The Second World in Ancient Times

That day, Wanqing came running over, holding the latest battle report tightly in her hand.

"Your Majesty, the battle on the front line is still at a stalemate. Our army and the enemy have been fighting fiercely for days, and both sides have suffered casualties, but the enemy's offensive has not diminished at all, and our army is finding it difficult to repel them." Wanqing said with a worried look on her face.

I took the battle report, my brow furrowed. "What should we do? If this continues for too long, the soldiers' health and morale will be worn down."

I immediately summoned several ministers to the palace to discuss countermeasures. After the ministers entered the palace, they all looked solemn.

I spoke first: "My Lords, the battle on the front line has reached a stalemate. Does anyone have any ideas?"

A general stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the enemy's fighting power is indeed fierce, and their tactics are quite unique. Although our army fights desperately, it is difficult to gain the upper hand in a head-on confrontation. I think we can try to start by studying the enemy's tactics and find a way to break them."

I nodded and said, "General, you're quite right. I've heard of some modern tactical analysis methods, such as studying the enemy's tactical system and identifying its weaknesses and patterns. It's like analyzing a complex chess game: finding the key points can lead to a breakthrough. Do you know the characteristics of the enemy's common tactics?"

A counselor said, "Your Majesty, according to reports from the front, the enemy excels at surprise attacks and outflanking tactics. They often utilize their highly mobile cavalry to suddenly charge our flanks or rear, disrupting our formation, and then proceed to encircle and suppress us. Furthermore, their soldiers appear fearless and fight with extraordinary bravery."

I thought for a moment, then, drawing on my modern military knowledge, said, "This may be related to their training and culture. But we can counter their tactics. For example, we can strengthen our flank and rear defenses and establish an early warning system to detect enemy raids in advance. We can also deploy elite archers on the flanks. When enemy cavalry attacks, we can rain down a dense hail of arrows on them, weakening their impact. This is like the anti-aircraft firepower network in modern warfare, preventing enemy aircraft from launching raids."

The general's eyes lit up. "Your Majesty, this is a brilliant plan. I can also organize a highly mobile cavalry unit specifically to deal with enemy outflanking attacks. When the enemy forces encircle us, our cavalry can quickly strike, disrupting their plans, or cooperate with the besieged troops to break the encirclement."

At this time, the Minister of Revenue said, "Your Majesty, no matter what tactics we use, they cannot be separated from the support of food and fodder. Now that the war is at a stalemate, the consumption of food and fodder is enormous. I am worried that our army's food and fodder reserves will not last much longer."

I said, "Your Excellency's concerns are well-founded. I have already arranged some measures for the preparation of food and fodder, such as cultivating farmland and transferring supply reserves. However, it seems further efforts are needed. We can open up more food and fodder transportation routes in the rear, adopting a decentralized transportation method to reduce the risk of being intercepted by the enemy. Just like a modern logistics distribution network, multiple lines run in parallel to ensure the supply of supplies. At the same time, we should encourage the people to conserve food and support the front lines. I can set an example in the harem by reducing the extravagance of food and send the saved food to the front lines."

The ministers nodded one after another.

I then asked the Minister of Works, "Has the Ministry of Works made any new progress in armaments? The enemy is very powerful, and we need better weapons to fight them."

The Minister of Works replied, "Your Majesty, I am organizing the craftsmen to work tirelessly on forging weapons. The modern forging techniques you mentioned earlier, such as high-temperature quenching, have been tested and are showing initial success. The newly forged weapons are sharper and stronger. However, obtaining some specialized materials, such as the tough wood needed to make powerful crossbows, remains difficult."

I said, "We can continue to look for alternative materials, or trade with neighboring countries to obtain the necessary materials. I also think we can make some innovative designs for weapons. For example, we could design a weapon that can be disassembled and reassembled, making it easier for soldiers to carry and use in different terrains. This is like the modern modular design concept, which improves the practicality and adaptability of weapons."

When discussing armaments, I thought about the training of soldiers.

I said to the general, "General, soldier training is also crucial. We can learn from modern military training methods. In addition to traditional physical fitness and combat skills training, we can also add tactical coordination training and psychological training. For example, we can conduct simulated combat drills to allow soldiers to practice their ability to deal with various situations in realistic environments. We can also provide psychological counseling to enhance soldiers' ability to withstand pressure and help them stay calm on the battlefield."

