The hoarseness of the voice suggested it hadn't just started. It sounded like it had been going on for a long time, as if someone was close to bleeding out and suffocating.
This forced Ding Yun to temporarily abandon her plans for eating and training. She got up, unlocked the dozen or so anti-theft locks near her, and pushed open the door to her secluded retreat.
To ensure her safety, Ding Yun had specifically constructed her retreat out of meteoric iron.
It was also equipped with numerous anti-theft locks.
While it had ventilation, a kitchen, and various other amenities, it was built entirely like a fallout shelter.
In essence, one could live there for a year or two without worrying about starvation. Moreover, she possessed the magnifying glass, a divine artifact. As long as supplies didn't spoil, she never had to worry about running out. She could easily stay for several more years.
Besides, she wasn't in seclusion all the time.
She would still come out during festivals and holidays.
However, this meant it was easy for her to find others, but difficult for others to find her.
Since she wasn't in her physical body most of the time, how could a soulless body respond to outside calls? Everyone was already familiar with this situation. Therefore, unless it was something of utmost importance, the steward of the Imperial Preceptor's mansion wouldn't have been calling so persistently.
Nor would he have continued calling without a response.
"What on earth has happened?"
As soon as she opened the door, Ding Yun asked with a sigh.
"Imperial Preceptor!
Cough, cough, cough... Something terrible has happened! The Left Prince of the First Rank, finding life outside the capital too solitary and boring, and with nothing to do, decided to attack the Plateau Barbarians with the Right Prince of the First Rank a month ago.
Then, the news arrived yesterday.
Not long after reaching the plateau, both Princes of the First Rank were cursed by the plateau and couldn't breathe. Although they killed many barbarians, they were themselves captured by them.
Now, the barbarians have even counter-attacked and entered the passes.
His Majesty is extremely anxious and wants to ask you how to rescue the two Princes of the First Rank. However, you have been in long-term seclusion, which is why I have been disturbing you."
The steward, standing at the entrance of the seclusion chamber, coughed a few times to relieve his throat before hastily explaining the situation and his urgency.
"What?"
Ding Yun had already anticipated something would go wrong when she heard they were going to the plateau to fight barbarians.
The rest of the details she heard.
Felt almost inevitable.
Because Ding Yun knew very well that even if those two had grown many times larger, it didn't mean their species had changed, nor did it mean they could defy their biological instincts. As carbon-based life forms, their need for oxygen was undeniable.
In fact, due to their enormous size.
Their demand for oxygen, their requirement for oxygen concentration, was likely much higher than that of ordinary people.
They could barely survive in plain areas.
As long as they didn't exert themselves,
They wouldn't feel out of breath.
However, ordinary people could experience altitude sickness when going to high-altitude areas. How much more so for these two giants who already had high oxygen demands?
To be honest, Ding Yun considered it a miracle.
That they hadn't died from it.
"Are they alive or dead now?"
Ding Yun quickly continued her questioning. She now wanted to know definitively whether the two giants were alive or dead. To put it bluntly, if they were dead, she wouldn't be too concerned. But if they were alive, and she, as a daughter, were to disregard her own father's life and safety to deal with the barbarians, only for the barbarians to then kill her father, she might gain a reputation for loyalty, but she would also be accused of filial impiety.
It would be a situation where loyalty and filial piety could not both be upheld.
The steward, however, shook his head blankly:
"I don't know. Or rather, even His Majesty is not entirely sure whether the two Princes of the First Rank are alive or dead.
The two Princes of the First Rank went on a solo raid.
They did not bring any troops with them.
The related news came from merchants who traded with the barbarians. The only thing that can be confirmed is that the Plateau Barbarians have indeed led an army of a hundred thousand into the passes. However, they did not bring the two Princes of the First Rank with them, and none of us can infiltrate the barbarian royal court to obtain specific information.
Therefore, whether the two Princes of the First Rank are alive or dead.
It is currently difficult to determine."
"What a hassle. His Majesty summoned me, right? You stay here and guard the house. I'll go to the palace now!"
Although she was displeased, Ding Yun clearly couldn't abandon her father to his fate on the plateau, nor could she allow the barbarians to invade and destroy the country and her home.
So, she had no choice but to go.
Having said that, she strode out, got into the carriage prepared by the eunuch outside, and headed straight for the palace.
When she arrived at the imperial palace and entered the Grand Hall of Political Affairs, which had been newly renovated less than a year ago, the originally noisy chatter in the hall instantly ceased, becoming silent.
