Chapter 420 Singing an Opera

Song Huaian's heart sank when he heard this. Was the emperor trying to blast him? Fortunately, Madam Lin came home for tea a few days ago and reminded him that Master Jun was coming back. Otherwise, he might have said the wrong thing today.

"Your Majesty, where did this rumor come from? General Li's actions during the Northwest War were witnessed by the entire Northwest. Could it be that someone is watching you, Your Majesty, doting on General Li's family? Is someone jealous and deliberately framing him?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Tianyuan looked at Song Huaian and raised his eyebrows.

"Someone is jealous and deliberately framing me?"

Upon hearing this, Song Huaian lowered his head and made a bowing gesture with one hand.

"This is my humble conjecture. After all, Your Majesty cares deeply about the soldiers on the border and has always taken good care of the families of the generals. Madam Lin was pregnant and your child was given birth, and Your Majesty always had the imperial physician take care of her. It was such an honor. Naturally, some people would be jealous. Even my wife said she was envious."

Emperor Tianyuan pondered for a moment after hearing this, then spoke with a hint of anger.

"Lord Song, deceiving the emperor is a grave crime. Do you dare to say that Jun Moye didn't fight in the Northwest War?"

Seeing this, Song Huaian knelt down hurriedly.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. I have no intention of deceiving you. Jun Moye has indeed been on the battlefield, but things on the battlefield are ever-changing. Moreover, there was a major war in the northwest. Countless soldiers have made great contributions. Nearly 100,000 soldiers from the northwest died in the battle, leaving only a few alive. Even my life was saved by General Li.

Therefore, even if Jun Moye has been on the battlefield, we cannot say that General Li took the credit for it. I guarantee with my life that in the battle of the Northwest, every soldier of ours in the Northwest persisted to the end with the mentality of dying in battle. In every charge, General Li was the first to take the lead.

Even though two years have passed and General Li bears countless scars, I don't know who is slandering him behind his back, but to slander a general who fought bravely on the battlefield is despicable."

When Emperor Tianyuan heard this, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

"It seems that Lord Song and General Li have a very good relationship?"

Song Huaian felt cold sweat on his back, but he remained calm on the surface when he spoke.

"Your Majesty, it's not that I have a good relationship with General Li. I'm just being realistic. I was once a military commander, and I've experienced the hardships of guarding the northwest, with its strong sandstorms in the summer and fierce winter winds. Even if someone else is being falsely accused today, as long as I personally witnessed his achievements, I will defend him."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Tianyuan spoke in a cold voice.

"I remember that most of the battle reports were written by you, Lord Song. Why didn't you report that Jun Moye went to the battlefield?"

Upon hearing this, Song Huaian hurriedly apologized.

"I am guilty of this matter. Your Majesty, I ask for your punishment. However, I beg Your Majesty to listen to my words."

Emperor Tianyuan spoke in a cold voice.

"explain."

With the pressure of an emperor.

Song Huaian wiped his forehead.

"Your Majesty, this is a long story. General Pei and General Wei were both killed in battle, along with tens of thousands of soldiers. The Northwest is in dire need of both ice and generals. To stop the Northern Wing Army, we will not refuse any Northwest civilians who are willing to go to the battlefield.

General Li and General Lu even personally went to encourage the people to enter the barracks, because we were all prepared to die in that battle, and there was no time to carefully investigate who had been there before. Jun Moye did kill many enemies on the battlefield, but he was also seriously injured and was in a coma for half a month before waking up. At that time, I was also seriously injured and lost an arm. The subsequent matters were handled by Lord Shenwu Hou. I don't know why Jun Moye's contribution was not reported.

Emperor Tianyuan narrowed his eyes upon hearing this.

"So, Lord Song's point is that the Marquis of Shenwu is keeping the truth secret and not reporting it, intentionally covering up for Jun Moye."

Song Huaian felt that if he said anything wrong now, he would either lose his own head or cause someone else to lose theirs. This imperial city was truly a place where people were eaten without leaving any bones behind.

"Your Majesty, that battle was a tragic one. Although we won, we suffered heavy losses. Countless soldiers were buried in the mountains, and those who survived were seriously injured or disabled. They were lucky to survive. Jun Moye fought bravely on the battlefield and nearly died several times. This is a real military achievement, and there is no need to hide it. Let me know the details.

"Your Majesty, why don't you ask Lord Shenwu Hou? After all, I didn't know Jun Moye before, and I don't even know his specific identity. I just noticed that there was a man who killed the enemy bravely on the battlefield. I was curious about his identity, but how could I have time to investigate on the battlefield?"

Seeing that he couldn't get anything useful out of asking, Emperor Tianyuan looked at Song Huaian's empty arm in silence, and finally spoke in a deep voice.

"I'm just asking casually. Lord Song, there's no need to be nervous. Please leave."

Upon hearing this, Song Huaian hurriedly saluted.

"Yes, I will take my leave."

He stood up and walked to the door, only to see the eunuch leading Ren Jinzhou Er in.

The two nodded slightly as they passed each other.

Emperor Tianyuan drank his tea slowly and watched Marquis Shenwu come in.

Marquis Shenwu saluted respectfully.

"Your humble servant pays respect to His Majesty."

Emperor Tianyuan did not ask him to stand up, but put down the teacup with a sound, and then spoke with majesty.

"Lord Ren, I just learned that there's a hidden story behind the two-year-old Northwest War. Some brave warriors haven't received any reward at all. Lord Ren, is this how you're going to handle the follow-up matters while you're supporting the Northwest?"

Upon hearing this, Ren Jinzhou immediately knelt down and bowed.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. During the battle in the northwest, I rushed all the way with reinforcements. Even though I tried my best to provide support, I arrived a little late. Countless soldiers from the northwest died in the battle, and many were civilians recruited by General Li in a hurry. Among them, there may be some who have made military achievements but have been overlooked due to the tragic circumstances of the war. I will go to the northwest again to investigate. If there are indeed people who have made meritorious contributions but have not been rewarded, I will definitely apologize, and I ask Your Majesty to punish them."

Emperor Tianyuan sneered.

"Oh, you're still investigating? Are you sure you didn't deliberately keep it a secret? Jun Moye made great military achievements in the northwest, and the people of the entire northwest know about it. Why don't I know about it?"

Ren Jinzhou sighed helplessly upon hearing this.

"Oh, so the emperor is angry about this matter."

Emperor Tianyuan shouted harshly.

"Shouldn't I be angry? Those who have committed crimes should be punished, and those who have made contributions should be rewarded. Although Jun Moye is the descendant of a criminal, he was exiled to the northwest and punished as a commoner. If he had the ability to make military achievements, he would naturally be rewarded. You deliberately concealed it and did not report it. This is deceiving the emperor."

Ren Jinzhou lowered his head and looked down. Haha, what he said was more beautiful than what he sang, but on the surface he kowtowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. You are a wise ruler, and you naturally reward and punish clearly. But it is precisely because you are a good emperor that I cannot speak. I am afraid that Your Majesty will not be able to accept this result and will be sad."