Upon hearing these words, though the Emperor's expression remained calm, he still closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
In truth, the mont Ji Yuan declared a three-day massacre yet failed to take Shuofeng, he had already more or less anticipated the Qi army's retreat.
Even if Ji Yuan deliberately used another victory to forcibly salvage his montum, it couldn't change the overall situation.
However, battlefields are ever-changing.
During that ti, there was even an outbreak of malaria, and Shuofeng had long since been burnt to ashes.
This year's snow had also fallen sowhat late.
Any variable could have occurred.
Only when Ji Yuan truly retreated would it be a genuine victory.
"Chen Bao, bring it to zhen."
The Emperor extended his hand.
Chen Bao hastily presented the military report to him.
After carefully reading through it, he learned that besides the victory, there were so other interludes.
"Ji Yuan even t with Wusheng in front of the entire army." Thinking of this scene, he found it sowhat amusing. "Does Great Yu's heir apparent need you to interfere?"
The topic was too sensitive, so Chen Bao maintained a rigid expression, not revealing any inclination whatsoever.
"Chen Bao, do you think the news of the front's victory should be announced to the entire city right now?" the Emperor asked Chen Bao.
After a mont's consideration, Chen Bao replied: "Your Majesty, this slave believes that our Great Yu has anticipated this great victory for far too long. Announcing it to the entire city—the Sixth Prince's unparalleled rit established at Shuofeng—will inspire the people throughout the realm."
"Then tomorrow morning, announce it," the Emperor said.
"Yes."
After Chen Bao responded, he felt sowhat puzzled in his heart.
Such trendously good news of a great victory—why not announce it today?
Then what should be done today?
"For now, summon several ritorious nobles and military generals to the military council chamber," the Emperor said.
"Yes."
"Do you know what they're coming for?" the Emperor asked.
"In response to Your Majesty, this slave is dull-witted and does not comprehend the sagely intent," Chen Bao answered.
"When they co, we'll just have a al together."
Folding the military report and placing it to the side, the Emperor said: "After the eting, also spread so rumors—say that the northern war situation is unfavorable, that Shuofeng has been lost."
Having said this much, Chen Bao showed complete comprehension and said: "Your Majesty, this slave understands."
This battle had been won.
But there were many who didn't wish for this battle to be won.
Then, let's fish once.
After all, the court had already issued orders for full support, and the fighting had lasted so long—anyone who was happy about losing at this point was a traitor.
These past days, those buzzing, clamoring voices had already made the Emperor feel annoyed.
"Too many people have been cursing Song Shi'an—he can't possibly hold grudges against them all. But for those who jump out at the very end when he's about to return to the capital, that's truly becoming tireso," the Emperor said lightly. "Have the Jinyiwei co out to work. Best to arrest a few high-ranking ones."
"Then Your Majesty, what if no one jumps out?" Chen Bao asked cautiously.
The Emperor slowly turned his head, looking at the stack of morials on the desk impeaching Song Shi'an and the Song clan, and said coldly: "Then let him kill them one by one."
.........
Sun Heng hadn't even finished today's work at the Court of Judicial Review before he hurriedly returned to the Minister's estate.
After dismissing everyone, he said with a beaming smile in the main hall: "Father, it seems Shuofeng has been lost."
"Really?" Upon hearing this, Sun Yan's eyes lit up, and his entire being seed to grow ten years younger.
Although he didn't understand military strategy, he had considerable understanding of warfare—naly, that for a city that should be quite easy to capture, the longer it took to conquer, the lower the possibility of taking it beca.
This was a relative principle.
Casualties from attacking a city are always greater than from defending it.
The longer it dragged on, the lower the attacking soldiers' morale would beco due to the higher probability of death. Conversely, the longer it lasted, the greater the defending soldiers' hope, and the higher their morale would soar.
After this ebb and flow, only stalemate remained.
He had even long prepared himself for Song Shi'an's victorious return to court.
Ji Yuan, I've finally waited for you.
"It's spreading through the military—they say Shuofeng has been lost," Sun Heng said.
"Through the military? Just spreading?" Sun Yan's brow furrowed as he asked sowhat reproachfully, "How can you take this as fact?"
"Father, the eight hundred li ergency courier just returned to the city and entered the palace. Not long after, His Majesty summoned multiple ritorious nobles to the city, even including that Marquis Xun whose son fought a devastating defeat... This might be His Majesty offering them consolation for Zhao Xiang and Ran Jin both dying," Sun Heng speculated.
"If it were a victory, why would there be need to summon military officials to the military council chamber for a eting?" Sun Yan also thought it might be a loss, because logically, if they'd won, it would be directly announced to the world to comfort the people's hearts.
But thinking this way, he felt sothing wasn't quite right.
Previous intelligence had all co from certain key departnts receiving the Emperor's orders.
Because if there were military actions, it couldn't be just ritorious nobles participating.
Those managing grain, managing horses, and the Secretariat managing official appointnts—all would have to move together.
Among them were quite a few disciples and old subordinates of the Sun clan, so the news had always been accurate.
This ti, why was it just a rumor?
And right after summoning the nobles, the rumor spread.
"Even if it truly was a defeat, there's no need to rejoice too early. Wait for His Majesty's announcent," Sun Yan quickly beca vigilant and said, "Tell the others that at this ti, they absolutely must not do anything—hold position. Moreover, everyone must keep their mouths shut and not show any joy whatsoever."
If rumors spread that the front suffered defeat and you laugh out loud, won't the Jinyiwei listening from the rafters hear you and arrest you for execution?
"Then Father, could it be that the city truly wasn't lost?" Sun Heng asked sowhat uneasily.
"Wait for the notification."
