The Second World in Ancient Times

I stood at the center of power in this palace, looking at the king with a worried look on his face, knowing that I must step forward at this moment and find a glimmer of hope for this precarious country.

"Your Majesty, I think the most urgent task at hand is to start with military defense. Although there are garrisons on our border, they are somewhat understrength in the face of sudden attacks by the enemy. Orders should be issued immediately to dispatch elite divisions from inland areas such as Lingnan and Saibei to rush to the border. These troops have been well-trained and have rich combat experience. They will definitely enhance the defense capabilities of the border and prevent the enemy from underestimating them." I looked directly into the king's eyes and said firmly.

The king nodded slightly. "My beloved concubine, your suggestion is quite reasonable. However, the matter of mobilizing troops involves many steps and needs to be properly arranged to avoid delaying the battle."

I continued, "Your Majesty, I have considered this. You can order the Ministry of War to quickly formulate a troop deployment plan and select capable generals to escort the food and fodder and command the march. Local authorities along the way must fully cooperate, providing post stations with supplies and clearing roads to ensure the army can reach the border as quickly as possible."

The king turned to the Minister of War and ordered, "Sir, do as the Queen has instructed. Execute this action immediately. Ensure the mobilization of troops is completed as quickly as possible."

The Minister of War accepted the order: "Your Majesty, I obey your command. I will do my utmost to live up to your Majesty and the Empress's trust."

I continued, "Your Majesty, while military defense is certainly important, diplomacy cannot be neglected either. We should dispatch eloquent and resourceful envoys to neighboring friendly nations. We should explain our country's current predicament to them, appealing to their logic and emotions, and seek military or diplomatic support. For example, we could negotiate with the nations of the Western Regions, offering favorable trade terms in exchange for their military assistance. We could also communicate with the island nations of the East China Sea, leveraging our past cultural exchanges and asking them to exert diplomatic pressure on the invading enemy, leaving them isolated and helpless."

The king pondered for a moment. "Although your plan is sound, my beloved concubine, matters of diplomacy are subject to many uncertainties. The selection of the envoy is crucial."

I smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Su Jin, the Junior Secretary of the Honglu Temple, is eloquent and well-versed in the national conditions and diplomatic etiquette of various countries. He is qualified to take on this important task."

The king's eyes lit up. "I have also heard of the person my beloved concubine mentioned. Pass on my order and order Su Jin to immediately prepare for the mission. He must strive for a favorable diplomatic situation for me and the country."

Domestically, pacifying the people and arranging logistical support are also crucial. I told the king, "Your Majesty, the people are the foundation of the nation. Now that foreign enemies have invaded, the people are in a state of panic. We must dispatch officials to the people to explain the court's response and assure them that the court will defend their homes and protect their safety. At the same time, we must organize the people to gather food and supplies. We can divide the tasks by region, with wealthy areas contributing more money and grain, while poorer areas will assist with transportation and storage. This will not only ensure sufficient military supplies, but also make the people feel that they are contributing to the country and stabilize the homeland."

The king nodded in praise. "My beloved consort, this is a thoughtful move that will rally the people. I order all local authorities to implement this immediately. Those who slack off will be severely punished."

Afterwards, I personally summoned several respected senior officials. "My Lords, at this critical moment in our national crisis, His Majesty and I rely on you. Regarding logistics, I ask that you draw upon your years of experience to provide guidance and ensure the seamless preparation and deployment of food and supplies."

An old minister bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that special collection points for supplies can be established in each city, jointly managed by the government and the gentry. Strict records should be kept of incoming and outgoing supplies to prevent people from embezzling or wasting supplies."

I gladly accepted it. "Your Excellency, this is a very good plan. I will inform Your Majesty that the management of the material collection points in each city should be regularly inspected to ensure fairness and transparency."

As the army was about to march, I went to the barracks to boost morale. Standing on the podium, I gazed at the neatly arrayed soldiers below and declared, "My fellow soldiers, you are the backbone of our dynasty and the protectors of our people. Now that a foreign enemy is invading, you are about to rush to the frontier to fight for your country, for your loved ones, and for every inch of land behind you. Your Majesty and I are fully aware of your hardships and difficulties. The court is fully engaged in procuring food and supplies, dispatching reinforcements, and actively engaging in diplomatic efforts. You are not fighting alone; you have the support of the entire nation. Upon your triumphant return, His Majesty will surely reward you according to your merits. Your achievements will be etched in the annals of our nation, and your heroic names will be celebrated far and wide."

The soldiers shouted in unison: "Fight for His Majesty! Fight for the Queen! Fight for our country!"