The general clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, I understand. I will immediately adjust the training plan so that the soldiers receive more comprehensive training."

After discussing these countermeasures, I said to my ministers, "My Lords, the outcome of this war is now so uncertain. We must comprehensively enhance our military's strength, from tactics, rations, armaments, to soldier training. At the same time, we must also pay attention to the morale of the soldiers on the front lines. I will arrange for more relief supplies and morale-boosting activities to let the soldiers know that they are not fighting alone."

The ministers took the order and left.

In the palace, I arranged various matters while awaiting news from the front. I knew full well that in this stalemated war, every decision could determine the ultimate outcome. Drawing on my modern thinking, knowledge, and experience, I endeavored to provide support to the soldiers on the front lines, hoping to break this deadlock and usher in a turning point in the war.

Not long after, I received a letter from the front. It stated that, following my advice, our troops had strengthened their flank defenses, deployed crossbowmen, and successfully repelled several enemy raids. Furthermore, new training methods were being gradually implemented, significantly improving the soldiers' combat capabilities and mental fortitude. However, the enemy was also adjusting their tactics, and the battle remained at a stalemate.

After reading the letter, I knew this would be a protracted battle. I immediately wrote back to the front lines: "Your Majesty and the soldiers have worked hard. I will continue to work hard in the rear and provide you with more support. I hope you will hold on to your faith. We will surely find the enemy's weaknesses and achieve victory."

During this period, I thought of using diplomatic means to ease the pressure of war.

I said to a minister skilled in foreign affairs, "Sir, now that the war is at a stalemate, could we try to engage in diplomatic communication with neighboring countries? Seeking their support or mediation, while we can't rely entirely on them, might be able to secure some favorable conditions for us."

The minister said, "Your Majesty, I have had this idea before. However, the attitudes of the neighboring countries vary. Some are waiting and watching, while others seem to be secretly communicating with the enemy. But I am willing to give it a try and do my best to gain benefits for our dynasty."

I said, "Sir, we can start with those countries with which our dynasty has had friendly relations. We can offer them trade concessions or other benefits in exchange for their support or neutrality. In diplomatic negotiations, we must argue our case and demonstrate our dynasty's strength and resolve. This is like a modern diplomatic game, safeguarding national interests through wisdom and strategy."

The minister took the order and embarked on a diplomatic journey.

In the palace, I continued to follow every aspect of the war. I addressed the imperial physicians at the Imperial Hospital, "My dear physicians, the soldiers on the front lines are constantly being wounded and sick. You must expedite the development of new remedies to treat these injuries. I have some knowledge of modern medicine, such as the importance of disinfection and sterilization. Traditional remedies could be enhanced by incorporating herbs with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, improved wound dressing methods, using cleaner and more hygienic materials, could reduce the risk of infection."

The imperial doctors all expressed their willingness to study hard.

I also organized everyone in the harem to make some special comfort items for the soldiers on the front line, such as sachets with blessing words, warm hand and knee pads, etc.

I said to the concubines, "Sisters, although these gifts are small, they can bring warmth and comfort to the soldiers. Let them know that we are always thinking about them in the rear."

The concubines carefully made the gifts of comfort, and every stitch and thread was filled with deep affection for the soldiers.

During this stalemate in the war, I constantly coordinated and planned with the harem and the ministers, applying modern thinking, knowledge, and experience to strive for the war on the front in every way. I firmly believe that as long as we do not give up and continue to seek opportunities, the balance of power will one day tilt in our favor, and our dynasty will usher in the dawn of victory.

As the Foreign Secretary traveled abroad, some news came back.

The Foreign Minister wrote: "Your Majesty, I have contacted several neighboring countries. One country has expressed its willingness to remain neutral, but requires that China grant them certain trade concessions after the war. Another country has offered to provide a small amount of material aid, but requires China to pay some gold, silver and treasures in exchange."

I thought for a moment and replied, "Sir, for countries willing to remain neutral, we can initially agree to their preferential trade terms, but we must sign detailed agreements to ensure our interests. For countries providing material assistance, we can negotiate with them to reduce the exchange amount of gold, silver, and treasures, or compensate them in other ways, such as offering our unique handicrafts. In diplomatic negotiations, we must be flexible and tactful."

