The Second World in Ancient Times

I stood in Fengyi Palace, gazing out the window at the gloomy sky, a sense of foreboding welling up in my heart. Despite the palace's recent efforts to address various issues, a persistent sense of unease persisted.

Suddenly, the king hurried in, his expression more solemn than ever. "My beloved, something terrible has happened. Our neighboring kingdom has taken advantage of our internal troubles and brazenly sent troops. They have now crossed the border, and the war is raging along the frontier. The people are suffering terribly."

I was startled, but quickly composed myself. "Your Majesty, we must not panic at this moment. We must discuss a countermeasure as soon as possible. What is the situation of the army?"

The king frowned. "I have ordered the generals to lead their troops to resist, but the enemy is coming with great force, and our army was hastily prepared. The initial battle was not going well, and morale is low."

After a moment's thought, I said, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to boost morale. Send an envoy to the front lines, bearing Your Majesty's wishes and rewards, to encourage the soldiers to fight bravely. At the same time, summon the ministers of the court to discuss military strategy."

The king nodded. "My beloved concubine, you are absolutely right. I will make the arrangements right away."

The atmosphere in the court was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe. The ministers looked at each other, and they all saw worry in each other's eyes.

The king sat on the dragon throne and spoke in a majestic voice: "My dear ministers, the enemy has invaded and the country is in great danger. I would like to know what good strategies you have to repel the enemy."

An old general stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, although the enemy is strong, our army is familiar with the local terrain. We can use guerrilla tactics to harass the enemy's supply lines and wear them down."

I said, "Although this plan is brilliant, the enemy is well-equipped. If we rely solely on guerrilla warfare, we will not be able to sustain it. I think we can organize a small force to conduct guerrilla warfare while seizing the opportunity to gather the main force, find the enemy's weaknesses, and engage in a decisive battle."

Another minister suggested: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, our dynasty can seek assistance from neighboring friendly countries to jointly fight against foreign enemies."

The king pondered for a moment and said, "This plan is feasible, but distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. We cannot pin all our hopes on foreign aid."

At this time, the officer in charge of intelligence came forward and reported: "Your Majesty, according to our investigation, this enemy invasion is led by an ambitious general in their country. He intends to gain more power and territory for himself through this war."

I had a thought: "Your Majesty, if that's the case, perhaps we could start from within the enemy ranks. We could send people to secretly contact those who are dissatisfied with their commanders, and offer them generous rewards to persuade them to revolt."

A glint flashed in the king's eyes. "My beloved, this plan is very risky, but it is worth a try. I order you to select a reliable person to take charge of this matter."

"I obey your command." I replied.

Back in the harem, I summoned some loyal and intelligent palace maids and eunuchs. "The country is in trouble now. Are you willing to help His Majesty and the country?"

They all knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, we servants are willing to serve you."

I looked at them and said, "I need you to infiltrate the enemy camp, gather information, and if you have the chance, try to incite them to revolt. This is extremely dangerous. Are you afraid?"

A eunuch said firmly: "Your Majesty, I am not afraid. As long as I can help the country overcome its difficulties, my death is not a pity."

I was moved. "Alright, go and get ready. I will pray for you in the palace and await your triumphant return."

While waiting for news, I was not idle. I went to the military camp to comfort the wounded soldiers.

I walked into the tent and saw a seriously injured soldier. I stepped forward and shook his hand. "Sir, you have suffered for your country. I have witnessed your bravery."

The soldier said weakly, "Empress, it is my honor to fight for my country. I only regret that I was incompetent and could not kill more enemies."

I comforted him: "You've done your best. Take good care of your injuries. The country still needs you."

I then said to the military doctors, "You must use the best medicine and do your best to treat the soldiers. If you need anything, please let me know."

The military doctor saluted and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. We will do our best."

Soon after, the dispatched palace maids and eunuchs returned with news. One maid returned with the report: "Your Majesty, I have befriended an officer in the enemy camp. He was already dissatisfied with his commander's aggressive actions, and after my persuasion, he is willing to surrender to our court. However, he requires certain guarantees and promises from our court."

I immediately went to the palace to see the emperor. "Your Majesty, the people I sent out have achieved success. An enemy officer is trying to defect to our dynasty. Your Majesty, how should we deal with this?"

The king thought for a moment. "My beloved, you may agree to his request, but proceed with caution. I will arrange for someone to contact him and ensure that everything goes smoothly."

As the subversion work progressed, divisions gradually emerged within the enemy forces, and our army, after gaining a respite, readjusted its strategy.

The generals arrived at the court and reported to the king: "Your Majesty, our army has been assembled and morale is high. The enemy is now in disarray, making this a perfect time for us to attack."

