensed that she was much closer to her goal than she initially realized. So close, yet so far away, Luo-Luo could hardly wait for the day he finally professed his love for her, but of course, it would have to wait until after his wedding with Lin-Lin. Then, there were no more brides-to-be waiting in the wings, and it would finally be Luo-Luos turn.
Hopefully.
Probably.
...
Maybe?
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Chapter 679
Upon being relieved of her duties as stand-in Legate of the Outer Provinces, Luo-Luos first instinct was to crawl into bed and stay there until she withered away.
Failure was not a concept she had much experience with, not in the conventional sense. Her greatest tribulation to date came from dealing with the consequences of being too remarkable and talented, but now, she would be known all across the Empire as the woman who failed to measure up to Falling Rains expectations. Perhaps they would say he was blinded by his love for her, which wouldnt sting so much if he actually loved her, or maybe they would whisper of how she was a fool who sought power for no purpose other than to wield it. It mattered little what others would say of her, but somehow, in this, she couldnt stop thinking about the possible gossip, because she couldnt help but wonder if there were a grain of truth to their accusations.
The facts were plain and simple. Lord Husband had trusted Luo-Luo with the mantle of his Office and expected her to carry out his duties while he was otherwise occupied. Then Luo-Luo failed so miserably it forced three Colonel Generals and two of three Marshals to band together and threaten rebellion if she should even try to hold the powers of the Legates Office over them. Not rebellion against the Empire, nor even rebellion against the Emperor or even against the Office of the Legate, but rather rebellion against an incompetent Imperial Consort who possessed more power than sense.
Of course, none of them said as much, not in so many words. Colonel General Shuai Jiao even took an Oath saying he would relinquish his emergency powers, as he so aptly termed it, as well as his military rank once the Defiled threat was contained or the Emperors appointed representative was able to serve in a competent capacity. All very carefully chosen terms that left no room for doubt in Luo-Luos mind that the ascetic Colonel General was up to something, else there would be no need for such caution. What was to keep him from deeming Lord Husband an unlawful representative or simply incompetent? She noticed he also made no Oath to retire from politics, or to refrain from using his emergency powers to benefit himself, or even to refrain from laying the groundwork for a true rebellion in the future. Who would stand against him? With Nian Zu, Ryo Dae Jung, Yo Jeong-Hun, and Quyen Huong all complicit in his rise to power, Shuai Jiao would only need to threaten to implicate them in his statements and they would all have no choice but to support him against the Emperor, because who would believe they did not share in Shuai Jiaos ambition?
Everyone Luo-Luo spoke to considered him to be a saint among men, a generous, kindhearted Warrior who placed great emphasis on honour and duty, but Luo-Luo now suspected it was all a sham. Well, not all of it, as even she had to admit Shuai Jiao believed in his ideals, but she also knew that even with all his strength and cunning, there was no way the mans hands were still clean, not after years of political machinations. One cannot walk by the riverside without getting their shoes wet, and Shuai Jiao was merely a more honest and powerful sort of politician. An honourable man would not have blindsided her like Shuai Jiao had, ousting her from her official duties without so much as a how do you do. An honourable man would not have placed the burden of choice on another and risk civil war in a time of hardship for the sake of seizing power, even if his intentions were good.
Which was likely why she never saw it coming, because until he made his move, Luo-Luo wholly believed Shuai Jiaos false reputation and thus took no measures to guard against him.
So in short, she had no one to blame but herself. She could have resisted his takeover, could have gathered her Death Corps and Royal Guardians, taken up Lord Husbands Divine Turtle Token and waved it about as he said she could. Then, the Colonel Generals and Marshals wouldve been forced to think twice, for then their actions would be made public. So long as Lord Husband was still Legate of the Outer Provinces, his word was law, and with his token in hand, Luo-Luo spoke with his voice, so she only needed to give the word and the loyal soldiers of the Empire would no doubt stand on her side. If she made a big enough issue of it, the Imperial Clan might even send a representative to assist her, if only for the sake of face.
But she didnt, because deep down, she knew she was not qualified for the job. Lord Husbands faith in her was misplaced, else the highest echelons of command in the outer provinces would not have banded together to overthrow her. With this abject failure hanging over her head, how was she supposed to face Lord Husband again?
This wasnt even the worst part yet. No, that came when she brought Colonel General Shuai Jiaos ultimatum to Mother-in-Law Akanai with proof that these people were working against Luo-Luo. Rather than get up in arms about outsiders deposing Lord Husbands chosen replacement, Mother-in-Law Akanai instead quietly sighed, sat back, smoothed her robes and asked, So what do you intend to do?Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)
And there it was, spelled out in plain Common. There was no outrage or support coming from Lord Husbands people, no unity despite all their talk of family and solidarity, just quiet resignation and an inquiry as to how she intended to proceed, because when it came right down to it, Mother-in-Law Akanai believed Shuai Jiaos actions were warranted and thus was siding with outsiders against Luo-Luo. Having failed so miserably even her own family didnt see fit to defend her, Luo-Luo simply faked a smile and said she would accede to the Colonel Generals demands and step down from her rightful Office without contest. Mother-in-Law Akanai accepted this with a nod and a pat of Luo-Luos arm, as she no doubt thought it was for the best.
