A kitten dressed as an empress

After the soldiers in the tent retreated outside, Zhao Yao turned to look at the map with a very serious expression.

If this battle is lost, not only will the Southern Kingdom be in danger, but the throne may also be lost.

Knowing the danger, Zhao Yao dared to take the risk. Today he leads troops to leave the capital, so that he will be able to fight back in the future.

The massacre in Yuqing Palace, if it wasn't for the fact that he had no power or soldiers in his hands, how could he be treated as a fish and meat to be slaughtered by others.

The fire on the side was burning brightly, and the tent was particularly warm. Wen Ruyan poked his head and thought that Zhao Yao would be shocked if he came out at this time.

Just as she was planning to play a prank, a person suddenly walked in outside the camp, and Wen Ruyan was so frightened that she hurriedly retracted her protruding little paw.

Chunyue approached with tea and said, "Your Majesty, drink some tea to warm up your body."

How could Chunyue, who was supposed to be in Yuqing Palace, come here?

When she was hunted down last time, Chunyue colluded with the guards, she was clearly an informer, and she even specifically said to catch cats, maybe she knew something else.

The little milk cat curled up and didn't dare to make a sound for the time being, its fluffy tail was wagging anxiously.

"Do you know why I appointed you to accompany me?" Zhao Yao took the tea and did not drink it.

Chunyue shook her head a little apprehensively, she had gained the empress's trust with great difficulty in recent days, so she responded cautiously: "I don't know."

Zhao Yao lightly scraped the wall of the teacup with her fingertips, and looked at this palace man who was good at disguising.

She was the only one who survived the massacre in Yuqing Palace, and she clearly had something to do with it. Zhao Yao turned her eyes slightly and said, "Because you are the only one who can entrust me with important tasks in Yuqing Palace now."

"My servant is willing to do my best for Your Majesty." Ever since the Supreme Emperor was in power, he would properly promote female officials, and Chunyue naturally had this in mind.

The master-servant relationship between the two is so hot, the little milk cat in the corner is so pitiful, his face is swollen with anger!

Wen Ruyan expressed her deep disdain for Zhao Yao's behavior like a big pig's hoof.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yao actually forgot about herself after only seeing each other for half a year!

The more she thought about it, the more angry Wen Ruyan crawled out of a small hole in the tent without looking back.

There was a strong wind outside, and the fluffy hair of the little milk cat was blown in the wind, making it look extremely pitiful.

"Whose little milk cat is this?"

"Where did someone in the barracks raise this little guy? It must have been abandoned by the master."

The little milk cat looked at the patrolling guard with complicated eyes, and called a few times in a low voice: "Meow!"

These two guards are too blind to see, who was discarded?

I'm clearly a free body, okay?

That heartless bad girl Zhao Yao, I never want to see her again!

Wen Ruyan, who slipped into Mr. Zhang's camp alone, lay down beside the fire to warm himself up, but fell asleep after a while.

Zhao Yao waited for the news in the main camp tent, put the cold teacup aside and said, "Go down and rest."

"Yes." Chunyue lowered her head and slowly exited the tent.

There was a strong wind outside, and even the camp tent was blown up, Zhao Yao took out the handkerchief from her sleeve.

This kerchief was originally for her to carry with her, and she kept it on the pillow when she fell asleep at night, who would have thought that such a change would happen later, and now it is returned to Zhao Yao.

There were dangers everywhere in the palace, maybe I shouldn't force her to stay in the first place, maybe she can live a few more days.

The nighttime raid was defeated, and General Wang and his party retired from the army and were hunted down. They fled to a snow valley in a hurry.

When Zhang Youmou raised his hand and waited for a large number of enemy troops to follow them into the snow valley, he signaled the soldiers to push down the big snowball, which rolled bigger and bigger, and at the same time caused an avalanche in the snow valley.

A loud noise suddenly echoed in the snow valley, resounding like thunder, and the wind and snow rushed down and buried most of the snow valley in an instant.

Some of the enemy soldiers who fled in a hurry ran to Taniguchi, but were shot and killed by arrows. Blood was scattered on the snow, and the hissing sound stopped abruptly.

"Seize Cloud City!" Zhang Youmou had asked someone to collect the robes of the soldiers of the Northwest Kingdom earlier, and when the team was waiting to be organized, they took advantage of the night to approach the lost Cloud City.

The soldiers of the Southern Kingdom were defeated one after another, and the generals of the Northwest Kingdom were attracted to underestimate the enemy. When they saw a group of troops returning, they asked someone to open the gate of the city.

