The Empress sat upright in the imperial study, the flickering candlelight casting a glow upon her face as she intently reviewed the memorials. Suddenly, a rush of hurried footsteps shattered the silence. A messenger rushed in, dropped to his knees, and presented an 800-li urgent dispatch. The Empress's heart tightened. She quickly broke the seal, and though the message contained only a few brief words, her expression instantly grew grave.
Before long, the ministers were urgently summoned to the imperial court. The atmosphere in the grand hall was oppressive, and the officials exchanged uneasy glances, unaware of what had happened.
With a stern expression, the Empress stood up, raised the urgent dispatch high in her hand, and said, "My lords, an urgent report from the border states that the Northern barbarians have massed a large army with the intent of invading our borders. They have come with overwhelming momentum and are now at our gates. Do any of you have a sound strategy?"
Chapter 78