A Shocking Dream

Qin Honghe snorted coldly, "You are being too soft-hearted. Only by continuously expanding our territory can we acquire more resources and become stronger."

I continued, "Your Majesty, territorial expansion brings not only resources but also hatred and resistance. The people of conquered nations are filled with resentment and could revolt at any moment. Furthermore, war is extremely costly, draining a nation's financial and human resources. We should cooperate with other nations through peaceful means to jointly develop resources and achieve mutual benefit."

In a rage, Qin Honghe imprisoned me. I lay trapped in a dark, damp cell, yet I felt no regret. I knew I had done the right thing, and I kept thinking about how to stop this war. I thought of Lin Bingshuang; she wouldn't give up her country so easily. I decided to find a way to contact her and work together to fight Qin Honghe's ambitions.

Qin Honghe's ambition burned like a raging fire. He sought to unify the five kingdoms, a mad desire that seemed to consume the entire world. I knew that if he succeeded in conquering the Snow Kingdom, the Cloud Kingdom would sooner or later be plunged into crisis. The Cloud Kingdom, where I once lived, was a place of kind and hardworking people. I could not bear to see them suffer the ravages of war.

I couldn't just sit there and wait for death. I had to come up with a solution quickly. I paced back and forth in the dark, damp cell, my thoughts racing. I recalled my knowledge of mechanical engineering, thinking perhaps I could use it to fight Qin Honghe's army. But how could I, alone, stand against the mighty Yuan army?

I began to wonder if there were any forces I could unite with. Lin Bingshuang and the Snow Nation's army were undoubtedly a formidable force. If I could join forces with them, perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope. But how could I contact them? I racked my brains, trying to find a way out of this dilemma.

At this critical moment, I felt a surge of urgency. Time was running out, and every second could determine the fate of countless lives. I had to act quickly. To protect the Yun Kingdom and to stop Qin Honghe's ambitions, I was willing to pay any price.

"Miss Wu Nian, the Emperor has gone off to war. This is the letter he sent me to bring you." The soldier respectfully handed the letter to me. I was slightly startled, then reached out to take it, a complex emotion welling up in my heart.

I opened the letter and read it. The handwriting was familiar yet unfamiliar. "Wunian, I have already gone to war. Snow Country is the last country I will conquer. I know you are from Cloud Country, and for you, I will not go to Cloud Country. When I return triumphantly, I will release you back to Qiuluo Mountain. You will stay in your cell for a few days. I will release you in a few days."

Prince An, no, he's the Emperor now. He knew I would definitely stop him, so he kept me captive for a few days. The outcome of the battle would be a foregone conclusion after a few days. I put the letter away and slowly sat down on the haystack, my thoughts drifting far away.

"I'll let you return to Qiuluo Mountain. I've waited twelve years for these words. I'm almost forty now." I silently repeated them in my mind, overwhelmed with emotion. In these twelve years, I've endured so much hardship and struggle. From being exploited by Qin Honghe to now being an obstacle to his expedition, it felt as if my fate had always been controlled by him.

As the minutes ticked by, I felt a surge of anxiety and uneasiness. I had no idea how this war would end.

During this long wait, I constantly reflected on my life. I remembered the self who was once full of ideals and ambitions, the self who was determined to find a way home. Now, I seemed to be getting further and further away from that goal.

Five days later, the soldiers released me. At that moment, I had only one thought in mind: to reach the Snow Country as quickly as possible. Taking advantage of the moonlight, I ignored the soldiers' shouts behind me and rode out of the camp. The sound of horse hooves in the silent night was particularly rapid, like the beating of my own heart.

I continued my journey without stopping until I finally reached the border of the Snow Country. The sight before me was heartbreaking. The bodies of Snow Country and Daqi soldiers lay scattered across the ground, their blood staining the snow red, a glaring sight in the moonlight. The air was thick with the stench of blood and death, suffocating.

I slowly dismounted and walked across the battlefield with heavy steps. Each step felt like it was treading on my heart, causing me unbearable pain. I looked at those young faces, once full of life and energy, but now their eyes were closed forever. They paid the price of their lives for their country and for their honor.

I couldn't help but burst into tears. I didn't know why this war was so cruel. Qin Honghe's ambition had cost countless lives and plunged this land into endless suffering. I hated my own powerlessness and Qin Honghe's cruelty and greed.

On this deadly battlefield, I silently prayed for the fallen soldiers. I turned, mounted my horse again, and headed towards the city of the Snow Country. My heart was beating wildly. I dared not guess or imagine what the outcome of the battle would be.

By the time I reached the Snow Country city, it had already been breached. The once-sturdy walls were now covered in mottled scars. I reached the city gate and saw blood dripping from it. The crimson liquid seemed to speak of endless sorrow. I looked up in confusion and saw a horrifying scene: the heads of Lin Bingshuang's parents were hanging from the city gate. General Lin stared, eyes wide open, his anger and unwillingness threatening to burst through the bonds. At that moment, my heart ached, and guilt washed over me like a tide.

If it weren't for the mechanism I designed, King An wouldn't have been able to conquer the Snow Country. I panicked, my hands trembling slightly, my heart filled with regret and self-blame. I entered the city with trepidation. Soldiers from both nations lay on the ground, their bodies cold, their lives lost in this brutal war. And then there were the people of the Snow Country, innocently caught up in this disaster, their eyes filled with fear and despair.

I witnessed a particularly heartbreaking scene: a three-year-old child lying on the ground, stabbed to death. Such a fragile little body, yet it suffered such a cruel fate. Tears blurred my eyes. I knelt down and gently stroked the child's face, the pain in my heart unspeakable.

I knew all this was because of the war, because of King An's ambition. I had to do something; I couldn't let this tragedy continue. I stood up, my eyes filled with determination. I was going to find Lin Bingshuang. Together, we were going to rebel against King An, for the Snow Country, for all innocent lives.

Just then, the sound of horse hooves approached from afar. I looked up and saw Lin Bingshuang galloping towards me on horseback. She was clad in armor, her hair a little disheveled, her face stained with dust and blood, but her eyes burned with rage. Her posture remained unshaken, like an unshakable mountain.