Zhang Youmou held a gun and shot and killed the enemy army in the northwest of the gate, and a large number of soldiers from the Southern Kingdom broke into Yuncheng.

From one night to dawn, the infantry outside returned to the barracks and urgently ordered to report: "Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang has taken back Yuncheng!"

Zhao Yao took a sip of her tea, not surprised, but the lieutenants left behind by General Wang were a bit frustrated.

At noon, Zhang Youmou led his army to drive into Yuncheng, and carried back the corpses of General Wang and the others.

"General!" Several lieutenants stepped forward and looked at Zhang Youmou, who was powerless, in disbelief.

Zhang Youmou said solemnly: "General Wang sacrificed for the country. He is really a great hero. I must ask your majesty to pursue him as a marquis."

Zhao Yao sat in the highest position and responded: "Come here, I will make the general of the king a loyal and brave marquis."

"Thank you for your grace!"

This battle to seize the city was much faster than Zhao Yao imagined.

Everyone withdrew from the camp, and the deputy generals counted the soldiers and prepared to enter Yuncheng. Zhang Youmou stood alone in the tent and asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, please enter Yuncheng."

"No hurry." Holding the teacup in his hand, Zhao Yao looked at Zhang Youmou, who was eight feet long and dignified, "You designed to kill eight thousand enemies, and your contribution to capturing the city is indispensable. Today I order you to lead the three armies to fight. ?”

"I'm afraid it's hard for a humble minister to convince the public." Zhang Youmou replied very humbly.

Zhao Yao stared at Zhang Youmou, who was impeccable in his work. Whether it was setting up an ambush in the Snow Valley, or pretending to be a Northwest soldier to seize the city, it showed that this person was not only good at fighting, but also well prepared for fighting.

"In the past, the Zhang family is now the only one in the officialdom. If you can't convince the public, the truth of the Zhang family's case may never be cleared."

Zhang Youmou was stunned for a moment, standing stiffly in the tent, and replied calmly, "I take orders."

"I hope you will not betray my trust."

"Yes!"

It was rare for the heavy snow to stop during the day, so Zhao Yao sat alone on the horse holding the rein, followed by all the soldiers.

Although the several lieutenants were dissatisfied, they did not dare to make trouble in front of His Majesty, so they could only bear with it.

Zhang Youmou's tense body still hadn't recovered from the shock of the empress' knowing that he had become an official in the court.

Back then, his father was wrongly imprisoned, followed by a thousand uncles, and then died for no reason. However, the court did not send anyone to investigate, and instead closed the case hastily, which was even more suspicious.

Since the empress knew what was going on in her mind, the battle last night was expected, because she was afraid that it would be known that she disguised herself as a man and pretended to be an official in the court.

"Meow." The snow-haired little milk cat didn't know where to play, and was covered in charcoal dust, and was lazily nestled in a black ball in the net bag.

The more Zhang Youmou thought about it, he couldn't help but break out in cold sweat, and now he had to take one step at a time.

Zhao Yao vaguely heard the meowing of a cat, and subconsciously tilted her head, only to see the ugly little black cat in the net pocket of that Youmou horse.

"Is something wrong, Your Majesty?" Zhang Youmou touched his eyes and hurriedly stepped forward to ask.

"Nothing." Zhao Yao glanced at the little black cat as if she didn't want to see her, turned her small body, only the furry back of her head remained.

Zhang Youmou noticed his gaze and wondered if His Majesty likes cats?

Wen Ruyan, who turned around silently, expressed that she didn't want to meet eyes with a heartless woman, not even for a second!

Zhao Yao looked away, looked at the white snow field and said: "It's windy and snowy here, and it takes time to survey the terrain during the day, how did you come up with a clever plan in a hurry last night?"

"Your Majesty's absurd praise." Zhang Youmou was a little uncertain about the empress's mind, and responded very humbly, "I have transported food all the way, so I am quite familiar with this terrain."

Although the ambush scheme in Xuegu last night was good, it was too sinister. General Wang and several loyal lieutenants died of being injured by the accumulated snow.

In the case of the Zhang family back then, Zhao Yao had turned over the case files, and it was actually a family struggle for power.

At that time, the Jin family was in the limelight, and the status of Song Qi Wang Zhou's family was in jeopardy. The suddenly powerful Zhang family was approaching the Song Taishi family.

The struggle for power in the family of officials is always calm on the bright side, but turbulent in the dark, and a little carelessness will end in ransacking the family and exterminating the family.

Back then, it was the Wang family who supervised and beheaded the fourth son of the Zhang family, but now it is too coincidental.