The king stood up, his eyes determined. "Alright, I command you to march out immediately and drive the enemy out of our territory."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The generals took the order and left.

On the front lines, our army engaged the enemy in a fierce decisive battle. Smoke filled the battlefield, and the cries of battle shook the heavens. Our soldiers fought bravely, each one determined to defend their country and their homeland.

In the palace, I joined the concubines in praying for the soldiers on the front lines. "Sisters, the fate of our nation now rests on the shoulders of those fighting on the front lines. Although we cannot be there in person, our prayers will surely bring them strength."

The concubines nodded in agreement, "Your Majesty is right. May the soldiers return safely and triumphantly."

After several days of fierce fighting, news of victory finally arrived. The general entered the palace to meet the emperor: "Your Majesty, our army has won a great victory! The enemy has been repelled, and our territory has been preserved."

The king was delighted: "Excellent! My soldiers have worked hard. I will reward those who have made contributions generously."

I looked at the king, my eyes filled with relief. "Your Majesty, this is a blessing for our country. After this battle, our dynasty must learn from it, strengthen our border defenses, and reorganize our military to prevent similar incidents from happening again."

The king nodded. "My beloved concubine is quite right. I will discuss this with my ministers and formulate a long-term national defense strategy."

In this national crisis, the King and I have stood hand in hand, responding together. The court and the nation, despite the hardships they have endured in the flames of war, have become even more resilient. And I know that as Queen, my responsibility to protect our nation will never end. There are still more challenges ahead for us to face and conquer.

As the country gradually returned to peace, I began to deal with many post-war issues, starting with the reconstruction and pacification of the border areas.

I said to the king, "Your Majesty, the border regions have been devastated by this war, leaving the people displaced and their homes in ruins. The court should dispatch capable officials to help rebuild the people's homes, distribute food and supplies, and enable them to resume production and life as quickly as possible."

The king agreed, "My beloved, I leave this matter to you. I trust you can handle it."

I summoned the relevant ministers and said, "My Lords, border reconstruction is crucial to national stability and the consolidation of our border defenses. We must quickly develop a detailed plan, encompassing everything from rebuilding houses and reclaiming farmland to restoring commerce."

One minister said, "Your Majesty, rebuilding houses requires a large amount of wood and bricks. Resources in border areas are limited. What should we do?"

After a moment's thought, I said, "Supplies can be shipped from the interior, and local people can be organized to build simple but sturdy houses using local materials, such as rocks and mud. Regarding farmland reclamation, agricultural experts can be sent to provide guidance and cultivate crops suitable for the local climate and soil. Regarding commercial recovery, the court can offer preferential policies to merchants in the border areas to encourage them to reopen."

During the discussion, we gradually refined the border reconstruction plan. I also told the officials in charge of disaster relief, "When distributing supplies, you must be fair and impartial. There must not be any deductions. You must reach out to the people, understand their needs, and truly address their difficulties."

"Yes, your majesty." The officials took the order and left.

Within the palace, I also rewarded and punished concubines for their performance during the war. I gave generous rewards and commendations to those concubines who actively prayed for the soldiers on the front lines and contributed to the country.

I said to a concubine who had performed exceptionally well, "I am very pleased that you have cared deeply about the country during this time of national crisis. This reward is well-deserved, and I hope you will continue to do so."

As for those concubines who were still scheming and causing trouble in the palace during the war, I severely punished them.

"As a concubine, you failed to unite as one during this time of national crisis, and instead stirred up trouble. I will punish you by sending you to the cold palace to reflect on your mistakes. If you do not repent, I will not forgive you."

Through these measures, the atmosphere in the harem was further improved.

After dealing with these matters, the king and I began to focus on the long-term development of the country. We realized that relying solely on military strength is not enough, and we also need to make progress in culture, technology, and other areas to truly make the country strong.

I said to the king, "Your Majesty, this war has exposed the technological gap between our dynasty and our neighbors. We should encourage innovation and creativity among the people and establish specialized institutions to collect and research new scientific and technological achievements. Regarding culture, we should strengthen international exchanges, absorb the best cultures of other countries, and at the same time, spread our own culture and enhance our dynasty's influence."

The king agreed. "My beloved, you always see the key to a problem. I fully support your ideas and hope that our dynasty will flourish in all aspects."

Thanks to our efforts, the country is gradually embarking on the road to rejuvenation. But I know the road ahead is still full of challenges. I will continue to stand by His Majesty's side and, as Queen, work tirelessly for the prosperity of the country and safeguard this hard-earned peace and tranquility.