So ashamed of her failure, Luo-Luo almost couldnt bear the thought of having breakfast with the family, but having missed dinner due to a bout of depression, her empty belly forced her out of the room to greet the day as if nothing happened. She smiled and played with the adorable quin pups before eating her breakfast with gusto, making small talk with the in-laws and asking after their health the entire time. She also complimented Sister-in-Law Alsantset, practised her Forms, and even mentioned how she dearly missed the rabbits, wildcats, bears, and even the laughing birds, all without giving away her true feelings.
A good thing too, because throughout it all, she couldnt help but feel betrayed by this family who supposedly accepted her. For Lord Husband, they were willing to rebel against the Empire, but for Luo-Luo? A simple, What do you intend to do?. No mention of outrage or sympathy, no muttered curses or oaths of vengeance, just Oh, and what now?.
It wasnt fair to the family to think this way. The Bekhai would never have survived so long if they didnt pick their battles wisely, and it wasnt as if Lord Husband had lost his title. Though Luo-Luo could no longer act in his name, he was still Legate of the Outer Provinces. Shuai Jiao made no effort to wrest that title away, nor did he attempt to discredit Luo-Luo or any of her work. Not that he had any need to, as Lord Husband was in no state to contest her dismissal and time had done more to discredit Luo-Luo than any smear campaign ever could. Even now, in light of all her failures, she was still unable to see where it all went wrong. Take SuiHua Harbour, for example, one point the Colonel Generals repeatedly contested her on while she refused to back down. They thought her efforts were wasted rebuilding the harbour, effort that could have been better spent reinforcing the Districts or finishing Lord Husbands planned military stations, but Luo-Luo disagreed. So long as the Empire held the harbour, the Enemy would be unable to take control of the waterway that ran all along the border until it reached the Southern province, giving the Imperial Army the advantage of having ships to ferry troops and supplies wherever they were needed along the Western Wall. Alas, the Colonel Generals refused to make use of this advantage and instead set their ships to chasing Huanhuzis fleet wherever it came in sight of land. A waste of time and effort, in her eyes, as the Empire would have been best served by withdrawing from all but a handful of fortified harbours, ones too well entrenched for any fleet to assault head on. Then, all the Colonel Generals had to do was keep watch for the pirate fleet landing and have a force ready to meet them in battle, but somehow, this was not a suitable response.
What if the pirate fleet were to ferry an entire Defiled army behind the Western Wall? Luo-Luo countered that if the Enemy could do so, they would have already done so and the war would have been lost. Whatever method the so-called King of Bandits used to keep the monsters of the Azure Sea from attacking his ships was limited in some way, because every time he emerged from the dense mists, he only ever brought with him a handful of ships, with the vast majority staying in shallow waters like all other sea-faring vessels and fighting to the bitter and costly end. It was no easy task to fend off the constant raids, but while Huanhuzis limited ability to skirt into the no-mans land of the Azure Sea offered him an undeniable advantage over the Imperial fleet, there was no way the Enemy ships were able to traverse the deep waters with impunity, else they would have long since launched an attack on the North, and thus far, there were no reports of any Defiled armies landing on the northern shore. This much she knew for certain, as Colonel General Nian Zu assured her that such a thing would not go unnoticed even with the support of an Enemy Divinity, so she suspected the King of Bandits nautical protection had something to do with proximity to his flagship, the Bewildering Mist. Not because of its name, which so many believed was the source of the thick fog that accompanied every pirate attack, despite records indicating that fog was nothing out of the norm along the coast which meant Huanhuzi was merely adept at using it. No, there was some secret to the ship because no matter the prize or battle, the Bewildering Mist never once weighed anchor on Imperial land. Not when his fleet burned down Suihua harbour or in the subsequent battle against Father-in-Law Baatars forces, nor did it ever land in any nautical engagement since. Either Huanhuzi had no stomach for battle, which was hardly believable considering the half-badgers fearsome reputation, or he didnt dare risk his ship while treating all other vessels as disposable.
Whats more, she speculated there were limits to whatever protection he could offer from the denizens of the deep, as there had been reports of unrecognizable wreckage drifting off in the distance or brought close to shore by the constant tides and getting in the way of Imperial ships. This meant that if Huanhuzi were to ferry a Defiled army to Imperial shores, it would not be a sizable one by any margin, because he simply couldnt protect that many ships out in deeper waters. Perhaps if he made multiple trips, but then the Enemy forces risked being spotted and dealt with long before they had their full strength in place.
Even if Huanhuzis ships dropped Defiled off away from shore had them swim several kilometres to reach land, there was no way for any Enemy infiltrators to escape the notice of patrolling Divinities, not even if said infiltrators were Half-Step Divinity Wraiths. Guarding the Western Wall, with so many Peak Experts moving about, was far different from watching the Northern shore, where anyone with a Core would stand out like a green hat on red robes. It wasnt that Wraiths went unnoticed when sneaking into the Citadels, but rather watching eyes were unable to differentiate Concealed Wraiths from Concealed Imperials, and there were far more of the latter moving about than most would believe.