Zhao Yao looked away slightly, it's a good thing that things in the court are sometimes chaotic.

After all, the four great aristocratic families are too powerful, which is not a good thing for the emperor.

"Meow." The little black cat Yoyo turned its head and peeked at it, and called softly.

Zhang Youmou was a little surprised, this little milk cat is usually too quiet, why is it so noisy today?

Wen Ruyan was even more angry when she saw Zhao Yao look at her with a cold face.

The heartless woman actually didn't recognize herself.

Yuncheng is an important pass in the northwest. It has been said in the Southern Kingdom since ancient times that the defense of the northwest must guard Yuncheng.

Although Yuncheng has been recaptured now, most of the people in the city have been killed.

When the army entered the city gate, they saw corpses everywhere, and many buildings had been burned down.

The snow all over the sky can't cover the corpses everywhere, and the court where the battle started transported enough food and grass to the front line early, so it shouldn't be lost in the city, this battle is all the fault of the generals.

If General Wang hadn't been killed in battle, Zhao Yao would definitely have punished her severely.

Compared with Zhao Yao's calmness, Wen Ruyan is not so good.

Although I have seen many black-and-white pictures of wars in history books, and there are also digital records of casualties, such a direct view of the post-war scenes can be described no matter how many pictures or paragraphs of text.

The strange smell of scorching murmured in the air, like blood and a large number of corpses burned, making people sick.

Yuncheng was supposed to be defended, but because of the general's carelessness and underestimation of the enemy, the common people were killed and injured, and Zhang Youmou felt heavy in his heart.

Wen Ruyan didn't dare to look at the sides of the street, and didn't open his eyes until he entered the county mansion in Yuncheng.

"The former general of Yuncheng, how many people are there now?" Zhao Yao asked aloud.

A deputy general stepped forward hesitantly and responded: "This person stayed behind to fight the enemy when he left the city and died."

Zhang Youmou glanced at the little milk cat who didn't know when it came in, and replied: "There are only 17 people left in Yuncheng, nearly a thousand men have been killed in battle, hundreds of women have been killed, and most of the rest are women." They were taken away by the enemy, and most of the old and young children died in the fire."

When attacking the city last night, the enemy troops in the northwest set fire to the city while fleeing. Although they stopped in time, none of the old people and children who were locked in the houses were spared.

"Yuncheng is at the throat of the Southern Kingdom. If you lose this battle, you will die for the country." Zhao Yao looked at those lieutenants who were greedy for life and afraid of death. I am afraid that most of the battle strategies of General Wang are related to their bragging. .

"Yes!"

When Zhang Youmou left the hall and turned his head to look for the figure of the little milk cat, he couldn't see it.

Zhao Yao frowned slightly, raised her hand and dropped the teacup in her hand.

There are enough soldiers and horses in Yuncheng, but the food and grass can last up to two months.

This is not because Zhao Yao made a careless mistake, but because this is the only grain that can be levied in the Southern Kingdom.

At first, when the Northwest Kingdom came to the enemy, the court only thought it was just another small fight, so it didn't take precautions.

Who would have thought that the Northwest Kingdom would send tens of thousands of troops to fight, but the front line did not know the exact number, and General Chaotang Nawang led an army of [-] troops to the battle in a hurry.

The battle line has been dragging its feet, but they did not report the details to the court, but asked for food frequently.

But it wasn't until several cities were lost that General Wang reported that the situation was urgent.

Losing the opportunity first, and then carelessly underestimating the enemy, violated the taboo of military strategists.

The sound of the teacup being broken was particularly ear-piercing, and the little black cat on the side almost screamed.

If it wasn't for the biting cold outside and the warmth inside the hall, Wen Ruyan wouldn't have chosen to stay here.

The sound of war drums sounded, and it was obvious that the enemy army of the Northwest Kingdom attacked the city again.

This mansion has three floors, Zhao Yao entered the upper floor with his attendants, and he could see the soldiers and horses gathered outside the city.

"It seems that they really want to swallow the Southern Kingdom in one fell swoop."

At night, the enemy troops of the Northwest Kingdom had just subsided for a moment, Zhao Yao went up to the city wall in person, and attacked the city defenders several times, causing heavy casualties to the civilians.

Zhang Youmou stepped forward to salute and said, "Your Majesty."

"Exemption." Zhao Yao looked at the defense equipment, frowning slightly, "Send a small team to collect all the medicine shops in Yuncheng, I need the medicine on this list."

"Yes!"

The endless tents in the distance were swallowed up in the long snowy night.

Zhao Yao boiled several types of medicinal herbs in the medicine furnace in the main hall, and dried the medicinal herbs in the oil tank after two days.

