Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 79: Commander Bai’s Campaign

Chapter 79: Commander Bai’s Campaign

The decision felt overwhelming to Meili, when she considered that she might have any say in who she would marry.

It was far too momentous a decision to make by herself, or even to seek to influence it.

And what of Bai Li? Without any reasonable basis, she felt a strong resistance to the idea of giving him up to another woman and marrying Tan Bowen.

She had no idea why she should feel that way. She had never let herself seriously consider the idea of marrying the Commander, had she?

She knew his life was mapped out for him with no escape. Eventually, he would become a General like his father. His life would be at risk many times over in theatres of war. He would definitely be given concubines by the Emperor.

She might be the first wife, but it was highly unlikely she would be his most beloved woman, and she didn’t feel like she could live with that; just the thought of it seemed to hurt her more than she could bear.

In fact, as the Second Prince had once suggested to her, it turned out she did prefer the idea of being the beloved concubine of a man who loved her deeply, than to be the dutiful but unloved first wife of a man who loved his concubine.

But the best possible future she could imagine, was as a beloved first wife, and honestly, Tan Bowen was the only man of the sum total of three potential men that she knew, whom she trusted to provide her with that exalted position.

She longed to be loved... wholeheartedly, for who she was, with no hiding and pretence.

And she knew she couldn’t raise her future children in a household where they had to play second fiddle to the first wife’s legitimate children, it wouldn’t be fair to them.

She sighed forlornly.

It felt logical and prudent to agree to these betrothal arrangements with Tan Bowen, but her heart seemed to be rebelling against the sensible decision...

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Court was in session, and it was a full house today, with movement on the northern borders causing great concern.

The Emperor looked angrily across his officials.

"Is there no one volunteering to take on Aruqtai?"

There was much shuffling of feet and downcast eyes so as not to be called upon by the Emperor. A new leader had emerged in the north, and he was both dangerous and effective, something they had not seen for quite some time.

"What of my great generals?"

He looked to his aging covey of famous generals, all heroes in their day, but now old men.

"Your majesty," Prime Minister Li stepped in smoothly, "the generals, though heroes all, are old men now. A campaign of this magnitude will mean months of hardship on the roads and on multiple battlefields. Perhaps it’s time to let some of the younger generation step up?"

"Hm," his majesty mused. "That’s not necessarily a bad idea. Especially in the early months of the campaign, it’s the right time to blood some new talent. Do you have any suggestions Prime Minister Li? Crown Prince?"

The Crown Prince and the Prime Minister were allies, and the two men had already discussed this very scenario.

They knew that the early months of this campaign would be very hard and probably lethal, at the very least to the career, of whoever lead it. It was a job best given to someone expendable, leaving one of their trusted men to successfully ’mop up’ after the early campaigns.

"How about General Bai’s son, Bai Li, your majesty? He takes after his father and will be a very safe pair of hands," the Prime Minister gave an inscrutable smile.

"I agree with the Prime Minister, Emperor Father," said the Crown Prince. "Commander Bai is a good suggestion. He’s had some early successes and is admired by the military men."

The Emperor raised his eyebrows, not having considered the young commander for such a heavy responsibility, but he certainly was a potential solution. Brave, intensely loyal, with a deeply ingrained sense of duty to his Lord and the Empire.

He knew what his son and Prime Minister were up to, but that wasn’t necessarily misaligned with his own aims. And if Bai Li were to happen to be successful, all the better.

He nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, that’s possible. Any other views?"

"Father," said the Second Prince, and everyone stared at the young man.

He was not often in court, and when he was there, he spoke even less, particularly on important topics.

The Emperor narrowed his eyes in annoyance, "yes, Second Son".

"Ahem," he shifted uncomfortably as all eyes turned to him, "although Bai Li is very brave and talented, he is, after all, still young. His previous campaigns have not been of this magnitude, nor against such a formidable foe. Is he really the right selection?"

"Young leaders must learn on the battlefield, they don’t learn in training," snapped his Emperor Father. "I was patrolling the northern borders as a prince at an even younger age than Commander Bai."

"Yes, Emperor Father," said the Second Prince, bowing his head in obedience and stepping back.

"Bai Li!"

"Your majesty," Bai Li stepped forwards, his back ramrod stiff in his uniform, staring proudly straight ahead.

"You will start to prepare to lead a campaign in the north against Aruqtai. Training and preparations across the winter, in time for a spring campaign."

"Yes, your majesty," replied Bai Li, "it will be my honour to serve my Lord and my country in the north".

"Very good, very good," smiled the Emperor, gratified.

This was a very short lead-time for such a huge undertaking, and General Bai, while he looked impassive, was concerned for his son.

But the decision had been made, so now all he could do was throw his efforts behind helping his son to win the campaign...

"Do you have any military strategists you prefer to work with Commander Bai?" asked the Emperor.

"Mei Renlong, the first son of Lord Mei, would be my preference, your Majesty."

"Excellent, excellent! Mei Renlong it is. Congratulations Lord Mei, your son will have his chance to shine."

Lord Mei stepped forwards. "Thank you for the honour, your majesty. I suggest we send my second son, Mei Renhu, in support. The two children are complementary in their strengths."

The Emperor nodded, "your first and second sons shall both be strategists on the campaign then, the elder in the lead and the younger in support".

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