Thus, Luo-Luo felt justified in concentrating her efforts on SuiHua harbour and turning it into an unassailable nautical fortress festooned with catapults and bolt-throwers a plenty. Cixi came up with the most ingenious idea of launching a payload of two smaller stones connected by thick iron chains, and they were most effective at destroying masts and oars that stood in their path, as well as anything else. Even if Huanhuzi were to personally lead another attack from the deeps, she was confident the harbour defences would hold with ease. Unfortunately, none of the military minds of the Empire seemed to care, since they only saw the harbour as a way-station, one needed to ship troops and supplies from the Northern Province. Thus, Huanhuzis constant raids on said ships and the continued viability of overland travel rendered the harbour useless in their eyes, because they didnt care about the increased costs that came with land-based transport. To them, the coin wasnt real, because at the end of the day, it was all paid for by the Imperial Clan, but there were limits to what Luo-Luo could do with the generous but still wholly insufficient consignments of coin that arrived every few months. War was costly, and manning the Western Wall would have long since beggared the Central Province if theyd been forced to pay for it themselves, without even taking into account the costs of building the Wall in the first place. If merchants all across the Empire could be convinced to accept paper currency, then Luo-Luo could ink as much coin as she needed, but until such a time when Lord Husbands idea bore fruit, she was constrained to paying with cold, hard coin, coin which she was woefully short of.
So instead of focusing their efforts defending Imperial ships travelling along the Azure Sea, the Colonel Generals wasted their time tracking and chasing Huanhuzis fleet, engaging him time and time again despite knowing they were at an obvious disadvantage. Now, Nian Zu had all but given up on nautical shipping routes, yet still maintained a powerful military presence along the coast out of misguided fears of an invading Defiled fleet, which was a source of heated contention between Luo-Luo and the Colonel Generals. Those troops would be of much better use defending the Districts instead, but Shuai Jiao, Nian Zu, Mother-in-Law (technically Grandmother-in-Law) Akanai, and even Father-in-Law Baatar saw things differently.
The boy meant well, Father-in-Law Baatar had said last night, patting Luo-Luos head as if she were a child, But in this, he is mistaken. Having withdrawn from the second line, we no longer have a forward buffer to buy time for our troops to get in position, as the border is too long to garrison in full strength all along in its entirety. Thats why the boy wanted a second line behind the Western Wall, for teams of soldiers to rapidly deploy wherever they might be needed. A plan Luo-Luo delayed to reinforce SuiHua harbour, which even he thought was a mistake. There was no accusation in his tone however, only straightforward pragmatism, and he continued listing Luo-Luos failures in the same manner. Whats more, there are two-hundred districts in total, so stationing the requisite two-hundred soldiers at each would occupy forty-thousand soldiers. However, you must double this number at a minimum because soldiers cannot serve indefinitely without rest, even if they do not see combat. Guarding against the remote possibility of attack still requires focus and discipline, both of which are finite in even the best of Warriors. Sighing as he shook his head, he aged before her eyes as his youthful features took on a cast of wisdom and regret. Eighty to a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers occupied, but for what gain? The fields still lie empty after winter due to constant Defiled raids, and while all life is sacred, these commoners should have known opportunity here walks hand in hand with danger. We will do everything we can to keep the Defiled from breaking through and running rampant in the districts, but we simply cannot afford to spare so many troops to protect the districts without benefit. The Defiled raids are small now, but only because we have every available soldier defending the Wall. Take even eighty-thousand soldiers away to defend the districts and those hundred-Defiled raiding parties could easily swell to ten times that number. What then, girl? How will two-hundred soldiers hold out against three times their number of Enemy cavalry? Not easily, and not without horrific losses, so the Imperial Army cannot afford to do this. Do you understand?
...Was that actually what was happening here? Why was Xuande starting to make sense? As much as Luo-Luo wanted to do something with all this information, her hands were tied. She had no authority to order the Imperial Army anymore, nor did she have the means to protect the districts on her own. What would Lord Husband do if given the same argument by Colonel General Shuai Jiao? Demand soldiers be placed at the districts? Directly countermand the Colonel Generals orders? No, he would seek out a suitable compromise, such as...
Glancing at Kuang Biao in stark realization, she finally understood what Father-in-Law Baatar had been trying to hint at, and the Death Corps guardsman nodded ever so slightly. Noticing their exchange, Xuande trailed off and fell silent as he tried to understand what just happened, but Luo-Luo was too busy trying to come up with a plan to speak. All this time, shed been too focused on following through with Lord Husbands plans, and while they were vitally important, shed failed to adapt. That was her greatest sin as stand-in Legate of the Outer Provinces, her inability to roll with the punches, as Lord Husband would say. She spent so much time struggling for power with the Marshals and Colonel Generals, she failed to realize Lord Husband would have simply gone in an entirely different direction instead.
He would have rolled with the punches and attacked from another angle.
Kuang Biao, she began, speaking out loud so that Xuande and Gunan could corroborate her story if she should later come under investigation. Gather the Death Corps and Royal Guardians and prepare them for travel. In light of the recent attacks and the casualties sustained, I feel the need to inspect the district defences for myself and see what improvements need to be made. I will personally visit the districts hit hardest by the Enemy to offer aid and assistance, but I will need the Death Corps and Royal Guardians to inspect the other districts in my place. Have we enough manpower to send, say... ten Royal Guardians and two-hundred Death Corps to each? Best to have our own people in place sending me reports rather than trust the word of soldiers and officials who have largely proven themselves unreliable.
By your command, Imperial Consort.
