Three months went by. But people in the imperial city kept talking about the war between the Hu and Man Kingdoms.
In the imperial court, the same arguments continued. However, this time, the intelligence brought in made the atmosphere in the hall even tenser.
"Report!"
A general in armor rushed into the Hall of Supreme Harmony. He knelt on one knee and said in a low, urgent voice, "The Hu Kingdom's army is moving south. The Man Kingdom has lost two cities, and their soldiers are badly beaten."
There was an immediate uproar in the hall.
"Lost two cities? It's only been three months!"
"The offensive of the Hu Kingdom is too fast, isn't it?"
"Is the army of the Man Kingdom really that vulnerable?"
"Once the Hu Kingdom completely annexes the Man Kingdom, can our Da'en Kingdom stay out of it?"
"We shouldn't wait for the Hu Kingdom to get stronger. We should send troops right away and stop the war before the Hu Kingdom beats the Man Kingdom and takes over its land."
"Although the Hu Kingdom is strong, if the Da'en Kingdom sends troops rashly, if we win, it will be fine. But if we lose the battle, aren't we just putting ourselves at risk?"
"The issue of the odds of victory can be discussed further. But if we wait for the Hu Kingdom to integrate the Man Kingdom and add the original troops of the Man Kingdom, when they attack the Da'en Kingdom, how can we resist?"
The war-mongers and the conservatives argued fiercely, and the atmosphere was even tenser than it had been three months before.
Right when the argument reached its height, a sharp voice rang out...
"Report! The envoy from the Man Kingdom has arrived!"
All the civil and military officials were taken aback and cast their eyes towards the entrance of the hall.
On the dais of the hall, Emperor Li Yunchuan frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Admit him."
As the imperial order was given, a middle-aged man dressed in the attire of the Man Kingdom entered the hall. He looked a bit tired and his face was solemn. He walked to the middle of the hall, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply. "Greetings to the Emperor of Da'en."
The Emperor nodded slightly. "The envoy has traveled a long way. What brings you here?"
The envoy from the Man Kingdom took a deep breath, raised his head, and said seriously, "Our Man Kingdom is now in a critical situation in the war. In just a few months, we have lost two cities, and there is a huge disparity in military strength. I have come here especially to request the Da'en Kingdom to send troops to assist us. If your country can help the Man Kingdom repel the Hu Kingdom and maintain the royal rule of our Man Kingdom, the Man Kingdom is willing to become a vassal state of the Da'en Kingdom and offer five coastal cities to show our loyalty!"
Once these words were said, every civil and military official in the court had a distinct look on their face.
"Five coastal cities?"
"It seems that the Man Kingdom really can't hold on anymore. This is almost like ceding territory to survive!"
"If we can really get those five coastal cities, it will be a great boost to the maritime trade of our Da'en Kingdom."
"But if we really support the Man Kingdom, we will completely break with the Hu Kingdom. Then the war is likely to spread to the territory of our Da'en Kingdom."
Li Yunchuan's expression remained unchanged. He stared at the Man Kingdom envoy and said gravely, "You know your country's in a tough spot. You've got nothing to offer in this deal. What will you do if we say no?"
The fingers of the envoy from the Man Kingdom tightened slightly, and the knuckles under his sleeves turned white from the force. How could he not understand that he was now in a passive position? Precisely because of this, his attitude was more humble than ever. "Your Majesty is wise. The Man Kingdom really has no way out. Otherwise, we wouldn't have condescended to ask for help. If the Da'en Kingdom can offer assistance, the people of the Man Kingdom will be extremely grateful."
The Emperor didn't give a yes or no. Instead, he lifted his gaze and addressed the officials, "My lords, what's your take on this?"
This negotiation lasted for a full five days.
The envoy from the Man Kingdom was present at every morning court session. He was respectful and almost pleaded humbly for the Da'en Kingdom to send troops. The arguments in the court became even more intense. Finally, after days of discussion, it was decided that if the Man Kingdom agreed to cede the five coastal cities and recognize itself as a vassal state, the Da'en Kingdom could send troops to support it.
However, the envoy from the Man Kingdom brought an unsettling piece of news.
"The Hu Kingdom's cavalry..." The Man Kingdom envoy's voice trembled with fear. "They're not like any cavalry we've seen before."
"Different?" Li Yunchuan frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
The envoy from the Man Kingdom swallowed hard and lowered his voice. "I don't know why, but the cavalry of the Hu Kingdom is faster than ordinary cavalry. And their soldiers seem to have no sense of pain. Once they charge into the battlefield, they only know how to kill and don't know how to retreat... Whether their arms are cut off or their bodies are pierced, they can still keep fighting."
When these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the hall.
"No pain? This... Is this some sort of black magic?"
"Maybe they're on some kind of drug?"
"If they are really as the envoy said, then this war will be even more difficult to deal with..."
"Your Majesty," The envoy from the Man Kingdom took a deep breath. "We don't know how the Hu Kingdom has trained these'mutated cavalry'. But this matter is definitely not simple. If we don't find a way to crack it as soon as possible, I'm afraid the war situation will be difficult to reverse."
The Emperor furrowed his brows and swept his eyes over the civil and military officials. He said in a low voice, "My ministers, do you have any strategies to crack this?"
The hall was silent for a moment. Then, the Minister of War stepped up, bowed, and said, "We need to send spies into the Hu Kingdom's army right away. We have to figure out why their cavalry has changed. If it's drugs or magic, we must find a way to stop it fast."
General Lin Jiwu also said in a deep voice, "Anyway, if our Da'en Kingdom decides to send troops, we must make full preparations first. Otherwise, if we act rashly, we may suffer losses instead of gaining benefits."
