Everyone fell silent.
What could be said at this moment?
The Emperor was besieged at Baiden, which was a disgrace to the Han Dynasty and to everyone. Although the saying 'the monarch is humiliated, the minister dies' had not yet emerged in this era, the etiquette remained the same.
The Emperor symbolized the supreme ruler of the Central Plains.
When had such a ruler ever suffered such humiliation?
When the First Emperor was still alive, the Xiongnu dared not make any moves. Has the world already become like this in just over a decade?
Everyone sat there in silence.
After a long while, Zhang Liang slowly sighed and said, "At this moment, there are only two options."
He looked around at everyone and softly said, "Firstly, send a fierce general to Baiden."
"Secondly, send people to negotiate peace with the Xiongnu. Bribe high-ranking Xiongnu officials with large sums of money to make them retreat."
"Both methods can resolve His Majesty's current predicament, but… both methods have their pros and cons."
Zhang Liang did not hesitate and directly laid out both methods.
"The first method is certainly good, but it consumes manpower and resources, and now… which general can be confident enough to defeat the Xiongnu wolf cavalry, who are at their peak, with the current Han army soldiers?"
"If this war is victorious, it's fine, but if this war fails and exposes the current exhaustion of the Central Plains, allowing the Xiongnu to see an opportunity, then it won't just be His Majesty who is besieged."
"And at that time, the Central Plains would also be in danger, and if we wanted to negotiate peace with the Xiongnu again, the price we would have to pay would probably be more than just a large sum of money."
"At that time… the cost would likely far exceed what is currently needed."
"And although the second method can relieve His Majesty's calamity, it will bring shame to the Han Dynasty and His Majesty, and even make the Xiongnu believe that the Han Dynasty is weak and easily bullied. The Central Plains, which has never bowed to the Barbarians for hundreds of years, will probably have to bow to the Barbarians."
Zhang Liang said in silence, "In the past, before the Qin Dynasty unified, the world was still in a state of barbaric warfare. Although the Seven States were in conflict, none of them made the Central Plains bow to the Barbarians; instead, they killed the Barbarians until they dared not probe south."
"Afterward, the Qin Dynasty unified. Even though the Qin Dynasty had the reputation of being a tyrannical Qin, with 300,000 soldiers and Meng Tian guarding the border, the Xiongnu still dared not go south."
"Now that the Han Dynasty has just been founded, if it bears such a shameful reputation, perhaps in the eyes of future generations… you and I, who made such a decision, might have to bear eternal infamy."
After hearing Zhang Liang's words, everyone became even more silent.
This was indeed reality.
Fan Kuai and the others looked at each other, and finally, they all looked at Guandu Marquis Chen Cheng, who was sitting to the side.
In fact, none of these generals present had full confidence in defeating the peak wolf cavalry with the current soldiers in a war against the Xiongnu.
If they failed, they would become eternal sinners.
Who would dare to try it lightly?
Looking at the entire Han Dynasty, there were perhaps only two people with such ability and skill.
Firstly, the Military Immortal Han Xin.
Secondly, Guandu Marquis Chen Xi.
And it was fine that Han Xin was not in the capital at this time; even if he were in the capital, given his attitude towards the King, he might not necessarily go to Baiden to rescue His Majesty.
But… let Guandu Marquis go?
Guandu Marquis has been living a life of comfort for all these years, can he still fight? Does he still have the ferocity of yesteryear?
Even if Guandu Marquis possessed such ferocity, how could they, this group of people, have the face to force Guandu Marquis to provide such a guarantee of victory and make him voluntarily take on this responsibility?
Thus, silence continued to envelop the entire Weiyang Palace.
Lü Zhi also slowly exhaled as she watched this scene. Her eyes were sharp, like a fierce tigress.
"Marquis of Liu is right; there are only these two options now."
She looked at Chen Cheng and said in a deep voice, "At this time, among those in the capital, only Guandu Marquis possesses the ability to lead soldiers to rescue His Majesty."
"The other generals probably do not have a complete assurance of victory."
Lü Zhi's brows were tinged with a hint of sorrow, and a few tears fell from her eyes: "But I am unwilling to force Guandu Marquis to lead the troops."
"If His Majesty had not insisted on leading the troops himself, how would he have been besieged? This is His Majesty's fault, yet it requires Guandu Marquis to rectify it, which is truly a regrettable matter."
"If you also do not have complete assurance of victory, then I will make this decision for all of you, ordering envoys to go and bribe the high officials of the Xiongnu with heavy gold, so that they retreat and spare His Majesty."
"This eternal infamy does not need to be borne by the esteemed ministers present; it only needs to be borne by me, a mere woman."
"And if Guandu Marquis is willing to lead the troops, then if there is a failure, you also do not need to bear this crime; I will personally step forward to bear this infamy."
The decision Lü Zhi made was extremely resolute, without even a hint of hesitation.
Chen Cheng looked at Lü Zhi, who was sitting there, with a hint of approval in his brows. Lü Hou was indeed Lü Hou, worthy of being the wife of Emperor Gaozu.
This speech and decision were both very well-executed.
She bore all the consequences entirely, so what worries did he still have?
So Lü Zhi was very smart, because she knew that as a woman, even if she bore so much infamy, it didn't matter. But if Liu Bang couldn't be rescued… then the problem would be huge.
Without Liu Bang, the current Liu Ying had not yet grown into an adult.
These founding heroes… who could suppress them? At that time, the Han Dynasty would inevitably fall apart, and all her glory and wealth would completely disappear with the collapse of the Han Dynasty.
So she chose to save Liu Bang at all costs!
Even if it meant bearing eternal infamy.
"Hoo—"
Chen Cheng slowly exhaled, a smile spread across his lips, and then he softly said, "Empress, you don't have to worry."
He slowly stood up, and in an instant, his aura burst forth, powerful and full of strength.
Chen Cheng's eyes held a hint of sharpness.
"Your subject is willing to lead troops to attack the Xiongnu and relieve His Majesty's peril!"
"This is what a subject ought to do!"
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Emperor Gaozu": "Baiden Manqiuchen and Wang Huang established Zhao Li, the former Zhao general, as king and rebelled. Emperor Gaozu personally went to attack them. It was cold, and two or three out of ten soldiers suffered from frostbite. They then reached Pingcheng. The Xiongnu besieged Pingcheng. At that time, Lü Hou requested the feudal lords in Weiyang Palace. Marquis of Liu proposed two strategies, and the officials remained silent. Guandu Marquis stepped forward and said: 'Your subject is willing to lead troops to relieve His Majesty's peril. This is the duty of a loyal subject!'"
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Baiden
After Liu Bang was besieged, there was not much sadness or bitterness on his face.
He sighed, rubbing his hands: "I wonder if I can still return alive this time!"