Wen Ruyan lay on the beam and looked at Zhao Yao who hadn't closed her eyes for two whole nights, feeling a little worried, thinking that it would be great if she could help a little.

Trapped in Yuncheng, the court has neither rescuers nor food, so maybe the enemy army has not retreated, and the people in the city will have to starve to death first.

Wrap these medicinal herbs in an oilcloth covered with cloth and tie them to arrows.

Looking at the tarpaulins distributed by the soldiers, Zhang Youmou asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, what is this?"

"Wait for them to attack again, save some arrows, and you will know when you ignite and launch these later."

The war drums sounded like thunder, and the brave enemy troops from the Northwest Kingdom rushed under the city wall. Zhao Yao asked the soldiers to cover their mouths and noses with kerchiefs soaked in medicinal herbs, and held a stick of incense between their fingers. Reach out to indicate.

I saw the guards and soldiers lighting the oil cloth balls and launching them downwards, and the thick bright red fog quickly spread to the enemy's barracks.

Zhao Yao covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief soaked in medicinal herb juice, and looked at the enemy soldiers who were scattered in all directions with great calmness.

This wind came at a very good time. The tarpaulin was wrapped with firecracker ingredients. The smoke from igniting the poisonous weeds would only make people crazy, but the powder that exploded and splashed would make people's skin fester. It's called a blood rash and is highly contagious.

In the ensuing massive arrow attack, those enemy troops were just targets.

Looking at the miserable situation of the enemy army under the city, Zhang Youmou couldn't help admiring the empress's vicious methods.

No wonder the defenders of the city were not told that ordinary people would dare to touch such poisons.

The medicinal soup that the Empress made everyone take earlier probably also had some effect.

Wen Ruyan nestled in the alleyway to pay attention to the battle situation all the time, and happened to overhear the soldiers bragging about how the Empress was able to predict things like a god, and only then did she know that the enemy army was defeated today.

A dingy little milk cat sneaked into the mansion.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yao was playing chess with Ting Nei and Mr. Zhang.

It's spring at any time now, but the snow in the northwest is still thick, and the little milk cat is stepping on the soft snow, and most of its body is sunk in the snow, almost buried by the snow.

"Your Majesty, with superb chess skills, I'm afraid I won't be able to win." Zhang Youmou couldn't understand the empress's mind, and was very frightened.

Zhao Yao didn't care about putting down the chess pieces and replied: "The soldiers of the Northwest Kingdom are strong, this poison can only seriously injure, but not kill."

Zhang Youmou hesitated and then said, "Your Majesty wants me to lead troops to attack?"

"No need." Zhao Yao stretched out his hand to pick up the black chess piece, and examined the situation full of flaws, "You just need to train the soldiers in the army well, and kick them out if they are dead."

"Your Majesty, you want me to get rid of those vice-generals of the royal family?"

Zhao Yao didn't stop and said, "I need an obedient army."

Only then did Zhang Youmou realize that the empress's adventure to the border was not to save the southern kingdom, but to consolidate the throne.

There is also a dispute between the Supreme Emperor and the Empress, and the army is undoubtedly the best way to seize power.

"I obey." Zhang Youmou carefully put down the chess piece, still not sure if his identity was exposed.

Zhao Yao put down the chess pieces in her hand, looked at the overly cautious Zhang Youmou very bored, and said, "This heavy snow will pass, and there will be a new scene, but we must seize the opportunity."

In the case of the Zhang family back then, none of the four great families could escape. Zhang Youmou needed the power of the empress.

At this time, a gray kitten was shivering from the cold, quietly watching the two people in the pavilion with its big amber eyes.

Why do these two people look so problematic?

Wen Ruyan finally climbed out of the pavilion and shook off the snow on her body, only to see Zhao Yao suddenly said seriously: "Master Zhang, have you ever heard of a game called backgammon?"

"I've never seen it before." Zhang Youmou looked at the empress in confusion.

Zhao Yao held the chess pieces in her palm and placed them randomly, her lips were slightly pursed, and she said with a very cold expression: "Maybe this is just a game she made up randomly."

she?

Zhang Youmou hesitated and said, "Who is His Majesty talking about?"

These words were not answered, the empress leaned towards the heavy snow falling outside the pavilion with an extremely cold expression and murmured: "It's nothing."

Seeing Zhao Yao's extremely indifferent expression, Wen Ruyan didn't dare to get too close.

The wind whistled past, and the fluffy hair fluttered along with it, and the kitten shivered in the cold wind.