"Your subject, pays respects to His Majesty!"
"Please rise quickly, please rise quickly! Imperial Preceptor, please take the seat of honor!"
Before Ding Yun could even finish her bow, Emperor Zi Long, seated on the dragon throne, quickly alighted and enthusiastically invited Ding Yun to take a seat. Although those two giants seemed somewhat fragile and unremarkable on the plateau, it did not mean Emperor Zi Long dared to underestimate the Imperial Preceptor.
He dared not neglect any of the customary courtesies.
"Then, your subject will not be polite!"
After bowing, Ding Yun unceremoniously moved to the seat to the left of the Emperor's dragon throne and sat down. Then, she turned her head, cupped her hands towards Emperor Zi Long, and inquired,
"Your Majesty, could you please ask the informed ministers to explain the specific situation and the cause and effect?"
"Naturally. Minister Li, you come!"
"Yes!"
Following that, the Minister of War began to explain the situation from beginning to end. The general content was similar to what the steward had described earlier. He merely added more details, such as approximately when the two Princes of the First Rank departed, how many people they alarmed and frightened on their way to the plateau, and how much destruction they caused.
And where the barbarian army had reached.
How much destruction they had caused along the way.
Finally, Minister Li specifically stated that the current barbarian invasion could not be entirely blamed on the two Princes of the First Rank for unnecessarily seeking trouble. Even without the two Princes of the First Rank, the barbarian army would have come to raid the Central Plains every one or two years.
This time, it was merely a bit earlier.
"Since the situation is clear, may I ask if Your Majesty summoned your subject for a reason that requires my assistance? Your subject will certainly cooperate to the best of my ability!"
Although Ding Yun understood the situation, she couldn't publicly declare what she would do. So, she turned to Emperor Zi Long again.
Matters of war and strategy.
It was indeed inappropriate to overstep the Emperor and act on her own initiative.
"The reason for urgently summoning the Imperial Preceptor is primarily because the Left Prince of the First Rank is, after all, the Imperial Preceptor's biological father, and his whereabouts are currently unknown. Therefore, we wish to know the Imperial Preceptor's intentions.
Furthermore, although the ministers are confident in their ability to resist this barbarian invasion, the possibility of counter-attacking the barbarians or rescuing the Left and Right Princes of the First Rank is very low. Therefore, if we wish to rescue them, we may have to trouble the Imperial Preceptor!"
Emperor Zi Long's intention was clear: they could at most defend. They did not have the capability to lead a large army into the barbarian royal court and rescue the two Princes of the First Rank. To rescue them, it would depend entirely on Ding Yun herself.
"I see. Your subject understands!"
Ding Yun said she understood, but for a moment, she truly didn't know how to rescue the two of them. After all, their current size was too great, coupled with altitude sickness. Attempting to rescue them single-handedly.
It seemed like an impossible task.
Therefore, she only verbally acknowledged understanding. Inwardly, she was hesitant and did not immediately commit.
The Emperor and the officials remained silent,
All waiting for Ding Yun to give a clear response.
Ding Yun's attitude and plans would determine some of their subsequent strategies and countermeasures.
Just as the atmosphere became somewhat awkwardly silent,
A hurried shout came from outside the hall. It was urgent military intelligence. This interruption caused everyone to shift their gaze slightly, no longer all fixated on Ding Yun.
"Your Majesty, Lin Pass has fallen, Qu City has fallen.
The barbarian army has bypassed the defenses and is heading directly for the capital. They are only two cities, Qinghe, away from the capital!"
As the messenger finished speaking, all the officials and Emperor Zi Long present could no longer maintain their composure. Some ministers even muttered in low voices, "How is this possible? How is this possible?" Others roared, "Useless! Useless! Are they all useless?"
Although the specific situation was difficult to accept,
No one present believed it to be false intelligence.
Because generally, false reports of military intelligence are made to sound better, not worse. At the same time, no one present could remain calm anymore. They were all panicking to the point where Ding Yun was somewhat perplexed. They had clearly been confident earlier, very confident that they could repel the barbarian army.
How could they have become so flustered in such a short time?
"Your Majesty, why are you so flustered? Didn't you just tell me that the officials were confident in repelling the enemy outside?
What is the situation now?"
Regarding the place names they mentioned and why they were so panicked, Ding Yun was truly unclear. As the original occupant of this body had been a woman confined to her chambers, she had no knowledge of such matters. Ding Yun herself had not been in the mood to learn about them either.
Moreover, at this time, maps were considered highly classified.
How could she know what they were talking about?
