Shang Ruyi was shocked: "Going to fight Liaodong again?"
It’s known that since the current Emperor ascended the throne, several measures have exhausted the people’s energy, among which the most exploitative and impoverishing is the campaign against Gouli Country in Liaodong.
This Gouli Country was a small country in Liaodong, which had always submitted to the Central Plains Dynasty. At the beginning of the Da Ye Dynasty, its ruler promptly sent a national letter to acknowledge it as a tributary state, paying tribute and expressing submission, never daring to slack off. Therefore, the late Emperor Chu Yin mostly tried to pacify Gouli Country, seldom using military force.
However, since Chu Yang took the throne, he has waged war against Gouli Country several times. Even though the land of Gouli Country is small, it doesn’t yield easily to such undesired calamities, instead rallying all its resources to resist strongly. Although the Da Ye Dynasty’s troops are mighty, Liaodong is remote and the terrain is rugged, making it difficult for the court’s army to win in long-distance campaigns. Thus, innumerable people’s labor was spent with no result, further provoking countless grievances among the people.
Upon hearing of another attack on Liaodong, Shang Ruyi furrowed her brow.
Yu Wenye hadn’t yet replied to her when Yu Wenquan sent someone to call them to the study to discuss the matter of deployment, even summoning Shang Ruyi.
Thus, the two quickly tidied their clothes and hurried to the study.
As they approached the study, before entering, they heard Yu Wenquan’s heavy voice inside: "You can’t mess around with your health."
Their steps paused simultaneously.
A light cough sounded in the study, and after a while, Guan Yunmu gasped: "My mind is made up, you don’t need to persuade me. I won’t listen even if you do."
Yu Wenquan, urgent, said: "That place, Gouli Country, is poor and harsh. For those in the army who went there, nine out of ten didn’t return. With your health, going there would be—"
The latter words couldn’t even escape his mouth.
In contrast to his impatience, Guan Yunmu appeared very calm, softly saying: "You shouldn’t argue with me about these things. It’s the Emperor’s decree; you cannot defy it either."
With this, the atmosphere in the study grew heavier.
Just then, Yu Wenye walked in: "Father, Mother."
Shang Ruyi followed behind him into the study, immediately noticing Yu Wenquan sitting in the chair with furrowed brows, while Guan Yunmu, sitting on the other side of the desk, looked pale and extremely weak.
Upon seeing his son and daughter-in-law enter, Yu Wenquan immediately gestured: "Ye’er, Ruyi, you’ve come just in time, help me persuade your mother. I’m ordered to go on the expedition, but she insists on going with me."
Yu Wenye frowned: "Does the Emperor want Father to go to Liaodong?"
Yu Wenquan waved his hand, saying: "Not to fight, but His Majesty has issued a decree for me to go to the front line of Liaoxi to requisition military provisions."
"But even so, the situation over there is very complex, your mother’s health can’t withstand it!"
Yu Wenye thought for a moment, then turned to Guan Yunmu, saying: "Mother, the army still needs some time for deployment. By the time the provisions are ready and the army sets off, reaching Liaodong will probably be around late October. The climate there is quite different from the Central Plains, especially after winter sets in with a kind of icy rain that’s bitterly cold and hard to endure. Mother’s health really isn’t suitable for such conditions."
Guan Yunmu replied indifferently: "I know, you don’t need to nag."
She could not be dissuaded.
Yu Wenquan sighed: "Why won’t you listen to advice?"
Yu Wenye fell silent for a while before saying: "I have other matters to discuss with Father. Ruyi, why don’t you escort Mother back to her room to rest."
Shang Ruyi, who had been quietly standing by, promptly stepped forward upon hearing this: "Mother, let me help you back to your room."
Guan Yunmu glanced at her, nodded, and got up to leave.