As Kuang Biao set off to carry out her will, Luo-Luo considered her actions from all angles. Technically, the Death Corps and Royal Guardians were here to protect the Legate, not defend the Empire as soldiers and Warriors. As this was the case, Kuang Biao was forbidden by his Oaths to suggest this course of action, but he knew full well what Lord Husband would have done in Luo-Luos place, and what Father-in-Law Baatar was suggesting she do as well. Granted, the Death Corps would follow her orders without complaint no matter what she demanded of them, but she still had to justify herself to the Royal Guardians and perhaps even the Emperor Himself if He should disapprove of her decision. Terrifying as that might be, Lord Husband had placed his trust in Luo-Luo and expected her to carry out his duties while he was otherwise occupied, and she had no doubt this was exactly what he would have done. How many times had he complained about how his Death Corps honour guard was wasted standing around doing nothing? They were here to defend the Legates honour and thus the Emperors authority, but how much face would be gained when word got out that tens of thousands of the Emperors own Death Corps guards were moving out in strength, just to defend the homes of mere commoners?
Then again, some might spin this as an affront to the Emperors honour, since Death Corps and Royal Guardians were meant to serve and protect Imperial Scions, but Luo-Luo would cross that hill when she got there.
Turning to Xuande, she asked, Youve been training Irregulars all this time, correct? The man nodded, still startled she would dare use the Death Corps and Royal Guardians in such an overtly political manner, but he understood that she was siphoning support away from Shuai Jiao and funnelling it towards Lord Husband instead. While the gratitude of the people was cheap and fleeting, with enough support, she could get away with much more than she otherwise might. I would like a report detailing what you would need to begin training militia as well, not personally, but perhaps with the help of your more promising Irregulars. If they were going to train more militia, then the districts would need more crossbows, but Luo-Luo no longer had control of the Imperial finances. Not that they could have afforded it if she still did, but it stung to think that they didnt just stop at removing her from the military chain of command. Now, Marshal Yo Jeong-Hun held control of the outer-provincial purse-strings, a backbiting rodent who scurried from one ship to the next in hopes of rising with the tides. Perhaps Luo-Luo could prevail upon Sister Yuzhen for assistance, but truth be told, there was not much coin to spare, especially if Jeong-Hun behaved as expected and removed Lord Husbands luxury tax and the restrictions currently keeping the rampant housing speculators from earning a vast fortune.
No, again, Luo-Luo was looking at the problem in the wrong light again, where Lord Husband would behave differently. Gunan, call for Scion Jian Xianhe, she said, interrupting Xuandes verbal report. When she asked for a report, she meant one in writing, but Xuande did so love to hear himself speak, and she saw no point interrupting since he already had his thoughts prepared. Seeing his curiosity piqued, she explained, I intend to sell off some of Lord Husbands properties and personal War Bonds to fund the district repairs and improve the defences, and Gunan knows the local market best. Its what Lord Husband would do after all, for as he would say, What is coin for if not to be spent?. A terrible philosophy when it came to wealth, but he never cared much for luxuries.
So what if theyd stolen away her authority as Legate? When Lord Husband returned to reclaim it, she would not let it be said that she had failed in her duties, for he would never allow politics keep him from helping those in need. That was simply who he was, a man generous to a fault, and Luo-Luo was determined to see his will carried out. Let Shuai Jiao and Jeong-Hun take control of the Imperial Army and treasury; So long as Luo-Luos efforts bore fruit, then this meant Lord Husband would bear none of the risks of their failure while benefiting greatly from their successes, because at the end of the day, he was still Legate of the Outer Provinces. Perhaps he even foresaw Luo-Luos difficulties and instructed Father-in-Law to guide her to this decision, which took away some of the sting of her familys lacklustre support, but once again left her amazed by Lord Husbands brilliance and foresight.
One thing was for certain however, which was that Luo-Luo had allowed her personal prejudices against Xuande keep her from utilizing him to his full potential. I would welcome your company and insight during this journey to the districts, she said, her tone implying it was a command rather than a request, and the Imperial Scion clasped his fists and bowed in acquiescence. Prepare your carriage and stand by. I will send someone when we are ready to leave.
Because before doing anything else, Luo-Luo had to rush home to tell Mother-in-Law of her plans, say goodbye to the adorable baby quins, and pick up her forgotten Spiritual Weapon, which shed left lying beside her bed again. Not that she expected to need it, not with so many Death Corps and Royal Guardians around, but given the threat of Defiled raids, it was better to have and not need than need and not have.
Then again, perhaps if she took grave injury whilst carrying out Lord Husbands vision, this would be spark enough to kindle his kind affection and set it ablaze with fiery hot passion. If so, then maybe it wouldnt be so bad to encounter the Enemy on the battlefield, and possibly even test out her Martial abilities which had improved by leaps and bounds since Lord Husbands Insightful instruction. Yes, Luo-Luo could see it now, her struggle on the field of battle followed by a most devastating defeat, and when Lord Husband returned and heard of her struggle, his heart would ache with grief and anguish over her unfortunate suffering. Being the kind and upright man that he was, he would take it upon himself to further her instruction and dance with her from morning to night each and every day, until...
Cheeks flushed with excitement, Luo-Luo fanned her face as she approached the manor and reined in her imagination. One step at a time, advice suited for love as well as the Martial Path. She was in no rush, for she had a lifetime to convince Lord Husband to love her, and having felt his unchecked Emotional Aura in the days leading up to his expedition to the Brotherhoods monastery, she sensed that she was much closer to her goal than she initially realized. So close, yet so far away, Luo-Luo could hardly wait for the day he finally professed his love for her, but of course, it would have to wait until after his wedding with Lin-Lin. Then, there were no more brides-to-be waiting in the wings, and it would finally be Luo-Luos turn.