The pavilion was suddenly quiet, Zhao Yao got up and was about to go back to the hall, Zhang Youmou hurriedly got up beside him.

"Wei Chen respectfully sends His Majesty."

Zhao Yao raised her hand to straighten her clothes, and when she was about to leave, she suddenly caught a glimpse of the white hair on Zhang Youmou's official robe, and couldn't help but think of the little black cat that day.

"Master Zhang, how many new kittens have you got?"

"Perhaps it was left by that playful little milk cat from before." Zhang Youmou trimmed the cat hair on the official robe in embarrassment.

"I saw that kitten's fur was dirty last time, I'd better clean it up when I have time." Zhao Yao recalled that she was so playful in the past, and came back covered in ashes outside.

Zhang Youmou bowed his head, not knowing how to explain, the little milk cat usually has white hair like snow and is very cute.

As for the sudden rubbing of ash all over, turning into a piece of black charcoal was purely accidental.

However, the empress seemed not interested in listening, so she turned around and left the pavilion alone.

Only then did Zhang Youmou breathe a sigh of relief. He always felt that the empress could easily read people's hearts, and it was really hard to guard against.

Wen Ruyan's head was buzzing from the cold, with the snow on his head, he didn't hear the words in the pavilion at all.

Just seeing Zhao Yao enter the room alone, she followed up tremblingly with pink paws.

Zhang Youmou, who was about to retreat, seemed to vaguely see the playful little milk cat, but it was a pity that the snow was so heavy that he couldn't see it clearly.

Zhao Yao entered the hall and picked up a warm teacup. She studied ink and prepared to write a letter to inform Yuncheng of the situation, and grain and grass would need to be confiscated.

It was windy and snowy outside the hall, and the little milk cat climbed in from a window of the inner hall, and approached a charcoal basin trembling all over.

The original dusty body was cleaned a lot by being rubbed in the snow, but now it has recovered a lot of whiteness.

Suddenly it was warm, and the little milk cat lay beside it drowsy, and even forgot the little tail that was resting on the side of the charcoal basin.

When she stopped writing between her fingers, Zhao Yao took a small sip of tea and was about to fill her stomach with the pastry, when she suddenly noticed some fine tooth marks on it.

This kind of thing used to happen in Yuqing Palace, she was always very naughty, she insisted on taking a small bite of each kind to try something new.

I still remember that Zhao Yao asked the palace people not to prepare pastries in the palace because of this. Who would have thought that she would hide the pastries in the desk drawer.

Zhao Yao turned her head to look at one side of the drawer, stretched out her hand hesitantly, and wanted to take it back hesitantly.

She is long gone.

How could he secretly hide pastries in his desk drawer?

The hand on the drawer did not withdraw, Zhao Yao opened it hesitantly, looking at the pastries full of drawers with slightly surprised eyes.

The most inexplicable thing is that there are really fine hairs.

Zhao Yao patrolled the hall and said hesitantly, "Are you there?"

But there was no echo in the hall, and Chunyue outside responded in confusion: "What's wrong, Your Majesty?"

"Nothing." Zhao Yao glanced at the pastry in the drawer, closed it carefully, and got up to search the entire inner hall of the mansion.

In the past, she liked to hide in the corner, sometimes crawling out of the bookcase, sometimes emerging from the vase.

Zhao Yao entered the inner room from the outside, but before she found her figure, she smelled a smell of burnt fur.

I saw the fluffy ball curled up beside the charcoal basin, but the slightly moving little tail was already ignited by sparks.

"Meow!" Wen Ruyan, who was dreaming of eating big fish and meat, suddenly turned into a drowned cat, and the culprit was actually Zhao Yao!

The little milk cat opened its eyes in a daze, the amber eyes blinked lightly, and looked up puzzled.

Wen Ruyan, who hadn't had time to make a sound, was suddenly grabbed by the back of his neck, and his hind paws were suspended in the air.

Zhao Yao held the little milk cat with one hand, looked at her expression very seriously and said, "Since you are not dead, why didn't you come to find me?"

"Meow." The little milk cat waved its pink and tender paws, screaming non-stop, the tea was still dripping from its hair, and it never noticed that its poor tail was burned bald in several places.

"Be quiet!"

With such a sudden fierce attack, Wen Ruyan's previous anger had not dissipated, so naturally he refused to obey, so he muttered louder and louder.

Zhao Yao was a little confused by the appearance of not being able to understand human speech.

Is there really a cat like this in the world?

The author has something to say: First of all, I would like to thank 39 lovely readers who silently clicked on the bookmarks to support and encourage them~~O(∩_∩)O~~