Two days later, the news of the Supre Emperor’s demise at sea reached the capital with utmost urgency.
Emperor Xiaozong of Qi, upon hearing the news, wept aloud in his grief. Unable to eat for two days, he expressed his intention to observe three years of mourning for his father. However, due to the dangers of war at the ti and the counsel of his ministers, Emperor Xiaozong managed to compose himself and continued to handle state affairs.
Emperor Xiaozong had already been considering revising the history to exonerate General Han Fuyue, but as the Supre Emperor had already set out to sea, such matters had to be postponed.
After all, to exonerate General Han would be to admit that Emperor Gaozong of Qi had been wrong—a decision that could only be made with Emperor Gaozong’s own approval.
And in the real course of history, Emperor Gaozong of Qi did give his approval, indicating that he was well aware of the injustice faced by General Han Fuyue.
Now, with the news of Emperor Gaozong’s death at sea, Emperor Xiaozong imdiately ordered an in-depth investigation!
But how? The entire ship had been consud by a large fire and then sunk into the vast depths of the sea. Even if so evidence had miraculously survived the blaze, how could they retrieve it from the ocean floor with the technological capabilities of the ti?
It seed destined to remain an unsolved case.
As Emperor Xiaozong grappled with this peculiar incident, military dispatches from the front arrived.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
"Dispatches from the front lines!" The panting eunuch rushed over, handing the latest military reports to Emperor Xiaozong.
Emperor Xiaozong, who had been preoccupied with state affairs, perked up at the news, "How did it go?"
The eunuch replied breathlessly, "A great victory! A trendous victory!"
Emperor Xiaozong’s face lit up with joy as he opened the report to read carefully.
Wanyan Hailing of Jin had approached the northern banks of the Yangtze River, building warships and preparing to cross from Niu Zhu Pier.
At that ti, the demoralized troops at Niu Zhu Pier, numbering over eighteen thousand, were filled with dread. Zhao Binfu, an official in charge of military affairs in Jianghuai, had been sent to Niu Zhu Pier to boost the army’s morale.
Seeing the dire situation, Zhao Binfu boldly summoned the generals and declared the imperial court’s orders to resist the Jin, rewarding the troops and rallying them to fight to the death.
In the battle at Niu Zhu Pier, the Qi Army exploited their naval superiority to cut off the Jin fleet in the river, achieving a great victory. The next day, they approached the northern ferry point and burned the enemy ships.
Wanyan Hailing, enraged and humiliated, ordered the Jin Army to cross the river from Guazhou but was killed by his own n, and the Jin Army was forced to retreat.
Upon finishing the report, Emperor Xiaozong sprang up in elation, exclaiming, "Excellent! Excellent!
"Zhao Binfu has truly perford a great service in propping up our state!
"If the Jin had crossed the Yangtze River, our dynasty would have been in peril...
"Convey my edict to reward Zhao Binfu generously!
"Also, who recomnded this capable official to his position? That person should also be rewarded for uncovering such talent for the court!"
The eunuch’s expression beca sowhat odd, "Your Majesty, it was... Li Hao who promoted him."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xiaozong’s expression turned strange as well.
The power-hungry villain, Li Hao?
His previously good mood was extinguished by half in an instant.
A few days prior, ill news had arrived—Li Hao had perished together with the Supre Emperor on that battleship.
To Emperor Xiaozong, Li Hao’s death was no loss; it could even be said to have brought great satisfaction to many.
So preoccupied with mourning for Emperor Gaozong, Emperor Xiaozong felt little concerning Li Hao’s demise, even wishing to replace him with a more trusted official straight away.
Now that Li Hao was ntioned again, it still felt most inauspicious.
"Understood, you may leave."
Emperor Xiaozong waved his hand, dismissing the eunuch, and then read the military report several more tis.
"This Zhao Binfu, truly a remarkable man.
"But why... would such a person receive a recomndation from Li Hao?"
Emperor Xiaozong found the matter puzzling.
Suddenly, he rembered sothing and, after so effort, had the eunuch search for the brocade pouch that Li Hao had given him before his departure.
Previously, Li Hao had instructed Emperor Xiaozong to open it after receiving news about Niu Zhu Pier.
At the ti, Emperor Xiaozong hadn’t given it much thought and paid little heed to what the treacherous official had given him, so he had simply instructed the eunuch to store it away.
Today, having received news of the great victory at Niu Zhu Pier, he recalled the matter and found the brocade pouch once more.
Upon opening the pouch, inside were several letters.
The first described the current situation and location of the elite troops forged by General Han Fuyue.
The second listed officials from the Six Ministries, suggesting Emperor Xiaozong appoint Zhao Binfu to a high-ranking position and then examine these officials one by one, placing them in influential roles within the Six Ministries.
The third letter contained the address of a certain estate outside the capital city, with a note saying: The person Your Majesty has been longing to see is there.
Emperor Xiaozong’s hands trembled slightly.
After a long silence, he called out loudly, "Attend ! Prepare my carriage! I’m going outside the city!"
...
In the estate outside the city.
Wei Shun, as usual, swept the courtyard and attended to General Han Fuyue’s daily needs.
For a naless soldier who had always admired General Han, ten years of service by his side had been an imnse happiness.
Yet in recent days, Wei Shun often thought of the current official Li Hao, who he had not seen for quite so ti.
The decade had co to an end.
The Jin soldiers were once again on the move.
This ti, the commander was not General Han’s old adversary, Wanyan Sheng, but Wanyan Hailing.
But what did it matter? Wanyan Hailing did not seem as formidable as Wanyan Sheng. With General Han Fuyue’s intervention, the Jin troops would be no more than chickens and dogs, not worth ntioning at all!
But why had no one from the court co to call upon General Han yet?
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