Hopefully.
Probably.
...
Maybe?
Chapter Meme
Chapter 679Upon being relieved of her duties as stand-in Legate of the Outer Provinces, Luo-Luos first instinct was to crawl into bed and stay there until she withered away.Failure was not a concept she had much experience with, not in the conventional sense. Her greatest tribulation to date came from dealing with the consequences of being too remarkable and talented, but now, she would be known all across the Empire as the woman who failed to measure up to Falling Rains expectations. Perhaps they would say he was blinded by his love for her, which wouldnt sting so much if he actually loved her, or maybe they would whisper of how she was a fool who sought power for no purpose other than to wield it. It mattered little what others would say of her, but somehow, in this, she couldnt stop thinking about the possible gossip, because she couldnt help but wonder if there were a grain of truth to their accusations.The facts were plain and simple. Lord Husband had trusted Luo-Luo with the mantle of his Office and expected her to carry out his duties while he was otherwise occupied. Then Luo-Luo failed so miserably it forced three Colonel Generals and two of three Marshals to band together and threaten rebellion if she should even try to hold the powers of the Legates Office over them. Not rebellion against the Empire, nor even rebellion against the Emperor or even against the Office of the Legate, but rather rebellion against an incompetent Imperial Consort who possessed more power than sense.Of course, none of them said as much, not in so many words. Colonel General Shuai Jiao even took an Oath saying he would relinquish his emergency powers, as he so aptly termed it, as well as his military rank once the Defiled threat was contained or the Emperors appointed representative was able to serve in a competent capacity. All very carefully chosen terms that left no room for doubt in Luo-Luos mind that the ascetic Colonel General was up to something, else there would be no need for such caution. What was to keep him from deeming Lord Husband an unlawful representative or simply incompetent? She noticed he also made no Oath to retire from politics, or to refrain from using his emergency powers to benefit himself, or even to refrain from laying the groundwork for a true rebellion in the future. Who would stand against him? With Nian Zu, Ryo Dae Jung, Yo Jeong-Hun, and Quyen Huong all complicit in his rise to power, Shuai Jiao would only need to threaten to implicate them in his statements and they would all have no choice but to support him against the Emperor, because who would believe they did not share in Shuai Jiaos ambition?Everyone Luo-Luo spoke to considered him to be a saint among men, a generous, kindhearted Warrior who placed great emphasis on honour and duty, but Luo-Luo now suspected it was all a sham. Well, not all of it, as even she had to admit Shuai Jiao believed in his ideals, but she also knew that even with all his strength and cunning, there was no way the mans hands were still clean, not after years of political machinations. One cannot walk by the riverside without getting their shoes wet, and Shuai Jiao was merely a more honest and powerful sort of politician. An honourable man would not have blindsided her like Shuai Jiao had, ousting her from her official duties without so much as a how do you do. An honourable man would not have placed the burden of choice on another and risk civil war in a time of hardship for the sake of seizing power, even if his intentions were good.Which was likely why she never saw it coming, because until he made his move, Luo-Luo wholly believed Shuai Jiaos false reputation and thus took no measures to guard against him.So in short, she had no one to blame but herself. She could have resisted his takeover, could have gathered her Death Corps and Royal Guardians, taken up Lord Husbands Divine Turtle Token and waved it about as he said she could. Then, the Colonel Generals and Marshals wouldve been forced to think twice, for then their actions would be made public. So long as Lord Husband was still Legate of the Outer Provinces, his word was law, and with his token in hand, Luo-Luo spoke with his voice, so she only needed to give the word and the loyal soldiers of the Empire would no doubt stand on her side. If she made a big enough issue of it, the Imperial Clan might even send a representative to assist her, if only for the sake of face.But she didnt, because deep down, she knew she was not qualified for the job. Lord Husbands faith in her was misplaced, else the highest echelons of command in the outer provinces would not have banded together to overthrow her. With this abject failure hanging over her head, how was she supposed to face Lord Husband again?This wasnt even the worst part yet. No, that came when she brought Colonel General Shuai Jiaos ultimatum to Mother-in-Law Akanai with proof that these people were working against Luo-Luo. Rather than get up in arms about outsiders deposing Lord Husbands chosen replacement, Mother-in-Law Akanai instead quietly sighed, sat back, smoothed her robes and asked, So what do you intend to do?Follow current novels on novelbin.comAnd there it was, spelled out in plain Common. There was no outrage or support coming from Lord Husbands people, no unity despite all their talk of family and solidarity, just quiet resignation and an inquiry as to how she intended to proceed, because when it came right down to it, Mother-in-Law Akanai believed Shuai Jiaos actions were warranted and thus was siding with outsiders against Luo-Luo. Having failed so miserably even her own family didnt see fit to defend her, Luo-Luo simply faked a smile and said she would accede to the Colonel Generals demands and step down from her rightful Office without contest. Mother-in-Law Akanai accepted this with a nod and a pat of Luo-Luos arm, as she no doubt thought it was for the best.So ashamed of her failure, Luo-Luo almost couldnt bear the thought of having breakfast with the family, but having missed dinner due to a bout of depression, her empty belly forced her out of the room to greet the day as if nothing happened. She smiled and played with the adorable quin pups before eating her breakfast with gusto, making small talk with the in-laws and asking after their health the entire time. She also complimented Sister-in-Law Alsantset, practised her Forms, and even mentioned how she dearly missed the