As Ding Yun inquired, ministers immediately began to explain. It turned out that for many years, the barbarian armies had always followed a fixed route to raid several predetermined cities. Only when the spoils were too meager would they raid other cities.
Over time, they had made corresponding preparations and even set up numerous obstacles along their path or built fortifications and stationed troops for defense.
Their earlier claim of being able to resist.
Was based on this.
But no one had expected that this time, they wouldn't play by the usual rules. They specifically endured the long journey, took a detour, found a relatively weaker point to break through, and then charged straight in, sweeping across the land almost unopposed. Now, it seemed they would reach the capital soon. However, the defenses of the capital were relatively weak, and it was uncertain if they could hold.
This was why they had suddenly become so panicked.
The enemy didn't follow the script, and they were unprepared.
It was no wonder they were panicking!
Hearing this, Ding Yun immediately stood up and asked:
"Your Majesty, if I can eliminate all these barbarian troops, can I trouble Your Majesty to send troops into the barbarian royal court to ascertain whether those two Princes of the First Rank are alive or dead, and to rescue them regardless of their fate? Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
For Ding Yun, who possessed the magnifying glass, destruction was the simplest of tasks. If the barbarian army had come in scattered groups, Ding Yun would have found it somewhat difficult.
But once they gathered into an army.
Destroying them was too easy.
"Is the Imperial Preceptor willing to act?"
"The barbarian royal court should have brought all their elite troops this time. The remaining are basically the old, weak, sick, and disabled. If the Imperial Preceptor can truly eliminate the entire barbarian army that has come this time, then it will be no problem for us to annihilate the barbarian royal court and even occupy all the lands under their jurisdiction."
"Just, what is the Imperial Preceptor's confidence level?"
"If the confidence is not high, we must issue an edict in advance, ordering all the prefectural governors to defend the capital."
"That's right. What is the Imperial Preceptor's confidence level?
If it's not very high, we must make timely and advance preparations to avoid the fall of the capital!"
"At the very least, we must arrange for Your Majesty to tour the south and hunt in the north, away from the barbarians, to prevent the disruption of the state's foundation."
Ding Yun's words indeed gave Emperor Zi Long and the ministers some confidence, but many ministers were still somewhat worried about Ding Yun's capabilities.
Because the barbarian armies had always been strong, and their ability to resist them each time relied on having several times the number of barbarian troops and sufficient logistics, barely succeeding.
Now Ding Yun claimed she could handle it alone.
If not for her previous feat of accelerating the growth of two giants,
No official would have dared to believe her.
Therefore, they harbored some doubts, while also hoping Ding Yun would provide a definitive response and requesting some precautionary measures, just in case there was a backup plan if she failed.
This was quite reasonable.
"As long as they don't disperse, I have about ninety percent confidence. So, you all prepare some troops to deal with the surviving barbarian forces.
To prevent them from ravaging the countryside.
I will begin my preparations now. I hope His Majesty can promptly provide me with the approximate location of the barbarian army. Also, my methods of dealing with them might be quite brutal and affect a wide area. Therefore, if possible, Your Majesty should order everyone not to resist, and to try their best to save their lives and stay far away from them.
This will also prevent me from harming innocent people later!"
Although Ding Yun felt that what she was about to do might be somewhat cruel, unfortunately, she and the barbarians were now in opposition. It was either they die or she dies.
To continue living peacefully in the capital in the future,
Ding Yun could only resort to ruthless measures.
Following this, they deliberated internally for a while longer. Ding Yun also requested a considerable amount of raw materials and gold and silver. Then, she went home to prepare.
To make hot air balloons, Molotov cocktails, and so on.
And parachutes.
In short, she intended to conduct an aerial attack. However, due to technical limitations, the balloons could not fly too high, and descent was uncertain. Therefore, she had to make some parachutes as a precaution.
Moreover, time was of the essence.
If the hot air balloons flew up while the barbarian army hadn't arrived yet, or had already passed, wouldn't it all be in vain?
Therefore, all aspects had to be calculated carefully.
Too much deviation could lead to failure, and the barbarian army was not far from the capital now. They couldn't afford to fail several times. With just two or three more mistakes, the army might already be besieging the capital.
To this end, Ding Yun made several trips back to modern times, using tools like computers to assist in calculations. She drew maps and made models, and only after much effort did she finally determine the final plan. Then, based on the detailed intelligence provided by Emperor Zi Long, she selected a location and began to ascend.
That is, carrying Molotov cocktails and releasing the hot air balloons.