After Sun Yan said this irritably, he also flicked his sleeve in annoyance: "I'm a Minister, yet front-line military intelligence doesn't reach my ears first!"
Those who joined later can't compare to those who followed the dragon from the start.
But without Yangzhou joining, could there even be this Great Yu realm?!
.........
At the Prince of Jin's estate.
The Prince of Zhongping and the Prince of Jin sat facing each other, silent for a long while.
"Being able to repel Ji Yuan, this Northern Liang can remain peaceful for several more years."
Among the ritorious nobles, not all were like the Duke of Li with sufficient strength to completely avoid taking sides.
There were also implicit choices.
Not long after the Emperor had the bigshots go to the eting, sons from ritorious noble families hurried to inform the Prince of Jin about the eting's details.
The result was: they mysteriously had a al together.
Moreover, they didn't discuss state affairs.
Even when soone asked the Emperor about the war situation during the al, he only said they needed to wait, that it wasn't certain yet.
Eight hundred li ergency couriers didn't necessarily only relay ssages when important turning points occurred at the front.
So the court could make corresponding arrangents and provide feedback, military reports were updated nearly every day, one could say.
The delay was just the ti it took to deliver the ssage.
Besides the eight hundred li ergency from the Inspector of Liang Prefecture and the Governor-General, if they won, Shuofeng would also personally write a military report to congratulate the Emperor.
However, the person who relayed information to the Prince of Jin said: His Majesty seed to be in very good spirits—it's probably that they held out.
"Father Emperor is likely trying to provoke those hoping for defeat," Wei Yiyuan said.
"Attacks from the aristocratic clans have been constant. Though there haven't been any explicitly targeting Father Emperor, they still represent so resistance," the Prince of Jin had witnessed imperial fury, so he'd beco much more vigilant and sensitive. "Even if we truly lost, Father Emperor would want to purge those grumbling scholars, let alone if we won?"
"I also heard there are circulating rumors saying the front was defeated."
Based on the Prince of Zhongping's understanding of the Emperor, he could roughly guess what was happening: "In the past, it was rely discussing state affairs, so one couldn't be casually punished for speech, even if so people's words were full of barbs. Father Emperor might truly be trying to deceive traitors into revealing themselves for execution."
"If we won, killing these complainers would be even easier," the Prince of Jin also understood.
The Emperor secretly spread rumors that the front had suffered defeat. Anyone who spoke sarcastically would be directly arrested by the Jinyiwei, then when announcing the victory, simultaneously deal with a batch of people—you're the one spreading rumors and have been conducting propaganda sabotage for Ji Yuan in the rear!
"Then what about Fourth Brother?" Wei Yiyuan asked the Prince of Jin.
"He won his gamble."
Though the Prince of Jin's expression was heavy, he wasn't despairing: "But the struggle has only just begun."
.........
Zhao Yi ran to the Prince of Wu's estate.
Ye Changqing had also been notified to co long ago and was already with the Prince of Wu.
The two were both clad in brocade robes.
The sky hadn't snowed, but it was already quite cold.
So Shuofeng must be even colder.
"What military secrets did His Majesty discuss with the ritorious nobles in the military council chamber?" the Prince of Wu inquired.
"Your Highness, they just had a al," Zhao Yi said.
"Besides that, nothing else discussed?" The Prince of Wu was sowhat puzzled.
"My father told this. When I pressed him about His Majesty's mood, he wouldn't say and told to speculate less," Zhao Yi also couldn't be sure. "I feel like they won, but I'm not certain."
"Then they won."
At this point, Ye Changqing made a direct judgnt.
"Why?"
The Prince of Wu was very pleased. Originally, when he heard certain unverified rumors, he'd been quite distressed, but Ye Changqing had been comforting him not to worry.
"If they lost, there would definitely be discussion of so state affairs. Since nothing was discussed, they must have won," Ye Changqing said with certainty.
"True, if there's no good news, there wouldn't be the mood to eat together," Zhao Yi also thought so.
"This is wonderful!"
The Prince of Wu clenched his fists, extrely invigorated: "The gift from our full support of Song Jing has arrived."
"Definitely, His Majesty can see everything," Ye Changqing said with a light smile.
"That one retort you made in court that day was worth a thousand gold," Zhao Yi punched Ye Changqing's chest. "You little bastard, you're probably about to get promoted."
That's right—sotis a single sentence could determine a person's wealth and honor.
Being protected for life by a single sentence was entirely possible.
"Let's not discuss that first," Ye Changqing analyzed. "Clearly we didn't lose, yet rumors of defeat quickly erged. I suspect it's His Majesty luring those civil officials to jump out."
"If it's Father Emperor, he truly might do this."
The Prince of Wu also understood his father.
"Your Highness, I have an idea."
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Ye Changqing's mind: "Haven't there always been so sarcastic people in the city? Commoners and officials alike. Since that's the case, let's present His Majesty with so auspicious ons."
"You an have Jia Guihao arrest people?" Zhao Yi understood.
"Hiss..." The Prince of Wu felt this was a bit extre.
"He's the Commandant of Western Sheng'an with nearly a hundred bailiffs under him—his duty is maintaining public order. Now there are people spreading rumors—shouldn't he arrest them?"
Ye Changqing's words suddenly made enlightennt dawn on the two of them.
As long as they found a way, arresting people wasn't difficult at all.
"Arrest commoners for complaints too? That's not good," the Prince of Wu said.
"Naturally we won't arrest commoners—just arrest those official household sons who complain about the court," Ye Changqing said.
"Good."
The Prince of Wu nodded, feeling there was no problem. Then he raised a finger to add: "Add one more—those who curse Song Shi'an."
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