rabbits, wildcats, bears, and even the laughing birds, all without giving away her true feelings.A good thing too, because throughout it all, she couldnt help but feel betrayed by this family who supposedly accepted her. For Lord Husband, they were willing to rebel against the Empire, but for Luo-Luo? A simple, What do you intend to do?. No mention of outrage or sympathy, no muttered curses or oaths of vengeance, just Oh, and what now?.It wasnt fair to the family to think this way. The Bekhai would never have survived so long if they didnt pick their battles wisely, and it wasnt as if Lord Husband had lost his title. Though Luo-Luo could no longer act in his name, he was still Legate of the Outer Provinces. Shuai Jiao made no effort to wrest that title away, nor did he attempt to discredit Luo-Luo or any of her work. Not that he had any need to, as Lord Husband was in no state to contest her dismissal and time had done more to discredit Luo-Luo than any smear campaign ever could. Even now, in light of all her failures, she was still unable to see where it all went wrong. Take SuiHua Harbour, for example, one point the Colonel Generals repeatedly contested her on while she refused to back down. They thought her efforts were wasted rebuilding the harbour, effort that could have been better spent reinforcing the Districts or finishing Lord Husbands planned military stations, but Luo-Luo disagreed. So long as the Empire held the harbour, the Enemy would be unable to take control of the waterway that ran all along the border until it reached the Southern province, giving the Imperial Army the advantage of having ships to ferry troops and supplies wherever they were needed along the Western Wall. Alas, the Colonel Generals refused to make use of this advantage and instead set their ships to chasing Huanhuzis fleet wherever it came in sight of land. A waste of time and effort, in her eyes, as the Empire would have been best served by withdrawing from all but a handful of fortified harbours, ones too well entrenched for any fleet to assault head on. Then, all the Colonel Generals had to do was keep watch for the pirate fleet landing and have a force ready to meet them in battle, but somehow, this was not a suitable response.What if the pirate fleet were to ferry an entire Defiled army behind the Western Wall? Luo-Luo countered that if the Enemy could do so, they would have already done so and the war would have been lost. Whatever method the so-called King of Bandits used to keep the monsters of the Azure Sea from attacking his ships was limited in some way, because every time he emerged from the dense mists, he only ever brought with him a handful of ships, with the vast majority staying in shallow waters like all other sea-faring vessels and fighting to the bitter and costly end. It was no easy task to fend off the constant raids, but while Huanhuzis limited ability to skirt into the no-mans land of the Azure Sea offered him an undeniable advantage over the Imperial fleet, there was no way the Enemy ships were able to traverse the deep waters with impunity, else they would have long since launched an attack on the North, and thus far, there were no reports of any Defiled armies landing on the northern shore. This much she knew for certain, as Colonel General Nian Zu assured her that such a thing would not go unnoticed even with the support of an Enemy Divinity, so she suspected the King of Bandits nautical protection had something to do with proximity to his flagship, the Bewildering Mist. Not because of its name, which so many believed was the source of the thick fog that accompanied every pirate attack, despite records indicating that fog was nothing out of the norm along the coast which meant Huanhuzi was merely adept at using it. No, there was some secret to the ship because no matter the prize or battle, the Bewildering Mist never once weighed anchor on Imperial land. Not when his fleet burned down Suihua harbour or in the subsequent battle against Father-in-Law Baatars forces, nor did it ever land in any nautical engagement since. Either Huanhuzi had no stomach for battle, which was hardly believable considering the half-badgers fearsome reputation, or he didnt dare risk his ship while treating all other vessels as disposable.Whats more, she speculated there were limits to whatever protection he could offer from the denizens of the deep, as there had been reports of unrecognizable wreckage drifting off in the distance or brought close to shore by the constant tides and getting in the way of Imperial ships. This meant that if Huanhuzi were to ferry a Defiled army to Imperial shores, it would not be a sizable one by any margin, because he simply couldnt protect that many ships out in deeper waters. Perhaps if he made multiple trips, but then the Enemy forces risked being spotted and dealt with long before they had their full strength in place.Even if Huanhuzis ships dropped Defiled off away from shore had them swim several kilometres to reach land, there was no way for any Enemy infiltrators to escape the notice of patrolling Divinities, not even if said infiltrators were Half-Step Divinity Wraiths. Guarding the Western Wall, with so many Peak Experts moving about, was far different from watching the Northern shore, where anyone with a Core would stand out like a green hat on red robes. It wasnt that Wraiths went unnoticed when sneaking into the Citadels, but rather watching eyes were unable to differentiate Concealed Wraiths from Concealed Imperials, and there were far more of the latter moving about than most would believe.Thus, Luo-Luo felt justified in concentrating her efforts on SuiHua harbour and turning it into an unassailable nautical fortress festooned with catapults and bolt-throwers a plenty. Cixi came up with the most ingenious idea of launching a payload of two smaller stones connected by thick iron chains, and they were most effective at destroying masts and oars that stood in their path, as well as anything else. Even if Huanhuzi were to personally lead another attack from the deeps, she was confident the harbour defences would hold with ease. Unfortunately, none of the military minds of the Empire seemed to care, since they only saw the harbour as a way-station, one needed to ship troops and supplies from the Northern Province. Thus, Huanhuzis constant raids on said ships and the continued viability of overland travel rendered the harbour useless in their eyes, because they didnt care about