As the domestic situation gradually stabilized, reinforcements arrived at the border, and diplomatic envoys brought some good news. Su Jin returned from the Western Regions and entered the palace to meet the emperor.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am honored to have fulfilled my mission. Although the countries in the Western Regions have their own considerations, after my lobbying, three countries have agreed to send troops to help. Although the number of troops varies, they are all elite troops. Two other countries are willing to provide food and material assistance, which will arrive at our border soon." Su Jin said excitedly.

The king was delighted: "My dear Lord Su, you have performed a great service. I will certainly reward you handsomely."

I also said, "Lord Su, your mission this time can be said to have solved an urgent problem for the country at a critical moment. I admire your eloquence and wisdom."

Su Jin quickly bowed, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this is all due to your majesty's wisdom. Your Majesty is in charge of the overall planning. I am merely following your orders."

With the assistance of the Western Regions, the military situation on the border has greatly improved. The king and I have begun to discuss the next counterattack strategy.

I said to the king, "Your Majesty, our army is now stronger, morale is high, and we have external support. We should take advantage of the enemy's lack of a foothold and formulate a counterattack. First, we will send a small group of elite troops to launch a harassing attack on the enemy camp, probing their strength and defensive arrangements. Then, based on the intelligence we gather, we will concentrate our superior forces to launch a surprise attack on the enemy's weak points, disrupting their position and gradually expanding our victory."

The king pondered for a moment. "My beloved concubine, this plan is very much to my liking. I will summon the generals to discuss the specific details of the battle."

When the generals gathered in the court, I was among them. One general suggested, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, although the enemy appears somewhat fatigued by our harassment, they are well-equipped and excel at fighting on the plains. If we wish to launch a counterattack, we must choose a suitable battlefield and try to lure them into unfavorable terrain, such as mountains or jungles."

I nodded in agreement. "General, you're absolutely right. We can first send out light cavalry to lure the enemy to our chosen battlefield. At the same time, we can set up ambushes along the way to wear down their forces."

Another general said, "Your Majesty, although our army's food supply is aided by the Western Regions, it still needs to be managed carefully. We can build multiple temporary granaries on the front lines and store them in a dispersed manner to prevent the enemy from raiding and burning the food."

I said to the king, "Your Majesty, the generals' suggestions are very pertinent. In a counterattack, coordination among all parties is crucial."

The king finally gave his orders: "Generals, I command you to follow the strategy we discussed today and carefully prepare for a counterattack. We must ensure victory in this battle and drive the enemy from our territory."

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

In this time of national crisis, I, with my wisdom and strategy, worked hand in hand with the king to stabilize the domestic situation and lay a solid foundation for the rebellion against foreign enemies. I know that victory in this war is not yet achieved, and many difficulties and obstacles still lie ahead. However, as long as we, the king and his subjects, the soldiers are dedicated, and the people support us, we will surely defeat the foreign enemies and safeguard the peace and tranquility of our country.

As the counterattack approached, I did not rest in the palace. I organized the concubines to make cotton clothes and shoes and socks for the soldiers on the front line to ensure that they could withstand the severe cold on the cold frontier battlefield.

I said to the concubines, "Sisters, the soldiers are fighting bravely on the front lines. Although we cannot fight on the battlefield, we can do what we can for them. These cotton-padded clothes and shoes and socks may give them a little warmth and comfort in this cold winter."

The concubines responded one after another: "Your Majesty, we will make it with all our heart."

At the same time, I was also concerned about the domestic economic situation. Due to the impact of the war, domestic business was hit hard, many shops closed, and people had difficulty finding jobs.

I said to the king, "Your Majesty, war is not only a military contest, but also an economic test. We must take measures to stimulate domestic economic recovery. We can reduce taxes in disaster-stricken areas, encourage merchants to reopen, and support handicrafts and agricultural production."

The king agreed, "My beloved, I will leave this matter to you to discuss with the Ministry of Revenue. We must restore the domestic economy to vitality as soon as possible."

After consulting with officials from the Ministry of Revenue, I developed a series of economic recovery plans. After the tax reduction decree was issued, many merchants saw hope and began to reopen their businesses. The court also allocated funds to support some handicraft workshops, producing supplies for the war effort and daily necessities.

Regarding agriculture, I ordered local governments to organize farmers to reclaim wasteland and plant food crops. "My people, now that our country is at war, food is of vital importance. Let us all work together to reclaim wasteland, plant more crops, and contribute to our nation's victory," I told the peasant representatives who came to the palace to petition.

The peasant representatives said one after another: "Empress, we will definitely obey the imperial court's instructions, grow more food, and support the front line."

With this series of measures, the domestic economy gradually improved and logistical support became more stable, providing strong support for the upcoming counterattack.