The Emperor's gaze fell heavily on the envoy from the Man Kingdom. He slowly opened his mouth and said, "Regarding the cession of the five cities and the agreement to be a vassal state, does this have the seal of the royal family of the Man Kingdom?"
The envoy from the Man Kingdom quickly took out a document and presented it with both hands. "Your Majesty, this document was personally penned by the Emperor of the Man Kingdom. Please review it."
Li Yunchuan slowly unfolded the document. He glanced at it, then smirked and muttered, "They came ready. The Man Kingdom must be in big trouble..."
===================
三个月的时间悄然流逝,皇城之中关于胡国与满国战事的讨论却从未停息.
朝堂之上,依旧是相同的争吵,不同的是,这次带来的情报让整个大殿的氛围更加紧张.
"报!"
一名身着甲胄的将领快步踏入金銮殿,单膝跪地,声音低沉而急促:"胡国大军南下,满国已连失两座城池,守军伤亡惨重!"
大殿内顿时一片哗然.
"连失两城?这才三个月而已!"
"这胡国的攻势未免也太快了吧?"
"满国的军队难道不堪一击?"
"胡国一旦彻底吞并满国,我们大恩国还能独善其身吗?!"
"依臣之见,与其坐等胡国壮大,倒不如趁现在出兵,趁胡国尚未完全击败,并掌控满国的领土,将战火扼杀在源头."
"胡国虽强,可大恩国若贸然出兵,若胜了还好,若战败,不是等同于把自己送上砧板?"
"胜算的问题可以再议,但若等胡国整合满国,再加上满国原有的兵力,到时候他们攻打大恩,我们又该如何抵挡?"
主战派和保守派吵得不可开交,场面甚至比三个月前更加激烈.
就在争论最激烈的时候,一道尖锐的声音响起...
"报!满国使者到!"
文武百官皆是一愣,纷纷将目光投向殿门口.
大殿之上,皇帝李云川微微皱眉,沉声道:"宣."
随着宣召声落下,一名身着满国服饰的中年男子步入大殿,身形略显疲惫,面色沉重.他一路走到殿中央,恭敬地拱手行礼:"参见大恩国陛下."
皇帝微微颔首:"使者远道而来,所为何事?"
满国使者深吸一口气,抬头正色道:"我满国如今战事紧急,短短数月,两座城池已失,兵力悬殊.特此前来请求大恩国出兵相助,若贵国能助满国击退胡国,并维护我满国皇家统治,满国愿成为大恩国的附属国,并献上沿海五座城池,以表忠诚!"
此话一出,满朝文武皆是神色各异.
"沿海五座城池?"
"看来满国是真撑不住了,这几乎是割地求存!"
"若真能拿下沿海五城,对我大恩海运商贸将是极大的助力."
"可若真支援满国,我们便彻底与胡国撕破脸皮,届时战事只怕会蔓延至我大恩国境."
李云川面色未变,只是目光深邃地看着满国使者,沉声道:"满国使者,你可知,如今的局势对贵国而言并不乐观.这场谈判,满国已无任何筹码,倘若大恩国不答应,你们又能如何?"
满国使者的手指微微收紧,袖袍下的手指关节因用力而泛白.他如何不明白自己如今处于被动?正因如此,他的态度也比任何时候都要谦卑:"陛下明鉴,满国确实已无退路,否则,也不会屈尊求援.若大恩国能施以援手,满国上下必感恩戴德."
皇帝不置可否,抬眸看向百官:"诸位卿家,如何看待此事?"
这场谈判整整持续了五日.
满国的使者每日早朝必到,态度恭敬,几乎是低声下气地恳求大恩国出兵.朝堂之上的争论也愈发激烈,最终,经过连日的商议,议定若满国同意割让沿海五城,并以附属国自居,大恩国便可出兵支援.
然而,满国使者却带来了一条令人不安的消息.
"胡国的骑兵..." 满国使者的声音带着一丝难以掩饰的恐惧, "他们的骑兵与之前我们所认知的已然不同."
"不同?" 李云川微微蹙眉,"何意?"
满国使者咽了口唾沫,压低声音道:"不知为何,胡国的骑兵比寻常骑兵速度更快,且他们的士兵仿佛没有痛觉,一旦冲入战场,便只知杀戮,不知撤退... 无论是被砍断手臂,亦或被刺穿身躯,他们仍能继续战斗."
此言一出,大殿内一片哗然.
"无痛觉?这...这岂不是妖术?"
"有可能是用了某种药物?"
"若他们真如使者所言,那这战事,怕是更为棘手..."
"陛下," 满国使者深深地吸了一口气, "我等不知胡国如何培养出这些 '变种骑兵',但此事绝不简单,若不尽快寻得破解之法,只怕战事难以逆转."
皇帝敛眉,目光扫过文武百官,低沉道:"诸位卿家,可有破解之策?"
满殿寂静片刻,随后,兵部尚书站了出来,拱手道:"臣以为,应尽快派人渗透胡国军中,查探骑兵异变之因.若真是某种药物或术法,当尽快寻得破解之法."
大将军林季无也沉声道:"无论如何,若我大恩国决定出兵,便须先做好万全准备,否则轻易出手,恐怕得不偿失."
皇帝的目光沉沉地落在满国使者身上,缓缓开口:"五座城池,割让之约,以附属国自居,此事可有满国皇室印鉴?"
满国使者连忙取出一道文书,双手奉上:"此乃满国皇帝亲笔所书,还请陛下过目."
李云川缓缓展开文书,看了一眼,嘴角微微勾起,低声道:"有备而来.看来,满国是真到了绝境了..."