the increased costs that came with land-based transport. To them, the coin wasnt real, because at the end of the day, it was all paid for by the Imperial Clan, but there were limits to what Luo-Luo could do with the generous but still wholly insufficient consignments of coin that arrived every few months. War was costly, and manning the Western Wall would have long since beggared the Central Province if theyd been forced to pay for it themselves, without even taking into account the costs of building the Wall in the first place. If merchants all across the Empire could be convinced to accept paper currency, then Luo-Luo could ink as much coin as she needed, but until such a time when Lord Husbands idea bore fruit, she was constrained to paying with cold, hard coin, coin which she was woefully short of.So instead of focusing their efforts defending Imperial ships travelling along the Azure Sea, the Colonel Generals wasted their time tracking and chasing Huanhuzis fleet, engaging him time and time again despite knowing they were at an obvious disadvantage. Now, Nian Zu had all but given up on nautical shipping routes, yet still maintained a powerful military presence along the coast out of misguided fears of an invading Defiled fleet, which was a source of heated contention between Luo-Luo and the Colonel Generals. Those troops would be of much better use defending the Districts instead, but Shuai Jiao, Nian Zu, Mother-in-Law technically Grandmother-in-Law Akanai, and even Father-in-Law Baatar saw things differently.The boy meant well, Father-in-Law Baatar had said last night, patting Luo-Luos head as if she were a child, But in this, he is mistaken. Having withdrawn from the second line, we no longer have a forward buffer to buy time for our troops to get in position, as the border is too long to garrison in full strength all along in its entirety. Thats why the boy wanted a second line behind the Western Wall, for teams of soldiers to rapidly deploy wherever they might be needed. A plan Luo-Luo delayed to reinforce SuiHua harbour, which even he thought was a mistake. There was no accusation in his tone however, only straightforward pragmatism, and he continued listing Luo-Luos failures in the same manner. Whats more, there are two-hundred districts in total, so stationing the requisite two-hundred soldiers at each would occupy forty-thousand soldiers. However, you must double this number at a minimum because soldiers cannot serve indefinitely without rest, even if they do not see combat. Guarding against the remote possibility of attack still requires focus and discipline, both of which are finite in even the best of Warriors. Sighing as he shook his head, he aged before her eyes as his youthful features took on a cast of wisdom and regret. Eighty to a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers occupied, but for what gain? The fields still lie empty after winter due to constant Defiled raids, and while all life is sacred, these commoners should have known opportunity here walks hand in hand with danger. We will do everything we can to keep the Defiled from breaking through and running rampant in the districts, but we simply cannot afford to spare so many troops to protect the districts without benefit. The Defiled raids are small now, but only because we have every available soldier defending the Wall. Take even eighty-thousand soldiers away to defend the districts and those hundred-Defiled raiding parties could easily swell to ten times that number. What then, girl? How will two-hundred soldiers hold out against three times their number of Enemy cavalry? Not easily, and not without horrific losses, so the Imperial Army cannot afford to do this. Do you understand?...Was that actually what was happening here? Why was Xuande starting to make sense? As much as Luo-Luo wanted to do something with all this information, her hands were tied. She had no authority to order the Imperial Army anymore, nor did she have the means to protect the districts on her own. What would Lord Husband do if given the same argument by Colonel General Shuai Jiao? Demand soldiers be placed at the districts? Directly countermand the Colonel Generals orders? No, he would seek out a suitable compromise, such as...Glancing at Kuang Biao in stark realization, she finally understood what Father-in-Law Baatar had been trying to hint at, and the Death Corps guardsman nodded ever so slightly. Noticing their exchange, Xuande trailed off and fell silent as he tried to understand what just happened, but Luo-Luo was too busy trying to come up with a plan to speak. All this time, shed been too focused on following through with Lord Husbands plans, and while they were vitally important, shed failed to adapt. That was her greatest sin as stand-in Legate of the Outer Provinces, her inability to roll with the punches, as Lord Husband would say. She spent so much time struggling for power with the Marshals and Colonel Generals, she failed to realize Lord Husband would have simply gone in an entirely different direction instead.He would have rolled with the punches and attacked from another angle.Kuang Biao, she began, speaking out loud so that Xuande and Gunan could corroborate her story if she should later come under investigation. Gather the Death Corps and Royal Guardians and prepare them for travel. In light of the recent attacks and the casualties sustained, I feel the need to inspect the district defences for myself and see what improvements need to be made. I will personally visit the districts hit hardest by the Enemy to offer aid and assistance, but I will need the Death Corps and Royal Guardians to inspect the other districts in my place. Have we enough manpower to send, say... ten Royal Guardians and two-hundred Death Corps to each? Best to have our own people in place sending me reports rather than trust the word of soldiers and officials who have largely proven themselves unreliable.By your command, Imperial Consort.As Kuang Biao set off to carry out her will, Luo-Luo considered her actions from all angles. Technically, the Death Corps and Royal Guardians were here to protect the Legate, not defend the Empire as soldiers and Warriors. As this was the case, Kuang Biao was forbidden by his Oaths to suggest this course of action, but he knew full well what Lord Husband would have done in Luo-Luos place, and what Father-in-Law Baatar was suggesting she do as well. Granted, the Death Corps would follow her orders without