While handling diplomatic affairs, I also kept an eye on the domestic economic situation. I addressed the Minister of Revenue, "Sir, the stalemate in the war is bound to affect the domestic economy. We must implement measures to stabilize the economy, such as controlling prices and encouraging production. We could establish a dedicated price regulatory agency to prevent merchants from driving up prices and ensure the basic needs of the people. We could also encourage farmers to reclaim wasteland, plant grain and cash crops, and increase domestic reserves. This would be like modern macroeconomic regulation to maintain economic stability."

The Minister of Revenue replied, "Your Majesty, I have already begun to implement some price control measures, but in terms of encouraging production, we still need more policy support from the court, such as tax reductions and exemptions."

I said, "Based on actual conditions, we can reduce or exempt taxes for the people and merchants engaged in agricultural production and the production of important materials to stimulate their enthusiasm for production. At the same time, the court can also invest in infrastructure construction, such as water conservancy projects, which will not only benefit agricultural production, but also provide employment opportunities and promote economic development."

During these hectic days, I constantly shuttled between the harem, diplomacy, the economy, and other battlefields. Like the soldiers on the front lines, I worked tirelessly for the victory of my country. Every decision, every action, was an arrow I fired to break the stalemate of the war. I hoped these arrows would hit the enemy's vital points and lead me to the other side of victory.

While focusing on the economic situation, I thought about the role of trade in supporting war. I told a minister familiar with commerce, "Sir, trade can also be a powerful weapon for our dynasty during wartime. We can organize caravans to trade with neighboring friendly nations, acquiring supplies our army needs, such as war horses and medicinal herbs. At the same time, we can use trade to impose an economic blockade on the enemy, restricting their access to resources. This is like a modern-day trade war, using economic leverage to weaken the enemy."

The minister said, "Your Majesty, this plan is good, but during wartime, trade routes are difficult to travel and there are harassment from the enemy."

I replied, "We can dispatch troops to escort caravans and ensure the safety of trade routes. In trade, we must focus on intelligence gathering to understand the enemy's needs and resource shortages, so we can implement targeted trade blockades or material exchanges."

The minister took the order and left, actively preparing for commercial trade.

I was in the palace, continuing to prepare supplies for the soldiers on the front lines. I said to Jinshu, "Jinshu, check to see if we have enough winter clothing and warm clothing. If not, arrange for someone to make them as soon as possible. Winter is approaching, and we can't let the soldiers fight in the cold."

Jinshu took the order and left. Not long after, he returned and said, "Your Majesty, we still don't have enough winter clothes, especially some larger sizes, which are more difficult to make."

I said, "We can recruit more tailors, give them higher wages, and have them work overtime to rush the production. At the same time, when designing winter clothes, we can refer to modern thermal clothing design concepts, such as using multi-layer thermal insulation materials, windproof and waterproof fabrics, etc. to improve the warmth performance of winter clothes."

During this difficult time of stalemate in the war, I, drawing on my modern thinking, knowledge, and experience, continuously strategized within the imperial harem and the imperial court, contributing comprehensively to the nation's war effort in all areas, from military and diplomatic to economic and commercial and logistical support. I firmly believed that as long as we persevered, victory would ultimately be ours, and our country would emerge from the shadow of war and usher in peace and prosperity.

While preparing winter clothing, I thought about using modern communication technology to strengthen communication between the front lines and the rear. I told a minister skilled in mechanical engineering, "Your Excellency, I have heard of some ancient methods of mechanical communication, such as using carrier pigeons to deliver messages and using beacon fires. However, these methods have limitations. Your Excellency could research whether a more advanced communication tool could be developed that could transmit information quickly and accurately. For example, something similar to a modern, simple telegraph that transmits information through signals could reduce transmission time and make communication between the front lines and the rear more timely and efficient."

The minister's eyes lit up: "Your Majesty, this idea is quite novel. I am willing to give it a try, but it will take some time and materials to develop it."

I said, "Your Excellency, please select some skilled craftsmen. I will fully support the supply of the necessary materials. Developing this communication tool as quickly as possible is crucial to victory in this war."

The minister took the order and devoted himself to the research and development of communication tools.