NOVPUB"Your Highness." 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝙢
Ming Qingfeng reported, "The Three Prefectures will be regained within half a month. Although it is too late to save the 150,000 troops, we can still ensure that West Qi is blocked to the west of the Heavenly Mountains, and they will absolutely not breach the Central Plains."
In just one year,
the hair of King Jin Cao Huan had turned mostly white. "Good, I am aware," he said.
"Alas..."
Inside the hall,
there was an air of dejection.
"150,000 troops!"
"150,000!"
"..."
The territory of the Great Sheng Dynasty was vast and, if pushed, could indeed muster an army of two and a half million, though most were assembled in the Central Plains and could not be sent on distant campaigns since the larger the force, the greater the consumption. These 150,000 troops were over seventy percent of the forces in the west. From now on, regaining control would be as hard as reaching for the heavens.
"And that Chen Sansi..."
"Although he was initially from the Governor's Mansion, he was ultimately a good general. If he had been transferred to the Capital City, he could still have been used in future battles large and small. Instead, due to issues with provisions, he died at Guan Du!"
"A burial worthy of a duke."
King Jin Cao Huan, holding his forehead, then sighed, "That was also the Emperor's wish. Notify the Ministry of Rites to prepare, and then attempt to negotiate with West Qi to see if they can send Chen Sansi's body back."
"Yes!"
"..."
After giving these orders,
Cao Huan, at the beckoning of King Yan's gaze, moved to the back of the hall, his face full of worry, and said, "Brother Twelve, I've already started preparing to take down the Yan Party. Don't rush me."
Cao Zhi said, "Brother Six, I am saying that preparing Chen Sansi's funeral now seems a bit premature, doesn't it?"
"Oh?"
Cao Huan paused, then asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"The White Robe is not dead yet!"
Cao Zhi lowered his voice, "I have already dispatched people to Guan Du ahead of time, just waiting for the critical moment to bring him back."
"Brother Twelve, do you still have experts at your disposal who can engage at Guan Du?"
Cao Huan was slightly surprised, "If so, why did you not let the experts support him?"
"Sending one more person, given the circumstances at the time, would have been merely a drop in the bucket,"
Cao Zhi paused, then continued, "But if Chen Sansi could be rescued, this man, who values loyalty and is furious over being wronged, will definitely serve Brother Six from then on, becoming a major force in the downfall of the Yan Party."
"That is true, indeed."
Cao Huan nodded thoughtfully.
The Governor's Mansion was nominally still in existence, but the actual military power had long been divided and rendered almost nil.
Even the "Heavenly Strategy Camp," originally the personal troops of the old governor, had been thoroughly purged.
Even within Chen Sansi's Hongze Camp, people like Chu Shixiong had come from the Capital City.
If even the Hongze Camp was gone...
then he really would be completely devoid of military power.
To establish himself in the court, one must seek support.
On this occasion, King Jin Cao Huan had also managed to gain a general.
Just as the two brothers were preparing to discuss how to gather evidence for their next moves, sudden shouts erupted from the front hall.
"Great news!"
"Great news—"
"The Ten Thousand Miles Divine Eagle has arrived with urgent news from the front—"
Great news?
What great news?!
Could it be that the Three Prefectures had been regained ahead of time?
King Jin Cao Huan and King Yan Cao Zhi hastily returned to the front of the hall.
Just there,
the hall, which had been filled with complaints just moments before, was now utterly silent.
The Minister of War, Ming Qingfeng, holding the frontline reports in his hands, tears streaming down his aged face, shook uncontrollably, unable to speak!
The rest of the Cabinet, along with many civil and military officials standing behind him, after stretching their necks to read the report, showed similar expressions, either trembling or shedding tears, with some even crying out in shock.
"What, what is this?"
Cao Huan stepped forward, "Could it be that Chen Sansi has done some heroic deed?"
If that was indeed the case.
The Great Sheng Court and the Beiliang Governor's Mansion would then be remembered as a remarkable story of a loyal minister throughout the ages.
"Your Highness!!!"
However,
the Minister of War, Ming Qingfeng, finally stabilized his emotions and said with a trembling, impassioned voice, "Guan Du has won!"
Boom!
Just four words.
Yet they struck like Divine Thunder from the ninth heaven, causing King Jin Cao Huan to stand stunned on the spot.
Even King Yan beside him was taken aback.
Provisions...
Had they not run out long ago?
Even if they could maintain themselves through plundering and pillaging, it was unlikely that they could defeat West Qi's army of 300,000, right?
Cao Huan was still in a daze.
But Cao Zhi had already rushed forward and grabbed the battle reports to read for himself.
The Minister of War Ming Qingfeng exclaimed loudly, "Your Highness! Half a month ago, following intelligence on the location of West Qi's food supplies, Chen Sansi led a surprise attack and broke through Wu City, killing the Soldier Immortal Han Xiang and the city's cultivators amidst the battle. Now, with West Qi's army deprived of provisions, they will surely collapse swiftly. Our forces just need to pursue them decisively, and we can recover the Three Western Provinces, including Mang Mountain, within two months!"
"The Military Immortal lost? The Military Immortal lost?!"
King Jin Cao Huan, his pupils dilating, said incredulously, "Could it be that Chen Sansi had been delaying his deployment just to fight a 'back-against-the-wall' battle after the provisions had run out? No, it can't be that simple."
"Furthermore!"
"Chen Sansi is not of Martial Saint Realm, yet Han Xiang and many of the West Qi cultivators are above Martial Saints. How did he manage to kill the Soldier Immortal Han Xiang in battle?"
"He has broken through."
Cao Zhi put down the battle report and took over, "Chen Sansi had a breakthrough on the battlefield and has now ascended above the Martial Saints. In the realm of Martial Arts, except for the Immortal Masters, he now stands at the pinnacle of this world."
Upon hearing this,
the Zhongjue Hall once again fell silent.
The faces of the officials, from excited to calm, then turned to apprehension.
Sun Xiangzong had died only two years ago.They had not yet forgotten.
How arrogant that old governor had been at that time.
Little did they expect,
that so soon, another figure above the Martial Arts Realm would emerge from the Beiliang Governor's Mansion.
"Gentlemen."