complaint no matter what she demanded of them, but she still had to justify herself to the Royal Guardians and perhaps even the Emperor Himself if He should disapprove of her decision. Terrifying as that might be, Lord Husband had placed his trust in Luo-Luo and expected her to carry out his duties while he was otherwise occupied, and she had no doubt this was exactly what he would have done. How many times had he complained about how his Death Corps honour guard was wasted standing around doing nothing? They were here to defend the Legates honour and thus the Emperors authority, but how much face would be gained when word got out that tens of thousands of the Emperors own Death Corps guards were moving out in strength, just to defend the homes of mere commoners?Then again, some might spin this as an affront to the Emperors honour, since Death Corps and Royal Guardians were meant to serve and protect Imperial Scions, but Luo-Luo would cross that hill when she got there.Turning to Xuande, she asked, Youve been training Irregulars all this time, correct? The man nodded, still startled she would dare use the Death Corps and Royal Guardians in such an overtly political manner, but he understood that she was siphoning support away from Shuai Jiao and funnelling it towards Lord Husband instead. While the gratitude of the people was cheap and fleeting, with enough support, she could get away with much more than she otherwise might. I would like a report detailing what you would need to begin training militia as well, not personally, but perhaps with the help of your more promising Irregulars. If they were going to train more militia, then the districts would need more crossbows, but Luo-Luo no longer had control of the Imperial finances. Not that they could have afforded it if she still did, but it stung to think that they didnt just stop at removing her from the military chain of command. Now, Marshal Yo Jeong-Hun held control of the outer-provincial purse-strings, a backbiting rodent who scurried from one ship to the next in hopes of rising with the tides. Perhaps Luo-Luo could prevail upon Sister Yuzhen for assistance, but truth be told, there was not much coin to spare, especially if Jeong-Hun behaved as expected and removed Lord Husbands luxury tax and the restrictions currently keeping the rampant housing speculators from earning a vast fortune.No, again, Luo-Luo was looking at the problem in the wrong light again, where Lord Husband would behave differently. Gunan, call for Scion Jian Xianhe, she said, interrupting Xuandes verbal report. When she asked for a report, she meant one in writing, but Xuande did so love to hear himself speak, and she saw no point interrupting since he already had his thoughts prepared. Seeing his curiosity piqued, she explained, I intend to sell off some of Lord Husbands properties and personal War Bonds to fund the district repairs and improve the defences, and Gunan knows the local market best. Its what Lord Husband would do after all, for as he would say, What is coin for if not to be spent?. A terrible philosophy when it came to wealth, but he never cared much for luxuries.So what if theyd stolen away her authority as Legate? When Lord Husband returned to reclaim it, she would not let it be said that she had failed in her duties, for he would never allow politics keep him from helping those in need. That was simply who he was, a man generous to a fault, and Luo-Luo was determined to see his will carried out. Let Shuai Jiao and Jeong-Hun take control of the Imperial Army and treasury; So long as Luo-Luos efforts bore fruit, then this meant Lord Husband would bear none of the risks of their failure while benefiting greatly from their successes, because at the end of the day, he was still Legate of the Outer Provinces. Perhaps he even foresaw Luo-Luos difficulties and instructed Father-in-Law to guide her to this decision, which took away some of the sting of her familys lacklustre support, but once again left her amazed by Lord Husbands brilliance and foresight.One thing was for certain however, which was that Luo-Luo had allowed her personal prejudices against Xuande keep her from utilizing him to his full potential. I would welcome your company and insight during this journey to the districts, she said, her tone implying it was a command rather than a request, and the Imperial Scion clasped his fists and bowed in acquiescence. Prepare your carriage and stand by. I will send someone when we are ready to leave.Because before doing anything else, Luo-Luo had to rush home to tell Mother-in-Law of her plans, say goodbye to the adorable baby quins, and pick up her forgotten Spiritual Weapon, which shed left lying beside her bed again. Not that she expected to need it, not with so many Death Corps and Royal Guardians around, but given the threat of Defiled raids, it was better to have and not need than need and not have.Then again, perhaps if she took grave injury whilst carrying out Lord Husbands vision, this would be spark enough to kindle his kind affection and set it ablaze with fiery hot passion. If so, then maybe it wouldnt be so bad to encounter the Enemy on the battlefield, and possibly even test out her Martial abilities which had improved by leaps and bounds since Lord Husbands Insightful instruction. Yes, Luo-Luo could see it now, her struggle on the field of battle followed by a most devastating defeat, and when Lord Husband returned and heard of her struggle, his heart would ache with grief and anguish over her unfortunate suffering. Being the kind and upright man that he was, he would take it upon himself to further her instruction and dance with her from morning to night each and every day, until...Cheeks flushed with excitement, Luo-Luo fanned her face as she approached the manor and reined in her imagination. One step at a time, advice suited for love as well as the Martial Path. She was in no rush, for she had a lifetime to convince Lord Husband to love her, and having felt his unchecked Emotional Aura in the days leading up to his expedition to the Brotherhoods monastery, she sensed that she was much closer to her goal than she initially realized. So close, yet so far away, Luo-Luo could hardly wait for the day he finally professed his love for her, but of course, it would have to wait until after his wedding with Lin-Lin. Then, there were no more brides-to-be waiting in the wings, and it would finally be Luo-Luos turn.Hopefully.Probably....Maybe?Chapter Meme
